Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
Ever wondered who helps keep legislation moving through the House of Lords?
Meet Susannah, Head of the Public Bill Office. From preparing amendments to supporting proceedings on bills, her team plays a key role in making sure the House’s consideration of proposed laws runs smoothly.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Health and Social Care Committee hears evidence on the reviews into maternity care led by Donna Ockenden and Baroness Valerie Amos.
Witnesses:
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Amos LG CH – Chair at National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
Julia Sanders – Expert Advisor at National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
Christine Ekechi – Expert Advisor at National Maternity and Neonatal Investigation
Donna Ockenden – Chair at Independent Review into Maternity Services at the Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
https://committees.parliament.uk/event/27863/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
MPs on the Work and Pensions take evidence from charities Ginergreab and Surviving Economic Abuse, as part of their work looking into the government’s Child Maintenance Service.
Witnesses:
Abigail Wood – CEO at Gingerbread
Sam Morfey – CEO, Both Parents Matter at Surviving Economic Abuse
Sara D’Arcy – Head of External Affairs at Surviving Economic Abuse
https://committees.parliament.uk/event/27849/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Deputy Minister Ms Nonceba Mhlauli addresses the Nelson Mandela Day Student Leadership Dialogue & Student Service Expo
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Leonardo Santos Simão said, “the threat posed by terrorist and other non-state armed groups remains acute, especially in the central Sahel and northern Nigeria, rapidly targeting coastal states in the Gulf of Guinea.”
The UNOWAS chief briefed the Council (14 Jul) on three broad trends that stand out for the region: first, the concerning security situation, second, the renewal of the momentum for dialogue and cooperation, and thirdly, the democratic developments occurring in the region.
Simão stated that the terrorist and other non-state armed groups are “adapting their tactics, increasingly using advanced technology, such as drones, means of communication and cryptocurrencies.”
He also highlighted, “coupled with terrorism, drug trafficking, production and consumption are a rapidly growing phenomena in the region, affecting mainly coastal states, where increasing quantities of different types of these substances are being seized by the authorities.”
“Youth are the principal victims, but there are also reports of their use by terrorist combatants,” the UNOWAS chief said, adding that political and public institutions in some countries are “reportedly threatened by drug syndicates, leading to their weakening.”
“Humanitarian access remains severely constrained in many areas, while funding shortfalls are reducing the reach of life-saving assistance,” Simão said.
He added, “women, children and young people continue to bear the brunt of displacement, insecurity, rights violations and limited access to essential services.”
“Attacks on schools underscore the wider toll that insecurity is taking on the future prospects of entire communities,” Simão emphasized.
The head of UNOWAS highlighted the growing role of the African Union. He said, “it is playing an increasingly important part in fostering dialogue, bringing parties closer together, and ensuring strategic coherence.”
“This shift is reflected in strengthened cooperation with ECOWAS as well as increased engagement with Mali and other countries in the region,” Simão added.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
After the Council’s meeting, UNOWAS chief Leonardo Santos Simão told reporters, “the region has demonstrated remarkable resilience. But it cannot succeed without sustained international support.”
He reiterated, “we must therefore invest in humanitarian assistance, development and regional cooperation if we are to address the root causes of instability and build lasting peace in the region.”
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/Trip Announcement
– Critical Energy Transition Minerals
– Iran
– Yemen
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Security Council
– Sudan
– Democratic Republic of the Congo/Humanitarian
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Noon Briefing Guest
– Financial contribution
SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT
Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will start a visit to China, where he will have several official engagements. During the visit, the Secretary-General will travel to Yunnan Province. He will visit the Erhai Lake Ecological Corridor in Dali, a 900-hectare nature-based restoration project that has significantly boosted local biodiversity. Afterwards, in Kunming, he will interact with beneficiaries and local counterparts of UN programmes supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in China. Among these are programmes on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration, low-carbon rural development and sustainable agriculture, rural revitalization, as well as gender equality and social inclusion.
While in China, the Secretary-General will also attend the Opening Ceremony of the World AI Conference in Shanghai. In his address, he will emphasize that the defining question is not whether artificial intelligence will transform our world, but whether that transformation will reduce inequalities and expand opportunity. The Secretary-General is expected to underscore that the technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all of humanity, and that it cannot be governed by a handful of countries or companies. The Secretary-General will also deliver remarks at the Opening Session of the World AI Conference Meteorological Forum.
The Secretary-General will return to New York on Monday, 20 July.
CRITICAL ENERGY TRANSITION MINERALS
This morning, the Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, addressed a High-Level Meeting on Critical Energy Transition Minerals. She stressed that advancing the energy transition, at speed and scale, has never been more urgent or vital.
Ms. Mohammed noted that the climate crisis is driving us deeper into planetary overshoot with rising temperatures pushing us closer to irreversible catastrophic tipping points. And at the same time, she added, a global energy crisis is exposing the folly of a world still hooked on hydrocarbons, with limited access to cleaner fuels for the poor, and accelerated destruction of our natural systems, pushing ecosystems to the brink.
The Deputy Secretary-General pointed out that these crises have one common cause: fossil fuels. She underscored that they demand the same answer: a fast, fair and inclusive transition to clean energy, along with shared benefits from decarbonization, and a surge in adaptation finance, resilient infrastructure and climate justice for those already facing climate harm.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-14
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
Behind every major special event, there is a coordinated effort to keep the public safe. As thousands gathered for Sail250, FBI Baltimore stayed busy managing everything from maritime response and counter-drone capabilities to intelligence sharing. Supervisory Special Agent Tim Harvey gives a behind-the-scenes look at how the FBI and its partners helped everyone stay safe and sound.
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Source: United Nations (video statements)
Addressing an emergency meeting of the Security Council requested by the Yemeni government, Acting Assistant Secretary-General Indrika Ratwatte said, “Yemen’s humanitarian crisis deepening just as our ability to respond has been sharply reduced” due to “unprecedented fall in humanitarian funding.”
Ratwatte said, “food insecurity is approaching catastrophic levels, with more than 18 million people across Yemen hungry and many of them in an acute situation of hunger.”
Source: European Commission (video statements)
The European Commission, together with 15 international partners, has launched the Team Gaza Initiative, contributing almost €900 million to help the people of Gaza meet their immediate needs, including coordinating early recovery projects and restoring vital services, in the face of the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
This initiative operates as a flexible programme, allowing each partner to channel funding through their preferred financing mechanisms to target selected areas of support. As part of this collaborative effort, the European Commission intends to build on its established partnership with the United Nations to implement its own substantial contribution.
The European Commission supports Gaza’s early recovery, stabilisation, and modernisation in line with its commitment to international cooperation and humanitarian aid.
