Ukraine, Uganda, Syria & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (01 July 2026) | United Nations

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.

Highlights:

– Programming Note
– Trip Announcement
– Digital Week in Geneva
– Ukraine
– Uganda
– Syria
– Lebanon/Israel
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Sudan
– Security Council
– Ebola
– Uganda/WHO
– Nigeria
– International Day of Cooperatives
——————————————————–

PROGRAMMING NOTE

A programming note, as a reminder, tomorrow the UN Headquarters will be closed given that it’s an official holiday in our host country for their Independence Day.

On Monday, UN Development Programme Administrator, Alexander De Croo, and UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih, who will join us from Kabul to brief on their joint mission to Afghanistan.

Then, at 1:15 p.m., Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, and UN Police Adviser, Faisal Shahkar, will be here to brief ahead of the fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2026).

TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT

The Secretary-General will arrive in Geneva, Switzerland, on Sunday 5 July to take part in the inaugural session of the Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence Governance.

You will recall that the Global Digital Compact, adopted at the Summit of the Future in 2024, included among its commitments the creation of a Global Dialogue on AI Governance, to serve as an inclusive space, within the UN, for governments, civil society and other stakeholders to deliberate on AI.

Last year, the Dialogue was established by the General Assembly to build common approaches to the governance of artificial intelligence. In the same resolution, the General Assembly also created the International Scientific Panel on AI, the first global scientific body on Artificial Intelligence.

In his remarks during the Dialogue’s opening session, the Secretary-General is expected to reiterate that as AI is already transforming our world, for the first time, the Global Dialogue on AI Governance is giving every country a seat at the table, something he has been advocating for since early on in his mandate.

Also on Monday, Yoshua Bengio and Maria Ressa, the Co-chairs of the Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence, will present their preliminary report to Member States, and you heard from them yesterday.

Throughout the day, the Secretary-General will also hold bilateral meetings with leaders taking part in the Global Dialogue.

In the afternoon, at the Palais des Nations, the Secretary-General will deliver remarks during a meeting of the International Law Commission.

He will travel back to New York on Tuesday morning.

DIGITAL WEEK IN GENEVA

The Global Dialogue on AI governance – which takes place on Monday and Tuesday, kicks off what our colleagues have dubbed Geneva Digital Week.

Also happening next week, from 6 to 10 July, is the World Summit on the Information Society, organized by the International Telecommunication Union.

Finally, Geneva is also the host city of the AI for Good Global Summit, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) with UN partners, and co-convened by Switzerland.

Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-02

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9we9QIJ_sU

UK Mr. Men Little Miss at Big Ben

Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

Mr. Strong & Little Miss Sunshine have been exploring in Westminster today to celebrate the launch of the latest book in the iconic series – ‘Mr. Men Little Miss at Big Ben’, published by HarperCollins and out now.

You can follow their adventure and purchase the book in the Houses of Parliament Shop ➡️ https://www.shop.parliament.uk/products/mr-men-and-little-miss-at-big-ben?utm_source=UKParliament&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=MMLM

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mXCLkGt8w0w

No Country Can Govern AI Alone | Inside the UN’s First Global Dialogue on AI Governance

Source: United Nations (video statements)

Ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance (Geneva, 6–7 July 2026), Yoshua Bengio, Maria Ressa, and Ambassadors Egriselda López and Rein Tammsaar explain what the UN’s new AI bodies can actually do — and why no country can govern AI alone.

They discuss the accelerating capabilities of frontier AI, disinformation and the erosion of trust, the widening AI divide between countries, and why multilateral governance is the only viable path.

In August 2025, UN Member States established two new mechanisms for global cooperation on artificial intelligence: the Global Dialogue on AI Governance, the first UN platform where all countries discuss AI governance together, and the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, which provides evidence-based assessments independent of any government or company.

The first session of the Global Dialogue takes place in Geneva, Switzerland, on 6–7 July 2026.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zALv9fAk_Fw

Connectivity, transport, energy, and digital projects: President von der Leyen in Armenia

Source: European Commission (video statements)

#EUArmenia #EUNews #SouthCaucasus
President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement in Armenia highlights a deepening EU-Armenia partnership centred on resilience, connectivity, investment and regional stability. This video covers the European Union’s support for Armenia, the push for trade liberalisation, and the importance of South Caucasus peace for prosperity and security.

🌍 From stronger economic ties to strategic infrastructure and people-to-people links, the EU-Armenia partnership is presented as a long-term project. President von der Leyen underlines how trade liberalisation can open opportunities, while South Caucasus peace remains essential for a stable and connected region.

💬 What does this mean for Armenia, the EU, and the wider South Caucasus? Watch for the key messages on cooperation, reform, connectivity and peace.

Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:22 EU-Armenia partnership priorities
01:05 Trade liberalisation and economic links
01:48 Connectivity, investment and resilience
02:32 South Caucasus peace and regional stability
03:15 Closing message

📌 Key themes: EU-Armenia partnership, trade liberalisation, South Caucasus peace, connectivity, resilience, cooperation, reform, investment.

👍 Like for EU-Armenia solidarity!
💬 Comment your thoughts on the trade deal and South Caucasus peace.
🔔 Subscribe for more EU policy and international affairs coverage.

#EUArmenia #UrsulavonderLeyen #Armenia #EuropeanUnion #TradeLiberalisation #SouthCaucasus #Peace #Connectivity

Watch more on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-292318

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAR39AeUl9k

What is a Digital Embassy?

Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)

Every country wants a stake in AI. Few have the infrastructure to compete alone. Digital embassies solve this: a country can have its digital systems hosted abroad, while having them governed by its own laws.

The result: AI capability without giving up sovereignty. And now, Malaysia is putting the theory to the test.

Learn more in our recent white paper: https://www.weforum.org/publications/ai-infrastructure-in-the-age-of-sovereignty-requirements-strategies-and-a-trusted-framework-for-digital-embassies/

#InnovateScaleImpact #DigitalEmbassies #AI #DataSovereignty

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https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MRsSzd5jXUU