How can the United Nations work more clearly, coherently and effectively in a rapidly changing world?
This short explainer video breaks down the practical implications of the General Assembly resolution on Mandate Creation, Implementation and Review for an Efficient and Effective United Nations — a key milestone under Workstream 2 of the UN80 Initiative.
Featuring Ambassadors Brian Wallace of Jamaica and Carolyn Schwalger of New Zealand, Co-Chairs of the General Assembly’s Ad Hoc Working Group on Mandate Implementation Review, the video explains:
▪️ What UN mandates are
▪️ Why mandate reform matters
▪️ What changes in practice
▪️ How the resolution aims to improve clarity, coordination, accountability and delivery across the UN system
▪️ What happens next as implementation moves forward
At its core, the resolution is about helping the United Nations focus better, work better and deliver better for people and planet.
Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu, explains why the NPT (Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) Review Conference this year is critical for nuclear disarmament.
An outbreak of deadly hantavirus aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean has triggered an international public health response.
The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is coordinating evacuations and risk assessments following the death of three people and multiple suspected infections.
To date, one case has been confirmed after verification in a laboratory, but there are five additional suspected cases among those on board.
"The World Health Organization is judging that the risk of a global outbreak is low" said Ann Lindstrand, WHO Representative in Cabo Verde.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General Statement/Ted Turner
– Middle East
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– UNIFIL
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Ukraine
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Chad
– Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation
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SECRETARY-GENERAL STATEMENT/TED TURNER
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Ted Turner – a visionary whose conviction, generosity and audacious spirit left a lasting imprint on the United Nations and our world.
Ted Turner believed in the United Nations – and in its purpose – at a defining moment. And he invested in that mission.
Ted Turner bet on humanity – and in the process helped strengthen the security of his own country and reinforce our common values.
His $1 billion dollar commitment to the United Nations – and subsequent creation of the United Nations Foundation – represented at the time the largest individual philanthropic gift in modern history.
But it was not just his commitment of resources, his legacy will be his ongoing advocacy for the United Nations and the importance of diplomacy.
Ted Turner never stopped pushing for the world to do better, and to do better through the United Nations.
He helped expand our reach, mobilize partnerships, and drive action on many of the defining challenges of our time – from global health to peace, human rights, and the protection of our planet.
I am deeply grateful for his extraordinary commitment to international problem-solving and his unwavering support for the ideals of the United Nations Charter. I extend my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones.
His legacy endures – as we keep striving for a stronger United Nations and a better world for all.
MIDDLE EAST
Rosemary DiCarlo, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, briefed the Security Council in closed consultations this morning on the Middle East. She talked about the recent missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates.
Ms. DiCarlo underscored that from the start of the conflict on 28 February, the Secretary-General has condemned all unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond. He has also stressed that Security Council resolution 2817 must be respected and civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected.
The Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for the Middle East conflict and its consequences, Jean Arnault, is continuing diplomatic consultations in the region.
The United Nations remains committed to supporting all efforts aimed at a comprehensive and durable resolution of the conflict.
LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN
Turning to Lebanon, we have seen the reports of the newly issued evacuation orders for a dozen Lebanese areas across South, Nabatieh and Bekaa areas. We note with deep concern these evacuation orders and airstrikes against Lebanese towns, targeting areas both south of the Litani River and far beyond it, including Saida and the West Bekaa. We reiterate that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be respected and protected at all times.
This is forcing further displacement of civilians already impacted by months of hostilities. We and our humanitarian partners continue to support the response. The UN Refugee Agency and our partners have reached more than 158,000 displaced people with psychosocial support, dignity kits, cash assistance and other services.
However, significant risks persist, including movement restrictions, psychological distress, lack of documentation and heightened exposure to exploitation, particularly for women and children.
Meanwhile, OCHA reports that as strikes continue, particularly in southern Lebanon, the death toll is rising daily. Overnight, one emergency worker was killed, three others were injured in an Israeli strike in the southern municipality of Kfar Dounine in Nabatieh. Another emergency worker was injured in a subsequent strike in the same area while responding.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight
Joint comments to the media delivered by Jamal Fares Alrowaiei, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, and Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations, on Iran.
Press conference by Zoe Brennan, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Spokesperson, and Jonathan Prentice, Head of the UN Network on Migration, on the launch of the World Migration Report. They were joined virtually by Pablo Rojas Coppari and Stuart Russell Campo from IOM’s research team to address any technical questions on the report.
Zoe Brennan said ensuring safe and regular pathways, supporting skills, mobility and strengthening regional cooperation “are concrete steps that respect national borders and priorities and help countries manage migration more effectively while delivering real benefits for economies and people alike.”
Brennan said, “when migration is well managed, it supports jobs, economic growth, stability and social cohesion,” and added that “migrants contribute as workers and entrepreneurs and consumers, and through the skills, innovation and connections they bring across borders.”
By the end of 2024, she said, “an estimated 83.4 million people were internally displaced within their own countries, the highest number ever recorded, driven by conflict, violence and disasters.”
This, Brennan said, “underscores that most displacement happens within countries rather than across borders.”
Responding to a reporter’s question, Stuart Campo from IOM’s research team said, “while we saw in the last year a reduction in attempted crossings on the central Mediterranean route, which is one of the major routes, we saw a doubling in the number of migrants who went missing or were found dead. So, this shows that these routes are becoming more dangerous and treacherous.”
According to the report, international migration remains relatively uncommon in global terms, with around 304 million international migrants worldwide in mid-2024, 3.7 percent of the global population.
Human displacement, the report finds, continues to rise, with over 120 million people displaced globally by the end of 2024, including refugees, asylum-seekers, and internally displaced persons, reflecting the scale and persistence of protracted conflicts and compounding crises.
Environmental disruption is now a defining feature of contemporary mobility, as record‑breaking temperatures, droughts, wildfires, and storms increasingly interact with poverty, weak infrastructure and governance challenges to influence displacement, migration, and immobility, according to the report.
Back from a mission to the moon, astronauts from Artemis II arrived at United Nations Headquarters with a message for humanity about our shared purpose on Earth.
A month after completing their historic flyby of the Moon, the astronauts from NASA’s Artemis II mission landed at UN Headquarters in New York this week with a message that sounded like a reminder: humanity is capable of extraordinary things when it acts together.
Their visit on Thursday followed a long-standing tradition – cosmonauts and astronauts have been coming to the UN for decades to speak about peace, international cooperation, and our shared global future.
The four-person crew carried out the farthest human spaceflight in history, travelling beyond the far side of the Moon and safely returning to Earth after 10 intense, demanding, and inspiring days.
In that short time, as noted during the event, they “captured the imagination of billions” and rekindled a sense of shared human participation in the exploration of space.
Tradition and continuity
The General Assembly building has long welcomed pioneers of the space age, starting with Soviet cosmonauts Yuri Gagarin and Valentina Tereshkova – the first man and woman in space.
Their October 1963 visit symbolised not only technological progress but also the idea that cosmos is a domain where humanity can be united.
Since then, representatives of many nations have repeatedly addressed the international community, emphasising that space exploration is impossible without cooperation and shared responsibility.
Artemis II continues that legacy. The mission represents not only a technological breakthrough but also a model of international partnership, involving multiple countries and institutions, including the European Space Agency, with scientific instruments and systems developed by specialists from around the world.
“I had the opportunity to talk to everyone on the way here – I mean to these three pretty normal but pretty overachieving Americans and a Canadian,” said US Ambassador Mike Waltz, who hosted the evening discussion in front of an invited audience of excited earthlings with the astronauts.
The crew stressed that their task was not only to test a spacecraft, but also to remind people on the ground that humanity can achieve great things when it works together.
Earth from deep space
For all the astronauts, the most powerful experience was seeing Earth from deep space.
From hundreds of thousands of miles away, the planet appeared small, fragile, almost weightless against the vast darkness – an image that underscored both Earth’s uniqueness and the rarity of life itself.
“I always felt urged to just be grateful for what we were seeing and to be grateful for what we were eventually going back to,” said pilot Victor Glover.
Astronaut Christina Koch described a sudden awareness of humanity’s scale within the boundless universe.
“You realize that actually there’s nothing absolute or guaranteed about this, and that actually there is such thing as a global scale…this scale is our world and what we do with it is our choice.”
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
UNIFIL
Lebanon/Humanitarian
Lebanon/Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Iran/UAE
Personal Envoy for the Middle East Crisis and its Consequences
Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Mali
Ukraine
Portuguese Language Day
Financial contribution
UNIFIL
Turning to UNIFIL. Our peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon reported that yesterday saw the highest number of exchanges of fire between the Israel Defense Forces and armed groups, including Hezbollah, and that was the highest number inside Lebanon since the cessation of hostilities of 17 April. The mission recorded 619 launches by the Israel Defense Forces impacting in Lebanon and 30 launches towards Israeli targets.
Peacekeepers reported several Israeli airstrikes by fighter aircraft in Sector East. Separately, near Adshit al Qusayr and Alman, Israel Defense Forces helicopters engaged ground targets using machine-gun fire. Peacekeepers also observed two weaponized drones, identified by them as belonging to Hezbollah, over Al Bayyadah in Sector West, with one subsequently impacting an Israel Defense Forces presence in the area.
We urge all sides to exercise maximum restraint and uphold the cessation of hostilities.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert and UNIFIL on the ground continue to support the parties to fulfill their obligations under Security Council resolution 1701.
Despite operational risks and movement constraints, our peacekeepers are remaining in position in southern Lebanon. Over the past week, assistance has reached displaced families by ongoing hostilities, both within and beyond our area of operations. Yesterday, UNIFIL distributed over 360 dry food parcels to people displaced from Kafr Dounin Municipality within the mission’s area of responsibility and who are currently living in Beirut, and nearby areas. The donation specifically targeted families outside of collective shelters, who have been largely left out of the crisis response efforts.
A large convoy of about 30 trucks reached Rmeich in Sector West with UNIFIL’s support. That took place yesterday. They carried essential goods, including food supplies, livestock, vegetables and fruit. These items had been purchased by shop owners in Beirut and delivered to support local communities in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese Ministry of Energy also contributed fuel trucks as a donation to several villages who are in Sector West of UNIFIL’s area of operations.
LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN
The UN and its humanitarian partners in Lebanon are continuing to support the response whenever access allows us to.
Cash assistance remains a critical lifeline for people. More than 435,000 Lebanese people impacted by the conflict have been supported through Government-led social safety net. That was implemented not only of course by the Lebanese Government, but also by the World Food Programme, and other humanitarian partners. Over 100,000 Syrian refugees in Lebanon have also been reached through expanded cash assistance programmes.
We and our partners are also addressing essential water and nutrition needs. To date, since 2 March, our food security partners have distributed more than 7.8 million hot and cold meals and over 105,000 meal boxes, in addition to 3.8 million litres of bottled water, 64,000 cubic metres of water through large trucks, and nearly 740,000 litres of fuel have been delivered to sustain critical water services to more than 628,000 human beings.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with nearly a quarter of the population in Lebanon now facing acute food insecurity. Repeated displacements, loss of livelihoods and damage to infrastructure are further compounding needs and deepening the crisis.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-05
UNIFIL says that today they have facilitated an aid convoy of around 30 trucks to Rmeich along the Blue Line, where approximately 7,000 residents remain.
This comes as the situation remains volatile. Over the weekend, UNIFIL observed intensive IDF activity, including extensive airstrikes near a number of villages on the south, as well as continued naval activity off the coast of Naqoura. Furthermore, UNIFIL reported drone activity in its area of operations including Hizbullah-operated drones.
On Friday, UNIFIL patrols faced restrictions to their freedom of movement near Al Bayyadah, where Israeli tanks blocked the road.
The same day, IDF machine gun fire impacted a UNIFIL position near At-Tiri, in the Bint Jbeil district, with one round striking a vehicle inside the compound.
Peacekeepers must never be targeted, and their safety and security must be guaranteed at all times.
LEBANON/HUMANITARIAN
The humanitarian situation in Lebanon remains volatile despite the announced extension of the ceasefire. Yesterday, the Ministry of Health reported 13 people were killed, including at least one child and four women, and 32 injured as a result of strikes in several locations in the southern parts of Lebanon.
On Sunday, displacement orders were renewed in 11 villages and towns in Nabatieh, followed by airstrikes, causing new displacement according to local authorities.
People continue to be on the move, with reports of some people returning to shelters after attempting to go back to their homes, which in some cases were reportedly inaccessible or destroyed. Authorities estimate that more than 124,000 people are residing in 625 schools and other public buildings being used as collective shelters.
Despite growing and deepening humanitarian needs, the Lebanon Flash Appeal remains significantly underfunded. We’ve received only 38 per cent, or $117 million, of the $308 million we need, which is limiting our ability to reach the vulnerable people at scale.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
The Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, said on social media that more than six months since the Gaza ceasefire agreement, we continue to work strenuously to help Palestinians in Gaza, but we need sustained access, the protection of civilians, neutrality and partnership.
Last week, our partners leading on emergency shelter assistance delivered tents, bedding items and other supplies to nearly 4,500 households.
One shelter partner also installed 150 improved emergency shelters in Khan Younis. These shelters are made of plastic sheets and other materials available and aim to provide displaced families with immediate solutions as soon as restricted materials are allowed entry.
On health, concerns remain over skin diseases and other medical issues linked to the presence of pests and rodents.
In addition, our partners report that more than 6,600 people need prosthetic and rehabilitation care.
That includes thousands of people who have received amputations since October 2023, yet only eight prosthetic technicians are available to respond.
Our partners say that one in five amputees is a child, but with severe shortages of specialists and restricted entry of prosthetic materials, it could take five years or more to meet today’s needs.
International prosthetic technicians are urgently needed, as well as the unimpeded entry of prosthetics materials, which remain restricted by the Israeli authorities.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-05-04
With tensions rising in #southsudan, the risk of a return to large-scale conflict is real, with potentially devastating consequences for both the country and the wider region. Nearly 10 million people—four out of five South Sudanese—need humanitarian assistance, as violence, displacement and spillover from the conflict in Sudan continue to strain already vulnerable communities. Ahead of the UN Security Council meeting on Friday 17, this five-fact video highlights the vital role of UNMISS in protecting civilians, supporting peace efforts, promoting human rights, and enabling the delivery of humanitarian aid.
