Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo (10 Jul) told the Security Council that during the reporting period the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) “had not conducted any in-field verification activities” in Iran under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) safeguards’ agreement.
The Agency, DiCarlo said, “also reported a significant deterioration in its situational awareness following the attacks against Iran by the United States and Israel that began on 28th February 2026” as it had “now lost continuity of knowledge across all of Iran’s declared nuclear facilities.”
The Political and Peacebuilding official told the Council that the 17th June Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding between Iran and the United States “contains several important agreements on nuclear issues” including “resolving the disposition of stockpile enriched material, on-site down-blending of the enriched materials under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and a commitment to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to Iran’s nuclear needs.”
This discussion focuses on information exchange, finance readiness, and inclusive governance, and highlights how private sector engagement can strengthen the 2026 UN Water Conference through impact-driven partnerships to accelerate SDG 6. True progress requires collaboration: the UN provides convening power and accountability, governments offer policy and investment priorities, and the private sector brings innovation, technology, and financing. Together, these actors combine their strengths to turn global water commitments into scalable, practical solutions for global prosperity.
Speakers:
– H.E. Retno Marsudi, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy on Water
– Abdallah Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of Regional Bureau for Arab States
– Dolly Mirchandani, Partner, White and Case LLC, focusing on energy and infrastructure sectors
Moderator: Joakim Harlin, Chief Manager of the UNEP-DHI Centre on Water and Environment
Remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the Special event of the 2026 High-Level Political Forum "We the Peoples, Shaping the Future of the UN".
GDP tells us what we produce, but not how we thrive. For decades, GDP has been the primary compass for success. While it remains a vital metric for economic output, this session explores why a single indicator is no longer enough.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Transforming Education Summit +4/DSG Travel
UN Women
Security Council
Lebanon
Occupied Palestinian Territory
South Sudan
Venezuela
International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide In Srebrenica
World Population Day
World Horse Day
International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms
International Day of Hope
Noon Briefing Guests/Monday
TRANSFORMING EDUCATION SUMMIT +4/DSG TRAVEL
The Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, arrived in Paris this morning for the Transforming Education Summit +4 (TES+4). That summit was convened by the Secretary-General and the Director-General of the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
In her opening remarks, she stressed that education remains one of the most powerful drivers of sustainable development, peace, and opportunity. She called for financing in education to be treated as an investment in people, an investment in economies and an investment in sustainable development. The Deputy Secretary General stressed that education becomes the great enabler of every learner, every economy, and every hope we have for 2030 and beyond.
The Summit brings together leaders and partners to take stock of progress since the 2022 Transforming Education Summit and accelerate action on SDG 4. While in Paris, the Deputy Secretary-General met with the President of South Africa and Co-Chair of the High-Level Committee on SDG4, and that is Cyril Ramaphosa. They discussed the strong cooperation between South Africa and the United Nations. She also met with a number of senior UNESCO officials, civil society representatives, youth partners, and others who are attending the summit.
She will be back in New York on Saturday.
Also today, UNESCO launched a report warning that international aid to education could fall up to 30 per cent between 2023 and 2027. According to them, 113 countries spend more on debt servicing than education. The report brings concrete recommendations to help countries break the debt trap and invest in education.
UN WOMEN
The UN Women today released a report warning that deep cuts in humanitarian funding are forcing women’s organizations to scale back or even shut down, with at least one million women and girls losing access to critical support since January 2025.
The report notes that some 120 million women and girls worldwide require humanitarian assistance and protection. Yet, almost half of the 855 women’s organizations surveyed across 52 crisis- and conflict-affected countries, that includes Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti, are at risk of shutting down temporarily or even permanently within a year due to a lack of funding. 65 per cent of these women-led organizations say their staff are working without pay to keep services running; more than three-quarters say they have cut staff.
The report also warns that the consequences extend beyond humanitarian response, threatening to reverse progress on women’s rights, reduce women’s participation in community leadership and decision-making.
UN Women is calling for sustainable investment in women’s organizations, which it describes as indispensable first responders and a foundation for protection, recovery and peace.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-07-10
Informal comments to the media by Zénon Mukongo Ngay, Permanent Representative of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and President of the Security Council for the month of July 2026, on the process of appointing and selecting the next Secretary-General – Security Council Media Stakeout.
On Saturday, 18 July 2026, the UN Chamber Music Society of the United Nations Staff Recreation Council (UNCMS) presents “Madiba” with Wouter Kellerman, a three-time Grammy Award-winning South African flautist, producer, and composer, who has also earned nine South African Music Awards. The event will be broadcasted internationally through the global platforms of the United Nations: UN Web TV and UN YouTube.
Honouring the enduring legacy of the former South African President and his commitment to peace, freedom, and service, “Madiba", a musical prayer, offers a heartfelt tribute that blends power and tenderness. Founded in 2016 by Brenda Vongova, the UN Chamber Music Society is dedicated to promoting the United Nations’ goals and values at large – through the universal language of music.
Learn more about Mandela Day at the United Nations:
https://www.un.org/en/events/mandeladay/
Listen to the “Madiba” on Spotify, Apple, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube, TikTok, Pandora, and all the major music distribution platforms worldwide.
100% of the UN Chamber Music Society’s streams will be donated to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) — supporting its frontline response to climate-driven humanitarian crises worldwide.
Support the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) by donating to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF)
https://crisisrelief.un.org/
Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefed the Security Council (9 Jul) on the situation in Ukraine.
He said the intensifying fighting was narrowing opportunities to reach civilians safely. “For example, in parts of Donetsk region, humanitarian access has been intermittently suspended, making it harder for humanitarians to help civilians leave and for humanitarian relief to reach those who remain,” he said.
He said a humanitarian convoy was struck by a drone last week in Ukraine-controlled Dnipro region, the third such incident in two months, while attacks also damaged a Ukrainian Red Cross warehouse, destroying humanitarian supplies intended for civilians. “Overall, attacks harming humanitarian personnel and damaging their assets have increased by more than 20 per cent compared with the same period last year,” he said.
As governments assess SDG7 progress, global crises are driving a shift toward domestic renewables, boosting solar trade across Asia and Africa. Meanwhile, AI and data centers are spiking power demand, yet 2,500 GW of renewable projects remain stalled in grid queues. Investing in modern grids and digital infrastructure offers a massive opportunity; AI alone could optimize transmission and save $110 billion annually.
The insights in this discussion draw from Tracking SDG7: The Energy Progress Report and the SDG7 Policy Briefs for the HLPF, launching July 8.
Speakers:
– Alexander De Croo, Administrator of UNDP
– Damilola Ogunbiyi, SRSG on Sustainable Energy for All
Moderator: Cherisse Bovell, Consultant to the United Nation Foundation’s Our Future Agenda Programme
