Source: United Nations (video statements)
Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the 2026 ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment.
Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett – Interactive dialogue for the position of the next UN Chief’
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Informal interactive dialogue with Ambassador Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, candidate for the for the position of Secretary General of the United Nations.
In accordance with General Assembly resolution 79/327, the President of the General Assembly will convene webcast interactive dialogues with all candidates for the position of Secretary-General.
The process of appointing and selecting the next Secretary-General is based on General Assembly resolutions and will be guided by the principles of transparency and inclusivity.
On 5 September 2025 the General Assembly adopted resolution 79/327 on the Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly, which sets out the process for the selection and appointment in line with Article 97 of the Charter of the United Nations. Resolution 79/327 builds on previous related resolutions, which introduced significant improvements to the selection and appointment process of the Secretary-General.
International Day of Yoga 2026 | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
This year marks the 12th International Day of Yoga with the theme “ Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, which emphasizes the importance of Yoga for all ages. Yoga can be a valuable practice for healthy aging because it supports many of the abilities that help people stay active, independent, and engaged as they grow older. By combining gentle movement, stretching, breathing exercises, and mindfulness, yoga can help improve balance, flexibility, strength, and mobility, while also supporting mental well-being and stress management. Because yoga can be adapted to different fitness levels and health conditions, it offers an accessible way for many older adults to maintain their physical and emotional health. These benefits support several goals of the WHO Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), including promoting independence, reducing fall risk, enhancing quality of life, and encouraging person-centered approaches to health and well-being.
International Day of Reflection & Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The United Nations Headquarters’ observance in the United Nations General Assembly Hall, New York on Thursday 9 July 2026, of the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica.
The United Nations Headquarters’ observance of the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica takes place on Thursday, 9 July 2026. Mr. Chaloka Beyani, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide will host the proceedings. The observance includes survivor testimony, remarks delivered by the CdC on behalf of the Secretary-General, remarks delivered by the President of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (via video) and a senior representative of Bosnia Herzegovina.
New report highlights 13 global hunger hotspots | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The latest Hunger Hotspots 2026 report – jointly issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) – warns that acute food insecurity could deepen across 13 countries and territories over the outlook period of June to November 2026.
Lebanon, Peacekeeping & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (17 June 2026) | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General Travel
– Deputy Secretary-General Travel
– Peacekeeping
– Lebanon
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– ECOSOC Humanitarian Affairs Segment
– Human Rights
– Security Council/UN Women
– Women Peacekeepers
– International Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
– Yvonne Murray
SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVEL
The Secretary-General is still in the Dominican Republic, but he is about to leave Santo Domingo on his way back to New York.
Earlier today, he met the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader. The President and the Secretary-General discussed international and regional developments, including the situation in Haiti.
Mr. Guterres also met with our UN colleagues working in the country.
Yesterday, as you saw, he concluded his visit to Haiti with a press conference. He said that for the first time in many years, Haiti has a chance to turn a corner, but only if the international community assumes its responsibilities.
He appealed to the world to step up, to fund the humanitarian response and progressive recovery and to support the Haitian institutions and the Gang Suppression Force.
The transition is moving, he added. Everyone, the international community and Haiti’s leaders alike, must do their part to turn this momentum into concrete results.
DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL TRAVEL
The Deputy Secretary-General is currently enroute to London, United Kingdom, to participate in the London School of Economics and Political Science’s Global School of Sustainability Forum 2026.
At the Forum, she will engage with global leaders, policymakers, researchers, and representatives from the public and private sectors to discuss pathways for advancing sustainable development in a rapidly changing global context. She is expected to underscore the importance of accelerating climate action, strengthening international cooperation, and advancing solutions that deliver tangible results for people and planet. The Forum will bring together international leaders and stakeholders to explore challenges and opportunities for building a more sustainable future.
While in London, the Deputy Secretary-General will also convene a meeting on maternal health and child survival together with Goals House, bringing together partners and stakeholders to advance renewed action and investment to improve health outcomes for women, children, and communities.
The Deputy Secretary-General is scheduled to return to New York on Sunday, 21 June.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-17
Where does the UN80 initiative stand now – and what comes next? | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Since its launch in March 2025, the UN80 initiative has moved into a decisive phase. Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, joins UN News to discuss what has changed, what results are already emerging, and how the United Nations is working to become more effective at a time of growing financial and political pressure.
Yemen: Humanitarian Crisis Is Accelerating – Security Council Briefing | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher painted an alarming picture of conditions on the ground. “Yemen’s humanitarian crisis is accelerating. Hunger is rising. Our response is stretched to the limit,” he said, noting that in a single month the share of people unable to meet basic food needs had jumped from half to nearly 60 per cent. More than 18 million people – over half the population – are now acutely hungry, he said.
Fletcher said the crisis was being driven by a “lethal combination” of conflict, economic collapse, rising prices and lost livelihoods, compounded by an overstretched health system. More than 2.2 million children under five are acutely malnourished, he warned. “Without sustained support, many will carry lifelong consequences.”
With the humanitarian appeal less than 15 per cent funded, Fletcher said the UN was being forced to scale back operations.
He also noted, “Aid can keep people alive. It cannot give Yemenis the future they deserve. Only a political solution – owned by the people of Yemen and supported by this Council – can do that.”
Yemen: Conflict is unresolved – Security Council Briefing | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
“Yemen’s conflict is unresolved, not over,” UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council.
Briefing the Security Council Grundberg warned that despite a relative calm holding since a 2022 truce, the country remains mired in an intractable crisis with deepening economic and humanitarian pressures.
Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen also said the recent regional conflict had increased strain on the Yemeni economy through the country’s import dependence and geopolitical proximity, driving up the cost of food and fuel and amplifying inflationary pressures. “In recent weeks, there have been protests in Aden and other governorates over electricity shortages amid the summer heat,” he said.
On a rare diplomatic breakthrough, Grundberg said the parties had agreed last month to release over 1,600 conflict-related detainees following 14 weeks of UN-facilitated negotiations in Amman — the largest such release operation in the history of the conflict. “Trust was low; negotiations stalled multiple times. It required courage and compromise,” he said, urging swift implementation with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Lebanon, Gaza & other topics – Daily Press Briefing (16 June 2026) | United Nations
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Secretary-General/Haiti
– UN Interim Force in Lebanon
– Lebanon/Humanitarian
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Democratic Republic of the Congo/Ebola
– Democratic Republic of the Congo/UN Mission
– Yemen/Security Council
– Secretary-General/Austria World Summit
– Climate/Children
– State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture
– Anti-Personnel Mines
– Family Remittances
– Guests Tomorrow
SECRETARY-GENERAL/HAITI
The Secretary-General arrived in Haiti earlier today. He was greeted at the airport in Port-au-Prince by Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé.
He then went on to visit Camp Vertières, a site hosting the Gang Suppression Force. He began the visit by a tour and a briefing by our colleagues at the UN Support Office for Haiti explaining the operational and logistical support they provide to the Force, in accordance with Security Council resolution 2793.
While there, the Secretary-General was also briefed by the Force Commander of the Gang Suppression Force.
Before the day is over, the Secretary-General will have met with the Prime Minister. He will also be meeting with Haitians impacted by the violence in the country. And of course, he will stop and meet with representatives of civil society, as well as our UN colleagues on the ground.
At about 3:40 p.m., the Secretary-General is expected to speak to the press. He will then had back to Santo Domingo, and before flying back to New York tomorrow, he will have a meeting with the President of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo and will also meet with the UN country team.
On his arrival yesterday in Santo Domingo, the Secretary-General thanked the Dominican Government for the support they have been providing to the UN’s work in Haiti.
UN INTERIM FORCE IN LEBANON
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon peacekeepers are continuing to observe violence and exchanges of fire within their area of operations, though at a significantly reduced level compared to the weekend.
The mission recorded 38 violations of Lebanese airspace by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) yesterday, down from 83 reported on Sunday.
The number of trajectories of projectiles also dropped markedly, with 174 recorded all day yesterday, compared to 705 on Sunday. Of yesterday’s total, 169 were attributed to the IDF, and five to Hizbullah.
From midnight until 4:00 p.m. local time today, peacekeepers reported 22 airspace violations by the IDF and about 106 trajectories of projectiles, of which 103 were attributed to the IDF. And the remainder to non-State actors, presumably Hizbullah.
UNIFIL continues to monitor IDF ground activities across its area of operations, including armored movements, and logistical and engineering activities as well.
On the humanitarian front, through the Liaison Branch and in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair (OCHA), UNIFIL facilitated one humanitarian mission yesterday to Tyre and surrounding areas.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-06-16