Source: United Nations (Video News)
Briefing by Ms. Vivian van de Perre, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations, United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the situation in the country.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) for South Sudan Nicholas Haysom and the Permanent Representative of China to the United Nations, Fu Cong, commend a virtual reality (VR) screening exceptionally held at the UN Security Council this Wednesday. All Security Council members got the opportunity to get an immersive experience of a video showcasing the critical work of UN peacekeepers on the ground in South Sudan.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Opening remarks by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the 421st Meeting of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP).
Source: United Nations (Video News)
The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi, is in Ukraine to assessing the damage to key electricity substations that are critical to the country’s nuclear safety. Grossi provides an overview of progress being made on new power plants being built in the Cherkasy a region in the centre of the country.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
SONA 2025 rehearsals
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli conducts a site visit to Afrika Tikkun PYEl Jobs boost implementing partner
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhauli conducts a site visit to Delft Library PYEI NYS programme implementing partners
Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
Dani Rodrik has long argued against unfettered globalization and supports countries’ use of industrial policy to pursue economic development.
The Harvard economist joins us to talk about the usefulness and limitations of trade tariffs, economic nationalism, and the impact of global economics on democracy.
Catch up on all the action from the Annual Meeting 2025 at wef.ch/wef25 (http://wef.ch/wef25) and across social media using the hashtag #WEF25.
Links:
World Economic Forum Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics (https://centres.weforum.org/centre-for-regions-trade-and-geopolitics/home) : https://centres.weforum.org/centre-for-regions-trade-and-geopolitics/home From Blind Spots to Insights: Enhancing Geopolitical Radar to Guide Global Business: https://www.weforum.org/publications/from-blind-spots-to-insights-enhancing-geopolitical-radar-to-guide-global-business/ Related podcasts:
What just happened in Davos, and how is the world different now? (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/davos-2025-what-just-happened/) The global economy ‘at a crossroads’ ahead of Davos: Chief Economists Outlook (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-ralph-ossa-wto/)
Global Risks Report: the big issues facing the world at Davos 2025 (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2025/)
IMF’s Gita Gopinath: What’s ahead for economic growth in 2025 (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/gita-gopinath-imf-economic-outlook/)
Check out all our podcasts on wef.ch/podcasts (http://wef.ch/podcasts) :
YouTube: (https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts) – https://www.youtube.com/@wef/podcasts
Radio Davos (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1504682164) : https://pod.link/1504682164
Meet the Leader (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1534915560) : https://pod.link/1534915560
Agenda Dialogues (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/agenda-dialogues) – subscribe (https://pod.link/1574956552) : https://pod.link/1574956552
Join the World Economic Forum Podcast Club (https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub) : https://www.facebook.com/groups/wefpodcastclub
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
It was important to me that on my first foreign trip as Secretary I made a stop in San José. Costa Rica is a model for what other countries in the region and around the world can one day become. I am grateful to President Rodrigo Chaves for his warmth and hospitality. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio holds a press availability with Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo in Guatemala City, Guatemala, on February 5, 2025.
———-
Under the leadership of the President and Secretary of State, the U.S. Department of State leads America’s foreign policy through diplomacy, advocacy, and assistance by advancing the interests of the American people, their safety and economic prosperity. On behalf of the American people we promote and demonstrate democratic values and advance a free, peaceful, and prosperous world.
The Secretary of State, appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, is the President’s chief foreign affairs adviser. The Secretary carries out the President’s foreign policies through the State Department, which includes the Foreign Service, Civil Service and U.S. Agency for International Development.
Get updates from the U.S. Department of State at www.state.gov and on social media!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/statedept
X: https://x.com/StateDept
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statedept
Flickr: https://flickr.com/photos/statephotos/
Subscribe to the State Department Blog: https://www.state.gov/blogs
Watch on-demand State Department videos: https://video.state.gov/
Subscribe to The Week at State e-newsletter: http://ow.ly/diiN30ro7Cw
State Department website: https://www.state.gov/
Careers website: https://careers.state.gov/
White House website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
Terms of Use: https://state.gov/tou
#StateDepartment #DepartmentofState #Diplomacy
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
The White House
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
– Palestinians
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Gaza
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Sudan
– South Sudan
– Sweden
– Aga Khan
– Iraq
– Senior Appointment
– Financial Contribution
– Guest
PALESTINIANS
This afternoon, the Secretary-General has a scheduled appearance at the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. In his remarks, he will tell the committee, following the agreement that has been in effect, that we must keep pushing for a permanent ceasefire and the release of all hostages without delay. We cannot go back to more death and destruction.
In speaking to the broader situation, the Secretary-General will say that in the search for solutions we must not make the problems worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing and, of course, he will reaffirm the two-state solution. And you can follow those remarks on UN WebTV starting at 3 p.m.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Our Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, is continuing his visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. On the political level, Mr. Fletcher held discussions over the past two days with Israeli authorities, including President Isaac Herzog, as well as officials from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Fletcher described these engagements as practical, emphasizing the need to build on the progress since the ceasefire and sustain the large-scale delivery of UN aid into Gaza. On the ground, Mr. Fletcher visited today different areas of the West Bank.
In East Jerusalem, he visited Silwan neighbourhood where he met with residents facing home demolitions and the threat of forcible eviction by Israeli authorities.
Mr. Fletcher also toured what is known as Area C of the Ramallah governorate, where he heard and saw the humanitarian impact of access restrictions on the livelihoods of Palestinian and their daily lives. These restrictions include Israeli checkpoints and of course the 712-kilometre-long barrier.
And just a short while ago in Ramallah, Mr. Fletcher held discussions with national Palestinian NGOs, who are at the heart of humanitarian response efforts across the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
GAZA
In Gaza, our humanitarian colleagues report that our aid operations – together with our partners – continue to scale up across the Gaza Strip. We are also carrying out assessments to determine the needs of impacted and displaced families, particularly the most vulnerable.
Across Gaza, 22 bakeries supported by the World Food Programme are now operational. And our health partners continue to provide health services as well. We and our partners estimate that more than half a million displaced Palestinians have now returned to the governorates of both Gaza and North Gaza, where there is an urgent need for tents and shelter materials. Our partners say they’ve transported 22 truckloads of tents from southern to northern Gaza yesterday to address these needs but we need to get more tents in.
For its part, UNICEF continues to distribute nutrition support for infants. Across Gaza, the World Food Programme has provided lipid-based nutrient supplements to more than 80,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding women since the ceasefire took effect. Humanitarian partners have screened more than 30,000 children under the age of five for malnutrition since the ceasefire took effect. Of those children under five screened, over 1,000 cases of acute malnutrition have been identified, including 230 cases of severe acute malnutrition.
And to sustain learning activities across the Gaza Strip, education partners established three new temporary learning spaces yesterday in Gaza, Rafah, and Khan Younis governorates, benefiting some 200 children.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=05%20February%202025
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
If you were affected by a recent natural disaster, and are in a county designated for assistance, Help Is Here. To apply for FEMA assistance, or to update your application, go to FEMA.gov/HelpIsHere, or call 1-800-621-3362.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Ms Nonceba Mhlauli visits Kaalfontein High School for back to school campaign
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli Visits Monwabisi Senior Club Centre.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhauli conducts a site visit to Swift Skills Academy
PYEI Jobs Boost implementing partners
Source: European Commission (video statements)
Today, the European Commission announced the launch of a coordinated action against Shein and Temu to protect European consumers.
EUROPEAN CONSUMER SAFETY is our priority!
Any business in the EU market must follow the rules, ensuring that products are safe and consumer rights are respected.
You can find out more about product safety regulations. Find it here: https://europa.eu/!FgBkpR
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
The White House
Source: United States of America – Department of State (video statements)
Companies like Aeroman are key to preventing migration and building a middle class. Security and stability make this possible, and bravo to President Bukele and his leadership for providing that. An impressive place to visit! — Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
DEPUTY PRESIDENT SHIPOKOSA PAULUS MASHATILE DELIVERING A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE LAUNCH OF THE 2024 SOUTH AFRICAN SOCIAL COHESION INDEX (SASCI), IN WESTERN CAPE.
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Petitions Committee has scheduled a debate relating to career breaks for parents of ill children
Robbie Moore MP, has been asked by the Committee to open the debate. The Government will send a Minister to respond.
Read the petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/638449
Find petitions you agree with, and sign them: https://petition.parliament.uk/
What are petition debates?
Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.
Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on the issues raised in the petition at the end of the debate.
The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions to parliament started on petition.parliament.uk
Find out more about how petition debates work: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/content/194347/how-petitions-debates-work/
Stay up-to-date
Follow the Committee on Twitter for real-time updates on its work: https://www.twitter.com/hocpetitions
Thumbnail image ©UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor
Source: US Army (video statements)
: Sgt Joshua Lightfoot, 5th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
For 250 years, America’s Army has served and defended the people of the United States, the American way of life, and our nation. From the Revolutionary War to modern-day missions, the Army’s motto “This We’ll Defend” remains a timeless reminder of its purpose. As the Army looks to the future, it draws inspiration from its rich history, empowering individuals to realize their full potential and embody the values of strength, honor, and commitment.
About the U.S. Army:
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Army250
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Panel Discussion on Paying attention to the Boy Child
Source: US Army (video statements)
: DMD
About the U.S. Army:
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #JPMRC
Source: European Commission (video statements)
The European Union will protect its interests while making the EU-USA transatlantic partnership work.
There are jobs, businesses, and industries in Europe and in the US that rely on the transatlantic partnership. We want to make it work. Not only because of our historic ties with the USA, but because it is simply smart business.
And we will always protect our own interests.
This is the European way.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Informal comments to the media by H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, on the situation in the Northern areas of the West Bank.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Informal comments to the media by H.E. Mr. Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, on situation in the West Bank and on the upcoming Security Council meeting on Palestine. One question was answered in Arabic.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Guest Tomorrow
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Syria
– Sudan
– Libya
– Haiti
– Horst Köhler
– Ukraine
– Human Fraternity
– Honour Roll
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
The Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for the DRC, Bruno Lemarquis, called today for the urgent reopening of the airport in Goma.
Mr. Lemarquis stressed that the airport is a lifeline and that the survival of thousands of people depends on its reopening to facilitate evacuation of injured people, delivery of medical supplies and arrival of humanitarian reinforcements.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that thousands of civilians are still on the move in and around Goma.
Figures remain difficult to verify, but reports indicate significant numbers of people have left displacement sites along the Kanyaruncinya road and moved towards the area of Rutshuru. Other displaced people are also moving towards the Minova area.
Hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced, living in displacement sites or with host communities in North Kivu, including on the Goma-Sake axis, where large numbers of displaced people remain in displacement sites.
OCHA and its partners have been visiting displacement sites outside Goma over the last several days to assess conditions. These efforts are ongoing.
GUEST TOMORROW
Tomorrow, the guest at the Noon briefing will be Vivian van de Perre, the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Protection and Operations.
She will brief reporters live virtually from Goma.
OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORY
Turning to the Middle East. Tom Fletcher, our Emergency Relief Coordinator and head of the Department of Humanitarian Affairs, is continuing his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Today, he was in Nir Oz in southern Israel, where one-quarter of all residents were killed or taken hostage in the Hamas-led attack on 7 October 2023.
In a social media post, Mr. Fletcher stressed that the ceasefire must hold, that all civilians must be protected, and that all hostages must be freed.
He also held several meetings with Israeli officials last night and again today.
They discussed ways to sustain the surge of humanitarian support to Gaza, as well as the ongoing challenges in the West Bank that we have been reporting.
As of earlier today, we and our our humanitarian partners estimate that more than 565,000 people have crossed from the south of Gaza to the north since 27 January. More than 45,000 people have been observed moving from the north to the south.
Meanwhile, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs tells us that we and our partners are working to mitigate the impact of the widespread destruction of critical water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure that is taking place throughout the Gaza Strip.
Some 40 new water points have already been established over the past week, and partners are now trucking water to 272 water points throughout North Gaza governorate alone. Through that, they were able to deliver more than 1,000 cubic metres of safe drinking water and nearly 900 cubic metres of domestic water to about 177,000 people each day.
To address the water shortages, our colleagues at UNOPS, the UN Office for Project Services delivered 40,000 litres of fuel to Gaza City yesterday to power water pumps and facilitate trucking – and we hope to have the Executive Director of UNOPS brief you on the situation in Gaza next week. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme is also expanding fuel storage capacity in the Strip.
Efforts are also ongoing to dispatch water pipes purchased by UNICEF to northern Gaza to prevent key facilities from overflowing before it rains.
We also have an update for you on the winter response in Gaza. Between Thursday and Sunday, our partners distributed tarpaulins and winter clothing to more than 2,000 households in northern Gaza. In southern Gaza, 10,000 tarpaulins were distributed between 25 January and 2 February, with an additional 200 tarpaulins distributed in the Gaza governorate.
Over the past two days, one of our humanitarian partners also distributed 600 tarpaulins to 300 households in the Khan Younis area.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=04%20February%202025
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)