Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
Deputy President Paul Mashatile attends the Official Opening of the first phase of the BAPS Hindu Mandir Temple and Cultural Complex in Johannesburg
Checkout more: http://www.thepresidency.gov.za
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Source: United Nations (Video News)
Catherine Russell never forgets the children she meets. As Executive Director of UNICEF, she bears witness to the stories of tens of millions of children and young people suffering around the world, and shares causes for optimism and hope wherever she finds it.
“Children just want to be children. No matter what, the bleakest situation, the most terrible things, they still want to play right? They want to find some joy. They want to just be kids, and I think that’s what we have to all work to protect.”
2024 was one of the worst years on record for children in conflict, a devastating statistic that the United Nations is refusing to accept as a deadly new normal. In this episode*, Catherine Russell reflects on the impacts of childhood trauma, the limits of human resilience, and looks back on a childhood spent trick-or-treating for UNICEF.
* Episode recorded in the end of 2024
[00:00] Introduction
[03:01] Witnessing suffering firsthand
[05:50] The challenges of war
[07:10] What keeps Catherine awake at night
[09:43] The crisis in Sudan
[10:46] The horrors of sexual violence
[13:56] Afghan girls’ lost opportunities
[16:38] Advocating against child marriage
[18:22] Vaccinating the world’s children
[20:06] Children in Gaza
[22:35] Empowering boys and girls equally
[26:34] Catherine’s personal journey to public service
[28:24] Catherine’s childhood inspiration and mentors
[32:10] Coping with the job’s challenges
[33:47] Closing remarks
Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt
#podcast #unitednations #awakeatnight #UNICEF #children
About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on Model United Nations.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
For Olivia and her family, moving into their new apartment through FEMA’s Direct Lease program marked a significant moment in their recovery after Tropical Storm Helene destroyed their home in North Carolina.
The Direct Lease program, part of FEMA’s Direct Housing mission, works alongside state and county partners to provide temporary housing for disaster survivors. By covering the costs for property managers to offer ready-to-occupy homes, the program helps families take the next step toward rebuilding their lives.
Source: US Army (video statements)
WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES
01.30.2025
SecDef Hegseth Update on Guantanamo Bay Operations and Addresses Tragic Mishap Involving US Army Helicopter
Video by Chad McNeeley and Staff Sgt. John Wright
Office of the Secretary of Defense Public Affairs
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Restoring the historic Palace of Westminster will support jobs and boost businesses nationwide. We’ve involved hundreds of specialists and training providers in our planning.
Judith Cummins MP, Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons and Chair of the Restoration and Renewal Programme Board, speaks about some of the future opportunities
Source: European Central Bank (video statements)
Today our Governing Council decided on monetary policy, determining what’s needed to return inflation to our 2% goal in a timely manner.
Listen to President Christine Lagarde present today’s decisions. The statement also covers:
• how the economy is performing
• how we expect prices to develop
• the risks to the economic outlook
• the dynamics behind financial and monetary conditions
Published and recorded during our press conference on 30 January 2025
Our monetary policy statement at a glance, 30 January 2025 www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conf…_january.en.html
Christine Lagarde, Luis de Guindos: Monetary policy statement, 30 January 2025 www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conf…418aa0f4.en.html
Monetary policy decisions, 30 January 2025 www.ecb.europa.eu/press/pr/date/20…0b29e622.en.html
Combined monetary policy decisions and statement, 30 January 2025 www.ecb.europa.eu/press/press_conf…fb5af6f3189be827
European Central Bank
www.ecb.europa.eu/home/html/index.en.html
You can also listen on all major podcast platforms.
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
The White House
Source: European Central Bank (video statements)
For the International Holocaust Remembrance Day the ECB held a ceremony on Monday, 27 January 2025 in the Grossmarkthalle Jewish memorial.
The European Central Bank annually commemorates the victims of the Holocaust, including those deported from Frankfurt’s Grossmarkthalle. This year, we feature a special photo exhibition, “Survivors, Faces of Life after the Holocaust,” by renowned photographer Martin Schoeller. The exhibition showcases 56 portraits of Holocaust survivors, including Maurice Gluck, who was also present for a discussion.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements-2)
Musawenkosi Buthelezi, Gauteng’s top achiever (7 distinctions) for the class of 2024, and Mufunwa Rasila, who also aced matric with 5 distinctions.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Press conference by Luke Irving, Chief of the Mine Action Programme, in the occupied Palestinian territories, UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), on the situation in Gaza.
UNMAS website: https://www.unmas.org/en/programmes/state-palestine
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Since 1948, more than 1,070 peacekeepers have been killed and 3,000 injured as a result of malicious acts. In its resolution 2589, the Security Council emphasized the critical importance of accountability for crimes against peacekeepers. More than 95 individuals were convicted since 2020 for the killing of peacekeepers. While this progress is significant, more must be done to bring to justice perpetrators of the killing of, and all acts of violence against United Nations personnel serving in peacekeeping operations.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Senior Personnel Appointment
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Peacekeeping
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Security Council
Democratic Republic of the Congo/Humanitarian
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Syria
Peace Operations
Ukraine
Myanmar
Lunar New Year
SENIOR PERSONNEL APPOINTMENT
Yesterday, the Secretary-General appointed Lt. Gen. Ulisses De Mesquita Gomes of Brazil as the new Force Commander for the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / PEACEKEEPING
The peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – MONUSCO- say that the situation in Goma remains tense today, but it is also calmer. But there is, however, continued sporadic shooting but an overall reduction in exchanges of fire within the city.
Continued clashes have been reported in surrounding areas, including in Sake, Northwest of Goma.
The Mission’s priority right now remains the protection of its personnel, its assets and the many civilians sheltering within UN premises. UN peacekeepers are planning on sending patrols today in Goma to assess the situation, to conduct resupplies and assess routes.
In the capital, Kinshasa, the situation is also calm today despite calls for protests that we have seen. The main roads are reported to be empty, and supermarkets are closed due to high risk of looting. That is what the peacekeeping mission is reporting.
You will also remember that a few days ago, we paid tribute to three UN peacekeepers who were killed in the last few days. We are now able to share their names : They were Private Rodolpho Cipriano Alverez Suarez from Uruguay, who was 39; Private Mokote Joseph Mobe, aged 33, and Private Andries Tshidiso Mabele, aged 30. The latter two were from South Africa. We send our deepest condolences to their families, their friends, governments and to all members of the peacekeeping mission.
The total number of UN peacekeepers injured since the most recent assault by the M23 now stands at 22. We reiterate that attacks against UN peacekeepers are not only unacceptable but may also constitute a war crime.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO / SECURITY COUNCIL
Yesterday afternoon, the Deputy Special Representative for Protection and Operations for the Peacekeeping Mission in Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – MONUSCO, Vivian van de Perre, briefed Council members.
She reiterated that the violence in the eastern part of the country has resulted in massive displacement and worsened an already dire humanitarian and protection situation. The degree of suffering that the population in Goma and neighbouring areas is enduring is truly unimaginable, she said.
In the past few days, Ms. Van de Perre told Council members that the peacekeeping mission has received a large number of people seeking refuge.
She called on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians, open humanitarian corridors, and work towards a sustainable and peaceful resolution to this conflict.
Resuming the Luanda Process is of the utmost urgency to ensure a path toward de-escalation and to avert the looming threat of a third Congo war, she added. Military action cannot resolve this conflict, she told council members
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29+January+2025
Source: United Nations (Video News)
A senior UN official briefs the Security Council on the worsening situation in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, saying it is causing unimaginable suffering. MONUSCO Deputy Special Representative Vivian van de Perre urges for maximum efforts to bring an immediate end to the high levels of violence and suffering.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
Material from the asteroid Bennu is revealing that a lost world fostered the building blocks of life… with an unexpected twist.
Join experts on Thursday, January 30, at 3:00 p.m. EST (2000 UTC) as they dive into the recent findings from the asteroid sample NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft brought to Earth in September 2023.
Have questions? Share them in chat and we’ll answer a few live!
Credit: NASA
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are taking a spacewalk outside the International Space Station on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025, to maintain station hardware and collect samples of surface material for analysis from the Destiny laboratory and the Quest airlock. The spacewalk is expected to begin at approximately 8 a.m. EST (1300 UTC) and last for around six and a half hours.
Williams (wearing the suit with red stripes) and Wilmore (wearing the unmarked suit) arrived at the ISS last year and are both crew members of Expedition 72, which began on Sept. 23, 2024. This is Wilmore’s fifth spacewalk and the ninth for Williams.
Follow our space station blog for updates: https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/
Learn more about the Expedition 72 crew: https://www.nasa.gov/mission/expedition-72/
Credit: NASA
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
‘Where I live there is so much shoplifting going on.’
Broadcast Ayesha Hazarika – Baroness Hazarika – is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner. She talks to the Lord Speaker about why she is using her new role to campaign for more to be done to tackle shoplifting and antisocial behaviour.
Find out more, listen now wherever you get your podcasts or search ‘House of Lords’ on YouTube: https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/baroness-hazarika-lord-speakers-corner/
#LordSpeakersCorner #HouseOfLords #LordsMembers
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
From politics to comedy to campaigning against anti-social behaviour, broadcaster Ayesha Hazarika is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.
Baroness Hazarika grew up in Coatbridge, Scotland and is the first person of Indian Assamese heritage to join the House of Lords. She rose to become a senior adviser to Labour figures including Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband, playing a crucial role preparing them for PMQs:
‘I think Prime Minister’s Questions gets a very bad rap, because it does often become quite Punch and Judy, but I think it’s a really important function of our democracy. There are not many democracies around the world where the principal politician in the land is called to the same spot week in, week out, and faces questions on any topic from any Member of Parliament across the country.’
In this episode, Baroness Hazarika talks about her unlikely career path from politics to stand-up comedy and broadcasting, and back to politics. She also explains to Lord McFall how she will use her new political platform to campaign against anti-social behaviour and crime:
‘I don’t like calling this low-level crime, because I don’t think it’s low-level crime. But I think this stuff is not easy, but the more we talk about it and the more we press government ministers, that puts the pressure on them to keep on keeping this a priority.’
Finally, Baroness Hazarika tells Lord McFall about receiving the phone call to offer her a place in the Lords, explaining ‘I really couldn’t believe it, because if you’re somebody like me from my background and you’ve loved politics your whole life, it’s a real honour to be asked to join the House of Lords for the party that you have served and the party you love.’
She shares that this wasn’t the first thought that went through her head though, saying ‘The person said, “I’m calling on behalf of Keir Starmer. This is really serious. Are you by yourself? I think you better sit down.” And the first thing I thought was, “Oh my goodness, what have I been saying on my social media? Am I about to get cancelled, or am I about to get suspended from the Labour Party? Have I said something terrible?’
See more from the series https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/
#HouseOfLords #UKParliament #LordSpeakersCorner #LordsMembers
Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
What happened at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2025, where the world met to discuss ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’?
On Day 1, Donald Trump was inaugurated for his second term as US president, and announced he was withdrawing from the Paris climate deal, as well as the World Health Organisation, and vowed to use trade tariffs to re-shore jobs. On Day 4 he addressed the meeting in a link-up from Washington.
We hear some of that and talk to the people who lead the Forum’s work throughout the year, reflect on the impact of the meeting, held at a pivotal moment for world affairs.
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.
Davos 2025 sessions mentioned in this episode:
Special address by Donald J. Trump, President of the United States of America: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/davos-2025-special-address-donald-trump-president-united-states/
All Hands on Deck for the Energy Transition: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/all-hands-on-deck-for-the-energy-transition/
The Dawn of Artificial General Intelligence?: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/the-dawn-of-artificial-general-intelligence/
Debating Tariffs: https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2025/sessions/debating-tariffs/
Forum reports and initiatives mentioned in this episode:
Chief Economists Outlook: January 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/chief-economists-outlook-january-2025/
Global Risks Report 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/
The Future of Jobs Report 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/the-future-of-jobs-report-2025/
Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-cybersecurity-outlook-2025/
First Movers Coalition: https://initiatives.weforum.org/first-movers-coalition/home
1t.org: https://www.1t.org/
AI Governance Alliance: https://initiatives.weforum.org/ai-governance-alliance/home
AI Competitiveness through Regional Collaboration: (https://initiatives.weforum.org/ai-governance-alliance/aicompetitive) https://initiatives.weforum.org/ai-governance-alliance/aicompetitive
Global Lighthouse Network: https://initiatives.weforum.org/global-lighthouse-network/home
Yes/Cities: https://initiatives.weforum.org/alliance-for-urban-innovation/yes-cities
Related podcasts:
Global Risks Report: the big issues facing the world at Davos 2025 (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2025/) : https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/global-risks-report-2025/
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/) : https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/chief-economists-outlook-ralph-ossa-wto/
Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025: the risks we all face and how to fight back (https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/cybersecurity-outlook-2025/) : https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/radio-davos/episodes/cybersecurity-outlook-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/) : 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/15§ 34915560 (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)
Secretary of State Marco A. Rubio meets with Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly at the Department of State, on January 29, 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: Reserve Bank of New Zealand (video statements)
Full written version of speech available here: https://www.rbnz.govt.nz/hub/news/2025/01/beyond-the-cycle
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
The White House
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Briefing by Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question.
———————————
The Commissioner-General of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini told the Security Council that if full implementation the Knesset legislation begins as expected on Thursday, operations in the occupied Palestinian territory “would be crippled,” and it will “sabotage Gaza’s recovery and political transition.”
At stake, Lazzarini said, “is the fate of millions of Palestinians, the ceasefire and the prospect for a political solution that brings lasting peace and security.”
The UNRWA Commissioner-General said, “tens of thousands of people are now returning to the decimated north to search for the living and to bury the dead. Across the Gaza Strip, Palestinians are turning to UNRWA, the agency they have known all their lives for support.”
Contradicting claims by the government of Israel claims about UNRWA’s role in providing humanitarian assistance, he said, “in fact UNRWA constitute half the emergency response, with all other entities delivering the other half. Since October 2023, we have delivered two third of all food assistance, provided shelter to over a million displaced persons and vaccinated a quarter of million of children against polio.”
Lazzarini told the Council that “the relentless assault on UNRWA is harming the lives and future of Palestinians across the occupied Palestinian territory. It is eroding the trust in the international community, jeopardizing prospects for peace and security.”
He said, “the political attacks on the agency are motivated by the desire to strip Palestinians of the refugee statute, thereby unilaterally changing the long-established parameter for a political solution. The objective is to deny Palestinian refugees the right to self-determination and erase their history and identity.”
Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)
The White House
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (video statements)
The Oak Ridge Boys warn their fans to be wary of scams targeting the elderly.
Source: United Nations (Video News)
Press conference by Thomas Kontogeorgos, Chief of the Office for Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR), Mai Shahin, Combatants for Peace (CFP), and activist Iris Gur on Mine Action Service.