Meetings Coverage

The General Assembly met today to take up drafts on "Follow-up to the outcome of the Millennium Summit", "Global health and foreign policy" and "Report of the United Nations Youth Office", including a debate on the report.

Alarmed by this morning’s killing of Hamas’ leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, which comes on the heels of several recent escalatory events in the Middle East, the UN top political affairs official called today for diplomatic efforts to change the region’s trajectory towards peace and stability.

The Security Council today lifted the arms embargo on the Central African Republic, also deciding that, until 31 July 2025, all Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel of all types to armed groups and associated individuals operating in that country.

Decrying legislative and physical attacks against the United Nations agency providing the backbone for the humanitarian response in Gaza, two senior UN officials urged the Security Council today to act in the face of flagrant violation of international humanitarian law in the Strip, as Council members discussed ways to address the catastrophe unfolding there.

Supplying weapons to Ukraine is legitimate and in line with the Charter of the United Nations, as it will help that country defend itself against the Russian Federation’s aggression, the Security Council heard today, as members presented diverging perspectives on the West’s approach to achieving a just and lasting settlement to the war.

The Economic and Social Council opened its 2025 session today, with the incoming President establishing the global displacement crisis, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to expedite achievement of sustainable development, and greater engagement with international financial institutions to address financing for development gaps as his top areas of focus for the coming year.

The Economic and Social Council concluded its two-day management segment today, focusing on the work of the five UN regional economic commissions.

Seven months of an escalatory trajectory in Yemen — accompanied by threats of a full-scale return to war — reached a new and dangerous level, the Organization’s senior official for that country warned the Security Council today, as he expressed deep concern about a drone attack on Tel Aviv by the Houthis on 19 July and the subsequent Israeli retaliatory attacks on Hudaydah port on 20 July.

The Economic and Social Council began its two-day management segment today, discussing the reports of several of its subsidiary bodies and adopting draft resolutions and decisions contained in the reports.

In the wake of the Houthis’ 19 July attack on Tel Aviv and Israel’s 20 July retaliation against the port of Hudaydah in Yemen, two senior United Nations officials stressed the urgent need to avoid regional escalation before the Security Council today, as members expressed similar concern but disagreed over the party ultimately responsible for the latest developments.