https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/ossg/latest-statements Latest Statements, Off-the-Cuff and Readouts from Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary General of the United Nations en https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2025-01-01/secretary-generals-message-for-new-year-2025-scroll-down-for-official-language-versions Please also refer to this related link from the World Meteorological Organization:  27/12/2024 - 15:27 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2025-01-01/secretary-generals-message-for-new-year-2025-scroll-down-for-official-language-versions https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-29/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-plane-crash-the-republic-of-korea The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the news of a plane crash in Muan county in the Republic of Korea, which has claimed the lives of 179 people. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Korea during this difficult time. The Secretary-General also wishes a swift and full recovery to those injured in this tragic event. 29/12/2024 - 15:46 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-29/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-plane-crash-the-republic-of-korea https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-29/secretary-generals-statement-the-passing-of-former-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-mr-james-earl-%E2%80%9Cjimmy%E2%80%9D-carter-jr I am deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the 39th President of the United States of America, Mr. James Earl “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. I extend my deepest condolences to the Carter family and the Government and people of the United States. President Carter's leadership contributed significantly to international peace and security, including the landmark Camp David Accords, the SALT II Treaty and the Panama Canal Treaties. 29/12/2024 - 19:36 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-29/secretary-generals-statement-the-passing-of-former-president-of-the-united-states-of-america-mr-james-earl-%E2%80%9Cjimmy%E2%80%9D-carter-jr https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-27/statement%C2%A0attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general%C2%A0-the-death%C2%A0of%C2%A0manmohan-singh%C2%A0former-prime-minister-of-the-republic-of-india The Secretary-General was saddened to learn of the passing of H. E. Mr. Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister of the Republic of India.      Mr. Singh played a pivotal role in India's recent history, particularly in shaping its economic trajectory. As Prime Minister from 2004 to 2014, Mr. Singh oversaw a period of significant economic growth and development in India. Under his leadership, India also strengthened its collaboration with the United Nations, contributing actively to global initiatives and partnerships.   27/12/2024 - 16:16 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-27/statement%C2%A0attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general%C2%A0-the-death%C2%A0of%C2%A0manmohan-singh%C2%A0former-prime-minister-of-the-republic-of-india https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-27/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-epidemic-preparedness-scroll-down-for-french-version COVID-19 was a wake-up call to the world. Millions of lives lost, economies shattered, health systems pushed to the brink and daily life upended for all of humanity. The crisis may have passed, but a harsh lesson remains: the world is woefully unprepared for the next pandemic. Outbreaks of mpox, cholera, polio and Marburg are startling reminders that infectious diseases remain a real and present danger to every country. On this International Day of Epidemic Preparedness, I call on countries to heed the lessons of past health emergencies to help prepare for the next. 20/12/2024 - 12:26 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-27/secretary-generals-message-the-international-day-of-epidemic-preparedness-scroll-down-for-french-version https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-26/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-mozambique The Secretary-General takes note of the announcement of the Constitutional Council of Mozambique regarding the outcome of the general elections held on 9 October 2024.  He continues to follow developments closely. The Secretary-General is concerned about the post-election violence, which has resulted in loss of lives, and the destruction of public and private property. 26/12/2024 - 15:19 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-26/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-mozambique https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-26/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-yemen The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about intensified escalation in Yemen and Israel. Israeli airstrikes today on Sana’a International Airport, the Red Sea ports and power stations in Yemen are especially alarming. The airstrikes reportedly resulted in numerous casualties including at least three killed and dozens more injured.    26/12/2024 - 17:02 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-26/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-yemen https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-25/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-plane-crash-kazakhstan The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the news of a plane crash in western Kazakhstan, which has claimed the lives of many, including citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and the Russian Federation. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and expresses his profound sympathy to the affected nations. The Secretary-General also wishes a swift and full recovery to those injured in this tragic incident. 25/12/2024 - 23:09 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-25/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-plane-crash-kazakhstan https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-24/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-the-un-disengagement-observer-force-%28undof%29 The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Brigadier General Amitabh Jha of India, who served as Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) from April 2023. He recently served as acting Force Commander of UNDOF in complex circumstances, following the fall of the Assad government in Syria. He will be remembered for his leadership and unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, including in MONUSCO as a Military Observer from 2005 to 2006. 24/12/2024 - 16:09 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-24/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-the-un-disengagement-observer-force-%28undof%29 https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-24/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-adoption-of-the-united-nations-convention-against-cybercrime The Secretary-General welcomes the adoption of the “United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes”, which is the first international criminal justice treaty to have been negotiated in over 20 years.   24/12/2024 - 17:36 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-24/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-the-adoption-of-the-united-nations-convention-against-cybercrime https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-24/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-sudan The Secretary-General is alarmed by the rapidly worsening food security situation in Sudan, as access to food and nutrition for millions of people across the country continues to deteriorate according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).   The latest report by the IPC’s Famine Review Committee indicates that famine conditions are present in at least five locations in Sudan, including displacement camps in North Darfur and in the western Nuba Mountains in South Kordofan. Five other areas are identified as being at risk in the coming months.    24/12/2024 - 15:25 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-24/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-for-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-sudan https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-20/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-of-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-sudan The Secretary-General is outraged by the killing of three World Food Programme staff members in Sudan on 19 December, when the agency’s field office in Yabus, in Blue Nile State, was hit by aerial bombardment.  He sends his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and their WFP colleagues.   The Secretary-General condemns all attacks on UN and aid personnel and facilities. He calls for a thorough investigation.   20/12/2024 - 09:41 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-20/statement-attributable-the-spokesperson-of-the-secretary-general-%E2%80%93-sudan https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-message-the-11th-summit-of-the-d-8-organization-for-economic-cooperation Download the video: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/downloads2.unmultimedia.org/public/video/evergreen/MSG+SG+/SG+16+Dec+24/3323305_MSG+SG+SUMMIT+OF+THE+D-8+ORGANIZATION+16+DEC+24.mp4 Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, 18/12/2024 - 09:30 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-message-the-11th-summit-of-the-d-8-organization-for-economic-cooperation https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-artificial-intelligence-bilingual-delivered Mr. President, Excellencies, I thank the United States for convening the meeting on Artificial Intelligence and the Maintenance of International Peace and Security. I briefed this Council about AI in July 2023.  As I said then, those that feel like technology is moving very fast must understand a simple fact: Technology will never move in the future as slowly as today. In the short time since, Artificial Intelligence has moved at breakneck speed. 19/12/2024 - 10:01 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-remarks-the-security-council-artificial-intelligence-bilingual-delivered https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-press-encounter-syria The Middle East is being consumed by many fires.    But today there is a flame of hope in Syria.    That flame must not be extinguished.   The people of Syria stand at a moment of history – and a moment of opportunity.    That opportunity cannot be missed.   The end of more than five decades of brutal, dictatorial rule has given rise to much hope.   We share that hope with the Syrian people and we stand with them.    19/12/2024 - 09:49 United Nations Office of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/press-encounter/2024-12-19/secretary-generals-press-encounter-syria