World News in Brief: Deadly strikes in Sudan, health systems in South Sudan near the brink, Guterres calls for unity ahead of Ramadan.

Over the past week, North Kordofan state recorded more than a dozen attacks in and around the towns of El Obeid, Bara, Rahad and Um Rawaba.   In South Kordofan, suspected drone strikes hit health facilities in the state capital, Kadugli, and in Kuweik town, reportedly killing four medical workers, injuring more than 20 people.  Concerns over the conflict continue to deepen after a report today […]

Haiti crisis at breaking point as gangs tighten grip ahead of transition deadline

With the political transition set to expire on 7 February, officials cautioned that escalating violence, entrenched criminal networks and mounting humanitarian needs risk pushing Haiti further into instability unless security and political efforts are urgently sustained. Carlos Ruiz-Massieu, the head of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), said the country had entered a “critical […]

New national climate plans unveiled at high-level summit ahead of COP30 conference

New national climate plans unveiled at high-level summit ahead of COP30 conference

The game-changing summit was convened by Secretary-General António Guterres alongside President Luiz Inácio Lula Da Silva of Brazil, host of the COP30 conference which kicks off in November in the Amazonian city of Belém. At the outset, leading climate scientists Johan Rockström and Katharine Hayhoe provided a stark assessment of global efforts so far to […]

What to know ahead of Sept 22 UN summit on Palestine

What to know ahead of Sept 22 UN summit on Palestine

Held on the opening day of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, the annual September gathering of world leaders, the initiative comes amid a deeply worrying regional backdrop of  intensified Israeli military operations that have allegedly killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza since October 7, 2023, Israel’s strikes against Hamas officials in Qatar on […]

UN peacekeeping mandate in Lebanon faces scrutiny ahead of Security Council vote

UN peacekeeping mandate in Lebanon faces scrutiny ahead of Security Council vote

As members of the UN Security Council negotiate the renewal of the UN peacekeeping force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) ahead of a 31 August deadline, the mission’s future role and capacity are under intense debate. UNIFIL has long been a stabilising presence in southern Lebanon, working alongside the Lebanese armed forces, mediating between parties, and supporting […]

‘The real challenge is still ahead’: UN warns on Afghan returnees

‘The real challenge is still ahead’: UN warns on Afghan returnees

“The real challenge is still ahead of us,” Stephanie Loose, Programme Manager in Afghanistan, told journalists in Geneva on Friday. “We’re speaking about the reintegration of people who’ve lost their homes, who’ve lost their assets and also their hope.”  Millions on the move Afghanistan is currently facing an unprecedented returnee crisis.  Since September 2023, some […]

Indigenous youth meet trailblazers ahead of Nelson Mandela Day

Indigenous youth meet trailblazers ahead of Nelson Mandela Day

Accompanied by their parents and mentors from the midwestern state of Wisconsin, the group wore handmade ribbon skirts and vests featuring seven coloured bands, each symbolizing a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of personal significance, such as good health and gender equality. Also visiting the UN in New York for the first time that day was […]

Ahead of UN summit, countries finalise landmark ‘Compromiso de Sevilla’

Ahead of UN summit, countries finalise landmark ‘Compromiso de Sevilla’

On Tuesday, Member States at UN Headquarters endorsed the finalized outcome document, known as the Compromiso de Sevilla (the Seville Commitment), following months of intensive intergovernmental negotiations. It is intended as the cornerstone of a renewed global framework for financing sustainable development, particularly amid a widening $4 trillion annual financing gap faced by developing countries. […]

World News in Brief: Education suffers amid DR Congo violence, WHO greenlights RSV vaccines, more hurricanes ahead for Haiti

World News in Brief: Education suffers amid DR Congo violence, WHO greenlights RSV vaccines, more hurricanes ahead for Haiti

According to UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, more than 290 schools have been damaged or destroyed in Ituri this year alone, bringing the total number of out-of-school children in the province to over 1.3 million. Protection crisis Between January and April 2025, a surge in violence displaced more than 100,000 people – half of them children. […]

DPR Korea ploughing ahead with nuclear and ballistic missile programme

DPR Korea ploughing ahead with nuclear and ballistic missile programme

Briefing ambassadors in the Security Council on Wednesday, Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari described a troubling pattern of weapons testing and growing nuclear ambition from DPRK – more commonly known as North Korea. This includes the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in October 2024 and an intermediate-range hypersonic missile last January. Meanwhile, the International […]

‘Recovery must move ahead’ in southern Lebanon, top aid official says

‘Recovery must move ahead’ in southern Lebanon, top aid official says

Imran Riza made the appeal following a visit to Bint Jbeil and Tyre districts on Tuesday. “What I saw in South Lebanon was both depressing and inspiring. The scale of destruction – to villages, health facilities, and water systems – is disturbing,” he said in a statement. Fighting, ceasefire and escalation The crisis stems from […]