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 […]

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DR Congo: UN vows orderly peacekeeping transition as South Africa withdraws troops

In a statement issued on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 12 January about the decision, which “is influenced by the need to consolidate and realign the resources of the South African National Defence Force, following 27 years of South Africa’s support to UN peacekeeping efforts in the DRC.”  He noted that South Africa is among the top 10 countries contributing troops to […]

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Gaza: Lifesaving aid operations continue despite restrictions

The United Nations said that its teams attempted to coordinate eight humanitarian missions on Friday and five were fully facilitated.  The remaining three – which included a mission to reach a water treatment plant in Khan Younis – were denied by Israel.  Saving lives, beating famine  The successful missions collected food and medical supplies from the Kerem Shalom/Karem Abu Salem crossing. Teams also monitored humanitarian cargo at the Kissufim and Kerem Shalom loading […]

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Sudan: UN rights chief says worse is to come without international action

“We can only expect worse to come” unless action is taken to halt the bloodshed, Mr. Türk told Member States at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, as he reiterated his call for the extension of an arms embargo from Darfur to include all of Sudan. Rival militaries from the national army and Rapid Support […]

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Syria transition gains ground with Kurdish deal, but violence and humanitarian strain persist

Briefing ambassadors for the first time as Deputy Special Envoy, Claudio Cordone pointed to the 30 January ceasefire and integration agreement between the Syrian Government and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a potentially transformative development. The deal provides for a phased military and administrative integration of northeast Syria and includes provisions on the return […]

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Civilians and aid operations under fire as Sudan airstrikes intensify

Two children were reportedly killed and 13 others injured in a drone strike on a mosque in Al-Rahad, North Kordofan, where all the victims were students at the adjoining school. The attack came just hours after a primary school in Dilling, South Kordofan, was hit, with further injuries reported.  WFP warehouse hit  The warehouse of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in the […]

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World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum puts women at the heart of economic transformation

That was the central message of the Manama Declaration, issued at the close of the World Entrepreneurs and Investment Forum (WEIF) held this week in Bahrain. The declaration places women at the heart of economic transformation, underscoring that empowering them within business and innovation ecosystems is essential to achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. It also […]

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Guterres tells AU Summit: ‘This is 2026 – not 1946’ in push for reform

In a world marked by division and mistrust, he said, the African Union (AU) stands as a “flagship for multilateralism,” as he addressed the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa. Mr. Guterres praised Africa’s global leadership in “the struggle for justice and equality,” noting that the UN-AU partnership is stronger than ever, built on […]

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‘Like a scene out of a horror movie’: UN report warns of war crimes in Sudan’s El Fasher

“Persistent impunity fuels continued cycles of violence,” said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, calling for credible investigations and accountability for perpetrators.  Sudan’s national army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia have been fighting each other for control of the country for almost three years. The new report details widespread atrocities committed […]

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Madagascar: ‘Overwhelming’ destruction, surging needs after back-to-back cyclones – WFP

Speaking to reporters from Madagascar’s capital Antananarivo, WFP Country Director Tania Goossens said some 400,000 people are facing acute humanitarian needs after the island was hit by back-to-back cyclones in the space of three weeks. Ms. Goossens recently returned from a mission to the port city Toamasina (also known as Tamatave), the country’s second largest […]

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