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Week in Review 13 September 2025

Catch up on this week's must-read stories We're only days away from a diplomatic milestone: the 10,000th meeting of the UN Security Council. History will judge what the deliberations inside the iconic chamber have yielded, but this week ambassadors debated a host of escalating crises and it's still the only permanent global forum designed to address peace and security issues. We had live coverage and analysis of it all. In the new General Assembly, its new dynamic woman president is promising "no ordinary session". We'll have full coverage later this month of high-level week, which promises to be one of the most consequential in years. We have updates on other key running stories, from Afghanistan and Sudan to Myanmar and Ukraine. Despite all the grim crises and seemingly intractable war, we end the week with a surge of hope in Nepal, which began the week in chaos and violence and ends it with the appointment of its first woman prime minister, who's also served as the nation's only chief justice.  Stay informed – follow UN News online, on our App, and on social media for the latest updates from the United Nations in New York, Geneva, Nairobi and around the world.

The night the mountains shook: A doctor on the front lines of Afghanistan's earthquake The first jolt threw Dr. Abdul Mateen Sahak out of bed. The second sent him to his phone. It was right before midnight, last Sunday, and the steep, mountainous valleys of eastern Afghanistan had just been hit by a powerful 6.0-magnitude earthquake, closely followed by the first of many aftershocks. Read more Climate and Environment Nepal appoints first woman prime minister, as UN expresses solidarity amid crisis UN agencies in Nepal welcomed the appointment of Sushila Karki as interim prime minister on Friday, as the country reels from a deadly crackdown on youth-led protests that left more than 50 dead, widespread destruction and forced the resignation of her predecessor. Read more Peace and Security General Assembly endorses New York Declaration on two-State solution between Israel and Palestine Applause rang out in the UN General Assembly Hall on Friday as countries endorsed a declaration on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and implementation of the two-State solution with Israel.  Read more Peace and Security UN warns of escalation risk after large-scale Russian drone incursion into Poland Reports that Russian drones crossed deep into Polish territory and were shot down by NATO allies highlight the growing regional risks of the war in Ukraine, UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo told ambassadors in the Security Council on Friday. Read more Peace and Security DPR Korea: UN report finds human rights situation still dire, a decade on The death penalty in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is "more widely allowed by law and implemented in practice" than a decade ago, said a senior UN human rights official on Friday.  Read more Human Rights 'No ordinary session': Baerbock opens UN General Assembly with call for courage and reform As the UN General Assembly opened its 80th session on Tuesday, new President Annalena Baerbock called on Member States to unite in addressing global crises – from war and poverty to climate change – taking her oath on the original 1945 Charter and pledging to lead with courage and inclusiveness. Read more Peace and Security Afghanistan: Lifesaving services cut as Taliban bars women aid workers The ongoing humanitarian response to the devastating Afghanistan earthquake disaster continued on Friday, although essential services have been cut for operational reasons following reinforced Taliban restrictions on women working with the UN, the global body said. Read more Humanitarian Aid Sudan: As children continue to suffer, school remains a distant hope Aid agencies working in war-torn Sudan issued an alert on Friday over the particular harm faced by children there, the longer the conflict goes on. Read more Peace and Security Israeli strike in Doha marks 'alarming escalation', warns top UN official, in call to uphold diplomatic norms The Security Council on Thursday heard from the UN's top political affairs official on Israel's deadly airstrike in Doha – an "alarming escalation" condemned as a violation of sovereignty that threatens ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations in Gaza. Read more Peace and Security 'Wars, disasters, displacement, hunger' continue to burden Myanmar Millions of people in Myanmar "live in daily fear for their lives," said the head of the UN refugee agency on Thursday, following a three-day visit to the conflict-ridden country. Read more Peace and Security Ukraine: Guterres greatly concerned over reported Russian incursion into Polish airspace The UN Secretary-General is closely monitoring reports that Russian drones violated Polish airspace overnight into Wednesday, resulting in damage to some residential areas. Read more Peace and Security 'Shift the narrative' on suicide to prevent loss of 720,000 lives annually More than 720,000 people commit suicide every year and many more attempt it. Now the head of the UN's World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for "shifting the narrative" on the issue "to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma and foster compassionate conversations." Read more Health Nuclear watchdog chief announces breakthrough on Iran monitoring The head of the UN's atomic energy agency announced on Wednesday that a deal has been struck with Iran to resume cooperation on inspections of Tehran's nuclear facilities. Read more Peace and Security Child obesity level surpasses underweight cases worldwide for the first time, UNICEF warns For the first time in history, obesity has surpassed those underweight as the most common form of malnutrition among school-age children and adolescents worldwide, UNICEF revealed in a new report on Tuesday. Read more Health Guterres condemns Israeli strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar as 'flagrant violation' The UN Secretary-General has condemned an Israeli strike targeting Hamas leaders in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on Tuesday, while highlighting the "very positive role" played by the country in achieving a ceasefire in Gaza and securing the release of hostages. Read more Peace and Security Military spending worldwide hits record $2.7 trillion Global military spending reached an unprecedented $2.7 trillion in 2024 amid intensifying wars and rising geopolitical tensions worldwide.  Read more Peace and Security Sudan's people tortured and killed in 'slaughterhouses', rights probe says A high-level independent rights probe into the brutal war in Sudan condemned the many grave crimes committed by all combatants, citing evidence indicating that civilians have been "deliberately targeted, displaced and starved". Read more Peace and Security Window to prevent famine spreading in Gaza is 'closing fast', UN warns The narrow window to prevent the spread of famine from northern Gaza to other parts of the Strip is closing fast, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator said on Sunday. Read more Peace and Security Local leadership powers Indonesia's climate ambitions In the heart of Indonesia's vast tropical landscapes, the province of Riau, known for its rich peatlands and biodiversity, is emerging as a beacon of climate leadership thanks to a new initiative that places local leadership and customary knowledge at the centre of climate action, in line with national policies.  Read more Climate and Environment

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