Week in Review

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Week in Review 20 September 2025

Catch up on this week's must-read stories, ahead of the UN's big week The big week is nearly upon us. World leaders are beginning to arrive, although insiders here in New York will be paying almost as much attention to those who've chosen not to fly into JFK for UNGA80. We have a huge week of coverage ahead for you, featuring all the action on the podium and plenty beyond it and behind the scenes. We've already posted some of the explainers and backgrounders you'll need to navigate the key speeches and the key issues. We'll have live pages to capture all the big moments, formal and informal. You can find it all on our English News page, news.un.org. Many of the world's most vulnerable won't have the luxury of watching the events in New York. This week things went from bad to worse for the people of Gaza, Darfur, Ukraine, Haiti and elsewhere, check out our roundup below of where the world stands – and as hopes rise that diplomacy here, can help ease some of the suffering felt around the world. 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.

Voices of the world gather at the UN: What you need to know about UNGA80 World leaders are converging on United Nations Headquarters along the East River in Manhattan for what is shaping up to be one of the most consequential annual gatherings in recent memory. Read more UN Affairs Guterres pushes leaders to 'turn the tide' on global crises during high-stakes UNGA week Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark call to world leaders on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly's high-level week, warning that a "global crisis" of war, climate change, inequality and technological risk demands urgent, coordinated action. Read more UN Affairs Gazans flee 'death and devastation' with no transportation or means of shelter In the face of escalating Israeli military operations, thousands of Palestinian families continue to flee the northern Gaza Strip amid dire humanitarian conditions and transportation shortages.  Read more Peace and Security Afghanistan: Ban on secondary education for girls marks four long years For millions of girls in Afghanistan, it has been four long years since the ban on secondary education came into force, one of many rights abuses rolled out by the de facto authorities since they regained control of Kabul. Read more Human Rights UN backs Abbas video address after US visa refusal The UN General Assembly on Friday adopted a resolution allowing Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to address next week's high-level debate by pre-recorded video after the United States refused to issue visas for Palestine's delegation. Read more UN Affairs Sudan crisis: Surge in summary executions by all warring parties At least 75 people have been killed, according to news reports, in a drone strike on a mosque during morning prayers in El Fasher city, in the west of the war-torn country. Read more Peace and Security UNICEF aid trucks robbed at gunpoint in Gaza City Humanitarian aid in Gaza must be protected, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday, following the theft of therapeutic food critical for saving thousands of young lives from malnutrition as famine spreads.  Read more Humanitarian Aid UN must evolve to 'stand strong' for the next 80 years: General Assembly president As the United Nations marks 80 years of existence, it must adapt and evolve to be fit for future generations, the President of the General Assembly said on Wednesday during a briefing to journalists in New York.  Read more UN Affairs Afghanistan quake: Rescuers dodge dangers, women and girls face disaster, warns UN Women and girls still reeling from Afghanistan's deadly earthquake face even greater suffering rebuilding their lives and livelihoods – with little help to hand, gender equality agency UN Women said on Friday.  Read more Humanitarian Aid Security Council: US votes against resolution on Gaza ceasefire  The United States once again vetoed a UN resolution demanding an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, following a vote in the Security Council on Thursday.  Read more Peace and Security Fragile progress in Syria, at risk from exclusion and foreign interference, UN warns Syria's tentative steps towards recovery could quickly unravel without inclusive politics, sustained aid and respect for national sovereignty, top UN officials cautioned the Security Council on Thursday. Read more Peace and Security 'No end' expected to floods and storms as global heating continues The world's water resources face growing pressure from climate change while emergencies involving the life-giving resource are increasingly impacting lives and livelihoods, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday. Read more Climate and Environment 'The needs are huge': Pakistan reels from floods as millions left homeless A senior UN humanitarian official in Pakistan has warned that "the needs are huge" as massive floods across Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan continue to leave millions homeless, destroying vital crops and pushing fragile communities to the brink. Read more Humanitarian Aid Ahead of high-stakes General Assembly week, Guterres urges world leaders to 'get serious – and deliver' UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged world leaders to "get serious – and deliver" as they begin arriving in New York for the high-level week of the 80th General Assembly. Read more Peace and Security Gaza: Top independent rights probe alleges Israel committed genocide Senior independent rights investigators appointed by the Human Rights Council alleged on Tuesday that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, a charge flatly rejected by Tel Aviv. Read more Peace and Security Gender equality: UN Women calls for political will and accelerated global action More than 351 million women and girls could still be living in extreme poverty by the end of the decade if current trends persist. Read more SDGs UN's Guterres condemns gang attack in Haiti that killed at least 40 Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday strongly condemned a deadly gang attack in Haiti that left at least 40 people dead, including women, children and the elderly, in the commune of Cabaret. Read more Peace and Security

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