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Week in Review 17 January 2026

Catch up on this week's must-read stories This week saw the UN's two key figureheads make a passionate, direct and resounding defence of the United Nations mission and the Charter that underpins it all. UN chief António Guterres and General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock laid out what is at stake as another tumultuous year gets underway - and why it matters that multilateralism grows stronger, not weaker. In the search for solutions that only a body as big and comprehensive as the UN can provide for complex global issues, we previewed the entry into force of the landmark international ocean treaty on Saturday. The Security Council hosted emergency sessions on Ukraine and Iran, showing how power dynamics are changing and underlining that most of the world wants international law to remain central to our collective mission.  We kept you up to date on every development in Gaza, as phase two of the Trump peace plan got tentatively underway and as aid and reconstruction levels remain bogged down in winter mud, despite some major improvements for Gazans in need, since the October ceasefire got underway. All this and much more, including Yemen, Haiti, Venezuela, Myanmar, and Africa in the spotlight during a busy week of diplomacy and live-saving aid delivery.

Game-changing international ocean treaty comes into force Almost two decades in the making, an international agreement to protect and sustainably use marine life in international waters and the international seabed is due to come into force on Saturday, marking a major step forward in efforts to ensure the health of ocean ecosystems for decades to come. Read more Climate and Environment Ukraine: Families in 'survival mode' amid Russian strikes and deadly cold Families across Ukraine are in "constant survival mode" amid ongoing waves of Russian missile and drone strikes that have left blocks without power for days at a time, while temperatures plunge to deadly lows, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) said on Friday. Read more Peace and Security Security Council LIVE: UN raises alarm over deadly Iran protests and 'possible military strikes' The UN Security Council is meeting in New York in emergency session on Iran, amid escalating concern over reports that hundreds have been killed during weeks of nationwide anti-government protests. The meeting was requested by the United States. Demonstrations that began in late December, fuelled by soaring inflation, rising food prices and the collapse of the national currency, triggered a deadly and widespread crackdown with thousands injured and detained, according to numerous firsthand accounts. The UN has called for independent investigations into all killings and warned against the possible use of the death penalty against protesters. Follow live coverage below, and UN News app users can go here. Read more Peace and Security UN chief warns of a world in chaos as impunity and unpredictability spreads In his final annual address outlining his priorities, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is "brimming with conflict, impunity, inequality and unpredictability" – even as international cooperation is fraying at the moment it is most needed. Read more UN Affairs The UN is 'worth fighting for': General Assembly President With the multilateral system under pressure and under attack, Member States must fight for the United Nations, the President of the General Assembly said on Wednesday, laying out her priorities for its resumed 80th session.  Read more UN Affairs Yemen's fragile calm unravels as hunger and aid restrictions deepen crisis A fragile political calm in Yemen is fraying, with renewed instability and aid restrictions deepening hunger, illness and displacement for millions of civilians, senior UN officials warned the Security Council on Wednesday. Read more Peace and Security East Jerusalem: Forced shutdown of UN clinic signals escalating disregard for international law The temporary closure of a UN-run health centre in East Jerusalem is the latest phase in "a pattern of deliberate disregard" for international law, the head of the UN agency that assists Palestine refugees, UNRWA, said on Wednesday.  Read more Humanitarian Aid 11-year streak of record global warming continues, UN weather agency warns The past 11 years have been the warmest in the modern era, while oceans continue to heat up, too, says the UN weather agency. Read more Climate and Environment Global employment stable but decent jobs in short supply Global unemployment remains stable, but progress toward decent work has stalled, according to a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO), which warns that young people continue to struggle in a job market which risks being further undermined by AI and trade policy uncertainty. Read more Economic Development In Haiti's storm-hit south, food vouchers restore choice and dignity for families Standing outside a colourfully painted building in southeastern Haiti, at the entrance to a bustling shop called Gods Will Depot where bags of food are stacked to the ceiling, Ketia surveys the large pile of groceries she has selected for her family: a big sack of flour, packages of spaghetti, boxed milk, some bars of soap. Read more Humanitarian Aid Increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcohol to save lives, urges WHO Beverages like sugary drinks and alcohol are too accessible and cost too little in most of the world – helping fuel obesity, diabetes, cancer and injury, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Tuesday. Read more Health UN World Court begins landmark hearings on Rohingya genocide case against Myanmar Public hearings opened on Monday at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in a landmark case brought by the Gambia against Myanmar, alleging violations of the Genocide Convention over the military's treatment of the Rohingya minority. Read more Human Rights Venezuela: UN independent investigators call for immediate release of all political prisoners More than 100 political prisoners have been released in Venezuela, the Government announced on Monday, just over a week after the seizure and rendition of President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas by the United States. Read more Human Rights 'Beyond GDP' economists push for clearer metrics on wellbeing, sustainability Top finance experts are meeting at UN Geneva this week to push for a radical shake up in the way economic growth is gauged, in response to concerns that GDP measurements provide little insight about progress on key sustainability targets that are vital to our survival. Read more Economic Development

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