Week in Review

Welcome to the United Nations View in browser

UN News Global perspective Human stories

Week in Review 20 December 2025

Catch up on this week's must-read stories The week ended with cautious news from Gaza. A UN-backed analysis released on Friday found that famine conditions have been pushed back following improved access after the October ceasefire. But the relief is fragile: millions still face acute hunger and malnutrition, and nearly the entire territory remains in emergency conditions. Conflict and instability continued elsewhere. In Sudan, fighting intensified, with new displacement and a deadly drone attack on a UN peacekeeping base in Kordofan. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council extended the UN peacekeeping mission as M23 offensives fuelled violence in the east. At UN Headquarters, attention turned to the future. Member States pledged to close digital divides and strengthen safeguards around artificial intelligence. Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt also spoke to UN News on the sidelines of the meeting, reflecting on creativity, inclusion and shared responsibility in the digital age. Beyond the digital agenda, a new UN-backed agreement to modernise global shipping was adopted, promising faster and more flexible global trade. Health also remained a priority this week, with the World Health Organization warning that vaccination is still the best defence as a new influenza variant spreads early this season. Stay informed with UN News online, on our app and across social media.

Gaza famine pushed back, but millions still face hunger and malnutrition, UN says Food security in Gaza has improved since the ceasefire declared in October, pushing back famine conditions, but the situation remains critical with more than three-quarters of the population still facing acute hunger and malnutrition, a new UN-backed analysis has found. Read more Peace and Security Security Council renews DR Congo peacekeeping mission amid renewed M23 offensives in the east The UN Security Council on Friday unanimously extended the mandate of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for another year, as fighting in the country's east intensified amid renewed offensives by the M23 rebel group. Read more Peace and Security Sudan: UN strongly condemns deadly drone attack on peacekeeping base in Kordofan Drone attacks targeting the UN logistics base in Kadugli, Sudan, on Saturday killed six peacekeepers and injured eight others – all members of the Bangladeshi contingent serving in the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Read more Peace and Security Fifty days on, Jamaica struggles to rebuild after Hurricane Melissa's unprecedented destruction Fifty days have passed since Hurricane Melissa ravaged Jamaica, leaving behind an unprecedented trail of destruction.  Read more Climate and Environment Sudan war: Kordofan's El-Obeid 'one or two steps' away from being attacked As fighting escalates in Sudan, "people are scared, people are fleeing their homes", the UN migration agency, IOM, said on Friday, noting that more than 50,000 people have been uprooted since late October in the Kordofans region alone.   Read more Peace and Security New influenza variant is surging, but vaccination still our best bet: WHO Amid an early start to the Northern Hemisphere influenza season a new variant of the virus is rapidly gaining ground - but vaccination remains the "most effective defence", the UN health agency said on Tuesday. Read more Health At UN, nations pledge people-first digital future, tighter AI safeguards UN Member States on Wednesday pledged to narrow widening digital divides and put stronger safeguards around artificial intelligence (AI), as the General Assembly concluded a major review of how the world manages the Internet and fast-evolving digital technologies. Read more Economic Development UN deal delivers a smoother ride for global trade Moving goods around the world could soon become cheaper, faster and far more flexible, following the adoption of a new United Nations-backed agreement that modernises the paperwork behind global shipping. Read more Economic Development

COPYRIGHT    |    FAQ    |    FRAUD ALERT    |    PRIVACY NOTICE    |    TERMS OF USE

Unsubscribe    |    Update preferences