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January 24, 2026 Peace and security

UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine Matthias Schmale strongly condemned the latest wave of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, which has resulted in civilian casualties.

At least one person was reported killed overnight, dozens were injured, and hundreds of thousands were left without power, heat, and water amid severe winter weather.

In Kharkiv, a dormitory housing displaced persons fleeing fighting on the front lines was hit by shelling. A hospital building and residential buildings were also damaged.

In Kyiv, thousands of apartment buildings, which were gradually being reconnected to basic utilities after the attacks of January 9 and 20, were again left without power amid subzero temperatures. The entire city of Chernihiv and hundreds of thousands of families in the Chernihiv region were left without power.

Repair crews and humanitarian aid workers continue to work in freezing temperatures to provide assistance to those affected.

“This systematic cycle of attacks on energy infrastructure violates international humanitarian law and must stop,” the Humanitarian Coordinator said in a statement.

He stressed that civilians should live in their homes safe and warm, not in fear of the next round of destruction.

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Evgeniya Kleshcheva

January 24, 2026 Culture and education

As artificial intelligence penetrates deeper into education systems, the question becomes more pressing: does it improve the quality of learning—or does it undermine the learning process and threaten the well-being of future generations?

In an interview with the UN News Service ahead of International Day of Education, which are celebrated on January 24, Shafika Isaacs, Chief of UNESCO's Section on Technology and AI in Education, emphasized that the organization's mission is not to promote technology for its own sake, but to develop education systems for the benefit of all people. UNESCO serves as a global coordinator, normative benchmark, and capacity-building institution, collaborating with 194 Member States, more than 1,200 research chairs, and a broad network of partners. Through forums such as Digital Learning Week, as well as through publications, including Recommendation on the Ethical Aspects of Artificial Intelligence, the organization shapes a global discourse based on human rights and Sustainable Development Goals.

Myths about AI in Education

According to Isaacs, the discussion of AI in education is largely shaped by a number of myths that threaten the future of learning.

The myth of teacher substitution

"AI can manage data transfer, but it cannot manage human development. Education is, at its core, a social, human, and cultural process, not a technical download of data," she emphasized.

The idea that AI can replace teachers, Isaacs added, is a "fundamental mistake." Reducing the role of educators to that of data administrators undermines the very foundation of education.

Rather than focusing solely on technology, UNESCO emphasizes the need to invest in teachers – including the estimated 44 million teachers the world will need by 2030.

The Myth of Personalization

What is often called AI-powered personalization of learning is in fact “standardized individualization” – the learner, alone in front of a screen, follows an algorithmic path.

Authentic learning, Isaacs emphasizes, is social in nature. It should develop critical thinking, creativity, ethical principles, and the ability to build relationships with others and the environment.

The Myth of Speed

"In dominant discussions of AI, success is measured by how quickly a student finds the right answer. But in education, speed is often the enemy of depth. Effortless learning is thought to be better. In reality, students require cognitive effort, a slow and complex process of critical reflection," she noted.

Where AI can really help

According to a UNESCO representative, the world needs to avoid the so-called "efficiency trap," where learning outcomes are assessed solely by test scores. Instead, AI, she says, offers the opportunity to "rethink the very nature of the learning process."

AI can act as a Socratic, critical assistant, encouraging students to think and explore solutions rather than relying on predefined answers. This approach underlies the "AI Competency Framework" for teachers and students.

Technology also has the potential to enhance linguistic and cognitive inclusivity. Locally developed models can support the preservation and development of indigenous and marginalized languages and provide targeted support for neurodiverse learners.

Furthermore, AI can serve as an early warning system to identify students who may be at risk of dropping out of school for any reason, provided that the algorithms do not reinforce bias based on class, race, gender, or geography.

Main risks

Isaacs identifies three key threats.

Cognitive unloading

The point is that more and more children and adult learners are using AI to perform the most complex mental tasks. This, according to Isaacs, threatens to create a generation capable of generating texts but incapable of deep critical thinking.

Algorithmic bias and loss of data sovereignty

“Without community-owned and culturally relevant AI systems, we are effectively handing over the operating system of our children’s thinking to a few tech companies,” she warned.

The risk of losing control over children's and adults' data, as well as the violation of their privacy, security, and safety, remains one of the most serious threats, according to UNESCO.

The erosion of the social contract

"If we move to a world where the student sits alone in front of a screen and the teacher is reduced to the role of data manager, we will lose the very spirit of the education system and the teaching profession," Isaacs said.

She called for the protection of the "right to develop the human and critical subjectivity" of teachers and students, and for the consideration of "school as a space of social justice and human connection, not simply as a data protocol."

Teachers and students as integral individuals

Teaching, Isaacs emphasized, is not about competition with machines“We are talking about high-level human work in support, mentoring, ethical guidance and creating social support in the learning process.”

The AI Competency Framework for Teachers emphasizes pedagogical agency, ethical decision-making, understanding how AI works, recognizing when it should not be used, and co-creating technologies and professional development pathways.

The competency model for students goes far beyond labor market requirements. It emphasizes ethics and responsibility, creativity and critical thinking, mental health, and civic and social engagement.

A look into the future

According to Isaacs, the global dialogue is shifting "from how to use AI to achieve goals SDG 4, on the question of how to manage AI so that education remains a public good."

UNESCO advocates for the priority of public interests over commercial ones, for ethical systems that are built from the ground up with safety in mind, for international solidarity, and for the creation of a global public space for AI in education – a shared resource of infrastructure, open models, and research.

"The AI divide is becoming the new digital divide," Isaacs warned. "And a renewed multilateral approach means global solidarity is critical to preventing AI from becoming a tool of technological fragmentation."

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January 23, 2026 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the United States to respect the dignity of migrants; the UN resumed humanitarian aid deliveries to the Al-Hol camp in Syria after a three-day pause; two people were killed in a drone strike on a vehicle delivering bread from the World Food Programme in the Kharkiv region; Amina Mohammed emphasized the need to prepare young people for a digital future at a UNESCO event.

US immigration policy

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Friday called on the United States to respect human dignity and the right to due process in its migration policies. He condemned the mistreatment of migrants and refugees. Türk also noted that officials vilify and intimidate those who dare to speak out against immigration raids or peacefully protest. The High Commissioner called on the United States to comply with international law, including those aspects of it that apply to refugees.

Syrian Al-Hol camp

Today, staff from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) were able to access Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria and restore essential supplies. After a three-day hiatus due to the volatile security situation inside the camp, trucks carrying bread entered the camp. Additionally, water tankers, provided by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) with the assistance of UNHCR, were delivered to the camp yesterday.

A car was hit in the Kharkiv region.

On Friday, UN humanitarian agencies reported that a drone strike on a car in the Kharkiv region the previous day killed two people delivering bread from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) to local residents. Attacks on civilians are prohibited under international humanitarian law, the UN noted. This is the 69th attack on WFP-supported facilities in the past two years, including aid distribution centers, warehouses, and vehicles.

International Day of Education

Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is visiting Paris. She participated in a UNESCO event marking International Education Day. She emphasized that education is one of the most powerful tools for changing the world and noted its role in social development. Mohammed also spoke of the need to prepare young people for the digital future, taking into account both the opportunities offered by new technologies and the risks they pose.

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January 23, 2026 UN

The week's top stories: an investigation into crimes committed in North Darfur; the 2025 UNHCR report; large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure; the demolition of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East headquarters in East Jerusalem by Israeli forces; the humanitarian crisis in Haiti; a speech by the UN Deputy Secretary-General to the Danish Parliament; a special session of the UN Human Rights Council; a drone strike on a bread delivery vehicle in Ukraine's Kharkiv region.

В городе Эль-Фашир в Северном Дарфуре были совершены военные преступления и преступления против человечности. Об этом заявила заместитель прокурора Международного уголовного суда (МУС) Нажат Шамим Хан, выступая в понедельник на заседании Совета Безопасности ООН в Нью-Йорке. >

Despite severe funding cuts, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) continued to provide assistance in the world's most challenging humanitarian situations in 2025, according to a UNHCR report published Monday. >>>

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday that he was outraged by the Russian Federation's ongoing large-scale attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. >>>

Reports of Israeli forces demolishing the headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) in occupied East Jerusalem early Tuesday morning have sparked a strong reaction from the United Nations. >>>

According to this year's first World Tourism Barometer, the world is expected to welcome 1.52 billion international tourist arrivals in 2025, an increase of nearly 60 million or four percent over 2024. >>>

In 2026, Haiti continues to face one of the most complex crises in its recent history. On Wednesday, the situation in the Caribbean country once again became the focus of international attention: the UN Security Council convened for its first meeting on Haiti this year. >>>

On Thursday, as President Donald Trump formally launched his Gaza Peace Council, independent UN human rights experts said they would continue to seek justice and accountability for crimes committed by all sides in the war between Hamas and Israel. >>>

Speaking to the Danish parliament on Thursday, the UN Deputy Secretary-General said the world is experiencing a period of dangerous turbulence in which the foundations of the international order, enshrined in the UN Charter, are under threat. >>>

The scale of mass killings on the streets of Iran has decreased, but "state brutality" continues. This was stated by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, speaking at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday. >>>

On Friday, UN humanitarian agencies reported that two people delivering bread from the UN World Food Programme were killed the previous day in the Kharkiv region when a drone struck a car. >>>

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January 23, 2026 Humanitarian aid

Amid negotiations on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, linked to the Peace Council recently established by US President Donald Trump, UN humanitarian agencies on Friday emphasized that the main need of the people of Gaza today is humanitarian aid.

“It is crucial to clear congestion at crossing points and reopen critical routes such as the Jordan corridor,” said Juliet Tuma, Director of Communications for the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

Speaking to reporters, Tuma noted that while the October 3 ceasefire agreement had brought some respite to families, "people are still dying – every day."

According to her, Gaza's most vulnerable residents simply "cannot wait" for a reconstruction plan to be developed, which is one of the stated goals of the Peace Council. Large-scale aid delivery operations must take place in parallel with the plan's discussions.

It remains unclear how exactly the UN will support the Peace Council. However, UN Security Council Resolution 2803, adopted last November and welcoming the creation of the Council, emphasized the importance of cooperation with the United Nations.

"We are very committed to doing everything possible to ensure the full implementation of Security Council resolution 2803," said Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the UN Information Service in Geneva.

"The UN has a role to play – leading the delivery of humanitarian aid. We've been doing this for a long time and will continue to do so within our capabilities," she added.

Since Sunday, humanitarian organizations have provided assistance to 13,000 families in Gaza, distributing hundreds of tents and tarpaulins, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Healthcare needs also remain enormous. Organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), despite numerous challenges, are struggling to provide care to approximately 15,000 patients a day.

"Before the war, we had 22 clinics operating across the Gaza Strip, and now we have about six left," said UNRWA spokesman Jonathan Fowler.

“We have mobile medical teams, but they are working in extremely difficult conditions,” he added.

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January 23, 2026 Humanitarian aid

On Friday, UN humanitarian agencies reported that two people delivering bread from the UN World Food Programme (WFP) were killed the previous day in the Kharkiv region when a drone struck a car.

On the morning of January 22, a vehicle carrying humanitarian aid provided by the WFP and its partners to the villages of Kozachya Lopan and Novaya Kozachya in the Kharkiv region was attacked by a drone near the entrance to one of the villages. Two local officials, aged 35 and 63, who were inside, died instantly.

The food was intended for people living in close proximity to the front lines, where access to food remains extremely limited.

"We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died courageously helping others. Attacks on civilians are prohibited by international humanitarian law," said Richard Regan, WFP Country Director for Ukraine.

"These repeated, senseless attacks on humanitarian operations risk depriving communities living on the front lines of vital assistance," he added.

This is the 69th attack on WFP-supported facilities in the past two years, including aid distribution points, warehouses and vehicles.

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January 23, 2026 Human rights

The scale of mass killings on the streets of Iran has decreased, but "state brutality" continues. This was stated by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, speaking at a special session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Friday.

According to him, repression not only fails to solve the country's problems, but also creates conditions for further human rights violations, instability, and bloodshed.

Türk reported that thousands of people, including children, have been killed since January 8, when security forces began using live ammunition against demonstrators. Accurate figures are difficult to establish, as the authorities simultaneously imposed a widespread communications blackout, and the UN is denied access to the country.

Peaceful protesters were reportedly killed on the streets, in residential areas, universities, and even medical facilities. Video footage obtained by the UN shows hundreds of bodies in morgues with gunshot wounds to the head and chest. Hundreds of security forces are also reported dead.

According to Türk, security forces carried out mass arrests in several cities, harassing the wounded in hospitals and arresting lawyers, human rights defenders, activists, and ordinary citizens. The Tehran prosecutor's office opened criminal cases against athletes, actors, film industry workers, and cafe owners for "supporting the protests."

The High Commissioner is particularly concerned by the statement made by the head of Iran's judiciary this week, who said that "the work has only just begun" and that there will be no leniency for those detained.

Rise in the number of executions

Iran remains one of the world's leading executioners. According to the UN, at least 1,500 death sentences were carried out in the country in 2025—a 50 percent increase from the previous year.

Turk expressed deep concern over the authorities' contradictory statements regarding possible executions of protesters: while Iran's foreign minister insists executions will not be carried out, senior judicial officials continue to threaten charges that carry the mandatory death penalty.

Attempts to discredit the protests

According to Türk, the authorities are attempting to portray protesters as "terrorists," "enemies of the state," and "foreign agents," claiming that peaceful demonstrations have been infiltrated by "rioters." However, he emphasized, this in no way justifies the excessive and disproportionate use of force or absolves the state of its obligations to ensure due process.

Part of a long-term cycle of repression

The High Commissioner recalled that the current wave of protests is the latest stage in Iranians' long-standing demands for change. The last major surge in violence occurred in 2022 following the death of Gina Mahsa Amini, which led to the UN Council's creation of the International Fact-Finding Mission.

The current protests began due to sharp price increases amid a severe economic crisis, exacerbated by harsh domestic policies and international sanctions. Socioeconomic demands quickly escalated into calls for political and structural reforms.

Although the authorities initially declared their willingness to engage in dialogue and announced increased subsidies, they soon returned to their usual tactics of suppression – murder, arrests, and intimidation.

A call for dialogue and reform

Turk emphasized that the only way out of the crisis is dialogue based on respect for the rights of all Iranians. Particular attention, he said, must be given to the voices of women, girls, youth, and ethnic and religious minorities.

The High Commissioner expressed the UN's readiness to support any steps aimed at complying with Iran's international human rights obligations.

Volker Türk called on the international community to take measures to mitigate the negative impact of sanctions on human rights in Iran. He emphasized that aggressive rhetoric and threats only exacerbate the situation and that achieving accountability for violations is impossible through force – either internal or external.

Statement by the Fact-Finding Mission

The UN Fact-Finding Mission in Iran issued a statement on Friday describing the "unprecedentedly brutal" crackdown on protests.

According to the Mission, the government's response quickly escalated from conciliatory rhetoric to widespread violence: security forces used live ammunition, including assault rifles and heavy machine guns, resulting in the deaths of thousands. Evidence points to arbitrary killings, torture, sexual violence, and mass detentions, including of children and journalists. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and relatives searched makeshift morgues for bodies.

The mission emphasized that violations in Iran are systemic and organized. The authorities are concealing the scale of the crisis, including by completely shutting down the internet. Against this backdrop, the judiciary is demanding swift and harsh punishments, including the application of the "enmity against God" law, which carries the death penalty.

The mission called for an urgent international response to gather evidence, establish accountability, protect victims, and end the cycle of impunity that leads to further escalation and the commission of even more serious violations.

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January 23, 2026 UN

From humanitarian crises and youth unemployment to climate resilience and development finance, many of the key global issues of our time are on the agenda of one United Nations body, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year.

Established in 1945, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is mandated to ensure that peace and security are based on economic stability, social progress and international cooperation.

Eight decades after its first meeting in London in early 1946, ECOSOC remains a vital – though often overlooked – driver of the UN's work on sustainable development.

“The Council’s mandate was intense and grew more complex each year: to advance common solutions to the world’s most pressing economic, social and environmental problems,” said the UN Secretary-General. Antonio Guterres at an event at UN headquarters dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Council.

“Nevertheless, for eight decades, ECOSOC has been an engine of progress,” he added.

Wide field of activity

ECOSOC is the United Nations' primary forum for dialogue on global economic, social, and environmental policy. It brings together Member States, UN specialized agencies, and their partners to discuss priorities, share information, and coordinate collective action.

The Council's responsibilities include coordinating the work of regional economic and social commissions, expert bodies, and UN funds and programmes that provide development assistance and formulate policy recommendations that directly impact people's daily lives.

For those unfamiliar with the UN system, ECOSOC's defining feature is its practical influence. It helps shape the UN's response to natural disasters, supports countries recovering from crises, and coordinates international efforts to reduce poverty, create jobs, and protect the environment.

The Council is also responsible for monitoring the implementation of the decisions of major UN conferences and summits, helping to ensure that commitments made by countries are honoured.

UN photo

Delegates to the second session of ECOSOC in May 1946.

The Council evolves with the changing world

Over time, ECOSOC has evolved in response to changes in the global environment. Its membership has expanded from 18 countries at its founding to 54 today. Council members are elected by the General Assembly for three-year terms.

General Assembly reforms over the past decade have strengthened ECOSOC's coordinating role within the UN system, enhancing its ability to identify emerging issues, promote innovation, and integrate the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of development.

"It [the Council] has adapted to a changing world by expanding its membership, strengthening its mandate and reforming the UN development system," Guterres stressed.

Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals

The key focus of the current ECOSOC work cycle is the implementation 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – the UN's global plan to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure shared prosperity.

ECOSOC provides political guidance and oversight for the implementation of this agenda through its annual programme of work, bringing together ministers, senior officials, civil society leaders, academics and private sector representatives around shared priorities.

“ECOSOC plays a central role in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – our shared roadmap to a more peaceful, just and inclusive world,” said UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock at an event marking the Council’s 80th anniversary.

Still relevant

As ECOSOC celebrates its 80th anniversary on 23 January 2026, its core mission remains unchanged: to promote cooperation for shared economic and social progress.

In a world facing multiple crises – from climate change and inequality to humanitarian emergencies – the Council’s behind-the-scenes work continues to shape how the international community responds to these challenges.

“Today’s event is not only an opportunity to reflect on eight decades of progress, but also a reminder of the work that remains to be done,” said Annalena Baerbock.

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January 22, 2026 Peace and security

This week, Russian forces launched a new wave of strikes across Ukraine, leaving hundreds of thousands of families without electricity and heat amid frigid weather.

According to the UN Children's Fund, a 17-year-old boy was killed in a strike in the Odesa region on Wednesday. UNICEF called for "an end to attacks on civilian areas and the infrastructure on which children depend."

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that the attacks on Kryvyi Rih, which began on Wednesday, resumed on Thursday.

"Our humanitarian teams have delivered materials to repair damaged homes and other assistance to affected communities," OCHA said on social media, noting that "cold weather is exacerbating needs and people require urgent assistance."

Russia continues to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure, depriving the population of heating, electricity, and water, said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

"Civilians bear the brunt of these attacks. They can only be described as 'inhumane.' They must stop," he added.

Aid from WHO and Saudi Arabia

Ukrainian healthcare facilities continue to operate under challenging conditions, placing significant strain on the healthcare system.

To ensure the continuity of critical health services, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the King Saudi Arabia Centre for Humanitarian Aid and Support have delivered medical equipment to health facilities located near the front lines.

The latest shipment included 15 anesthesia machines, 8 modern defibrillator-monitors, 15 electrosurgical units, 15 blood warmers, 7 automatic biochemical analyzers, an automatic microbiological analyzer, and other vital equipment for medical institutions.

WHO experts are also training Ukrainian healthcare workers in the effective and safe use of new technologies in their daily work.

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