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Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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January 15, 2026 Economic development

According to preliminary data, 2025 will be a record year for global trade, with its volume increasing by 7 percent and exceeding $35 trillion for the first time. Growth is expected to continue in 2026, but at a slower pace.

The first UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) review of the year describes an increasingly complex and fragmented global environment. Geopolitical tensions, restructuring of supply chains, accelerating digital and green transitions, and tightening regulations are reshaping trade flows and global value chains.

Below are some of the key trends that UNCTAD experts predict will shape global trade in 2026.

Slowing global growth is hitting developing economies.

Global economic growth in 2026 is projected to remain subdued at 2.6 percent. In developing countries (excluding China), it will slow to 4.2 percent.

Major economies are also losing momentum:

US: Growth will slow to 1.5 percent from 1.8 percent in 2025. China: Growth is expected to reach 4.6 percent, down from 5 percent a year earlier. Europe: Government stimulus will provide limited support to the economy, but demand will remain moderate.

Slower growth weakens export demand, tightens financial conditions, and increases vulnerability to external shocks. Developing countries will need to strengthen regional trade, diversification, and digital integration to build resilience.

Tariffs increase uncertainty

In 2026, governments are expected to continue using tariffs for protectionism and strategic pressure. Their use increased sharply in 2025, particularly in manufacturing, including in the wake of US measures.

Tariffs undermine trade even before they are actually imposed:

Rising costs weaken demand and shift supply sources; policy instability constrains investment and long-term planning.

The service sector is becoming a growth driver, widening the digital divide.

Services already account for 27 percent of global trade, and are expected to grow by about 9 percent in 2025, significantly outpacing trade in goods.

Digitalization accelerates this process, but at the same time widens the gap:

Digitally delivered services account for 56 percent of global services exports; in developed countries, their share reaches 61 percent; in the least developed countries, only 16 percent, highlighting the scale of inequality.

At the same time, new barriers are emerging due to tightening digital trade regulations. Bridging the digital divide—through infrastructure, skills development, and supportive regulation—will be key to developing countries' participation in the fastest-growing segment of global trade.

The environmental agenda is increasingly influencing trade

Environmental priorities are increasingly shaping global trade trends as climate commitments move toward practical implementation. Clean energy technology markets could reach $640 billion annually by 2030.

Meanwhile, by the end of 2025, prices for key clean energy minerals were 18-39 percent below their 2021-2022 peaks due to oversupply, slowing battery demand, and technological changes reducing the need for raw materials.

Despite falling prices, supply risks remain. Export restrictions are tightening, including measures on cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo and rare earth elements in China. In response, countries are increasing stockpiles and entering into bilateral agreements, increasing the risk of value chain fragmentation.

Navigating a fragmented trading environment

Among the key trends and developments in 2026, UNCTAD also highlights: pressure on global trade rules in the run-up to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, the reshaping of global value chains, increased trade between countries in the Global South, climate risks and security threats to agricultural trade, and increased government regulation.

As these processes unfold, timely data, analysis, and policy support will be key. UNCTAD will continue to monitor these developments and help countries navigate the new environment, manage risks, and identify opportunities in an increasingly fragmented global trading environment.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

January 15, 2026 Humanitarian aid

Sudan has been in the grip of a brutal conflict for over 1,000 days. The country is experiencing the world's worst famine and the largest population displacement. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) continues to provide aid to the population, but the organization's resources are dwindling.

Since the civil conflict began in April 2023, WFP has provided food and cash support to more than 10 million women, men, and children in Sudan. The agency continues to deliver assistance to an average of four million people each month, including in hard-to-reach areas in the Darfur and Kordofan regions, as well as in Khartoum and Gezira states.

However, due to a lack of funding, WFP cannot carry out its operations at the scale required.

"The World Food Programme has been forced to reduce rations to the bare minimum necessary for survival. By the end of March, our food reserves in Sudan will be exhausted. Without immediate additional funding, millions of people will be left without life-saving food assistance in the coming weeks," said WFP spokesperson Ross Smith.

WFP has teams on the ground and the capacity to scale up its operations. Recently, staff reached the town of Kadugli in Kordofan, which had been cut off from aid for months.

Today, more than 21 million people in Sudan are experiencing severe food insecurity. Famine has been confirmed in parts of the country where months of fighting have made access for humanitarian workers virtually impossible. Nearly 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes.

The organization clarifies that 3.7 million children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, suffer from malnutrition.

"We can turn the tide and prevent hunger from spreading further, but only if we have the funding to support the most vulnerable families," Smith said.

The World Food Programme needs $700 million to continue its activities in Sudan for the next six months.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

January 15, 2026 International law

The International Court of Justice continued its hearings on Thursday in a case brought by Gambia, which accuses Myanmar of genocide against the Rohingya people. The plaintiffs allege that representatives of the military junta incited hatred by calling the Rohingya "Muslim dogs" and declaring that they should be "exterminated."

Jessica Jones, a lawyer on the Gambia team, emphasized that the Rohingya have long faced humiliation and hate speech from members of the Myanmar military. She also cited a video posted on Facebook in August 2017 in which a soldier openly calls for violence against the Rohingya – which, according to Jones, is a direct violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

In the video, a soldier says, "We will clear out the villages where these animals live… We have guns, we have bullets… If you can take a sword, take a sword, if you can take a stick, take a stick. Take everything you can, and face these animals with confidence."

Gambia, a Muslim-majority country, claims that Myanmar's military committed massacres, sexual violence, burned villages and killed around 10,000 civilians in Rakhine state from 2016 to 2018.

In 2017, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called what was happening in Myanmar "a classic example of ethnic cleansing," which led to around 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to Bangladesh.

In 2020, the International Court of Justice ordered Myanmar to cease actions that amount to genocide. The Gambia is currently seeking recognition of Myanmar's responsibility and compensation for the victims.

Myanmar denies deliberately targeting the Rohingya, saying the army was conducting counter-insurgency operations.

The Gambia v. Myanmar case is already historic, as it marks the first time the International Court has heard a claim brought by a state that has not itself suffered the alleged crime.

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the UN, resolving disputes between states and issuing advisory opinions on matters of international law. It does not judge individuals, but rather determines the responsibility of states.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

January 15, 2026 UN

On Thursday, António Guterres presented his priorities for the year to the General Assembly for the last time as UN Secretary-General, pledging to use "every day of 2026" to advance a more just and secure world.

He described the current situation as a world "rife with conflict, impunity, inequality, and unpredictability," where international cooperation is undermined precisely when it is needed most. Despite this, the Secretary-General noted that the UN continues to champion key global priorities—from regulating artificial intelligence to climate action, reforming development finance, and humanitarian aid in conflict zones.

Concrete steps in 2026

In the coming weeks, Guterres said, the Organization:

will launch the work of the Independent Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence; will present the recommendations of the High-Level Panel on growth indicators "beyond GDP"; will begin monthly meetings with Member States on UN-80 initiative; will present initial assessments of possible mergers of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and UN Women with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); will continue review of peacekeeping operationsto make them “more efficient and adapted to modern challenges.”

UN reform

Speaking of funding crisisThe Secretary General stressed that the current situation cannot continue.

"Either all countries, without exception, fulfill their financial obligations under the Charter—which no longer seems to be the case. Or member states need to completely revise our financial rules to prevent a budget collapse," he noted.

At the same time, according to the UN chief, reforms are "much more than just numbers in a spreadsheet." He continued, they are about institutions that reflect the modern world: decisions must reflect the realities of 2026, not 1945.

"Let's look at the facts: every day, the share of global GDP held by advanced economies is gradually shrinking. Every day, developing economies are growing – in size, strength, and influence," Guterres recalled.

Three principles for our time

The Secretary-General identified three basic principles that should underlie all the work of the global organization.

The first is unconditional commitment. UN Charter.

"The Charter is not a menu from which to choose, but a fixed set of dishes," he emphasized. Violations of international law, he said, are occurring "in full view of the entire world, live in 4K quality."

The second is a just world.

The Secretary-General recalled the need to end violence across the planet, including Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, emphasizing that “peace is not simply the absence of war,” but sustainable development and respect for human rights.

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The third is unity in an era of division.

He warned of rising racism, xenophobia and social fragmentation and called for building "welcoming societies, not walled citadels."

Peace with nature

Guterres stressed that climate chaos is incompatible with peace.

He called for accelerating the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, combating methane emissions, halting deforestation and ensuring fair climate finance.

Unity as a choice

“The choice is clear: inclusiveness or isolation, renewal or decline,” the Secretary-General said.

The world is changing, he says, which is worrying but also inspiring.

"The United Nations is a living promise: despite our differences, we will solve problems together. Let us keep that promise," he concluded.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.