Category: United Nations

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February 6, 2026 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the head of the UN welcomed the resumption of dialogue between the US and Iran, the UN commented on the spraying of toxic substances by Israeli forces near the demarcation line between Israel and Lebanon, the Secretary-General condemned the terrorist attack in Islamabad, 4.5 million girls could become victims of genital mutilation this year.

US-Iran negotiations

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres He welcomed the resumption of talks between Iran and the United States and expressed hope that they will help reduce regional tensions and prevent a wider crisis. The UN chief expressed gratitude to the countries of the region for their efforts to facilitate these talks, particularly to Oman for providing the forum. All problems can and must be resolved through peaceful dialogue, the UN chief said in a statement.

The Blue Line between Lebanon and Israel

Commenting on reports that Israeli forces sprayed a highly toxic herbicide over areas north of the Blue Line separating Lebanon and Israel on February 1, the UN stated that this poses a threat to civilians living there. Alexandra Vellucci, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR), said at a briefing in Geneva that the use of herbicides could also negatively impact local agricultural lands and pose a serious obstacle to the return of the population. She noted that any activity by Israeli forces in areas north of the Blue Line constitutes a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

Terrorist attack in Pakistan

The Secretary-General condemned in the strongest terms today's terrorist attack on a mosque in Islamabad, Pakistan. According to media reports, a suicide bomber detonated an explosive device, killing more than 30 people and injuring approximately 170. The UN chief stated that attacks on civilians and places of worship are unacceptable. He called for those responsible to be held accountable and expressed solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan in their efforts to combat terrorism and extremism.

Female circumcision

230 million women and girls worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation, or FGM. By 2026, 4.5 million girls could be affected by this procedure, according to the UN, which announced this on the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation, celebrated on February 6. Efforts to eliminate FGM have begun to yield results over the past three decades, but progress is slow. The UN's goal of completely ending the practice by 2030 will not be achieved without greater efforts.

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February 6, 2026 Economic development

Ten years ago, many experts predicted that driverless cars would become commonplace on the roads by 2020. However, despite impressive technological progress, the task proved more challenging than expected, requiring extensive research and development, as well as the creation of a clear and robust regulatory framework.

The draft Global Regulation on Automated Driving Systems (ADS) was presented after a decade of technological development and two years of intensive consultations. It will enable the introduction of fully autonomous vehicles, requiring no driver control, onto the roads.

The regulation, approved by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Working Party on Automated, Autonomous and Connected Vehicles at its meeting from 19 to 23 January, establishes uniform safety requirements and a unified methodology for testing vehicles equipped with ACB.

"The completion of the project demonstrates the global significance of regulatory platforms developed at the UN. Harmonized rules developed at the EEC are essential to prevent fragmentation of national approaches, maximize savings, and support safety and innovation in the automotive industry," said UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molchan.

"Safety, innovation, and public trust can thrive simultaneously. By working globally, we provide clarity for the industry and confidence for consumers," noted Working Group Chair Richard Damm.

Next steps

The draft regulation builds on the 2022 Framework Document on Automated Vehicles, which sets out key safety and security principles and recommendations on requirements, assessments and test methods for automated vehicles, adopted in June 2024.

The document will be submitted to the UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. It is expected to be adopted at its next session, scheduled for 23–26 June 2026. If approved by the World Forum, the regulation will enter into force immediately.

The Path to Global Implementation

In late January, the U.S. Department of Transportation released a formal list of questions on the draft regulation to help shape its official position for the June vote.

China also announced it would develop a national standard based on the global regulation's structure and begin collecting comments. Japan expressed satisfaction with the process and welcomed the outcome. Several European countries also supported the creation of a global regulation.

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February 6, 2026 Economic development

The Global Food Price Index fell in January. The indicator has been declining for five consecutive months, according to data released Friday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The decline was primarily due to lower prices for dairy products, sugar, and meat.

The average value is 0.4 percent lower than December's level and 0.6 percent lower than the same period a year ago. However, the dynamics across individual categories were mixed.

Grain prices

The FAO Grain Index rose by 0.2 percent, despite a slight decline in global wheat and maize prices. Ample wheat stocks offset weather risks for winter crops in Russia and the United States, while maize stocks offset the impact of unfavorable weather in Argentina and Brazil and increased ethanol demand in the United States. The rice price index increased by 1.8 percent.

Vegetable oil prices

The vegetable oil price index rose 2.1 percent. Global palm oil prices rose due to a seasonal decline in production in Southeast Asia and robust import demand, while soybean oil prices rose due to reduced export supplies from South America and expectations of strong demand for biofuels in the United States.

Sunflower oil prices also increased due to limited supply in the Black Sea region. Meanwhile, rapeseed oil prices fell due to significant imports into the European Union.

The cost of meat

The meat price index decreased by 0.4 percent. The decline was driven by low pork prices, driven by abundant global supply and weak demand. Poultry prices, on the other hand, increased, primarily due to higher prices in Brazil, where export demand remains strong.

Beef and lamb prices remained stable, with increased shipments from Brazil to China offsetting the rapid filling of the duty-free quota from the US.

Prices for dairy products

The dairy price index fell by five percent. Cheese and butter saw the biggest price declines, thanks to ample supply. Meanwhile, skim milk powder prices rose amid renewed demand from the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia.

The cost of sugar

Sugar prices fell by one percent. The FAO attributes this to expectations of increased global supply this season, thanks to a recovery in production in India, favorable forecasts for Thailand, and positive trends in Brazil.

Grain production forecast

At the same time, the FAO published an updated forecast for global cereal production. The total volume is expected to reach 3.023 billion tonnes, a record high.

The upward revision of the forecast is due to larger-than-expected wheat harvests in Argentina, Canada, and the EU, as well as expanded corn plantings and higher yields in China and the US. Rice production is also expected to increase, primarily in India, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, and Indonesia.

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February 6, 2026 Peace and security

Last weekend, Ukraine's power grid was attacked again, leading to serious consequences for the operation of nuclear power plants, according to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi.

According to him, power lines connecting Ukraine with neighboring countries were shut down, causing a cascading outage of domestic power lines. As a result, one of the power units at one nuclear power plant was disconnected from the grid due to voltage fluctuations and automatically shut down. Power units at other nuclear power plants were forced to reduce their output.

The Chernobyl site experienced a complete loss of external power supply, and the facility operated on emergency diesel generators for approximately one hour.

Grossi stressed that such incidents are "a stark reminder of the ongoing risks to nuclear safety… arising from the deteriorating state of the electrical grid."

"To improve the reliability of power supply to Ukrainian nuclear power plants and strengthen their resilience to future disruptions, large-scale repairs are necessary," the IAEA chief added.

He again called for maximum restraint and full compliance seven principles of nuclear safetyto ensure that these works can be carried out.

IAEA missions to critical sites

Amid intensifying fighting, three IAEA expert teams are visiting ten substations critical to nuclear safety. The goal of the two-week mission is to assess the damage to the power grid and the progress of restoration efforts, as well as identify practical measures to improve the resilience of external power supplies.

One of the groups also visited Kyiv, where further IAEA support for the operation of nuclear power plants in the context of declining energy system stability was discussed.

This is the second such mission in the last two months: the previous one, in December 2025, recorded the cumulative impact of damage to the power grid on the operation of nuclear power plants and the working conditions of personnel.

Other incidents

The IAEA also reports additional signs of reduced power grid stability at the Chernobyl site, documented in late January. The agency's team was informed that on Friday, January 23, diesel generators at the New Containment Facility and the Interim Dry Storage Facility for Spent Nuclear Fuel unexpectedly started due to fluctuations in the power grid. Within minutes, the generators were manually switched to standby mode.

"This once again highlights the impact that military action involving the power grid can have on security systems," Grossi said.

Earlier last week, 44 unmanned aerial vehicles were spotted in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant's monitoring zone. On Tuesday, the IAEA team at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant was forced to take refuge in a hotel after spotting two drones in the plant's monitoring zone. Six more drones were spotted there during the week.

Over the past two weeks, the rotation of IAEA staff at the Khmelnytskyi and South Ukraine NPPs has proceeded safely, Grossi reported.

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February 6, 2026 Human rights

Female genital mutilation violates the human rights to life, health, and bodily integrity and causes irreparable harm to more than 230 million women and girls worldwide. An additional 23 million girls are at risk of suffering from this practice in the near future.

About this in International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation the UN Secretary-General recalled Antonio Guterres.

It is estimated that in 2026 alone, approximately 4.5 million girls, many of them under five years old, may be subjected to the procedure, sometimes known as female genital mutilation.

Serious consequences

"This custom is rooted in the same gender biases that limit girls' access to education, restrict women's employment opportunities, and limit their participation in public life," the UN chief said in his message. "The world has committed to ending this dangerous practice by 2030."

The heads of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), UN Women, the World Health Organization, UNESCO, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights stressed in a joint statement that female genital mutilation cannot be justified under any circumstances.

This practice causes serious harm to the physical and mental health of girls and women, leads to severe lifelong complications, and the annual cost of their treatment is estimated at approximately $1.4 billion.

There is progress, but it is not enough.

As the statement notes, efforts to eradicate female genital mutilation have begun to yield results over the past three decades. Nearly two-thirds of the population in countries where the practice is widespread now support its elimination. Since 1990, in countries and regions where female genital mutilation is practiced, the proportion of girls undergoing the procedure has decreased from one in two to one in three.

However, the UN emphasizes that this is still not enough to achieve the goal. Sustainable Development Agenda – complete cessation of mutilating surgeries by 2030.

Investments bring huge returns

UN agencies note that effective solutions are well known. These include health education, the engagement of religious and community leaders, parents, and health workers, and the use of traditional and social media. Supporting grassroots initiatives, including youth and community networks, is particularly important.

Equally important is assistance to victims – access to medical care, psychosocial support and legal services tailored to the specific context.

According to the UN, every dollar invested in the fight against FGM yields a tenfold return. An investment of $2.8 billion could prevent 20 million cases of female genital mutilation and generate economic returns of $28 billion.

Risk of rollback

As 2030 approaches, the gains of recent decades are under threat. Funding cuts are already limiting prevention and support options for those affected.

Of additional concern is the growing arguments for the so-called "medicalization" of FGM—attempts to justify its performance by medical professionals, ostensibly to reduce harm. The UN emphasizes that such approaches create new obstacles to the complete elimination of the practice.

Without sustainable and predictable funding, there is a risk of community-based programmes being scaled back, primary services being weakened and progress being lost.

“Getting to zero will require sustained political commitment – and continued investment,” António Guterres stressed.

The UN reaffirms its commitment to working with local and international partners – public and private – to end this practice once and for all.

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February 5, 2026 Peace and security

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Thursday that dozens of people were killed and injured in Gaza over the past 24 hours. Emergency services are unable to reach all the victims due to ongoing fighting and restrictions on movement.

Speaking at a briefing in New York, the UN spokesman recalled that all parties are obliged to comply with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Last night, UN humanitarian teams received another 25 people who returned to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing. As in previous days, UNDP staff took them to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. OCHA and partner organizations continue to work in the reception area, where psychologists, medical professionals, and other humanitarian workers are providing support to the returnees.

Medical evacuation

Yesterday, the World Health Organization (WHO) and its partners organized a medical evacuation of eight patients and 17 accompanying persons from Gaza to Egypt via the Rafah Port. This morning, another evacuation was carried out – seven patients and 14 accompanying persons.

WHO representatives stated that the key priority remains ensuring increased humanitarian access to Gaza, accelerating the restoration of damaged medical facilities, and expanding critical services. These measures, the organization emphasized, are necessary to strengthen the healthcare system and reduce the need for evacuations.

The UN also reiterated its call for the immediate resumption of medical evacuations to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. More than 18,500 patients in Gaza require specialized care that is unavailable within the Strip.

Rising Violence and Displacement in the West Bank

According to OCHA, high levels of forced displacement remain in the West Bank. Since the beginning of 2026, more than 900 Palestinians have fled their homes or communities, primarily due to settler violence, access restrictions, and demolitions.

In just two weeks – from January 20 to February 2 – OCHA documented more than 50 attacks by Israeli settlers resulting in casualties and damage to property.

Humanitarian teams are conducting preliminary damage assessments to determine the required level of assistance and adjust the response of the UN and partner organizations.

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February 5, 2026 Peace and security

Political solutions form the basis of sustainable peace, said UN Deputy Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix, speaking at a Security Council meeting on the role of the police component in peacekeeping operations.

"United Nations police play a key role in supporting political processes, building the capacity of police and other law enforcement institutions in host countries, and promoting trust between communities and the State," he said.

The UN Deputy Peacekeeping Chief's remarks came amid the final stages of a comprehensive review of UN peacekeeping operations, initiated by the Secretary-General in accordance with the Pact for the Future. According to Lacroix, this process should lead to the development of a future-oriented peacekeeping model capable of functioning in an increasingly complex and volatile security environment.

He also recalled the liquidity crisis facing the UN. This has forced the organization to implement extensive cost-cutting measures, including cutting civilian personnel and withdrawing military and police contingents from UN peacekeeping missions, which directly impacts the ability of these missions to fulfill their missions, including the protection of civilians.

Lacroix stressed that stable funding is necessary to improve the effectiveness of missions.

The UN Deputy Chief of Staff paid special attention to the interaction between peacekeepers and the population in countries where the Organization's operations are deployed. According to Lacroix, community-focused and information-driven approaches to peacekeeping policing enhance mission effectiveness while simultaneously promoting personnel safety.

UN police, he said, also play an important role in countering disinformation, misinformation and hate speech through ongoing engagement with local communities.

Lacroix recalled that police personnel continue to operate in a context of political instability and growing operational risks, and called for renewed collective political support for peacekeeping.

"We must ensure that [mission] mandates are supported by adequate resources. We must maintain unified political support for peacekeeping," the Deputy Secretary-General said.

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February 5, 2026 Peace and security

Acute malnutrition among children in parts of North Darfur and Kordofan, Sudan, has reached catastrophic levels. Amid ongoing conflict, mass displacement, and restrictions on humanitarian aid, the country is rapidly approaching a state of mass famine.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), acute malnutrition thresholds were exceeded in two districts of North Darfur – Um Baru and Kernoy. This occurred following the fall of the regional capital, El Fasher, in October 2025 and the mass exodus of the population.

Assessments conducted in December found acute malnutrition rates among children in Um Baru at 52.9 percent and approximately 34 percent in Kernoy. According to the IPC, famine has not yet occurred, but conditions are rapidly deteriorating and urgent action is needed.

Increased risk of mortality

"These alarming figures indicate an elevated risk of mortality," the experts said, adding that many other areas of the country, affected by conflict or inaccessible to humanitarian organizations, could face equally catastrophic conditions.

Um Baru and Kernoy are located in remote areas of North Darfur, near key displacement routes toward the border with Chad. Both areas have received large numbers of civilians fleeing the fighting in and around El Fasher.

Consequences of the conflict

The war in Sudan, which began in April 2023 between the previously allied Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Intervention Forces, has devastated food systems across the country, causing massive displacement and cyclical disruptions to health, water, and nutrition services.

In 2026, Sudan is expected to experience approximately 4.2 million cases of acute malnutrition, including more than 800,000 cases of severe malnutrition, a sharp increase from 2025.

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February 5, 2026 UN

The top news of the day at the UN and around the world: the UN commented on the expiration of the last nuclear arms control treaty between the US and Russia, the evacuation of civilians from frontline areas of Ukraine continues, the UN chief condemned the terrorist attack in Nigeria, and the US allocated $5.88 billion to fight HIV/AIDS worldwide.

START-3 Treaty

The United States and Russia are close to an agreement to continue to comply with the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, known as New START, media reported today. It expired at midnight today. New START was the last nuclear arms control agreement in force between Russia and the United States. The UN hopes that negotiations on continued compliance will be positive and fruitful, UN Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in response to a reporter's question.

Evacuation from frontline areas of Ukraine

According to UN humanitarian agencies, civilians were killed and wounded yesterday in an attack on an open market in the town of Druzhkivka in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Evacuations continue in frontline areas: 6,000 people were evacuated from the Donetsk region in January alone. Edem Wosornu, a representative of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), visited a transit point in Lozova, Kharkiv region, where evacuees are being received. They are receiving essential items, medicine, and financial assistance.

Terrorist attack in Nigeria

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Guterres strongly condemned the terrorist attack on February 3 in Kwara State, Nigeria, which reportedly killed more than 100 people. The UN chief expresses his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the wounded. Guterres emphasized the UN's support for Nigeria in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. He called for those responsible to be held accountable.

The United States and the Fight Against AIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomed the US decision to commit $5.88 billion to the fight against the disease. UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized that these funds will ensure assistance to millions of people worldwide. For more than two decades, Byanyima noted, US investments have been the leading driver of global progress in the fight against AIDS, saving millions of lives.

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February 5, 2026 Healthcare

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) commended the signing of a new $5.88 billion funding package in the United States. This decision reaffirms the United States' continued role as a key leader in the global fight against HIV, UNAIDS stated.

US President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on February 3. The document allocates $4.6 billion to support HIV programs under the America First Global Health strategy, $1.25 billion to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and $45 million to support UNAIDS.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima thanked the US President and Congress for their continued support for global health, emphasizing that American investments will ensure life-saving assistance for millions of people around the world and will help maintain the effectiveness and efficiency of the global HIV response.

The new law advances the implementation of the America First Global Health strategy, which aligns with UNAIDS' commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 and accelerates the U.S.'s strategic transition to a more independent response to HIV. For more than two decades, American investments have been the leading driver of global progress, saving millions of lives and supporting countries in their fight against the epidemic, the program noted.

UNAIDS pledged to maximize the effectiveness of its funding by providing technical expertise, data, and strategic support to countries and communities, and by working closely with the US Government, the Global Fund, and national partners. The US has remained a key partner since UNAIDS's founding in 1996, the organization noted.

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