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In an unprecedented moment, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump chaired the UN Security Council as war tensions shadowed a debate on children, technology and education in conflict. With 473 million children living in or fleeing war zones, members called for digital access, safeguards and accountability, even as major powers clashed over responsibility on the ground.

In an era of widening conflict, Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Award for Human Fraternity seeks to carve out a rare space where religion and diplomacy intersect. Honoring peace efforts, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement, the ceremony highlights how interfaith dialogue and civil-society networks can keep channels open when formal diplomacy falters—offering a stage where peace can at least be rehearsed.

The UN Security Council met in emergency session as tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran escalated sharply. Diplomats warned the crisis could expand into a broader regional war.

The UN Security Council will meet in emergency session Saturday after Russia and China requested urgent discussions on the reported attack on Iran by the United States and Israel. A second meeting requested by France, Bahrain and Colombia will address the broader escalation of violence across the Middle East.

The United States and Israel launched major strikes on Iran Saturday, with President Donald Trump announcing “major combat operations.” Iran vowed retaliation and reportedly fired missiles at U.S. bases across the Gulf, raising fears of a broader regional war.

As artificial intelligence reshapes power, the United Nations is struggling to keep pace. In a candid exchange, the Secretary-General acknowledged that global institutions lack leverage over technology powerful enough to influence elections, conflicts and societies. The result is an ambitious effort to set norms and warn of risks, even as enforcement remains beyond reach.

In a wide-ranging press conference at U.N. headquarters, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global order is being reshaped by impunity, unchecked power and the erosion of international law. Acknowledging the United Nations’ limited leverage, he drew firm legal lines on conflicts from Gaza and Ukraine to Iran, Sudan and Syria, underscoring the growing gap between expectations of the UN and its ability to enforce its mandate.

The United Nations warned that rising antisemitism and unchecked hatred pose a growing global danger, as officials detailed worsening humanitarian crises from Gaza to South Sudan. During the Jan. 27 briefing, journalists pressed the spokesperson on Rafah access, Iran protests, military escalation in the Gulf and early maneuvering around the next Secretary-General, exposing the tension between diplomatic caution and political urgency.

Europe’s response to Trump’s pressure over Greenland marks more than a diplomatic dispute. It reflects a deeper shift in transatlantic relations, as trust erodes, strategic autonomy rises, and long-standing assumptions about American reliability are increasingly questioned.

The mood in the room followed a familiar rhythm. Reporters pushed for clarity; Dujarric answered calmly, direct when possible, cautious when necessary, and honest about uncertainty. The exchange was persistent but not hostile, circling around access, credibility and capacity. What emerged was a portrait of a UN under strain across multiple crises, yet still working to project steadiness, continuity and relevance.