Gladwyn Jebb was appointed as Acting UN Secretary-General in October 1945, effectively making him the first leader of the United Nations. Jebb (Great Britain, 1900 – 1996) was made a Counsellor within the Foreign Office of Great Britain in 1943. It was in this position that he attended numerous international conferences, including the Conference on International Organization in San Francisco—which ultimately led to the birth of the United Nations. In 1945, Jebb served as the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the United Nations. He was appointed as the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1950 to 1954.
Addressing Member States, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that violations of international law are unfolding in plain sight and called for renewed political courage to confront global fragmentation. Highlighting inclusion, social cohesion, education, decent work and social protection as core priorities for 2026, he urged a new social contract rooted in shared civic values. “The choice is clear,” he said. “Inclusion or isolation. Renewal or decline.”
Briefing under agenda item “The situation on the Middle East,” with a focus on the current situation in Iran and the potential implications for international peace and security.
To watch in all official languages, visit: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1p/k1pauart1a
Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said, “in recent days, military de-escalation and general stabilization have been achieved, yet the security situation in parts of the south remains fragile.”
The Security Council adopted a U.S.-drafted resolution extending until 15 July the Secretary-General’s monthly reporting requirement on Houthi attacks against merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions.
Grundberg said government-aligned forces, supported by Saudi Arabia, moved in early January to reassert control over both governorates and later deployed to Aden and other government-held areas to secure key administrative, economic and military infrastructure.
He said these developments were accompanied by changes in political appointments and command decisions at national and local levels, warning that further escalation could undermine Yemen’s stability.
Grundberg said, “the future of the south cannot be determined by any single actor or through force,” stressing that it must be decided by Yemenis themselves. He said President Rashad al Alimi’s initiative to convene a Saudi-hosted dialogue with a range of southern actors offers an opportunity to address long-standing grievances through political engagement.
António Guterres stressed that, more than six decades on, the Group of 77 and China remains a strong pillar of multilateralism and an indispensable force for global cooperation.
Today (14 Jan) the annual handover ceremony of the Chairmanship of the Group of 77 and China, transitioning from Iraq to Uruguay, was held at the UNHQ in New York.
Speaking at ceremony, Mario Lubetkin, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Uruguay said, “In a context of growing international conflict, in which the prohibition on the use or threat of the use of force is being rapidly eroded, Uruguay presents itself as a promoter of peace and an honest broker among nations.”
He also said, “Our approach will be that of a facilitating Presidency, committed to strengthening internal cohesion within the Group and to ensuring that the voice of the Global South remains coordinated, constructive, and relevant in the multilateral system.”
He concluded, “Our agenda will reflect the priorities of all Member States and will aim to strengthen the voice of developing countries on the international stage, moving toward a more equitable, sustainable, and peaceful future—one that is needed today more than ever. ”
Annalena Baerbock, President of the UN General Assembly, commended the government of Iraq for the recent closure of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and its “unwavering commitment to peace, justice, and democracy. In these challenging times, UNAMI stands as a clear success story—highlighting the indispensable role the United Nations can play when it works in partnership with a Member State in support of inclusive dialogue, strong institutions, and human rights.”
António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said, “The Group of 77 and China remains indispensable. At a moment when some question the value of cooperation, you have kept showing what cooperation can achieve.”
He stressed, “Your unity is a force for fairness. A force for action. And a force for justice to reshape a system that too often still delivers developing countries a raw deal – on finance, on climate, on technology, and on representation.”
He concluded, “The Group of 77 and China has long been a guardian of that determination. You can count on me to continue standing with you. To press for justice and equity. To defend international cooperation and solidarity. And to ensure that promises made to developing countries are promises kept.”
The G-77 was established on 15 June 1964 by seventy-seven developing countries signatories of the “Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Developing Countries” issued at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva.
Beginning with the first “Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 in Algiers (Algeria) on 10 – 25 October 1967, which adopted the Charter of Algiers”, a permanent institutional structure gradually developed which led to the creation of Chapters of the Group of 77 with Liaison offices in Geneva (UNCTAD), Nairobi (UNEP), Paris (UNESCO), Rome (FAO/IFAD), Vienna (UNIDO), and the Group of 24 (G-24) in Washington, D.C. (IMF and World Bank). Although the members of the G-77 have increased to 134 countries, the original name was retained due to its historic significance.
It is the largest intergovernmental organization of developing countries in the United Nations, which provides the means for the countries of the South to articulate and promote their collective economic interests and enhance their joint negotiating capacity on all major international economic issues within the United Nations system, and promote South-South cooperation for development.
Gladwyn Jebb (Great Britain, 1900 – 1996) was made a Counsellor within the Foreign Office of Great Britain in 1943. It was in this position that he attended numerous international conferences, including the Conference on International Organization in San Francisco—which ultimately led to the birth of the United Nations. In 1945, Jebb served as the Executive Secretary of the Preparatory Commission of the United Nations. He was appointed as the United Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1950 to 1954.
In Ghana, the Bundase Peace Operations Training School provides specialized pre-deployment training to prepare future United Nations peacekeepers for service.
Ghana is one of the top ten troop-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping and in December 2023, it hosted the first Peacekeeping Ministerial on the African continent.
UN Peacekeeping is a collective investment in global peace, security, and stability. A strong and effective partnership between the UN Secretariat, the Security Council, and countries that contribute uniformed personnel has enabled peacekeeping operations to deliver on their mandates and protect communities in some of the world’s most challenging contexts.
This partnership is essential as we continue to evolve. Now is the time to invest in peace.
Jean-Martin Bauer was just a teenager when a visit to his uncle’s Haitian rice farm planted the seed of his life-long passion for food security. Now Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis at the World Food Programme (WFP) he works to feed hungry people worldwide.
“Even now, even during these dark times … there are opportunities to sow seeds for a better future.”
The world faces a global hunger crisis, with a record 319 million people currently not getting enough to eat. The author of a recent book on hunger in the Twenty-First Century, Jean-Martin Bauer reflects in this episode on the human cost of famine in Gaza and Sudan, the impact of funding cuts on the most vulnerable, and explains why the best solutions are those closest to home.
Listen to the full episode on www.un.org/en/awake-at-night, UN YouTube or your favourite podcast platforms.
About Awake at Night
Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.
Awake at Night Website https://www.un.org/en/awake-at-night
President of the United Nations General Assembly Annalena Baerbock said “We are at a more decisive crossroads than at the beginning of this 80th session. The multilateral system is not only under pressure; the multilateral system is under heavy attack.”
Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters in New York today (14 Jan), Annalena Baerbock said her priorities for the remainder of the session focus on institutional defense and reform.
She said, “I invited Member States to symbolically recommit to our shared principles and values by signing the 80th Anniversary Charter poster ahead of Charter Day.” She added Member States echoed that call.
Baerbock said changes in global politics require new approaches. She said, “The political and diplomatic ecosystem has undergone drastic changes, and we can’t expect the old ways of working to suffice.”
Baerbock said Member States are engaging with reform efforts, “The UN80 initiative, while not coming at the most desirable time or in the best condition, is overdue.”
Baerbock said the selection of the next Secretary-General is another priority this year, with interactive dialogues with candidates are scheduled for April.
She said the process will include Member States and civil society. PGA said, “Our choice of who will lead this organization is a chance to send a clear message in this turbulent time about who we are and what the United Nation stands for.”
Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Secretary-General/Group of 77
Haiti
Sudan
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Occupied Palestinian Territory
Yemen/Security Council
Global Temperatures
Briefings
SECRETARY-GENERAL/GROUP OF 77
This afternoon, the Secretary-General is scheduled to deliver remarks at the ceremony marking the handover of the Group of 77 and China chairmanship from Iraq to Uruguay.
Mr. Guterres will stress that, more than six decades on, the Group of 77 and China remains a strong pillar of multilateralism and an indispensable force for global cooperation.
He is also expected to highlight the urgent challenges facing the world, including conflicts, widening inequalities, climate impacts, debt distress and rapid technological change.
The handover will take place in the ECOSOC Chamber and will be live on UN Web TV.
HAITI
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) today said that clashes continue to drive people from their homes in the capital, Port-au-Prince.
According to the International Organization for Migration, some 6,000 people have been displaced since 6 January. Most of them sought refuge with host families, while others have settled in two displacement sites.
The escalating violence has significantly impacted humanitarian programmes in the area. Our friends at Doctors Without Borders announced on 8 January that they were suspending all its medical activities in the Bel Air neighborhood of Port‑au‑Prince. That was until further notice. This comes at a time when only 10 per cent of health facilities with inpatient capacity in Haiti are fully operational, while approximately 4.9 million people in Haiti need emergency health assistance.
Internal displacement linked to violence has doubled in the past year and has now reached 1.4 million people – or 12 per cent of the population of Haiti.
This year, 6.4 million people in Haiti – or more than half of the population – need humanitarian aid. We and our partners are appealing for $880 million to help the 4.2 million of the most vulnerable Haitians.
SUDAN
Today, in Cairo, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is attending the Sudan Consultative Group meeting,which is been hosted by the Republic of Egypt. This is the fifth meeting of this group since 2024. It brings together key international stakeholders working to advance peace in Sudan.
Yesterday, Mr. Lamamra discussed with Egyptian Foreign Minister, Badr Abdelatty the ongoing efforts to secure a de-escalation in Sudan.
In Cairo, he also met with the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, as well as other officials including Djibouti’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister, all of this to strengthen cooperation and collective efforts to end the horrendous warin Sudan.
Full highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2026-01-14
