UN News Today 12 January 2026 |

WFP chief urges world leaders to end preventable famines 

The head of major UN aid agency WFP urged world leaders on Monday to end “man-made famines” and conflicts that “drive hunger and desperation”.

In an alert, Cindy McCain – who heads the World Food Programme – attributed a “dangerous and deepening global hunger crisis” to violent conflicts, extreme weather and economic downturns. 

The development comes as WFP faces massive shortfalls in funding; it has received less than half of the $13 billion it needs to reach 110 million of the world’s most vulnerable people.

This means that millions may be cut off from vital assistance, threatening lives and the stability of regions, the agency warned.

“WFP has proven time and again that early, strategic and innovative solutions can halt famine, stabilize communities, deter migration and enable families to recover,” Ms. McCain insisted.

Her comments come in a context of increasing hunger crises now affecting 318 million people around the world. In addition, “hundreds of thousands” are already suffering from “famine-like” conditions, WFP says.

‘Beyond GDP’ economists push for clearer metrics on wellbeing, sustainability

Top finance experts are meeting at UN Geneva this week to push for a radical shake up in the way economic growth is gauged.

The move is in response to concerns that Gross Domestic Product – or GDP – data provides little insight about progress on key sustainability targets that are vital to our survival.

Backed by the trade and development agency, UNCTAD, the “Beyond GDP” initiative is in line with Secretary-General António Guterres’s warning that global policymaking is over-reliant on statistics that focus on the size of a country’s economy.

“Moving beyond GDP is fundamental to building an economic system that gives value to what counts – human wellbeing – now and in the future, and for everyone,” the UN chief said recently. 

His comments echo those of senior economists, who have said frequently that GDP places too much value on activities that deplete the planet, rather than those that sustain life and contribute to people’s wellbeing. 

In a statement, the High-Level Group of economic experts said that the problems surrounding GDP are more relevant today because of climate change, deteriorating ecosystems and biodiversity loss, rising conflict, food insecurity and historic inequalities.

Venezuela urged to free all political prisoners after initial releases 

To Venezuela, where independent human rights experts have welcomed the release of dozens of political prisoners in recent days, following the seizure of President Nicolas Maduro by the United States.

They warned, however, that many more prisoners continue to be held incommunicado which “deepens the suffering of families and must stop.

Of an estimated 800 political detainees, only about 50 are believed to have been freed so far, according to the independent Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela, which reports to the Human Rights Council. 

The plight of some of those just released has been described by the mission, which has documented the systematic use of arbitrary detention to silence dissent.

In an appeal to release all remaining political prisoners and those detained arbitrarily, the independent experts said they remained particularly concerned about women still in detention, because of the major impact on their health and caregiving responsibilities. 

The mission is staffed by non-UN rights experts who are not paid for their work.

Daniel Johnson, UN News