“RSS Twitter Facebook THE EUROPEAN STING – CRITICAL NEWS & INSIGHTS ON EUROPEAN POLITICS, ECONOMY, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY – EUROPEANSTING.COM Search  POLICY» ECONOMY» EUGLOBE» BUSINESS» I-SOCIETY» ABOUT THE STING» JANUARY 31, 2026 Home » United Nations News » World News in Brief: Syria ceasefire welcomed, ‘Olympic truce’, Ukraine’s freezing children World News in Brief: Syria ceasefire welcomed, ‘Olympic truce’, Ukraine’s freezing children January 31, 2026 by United Nations Leave a Comment  © UNICEF/Oleksii Fili Children’s toys are covered in snow outside a residential building in Kyiv during prolonged winter power and heating outages. This article is published in association with United Nations. The UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria has welcomed a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian Government and the mainly-Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), urging all parties to seize the moment to protect civilians and prevent further violations in the country’s northeast. “We welcome efforts to bring stability to the region and now hope for a complete end to hostilities and a sustainable resolution,” said Chair of the independent UN Human Rights Council-mandated investigative team, Paulo Pinheiro, stressing the need to address acute humanitarian needs, including food, water and electricity. Recognition of rights He also welcomed a recent presidential decree recognising the cultural and citizenship rights of Syria’s Kurdish population. The independent investigators called for strict adherence to international humanitarian law, warning of alarming reports of killings, abuse and desecration of bodies. “We are investigating alleged violations and abuses and will report on them in due course,” said Commissioner Monia Ammar. Cold winter conditions, combined with limited access to basic services, risk proving catastrophic for displaced families, particularly children, the Commission warned. It voiced grave concern over the situation of detained children in prisons and camps, including Al-Hol – where thousands of family member of alleged former ISIL fighters are being held. While noting some resumption of aid deliveries, Commissioner Fionnuala Ní Aoláin said assistance “must be augmented” and urged authorities to enable the safe and dignified return of women and children, while calling on States to urgently repatriate their child nationals. UN urges ‘true mutual ceasefires’ for 2026 Winter Olympics The UN General Assembly has called on warring parties in conflicts worldwide to agree to “true mutual ceasefires” during the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, reviving the ancient principle of the Olympic Truce. Taking note of a Solemn Appeal for the 80th session, read out by Germany’s Annalena Baerbock, who presides over the body, Member States were urged to use the Games as a window for peace. Soundcloud https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/388485450&visual=&auto_play=false&hide_related=true&show_artwork=true&show_playcount=false&show_comments=false&show_user=false&show_reposts=false&download=false&buying=false&sharing=false&show_teaser=false&single_active=true&color=%23ff5500 Humanity’s ‘common ground’ “The Olympic Truce proves that, even in times of division, humanity can still find common ground through sport,” she said. The appeal recalls the Greek tradition of the ekecheiria, or Olympic Truce, which the Assembly has endorsed ahead of each Summer and Winter Games. The upcoming Milano-Cortina Games will begin shortly, with the truce traditionally observed from seven days before the opening ceremony, until seven days after the Paralympics conclude. “The Games will bring together athletes from all parts of the world,” Ms. Baerbock said, “as a means to promote peace, mutual understanding and goodwill among nations.” The International Olympic Committee will fly the UN flag at Olympic venues as a symbol of peace. UNICEF steps up winter response to protect children and families amid Ukraine’s harsh cold Ukraine is once again facing a bitterly cold winter, with temperatures regularly dropping to around minus 20 degrees Celsius, or minus 4 Fahrenheit. Tweet URL https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=UN_News_Centre&dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2016925868799529097&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.un.org%2Fen%2Fstory%2F2026%2F01%2F1166864&sessionId=b5768176650f86490312bf9f76aece490ed17d30&siteScreenName=UN_News_Centre&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px The severe weather, combined with the widespread destruction of housing, energy, and heating infrastructure, continues to make the winter months particularly harsh, especially for children. Among them is three-year-old Dasha, who has spent the past nine days in a flat without heating. Each night, her mother, Iryna, fills two five-litre plastic bottles with hot water and tucks them into Dasha’s cot. The challenges are compounded by rising poverty: among households with children, the rate has increased from 43 percent in 2021 to 65 percent in 2023. Well over 3 million displaced Today, around 3.3 million people, including more than half a million children, remain displaced within Ukraine. Last year, the UN children agency’s (UNICEF) winter response reached 2.3 million people, including 380,000 children. In 2026, UNICEF appealed for $65 million to meet the needs of at least one million vulnerable people including 170,000 children. Drawing on lessons from past winter campaigns, UNICEF’s response this year will focus on providing cost-effective cash support to families and schools, and strengthening district heating systems to ensure long-term, sustainable warmth. 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Type your email… Subscribe Filed Under: EUGlobe, Regional, United Nations News Tagged With: ‘Olympic truce’, Brussels magazine, Brussels news, Critical Magazine, Critical News, Critical Times, EU magazine, EU News, EU Sting, European Commission News, European Magazine, European News, European Parliament News, European Union Magazine, EUS ting, The European Sting, The Sting, Ukraine’s freezing children, World News in Brief: Syria ceasefire welcomed « Cyprus Presidency debriefs European Parliament committees on priorities Why don’t you drop your comment here?  Type your email… Newsletter EU PICK  Cyprus Presidency debriefs European Parliament committees on priorities January 30, 2026  Commission decides to refer Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union over failure to close and rehabilitate landfills January 30, 2026  EU allocates €63 million in response to the crisis in Myanmar and its impact on neighbouring countries January 30, 2026  The Commission decides to refer Spain and Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the Delegated Directive as regards the adjustments of the size criteria for micro, small, medium-sized and large undertakings or groups January 30, 2026  Commission annual report on Single Market and competitiveness calls for joint action in light of unprecedented challenges January 30, 2026  Commission presents a five-year strategy on migration January 30, 2026  EU and Viet Nam upgrade ties to comprehensive strategic partnership January 30, 2026  The EU’s ambitions cannot be delivered on the cheap January 29, 2026  Commission registers European Citizens’ Initiative on phasing out EU imports from Russia and Belarus January 29, 2026  EU announces €153 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine and Moldova January 29, 2026 More EU Picks… Latest articles World News in Brief: Syria ceasefire welcomed, ‘Olympic truce’, Ukraine’s freezing children Cyprus Presidency debriefs European Parliament committees on priorities Commission decides to refer Romania to the Court of Justice of the European Union over failure to close and rehabilitate landfills EU allocates €63 million in response to the crisis in Myanmar and its impact on neighbouring countries The Commission decides to refer Spain and Malta to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to transpose the Delegated Directive as regards the adjustments of the size criteria for micro, small, medium-sized and large undertakings or groups Commission annual report on Single Market and competitiveness calls for joint action in light of unprecedented challenges Violence roiling Nigeria extends beyond religious lines, amid a deepening humanitarian crisis UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by escalation of violence in South Sudan Commission presents a five-year strategy on migration EU and Viet Nam upgrade ties to comprehensive strategic partnership MOST POPULAR Commission annual report on Single Market and competitiveness calls for joint action in light of unprecedented challenges Commission presents a five-year strategy on migration UN chief ‘deeply concerned’ by escalation of violence in South Sudan Access to Healthcare: is it too much to ask? 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Plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee January 13, 2026 The EESC holds nine plenary sessions per year where it adopts opinions drawn up by study groups and voted by the sections. Plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee January 13, 2026 The EESC holds nine plenary sessions per year where it adopts opinions drawn up by study groups and voted by the sections. Plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee January 13, 2026 The EESC holds nine plenary sessions per year where it adopts opinions drawn up by study groups and voted by the sections. Plenary session of the European Economic and Social Committee January 13, 2026 The EESC holds nine plenary sessions per year where it adopts opinions drawn up by study groups and voted by the sections. The Sting reads EU Press release – Cyprus Presidency debriefs European Parliament committees on priorities January 30, 2026 Ministers are holding a series of meetings in parliamentary committees to present the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council.Committee on Constitutional AffairsCommittee on Foreign AffairsCommittee on Agriculture and Rural DevelopmentCommittee on Culture and EducationCommittee on DevelopmentCommittee on Employment and Social AffairsCommittee on the Environment, Public Health and Food SafetyCommittee on Women’s Rights and […] Press release – New Eurobarometer survey: media briefing on Tuesday at 10:30 January 29, 2026 Accredited journalists are invited to an embargoed briefing to present the results of a new survey on what the public think about the EU and its priorities. Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – Protect copyrighted work used by generative AI, say Legal Affairs MEPs January 28, 2026 Access to high quality data to train generative AI in the EU should go hand in hand with fair remuneration for the creative sector.Committee on Legal Affairs Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – New measures to protect EU steel market from global overcapacity January 27, 2026 On Tuesday, the International Trade Committee adopted a series of measures to counteract the negative impact of global overproduction on the EU steel market.Committee on International Trade Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – European Parliament commemorates the International Holocaust Remembrance Day January 27, 2026 On Tuesday, Holocaust survivor Tatiana Bucci addressed MEPs in a plenary session to mark International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – MEPs to quiz candidates for the seat of the new European Customs Authority January 27, 2026 Tomorrow, on Wednesday 28 January, Internal Market Committee MEPs will hold a Q&A session with cities competing to host the headquarters of the future European Customs Authority (EUCA).Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – European Parliament to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day January 26, 2026 On Tuesday 27 January, Holocaust survivor Tatiana Bucci will address MEPs at a special plenary session for International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – European Parliament condemns Iran’s brutal repression of protesters January 22, 2026 In a resolution adopted on Thursday, MEPs express their outrage at the repression and mass murders being perpetrated by the Iranian regime against protesters in Iran.Committee on Foreign Affairs Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – Human rights violations in Honduras, the Central African Republic and Hong Kong January 22, 2026 On Thursday, Parliament adopted three resolutions on the human rights situations in Honduras, the Central African Republic and Hong Kong. Source : © European Union, 2026 – EP Press release – Parliament rejects motion of censure against European Commission January 22, 2026 In a vote on Thursday, MEPs rejected a motion of censure against the European Commission. 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