Authorities in Jamaica have declared the island nation a disaster area as assessment of the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Melissa begins. The storm made landfall there as a Category 5 -- the most powerful in Jamaica's history -- and destroyed homes, hospitals and the country's agricultural district while disrupting power and communications. UN agencies are working to provide relief kits in Jamaica, as well as Haiti and Cuba, where Melissa later made landfall as a Category 3 storm. Experts attribute the storm's intensity to record-high ocean temperatures caused by human-driven climate change.

The UN Security Council urgently needs reform to address global challenges, writes I.R. King, chair of L69 -- a coalition of developing nations advocating for UNSC reform. The Council's structure, which includes five permanent members with veto power, creates a power imbalance and fails to represent the majority of the world's population -- particularly those in developing countries, King writes, warning that expanding UNSC membership is crucial for maintaining legitimacy and effectiveness in global governance.

Speaking at the ASEAN Summit, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also criticized the UNSC for its ineffectiveness, citing deep divisions among the five permanent members.

The African region has made notable strides in polio eradication -- the number of countries experiencing active type 2 poliovirus outbreaks dropped from 24 to 14 over the last twelve months, the World Health Organization reports. Polio virus detections fell by 54%, and nearly 200 million children across 15 countries received at least one vaccine dose this year.

Funding for climate adaptation is lagging behind promises from wealthy countries, the UN Environment Program's Adaptation Gap report reveals. Funding fell to $26 billion last year, down from $28 billion in 2022, even though rich countries pledged to double public adaptation finance to $40 billion annually by 2025. "Even amid tight budgets and competing priorities, the reality is simple: if we do not invest in adaptation now, we will face escalating costs every year," UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen warns.

The US has declined to sign the UN Convention against Cybercrime, citing an ongoing review of the treaty. The convention, signed by 72 countries including the UK, Brazil, China and Russia, is designed to combat cybercrime and enhance international cooperation, but has faced criticism from human rights groups who argue that it lacks adequate human rights safeguards and could enable extensive surveillance.

Sudan's Rapid Support Forces have taken control of El-Fasher, the last Sudanese military stronghold in Darfur, in what UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls a "terrible escalation" of the conflict. UN officials and medical groups report that the RSF killed dozens of civilians, detained hundreds and forced thousands to flee the city. Satellite imagery and social media footage suggest summary executions and mass killings. The Sudanese military says it withdrew to prevent further civilian casualties after enduring months of RSF attacks.