As a century passes since the founding of the United Nations, saving succeeding generations from war remains the organization’s central mission. But the world faces many other challenges.

Punxsutawney Phil sees his shadow; Hamas and Israel exchange hostages; Maria Corina Machado wins the Nobel Peace Prize; a deadly explosion in Tennessee; a government shutdown; US vs. China tariffs; and other current events.

Almost a quarter of the global population lives in poverty, and millions die each year from diseases related to inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Climate change threatens to disrupt food production, increase the risk of floods and disease, and exacerbate conflict and displacement. These and other issues are the focus of the 2025 Sustainable Development Goals. Use this current events analysis scaffold to support students as they analyze a news source and create annotations.