UN Headlines: 7-13 October 2024

UN organizations' news

World Bank: Poorest countries facing worst debt since 2006 — 13 October 2024 (LINK)

40 countries contributing to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Lebanon 'strongly condemn' Israeli attacks on UN peacekeepers — 12 October 2024 (LINK)

UN official appeals for Lebanon's ports and airport to be spared as Israel presses its offensive — 12 October 2024 (LINK) — ground.news: 36 media reports (LINK)

Foreign Minister Israel Katz defends decision to ban UN chief from Israel after over 100 member states protest — 12 October 2024 (LINK)

Israel's genocidal attack has unleashed 'most profound crisis since the end of World War II': "one year later, the promise by Israeli leaders to destroy Gaza has been fulfilled," said 37 United Nations special rapporteurs. "The strip is now a wasteland of rubble and human remains." — 11 October 2024 (LINK)

— OHCHR: 'The international order is breaking down in Gaza': UN experts mark one year of genocidal attacks on Palestinians — (LINK)

What lies ahead for the UN's new relief chief, Tom Fletcher, a former UK ambassador to Lebanon and foreign policy aide to prime ministers from both sides of Britain's political aisle — 11 October 2024 (LINK)

— He inherits a post that has been branded the "toughest job in international civil service" — and that has seen its two previous incumbents step down early. Already, he has faced pointed questions over his relative lack of humanitarian experience, and frustration that the UN system has chosen a sixth straight Briton to take the role — many had hoped the appointment would break from the long-criticised convention of global powers dominating choice UN positions.

At Hamburg Sustainability Conference UNECE shares practical solutions for climate action and sustainable development — 11 October 2024 (LINK)

— Of some 250 initiatives mapped, 10 projects from South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia requiring financing of over $15bn were shortlisted for showcasing at COP29.

UNIFIL reported that new explosions hit its headquarters on Friday morning, injuring two peacekeepers, a day after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) targeted the same area injuring two other peacekeepers — 11 October 2024 (LINK)

Cointrin, Geneva's international airport, posted the worst performance results in Europe in terms of punctuality and reliability of flights during the summer of 2024. The finger of blame has been pointed at easyJet. — 11 October 2024 (LINK)

— The budget airline saw frequent delays and cancellations with 2.62 percent of flights cancelled and 35 percent delayed. In comparison Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris saw just 1 percent of flights cancelled during the summer.The budget airline saw frequent delays and cancellations with 2.62 percent of flights cancelled and 35 percent delayed. In comparison Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris saw just 1 percent of flights cancelled during the summer. This poses a problem to the airport's management because it relies heavily on the airline, which represents 46.4 percent of its market share.

— "The airport is affected both by repeated strikes by air traffic controllers in France and by staff shortages inherited from the pandemic period in German airports" Oskar de Felice, in charge of legal affairs at Flightright, told Le Temps newspaper.

GESDA takes a new step towards a global audience — 10 October 2024 (LINK)

— GESDA is launching its public anticipation portal on 11 October. This will include a global training framework, an interactive exhibition and an observatory.