UN - UN Affairs

1. Palestine: General Assembly discusses failed UN membership bid

   Palestine’s recent attempt to become a full member of the United Nations was the focus of discussion in the General Assembly on Wednesday. 

2. UN updates on probe into allegations of staff collusion during 7 October attacks

   A UN office investigating Israeli accusations that 12 staff members from UN Palestine relief agency UNRWA were involved in the 7 October Hamas-led attacks has closed one of the cases because Israel had not provided any supporting evidence, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Friday. 

3. Secretary-General calls for UN 2.0 to tackle 21st century challenges

   Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday emphasised the need for a “strengthened and updated” United Nations to better reach and support people around the world.

4. Guterres upholds UNRWA as a ‘lifeline’ following receipt of independent panel’s report

   UN chief António Guterres issued an appeal on Monday to “actively support” the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, adding that he accepted the final findings of an independent probe into the organisation, launched amid serious unconfirmed allegations of UNRWA collusion with Hamas fighters and as part of efforts to assess whether the agency was doing everything within its power to ensure neutrality.

5. Ukraine war ‘stark reminder’ of the trials facing multilateralism

   The Russian invasion of Ukraine is “a stark reminder” of the challenges to multilateralism and remains the top priority of UN partner the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Security Council heard on Friday.