Life in cities is changing rapidly. Pictured is New York. Top news of the day | Friday: Ukraine, USA, Sudan, Cities Day UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: attacks on energy infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, US airstrikes in the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, mass crimes in Sudanese El Fasher, World Day cities.
Attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities
Continued attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure are exacerbating the suffering of the population and could lead to a large-scale humanitarian crisis with the onset of cold weather. UN Humanitarian Coordinator in the country Matthias Schmale warned about this today. The day before, Russia launched massive attacks on critical energy infrastructure throughout Ukraine. In total, according to Ukrainian authorities, 705 munitions were fired – this is one of the largest attacks since the start of a full-scale invasion in 2022.
US strikes in the Caribbean
Airstrikes carried out by the United States of America in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean against ships “allegedly associated with drug trafficking” violate international law. This was stated on Friday by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk. He called such attacks “unacceptable” and called on the United States to take all necessary measures “to prevent extrajudicial killings of people on board these vessels, regardless of their alleged criminal acts.” US authorities say these operations are part of the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism and are subject to international humanitarian law. Rapid reaction forces. The representative of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), Seif Magango, spoke about this on Friday at a briefing for journalists. He noted that since the Rapid Reaction Force’s invasion of the city on 23 October, OHCHR had received “horrific reports” of extrajudicial killings, mass killings, rape, attacks on aid workers and abductions.
Cities Day
In our digital world, technology is rapidly changing urban life. Digital tools can improve the quality of services, protect citizens from the elements, and create cleaner, green spaces for everyone. UN chief Antonio Guterres announced this on World Cities Day, which is celebrated on October 31. He recalled the global housing crisis and the growth of informal settlements and called on authorities to put the interests of people first. He believes digital innovation can help ensure fairness for all.