Source: United Nations (video statements)
Hybrid press briefing by Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 (oPt). following their presentation to the General Assembly’s Third Committee. Ms. Albanese briefs reporters virtually.
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
On Wednesday 29 October the House of Lords presses the government in an urgent question, put forward by Lord Empey and granted by the Lord Speaker, on Hurricane Melissa.
Catch-up on House of Lords business:
Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/
Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:
• X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/houseoflords.parliament.uk
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/UKHouseofLords/
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• Threads: https://www.threads.net/@UKHouseOfLords
#HouseOfLords #UKParliament
Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
For 25 years, the Technology Pioneers community has helped shape our future. Now it’s your turn!
Every year, the community welcomes 100 leading early-stage start-ups from around the globe, whose cutting-edge technologies have the potential to improve the world. The programme helps them scale their impact and innovations.
Are you ready to scale your start-up and make a difference?
Apply now to join the next cohort of Technology Pioneers: http://wefglobal.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1HS50XyUqbdNVhs
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. It provides a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders to establish trust, and build initiatives for cooperation and progress.
Find out more below:
World Economic Forum Website ► http://www.weforum.org/
YouTube ► https://www.youtube.com/wef
LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-economic-forum
Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/worldeconomicforum/
Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/worldeconomicforum/
X ► https://twitter.com/wef
TikTok ► https://www.tiktok.com/@worldeconomicforum
WhatsApp ► https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDcHBKGZNCihKxwiD0L
Threads ► https://www.threads.com/@worldeconomicforum
Flipboard ► https://flipboard.com/@WEF
#WorldEconomicForum #wef
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/ibqoih-13aU?feature=share
Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.
In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.
The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.
Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:
X: https://www.x.com/HouseofCommons
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.
In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.
The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.
Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:
X: https://www.x.com/HouseofCommons
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Economic growth in the CCA region exceeded expectations in 2025, driven by strong domestic demand and hydrocarbon exports, while inflation accelerated. Economic activity in many CCA countries was stronger than expected in the first half of the year, underpinned by robust remittances, rapid credit growth, and, for oil exporters, higher hydrocarbon production.
Join us on October 30 at 1:00 AM ET for a panel discussion on the IMF’s October 2025 Regional Economic Outlook (REO) for the Caucasus and Central Asia with:
• Jihad Azour, Director, Middle East and Central Asia Department, IMF
• Arif Ali (CEO, CJSC Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank)
• Akylzhan Baimagambetov (Deputy Governor, National Bank of
Kazakhstan)
• Aziza Umarova (Head of Delivery Unit at the Agency for Strategic
Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan; Fellow at Harvard’s Davis
Center)
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Europe is facing daunting fiscal pressures both from new policy priorities (defense, energy security), the escalating costs of population aging (pension, healthcare), and a rising interest bill on already high debt. Without prompt policy action, public debt levels could more than double for the average European country in the next 15 years. This could drive up interest rates, slow down already sluggish economic growth, and undermine market confidence. Both structural reforms and fiscal consolidation will be necessary to deliver the difficult policy adjustment, with one third achieved through a set of moderate reforms and two thirds coming from consolidation. For high-debt countries, however, this policy package would likely be insufficient to meet the fiscal challenge, leaving no option other than a deeper rethink of the scope of public services and the social contract to fill the gap. Delaying policy action could be costly, as the fiscal position would deteriorate further, and make the task for policymakers even more challenging.
On November 4, 2025, the IMF and the European Central Bank jointly organized the launch of the IMF fiscal note of the 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Europe at the House of the Euro in Brussels. The event features:
• Oscar Arce, Director-General for Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics, European Central Bank
• Alfred Kammer, Director, European Department, International Monetary Fund
• Benedicta Marzinotto, Board Member of the European Fiscal Board and lecturer in Economic Policy at the University of Udine
• Maarten Verwey, Director-General for Economic and Financial Affairs, European Commission
• Moderator: Sarah Collins, Brussels Correspondent, Business Post
Source: International Monetary Fund – IMF (video statements)
Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean is expected to remain steady in 2025 and moderate slightly next year. Inflation convergence toward targets continues, though at a slower pace.
Rodrigo Valdés explains the main challenges facing the region. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/REO/WH/Issues/2025/10/17/regional-economic-outlook-western-hemisphere-october-2025
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
The Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy will hear evidence from senior government ministers on government decision-making in relation to espionage cases, following the collapse of the recent alleged China spy case.
In our second session this week, the cross-party Committee will hear evidence from the Attorney General and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
Hybrid press briefing by the Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel, following their presentation to the General Assembly’s Third Committee. Speakers are Ms. Navanethem Pillay (South Africa) and Mr. Chris Sidoti (Australia), who both briefed reporters virtually.
Chris Sidoti, one of the members of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry (COI) on the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT) said the 20-point “peace proposal” for Gaza, was “precarious right from the start” and “with fighting taking place in Rafah and Israeli bombing having resumed in the Rafah area, it is more precarious than ever.”
Sidoti and Navi Pillay, who is also a member of the COI, briefed reporters in New York virtually after presenting their report to the General Assembly’s Third Committee.
Pillay said, “analysis concluded that the State of Israel is responsible for the commission of four genocidal acts in Gaza with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza. We also found that the Israeli President, Prime Minister, and former Defence Minister have incited the commission of genocide.”
She said, “these findings remain fully valid and continue to serve as a cornerstone of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to ensure accountability.”
Pillay, who is a former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said, “Israeli officials have demonstrated a clear and concise intent to establish permanent military control over Gaza and to change its demographic composition.”
She expressed deep concern that “changes already made to land and borders have not been meaningfully reversed, despite the recent ceasefire, and statements by Israeli officials make it clear that objections of ethnic cleansing and the establishment of settlement in the Gaza Strip remain firmly in place.”
Sidoti for his part said, “the criminal activities of both the Palestinian militant leadership and the Israeli political and military leadership must end, and they will only end when those who are responsible for the crimes are held to account.”
He said, “one of the failures of the 20-point proposal is that there is no provision for accountability. There can be no peace in Israel and Palestine without accountability. There can be no justice in Israel and Palestine without accountability.”
Sidoti said, “the hostages have been released – apart from 12 bodies that are still being sought; the Palestinian prisoners and detainees have been released; but humanitarian and aid has not been resumed at the levels of were agreed and there is not a complete ceasefire taking place.”
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory was established by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged violations of international law and human rights abuses in the region.
