The Syrian Government and its partners — currently poised at the brink of a massive military strike against the north‑west province of Idlib — must urgently rethink its strategy, the Security Council heard today, as delegates sounded the alarm about such repercussions as mass civilian casualties and the flood of up to 700,000 refugees into neighbouring countries, Europe and beyond.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Peacebuilding Commission’s ambassadorial-level meeting on “Leadership, accountability and capacities”, in New York today:

The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf held its forty-seventh session at United Nations Headquarters from 16 July to 31 August.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) welcomed Qatar’s decision to end exit visa requirements for most of its migrant workers.  ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said in a tweet that this is a “positive step towards decent work”, adding that the agency is committed to working with the Government of Qatar as it pursues further reforms.  The Secretary-General adds his welcome to the voice of ILO.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Ingrid Hayden of Australia as his Deputy Special Representative (Political) for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA).

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Nikki R. Haley (United States):

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today announced the appointment of Charlotte Petri Gornitzka of Sweden as Assistant Secretary-General to serve as Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks at the Staff Day opening ceremony and memorial wreath-laying, in New York today:

The United Nations and Mattel, Inc., launched a collaboration at New York Headquarters today to introduce the Sustainable Development Goals to pre‑school audiences through the animated children’s series Thomas & Friends.

The question of whether the world’s first treaty to conserve and protect marine diversity on the high seas should include an indicative and non‑exhaustive list of types of capacity‑building and transfer of technology dominated today’s discussions at the intergovernmental conference tasked with drafting that legally binding instrument.