NEW YORK, 6 December (Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea) ― The Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf held its forty-second session at United Nations Headquarters from 17 October to 2 December 2016.

Heralded in ancient times for its ability to bring warring parties together, modern sport could be a powerful enabler of sustainable development and a tool for empowering young people, the General Assembly heard this morning.

Although some progress had been made, serious challenges continued to face Libya a year after the signing of the Political Agreement, and if not addressed, could result in chaos, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya told the Security Council today, outlining steps needed for the country to move forward.

Following the recommendation of its First Committee (Disarmament and International Security), the General Assembly today adopted 68 draft resolutions and decisions, among them ones targeting the recent proliferation of banned weapons alongside the development of new and emerging threats.

The new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations, Cho Tae-yul, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today.

The new Permanent Representative of Cabo Verde to the United Nations, José Luis Rocha, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today.

In Geneva today, Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O’Brien launched the highest consolidated humanitarian appeal for $22.2 billion.  With humanitarian crises greater than at any time since the United Nations was founded, the funding would support vital operations for nearly 93 million vulnerable people in 33 countries.

Speakers highlighted both the successes and serious issues related to implementation as the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today examined progress over the past year in rolling out Umoja, the United Nations ambitious business management project.

Acknowledging the political agreement reached on 18 October in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Security Council remained concerned about the risk for destabilization of the country in the absence of a swift and consensual resolution to the current political crisis.

Following vetoes wielded by China and the Russian Federation, the Security Council today failed to adopt a draft resolution that would have had all parties in Syria end attacks on the city of Aleppo within 24 hours.  The proposed cessation of hostilities would have lasted at least one week and would have demanded immediate safe access to all areas for humanitarian assistance.