Commencing deliberations in the Sixth Committee (Legal) on the ‘second cluster’ of topics of the annual report, the Chair of the International Law Commission introduced the four topics, highlighting the conclusion of consideration of the “obligation to extradite or prosecute” (aut dedere aut judicare), and the start of its work on “protection of the atmosphere”.

The United Nations Mission in South Sudan reports continued heavy fighting between the Sudan People's Liberation Army and Opposition combatants.  The Mission expresses its concern that hostilities continue in violation of the 23 January Agreement on the Cessation of Hostilities and the 9 May Agreement between President Kiir and Dr. Machar.

Presidential elections in Côte d’Ivoire next year would be a “critical” moment to assess progress in the security situation, as the West African nation continued to recover from its 2011 political crisis, the Chair of the United Nations body overseeing the sanctions regime told the Security Council today.

With thousands of unexploded ordnances still littering neighbourhoods and winter fast approaching, accelerated efforts were needed to swiftly deliver humanitarian relief and reconstruction materials to Gaza, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) was told today during interactive dialogues with experts, as it continued its debate on human rights.

Escalating tensions in East Jerusalem must be diffused without delay, but they could not be separated from the wider unresolved conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the United Nations top political official told the Security Council this afternoon.

The United Nations was faced with a “unique opportunity” to retool itself to ensure it was fit to play a key role in fulfilment of the post-2015 development agenda, the representative of the United States told delegates in the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for World Cities Day, to be observed on 31 October:

Nothing represented the best of the United Nations globally than the sight of blue helmets safeguarding peace day in and out in difficult locations, the representative of Indonesia said this morning, as the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) continued its comprehensive review of peacekeeping operations, during which speakers laid out their vision for a process that responded to new challenges without abandoning traditional tenets.

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the Counter-Piracy Conference, “Countering Maritime Piracy: Securing State Recovery, Sustaining Momentum at Sea, Confronting Instability on Land”, delivered by Haile Menkerios, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates today: