Delegates alternately urged action and caution as they took up the International Law Commission’s draft articles on State responsibility for internationally wrongful acts in the Sixth Committee (Legal) today, highlighting the ongoing stalemate in the Committee’s consideration of a product that has shaped international jurisprudence over the last 20 years.

Growing disparity between international standards and reality on the ground is generating mistrust between peoples and communities, experts told the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) today, as delegates expressed grave concern over the human rights situations in Ukraine, China, Afghanistan, Belarus, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Iran, Syria and Yemen.

In the Gambia, the United Nations is assisting the Government following the deaths of a number of children due to acute kidney injury in the last two and a half months. The Organization is supporting authorities to investigate the cause of the outbreak and prevent further spread.

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) of the General Assembly, in New York today:

Parties to the conflict in Yemen had yet to agree on extending their truce, resulting in fresh uncertainty and a heightened risk for violence, the United Nations top official for Yemen told the Security Council today as members urged all parties to the conflict, particularly the Houthi militia, to exhibit cooperation and flexibility, and return to the negotiating table.

The decolonization agenda of the United Nations remains an urgent priority today, amidst new challenges affecting Non-Self-Governing Territories, speakers told the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) heard as it continued its general debate on decolonization.

Outlining a brighter financial picture for the Organization than in recent years, the United Nations top management official told delegates of the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today that structural changes approved in June at their second resumed session have eased the need for spending restrictions.

Following is the UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on World Food Day, observed on 16 October:

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia, in Astana today: