The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) elected Philippe Kridelka (Belgium) Chair on 7 June.

The Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) elected Mohamed al Hassan (Oman) Chair on 7 June.

The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) elected José A. Blanco Conde (Dominican Republic) Chair on 7 June.

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) elected Lachezara Stoeva (Bulgaria) Chair on 7 June.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) elected Mohan Pieris (Sri Lanka) as its Chair.

Syria must change its attitude and cooperate fully with the body charged with verifying its compliance with international law governing chemical weapons, the United Nations disarmament chief told the Security Council today, as speakers diverged over the propriety of that body’s efforts so far.

Today is International Day of Awareness on Food Loss and Waste Reduction and this year’s theme is “Stop Food Loss and waste, for the people, for the planet”. Food loss and waste account for 8 to 10 per cent of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

The First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) met for a brief organizational meeting today, approving a work programme after electing Peter Mohan Maithri Pieris (Sri Lanka) as its Chair for the General Assembly’s seventy-seventh session, following the withdrawal of Magzhan Ilyassov (Kazakhstan) from that position.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day of Non-Violence, observed on 2 October: