Ban ki-moon

South Sudan “on a trajectory towards mass atrocities”: UN chief

South Sudan is “on a trajectory towards mass atrocities” and immediate action needs to be taken by the UN Security Council to prevent that from happening. That was the message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, at a recent meeting of the 15-member council in New York. He urged members to impose an arms embargo on warring parties, in support of a revived political process to end the fighting. Daniel Dickinson reports.

Leaders around the world need not just passion but also compassion to bring about change according to the outgoing United Nations Secretary-General.

Ban Ki-moon who is leaving the UN after 10 years leading the organization, says the new Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has those qualities.

Ari Gaitanis has been speaking to Mr Ban ahead of his departure at the end of the month.

Duration: 2’51”

Extended interview available in a UN Global Perspective special programme.

A new “fusion” restaurant in the Austrian capital Vienna, has found the special ingredient to turn Syrian refugees into budding entrepreneurs with a chance to open their own businesses.

That’s the dream of the founder of Habibi & Hawara, Katha Schinkinger, who was host to a special patron on his last overseas trip as UN Secretary General: Ban Ki-moon, in early December.

The international community “must not give up” on the right of both Palestine and Israel to exist as independent states, living in peace and security with their neighbours.

That plea for the UN Security Council to reaffirm the so-called two-state solution came from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his final address to the council on the Middle-East.

He leaves his post at the end of this month.

Matthew Wells has more.

Duration: 2'24"

The new portrait of out-going UN chief Ban Ki-moon that was unveiled on Wednesday ranks as “the most special project I have ever worked on” says its renowned artist.

South Korean artist, Lee Won-hee, has painted presidents and other leading politicians at home, but his portrait of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is his most significant work yet, he said.

Mr Lee attended the unveiling at UN Headquarters, where the portrait will hang alongside those of Mr Ban’s seven predecessors, on the ground floor of the main Secretariat building.

The “full inclusion and effective participation” of persons with disabilities in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals is vital if they are to succeed.

That’s the message from UN chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday, speaking at a High Level Panel discussion on the 10th anniversary of The Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The official entry into force of the Paris Agreement on climate change which commits 193 countries to limit global temperature rises to below 2 degrees, is an “extraordinary milestone."

That’s according to Paul Hanle, president of Climate Central, one of the civil society groups taking part in a meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday, to mark the day.

Probe into South Sudan July attacks points to “lack of leadership”

Protecting Afghan civilians means protecting journalists too and monitoring their safety, according to the deputy head of the UN Mission in the country (UNAMA).

Pernille Dahler Kardel, was speaking on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, marked each 2 November, and said it was time for the government to follow through on its pledges to protect media workers.