UN70

The General Assembly hall was the centre of the body’s 70^th birthday celebrations on Monday, and it’s the place where leaders come to “thrash out” the major challenges of the day.

That’s according to Dan Thomas, spokesperson and communications director for the President of the General Assembly.

Matthew Wells spoke to Mr Thomas in the centre of the chamber where history has been made, over 70 years of lively debate.

Duration: 3’05”

The General Assembly is “at the heart” of the United Nations, according to the head of the UN Department which supports dialogue and cooperation among the 193 countries that make up the global organization.

Catherine Pollard is Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management (DGACM) the largest Department in the UN Secretariat.

Veronica Reeves spoke to Ms Pollard and asked her about the importance of the General Assembly.

The portraits of former UN Secretaries-General that are hanging in UN headquarters in New York serve to celebrate the organization’s core values.

That’s according to an art historian and portrait expert who has been taking a look at the paintings of the seven former UN chiefs.

As the United Nations celebrates its 70^th anniversary, Daniel Dickinson asked New York University’s Professor Kenneth Silver what he thinks of the portraits.

A train known as the UN70 Belarus Express is helping to spread the word about the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) throughout the Eastern European country.

The train has been making its way around Belarus this week.

Film screenings, concerts, exhibitions and workshops on the goals have all been featured on board, in eight different cities.

The 17 development and poverty reduction targets which make up the SDGs were agreed by the international community in September.

New York’s famed Harlem neighbourhood meets South Korea on Friday evening as the celebrations to mark the 70^th anniversary of the United Nations get underway.

For decades, Harlem has been home to African-American culture.

In a unique collaboration, Harlem Gospel Choir is performing with the Korean Broadcasting System Traditional Orchestra.

Daniel Dickinson reports from UN headquarters.

The Great Wall of China and the Palace in Monaco have joined a growing list of famous landmarks that will be lit for the “Turn the World UN Blue” campaign.

Well over 200 landmarks in more than 60 countries will be bathed in blue lights on Saturday, 24 October to mark 70 years since the founding of the United Nations.  From New Zealand to Zimbabwe, notable landmarks all around the world will participate in the event.