The World
A New Leader Starts at the U.N.
With the beginning of the new year, veteran South Korean diplomat Ban Ki Moon, 62, became the secretary general of the United Nations, taking the helm of the troubled world body from Kofi Annan. The soft-spoken Ban, who had Washington's backing, will be under pressure to deepen U.N. reforms begun under Annan.
Ban said he aims to end the "mistrust" hobbling the U.N. and called on member states to act on "daunting" problems in the Middle East and Darfur. But Ban's first week at Turtle Bay hit some turbulence when he failed to restate U.N. opposition to the death penalty after Saddam Hussein's hanging.
A Lady Joins the 'Beefeaters'
For the first time in their 522-year history, the guards of Britain's Tower of London-the famed "Beefeaters"-will soon take a woman into their ranks. The as-yet unidentified woman hails from the country's armed services, like other warders. The Beefeaters-nicknamed for their medieval-period rations of beef-began as King Henry VII's protectors, guarding crown jewels and prisoners like Anne Boleyn. Now, they spend much of their time leading tours and posingfor photographs.
With Dan Morrison in Cairo, Kevin Whitelaw and Associated Press
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