New UN leader pledges to promote peace

Antnio Guterres took the reins of the United Nations on New Year’s Day, promising to be a bridge-builder but facing an antagonistic incoming U.S. administration led by Donald Trump , who thinks the world body’s 193 member states do nothing except talk and have a good time. The former Portuguese prime minister and U.N. refugee chief said after being sworn-in as secretary-general on Dec. 12 that he will engage all governments – “and, of course, also with the next government of the United States” – and show his willingness to cooperate on “the enormous challenges that we’ll be facing together.”