21 June - Ban reappointed as UN Secretary-General

The UN General Assembly today appointed Ban Ki-moon to a second term as Secretary-General, to run from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2016. Mr Ban's re-appointment had previously been recommended by members of the UN Security Council.

After taking his oath of office, Mr Ban pledged to be a 'harmoniser and bridge-builder', saying 'we live in an era of integration and inter-connection, a new era when no country can solve all challenges on its own and where every country should be part of the solution. That is the reality of the modern world. We can struggle with it, or we can lead'.