UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly voted unanimously Tuesday to give Ban Ki-moon a second term as secretary-general, praising him for strengthening the role and visibility of the world body in difficult circumstances. The 192-member assembly gave the 67-year-old South Korean diplomat another five years at the helm of the UN by voice vote. They applauded loudly as assembly president Joseph Deiss banged his gavel and proclaimed Ban's appointment to a new term starting Jan. 1. Ban said earlier this month that he wanted a second term. He faced no opposition and was recommended by the Security Council for the new term, also by voice vote, last Friday. He received the endorsement of all regional groups at the UN, and their chairs joined in sponsoring the General Assembly resolution that was adopted. Gabon's UN Ambassador Nelson Messone, the current Security Council president who introduced the assembly resolution, said Ban has “remarkably and with all objectivity and independence” worked on every continent, to promote peace, justice and international security,”
