United Nations / AFP The UN General Assembly on Thursday formally appointed Antonio Guterres as the new secretary-general of the United Nations, replacing Ban Ki-moon. The 193 member states adopted by acclamation a resolution appointing the former prime minister of Portugal for a five-year term beginning January 1. The former prime minister of Portugal who also served as UN refugee …

  United Nations / AFP The United Nations is enlisting the super-powers of Wonder Woman for a new campaign to empower women and girls. The comic and television series heroine will be officially designated as the UN honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls during a ceremony attended by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on October 21. DC Entertainment President …

  Beirut / AFP Russian and Syrian warplanes pounded Aleppo again on Thursday after two days of heavy bombardment that killed more than 70 civilians, as world powers prepared for last-ditch weekend talks on a ceasefire. More than 20 air strikes hit the rebel-controlled east at dawn on Thursday, killing seven civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group …