On Jan. 1, the next United Nations secretary-general will take over an aging organization. The 81-year-old institution now faces many challenges, as it got sidelined from major conflicts in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. Its precarious financial situation forced cuts to humanitarian programs, showing the complex world the new leader faces.
UNITED NATIONS — On Jan. 1, the next United Nations secretary-general will take over an aging organization still controlled by World War II powers. What will the world need from that person?
Once a major player in solving conflicts and crises around the world, the 81-year-old institution has been sidelined from the top table in trying to end the wars in Iran, Ukraine and Gaza. And its precarious financial situation — caused mainly by the billions of dollars the United States owes — has forced major cuts to its humanitarian and development programs where it has remained a key player.