Antonio Guterres has begun the first day as the United Nations' new secretary general with a New Year appeal to the world: "Let us resolve to put peace first." The former Portuguese prime minister and UN refugee chief made the plea just after taking over the reins of the United Nations from Ban Ki-moon, whose second five-year term ended at midnight on December 31. Mr Guterres said the only way to help "the millions of people caught up in conflict, suffering massively in wars with no end in sight" was for people, governments and leaders to "strive to overcome our differences". "All that we strive for as a human family - dignity and hope, progress and prosperity - depends on peace," he said. Mr Guterres has said he will engage all governments "and, of course, also with the next government of the United States" and show his willingness to co-operate on "the enormous challenges that we'll be facing together". But US president-elect Donald Trump has shown little interest in multilateralism, which Mr Guterres contends is "the cornerstone" of the UN and great attachment to the Republicans' "America First" agenda, saying the world body's 193 member states do nothing except talk and have...
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