The United Nations must continue to do its best to help the world while reorganizing to do an even better job, said Antonio Guterres, the incoming UN secretary-general. "It must focus more on delivery and less on process, more on people and less on bureaucracy," he said.

A cease-fire in the Syrian town of Aleppo brokered by Russia and Turkey was short-lived as Syrian government fighters resumed airstrikes on rebel positions in the town. Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon cited reports of killings of civilians and called for humanitarian access to the town.

The world will meet its goal of eliminating malaria in 10 countries such as Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan by 2020, but further progress in areas where the disease is endemic will require donors to step up funding, said the World Health Organization. Global malaria efforts require $6.4 billion each year, but last year donors gave just $2.9 billion.

The severe drop in commodity prices during 2015 reduced economic growth for many less-development countries, said the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The decline has hurt progress on UN poverty goals.

Companies need to issue statements on how they are combating climate change to ensure that risks are mitigated, write Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and Michael Bloomberg, the United Nations special envoy for cities and climate change. Such disclosures will enable people to support companies that are serious about stemming the rise of global warming, they write.

South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar reportedly is being held under house arrest in South Africa to prevent him from inciting more violence in his native country. However, South African authorities deny that Machar is being forcibly held.

"Lack of recognition" in addressing sexual violence against men and boys

"The new WHO 2016 World Malaria Report calls attention to the importance -- and the complexity -- of global malaria response."

@UNFoundation: 1 year has passed since the adoption of the #ParisAgreement. 12 top moments from this year of #climateaction: http://ow.ly/1WIB3072UCH