"U THANT"

Former Myanmar refugee Thant Zin Maung returned home last year from Thailand. After years in a rural camp, he and his family are now adjusting to their new life in big city Yangon. More refugees in Thailand are considering returning to Myanmar. UNHCR

Seventy-one refugees from Myanmar are returning home after decades in camps in Thailand through a pilot initiative led by the two governments. The initial group includes mainly ethnic Karen and Burmese refugees returning to locations that include Yangon, Tanintharyi region, Kayin, Mon and Rakhine states. UNHCR

Acting UN Secretary-General U Thant addresses student union in Copenhagen.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today at UN headquarters to inform him of his intention to submit an application for membership in the United Nations this Friday. UNTV / ARCHIVE

The UN General Assembly has officially endorsed the appointment of Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon of the Republic of Korea as the world body's next Secretary- General to succeed Kofi Annan when he steps down on 31 December. UNTV

Tanzania's U.N. ambassador, taking on the presidency of the Security Council for January, said Wednesday that the world body should pick its next secretary-general on the traditional regionally rotating basis -- meaning that the next UN chief would have to come from an Asian country. UNTV

From its headquarters in Tokyo, the United Nations University is establishing a unique world-wide network of research and intellectual communication.

A bronze bust of U Thant, third Secretary-General of the United Nations, is unveiled by the Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim at the UN International School.

The General Assembly pays tribute to the memory of U Thant at the 2304th plenary meeting of the 29th session.

The General Assembly discusses the question of Palestine and pays tribute to the memory of U Thant at the 2296th and 2297th plenary meetings of the 29th session.