[editors - this can run any time before the end of the year]
This past year the United Nations was the scene of the other election in America.
They chose the next UN Secretary-General. Antonio Guterres takes over from Ban Ki-moon at the start of January, with a sizable in tray before him.
Meanwhile, the US saw more terror attacks and police shootings during the course of the year.
US correspondent Nick Harper looks back on 2016, and ahead to the coming year.
IN: "Well, ladies and gentlemen....."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 3:05 seconds
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-gen.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-von.mp3
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VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-ziz.mp3
938: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-938.mp3
TAKE SOUNDUP - Ambassadors together
TAKE VO
It's not often you hear the UN Security Council's ambassadors agreeing on something.
Picking Antonio Guterres was one of the few moments in 2016. Guterres says he's ready for the challenge.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General designate
"The dramatic problems of today's complex world can only inspire a humble approach."
TAKE VO
The former Portuguese Prime Minister spent ten years as the head of the UN's refugee agency.
Now he'll have that and much more to deal with.
But many UN commentators feel his experience puts him in a strong position.
Here's Richard Gowan, a fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations in New York.
TAKE SOUNDBITE - Richard Gowan, Fellow, European Council of Foreign Relations
"Guterres should be able to hit the ground running because he's been focused on refugee crises in Africa and the Middle East for years. So he doesn't need any education about what the UN is doing. It's also worth remembering he's a former head of government and he can play politics at a higher level than even Ban Ki-moon and that will be to his advantage."
TAKE SOUNDUP - gun fire
TAKE VO
The guns show no sign of falling silent in Syria.
Continued inaction by the UN Security Council, with several vetoed resolutions, threatens to prolong the conflict this coming year.
TAKE VO
Similarly fighting in South Sudan rumbles on.
A damning report found peacekeepers there failed to protect civilians this summer.
TAKE VO
That scandal and yet more allegations of sexual abuse carried out by UN peacekeepers will lead to institutional reforms in 2017.
TAKE SOUNDUP
TAKE VO
Back in the US, this year saw more high-profile shootings of black men by white police officers.
Like Alton Sterling in Lousiana.
TAKE SOUNDUP - shooting video
TAKE VO
And Philando Castile in Minnesota.
Their deaths, recorded and shared online, sparking anger and protests.
TAKE SOUNDUP - protests
TAKE VO
But also revenge attacks. A sniper killing 5 police officers during a protest in Dallas.
TAKE VO
And with a Trump presidency ahead there are concerns the simmering tensions between African American communities and the police will sadly remain. Juliana Horowitz from the Pew Research Center.
TAKE SOUNDBITE - Juliana Horowitz, Pew Research Center
"The view on race relations have become increasingly negative and they are far more negative now than they've been for much of the past decade or so….. // And what we've seen over the last--, especially over the last couple of years is that views have become increasingly negative."
TAKE VO
Terrorism continued on US soil in 2016.
A nightclub in Orlando was the scene of the worst terror attack since 9/11.
A gunman killing 49 people. An act which prompted questions about America's problem with guns.
TAKE VO
Yet with a Republican-controlled Congress just around the corner it's an issue that's unlikely to be addressed anytime soon.
SOC
ENDS
Meanwhile, the US saw more terror attacks and police shootings during the course of the year.
US correspondent Nick Harper looks back on 2016, and ahead to the coming year.
IN: "Well, ladies and gentlemen....."
OUT: SOC
DUR: 3:05 seconds
AIR: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-air.mp3
ARN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-arn.mp3
FM4: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-fm4.mp3
GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-gen.mp3
ICRT: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-icrt.mp3
NIGERIA: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-von.mp3
RNZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-rnz.mp3
VATICAN: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-vat.mp3
ZIZ: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-ziz.mp3
938: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/1222year-end-nh-938.mp3
TAKE SOUNDUP - Ambassadors together
TAKE VO
It's not often you hear the UN Security Council's ambassadors agreeing on something.
Picking Antonio Guterres was one of the few moments in 2016. Guterres says he's ready for the challenge.
TAKE SOUNDBITE
Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-General designate
"The dramatic problems of today's complex world can only inspire a humble approach."
TAKE VO
The former Portuguese Prime Minister spent ten years as the head of the UN's refugee agency.
Now he'll have that and much more to deal with.
But many UN commentators feel his experience puts him in a strong position.
Here's Richard Gowan, a fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations in New York.
TAKE SOUNDBITE - Richard Gowan, Fellow, European Council of Foreign Relations
"Guterres should be able to hit the ground running because he's been focused on refugee crises in Africa and the Middle East for years. So he doesn't need any education about what the UN is doing. It's also worth remembering he's a former head of government and he can play politics at a higher level than even Ban Ki-moon and that will be to his advantage."
TAKE SOUNDUP - gun fire
TAKE VO
The guns show no sign of falling silent in Syria.
Continued inaction by the UN Security Council, with several vetoed resolutions, threatens to prolong the conflict this coming year.
TAKE VO
Similarly fighting in South Sudan rumbles on.
A damning report found peacekeepers there failed to protect civilians this summer.
TAKE VO
That scandal and yet more allegations of sexual abuse carried out by UN peacekeepers will lead to institutional reforms in 2017.
TAKE SOUNDUP
TAKE VO
Back in the US, this year saw more high-profile shootings of black men by white police officers.
Like Alton Sterling in Lousiana.
TAKE SOUNDUP - shooting video
TAKE VO
And Philando Castile in Minnesota.
Their deaths, recorded and shared online, sparking anger and protests.
TAKE SOUNDUP - protests
TAKE VO
But also revenge attacks. A sniper killing 5 police officers during a protest in Dallas.
TAKE VO
And with a Trump presidency ahead there are concerns the simmering tensions between African American communities and the police will sadly remain. Juliana Horowitz from the Pew Research Center.
TAKE SOUNDBITE - Juliana Horowitz, Pew Research Center
"The view on race relations have become increasingly negative and they are far more negative now than they've been for much of the past decade or so….. // And what we've seen over the last--, especially over the last couple of years is that views have become increasingly negative."
TAKE VO
Terrorism continued on US soil in 2016.
A nightclub in Orlando was the scene of the worst terror attack since 9/11.
A gunman killing 49 people. An act which prompted questions about America's problem with guns.
TAKE VO
Yet with a Republican-controlled Congress just around the corner it's an issue that's unlikely to be addressed anytime soon.
SOC
ENDS