UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly has decided to mark the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth by holding a high-level meeting focusing on world peace ahead of the annual gathering of world leaders in September 2018.
A resolution adopted Friday without a vote says the “Nelson Mandela Peace Summit” will include speeches by top UN officials, the chair of the African Union Commission and member states.
The resolution recalls the South African anti-apartheid leader’s dedication to promoting conflict resolution, race relations, human rights, reconciliation and gender equality.
In 2009, the General Assembly established “Nelson Mandela International Day” on July 18, the date he was born in 1981. The UN asks people around the world to mark the day by making a difference in their communities.
Mandela died Dec. 5, 2013.
UN to mark Mandela’s 100th birthday with a peace summit
UN to mark Mandela’s 100th birthday with a peace summit
Zelensky wants to replace Ukraine’s defense minister
- President has offered the position to his current minister of digital transformation, who is aged just 34
- No explanation was given for his decision to replace Denys Shmygal
KYIV, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday said he intended to replace his defense minister and had offered the position to his current minister of digital transformation, who is aged just 34.
“I have decided to change the structure of the Ukrainian ministry of defense,” Zelensky said in his daily address broadcast on social media. “I have offered Mikhailo Fedorov the position of new Ukrainian defense minister.”
Fedorov, who has been digital transformation minister since 2019, is a relative political novice little-known to the Ukrainian public.
“Mykhailo is deeply involved in issues related to drones and is very effective in the digitalization of state services and processes,” Zelensky added.
Without explaining his decision to replace Denys Shmygal, the Ukrainian leader said he had proposed the incumbent “head another area of government work that is no less important for our stability.”
Zelensky had tapped Shmygal as defense minister just half a year ago, in July 2025.
Besides the turnover at the defense ministry, Zelensky also named Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov to head his presidential office.
Budanov replaces Andriy Yermak, who was among Ukraine’s most powerful people before being engulfed in a corruption scandal dogging some of Zelensky’s former allies.
