UN headquarters targeted in new anti-smoking drive

The United Nations General Assembly has ordered Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to put an end to smoking at UN headquarters in New York, widely seen as a tobacco safe haven in an otherwise smoke-free metropolis.

Ban's predecessor Kofi Annan tried to ban smoking at the UN skyscraper in 2003. But his anti-smoking drive failed as many diplomats and staff simply ignored the, "no smoking" signs that appeared throughout the building. (Reuters)