UN Celebrates 70-Year Anniversary

Global landmarks are turning blue to mark the United Nation's 70th anniversary.

More than 200 landmarks in 60 countries are being lit up in blue, the official color of the UN, on October 24.

The global celebration kicked off in New Zealand and then at the Sydney Opera House in Australia.

It is moving across countries and continents to the Great Wall of China, the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, Russia's Hermitage Museum, the Alhambra in Spain, the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, and many other sites.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed hope that "by turning the world UN blue for a day, we can light a way to a better tomorrow."

October 24 is the anniversary of the entry into force of the U.N. Charter in 1945 and is celebrated as UN Day.

Based on reporting by AP and BBC