Besera Kostava is the master of ceremonies for the concert.

To welcome the new UN Secretary General Ban Kin-Moon, renowned Italian composer Alio Maricoli held his first American concert at the United Nations. In this report by Besera Kostava, the master of ceremonies, UN media chief Ahmad Southi, takes us through the highlights of this historical event.

The budget proposes $2.7 billion to expand alternative energy research, a 53 percent increase over the 2006 funding level. These funds will support further research into cellulosic ethanol, which can be produced from sources like wood chips and grasses.