Sand and dust storms affect about 330 million people in over 150 countries and are taking an increasing toll on health, economies and the environment.

The U.N. General Assembly has overwhelmingly elected Germany’s former foreign minister Annalena Baerbock to be the next head of the 193-member world body.

Cameroon’s former prime minister has taken over the presidency of the U.N. General Assembly and called for nations to unite and to address global challenges from climate change and poverty to conflicts and armed violence.