The change at the helm of the United Nations brings with it hopes for changes -- both deep and broad -- in this world body plagued by charges of ineffectiveness, with blame ranging from inefficiency to entrenched corruption. Replacing Kofi Annan (1997-2006), South Korea's Ban Ki-moon takes over a cash-strapped organisation often seen as politically manipulated, primarily by the United States, and to some degree by the remaining four veto-wielding members of the UN Security Council: Britain, France, China and Russia. Will Ban stand up to the big powers?