Beyonce performs at UN hall in New York

NEW YORK — Superstar singer Beyonce Knowles has serenaded a different New York City venue: The United Nations. Beyonce performed her song “I Was Here” on Friday in the UN’s General Assembly Hall in honor of World Humanitarian Day, which is Aug. 19. A music video of the performance will debut the same day. Beyonce sang in front of hundreds, including Julia Stiles, R&B singer The-Dream and songwriter Diane Warren, who wrote the song. Warren said in an interview that she initially called Beyonce’s husband, Jay-Z, and played the song for him over the phone. He quickly called Beyonce, and days later she recorded it. It appears on her album “4,” released last year. — AP