Topic: Ban Ki-moon

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Palestinian UN bid: key moves to watch for

At this year’s annual meeting the United Nations General Assembly in New York, one of the most high-profile issues is the Palestinian statehood bid. What is it, and how will it unfold?
Photos of the Day: Photos of the Day 09/19
Cambodia: Khmer Rouge tribunal 101

Cambodia's UN-backed war crimes court opened the trial Monday of four top Khmer Rouge leaders accused of genocide and other atrocities in the late 1970s.
WikiLeaks: Top 5 revelations

The newest release of confidential state information from WikiLeaks includes 251,287 cables from more than 250 US embassies. Here are five of the most striking revelations.
In Pictures: Current women heads of state

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Will Al Qaeda cement its foothold in Syria?

The massacre in Houla, Syria, over the weekend pushed Russia to finally denounce the atrocities there. But Moscow also warned that the regime of Bashar al-Assad faces threats from Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda's future in Syria depends on how Sunnis there respond to foreign jihadi fighters.
Terrorism & Security
After massacre in Syria, Annan travels to Damascus to push peace plan

Kofi Annan's visit follows a massacre in Houla, Syria, that left 108 dead, most of them 'summarily executed,' according to the United Nations.
Syria 'massacre' raises pressure for international response

Syrian artillery attack that apparently killed more than 90 people, including many children, brought French condemnation, while the UK said it would call for urgent UN Security Council meeting.
Terrorism & Security
UN chief: There is no 'plan B' for ending the Syrian conflict

At least 200 have died in Syria in the two months since a UN-backed cease-fire went into effect, but Ban Ki-moon rejects assertions that part of the problem is the low number of monitors on the ground.
Mixed reactions over Malawi's plan to repeal anti-gay law

Repealing a colonial-era ban on homosexuality may please foreign donors, intent on protecting democratic rights of minorities. But it causes a stir among churches and conservative Malawians.
Terrorism & Security
Both sides violating Syria cease-fire. Still worth supporting? (+video)

United Nations chief Ban Ki-moon called on all parties in Syria to stand by the cease-fire, which has been repeatedly violated by both the government and the opposition.
Aung San Suu Kyi ends boycott to make Myanmar parliamentary debut

Aung San Suu Kyi's boycott and subsequent compromise highlight the challenges facing the Burmese opposition as they make their long-awaited foray into the country's parliamentary politics.
Violence abates as UN observers visit Syrian battlefield of Homs

While many analysts discount the chances of the UN peace plan working, visits by UN observers are showing some sign of temporarily reducing the violence.
As Syria cease-fire falters, Kofi Annan urges faster arrival of UN monitors

Kofi Annan, the former UN chief who negotiated the cease-fire, spoke to the Security Council Tuesday. He appears alarmed by claims that Syrian forces massacred 30 civilians in the city of Hama Monday.
One dead, three wounded in separate Damascus attacks Tuesday

A car bomb wounded three early Tuesday near the Old City part of the Syrian capital. Meanwhile, a Syrian agent was found dead in another Damascus neighborhood.
Lifted sanctions may mean opportunities for Myanmar

The European Union announced Monday that it was lifting sanctions to reward Myanmar for its recent political reforms.
Syria shells suburb of Damascus as UN expands monitoring

The UN Security Council voted Saturday to expand the number of observers in Syria from 30 to 300, but fighting continues.
West moves toward backing more monitors for Syria

But the countries that met in Paris Thursday night are also preparing the ground for more coercive measures – including possible NATO involvement – if the violence in Syria does not stop.
Syrian army shells Homs as government pushes back on UN monitors

Reports out of the Syrian city of Homs have government forces firing mortars into an opposition neighborhood. Meanwhile, Syria has challenged the UN over its truce monitoring mission.
Syria: Secretary-General says UN may not go far enough with monitors

The Security Council is expected to deploy 250 monitors to Syria on Wednesday when it considers the issue.
Syria: Opposition protests will test uncertain truce

The opposition plans broad protests tomorrow in an effort to call attention to ongoing abuses in the country.
Sudan vows quick response to South's oil field occupation

The government in Khartoum says they will not stand by after an oil field was occupied by South Sudanese forces.
Syrian army fighting rebels days before troop pullback (+video)

Syrian army troops and tanks are reportedly fighting rebels near Damascus and other cities. President al-Assad has agreed to pull back troops as part of a UN-brokered peace plan next week.
Only faint hope for UN 'last chance' plan to avert civil war in Syria

The UN Security Council has approved a statement urging Syria to halt all violence by next Tuesday or 'further steps' will be taken. But what those further steps are is not clear.
Latin America Monitor
Guatemala's president surprises critics by renewing UN commission on impunity

The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala has proved effective in the struggle to fix Guatemala’s justice system, but many had feared President Perez would dismiss its work.
Real triumph of Arab League summit: That it happened at all

The Arab League took little action to address Syria crisis, deferring to UN. But the summit, held in a renovated marble palace with gold-encrusted dates for dessert, still marked a triumph for host Iraq.
Assad: Aid to rebels must stop for Annan's Syria peace plan to succeed

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is under international pressure to call his troops and tanks back to their bases, a year into a popular revolt against his iron rule. But he warned the success of international envoy Kofi Annan's peace plan would not work without securing an end to foreign aid and arming of rebels opposing him.
Iraq Arab League summit opens with eyes on Syria

Baghdad, hosting its first Arab league summit since 1990, is hoping to show the region Iraq has put its troubles behind it. But nervous eyes are focused elsewhere, on Syria.
Syria thumbs its nose at the UN

Despite a UN statement yesterday calling for an end to the violence, which was backed even by Syria ally Russia, 82 people were killed yesterday in clashes around the country.
Keep Calm
What's behind Russia's involvement in Syria and Iran? National interests.

Russia has spent political and real capital building alliances with Syria and Iran. It's not surprising that Moscow now wants to defend its allies' interests at the bargaining table.