Topic: United Nations

In 2013, the kids aren't always all right – face war, exploitation

A series of recent high-level reports raise the alarm about child labor, exploitation, and the impact of conflict on the young.

Backchannels Wusses, US foreign policy, and the horrific death toll in Syria

Former President Bill Clinton suggested President Obama was being a 'wuss' over intervention in Syria as the UN reported the death toll has reached 93,000.

Syria war death toll hits 93,000, UN says. A spur to US to aid rebels?

The new UN figure for lives lost in the Syria war is 30,000 higher than in November's report. A possible battle for the city of Aleppo could drive it higher still. Obama's security team met Wednesday about how to help Syrian rebels, but no decision was apparent.

Opinion Making US humanitarian aid to Syria a political tool is ineffective – and dangerous

Calls are growing to route US humanitarian aid to Syria through opposition groups, using aid as a political tool to earn the US credit with the population. This would be ineffective and dangerous. Instead more must be done to ensure the safety and access of aid groups working in Syria.

Is West now looking past Darfur genocide to engage Sudan?

President Omar al-Bashir is charged with mass deaths, but he may not last forever. Are Barack Obama and John Kerry starting to count on that?  

Opinion For regional stability, help Syria's internally displaced

More than 5.75 million Syrians have been displaced in the two-year civil war. Some have fled to neighbor countries as refugees, but 4.25 million remain in Syria. Increased aid for these internally displaced is essential to managing the refugee crisis and maintaining regional stability.

As Syrian refugee flood escalates, UN asks record $5.1 billion in aid

Help is needed as Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey may host up to 3.5 million refugees by year's end, say UN officials.

Samantha Power at UN evokes 'Camelot' and may be 'friend of Israel'

Samantha Power, President Obama's nominee for UN ambassador has already picked up serious pro-Israel and Jewish support, defying critics.

Decoder Wire Samantha Power: Can Obama's UN nominee live down Israel comments?

Samantha Power, President Obama's nominee to be ambassador to the UN, is no shrinking violet. She's made her fair share of controversial statements, and they'll likely come up in confirmation hearings.

Backchannels Iraq risks 'return' to war? Maybe the wrong question.

Iraq is less violent than it was and the press frequently wonders if the country could descend into war again. What if the war never ended?

Terrorism & Security Syrian fighting spills into Golan Heights – and Israel's doorstep

The Syrian Army and rebels battled for control of Syria's crossing into the Golan Heights. The fighting lasted for seven hours and sent UN peacekeepers scrambling.

Briefing Policing 'blood' diamonds: the watchdog Kimberley Process explained

Modern Parenthood Pope: Wasting food is tantamount to stealing from the poor (so how can you help?)

Says the pope, wasting food is no different from stealing from the hungry, during his Wednesday catechesis. How can you help? Lisa Suhay, through her volunteer activities, found mouths that needed feeding. 

Opinion Why US must give military aid to Syria's rebels

The war in Syria is at a turning point. Backed by Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah militants, Bashar al-Assad has the upper hand. Ending the war requires backing him into a corner from which peace talks provide his only safe escape. US military aid for the rebels can help do that.

Pope: Wasting food is a moral crime against the poor

Pope: Wasting food is like 'stealing from the table of those who are poor and hungry.' Pope Francis decried the 'culture of waste' created by consumerism. Larger servings in the US mean nine percent of meals are thrown away, says UN report.

Rice selected for new high-profile role in Obama administration

Susan Rice will become President Barack Obama's national security adviser, he announced on Wednesday. He will nominate Samantha Power to take Rice's spot as U.S. ambassador to the U.N. These leadership changes take place as the country faces a variety of foreign policy challenges.

Susan Rice to top foreign policy post in Obama power play (+video)

President Obama is naming Susan Rice as his national security adviser, a bold show of support for a close confidante amid continuing controversy over Benghazi. Samantha Power will replace her at the UN.

Opinion Five guidelines for US role in Syria

The civil war in Syria has reached a stalemate. While strategic military steps like arming the opposition or establishing a no-fly zone present complications, the US can do other things to bring aid, support the opposition, undermine the Assad regime, and counter a rising Islamist influence. Here are five guidelines for the US in addressing the conflict in Syria:

National security adviser Donilon to resign, Obama to appoint Susan Rice to replace him (+video)

Tom Donilon, President Obama's top national security adviser, is resigning and Susan Rice, the US ambassador to the United Nations, is seen as the likely candidate to replace him. A planned announcement by the president is expected this afternoon.

Terrorism & Security Britain joins France in saying nerve gas used in Syria

The British Foreign Office found the presence of sarin gas in several samples from Syria a day after the French government said there was 'no doubt' the chemical weapon was used by Assad's forces.

Sarin confirmed? France, Britain confirm use of chemical weapons in Syria

France said today it has confirmed that the nerve gas sarin was used by the Syrian regime. Britain later said it had found evidence of sarin as well.

Terrorism & Security UN finds evidence of 'toxic chemicals' and a worsening war in Syria

A new UN report says some kind of chemical has probably been used on Syria's battlefield, but stopped short of saying what chemical or by whom.

Editor's Blog Are MOOCs making education a monoculture?

The rise of Massive Open Online Courses is presenting higher education with a powerful challenge. Access to great teachers will help millions. But will MOOCs cause a massive college shakeout as well?

Obama administration targets Fox News reporter in 'chilling' echo of AP probe (+video)

Last week, news broke that the Justice Department obtained records from AP for its investigation into an internal leak. Now, details are emerging about an investigation of a Fox News reporter that some experts say could harm investigative journalism even more.

Terrorism & Security North Korean pirates seize Chinese hostages, demand a ransom

A group of Chinese fishermen are said to be held hostage in North Korea, straining ties already frayed by North Korea's missile launches.