Topic - United Nations

• Most inmates in Honduras fire were not convicted

  The prisoners whose scorched bodies were carried out Thursday morning from a charred Honduran prison had been locked inside a crowded penitentiary, where most inmates had never been charged with a crime, according to a government report obtained by the Associated Press.

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  U.N. sees possible crimes against humanity in Syria

  U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon accused the Syrian regime of potential crimes against humanity Thursday as activists reported fresh violence in Daraa, the city where the uprising against President Bashar Assad erupted 11 months ago.

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  U.N. demands end of attacks in Syria

  U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon accused the Syrian regime of committing "almost certain" crimes against humanity Thursday, as activists reported fresh violence and the arrest of several prominent dissidents, including a U.S.-born blogger.

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  Report: Most Honduras fire inmates were awaiting trial

  The prisoners whose scorched bodies were carried out piece by piece Thursday morning from a charred Honduran prison had been locked inside an overcrowded penitentiary where most inmates had never been charged, let alone convicted, according to an internal Honduran government report obtained by the Associated Press.

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  NATO: Afghan drawdown to cloud detainee monitoring

  The drawdown of NATO forces in Afghanistan will make it increasingly more difficult to find out if prisoners transferred to Afghan authorities are being tortured, officials with the international military coalition said Wednesday.

• Briefly: Africa

  Somalia's president asked the U.N. Wednesday to lift the arms embargo against his country, saying the recent merger between al Qaeda and al-Shabab has made the dropping of the arms ban necessary.

• Briefly: Middle East

  Syrian forces Tuesday renewed their assault on the city of Homs in what activists described as the heaviest shelling in days, as the U.N. human rights chief raised fears of civil war.

• V-Day aims to mobilize 1 billion against violence

  Eve Ensler wants a billion people around the globe to stand together against violence. Actually, she wants them to do more than stand: She wants them to dance.

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  Fresh violence in Syria as U.N. warns of civil war

  Syrian government forces renewed their assault on the rebellious city of Homs on Tuesday in what activists described as the heaviest shelling in days, as the U.N. human rights chief raised fears of civil war.

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  YOSHIHARA: As China goes geriatric, we have the advantage

  Washington is all abuzz about China's heir apparent, Vice President Xi Jinping, arriving in town Tuesday. Even the Pentagon is rolling out the red carpet for the man who will rule the country that may soon topple U.S. primacy in Asia. Indeed, China is ramping up a military that already can harm American interests in the region.

• U.S. not ready to back U.N. peace force

  U.S. and Turkish officials condemned the mounting bloodshed in Syria on Monday but declined to endorse calls by the Arab League for the creation of a U.N. peacekeeping force to quell the violence.

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  U.S. embargo on Cuba firmly in place

  When it started, American teenagers were doing "The Twist." The United States had yet to put a man into orbit around the Earth, and a first-class U.S. postage stamp cost 4 cents.

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  Syria targets children in attacks, U.N. official reports

  Syrian soldiers are killing children in their assault on anti-government strongholds, as human rights abuses have "sharply escalated" in the 11-month uprising against President Bashar Assad, a top U.N. official said Monday.

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  Chinese vice president flies to U.S. for get-acquainted visit

  China's vice president left Monday for a crucial get-acquainted visit to the United States before he takes over as leader of the world's most populous nation later this year, amid tensions over trade, currency and a sharpening competition for global influence.

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  Activists: Syrian rebels repel attack on town

  Syrian rebels repelled a push Monday by government tanks into a key central town held by forces fighting President Bashar Assad's regime as the country's 11-month-old uprising looked increasingly like a nascent civil war.

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