North Korea to Obama: We Are Ready to Talk
In an unprecedented effort to deliver a message to Washington, North Korea's Ambassador to the U.N., Sin Son Ho, initiated a call to CBS News and its affiliate, Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS), to talk about denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Other news agencies joined at the Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in New York. What followed was a clear message, from North Korea's viewpoint, about what has derailed negotiations with the government of Kim Jong Il: The United States.
"We are not against the dialogue," said Ambassador Sin (left). "We are not against any negotiations for the issues of common concern," but the failure of these talks, he added, "is not because of us."
Continue »
Other news agencies joined at the Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in New York. What followed was a clear message, from North Korea's viewpoint, about what has derailed negotiations with the government of Kim Jong Il: The United States.
(Kyodo via AP Images)
Continue »
Hunger Strikers Rally for Iran at U.N. Headquarters
(CBS/Pamela Falk)
At noon on Wednesday, as Iranian-born diva and protest organizer
As police and Basiji militiamen crackdown hard on potential demonstrators in Tehran, the protesters, including academics and some big names from the Iranian entertainment world gathered, hoping to bring visibility to the pro-democracy movement.
Continue »
U.N. Finance Summit A Bust
This story was filed by CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk, reporting from United Nations Headquarters.
The United Nations' three-day Head-of-State Summit on the global financial crisis had promise. The goal was to convene a summit of world leaders at U.N. Headquarters in New York to assess the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression. Over 100 million people per year, the summiteers noted, will fall into extreme poverty.
On the first day, the message was clear: developing countries are the victims of the financial crisis and they need money. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, "surely, if the world can mobilize more than $18 trillion to keep the financial sector afloat, it can find more than $18 billion to keep commitments in Africa."
Security ahead of the "United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development" was tight. New York City Police blocked the perimeter of the U.N., and plans were readied for the red carpet treatment of presidents arriving at the General Assembly.
Continue »
The United Nations' three-day Head-of-State Summit on the global financial crisis had promise. The goal was to convene a summit of world leaders at U.N. Headquarters in New York to assess the worst global economic downturn since the Great Depression. Over 100 million people per year, the summiteers noted, will fall into extreme poverty.
On the first day, the message was clear: developing countries are the victims of the financial crisis and they need money. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, "surely, if the world can mobilize more than $18 trillion to keep the financial sector afloat, it can find more than $18 billion to keep commitments in Africa."
Security ahead of the "United Nations Conference on the World Financial and Economic Crisis and Its Impact on Development" was tight. New York City Police blocked the perimeter of the U.N., and plans were readied for the red carpet treatment of presidents arriving at the General Assembly.
Continue »
Obama's Worsening North Korea Woes
On Monday, North Korea's official news agency announced that the regime had "successfully" conducted an underground nuclear test. Although the test has yet to be fully verified, it was announced on the heels of a long-range missile launch on April 5, and it has the international community duly worried about what the opaque government of Kim Jung Il wants.
What is most remarkable is how fast the relationship of the government in Pyongyang has soured with the rest of the world after the highly visible destruction of their weapons-grade plutonium facility at Yongbyon.
That event took place after President George W. Bush lifted U.S. sanctions under the Trading with the Enemy Act and began the actions necessary to take North Korea off the state sponsors of terrorism list. The North then destroyed it's primary nuclear cooling tower — with U.S. media organizations watching. The North Koreans also turned over an inventory of some of their nuclear programs as part of the Six-Party Talks, with the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and South Korea, in order to complete the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Continue »
What is most remarkable is how fast the relationship of the government in Pyongyang has soured with the rest of the world after the highly visible destruction of their weapons-grade plutonium facility at Yongbyon.
That event took place after President George W. Bush lifted U.S. sanctions under the Trading with the Enemy Act and began the actions necessary to take North Korea off the state sponsors of terrorism list. The North then destroyed it's primary nuclear cooling tower — with U.S. media organizations watching. The North Koreans also turned over an inventory of some of their nuclear programs as part of the Six-Party Talks, with the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and South Korea, in order to complete the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Continue »
Pakistan Refugee Crisis Growing
(UNHCR Photo)
In just over two weeks, the total number of displaced Pakistanis is now over 2 million – most of whom have fled the fighting between the Taliban and the Pakistani military since May 2. The number of displaced is so large, the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR says, that it has forced more people out of their homes since the Rwanda crisis almost 20 years ago.
The most recent fighting has caused a surge in the exodus, Holmes said, with the number of people fleeing since early May reaching more than 1.4 million.
Continue »
Stars Shine Light On Child Slavery
This story was written by CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk, reporting from the United Nations.
The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) was not a likely international organization to follow Hollywood's lead to expose the horrors of modern day slavery. But this week, there was a red carpet entrance at the General Assembly and the stars mingled in the moonlight facing the East River on the outdoor veranda of the Delegates Dining Room, to showcase paintings by young victims of the rebel war in Uganda.
Actor Nicolas Cage was there to introduce U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He was accessible and chatty, telling diplomats, stars and journalists that a project like this one brings public awareness to the issue. In addition to Cage were Alec Baldwin, Adam Yauch, Antoice Fuqua, Deborah Roberts, Kat DeLuna, Joy Behar and Rachel Roy.
Continue »
The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) was not a likely international organization to follow Hollywood's lead to expose the horrors of modern day slavery. But this week, there was a red carpet entrance at the General Assembly and the stars mingled in the moonlight facing the East River on the outdoor veranda of the Delegates Dining Room, to showcase paintings by young victims of the rebel war in Uganda.
Actor Nicolas Cage was there to introduce U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. He was accessible and chatty, telling diplomats, stars and journalists that a project like this one brings public awareness to the issue. In addition to Cage were Alec Baldwin, Adam Yauch, Antoice Fuqua, Deborah Roberts, Kat DeLuna, Joy Behar and Rachel Roy.
Continue »
Middle East Stalemate
On Monday, a minister-level meeting at the U.N. Security Council stressed the urgency of reaching agreement on a Middle East peace settlement and the creation of an independent Palestinian state. But not invited to the meeting were both the Israeli and Palestinian delegations. The timing was delicate and seemingly intentional. The meeting was arranged a week before President Barack Obama meets with new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and it was criticized by the Israeli ambassador to the U.N., Gabriela Shalev, who said that the negotiations should not involve the United Nations.
Many of the foreign ministers who attended felt that the stalled Middle East peace talks could not wait.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon set the tone, saying, "Like a bicycle that falls over when left at a standstill, the situation on the ground could easily deteriorate …"
Continue »
Many of the foreign ministers who attended felt that the stalled Middle East peace talks could not wait.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon set the tone, saying, "Like a bicycle that falls over when left at a standstill, the situation on the ground could easily deteriorate …"
Continue »
Castro, Obama Pave The Way To Negotiation
This story was written by CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk, reporting from the United Nations.
Earlier this week, President Obama announced that he was lifting curbs on travel and money transfers for Cuban exiles living in the United States, and he challenged Cuba to make improvements in the areas of human rights and freedoms.
Thursday, from a summit in Venezuela, Cuban President Raul Castro made a bold response: "We have sent word to the U.S. government in private and in public that we are willing to discuss everything — human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners, everything."
The Venezuelan summit was called by President Hugo Chavez as an alternative to the Summit of the Americas, which Mr. Obama is to attend in Trinidad and Tobago, but to which Cuba was not invited. (In photo, Chavez on right, Raul Castro on left.)
Continue »
Earlier this week, President Obama announced that he was lifting curbs on travel and money transfers for Cuban exiles living in the United States, and he challenged Cuba to make improvements in the areas of human rights and freedoms.
Thursday, from a summit in Venezuela, Cuban President Raul Castro made a bold response: "We have sent word to the U.S. government in private and in public that we are willing to discuss everything — human rights, freedom of the press, political prisoners, everything."
(AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
Continue »
No U.N. Consensus On N. Korea Launch
Huddled behind doors for three hours, the U.N. Security Council tried but failed to agree to a statement regarding North Korea's missile launch. The U.S. sent its top U.N. diplomat, Ambassador Susan Rice, and China's Ambassador Yesui Zhang rushed to the closed-door session. Japan's Ambassador said the launch was a clear violation of international law.
Ambassador Rice (at left) said the North Korean launch violated the 2006 U.N. Security Council Resolution (1718) and the Security Council should act with a clear and strong response.
"We need to see where we come out. The U.S. view is that the most appropriate action would be a Security Council resolution," she added.
Continue »
(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
"We need to see where we come out. The U.S. view is that the most appropriate action would be a Security Council resolution," she added.
Continue »
North Korea Goes Ahead With Missile Launch
(AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
A spokesman for the U.N. Secretary General, Brent Superville, confirmed to CBS News that Japan has requested to have emergency Security Council consultations in New York at 3:00 p.m. (EST).
President Obama released a statement from Prague, saying that "North Korea's development and proliferation of ballistic missile technology pose a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security."
Continue »
G20 Draft Communiqu? Takes A Mild Tone
President Obama arrives in London Tuesday to join the leaders of the world's richest countries to try to rescue a declining international economy.
As is the case with most summits, the G20 conclusions were written before any of the world leaders arrived, and the draft final communiqu?, leaked to the Financial Times shows just how little optimism the members really feel about reaching a consensus on how to achieve their goals.
(AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Continue »
U.N. Recommendation On World Economy: Replace The Dollar
(CBS / U.S. Treasury)
The bottom line: A drastic overhaul will be necessary to pull the world out of the recession, according to the Commission of Experts on Reforms of International Finance and Economic Structures, chaired by Joseph Stiglitz, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize for Economics. But that's easier said than done.
At the upcoming summit, the Obama administration is expected to urge more fiscal stimulus programs; China and the U.N. are urging a move away from the dollar; and the European community wants more financial regulation. Even within the European Union, major differences abound.
Last week, the current EU President, Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek called the Obama administration's programs the "road to hell." And, the U.N.-China proposal to replace the U.S. dollar as the international reserve currency may be sidelined at the summit, according to Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty.Read the recommendations of the U.N. economic reform panel chaired by Jospeh Stiglitz.>
Learn more about the commission.
Continue »
Iranian TV Requests Obama Interview
(AP)
The Islamic News Agency's U.N. representative, Khosro Shayesteh told CBS News foreign affairs analyst Pamela Falk that they have requested the interview and are waiting for a response, saying that this would be a direct way for Mr. Obama to reach out to the Iranian people if he wants to begin a dialogue.
"The Iranian request for an interview with Obama comes at an opportune time for U.S.-Iran relations since both President Obama and Iran's President have offered to begin negotiations, which were stalled during the eight years of the Bush Administration, and because Obama gave his first official interview as President to Al Arabiya," said Falk.
Iran Election May Be Key To Meeting Obama's Mideast Objectives
(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Iran's Presidential election could prove to be instrumental in what President Obama is trying to do, specifically in his words "unclench the fist" of radical Islam – and the election might see a more reformist, less militant, President – who would be more willing to negotiate diplomacy with the West.
(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
Continue »
For Obama, Closing Guantanamo Easier Said Than Done
3938973President Obama has long promised that one of his first actions in office would be to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
It's a move aimed at repairing America's tarnished reputation. The U.S. has held over 700 "enemy combatants" – many of them without charge – in a legal black hole for seven years.
But closing the detention center will involve finding a way through a labyrinth of legal tangles – and Mr. Obama may not be able to get it accomplished in the first 100 days.
Continue »
It's a move aimed at repairing America's tarnished reputation. The U.S. has held over 700 "enemy combatants" – many of them without charge – in a legal black hole for seven years.
But closing the detention center will involve finding a way through a labyrinth of legal tangles – and Mr. Obama may not be able to get it accomplished in the first 100 days.
Continue »
