Ban Ki-moon travels to the African Union summit in the hopes of convincing Sudan to accept an AU-UN force in Darfur.

The new secretary-general of the United Nations should make genocide prevention a centerpiece of his reform agenda, concludes a new Council Special Report. "Ban Ki-moon should take the General Assembly's endorsement of the responsibility to protect as a mandate and mission statement for the UN and build a reform program that is designed to implement it."

The UN reports that during the reporting period, the government of Iraq has continued its efforts aimed at strengthening the administration of justice and building up the rule of law in the country. However, urgent action is needed to strengthen rule of law institutions, in line with the new constitution, the government's priorities and Iraq's international obligations. This is central to creating conditions for re-establishing law and order in the country and ensuring the success and sustainability of security, national reconciliation and development efforts. In particular, the ability of new security plans to effect real change in Iraq will depend on a comprehensive reform program that can strengthen the rule of law and deliver justice for all Iraqis.

The passage of UN sanctions marks the latest of several recent setbacks for Tehran, reflecting concern abroad about its nuclear program and internally about the government’s ability to cope with social and economic demands.

John Prendergast of the International Crisis Group and Erin Mazursky, executive director of Students Taking Action Now: Darfur, discuss the escalating crisis in Sudan’s Darfur region, Chad, and the Central African Republic.

The retiring chairman of the House International Relations Committee, Rep. Henry Hyde (R-IL), says Washington needs to be tough on reforming the United Nations. He also urges the new Democratic majority in Congress to embrace a more bipartisan foreign policy.

In this report Amnesty International says that the presence of an African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur (AMIS) since 2004 has failed to stop the mass killings, rapes and forcible displacement of civilians in the region. Amnesty says that despite the presence already in Sudan of 10,000 UN peacekeepers, whose mandate was extended to include Darfur by the UN Security Council in August 2006, the Darfur region is now so insecure that one third of those affected are inaccessible to humanitarian agencies. Amnesty International’s agenda for effective protection of civilians sets out a 16-point programme that should be implemented by any peacekeeping force in Darfur.

United Nations Undersecretary-General Shashi Tharoor presents his vision for a more effective United Nations, discusses successes and failures of the organization, and explains why he should be the next secretary-general.

Listen to Shashi Tharoor, the UN undersecretary general for communications and public information, discuss his candidacy for UN Secretary General.

Watch Shashi Tharoor, the UN undersecretary general for communications and public information, discuss his candidacy for UN secretary general.

Defiance from Iran and Sudan. Anti-Bush rhetoric from the Venezuelan and Bolivian leaders. Such was the tone of the UN General Assembly's opening session. Beyond mere words, though, is a genuine concern about waning U.S. influence at a time of crucial talks on nuclear proliferation and peacekeeping.

Sudan continues to refuse a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur. As pressure to act mounts, the international community faces a question: Does its “responsibility to protect” trump Sudan’s national sovereignty?

The U.S. and Iranian presidents clashed in the spotlight at the United Nations, providing sharply different views of developments in the Middle East and underscoring the difficulties ahead in resolving the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program.