Michele Kelemen

Warplanes blasted the rebel-held section of the Syrian city of Aleppo, marking a clear failure of Secretary of State John Kerry's efforts to resurrect a cease-fire. Syria declared plans to fully recapture the city.

Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani was at the United Nations this week encouraging the world to work with Iran. But two British men were also there, appealing for the release of relatives held in Iran.

As the UN Security Council holds a special meeting on the Syrian civil war, Secretary of State John Kerry says it's a moment of truth but there's little progress.

President Obama gives his final address to the United Nations General Assembly and hosts a summit on the world's refugee crisis Tuesday.

President Obama is delivering his final speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. "Today a nation ringed by walls would only imprison itself," he says.

What does President Obama's administration really want in Syria now? U.N. Ambassador Samantha Power says, "Targeting terrorists and making sure that the starving and surrendering techniques end."

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is working to wring commitments out of 55 nations to ratify the Paris Climate Change treaty.

President Obama says the U.S. will allow 30 percent more refugees into the country next year, underlining a promise he made last year. This comes ahead of a gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly next week that will focus on the global refugee crisis.

Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi visits the White House on Wednesday for a meeting with President Obama.

A two-year report into the devastating power struggle in South Sudan shows profiteering by the newest nation's battling leaders. The report by activists and some famous actors implicates the president and vice president.

Secretary of State John Kerry and his Russian counterpart are in Geneva trying to reach a deal for a ceasefire in Syria. Similar deals have collapsed before, but this one is aimed at relieving suffering for millions of Syrians.

Secretary of State John Kerry is holding talks with his Russian counterpart. The sides are attempting to agree on terms for a cease-fire and provision of humanitarian aid to rebel-held areas of Syria.

As the U.S. and Russia struggle to bring peace to Syria, civilians are paying the toll. A United Nations report documents a surge of violence in recent months and atrocities are mounting.

The evacuation last week of a Syrian town long under regime siege is not the way to end sieges, warns the United Nations envoy and a top humanitarian.

Activists were hoping that the race for the United Nations Secretary General would be more transparent this year and women would be considered. The latest straw polls suggest otherwise.

The next U.S. president faces a messy world, from a confrontational Russia to a rising China and a fractured Middle East. NPR looks at the election year debate over America's place in the world.

Secretary of State John Kerry visits Saudi Arabia to nudge the key U.S. ally to find a way out of a devastating war in Yemen. The United Nations human rights chief is calling for an international inquiry.

Spokesman John Kirby still insists that the $400 million was "leverage," not ransom for the Iranian Americans released in January — though the payment was withheld until the prisoners were freed.

While the image of dazed, bloodied young boy has refocused the world on the Syrian civil war, hopes for a ceasefire are dim as the U.S. and United Nations have little sway over Russian and Syrian bombers.

Victims of the July 11 attack are coming forward with details. They say the international community is not doing enough to hold South Sudan to account.