Writing in the Washington Post, Column Lynch exposes the conundrum raised by Abdul Hakim Monib, an Afghan provincial governor who is at once a key American ally and on a UN list of suspected international terrorists. Monib, you see, was a former Taliban leader who broke ranks in 2002 and joined the government of Hamid Kharzai. But the sanctions list hasn't been updated to reflect Monib's reconciliation with Kharzai, so dealing with him can be somewhat legally troubling.

"This is a perfect case where time has passed, things have changed, but the committee hasn't and the list hasn't," [Eric Rosand of the Center on Global Counter-Terrorism Cooperation said.] "The list is so poorly managed that no one has confidence in it anymore, and nobody puts forward names."

The committee to which Rosand refers is the U.N. Security Council's Al-Qaeda and Taliban sanctions panel, which was formed in 1999. In last month's installment of UNF Insights, Rosand explains why, exactly, the Al Qaeda sanctions list is stale, and what can be done to enhance the UN's counter-terrorism work.

Every year for the past fourteen years Taiwan has applied for membership to the United Nations. Each time the application is denied by China. But now, those seeking to block Taiwain's national aspirations will have rocker Ozzy Osbourne to contend with. The Taiwanese government has teamed with an Ozzy-backed band, ChthoniC, to promote Taiwan joining the 192 other countries in the United Nations General Assembly. In an 80 city, four country tour the Taiwanese goth band will literally sing the virtues of UN membership.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged action on climate change and other concerns in an address to the Global Compact Leaders Summit in Geneva.

"This Summit is an important opportunity to take our partnership forward - in learning as well as action," Ban said. "Over these two days, we must make an honest appraisal of what the Global Compact has achieved, renew our commitments, and chart a courageous course for the next three years."

The Secretary-General stressed the importance of joint actions to address climate change and announced the planned launch of a Business Leadership Platform on "Caring for Climate" - a joint project with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).

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