Big controversy is afoot at the UN over an annual report that lists armed groups responsible for killing children. When it came out last week, the report included the Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen among the guilty parties. On Monday, however, the UN backtracked and removed the coalition from the list. Why? Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon explained on Thursday that he'd faced an impossible choice: Unless the coalition was removed, the UN would lose major funding. "I ... had to consider the very real prospect that millions of other children would suffer grievously if, as was suggested to me, countries would defund many UN programs," he said. Some context:
- Ban didn't name names, but it's pretty clear that the Saudi government was behind what the UN chief described as "undue pressure," reports the Intercept. The Saudis officially deny it.
- What's more, Saudi clerics were reportedly considering a fatwa against the "anti-Muslim" UN, reports CNN.