These days the inverted U has turned into something closer to an italicised N, with the final stroke pointing menacingly upwards.

ECONOMIST: For richer, for poorer

Meanwhile, half of the U.N. observers have left Syria as their mission begins what is set to be its final 30-day mandate, the U.N.

CNN: Syrian rebels, regime forces clash in Aleppo

And a final report from an U.N. agency on climate change.

NPR: Week in Review: Iraq, Libby and Biden

The final performance was of the long-running rock 'n' roll variety show That'll Be The Day.

BBC: Weymouth Pavilion stages last show before closing

One of Picco's final acts while working during that same period at the U.N. was to lead a round of talks in 1992 on early plans to set up what became the U.N.

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The Liberty are entering their third and final season of playing home games at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.

WSJ: Laimbeer: Liberty will be fun to watch in 2013

After two weeks of mind-numbing debate, including two final days of round-the-clock haggling, world leaders have reached a deal at the U.N. climate talks in Durban, South Africa.

FORBES: What Will The New U.N. Climate Deal Mean?