The Latest: California lawmakers back smoking age of 21

Rare Walt Whitman solider letter found in National Archives

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States is facing opposition to what would be the first-ever U.N. Security Council resolution to confront the escalating problem of sexual abuse and exploitation by U.N. peacekeepers, a measure U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power says is critical to help end sex crimes, especially against children. Egypt's U.N. Ambassador Amr Abdellatif Aboulatta says the issue should be addressed by the 193-member General Assembly instead and shouldn't be used "as a tool to attack troop-contributing countries" or undermine their reputation and sacrifices. While the council's actions are legally binding, the General Assembly's are not. The comments came as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon briefed the council Thursday on his latest report on the issue, which for the first time named the countries of alleged perpetrators. Twenty-six allegations have been recorded this year alone.

US facing opposition on tackling sexual abuse by UN troops