[tnjm]

Is it really sleight of hand, though, when you'd get essentially the same answer when consulting the UN, Wikipedia or... a dictionary?

[legalcorrection]

Yes. We speak to an audience of people, not dictionaries. If you're talking to a conference of international NGO activists, then that's one thing. But mass media headlines are for the consumption of the common person. You choose your words according to what they mean to your audience.