Alcohol kills more than Aids, TB or violence
Stephanie NebehayAlcohol causes nearly 4% of deaths worldwide -- more than Aids, tuberculosis or violence, the World Health Organisation warned on Friday.
Amnesty seeks UN probe on Sri Lanka war crimes
Stephanie NebehayAt least 10 000 civilians were killed in the final months of Sri Lanka's civil war but a national inquiry has failed so far to investigate war crimes.
UN investigator questions Obama on US drones
Stephanie NebehayA UN investigator has asked US President Barack Obama to justify his policy of assassinating terror suspects using drones rather than capturing them.
UN suspends Syria aid operations due to insecurity
Stephanie NebehayThe UN said it's suspending its aid operations in Syria and withdrawing all non-essential international staff due to the worsening security situation.
UN's Navi Pillay warns of Syrian civil war
Stephanie NebehayThe death toll in the crackdown on Syrian protesters has forced the UN's top human rights official to call for world action to protect civilians.
Activists vow Bush will face torture case
Stephanie NebehayActivists vowed on Monday that former US president George Bush will face a torture case against him wherever he travels outside the United States.
UN pushes Syria on humanitarian mission
Stephanie NebehayThe UN hopes to get permission from the Syrian government to send more aid workers to help at least 1-million people in need of urgent assistance.
Rare diamond sells for record $21.5-million
Stephanie NebehayA huge, internally flawless diamond from India's fabled Golconda mines has been sold at auction in Geneva for a record $21.48-million.
Big Pharma backs deal to boost flu pandemic readiness
Stephanie NebehayVirus samples will be shared globally in exchange for vaccines produced from them under a landmark deal to improve preparedness for a flu pandemic.
Syria promises truce compliance
Stephanie NebehaySyria has promised Kofi Annan it will stop all fighting by the dawn deadline, but has a right to respond to attacks by "armed terrorist groups".
