Stephanie Nebehay
latest news & developmentsUN suspends Syria aid operations due to insecurity
The UN said it’s suspending its aid operations in Syria and withdrawing all non-essential international staff due to the worsening security situation.
Rare diamond sells for record $21.5-million
A huge, internally flawless diamond from India’s fabled Golconda mines has been sold at auction in Geneva for a record $21.48-million.
UN investigator questions Obama on US drones
A UN investigator has asked US President Barack Obama to justify his policy of assassinating terror suspects using drones rather than capturing them.
UN pushes Syria on humanitarian mission
The 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.
Syria promises truce compliance
Syria 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".
Rights body condemns Syria as Shell pulls out
The main UN human rights forum condemned Syria’s crackdown on protests on Friday and Royal Dutch Shell shut down oil work there.
UN’s Navi Pillay warns of Syrian civil war
The 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.
Amnesty seeks UN probe on Sri Lanka war crimes
At 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.
Big Pharma backs deal to boost flu pandemic readiness
Virus samples will be shared globally in exchange for vaccines produced from them under a landmark deal to improve preparedness for a flu pandemic.
Alcohol kills more than Aids, TB or violence
Alcohol causes nearly 4% of deaths worldwide — more than Aids, tuberculosis or violence, the World Health Organisation warned on Friday.
Activists vow Bush will face torture case
Activists vowed on Monday that former US president George Bush will face a torture case against him wherever he travels outside the United States.
UN sending human rights team to Tunisia
UN human rights officials will go to Tunisia next week to help investigate violence and advise the new coalition government on justice and reforms.
UN: Nearly 250 dead in Côte d’Ivoire violence
At least 247 people have been killed in violence in Côte d’Ivoire since its disputed presidential election in late November, the UN says.
WHO global plan to contain drug-resistant malaria
The World Health Organisation launched a plan on Wednesday to stop a form of drug-resistant malaria from spreading from Southeast Asia to Africa.
WHO admits shortcomings in handling flu pandemic
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Monday conceded shortcomings in its handling of the H1N1 swine flu pandemic.