UNITED NATIONS

UN special envoy Kofi Annan to meet Syrian President Bashar-al Assad in attempt to salvage peace plan after 49 children and 34 women left dead in Houla carnage.

As London, Washington and Paris condemn the mass killings, Moscow prefers to toe a cautious line.

United Nations Human Rights chief Navi Pillay urges Western countries to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe and its president, Robert Mugabe.

Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad sent a letter to Hezbollah Chief Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah ahead of Lebanon’s 12th anniversary of Liberation Day, when the Israeli army withdrew from the country in 2000.

Human Rights activists seek to prevent Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad al-Khalifa from attending London 2012 Olympics.

Nigerian officials dismiss US plans to include Boko Haram on its watch list of foreign terrorist organisations.

Plane reportedly carried nuclear negotiator at the time of Bush administration Joseph Di Trani and current National Security Council advisor to President Barack Obama Sydney Seiler.

Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen had to dodge rocks as he was chased through the streets of Jeruslem by Jewish 'nutcases.'

Carcasses of tigers and other big cats discovered in raid on suburban home in Bangkok.

Sailf al-Islam Gaddafi, who is currently awaiting trial in Libya, refuses to appoint Libyan lawyer to defend him, top Libyan diplomat says.

Russia's ambassador to the United Nations has voiced concern over reports Syrian rebels are receiving military training in Kosovo.

Zimbabwean politician creates uproar by saying women should make themselves less attractive to men to curb spread of HIV/AIDS.

This year's theme is "Ensuring Work Family Balance" with the aim of helping workers provide financial and emotional support to their families.

Research shows that 10-20 minutes of fake or real laughter has overwhelming health benefit.

UNWTO statistics suggest the number of outbound travellers, globally, will rise to one billion by 2012, leading to fears of increased trafficking.

Omar al-Bashir cracks down in border states of South Kordofan, White Nile and Sennar.

Former Liberian president Charles Taylor guilty of 'aiding and abetting' war crimes at Special Court for Sierra Leone in The Hague.

Alain Juppe says UN-brokered ceasefire has failed to halt violence in Syria and wants to move on to 'next step'.

Iran is considering a Russian proposal to halt nuclear programme to avoid EU sanctions.

UN-African Union peacekeeper and 16 civilians killed in separate attacks in disputed area.

Israel will also build a wall along the Lebanese border.