UN human rights officials are condemning Iran’s use of stoning as a form of capital punishment among a number of “deeply troubling” rights violations, many of which are “systemic in nature,” according to a report.

Tsunami-wracked Asia appealed to would-be helpers today: Take a holiday.

The tidal waves that swept across the Indian Ocean did more than take a heavy toll of lives and property in the Maldives – they confronted the tiny island nation with a threat to its survival.