Former Irish president Mary Robinson has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump, accusing the divisive US leader of having "sullied" the name of the United Nations after threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu left Israel yesterday en route to the United Nations in New York, saying he will refute "all of the lies directed at us" with regard to Israel’s recently concluded war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

United Nations weapons inspectors have found a dangerous nerve gas in an office in New York, a UN spokeswoman said today.

FIGHTING between Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels and security forces has forced at least 204,000 people from their homes in the eastern and northern parts of the country, the UN food agency warned yesterday.