VIENNA, Feb. 2 (UPI) — Illicit drug cultivation in Southeast Asia has fallen off sharply, according to a survey released by the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime.

DJIBOUTI , Djibouti, Feb. 2 (UPI) — Nine countries in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea region announced plans to cooperate on countering the threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia.

BELGRADE, Serbia, Feb. 2 (UPI) — The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe called on Serbian leaders Tuesday to increase efforts to combat organized crime.

ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar, Feb. 2 (UPI) — An outbreak of violence in Madagascar’s capital has prompted concerns from the International Committee of the Red Cross about a possible humanitarian crisis.

BRUSSELS, Feb. 2 (UPI) — A military offensive in Sri Lanka’s north topped a list of escalating conflict situations around the world, according to the monthly CrisisWatch report.