KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, Feb. 3 (UPI) — The United Nations is calling on militiamen from the rebel Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda to end the ongoing violence and join a repatriation program.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 (UPI) — A top U.S. Defense Department official said in order to counter modern terrorist threats, development of new capabilities in outer space is critical.

BRUSSELS, Feb. 3 (UPI) — The European Parliament Tuesday praised the U.S. decision to close the Guantanamo Bay prison and debated whether European countries should take prisoners.

KHARTOUM, Sudan, Feb. 3 (UPI) — The recent deterioration of security in the Darfur region of Sudan is increasingly threatening civilian safety, a top U.N. official said Tuesday.

KHARKIV, Ukraine, Feb. 3 (UPI) — The Ukrainian Defense Ministry Tuesday hosted top defense experts for a conference addressing security concerns in Europe and the Euro-Atlantic region.

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.