VIENNA - Two United Nations agencies have joined forces today in an effort to wean poor rural communities off of their dependency on drug crop cultivation through initiatives spurring economic growth and sustainable development.

KANDAHAR - Wide spectrum of the Afghan society in the country’s south have called for calm in the aftermath of tragic killing earlier this week of civilians in Kandahar province.

NEW YORK - The United Nations is stepping up its efforts to provide health, food aid and temporary shelter to those affected by the avalanche that hit the Dispay village in the Badakshan province of northern Afghanistan last week, resulting in the death of 50 people and wounding