Sri Lanka's investigation into the war against the Tamil Tigers – a conflict that left thousands of civilians dead – has begun amid a barrage of allegations that justice will not be done.

The UN secretary general said it is "unfair" to question his record on battling internal fraud and corruption despite criticism from two former top officials who say he improperly blocked their efforts.

Israel has announced it will take part in a UN investigation into the deadly raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla last spring, in a departure from its traditional mistrust of the world body. The move allowed the UN's secretary-general Ban Ki-moon to formally announce the creation of an investigation panel into the incident in which nine Turkish activists, including one with US citizenship, died after being shot by Israeli commandos boarding their ship.

The Israeli army has told the United Nations it is taking steps to reduce civilian casualties in future wars and will restrict the use of white phosphorous.

The United Nations appears to be spinning, once more, into crisis. Inga-Britt Ahlenius, the outgoing head of the UN's internal corruption watchdog, has delivered a scathing "end of assignment" report in which she accuses the Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, of personally frustrating her work.

Wagons were being hastily circled around Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, last night as top aides absorbed the shock of one of their own blasting him for allegedly thwarting attempts to combat corruption in the world body and leading it into a "process of decay" and "irrelevance".

A departing UN official has attacked her boss, Ban Ki-moon, for being ineffective. At first glance, the story is about as astonishing as "Dog Bites Man". But the story is much more complicated than a simple case of a disgruntled ex-employee sounding off. As is so often the case, it is what is not being said that is most important, or, as in the Sherlock Holmes story, the dogs that are not barking but should be.

Communities across South Africa yesterday marked Nelson Mandela's 92nd birthday and the first 'Mandela Day' – an international day devoted to public service in honour of the anti-apartheid icon.

The UN Security Council condemned the violence in Kyrgyzstan and calling for calm and a return of the rule of law.

Israel has eased its regime for food imports to Gaza, allowing foods like a range of herbs, biscuits, jam, potato crisps, packaged hummus and canned fruits which had been banned from entering the territory from Israel for three years.

A gay couple whose 14-year prison sentence for their love affair led to international condemnation, have split over a girl, according to the Malawian daily newspaper The Nation.