November 13, 2013 - 7:46AM The Philippines needs almost a third of a billion US dollars in aid to help thousands of people hit by a huge typhoon that raked the country last week, the United Nation's humanitarian chief says. WARSAW - Ecologists at UN climate talks in Warsaw have downed forks in a solidarity fast with the typhoon-ravaged Philippines' chief negotiator, demanding "ambitious action" to halt global warming. WASHINGTON - The White House is warning lawmakers mulling tougher sanctions on Iran that thwarting US diplomacy could leave President Barack Obama little option but to use military force against Tehran's nuclear program. NEW YORK - China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Cuba have won seats on the UN Human Rights Council despite fierce criticism of their records from rights campaigners. ST PETERSBURG, Russia - A train carrying the 30 detained crew members of a Greenpeace protest ship has arrived in St Petersburg from Russia's Arctic Circle city of Murmansk where the activists had been held since late September. THE HAGUE - Dutch authorities are investigating whether a smoking ban was violated after US pop star Miley Cyrus lit up what appeared to be a joint on stage during the MTV music awards in Amsterdam.