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Secretary-General Kofi Annan today pledged that the United Nations would continue to work actively with West African countries in numerous areas, particularly in peace and security and socio-economic development.

The latest Ebola outbreak in West Africa has spread to the Republic of the Congo, the United Nations health agency reported today.

The Second World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children concluded its work in Yokohama today after approving a key document, which reinforced pledges made five years ago to undertake concrete initiatives in the fight against the global trade in child sex.

A drastic increase in health spending for the world's poor will not only save millions of lives but also produce enormous economic gains, according to a new report released today by the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO).

Resuming its emergency special session on illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, the United Nations General Assembly today voted in support of the establishment of a monitoring mechanism for the region.

Japan today contributed ¥600 million (yen) to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) to support food assistance programmes benefiting Palestinians in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

A senior United Nations official who is leading the international recovery effort in Afghanistan today urged donors meeting in Brussels to fund the country's long-term reconstruction.

A senior United Nations Middle East envoy today said the region was experiencing "peace-building in reverse," citing the rising death toll and new studies on the economic conditions facing Palestinians.

States were called on to deny safe haven to terrorists, as the UN General Assembly adopted 65 resolutions on human rights and social matters this morning, on recommendations from its Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee. The same resolution -- on human rights and terrorism -- also asked governments to consider whether a person has planned, facilitated or participated in terrorist acts before deciding to grant him or her asylum. The Assembly expressed solidarity with the victims of terror, and condemned incitement to ethnic hatred, in the resolution, which was adopted by a vote of 102 in favour, with 69 abstentions.

Condemning the continued plundering of natural resources in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the United Nations Security Council today extended the mandate of an expert group mandated to explore ways of addressing the problem.