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Somalia calls for deployment of peacekeepers in its trouble land

Somalia calls for deployment of peacekeepers in its trouble land New York  - Somalia called on the UN Security Council on Wednesday to deploy an international peacekeeping force without delay in order to put an end to its 17-year-old civil war.

It asked for a much smaller force than the previously proposed operation of 26,000 military and civilian personnel, and for proper funding so the force can do a "good job under reasonable circumstances."

UN reports drop in violence in Gaza, marked peace developments

UN reports drop in violence in Gaza, marked peace developments New York  - Violent actions have dropped in Gaza Strip in the past month while a number of "encouraging" developments have taken place across the Middle East, the United Nations said Tuesday.

The drop in violence in Gaza was "a significant, but fragile, achievement," B. Lynn Pascoe, the chief UN political affairs officer, told the UN Security Council.

US stocks fall on economic indicators, oil rise

US stocks fall on economic indicators, oil riseNew York  - US stocks edged lower Monday for the first decline in four days, after a key economic gauge declined and oil prices rose.

The private Conference Board's leading economic index dropped 0.1 per cent in June. Crude oil prices gained more than 2 dollars to close above 131 dollars per barrel in New York, after hitting a six- week low last week.

Health company shares dropped after a popular cholesterol drug sold by Merck & Co and Schering-Plough Corp was linked to cancer by new research.

Ban urges serious talks on sharing power in Zimbabwe

Ban urges serious talks on sharing power in ZimbabweNew York  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed Monday the agreement between Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to hold talks on sharing power and ending the political crisis in that country.

"The secretary general encourages all sides to engage, in good faith, in serious talks that would lead to a lasting solution to the political crisis and address the urgent economic and humanitarian needs of the Zimbabwean people," UN spokeswoman Michelle Montas said.

UN welcomes Myanmar's post-cyclone recovery plan

UN welcomes Myanmar's post-cyclone recovery planNew York - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Monday welcomed an assessment for future international humanitarian assistance to Myanmar following the devastation by cyclone Nargis in May.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) presented the assessment for medium-term recovery needs in Myanmar at a meeting in in Singapore on Monday, attended by John Holmes, the chief UN humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator.

US stocks end six-week losing streak despite gloomy predictions

US stocks end six-week losing streak despite gloomy predictions

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