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UN Safety of Darfur peacekeepers underscored at UN, AU, Sudan meeting
The protection of blue helmets serving in Darfur has topped the agenda of the latest talks between the United Nations, the African Union and the Sudanese government, which are taking place just days after two peacekeepers were killed and three others seriously wounded in an ambush in the war-torn region.
 The meeting of the so-called Tripartite Mechanism, held today in Addis Ababa, also focused on the continued implementation of the mandate of the joint UN-AU peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID.
The mission was established by the Security Council in 2007 to protect civilians in Darfur, where an estimated 300,000 people have been killed and another 2.7 million forced from their homes since violence erupted in 2003, pitting rebels against Government forces and their allied Janjaweed militiamen.
On Friday, two Egyptian soldiers serving with UNAMID died after their convoy, carrying out a routine patrol, was attacked by about 20 unidentified armed gunmen who opened fire without warning in a remote area of South Darfur state. Their deaths bring the number of UNAMID personnel killed as a result of hostile actions to 24 since the mission was established.
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As US-mediated Middle East peace talks begin, hopes for progress voiced at UN
Welcoming the proximity talks launched in an effort to overcome the stalled Israeli-Palestinian peace process, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he hopes the latest initiative will lead to direct negotiations between the two sides.
 Mr. Ban and his Middle East Quartet partners have long stressed that there is no alternative to a two-state solution, and earlier this year called on the parties to resume negotiations aimed at reaching a settlement in the next two years.
The Secretary-General commended the United States-mediated proximity talks, expressing hope that "the parties are able to make progress."
Meetings between the two sides were halted after Israel launched an offensive against Gaza at the end of 2008 with the stated aim of trying to end rocket attacks against it. The three-week conflict left more than 1,400 people dead, injured 5,000 others and reduced homes, schools, hospitals and marketplaces to rubble.
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New UN report urges greater global efforts to end child labor
The United Nations labor agency warned in a new study that efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labor are waning and called for a "re-energized" global campaign to end the scourge.
 The global report on child labor assessed progress made so far and highlighted the challenges that remain if the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labor by the target date of 2016 is to be achieved.
It noted a "slowing down of the global pace of reduction" - with the number of child laborers worldwide declining from 222 million to 215 million, or 3 percent, from 2004 to 2008.
The report also expressed concern that the global economic crisis could "further brake" progress toward the goal of eliminating the worst forms of child labor by 2016.
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Singer Christina Aguilera lends her voice to UN efforts against hunger
Grammy Award-winning singer Christina Aguilera has joined the growing chorus of celebrities committed to using their voice to spotlight global hunger as ambassadors for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
 "Christina Aguilera's passion and dedication to hungry children runs deep, and it will make her a wonderful champion in the fight against hunger," said WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran.
Ms. Aguilera has demonstrated her strong commitment to hunger issues in numerous ways, including traveling to Guatemala last year to see WFP's maternal and child health programmes, the agency noted.
In January, the five-time Grammy winner performed in MTV's 'Hope for Haiti' telethon that raised more than $60 million for disaster relief in the earthquake-hit Caribbean country, including for WFP relief work.
Later this month, she plans to travel with WFP to Haiti to see first-hand how food assistance projects are helping to rebuild devastated communities.
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Week in Pictures
American Idol Gives Back to Haiti
April 21 - UNIC Director Will Davis at a dinner hosted by the UN Foundation with American Idol Season 8 winner Kris Allen. Allen was in Washington to celebrate the airing of "Idol Gives Back" supporting the UN's efforts to help the people of Haiti recover from the tragic earthquake on January 12th of this year.
WTTG Fox 5 Story Photo : Gustavo Gargallo / Diplomatic Connections
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Messenger of Peace Michael Douglas at Exhibit Opening
May 4 - United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) greets United Nations Messenger of Peace and actor Michael Douglas at the exhibition "Putting an End to Nuclear Explosions," organized by the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization at UN headquarters in New York. UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe
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