UN chief welcomes extension of Lebanon-Israel ceasefire

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday welcomed the announcement of a 45-day extension of the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel, said his press office.

Guterres reaffirmed the support of the world body to all efforts to end hostilities and alleviate the suffering of communities on both sides of the Blue Line, a border demarcation line between Lebanon and Israel established by the United Nations in 2000, said the press office in a note to correspondents.

"The secretary-general urges all actors to fully respect the cessation of hostilities, cease any further attacks and comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, at all times," said the press office.

The United Nations is committed to supporting all diplomatic efforts to advance the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which is intended to resolve the 2006 Lebanon War fought between Hezbollah and Israel, it said.

Meanwhile, a new round of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon concluded in Washington D.C. on Friday, with both sides agreeing to extend the cessation of hostilities by an additional 45 days to create conditions for further progress in the talks.

UN chief welcomes extension of Lebanon-Israel ceasefire

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Sunday declared an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) and Uganda a "public health emergency of international concern."

The WHO said in a statement that the outbreak, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, does not meet the criteria of a pandemic emergency, as defined under the International Health Regulations (IHR).

The statement said that the director-general of the WHO, under the provisions of the International Health Regulations (IHR), will be convening an emergency committee as soon as possible to advice on the proposed temporary recommendation for state parties to response to the event.

As of Saturday, eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases, and 80 suspected deaths had been reported in DR Congo's Ituri Province, across at least three health zones, according to the statement.

The Bundibugyo virus could cause Ebola hemorrhagic fever, primarily transmitted through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions of infected individuals or animals. Clinical symptoms include fever, bleeding and multi-organ damage. The disease has a fatality rate as high as 50 to 90 percent.

WHO declares Ebola outbreak in DR Congo, Uganda global public health emergency