‘No alternative to political settlement of the Burundian crisis,’ Ban tells Security Council
Mar 19, 2016, at 03:00 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Briefing the Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and United Nations High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein on Friday voiced concern about spiralling violence and rights violations in Burundi, and called for an inclusive political dialogue to peacefully resolve the 11-month crisis.
EU-Turkey refugee deal a historic blow to rights: Amnesty
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:58 pm
New York , Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): European leaders’ collective ‘double-speak’ fails to hide the myriad of contradictions of the deal sealed between the EU and Turkey on how to handle the refugee crisis, said Amnesty International.
UN appoints Red from the ‘Angry Birds’ as Honorary Ambassador for International Day of Happiness
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:57 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations on Friday appointed Red, the leader of the “Angry Birds†mobile game characters, as an envoy to inspire climate action toward a sustainable and happier future for all.
Refugees need protection, not rejection,’ UN says in wake of EU-Turkey deal
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:55 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations refugee agency has stressed the importance of ensuring safeguards in carrying out on Friday’s agreement between the European Union (EU) and Turkey on the situation of refugees and migrants making their way to Europe.
Intra-Syrian talks advancing without ‘excessive rhetoric,’ says UN envoy
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:53 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):As the first week of the new round of intra-Syrian talks ended on Friday, the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria said the “proximity system†of the discussions, whereby parties are meeting indirectly through his mediation, has contributed to the talks moving forward.
Ban appoints new Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan; new leadership at UN Afghan mission
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:50 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced on Friday the appointment of Nicholas Haysom of South Africa as his Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan.
Iraq: UN and partners race to reach thousands fleeing areas west of Ramadi
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:46 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations relief wing on Friday reported that humanitarian partners are rushing to provide emergency assistance to an estimated 35,000 people who have been newly displaced in hard-to-reach areas west of Ramadi.
Security Council calls on Haiti to complete elections 'without further delay'
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:44 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Deeply concerned by the continued suspension of electoral rounds in Haiti, the United Nations Security Council on Friday called for the completion of the polling cycle without further delay to allow the Haitian people the opportunity to vote for their elected representatives in a free, fair, inclusive and transparent contest.
UN human rights office ‘deeply troubled’ by arrest of social media activist in Bahrain
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:42 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Friday said it is deeply troubled by the arrest on Monday in Bahrain of the social media activist and human rights defender, Zainab Al Khawaja, who was detained along with her one-and-a-half year old son.
Honduras risks becoming ‘lawless killing zone’ for human rights defenders – UN expert
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:39 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):An independent United Nations expert on the situation of human rights defenders on Friday urged the Government of Honduras “to take immediate and concrete actions, or risk turning the country into a lawless killing zone for human rights defenders.â€
UN chief concerned that political will to end racial discrimination ‘is under threat’
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:36 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Fifteen years after a landmark document to combat racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia was adopted in Durban, South Africa, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Friday said he is concerned that the political will that existed then is under threat.
UN health agency sends specialists to help contain Ebola flare-up in Guinea
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:34 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations health agency has dispatched a team of specialists to Guinea after 2 new cases of Ebola were confirmed yesterday, the first re-emergence of the deadly virus in the Western African country since its original outbreak was declared over on 29 December 2015.
INTERVIEW: A fate shaped by injustice – one man’s mission to help the women of DR Congo
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):When a woman arrived at his hospital about 17 years ago with her genitals destroyed by gunshots, Dr. Denis Mukwege ruled it an isolated incident.
Russia: Passenger plane crashes in Rostov-on-Don, 62 killed
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:25 pm
Moscow, Mar 19 (IBNS) At least 62 people are feared to have been killed as a passenger plane crashed in Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on Saturday, reports said.
Holding urgent consultations, Security Council condemns DPR Korea ballistic missile test
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:22 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Expressing 'grave concern,' the United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned the ballistic missile launches conducted by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) earlier on Friday and on 10 March, pledging to closely monitor the situation and 'act as appropriate.'
In wake of another deadly attack in Yemen, UN human rights chief decries Coalition airstrikes
Mar 19, 2016, at 02:20 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Friday condemned the repeated failure of the Coalition to effectively prevent civilian casualties in airstrikes and to publish transparent, independent investigations into those that have already occurred in Yemen.
Key Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam arrested in Brussels
Mar 19, 2016, at 05:24 am
Brussels, Mar 18 (IBNS): The main suspect in the terrorist attacks carried out in Paris in last November, Salah Abdeslam, was on Friday arrested during a raid in Brussels, media reports said.
Medical relief ‘single most difficult issue’ for humanitarian access in Syria – UN advisor
Mar 18, 2016, at 03:12 pm
New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The advisor to the UN envoy on Syria on Thursday stressed the need to obtain Government permits to dispatch aid convoys to the remaining six of the 18 besieged locations and stressed that “the issue of medical relief continues to be the single most difficult issue in humanitarian access work,†with medical ite and personnel are being taken off the incoming relief vehicles.
Security Council urges all parties in Lebanon to 'put national interest ahead of partisan politics'
Mar 18, 2016, at 03:08 pm
New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Deeply concerned over the 21-month vacancy in the presidency of Lebanon and the current political stalemate in Government, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday called on Lebanese leaders to adhere to the Constitution and put to put the country's stability and national interests ahead of partisan politics.
Pervez Musharraf leaves for Dubai
Mar 18, 2016, at 03:06 pm
Islamabad, Mar 18 (IBNS): Seeking 'medical treatment', Pakistan's former president General (retd) Pervez Musharraf left for Dubai on Friday.
Cambodia: UN rights expert launches fact-finding ion on women and indigenous peoples
Mar 18, 2016, at 03:03 pm
New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia on Thursday announced she will be visiting the country Monday to assess the enjoyment of rights by women and indigenous peoples in the country.
UN officials call for concrete commitments on gender equality at World Humanitarian Summit
Mar 18, 2016, at 03:00 pm
New York, Mar 18 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Top United Nations officials on Thursday called on leaders to attend the World Humanitarian Summit in May and make concrete commitments to enhance gender equality, as women and girls are “central†to humanitarian action.
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:58 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):While noting that the ceasefire between South Sudan’s warring factions has “largely held,†the United Nations Security Council on Thursday said it was deeply alarmed by ongoing violence in the country and set out specific steps for the parties to take towards full implementation of a seven-month–old peace deal, saying it would review their progress by the end of the month.
FEATURE: A conversation with female ambassadors about the UN Security Council
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:56 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):While the gender ratio between female and male diplomats at the United Nations is becoming more balanced overall, the number of women ambassadors in the Security Council has fallen from its peak of six women in 2014 to four in 2015 to just one this year. How has this influenced the top collective decision-making body on peace and security, and what, if anything, does this say about the future of UN diplomacy and peacebuilding?
Haiti’s only path to institutional and political stability is going to the polls – UN envoy
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:52 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):A protracted political crisis in Haiti may hamper the stabilization gains achieved in recent year and further decline the island nation’s economic growth, the top United Nations official in the country on Thursday told the Security Council.
‘Raise your voices’ to create a better world, Ban urges students at New York’s Lehman College
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:50 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):Delivering a lecture at Lehman College in New York, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged students to join the global fight against conflicts, poverty, inequality, migration crisis, diseases, and climate change.
Future of Liberia and UN presence in the country discussed at Security Council
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:48 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):One year since Liberian authorities launched a “historic undertaking†to assume full responsibility of the country’s security by the end of next June, top United Nations officials on Thursday discussed what measures are needed to support the implantation of the plan.
Addressing violent extremism ‘urgent human rights priority,’ warns UN chief
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:38 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):Top United Nations officials on Thursday urged the international community to develop effective, rights-based responses to violent extremism by examining its drivers and shifting away from the “security only†approach to dealing with the scourge.
Ukraine: UN calls on all parties to ensure access to safe drinking water in eastern region
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:35 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):Concerned about the continuing impact of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine on civilians, the United Nations on Thursday called on all parties to ensure access to safe water in Donetsk, after security concerns forced the evacuation of staff from a water treatment facility that serves thousands of people in the area.
UN chief condemns double suicide bombing in north-east Nigeria
Mar 18, 2016, at 02:32 pm
New York, Mar 18(Just Earth News/IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned yesterday’s double suicide attacks in Maiduguri in Nigeria’s restive Borno state by suspected Boko Haram elements, which left 20 people dead and many injured.