UNESCO chief hails poetry as an 'expansion of our common humanity' on World Day
Mar 22, 2016, at 02:55 pm
New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS):By paying tribute to the men and women whose only instrument is free speech, the head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized the value of poetry as a symbol of the human spirit's creativity as she marked the annual observance of World Poetry Day.
Caste systems violate human rights of millions worldwide – new UN expert report
Mar 22, 2016, at 02:52 pm
New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS):At least 250 million people worldwide still face appalling and dehumanising discrimination based on caste and similar systems of inherited status, warned the United Nations expert on minority issues while presenting finding to the UN Human Rights Council.
Mar 22, 2016, at 02:50 pm
New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations rights chief on Monday welcomed the judgement delivered by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the case of Jean-Pierre Bemba, a Congolese national found guilty of crimes against humanity and war crimes, including rape, murder and pillage, committed in 2002 and 2003 in the Central African Republic (CAR).
In Brazil, UN expert highlights deadly consequences of delaying land demarcation
Mar 22, 2016, at 02:46 pm
New York, Mar 22 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Following a visit to Brazil, a United Nations independent human rights expert on Monday expressed alarm about the extent of documented and reported attacks on indigenous peoples in the country's central-western state of Mato Grosso Do Sul.
North Korea fires several short-range missiles into East Sea
Mar 21, 2016, at 08:43 pm
Seoul, Mar 21 (IBNS) North Korea on Monday fired several short-range missiles into the East Sea, media reports said.
Mar 21, 2016, at 04:17 pm
Havana, Mar 21 (IBNS) US President Barrack Obama on Sunday arrived in Cuba, as promised by him a month ago, according to reports.
Indonesia: Helicopter crash kills 13
Mar 21, 2016, at 02:32 pm
Jakarta, Mar 21 (IBNS): At least 13 Indonesian military officials were killed as the helicopter in which they were traveling crashed in the district of Poso on Sunday, media reports said.
Colombia: over 250,000 children impacted by conflict despite peace talks, UN agency reports
Mar 21, 2016, at 12:01 pm
New York, Mar 21 (Just Earth News/IBNS):Hostilities in Colombia have disrupted the lives of more than a quarter of a million children since peace talks began three years ago, the United Nations children's agency on Saturday reported.
Mar 21, 2016, at 04:22 am
Barcelona, Mar 20 (IBNS) At least 13 people were killed as a bus in which they were traveling crashed on a Spanish motorway between Barcelona and Valencia cities, media reports said.
Turkey blames IS for Istanbul attack
Mar 21, 2016, at 01:59 am
Istanbul, Mar 20 (IBNS) The suicide bomber, who has killed four people during the attack in Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday, is connected to militant group Islamic State, media reports said.
Earth Hour 2016: UN goes dark to spotlight climate change
Mar 20, 2016, at 12:15 pm
New York, Mar 20 (Just Earth News/IBNS):The United Nations will go dark later this evening as the Organization shuts off the lights at its iconic Headquarters complex in New York and other facilities around the world in observance of 'Earth Hour,' an annual global event to put the spotlight on the issues facing the planet and to inspire millions across the world to live more sustainably.
Mar 19, 2016, at 09:55 pm
Istanbul, Mar 19 (IBNS): At least four people were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Turkish city Istanbul on Saturday, media reports said.
Ban welcomes announcement of release of Djiboutian prisoners by Eritrea
Mar 19, 2016, at 03:02 pm
New York, Mar 19 (Just Earth News/IBNS):United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has learned of the arrival in Djibouti on Friday of the Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, and the announcement of the release of four Djiboutian prisoners by the Eritrean authorities.
‘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.