UN - Page 15

ISIS Exterminates History in Palmyra

The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS) published pictures of jihadists destroying ancient statues in Palmyra, Syria, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The terrorist group previously promised not to touch the historical landmarks.

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‘Fatty Monster U.S. Imperialists’: North Korea Celebrates Hate America Month

On Thursday, the North Korean government culminated the celebration of “Struggle Against US Imperialism Month” with a large stadium commemoration of the anniversary of the Korean War. In addition to propaganda significantly more belligerent than its usual fare and praise for communist leader Kim Il Sung and current dictator Kim Jong Un, the nation’s museums were teeming with individuals observing the holiday.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS

Eighty Percent of Yemenis Dependent on Humanitarian Aid as Starvation, Dengue Fever Ravage Civilians

Nearly 80% of Yemen’s civilian population is dependent on humanitarian aid for food and water, while six million are believed to be suffering “severe” hunger, and up to 8,000 people may have contracted Dengue fever. This is the dire portrait of a war-torn nation the United Nations presented this week, as fighting between Shiite Houthi rebels and supporters of Sunni President Hadi and Saudi Arabia continue to struggle for power.

AFP/GettyImages

UN Human Rights Experts Demand ‘Urgent Measures’ for Gun Control in US

In the wake of the heinous attack on Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the United Nations Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent released a statement calling on the United States to “investigate the hate crimes” and take “urgent measures” for gun control.

AP Photo/Brennan Linsley

Kurds: 8 Germans Among 22 ISIS Fighters Killed by Coalition Airstrikes

According to Kurdish officials, eight of the 22 ISIS fighters killed by recent coalition airstrikes in northern Iraq were German nationals. The airstrikes were conducted in the Aski Mosul region, west of the ISIS stronghold in Iraq, the city of Mosul. Kurdish forces were said to be involved in providing intelligence for the air campaign.

This undated file image posted on a militant website on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 shows fight

Yemen Peace Talks End in Fistfight After Woman Throws Shoe at Houthi Leader

UN-organized peace talks between the competing Sunni and Shiite sides of the growing Yemeni civil war ended explosively after a journalist threw a shoe at a Houthi leader, prompting a melee between multiple parties at the resulting press conference. United Nations mediators nonetheless stated they were optimistic the two sides would resolve to end violence.

AFP Photo Fabrice Coffrini

Hungary Plans Massive Border Wall to Keep Out Migrants

This Wednesday, Hungary was the subject of criticism from European officials after the nation announced plans to construct a 110-mile long, 4-meter high fence along their border with Serbia in an attempt to stem the flow of migrants streaming into the country.

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UN Chief Lectures Britain: Take More Migrants

Britain should take in more Mediterranean migrants, a senior UN official has said. Peter Sutherland, who is the UN Secretary General’s special representative on international migration, said the UK was not accepting its fair share, adding that unless it allowed

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Ebola Resurgent: African States Report Alarming Rise in Cases

Medical workers in Guinea and Sierra Leone reported 31 new cases of Ebola in the pass week, a significant increase following two months of relative decline that had the United Nations close to declaring the outbreak over. Lax monitoring rules and potential smuggling of Ebola patients past medical officials may be to blame, journalists report.

The Associated Press

UN Agency Spokesman Goes Wild on Twitter to Defend Denial

Chris Gunness, spokesperson for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which deals uniquely with Palestinian refugees, denied last week that UNRWA had handed weapons to Hamas during last summer’s Gaza war–and blocked critics on Twitter who had questioned his denial. Gunness also responded to critics by tweeting a graphic photograph of a maimed Palestinian child, and by accusing UN human rights critic Anne Bayefsky of “racism” for her criticism.

Chris Gunness (Screenshot / UN)

UN Official: Rise in Saudi Arabian Executions ‘Disturbing’

Christof Heyns, the United Nations Special Raporteur of Extrajudicial Summary and Arbitrary Executions, recently spoke out against the rise in executions in Saudi Arabia. “It is certainly very disturbing that there is such a fast pace of executions at the moment,” Heyns told AFP. “If it continues at this pace we will have double the number of executions, or more than double the number of executions, that we had last year.”

Reuters

China Accuses Philippines of Violating South China Sea Agreement

If China’s talk of rebuilding the legendary “Silk Road” trade route is a means of asserting dominance over Asian land and water, it is hardly the only muscle Beijing is flexing. Reuters reports that the Chinese are accusing the Philippines of violating a largely informal code governing the South China Sea by constructing military and civilian facilities on certain disputed islands. The Philippines Foreign Ministry levels the exact same charge against China.

AFP PHOTO / Jay DIRECTO

Ex-Gitmo Prisoners Refuse Free Year of Rent from Uruguay, Demanding US Funds

Five of the six former Guantánamo Bay detainees being hosted by Uruguay are refusing to sign an accord with the local United Nations body that would pay for their rent and utilities for one year, demanding that the United States subsist their lives and claiming they were promised three years of free living in the Latin American nation.

AFP PHOTO / PABLO PORCIUNCULA