UN reports Internet well on way to 3 billion users
May 06, 2014, at 05:37 pm
New York, May 6 (IBNS): Releasing new statistics on Monday, the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU) announced that by end 2014, there will be nearly three billion Internet users - two-thirds of them from the developing world - with mobile-broadband penetration approaching 32 percent.
US: Man pleads guilty to explosives charge
May 06, 2014, at 04:23 pm
Los Angeles, May 6 (IBNS) A man who left pipe bombs in a residential neighborhood in Palm Springs near the residence of an ex-girlfriend—and who became a fugitive after escaping from custody in a related case—pleaded guilty on Monday to a federal charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device.
6.0 earthquake rocks Thailand, no casualty
May 06, 2014, at 03:33 am
Bangkok , May 5 (IBNS): An earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter Scale hit northern Thailand on Monday.
6.0 earthquake strikes off Tokyo, 17 injured
May 06, 2014, at 01:39 am
Tokyo, May 5 (IBNS): At least 17 people were hurt as an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Tokyo.
Somalia: UNSC condemns latest bombing in Mogadishu
May 05, 2014, at 05:16 pm
New York, May 5 (IBNS): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) on Sunday strongly condemned the latest terrorist bomb attack in the Somali capital Mogadishu, for which the Islamic insurgent group Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility and which has caused numerous deaths and injuries.
Kenya: 3 killed in twin explosions in Mombasa
May 04, 2014, at 08:30 pm
Mombasa, May 4 (IBNS): At least three people were killed and several others injured after two explosions hit the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa on Saturday, media reports said.
Ukraine: Ban welcomes release of abducted military observers
May 04, 2014, at 05:45 am
New York, May 3 (IBNS) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the release earlier on Saturday of European military monitors and accompanying Ukrainian staff abducted a week ago in the country's crisis-torn eastern region, even as he expressed sadness at the loss of life amid fresh violence in the port city of Odessa.
UN cites press freedom as critical to reaching development goals
May 04, 2014, at 05:44 am
New York, May 3 (IBNS): The United Nations is marking World Press Freedom Day on Saturday with an appeal to all States, societies and individuals to actively defend press freedom as a fundamental right and as a critical contribution to achieving and sustaining the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
S Korea:Mechanical malfunction caused trains collision
May 04, 2014, at 05:19 am
Seoul, May 3 (IBNS): Two subway trains in South Korea's Seoul collided on Friday due to mechanical malfunction caused by a signal failure, media reports said on Saturday.
2100 killed in Afghanistan landslide
May 04, 2014, at 01:12 am
Kabul, May 3 (IBNS): At least 2100 people have been killed in a massive landslide which hit Afghanistan's northeastern province of Badakhshan on Friday, media reports said on Saturday.
UN condemns crackdown on journalists in Ethiopia
May 03, 2014, at 05:43 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): The United Nations human rights chief on Friday condemned the crackdown on journalists in Ethiopia and the increasing restrictions on freedom of opinion and expression in the Horn of Africa nation.
Afghanistan: UN condemns suicide attack in Panjshir province
May 03, 2014, at 05:31 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the suicide car bombing which took place on Thursday in the central eastern province of Panjshir, killing at least 15 people - including seven civilians.
UN urges US to impose death penalty moratorium
May 03, 2014, at 05:28 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): The suffering of United States inmate Clayton Lockett during his execution in Oklahoma on Apr 29 could amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment according to international human rights law, the United Nations said on Friday, calling on the US authorities to impose an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
South Sudan: UN calls on all parties to end fighting
May 03, 2014, at 05:20 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): United Nations agencies are calling on the parties to the conflict in South Sudan to provide safe access to enable humanitarian assistance to reach vulnerable people, including 125,000 Sudanese refugees in Maban County, in Upper Nile state.
Ban to dispatch top political aide to Ukraine
May 03, 2014, at 05:18 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): As the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) convened its second urgent session this week on the situation in Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his grave concern over the rising tensions in the country's east and south, particularly events in the crisis-gripped city of Slovyansk, where two Ukrainian military helicopters were shot down overnight and a group of European observes captured on 26 April remains in detention.
Cambodia: UN agenda seeks asylum reform, freedom of expression
May 03, 2014, at 05:14 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): Amidst reports that Cambodia has agreed in principle to house asylum seekers that had tried to enter Australia, a United Nations senior human rights official wrapping up her visit to the country on Friday urged its Government to respect its international commitments.
UN agency scales up food assistance in CAR
May 03, 2014, at 05:09 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): As the unprecedented crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) continues to deepen, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has accelerated its operations - distributing 60 percent more food in April than in March.
UN supports rescue effort after landslides hit Afghanistan
May 03, 2014, at 05:05 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): Landslides triggered by heavy rains crashed into an area of north-eastern Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 350 people and causing widespread damage to homes and agriculture, according to a senior United Nations relief official in the country, who said the world body is "fully engaged" in the effort to mobilize support for the initial search and rescue effort.
UN urges action before South Sudan plunges deeper into crisis
May 03, 2014, at 05:00 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): Senior United Nations officials on Friday reported a drastic deterioration in the human rights situation in South Sudan, marked by increasing ethnic violence and revenge killings, and urged the UN Security Council (UNSC) not to simply stand by as the world's youngest nation plunges deeper into crisis.
DR Congo: UN peacekeepers on alert after battling rebel group
May 03, 2014, at 04:55 pm
New York, May 3 (IBNS): Mayi-Mayi rebels attacked United Nations peacekeepers in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the Mission is on alert monitoring and the situation, it was announced on Friday.
SKorea: 2 subway trains collide, 170 injured
May 03, 2014, at 05:29 am
Seoul, May 2 (IBNS): At least 170 people were injured as two subway trains collide in Seoul on Friday, media reports said.
Afghanistan: UN mission condemns suicide attack
May 03, 2014, at 05:04 am
New York, May 2 (IBNS): The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has strongly condemned the suicide car bombing which took place on Thursday in the central eastern province of Panjshir, killing at least 15 people – including seven civilians.
Accountability key to ensuring development progress: UN
May 02, 2014, at 05:51 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): As Member States continue work on a new post-2015 development agenda, United Nations officials on Thursday stressed the need for a robust yet flexible accountability framework to assess progress and achieve results, as well as ensure that all actors honour their commitments.
UN honours traditional farming sites in China, Iran, Korea
May 02, 2014, at 05:48 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): The birthplace of jasmine tea and a nearly 3,000 year old irrigation system are among the traditional farming sites designated "globally important" land use systems or landscapes by the United Nations food and agricultural agency, it was announced on Thursday.
UN marks free media as vital to sustainable development
May 02, 2014, at 05:45 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): Free media, traditional and new, are indispensable for development, democracy and good governance, United Nations officials said on Thursday, spotlighting Press Freedom Day - observed annually on May 3 - to urge Governments, societies and individuals to actively defend this fundamental right as a critical factor in achieving internationally agreed development goals.
UN lauds incredible resilience of Iraqi voters
May 02, 2014, at 05:41 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): United Nations officials on Thursday congratulated the people and Government of Iraq for turning out in significant numbers in Wednesday's elections, and commended the electoral authorities and security personnel for their efforts.
UN voices concern over latest violence in parts of Sudan
May 02, 2014, at 05:37 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): Recent fighting in parts of South Kordofan and Blue Nile states has displaced or affected an estimated 16,500 people, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which on Thursday detailed the aid response being offered to them through the UN and its partners.
CAR: UN warns against ethnic violence, rhetoric of fear
May 02, 2014, at 05:34 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): With rival Christian and Muslim militias stoking inter-communal violence and spreading fear throughout the Central African Republic (CAR), a senior United Nations relief official on Thursday urged the international community to uphold its pledges - and responsibility - to provide the security and resources to ease the crisis and prevent the country from splitting along religious lines.
South Sudan: UN reports fighters restricting movement
May 02, 2014, at 05:30 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): United Nations peacekeepers in South Sudan reported on Thursday that opposition forces are occupying Lich University, located in the central part of the country, and that said harassment and detention of UN staff was preventing the Mission from carrying out its activities.
Ban urges focus on Middle East peace efforts
May 02, 2014, at 05:25 pm
New York, May 2 (IBNS): United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday appealed to Israelis and Palestinians to exercise prudence and avoid unilateral steps that would diminish the prospects of resuming negotiations after the latest downturn in the Middle East peace process.