Category: World » Asia
Asteroids Will Make Earth Near Miss Wednesday Says NASA
8 Sep 03:29 | USA News
NASA says two asteroids discovered just three days ago will pass within the moon's distance from Earth on Wednesday, with one coming as close as 49,000km.read more »
Conditions In Flood-Stricken Pakistan Remain Desperate
5 Sep 13:59 | World
Although flood waters are receding in parts of Pakistan, conditions in the thousands of camps that have sprung up in recent weeks are still desperate, the United Nations refugee agency has warned.read more »
Tragedy Unfolding In Southwest Of Flood-Hit Pakistan
2 Sep 13:38 | World
The United Nations refugee agency today called for boosting relief efforts in the flood-hit province of Balochistan in south-western Pakistan, where some 2 million people have been affected by the recent disaster and the humanitarian situation is deteriorating.read more »
Climate Change Chief World Cannot Afford Worsening Disasters
2 Sep 13:29 | World
The world cannot afford escalating disasters of the kind recently witnessed in Pakistan and Russia, the top United Nations climate change official said today, underscoring the need for governments to take swift action to lead the world towards a low-carbon future.read more »
Airline Passengers In Developing Countries Face 13 Times Risk Of Crash As U.S
1 Sep 13:46 | World
Passengers who fly in Developing World countries face 13 times the risk of being killed in an air accident as passengers in the First World, according to a new study.read more »
Plan Launched Against Human Trafficking
31 Aug 13:50 | World
The United Nations has launched a global action plan to combat human trafficking, with senior UN officials urging that governments worldwide take coordinated and consistent measures to try to defeat the scourge.read more »
US Condemns Political Killings In Afghanistan
31 Aug 13:47 | World
The United States says it strongly condemns the recent killing of a fourth candidate for parliament in Afghanistan and of five men working on the electoral campaign of a female candidate, all in Herat province. read more »
Opinion: Reflections on Afghanistan
28 Aug 2010 | USA News
BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Back in the States, there has been no shortage of analysts, politicos and pundits who have voiced an opinion about the continuing war against terrorism on its most active and public front here in Afghanistan. Some of those viewpoints are accurate, some have been made strictly to score political points, and still others are cogent in their thought and scrutiny, if not their accuracy.read more »
States Urged To Ratify Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty
27 Aug 2010 | World
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is urging all Member States that have not yet done so to ratify the United Nations-backed treaty banning nuclear tests, saying it is important to build on the momentum made on disarmament and non-proliferation over the past year.read more »
ISAF Investigates Incident That Leaves 4 Dead
26 Aug 2010 | World
A joint team of Afghan and International Security Assistance Force officials departed Kabul today to perform an initial assessment of the shooting incident in western Afghanistan Wednesday.read more »
Refugee Agency Seeks $120 Million To Shelter Flood-Hit Pakistanis
26 Aug 2010 | World
The number of people in need of shelter in flood-devastated regions of Pakistan has continued to rise as more areas become inundated, according to refugee agencies.read more »
Thousands Displaced As Massive Floods In Pakistan Spread
24 Aug 2010 | World
The massive floods in Pakistan have spread to the southern province of Sindh, where hundreds of thousands of people are on the move after evacuating their inundated villages.read more »
Prosecution Appeals For Longer Jail Term For Cambodian War Criminal
17 Aug 2010 | World
Prosecutors at the United Nations-backed tribunal into war crimes committed under Khmer Rouge rule in the late 1970s have launched an appeal against the 35-year jail term handed out to the head of a notorious detention camp run by the regime. read more »
Waterborne Disease Risk Among Flood-Affected Pakistanis
17 Aug 2010 | World
Waterborne diseases continue to pose great risk to millions of people affected by the devastating floods in Pakistan.read more »
Ban Ki-Moon Witnesses "Heart-Wrenching" Destruction In Pakistan
15 Aug 2010 | World
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for the rapid delivery of assistance for millions of people in flood-stricken Pakistan, as he saw for himself the devastation wrought by the recent disaster.read more »
New "Superbug" Found in UK Hospitals
11 Aug 2010 | World
Health authorities in Britain say a new 'superbug' which is resistant to even the most powerful antibiotics has been found in hospitals in the UK.read more »
Huge Scale Of Pakistani Floods Impeding Relief Efforts
11 Aug 2010 | World
The United Nations refugee agency's staff on the ground in Pakistan are calling the devastating floods among the most difficult situations they have faced, stressing that the catastrophe is also testing the limits of the country’s emergency response capacity.read more »
Hawaii Man Convicted of Providing Defense Information To China
10 Aug 2010 | USA News
A federal jury in Hawaii has found Noshir S. Gowadia, age 66, of Maui, guilty of five criminal offenses relating to his design for the People’s Republic of China (PRC) of a low signature cruise missile exhaust system capable of rendering a PRC cruise missile resistant to detection by infrared missiles. read more »
Pleas For International Help For Flood-Hit Pakistan
10 Aug 2010 | World
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he has "extreme concern" over the catastrophic floods that have killed hundreds of people in Pakistan and urged donors to contribute generously to the humanitarian response.read more »
Six Million People Affected By Pakistan Floods
8 Aug 2010 | World
The number of people affected by the worst floods in living memory in Pakistan has been revised upward to 6 million, with concern for hundreds of thousands of people who are stranded and unable to receive aid.read more »
Children's Vegetable Intake Linked To Popeye Cartoons
6 Aug 2010 | World
Popeye cartoons, tasting parties and junior cooking classes can help increase vegetable intake in kindergarten children, according to new research published in the journal Nutrition & Dietetics. read more »
Ban Urges Elimination Of Nuclear Weapons During Nagasaki Visit
5 Aug 2010 | World
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon honoured the victims of the Nagasaki atomic bombing today, noting that his visit to the Japanese city has strengthened his conviction that nuclear weapons must be outlawed. read more »
UN Rushing Food To Victims Of Deadly Pakistan Floods
2 Aug 2010 | World
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has begun distributing food to more than 35,000 families affected by the worst floods northwest Pakistan has seen in decades, which have affected some one million people in the area. read more »
Two New Sites Added To The World Heritage List
31 Jul 2010 | World
The Central Highlands of Sri Lanka and the Papahanaumokuakea islands and atolls in the United States have become the latest two sites to be added to the World Heritage List.read more »
Pakistan Air Crash Claims 152 Lives
28 Jul 2010 | World
Pakistan's interior ministry says all 152 people on board an Airblue plane which crashed in Pakistan have died, with reports two Americans are among the dead.read more »
Scientists Release "Unmistakable" Signs Of A Warming World
28 Jul 2010 | World
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released what it says is "unmistakeable" scientific evidence that our world is warming.read more »
Khmer Rouge Official Found Guilty Of Atrocities
27 Jul 2010 | World
Three decades after nearly 2 million people perished under Khmer Rouge rule in Cambodia, a United Nations-backed tribunal has issued its first verdict finding the former head of a notorious detention camp guilty of crimes against humanity.read more »
Archaeologists Unearth Bones Of Biggest Rat That Ever Lived
26 Jul 2010 | World
Archaeological research in East Timor has unearthed the bones of the biggest rat that ever lived, with a body weight around 6 kg.read more »
Parliaments Urged To Play Leading Role In Tackling Today’s Crises
19 Jul 2010 | World
The world's elected parliamentarians can play a leading role in tackling some of today’s global crises and challenges, including unconstitutional changes of government and threats to the rule of law, according to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.read more »
Asia-Pacific Nations Agree To Promote Low-Carbon Economic Growth
9 Jul 2010 | World
Government officials and policymakers from Asia and the Pacific have concluded a United Nations-organized meeting by adopting a course of action for environmentally sustainable economic growth, ahead of a key ministerial conference to be held in September in Kazakhstan. read more »
Security Council Condemns Recent Sinking Of ROK Ship
9 Jul 2010 | World
The UN Security Council has condemned the recent sinking of a Republic of Korea (ROK) naval vessel, stressing the need to prevent further attacks both against the East Asian nation and in the region.read more »
Global Commuter Pain Study Reveals Traffic Jam Crisis
30 Jun 2010 | World
The daily commute in some of the world's most economically important international cities is longer and more grueling than ever, according to IBM's first global Commuter Pain study released today.read more »
World's Most Expensive Cities Revealed In Latest Mercer Survey
29 Jun 2010 | World
Luanda in Angola is the world’s most expensive city for expatriates, according to the latest Cost of Living Survey from Mercer Consulting, with Tokyo in second position and Ndjamena in Chad in third place. read more »
The G-20 Toronto Summit Declaration
28 Jun 2010 | World
The Group of 20 countries have released a summit declaration which aims to cut deficits by 2013, against the wishes of the United States. Full transcript of the G-20 Toronto Summit Declaration.read more »
Don't Balance Budgets On The Back Of The Poor, G20 Told
27 Jun 2010 | World
G20 leaders meeting in Toronto have been urged to take urgent steps to help the poor and vulnerable make ends meet through investment, as hundreds were arrested in protest surrounding the meeting in Canada.read more »
Report Says Cannabis Most Popular Drug But Amphetamine-Type Use Rising
24 Jun 2010 | World
Cannabis remains the world's most widely produced and used illicit substance in the world but amphetamine-type stimulants and prescription medications are increasingly becoming the drugs of choice globally, according to a new United Nations report.read more »
Worst of H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic May Have Passed: WHO
18 Jun 2010 | World
The World Health Organization says there has been a low resurgence of the H1N1 swine flu virus and the worst of the pandemic may have passed.read more »
Indian Ocean Tsunami Watch Cancellation
12 Jun 2010 | USA News
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 003 PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS ISSUED AT 2146Z 12 JUN 2010 THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. ... THE TSUNAMI WATCH IS CANCELLED ... THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE. AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME - 1927Z 12 JUN 2010 COORDINATES - 7.8 NORTH 92.0 EAST LOCATION - NICOBAR ISLANDS INDIA REGION MAGNITUDE - 7.5 EVALUATION SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE THAT A SIGNIFICANT TSUNAMI WAS NOT GENERATED. THEREFORE THE TSUNAMI WATCH ISSUED BY THIS CENTER IS NOW CANCELLED. THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN ISSUED BY THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS ADDITIONAL INFORMATION BECOMES AVAILABLE. THread more »
Local Tsunami Watch Bulletin
12 Jun 2010 | USA News
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 002 PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS ISSUED AT 2018Z 12 JUN 2010 NOTE - DUE TO THE DOWNWARD REVISION OF THE EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE TO 7.5 AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE EARTHQUAKE...THE AREA OF THE WATCH IS NOW REDUCED TO ONLY INDIA. ALL OTHER REGIONS FORMERLY UNDER A WATCH ARE NOW REMOVED FROM THE WATCH. THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. ... A LOCAL TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ... A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR INDIA FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION...THIS MESSAGE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME. THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE. AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME - 1927Z 12 JUN 2010 COORDINATES - 7.8 NORTH 92.0 EAST LOCATION - NICOBAR ISLANDS INDIA REread more »
UPDATE(2): Tsunami Watch Cancelled For India Region
12 Jun 2010 | World
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says its Tsunami warning for the India region has been cancelled and no Tsunami alerts are now in force.read more »
Regional Tsunami Watch Bulletin
12 Jun 2010 | World
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001 PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS ISSUED AT 1934Z 12 JUN 2010 THIS BULLETIN IS FOR ALL AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN. ... A REGIONAL TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT ... A TSUNAMI WATCH IS IN EFFECT FOR INDIA / INDONESIA / SRI LANKA / MYANMAR / THAILAND / MALAYSIA FOR OTHER AREAS OF THE INDIAN OCEAN REGION...THIS MESSAGE IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY AT THIS TIME. THIS BULLETIN IS ISSUED AS ADVICE TO GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. ONLY NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING THE OFFICIAL STATE OF ALERT IN THEIR AREA AND ANY ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN RESPONSE. AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS ORIGIN TIME - 1927Z 12 JUN 2010 COORDINATES - 7.7 NORTH 91.8 EAST LOCATION - NICOBAR ISLANDS INDIA REGION MAGNITUDE - 7.6 EVALUATION EARTHQUAKES OF THIS SIZE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GENERATE A DESTRUCTIVE LOCAL TSUNAMI AND SOMETIMES A DESTRUCTIVE REGIONAL TSUNAMI ALONread more »
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama Resigns
1 Jun 2010 | World
Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has resigned in a live televised speech after less than eight months in power. read more »
Japan and US Announce Agreement Over Military Base
27 May 2010 | USA News
Japan and the United States have announced a resolution over an unpopular US airbase on Okinawa island that has strained ties and caused political ructions in Japan.read more »
Ban Confident Of 'Appropriate' Action On Korean Ship Sinking
24 May 2010 | World
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says he hopes the Security Council will act swiftly over the deliberate sinking of a navy ship off the coast of the Republic of Korea by its northern neighbour, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. read more »
U.S. To Conduct Military Exercises Following Torpedo Attack
24 May 2010 | USA News
The United States has announced it will conduct joint naval exercises with South Korea as pressure grows on North Korea over its sinking of a South Korean navy ship. read more »
Second US Base In Afghanistan Comes Under Attack
22 May 2010 | USA News
Militants have launched an attack on a second NATO military base in Afghanistan, this time directing small arms and rocket fire at the main military base in southern Afghanistan.read more »
Thailand Simmers Down After Protests
21 May 2010 | World
Thailand is now trying to recover from the violence and mayhem triggered by a crackdown on anti-government protests over recent days.read more »
Tension Rises On Korean Peninsula
20 May 2010 | World
North Korea has threatened to tear up all agreements with the South and said the peninsula was heading for war after it was accused of torpedoing a navy ship near their disputed border, Reuters reported today.read more »
Books In Homes – Better Education
20 May 2010 | USA News
Parents who have books in the home increase the level of education their children will attain, according to a 20-year study led by Mariah Evans, University of Nevada, Reno associate professor of sociology and resource economics.read more »
U.S. Starts Afghan Deaths Probe
20 May 2010 | World
U.S. military authorities have launched a criminal investigation into alleged unlawful deaths of Afghan civilians.read more »