Broadband critical to meeting UN’s Millennium Development Goals
The World in 2010: ICT Facts and Figures Internet users by region (source: ITU)
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The number of people using the Internet doubled to two billion in the past five years, new figures from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in Geneva show.
The fastest rate of growth is in developing countries, but huge gaps in access remain:
“By the end of 2010, 71 percent of the population in developed countries will be online compared to 21 percent of the population in developing countries. While in developed countries 65 percent of people have access to the Internet at home, this is the case for only 13.5 percent of people in developing countries where Internet access in schools, at work and public locations is critical. Regional differences are significant: 65 percent of Europeans are on the Internet, compared to only 9.6 percent of Africans.
Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The International Olympic Committee was bestowed observer status at the UN General Assembly in New York, USA Monday, 19 October, in recognition of the IOC’s efforts to promote the UN’s Millenium Development Goals and the importance of sports in promoting development and peace.
Observer status is a privilege given to non-member states – currently only the Vatican is a non-member – and non-governmental organizations, like the International Red Cross. Observers may speak, but cannot vote or introduce resolutions.
