UN warns of rising internet shutdowns as digital blackouts spread worldwide

In a statement issued this week, UNESCO said governments are increasingly cutting internet access during protests, elections and times of crisis, despite the central role online connectivity plays in democratic participation and the exercise of basic rights. The agency noted that 2024 was the worst year on record for internet shutdowns since 2016, citing data […]

‘Peace is a choice’: UN chief urges diplomacy as wars spread from Gaza to Ukraine

‘Peace is a choice’: UN chief urges diplomacy as wars spread from Gaza to Ukraine

This is the only sustainable path to global security, he told ministers at a high-level open debate of the Security Council on Tuesday. The Secretary-General emphasised that the UN Charter’s tools – negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration and more – remain a lifeline when tensions escalate, grievances fester and states lose trust in each other. These […]

Myanmar quake: Ongoing aftershocks spread fear

Myanmar quake: Ongoing aftershocks spread fear

Aid agencies warned on Tuesday that more than 6.3 million people remain in urgent need of support in the worst-affected central areas around Mandalay. “People [are] forced to sleep outside, safe water is scarce, health services are disrupted,” said UN aid coordination office, OCHA, in an appeal for more support from the international community. The […]