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November 17, 2025 Economic development

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) released a new report on Monday that documents impressive growth in the number of internet users, while also highlighting the deepening of digital divides.

According to the organization, over 240 million people connected to the global network last year, bringing the global population to approximately six billion—three-quarters of the entire global population. However, 2.2 billion remain offline, highlighting the scale of the challenge of ensuring universal and equitable digital accessibility.

Connection quality is a key factor

ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin noted that modern life is impossible without digital technologies, meaning everyone should be able to use the internet. Connection quality is becoming a key factor: speed, reliability, accessibility, and skills determine whether people can benefit from digital opportunities.

The report presents the first estimates of 5G network subscriptions—approximately three billion, or a third of all mobile connections. Fifth-generation networks cover 55 percent of the world's population, but the distribution is extremely uneven: in high-income countries, 84 percent of residents have access to 5G, while in low-income countries, only four percent do. Furthermore, users in wealthy countries generate almost eight times more mobile traffic than those in poorer regions, clearly demonstrating the gap in quality.

Accessibility issues

Equally important is the issue of accessibility. Although the average price of mobile internet has generally fallen, in 60 percent of low- and middle-income countries it remains unaffordable for a significant portion of the population. Furthermore, most users possess only basic digital skills, while more complex skills—from maintaining a secure online environment to content creation—are developing more slowly.

Cosmas Lakison Zavazava, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, stressed that achieving an inclusive and secure digital environment requires targeted investments in infrastructure, training, and data collection systems.

Digital demography

The report demonstrates how closely digital development is linked to economic level, gender differences, and location. In high-income countries, 94 percent of the population uses the internet, while in low-income countries, only 23 percent does. Most people who remain offline live in poor and developing regions.

Men are more likely to be online than women (77 percent versus 71 percent), and city dwellers are significantly more likely than rural residents (85 percent versus 58 percent). Young people aged 15–24 demonstrate the highest engagement: 82 percent of them are online, compared to 72 percent of the general population.

The ITU report not only documents progress in global digitalization but also reminds us of the need to focus on overcoming barriers. Without accessible infrastructure, fair prices, and digital skills development, millions of people risk being left on the fringes of the digital world.

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Felipe de Carvalho, Belém

November 15, 2025 Climate and environment

In Belém, Brazil, where the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) is taking place, one of the main questions is being discussed: is humanity capable of mobilizing the necessary resources to implement global action to protect the planet?

At every negotiating table and in every diplomatic statement, a harsh truth is heard that is understood by everyone involved in this process: without adequate funding, the desired results will not be achieved.

A question of survival

At the Third High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Finance, COP30 participants heard from representatives of countries most affected by climate change, many of whom described access to finance as a "matter of survival."

UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock said in her opening remarks that COP30 should mark the launch of up to $1.3 trillion in annual climate payments – funds that should be “transferred quickly, transparently and fairly to those who need them most.”

She emphasized that climate action and social justice are "inseparable." "Climate instability fuels hunger and poverty, poverty leads to migration and conflict, and conflicts, in turn, deepen poverty and discourage investment," the UN General Assembly President emphasized.

She said it was crucial to break this vicious circle to achieve global climate goals.

Energy from renewable sources

Marking the tenth anniversary of the Paris Climate Agreement, Baerbock recalled that in 2015, many delegates were moved to tears when participants achieved a historic result – the first legally binding global climate agreement uniting more than 190 countries.

She noted that at the time, development in the renewable energy sector seemed "unrealistic." Today, however, the industry has achieved impressive results.

By 2024, global investment in clean energy will reach $2 trillion—approximately $800 billion more than in fossil fuels. Solar energy has become the cheapest source of electricity in history.

Africa's Untapped Potential

However, Baerbock warned that "enormous potential remains untapped as capital continues to fail to flow to where it is needed most," particularly Africa.

More than 600 million people on the continent still lack access to electricity, despite the fact that the continent's renewable energy potential is 50 times greater than the projected global electricity demand by 2040.

She called on developed countries to fulfill their technological and financial commitments and advance the reform of global financial institutions.

The 'Life Force' of Climate Action

Simon Still, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), also spoke at the session, highlighting the transformative role of climate finance.

He called finance "the lifeblood of climate action," capable of turning "plans into progress" and "ambition into achievement."

Still noted that the most vulnerable countries continue to face significant barriers to accessing long-promised aid.

"When funding comes in, ambitions grow"

Despite billions invested globally in clean energy, adaptation, and just transitions, Still said overall investment "remains insufficient, unpredictable, and unevenly distributed."

He called on COP30 delegates to demonstrate once again that international cooperation on climate change is effective and that today's investments can lead to "historic growth in the 21st century."

"When funding is available, ambition grows," Still emphasized. He reminded that this creates opportunities to create jobs, reduce the cost of living, improve public health, and protect vulnerable populations and the planet as a whole.

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November 15, 2025 Peace and security

Transnational organized crime has become one of the most serious threats of the 21st centuryIt kills hundreds of thousands of people, undermines state institutions, destroys ecosystems, and robs communities of a sense of security and faith in the future.

Today, criminal networks operate like well-organized corporations, and modern technology makes them even more stealthy and dangerous. The use of cryptocurrencies, anonymous companies, online platforms, and virtual assets allows them to move funds around the world in seconds.

Read also:

Stolen Past: How the International Community Combats Illegal Trafficking of Cultural Property

Illegal trafficking in arms, drugs, rare species of animals and plants, cultural property, counterfeit medicines, human trafficking, migrant smuggling, money laundering, and obstruction of justice all undermine human well-being and economic development.

A global threat requires a global response.

In 2024, the UN General Assembly proclaimed November 15 International Day for the Prevention and Fight against All Forms of Transnational Organized CrimeThis date is intended to highlight the need for international cooperation and draw attention to the scale of the threat.

Criminal groups have long since evolved beyond traditional mafia structures. They are now flexible networks operating across multiple jurisdictions. Victims, criminals, witnesses, and financial flows are spread across multiple countries, making international cooperation vital.

The key document for this remains UN Convention against Transnational Organized CrimeIt covers all serious crimes of a transnational nature and is today one of the most ratified international legal instruments.

The human price

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), approximately 22 percent of all intentional homicides worldwide—roughly 100,000 deaths per year—are linked to organized crime. But the damage doesn't end there.

Counterfeit medicines threaten the health of millions, illegal logging and mining destroy nature, polluted rivers and soils undermine food security, cyber fraud deprives people of their savings, and money laundering erodes trust in public institutions.

Blocking the channels of illegal income

The UNODC 2025 campaign focuses on the financial dimension of the problem. Transnational crime generates billions of dollars in illicit profits annually. These funds fuel human trafficking, drug trafficking, corruption, and armed conflict.

Modern technologies allow criminals to conceal the origin of funds, their final recipients, and their routes. Cryptocurrencies, shell companies, and complex cross-border transfer schemes make investigations increasingly challenging.

To effectively combat organized crime, the UN calls for:

Track illicit financial flows; Disrupt the financial structures of criminal groups; Strengthen international intelligence sharing and cooperation; Modernize legislation on virtual asset control; Enhance law enforcement investigative capacity; Return stolen assets to victim states and communities.

Financial investigations can identify the leaders of criminal networks, expose links between various crimes, and deprive groups of their economic base.

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November 14, 2025 UN

The UN Security Council held its annual debate on Friday to discuss its working methods, including the process for selecting the next Secretary-General in 2026.

Governments will soon begin submitting nominations for the leadership of the 80-year-old organization, whose top position traditionally rotates among geographic regions. However, the UN's highest office has so far been held exclusively by men.

The Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly, the most representative body of the UN, on the recommendation of the 15 members of the Security Council.

"Significant" responsibility

“As the year draws to a close, the Security Council approaches one of its most significant responsibilities – the process of selecting the next Secretary-General,” said Danish Ambassador Christina Marcus Lassen, co-chair of the Informal Working Group on Documentation and Other Procedural Questions.

In the coming months, the Security Council, she said, will discuss how voting and interaction with candidates will proceed and how other UN member states will be informed about this work and its results.

Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's Permanent Representative, reported that in October, during its presidency of the Security Council, his country began working on a joint letter with the General Assembly calling on UN member states to nominate their candidates.

"We expect the document to be adopted quickly to formally begin this important process," he noted. "We hope the Security Council's efforts will help facilitate the selection of the most worthy candidate for the future head of the Secretariat."

A woman as General Secretary?

The next UN Secretary-General will take office in January 2027 and will be elected for a five-year term.

Since the post had never been held by a woman, the representative of Chile advocated for an "open, inclusive, and gender-inclusive process." "After 80 years, the time has come for a woman to lead this organization—a woman who, through her leadership and vision, can infuse the multilateral system with the credibility it needs to respond to the challenges of our time," he said, recalling that "it is now the turn of the Latin American and Caribbean region to assume this position."

Procedure for holding meetings

More than 40 countries took part in the debate, which discussed the updated consolidated guidelines on the Security Council's working methods, known as Note 507, adopted last December.

How exactly the Council meets has become especially important over the past year, given the scale of the crises, noted Lorraine Sievers, co-author of the book "UN Security Council Procedure."

"Of course, the primary focus is on the statements made here and the votes on draft resolutions," she said. "But even when Council members and non-Council members demonstrate sharply divergent positions, the Security Council and the UN itself can build or lose credibility depending on how organized and professionally the Council's meetings are conducted."

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Felipe de Carvalho, Belém

November 14, 2025 Climate and environment

Representatives of the Manduruku people of the Amazon blocked the main entrance to the "Blue Zone" – the area designated for negotiators at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Their demands include an end to projects in territories inhabited by indigenous peoples. The conference's director-general called the protests "legitimate" and stated that the government is listening to the demonstrators.

On Friday morning, approximately 90 representatives of the Manduruku indigenous people held a peaceful protest, blocking the main entrance to the conference's "blue zone." The "blue zone" is an area open only to negotiators and other accredited participants.

Access to the forum through the main entrance was blocked for approximately an hour, and an army patrol was called in to enhance security. The Manduruku people live in the Amazon, primarily in three Brazilian states: Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Pará.

"Legitimate" protests

According to news agencies, the demonstrators were protesting against Brazilian government projects that could affect communities living in the Tapajós and Xingu river basins. They also demanded an end to mining in indigenous areas.

Speaking to reporters, COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni said the protesters' demands were related to national policy. They were sent to meet with Minister of Indigenous Affairs Sonia Guajajara and Minister of Environment and Climate Change Marina Silva.

Ana Toni called the demonstrations "legitimate" and emphasized that the government is ready to listen to the protesters. She noted that over 900 indigenous representatives have been accredited to COP30—a significant increase from the 300 participants at last year's conference in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Presence and responsibility

In an interview with the UN News Service, Amanda, a young participant from the Pankararu people (Pernambuco state), said COP30 offers an opportunity to highlight the issues of indigenous peoples. However, Amanda believes more representatives of indigenous peoples could have been invited to the conference.

"We could make a much greater contribution if more indigenous representatives were involved in these discussions," she said. "The demands [made by the protesters] are certainly justified. We demand that our right to land, our right to life, be respected. We are creating this protective barrier, and we want to be heard. Being here today, representing those who were unable to come, places a responsibility on us."

The most inclusive conference

The COP-30 President noted that many indigenous leaders said the meeting in Belém was the most inclusive they had ever attended.

Chilean indigenous youth activist Emiliano Medina said indigenous representatives discussed a declaration emphasizing their commitment to combating the climate crisis.

He noted that such protests are a form of activism that allows people to make demands and point out policy shortcomings. Medina added that similar protests are taking place around the world in communities affected by climate change.

CS in Amazonia

In a conversation with journalists, Ana Toni emphasized that Brazil has a "strong democracy," which allows for various forms of protest both inside and outside the conference.

She noted that the decision to hold the conference in the Amazon was made precisely to ensure broad participation of indigenous peoples – something that would have been difficult to achieve if the event had been held in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo or Brasilia.

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November 14, 2025 Peace and security

A massive attack on Ukraine's capital, the Kyiv region and other parts of the country early Friday morning reportedly killed eight civilians and injured many more, including children.

The UN Secretary-General strongly condemned Russia's attack on civilian targets in Kyiv and other regions of Ukraine. Antonio Guterres reiterated its call for a complete, immediate and unconditional ceasefire as a first step towards a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace that fully respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations, international law and UN resolutions.

The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Ukraine, Matthias Schmale, expressed deep regret over the new wave of drone and missile strikes that damaged residential buildings, medical facilities, and heating systems in the city.

"I condemn the continued widespread harm to civilians through strikes that destroy vital infrastructure as winter approaches," Shmale said in a statement posted on social media.

Airstrikes on Friday morning also reportedly caused damage to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv. In his statement on Friday, the UN Secretary-General reiterated the principle of the inviolability of diplomatic facilities.

Attacks on the energy system

Ukraine is facing increasing attacks on its power grid, according to a recent report by UN human rights experts.

"In October, several regions of Ukraine experienced emergency power outages caused by ongoing targeted attacks by the Russian Federation and the resumption of large-scale strikes on energy infrastructure," the document notes.

Children's suffering

According to media reports, at least six people were killed in the attack on Kyiv on Friday. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that two children, aged seven and ten, were among the wounded.

"Ukrainian children are experiencing increasingly frightening, sleepless, and cold nights. Attacks continue, affecting homes, power grids, and heating systems," the foundation said in a social media post.

UNICEF also shared the story of a boy named Vyacheslav, whose home was damaged by the strike and whose neighbors were reportedly killed.

"First there was a roar, it kept getting louder, and then everything exploded. Our windows were blown out," he recalls. "I was really scared."

UNICEF called for an end to the attacks and for the protection of children.

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November 14, 2025 Climate and environment

Over the past 33 years, natural disasters have caused $3.26 trillion in damage to global agriculture (US$99 billion annually), representing approximately four percent of global agricultural GDP. This is according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), "The Impact of Disasters on Agriculture and Food Security."

The document represents the largest global study to date on the impacts of natural disasters—from droughts and floods to pest outbreaks and marine heatwaves. The report also demonstrates how digital technologies are helping to shift from crisis response to crisis prevention.

Losses and regional imbalances

From 1991 to 2023, 4.6 billion tons of grain, 2.8 billion tons of fruits and vegetables, and 900 million tons of meat and dairy products were lost due to natural disasters. This is equivalent to a reduction of 320 kilocalories in the human daily diet, or 13-16 percent of average energy needs.

The largest absolute losses were in Asia, at $1.53 trillion (47 percent of global losses), reflecting both the scale of production and the region's high vulnerability to floods, storms, and droughts.

North and South America collectively lost $713 billion (22 percent), primarily due to droughts, hurricanes and extreme temperatures.

Africa suffered losses of 611 billion, but it was here that the damage was the most significant in relative terms – 7.4 percent of agricultural GDP.

Small island states remain particularly vulnerable, with losses accounting for a disproportionately high share of agricultural GDP. Marine heatwaves caused $6.6 billion in losses, affecting 15 percent of the world's fisheries, yet losses in aquaculture remain underestimated – despite the industry providing livelihoods for 500 million people.

Digital revolution in the agricultural sector

The FAO emphasizes that digital technologies are becoming a key tool for risk reduction. Artificial intelligence, remote sensing, mobile communications, drones, and sensors provide localized data in real time, improving early warning, insurance, and preventative measures.

Successful solutions include the SoilFER platform for sustainable farming, the FAMEWS system for monitoring caterpillar infestations, and the Climate Risk Toolbox, which has been used in over 200 projects. More than nine million farmers already use digital platforms, and early warnings enable the evacuation of up to 90 percent of the population in risk areas.

Digitalization must be inclusive

Despite significant progress, more than 2.6 billion people worldwide remain digitally excluded, primarily in rural areas that are most vulnerable to disasters. The FAO emphasizes that technology must be people-centered and supported by skills development, institutional support, and policy reform.

The organization calls on governments, international partners and the private sector to invest massively in digital infrastructure, integrate innovation into national strategies and ensure greater access to digital technologies for smallholder farmers, women, youth and indigenous peoples.

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November 14, 2025 Peace and security

Thousands of people are reportedly remaining in El Fasher after armed forces captured the North Darfur capital last month following a lengthy siege. Their loved ones, who had fled earlier, have lost contact with those who were unable to leave.

Meanwhile, from El Fasher comes terrifying informationThe blockade has forced people to eat peanut shells and animal feed, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Friday. He condemned the mass killings of civilians, ethnically motivated executions, and other crimes reportedly continuing in the region.

At a meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Türk told member states that traces of blood in El Fasher were visible even from space.

"We warned that the seizure of the city by the Rapid Reaction Force would lead to bloodshed," he said, calling for immediate international action to stop the violence. The UN's top human rights official made this statement while speaking at a special meeting of the Council.

“All parties to this conflict must know: we are watching you, and justice will prevail,” the High Commissioner emphasized.

Horrors of war

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 100,000 people have fled El Fasher and surrounding villages in the past two weeks alone.

"Many of them continue to wander," said Jacqueline Wilma Parlevliet, head of the UNHCR office in Port Sudan. Families arriving in Tawila, located approximately 50 kilometers from El Fasher, report "unimaginable horrors" before and after their flight, she noted.

At a video briefing for journalists in Geneva, Parlevlit drew attention to numerous messages about rape and other sexual violence, and the desperation of people trying to find refuge.

"Parents are searching for their missing children, many of whom are in a state of psychological shock due to the conflict and the dangerous journey. Unable to pay ransom, families are losing young male relatives – they are arrested or forcibly recruited into armed groups," explained a UNHCR representative.

Those seeking safety away from El Fasher are forced to take increasingly dangerous routes, bypassing military checkpoints. Some have spent 15 days reaching shelter with minimal food and water.

The small town of El Debba on the banks of the Nile in northern Sudan is home to at least 37,000 residents of El Fasher, with thousands more reportedly attempting to reach it. There are also reports that armed groups are forcibly returning many people back to El Fasher, where conditions remain dire, UNHCR emphasized, citing local sources.

"Thousands of people – especially the elderly, the disabled, and the wounded – remain trapped, either because they are prevented from leaving the city or because they lack the strength or means to escape," Parlevlit said.

A crisis of colossal proportions

Sudan is experiencing the world's largest displacement crisis to date, with more than 12 million people forced to flee their homes and seek refuge either within the country or abroad.

Unexploded ordnance poses a significant threat to many people attempting to return home in other parts of this East African country, according to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). According to UNMAS, 13 million square kilometers of land remain contaminated in the states of South Kordofan, West Kordofan, and Blue Nile alone.

"Many other countries also have problems with explosive remnants of war and mines… But Sudan is a special case. Why? Because the war is taking place primarily in urban areas," said UNMAS Sudan Director Sediq Rashid, speaking from Port Sudan.

He explained that even in the capital Khartoum, people face risks from ammunition, anti-tank and anti-personnel mines.

Displaced families who settle in unfamiliar areas "without any knowledge of past conflicts or contamination" are particularly vulnerable, Rashid noted.

Meanwhile, the number of civilian casualties from mines and other unexploded ordnance continues to rise. "We know that the reported cases represent only a small fraction of the true scale of the damage," added the UNMAS representative.

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November 14, 2025 Healthcare

November 14 marks World Diabetes Day, the theme of which this year is "Diabetes at Every Stage of Life." The World Health Organization emphasizes that the disease affects people of all ages and requires ongoing attention throughout life.

Increase in morbidity

According to the WHO, the prevalence of diabetes continues to rise rapidly, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. From 1990 to 2022, the number of people living with diabetes increased from 200 million to 830 million. In 2022, 14 percent of people over 18 years of age had diabetes, a seven percent increase since 1990. Moreover, more than half (59 percent) of adults over 30 diagnosed with the disease were not taking medication to control the disease. Low- and middle-income countries have the lowest treatment coverage.

Complications of the disease

Diabetes remains a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes, and often leads to lower limb amputations. In 2021, diabetes was the direct cause of 1.6 million deaths, 47 percent of which occurred in people under 70. Another 530,000 deaths were due to diabetes-related kidney disease. High blood sugar accounted for approximately 11 percent of cardiovascular deaths. Overall, diabetes and its related complications are estimated to have killed over two million people in 2021.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes develops either due to insufficient insulin production or the body's inability to effectively utilize it. Long-term hyperglycemia leads to damage to blood vessels and the nervous system. Symptoms can appear suddenly, but in type 2 diabetes, they are often mild, leading to late diagnosis and the development of complications. Type 2 diabetes accounts for over 95 percent of all cases, and is increasingly being diagnosed in children.

Treatment and prevention

The WHO emphasizes that type 2 diabetes can be prevented. A healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking can help prevent or delay the onset of the disease. Early diagnosis and regular medical checkups remain key to preventing severe complications.

The organization reminds that diabetes is controllable. A combination of diet, exercise, medication, and treatment of complications helps slow the progression of the disease. WHO continues to support countries in strengthening prevention and treatment systems, including implementing the Global Pact to End Diabetes and achieving global coverage targets by 2030.

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