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  • 20th internet governance forum kicks off in Norway

    20th internet governance forum kicks off in Norway

    The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, has said that digital cooperation among countries has become an absolute necessity and a shared responsibility for all, stressing the need to bridge the digital divide by expanding affordable and meaningful Internet access to achieve universal connectivity by 2030.

    Speaking in a video message at the opening ceremony of the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) in Lillestrøm, Norway, Guterres pointed to the need to shape the Internet that is rooted in dignity, unity and human rights to build digital governance.

    He stated that this year’s IGF is timely as it would serve as a multi-stakeholder platform for internet governance issues to translate global commitment into concrete actions.

    “As digital risk accelerates, so must we. We must be committed to riding the digital divide by expanding affordable, meaningful internet access to achieve universal connectivity by 2030. There is a need for closing the skills gap, countering online hate speech, promoting information integrity, tolerance and respect, addressing the concentration of digital power and decision making in the hands of a few and fostering greater diversity, transparency and trust in the digital spaces.”

    He urged every participant to join hands to build a digital future that protects, empowers and includes everyone everywhere. 

    Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støne noted that in the face of global turbulence and polarisation, trust in government agencies, media platforms, news and information is strained pointing that the digital realm which was once seen as a symbol nod openness and opportunity is now marked by fragmentation, surveillance, misinformation and disinformation. 

    He said that the internet remains a powerful connector and social actor as it bridges borders, amplifies voices and fuels innovation, urging that the intervention should not be left to be governed by a few actors.

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    “As transformative technologies accelerate like artificial intelligence and quantum computing, we must safeguard the Internet, we must protect it as a public trust, a shared space to remain open, safe and accessible to all for a global public good.

    “The next generation should inherit a digital commons where perspectives are welcomed, ideas are nurtured, and technology serves mankind to the benefit of all. Our task is not only to protect the internet’s infrastructure but to uphold its spirit, which is one of inclusion and powerful innovation”, he said.

    The Norwegian Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance, Karianne Tung, in her welcome address, welcomed everyone to Norway, saying that the country is proud to host the milestone edition of the Internet Governance Forum. 

    She stated that Norway is deeply committed to democratic values, transparency and human rights both online and offline noting that the IGF model is a unique one as multi-stakeholders’ dialogue around internet issues is very important.

    The Minister added that the internet is more than infrastructure and innovation, as it is also about values, respect, shared ambition for a digital future that works for all.

    The Internet Governance Forum is convened by the United Nations Secretary-General and organised by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in collaboration with the Government of Norway. The multi-stakeholder meeting, recognised as the world’s most inclusive platform for digital policy dialogue, takes place from 23 to 27 June.

     The opening in Lillestrøm, Norway, marks two decades of progress in global digital governance and provides a chance to reaffirm shared commitments to an Internet that is open, secure, inclusive, and centred on human dignity and rights.

    The Forum will take place under the theme ‘Building Digital Governance Together’ and will feature over 150 sessions, following four main themes which include digital trust and resilience, sustainable and responsible innovation, universal access and digital rights and digital cooperation.

    The forum brings together more than 8,000 participants from governments, civil society, the private sector, the technical community, and international organizations both in person and online who will examine approaches to building secure, transparent, and rights-respecting digital spaces which is essential for the long-term stability of democratic societies and open economies; and emphasize the importance of ethical standards, regulatory foresight, and sustainable digital development. 

    The Forum will also address policies aimed at closing the digital divide and upholding human rights online, including privacy, freedom of expression, and access to information to promote inclusive digital participation. It provides a platform for participatory digital governance, engaging stakeholders from all regions and backgrounds, including representatives from the Global South, youth, and marginalised communities.

  • Guterres, Pope, others call for diplomacy after U.S. strikes on Iran

    Guterres, Pope, others call for diplomacy after U.S. strikes on Iran

    • •Tehran: America has crossed very big red line

    Several world leaders, including the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Pope Leo XIV and close United States (U.S.) allies yesterday urged a return to the negotiating table in the wake of American strikes on Iran that fueled fears of a wider conflict.

    Some countries and groups in the region, including those that support Iran, condemned the move while also urging de-escalation.

    U.S. President Donald Trump had said Thursday that he would decide within two weeks whether to get involved in Israel’s war with Tehran. In the end, it took just days.

    The United States early yesterday bombed three key Iranian nuclear facilities, including the heavily fortified, underground nuclear enrichment facility at Fordow, the uranium enrichment facility at Natanz, and a third site near Isfahan, where Tehran is believed to be storing nuclear near weapons-grade uranium. “Iran’s key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated,” Trump asserted in an address to the nation.

    While the amount of damage remained unclear, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the U.S. had “crossed a very big red line,” the time for diplomacy was over and Iran had the right to defend itself.

    Araghchi called the American action a “grave violation” of the United Nations Charter in a post on X early Sunday, Tehran time.

    “In accordance with the UN Charter and its provisions permitting legitimate self-defense, Iran reserves all options to protect its sovereignty, interests and people,” he said.

    The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that the United States would come to “deeply regret” the attack.

    But, some have questioned whether a weakened Iran would capitulate or remain defiant and begin striking with allies at U.S. targets scattered across the Gulf region.

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    Israel remains on high alert following the airstrikes by the United States aimed at Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.

    Early yesterday morning, around 30 ballistic missiles were launched by Iranian forces targeting Tel Aviv and the country’s third largest city. Some missiles evaded Israel’s multi-layered air defence system, resulting in significant destruction on the ground.

    Below are reactions from governments and officials around the world:

    United Nations

    Guterres said he was “gravely alarmed” by the use of force by the United States.

    “There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control — with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world,” he said in a statement on the social media platform X. “I call on member states to de-escalate.”

    “There is no military solution. The only path forward is diplomacy.”

    The Vatican

    Pope Leo XIV made a strong appeal for peace during his Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s square, calling for international diplomacy to “silence the weapons.”

    After an open reference to the “alarming” situation in Iran, the first American pontiff stressed that “today more than ever, humanity cries out and invokes peace and it is a cry that demands reason and must not be stifled.”

    Pope Leo urged every member of the international community to take up their moral responsibility to “stop the tragedy of war before it becomes an irreparable abyss.”

    United Kingdom

    British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned of escalation beyond the Middle East as he called for all sides to negotiate a diplomatic end to the crisis, saying stability was the priority in the volatile region.

    The U.K., along with the European Union, France and Germany, tried unsuccessfully to broker a diplomatic solution in Geneva last week with Iran.

    Starmer said Iran’s nuclear programme posed a grave threat to global security.

    “Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon and the U.S. has taken action to alleviate that threat,” Starmer said.

    Russia

    Dmitry Medvedev, who serves as deputy head of President Vladimir Putin’s Security Council, said several countries were prepared to supply Tehran with nuclear weapons.

    He didn’t specify which countries, but said the U.S. attack caused minimal damage and would not stop Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons.

    Russia’s Foreign Ministry said it “strongly condemned” the airstrikes and called them a “a gross violation of international law, the U.N. Charter, and U.N. Security Council resolutions.”

    Iraq

    The Iraqi government condemned the U.S. strikes, saying the military escalation created a grave threat to peace and security in the Middle East. It said it poses serious risks to regional stability and called for diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis.

    Egypt

    President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi warned of “grave repercussions” for expanding the Middle East conflict and urged a return to negotiations.

    Saudi Arabia

    Saudi Arabia, which previously condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leaders, expressed “deep concern” about the U.S. airstrikes, but stopped short of condemning them.

    “The Kingdom underscores the need to exert all possible efforts to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and avoid further escalation,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

    Qatar

    Qatar, which is home to the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, said it “regrets” escalating tensions in the Israel-Iran war.

    Its Foreign Ministry in a statement urged all parties to show restraint and “avoid escalation, which the peoples of the region, burdened by conflicts and their tragic humanitarian repercussions, cannot tolerate.”

    Qatar has served as a key mediator in the Israel-Hamas war.

    Hamas and the Houthis

    Both the Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas condemned the U.S. strikes.

    The Houthi political bureau in a statement called on Muslim nations to join “the Jihad and resistance option as one front against the Zionist-American arrogance.”

    Hamas and the Houthis are part of Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance, a collection of pro-Iranian proxies stretching from Yemen to Lebanon that for years gave the Islamic Republic considerable power across the region.

    Lebanon

    Lebanese President Joseph Aoun said the U.S. bombing could lead to a regional conflict that no country could bear and called for negotiations.

    “Lebanon, its leadership, parties, and people, are aware today, more than ever before, that it has paid a heavy price for the wars that erupted on its land and in the region,” Aoun said in a statement on X. “It is unwilling to pay more.”

    Pakistan

    Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who spoke by phone with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, condemned the U.S. strikes as a “serious violation of international law,” his office said.

    The condemnation comes less than 24 hours after Sharif’s government said on X it was recommending President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role defusing the recent India-Pakistan crisis.

    China

    China condemned U.S. strikes on Iran, calling them a serious violation of international law that further inflamed tensions in the Middle East.

    In a statement, the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged all parties — especially Israel — to implement a cease-fire and begin dialogue.

    “China is willing to work with the international community to pool efforts together and uphold justice, and contribute to the work for restoring peace and stability in the Middle East,” the ministry said.

    European Union

    The European Union’s top diplomat said Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, but she urged those involved in the conflict to show restraint.

    “I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a post on social media.

    Italy

    Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she discussed the worsening crisis with several other members of the Group of Seven leading industrial nations, as well as the Saudi, UAE and Qatari leaders, and all agreed to work toward negotiations to prevent a widening conflict.

    European Council

    President Antonio Costa said he was “deeply alarmed” by the bombings and called on all parties to “show restraint and respect for international law and nuclear safety.”

    “Too many civilians will once again be the victims of a further escalation,” Costa added. “The EU will continue engaging with the parties and our partners to find a peaceful solution at the negotiating table.”

    Netherlands

    Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, whose country is hosting a summit of NATO leaders including Trump tomorrow and Wednesday, said the government’s national security council would meet later to discuss the issue.

    He said the U.S. attacks amounted to “a further escalation of a worrying situation in the Middle East.”