Vietnam has an track record of blocking online content criticizing the one-party state. Now it is proposing to go a step further by blocking the users themselves from accessing the internet.

Vietnam's new measures to block users from accessing the internet

Google plans to invest $1 billion in Africa over the next five years to ensure access to fast and cheaper internet and will back startups to support the continent's digital transformation.

Google to invest $1 billion in Africa over five years

Websites of several international organisations went down for nearly an hour as pages started showing ‘error 503’.

The internet outage affected several international media houses such as The Guardian&nbsp;newspaper,&nbsp;Financial Times&nbsp;of London, The New York Times and&nbsp;CNN international and also attacked the UK government’s website gov.uk and White House’s website.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-global-media-websites-go-down-white-house-uk-govt-sites-go-dark-too-390160">Several global media websites go down; White House, UK govt sites go dark too</a>

Retail shop websites such as Amazon and Target were also hit by the global internet outage.

The outage was reportedly a result of&nbsp;cloud&nbsp;server problem, which was quickly identified and fixed, letting websites function again.

While the companies panicked over this outage, internet users flocked to Twitter to scoop some fun out of this 'catastrophe'.

Here are some of the best picks:

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Internet is going crazy today, GitHub &amp; stackoverflow are down. All developers, I see you crying 😂😂<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GithubDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GithubDown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/stackoverflowdown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#stackoverflowdown</a>
— Yazeed (@iz44_0) <a href="https://twitter.com/iz44_0/status/1402269075590504449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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THE INTERNET IS BROKEEEENNNN! ITS THE APOCALYPSE! <a href="https://t.co/IlOQMgFLxQ">pic.twitter.com/IlOQMgFLxQ</a>
— ~Cake~ (@CCakeroll) <a href="https://twitter.com/CCakeroll/status/1402209123807154178?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Not surprise at all that there was an internet shutdown. 
 
Didn’t happen during the pandemic, but as soon as Covid starts to go away, WHAM! Internet shut down. 
 
And UFO’s! 
 
😂😂😂
— Alletto @PWPNation (@JayAlletto_Wins) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayAlletto_Wins/status/1402269069378822163?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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When you cause half of the internet to go down <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/awkward?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#awkward</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fastly?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fastly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/fastlydown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#fastlydown</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/velezglobal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#velezglobal</a> <a href="https://t.co/M1MAQZJCwG">pic.twitter.com/M1MAQZJCwG</a>
— Velez Managed Services (@VelezGlobal) <a href="https://twitter.com/VelezGlobal/status/1402269538151014407?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Lot of the net just gone down - Le Monde, Times, Atlantic, New Yorker, Independent, Guardian, HMRC. IT'S STARTED. JEFF BEZOS HAS TURNED THE INTERNET OFF BEFORE FLYING OFF TO SPACE. I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) <a href="https://twitter.com/caitlinmoran/status/1402207716949606400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Regular internet users heading to Twitter while half the internet is down <a href="https://t.co/MGZoRYmRXl">pic.twitter.com/MGZoRYmRXl</a>
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) <a href="https://twitter.com/JimMFelton/status/1402204907256623105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Has Piers blamed Meghan yet? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/InternetDown?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#InternetDown</a>
— Otto English (@Otto_English) <a href="https://twitter.com/Otto_English/status/1402213486323814400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 8, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Websites of several international organisations went down for nearly an hour as pages started showing ‘error 503’. The internet outage affected several international media houses such as The Guardian newspaper, Financial Times of London, The New York Times and CNN international and also attacked the UK government’s website gov.

Websites of several international organisations went down for nearly an hour as pages started showing ‘error 503’. The internet outage affected several international media houses such as The Guardian newspaper, Financial Times of London, The New York Times and CNN international and also attacked the UK government’s website gov.uk and White House’s website. Also read | Several global media websites go down; White House, UK govt sites go dark too Retail shop websites such as Amazon and Target were also hit by the global internet outage. The outage was reportedly a result of cloud server problem, which was quickly identified and fixed, letting websites function again. While the companies panicked over this outage, internet users flocked to Twitter to scoop some fun out of this 'catastrophe'. Here are some of the best picks: Internet is going crazy today, GitHub & stackoverflow are down. All developers, I see you crying 😂😂#GithubDown #stackoverflowdown — Yazeed (@iz44_0) June 8, 2021 × THE INTERNET IS BROKEEEENNNN! ITS THE APOCALYPSE! pic.twitter.com/IlOQMgFLxQ — ~Cake~ (@CCakeroll) June 8, 2021 × Not surprise at all that there was an internet shutdown. Didn’t happen during the pandemic, but as soon as Covid starts to go away, WHAM! Internet shut down. And UFO’s! 😂😂😂 — Alletto @PWPNation (@JayAlletto_Wins) June 8, 2021 × When you cause half of the internet to go down #awkward #fastly #fastlydown #velezglobal pic.twitter.com/M1MAQZJCwG — Velez Managed Services (@VelezGlobal) June 8, 2021 × Lot of the net just gone down - Le Monde, Times, Atlantic, New Yorker, Independent, Guardian, HMRC. IT'S STARTED. JEFF BEZOS HAS TURNED THE INTERNET OFF BEFORE FLYING OFF TO SPACE. I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD HAPPEN. — Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) June 8, 2021 × Regular internet users heading to Twitter while half the internet is down pic.twitter.com/MGZoRYmRXl — James Felton (@JimMFelton) June 8, 2021 × Has Piers blamed Meghan yet? #InternetDown — Otto English (@Otto_English) June 8, 2021 ×

'Jeff Bezos, is that you?': Twitter reacts as #InternetDown trends

A United Nations report on Tuesday revealed that two thirds of school-age children do not have access to internet at home.

This is peculiar for the pandemic has pushed children to study exclusively at home. The UN estimates that 1.3 billion children aged between 3-17 have no access to internet at their homes.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-plus-united-nations-a-redundant-body-330503/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The report was jointly prepared by the United Nations Children’s Fun (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Additionally, youths aged between 15-24 also had limited access to internet. 63 per cent of them remain unconnected at home.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/how-china-is-stonewalling-reforms-at-united-nations-security-council-343771" hreflang="en">How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council</a>

"That so many children and young people have no internet at home is more than a digital gap, it is a digital canyon," UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in a statement.

She added that the lack of internet connectivity halts youngsters from “competing in the modern economy”, and that “it isolates them from the world”.

Fore said that the findings are alarming especially due to the current situation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced millions of students to switch to virtual learning.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/full-scale-humanitarian-crisis-unfolding-in-ethiopia-united-nations-343745" hreflang="en">Full-scale humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ethiopia: United Nations</a>

"Put bluntly: Lack of internet access is costing the next generation their futures”, she said.

Additionally, the report claimed that how this trend had been in motion way before the pandemic and that the coronavirus crisis has further deepened the divide between kids from poor households unable to catch up with others.

A United Nations report on Tuesday revealed that two thirds of school-age children do not have access to internet at home. This is peculiar for the pandemic has pushed children to study exclusively at home.

A United Nations report on Tuesday revealed that two thirds of school-age children do not have access to internet at home. This is peculiar for the pandemic has pushed children to study exclusively at home. The UN estimates that 1.3 billion children aged between 3-17 have no access to internet at their homes. The report was jointly prepared by the United Nations Children’s Fun (UNICEF) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Additionally, youths aged between 15-24 also had limited access to internet. 63 per cent of them remain unconnected at home. Also read: How China is stonewalling reforms at United Nations Security Council "That so many children and young people have no internet at home is more than a digital gap, it is a digital canyon," UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said in a statement. She added that the lack of internet connectivity halts youngsters from “competing in the modern economy”, and that “it isolates them from the world”. Fore said that the findings are alarming especially due to the current situation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced millions of students to switch to virtual learning. Also read: Full-scale humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ethiopia: United Nations "Put bluntly: Lack of internet access is costing the next generation their futures”, she said. Additionally, the report claimed that how this trend had been in motion way before the pandemic and that the coronavirus crisis has further deepened the divide between kids from poor households unable to catch up with others.

1.3 billion children across the globe don't have access to internet, finds report

SpaceX launched a beta version of its&nbsp;Starlink satellite internet on October 26, and people have been surprised with the current download speed as beta users observed download speed between 160-174 megabits per second.

Beta users were asked to pay a fee of&nbsp;$600 upfront to get the internet which Musk announced as "Better Than Nothing Beta". However, Musk had tried to downplay his hand and said the internet would provide&nbsp;download speeds between 50 to 150 Mbps. However, the download speeds have surprised the users.

Starlink will be using nearly 900 satellites to beam the internet down to earth. After the users started sharing screenshots of the download speed, SpaceX said they deliberately wanted to "lower your initial expectations" to make sure no disappointment came their way when the users started beta testing.

Some users, however, have also shared their experiences where the downloads paused for a few seconds and even the internet service gets completely disrupted for brief periods and some said the disruption may be as there are a&nbsp;couple of trees in the way. However, Starlink still remains one of the fastest internet service providers in the US with&nbsp;steady high speeds.

Many users are now hailing the new internet system, while some have complained about the cost involved in the same. The beta version is available $99 a month but there are additional costs involved which totals to&nbsp;$499 for a kit with a tripod, a WiFi router, and a terminal to connect to Starlink satellites. While some are unhappy with the massive cost, some are saying they will be happy to pay even more if the speed remains either the same or increases, especially now as majority people are working from home.

Users are now urging each other to share their screenshots after a few days to test whether or not SpaceX will be able to maintain the quality of the service they have started to provide.

SpaceX launched a beta version of its Starlink satellite internet on October 26, and people have been surprised with the current download speed as beta users observed download speed between 160-174 megabits per second.

SpaceX launched a beta version of its Starlink satellite internet on October 26, and people have been surprised with the current download speed as beta users observed download speed between 160-174 megabits per second. Beta users were asked to pay a fee of $600 upfront to get the internet which Musk announced as "Better Than Nothing Beta". However, Musk had tried to downplay his hand and said the internet would provide download speeds between 50 to 150 Mbps. However, the download speeds have surprised the users. Starlink will be using nearly 900 satellites to beam the internet down to earth. After the users started sharing screenshots of the download speed, SpaceX said they deliberately wanted to "lower your initial expectations" to make sure no disappointment came their way when the users started beta testing. Some users, however, have also shared their experiences where the downloads paused for a few seconds and even the internet service gets completely disrupted for brief periods and some said the disruption may be as there are a couple of trees in the way. However, Starlink still remains one of the fastest internet service providers in the US with steady high speeds. Many users are now hailing the new internet system, while some have complained about the cost involved in the same. The beta version is available $99 a month but there are additional costs involved which totals to $499 for a kit with a tripod, a WiFi router, and a terminal to connect to Starlink satellites. While some are unhappy with the massive cost, some are saying they will be happy to pay even more if the speed remains either the same or increases, especially now as majority people are working from home. Users are now urging each other to share their screenshots after a few days to test whether or not SpaceX will be able to maintain the quality of the service they have started to provide.

Elon Musk's SpaceX Starlink internet surprises users with 174 Mbps download speed

After facing backlash over his comments on internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat issued an apology on Sunday and said that his remark had been misquoted.&nbsp;

"I have been quoted out of context. If this misquotation has hurt the feelings of the people of Kashmir, I apologise," he said today.&nbsp;

Saraswat on Saturday had said that snapping of internet services in Jammu and Kashmir does not make any difference. "What do you watch on the internet there? Besides watching dirty films, you do nothing," he had said.&nbsp;

Saraswat's was slammed on social media with many asking for an apology.&nbsp;

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NITI Aayog's VK Saraswat: I have been quoted out of context. If this misquotation has hurt the feelings of the people of Kashmir, I apologise and would not like them to carry this impression that I am against the rights of the Kashmiris to have internet access. <a href="https://t.co/8bwfkBGk6i">https://t.co/8bwfkBGk6i</a> <a href="https://t.co/jwvHaDPVg1">pic.twitter.com/jwvHaDPVg1</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1218850529670942720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 19, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-review-on-all-restrictive-orders-in-jammu-and-kashmir-after-article-370-abrogation-273307">Supreme Court orders review on all restrictive orders in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370 abrogation</a>

"...They (politicians) use social media to fuel protests. What difference does it make if there’s no internet in Kashmir? What do you watch on the internet there? What e-tailing is happening? Besides watching dirty films, you do nothing," he had said.&nbsp;

Saraswat today clarified that he does not want anyone to think that he is against the rights of the people of Kashmir to have access to the internet.&nbsp;

Jammu and Kashmir Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal on Saturday said that voice and SMS services on all local prepaid SIM cards shall be restored across Jammu and Kashmir, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

"2G mobile data on postpaid mobile for accessing white-listed websites shall be allowed in all 10 districts of Jammu and Kupwara, Bandipora in Kashmir division. Mobile internet shall remain suspended in Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Srinagar, Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama," Kansal told media today during a press conference.&nbsp;

Telecom services were snapped in Jammu and Kashmir last year in August after the abrogation of Article 370.&nbsp;

Earlier this week, restrictions on the internet services in parts of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/broadband-and-mobile-internet-services-partially-restored-in-jammu-kashmir-274350">Jammu and Kashmir were lifted in five districts</a>.

Access to the internet was said to be granted to institutions catering to duties and websites of the government such as the banking firms.

The move came after the Supreme Court, earlier this month, directed the administration to review within a week all telecom restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir.&nbsp;

After facing backlash over his comments on internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat issued an apology on Sunday and said that his remark had been misquoted.

After facing backlash over his comments on internet services in Jammu and Kashmir, NITI Aayog member VK Saraswat issued an apology on Sunday and said that his remark had been misquoted. "I have been quoted out of context. If this misquotation has hurt the feelings of the people of Kashmir, I apologise," he said today. Saraswat on Saturday had said that snapping of internet services in Jammu and Kashmir does not make any difference. "What do you watch on the internet there? Besides watching dirty films, you do nothing," he had said. Saraswat's was slammed on social media with many asking for an apology. NITI Aayog's VK Saraswat: I have been quoted out of context. If this misquotation has hurt the feelings of the people of Kashmir, I apologise and would not like them to carry this impression that I am against the rights of the Kashmiris to have internet access. https://t.co/8bwfkBGk6i pic.twitter.com/jwvHaDPVg1 — ANI (@ANI) January 19, 2020 × Also read: Supreme Court orders review on all restrictive orders in Jammu and Kashmir after Article 370 abrogation "...They (politicians) use social media to fuel protests. What difference does it make if there’s no internet in Kashmir? What do you watch on the internet there? What e-tailing is happening? Besides watching dirty films, you do nothing," he had said. Saraswat today clarified that he does not want anyone to think that he is against the rights of the people of Kashmir to have access to the internet. Jammu and Kashmir Principal Secretary Rohit Kansal on Saturday said that voice and SMS services on all local prepaid SIM cards shall be restored across Jammu and Kashmir, news agency ANI reported. "2G mobile data on postpaid mobile for accessing white-listed websites shall be allowed in all 10 districts of Jammu and Kupwara, Bandipora in Kashmir division. Mobile internet shall remain suspended in Budgam, Ganderbal, Baramulla, Srinagar, Kulgam, Anantnag, Shopian and Pulwama," Kansal told media today during a press conference. Telecom services were snapped in Jammu and Kashmir last year in August after the abrogation of Article 370. Earlier this week, restrictions on the internet services in parts of Jammu and Kashmir were lifted in five districts. Access to the internet was said to be granted to institutions catering to duties and websites of the government such as the banking firms. The move came after the Supreme Court, earlier this month, directed the administration to review within a week all telecom restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir.

Not against rights of Kashmiris to have internet access: NITI Aayog's VK Saraswat clarifies after sparking controversy

Following a Constitutional Court ruling citing the violation of Freedom of Expression, Turkey restored access to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia two years after it was blocked.

The ban was challenged In the detailed ruling published in the Official Gazette.

Wikipedia was banned in Turkey in April 2017 for the country was accused of having links with terrorist organisations. The Wikimedia Foundation had refused to remove articles that accused the Turkish government of working with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Syria.

The website will become accessible in the country shortly after the ruling was passed by a 10-to-six majority in the court.&nbsp;

<h6><img alt="Wikipedia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fd4086ab-da5b-4b46-afc7-2c37ae3ad8b7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_33.jpg" /> 
Image: This picture of a computer screen taken in Hong Kong on January 18, 2012 shows homepages of the Wikipedia website | AFP</h6>

&nbsp;

''We are thrilled that the people of Turkey will once again be able to participate in the largest global conversation about the culture and history of Turkey online and continue to make Wikipedia a vibrant source of information about Turkey and the world'', the foundation said in a statement.

The Wikimedia Foundation, the parent non-profit organisation of Wikipedia, had reached out to Turkey's highest court challenging the ban.

The organisation had refused to delete articles that were critical of the country's government, triggering a ban.

''Wikipedia is a global free knowledge resource written and edited by people around the world. Because of this open editing model, Wikipedia is also a resource everyone can be a part of actively shaping,&nbsp;adding knowledge about their culture, country, interests, studies, and more through Wikipedia’s articles'', the statement added.

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BREAKING NEWS: After a more than two-and-a-half year block, access to <a href="https://twitter.com/Wikipedia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wikipedia</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Turkey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Turkey</a> has been restored! It's one of the best birthday gifts we could have received, and we're thrilled to finally <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WelcomeBackTurkey?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WelcomeBackTurkey</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WikipediaDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WikipediaDay</a> (1/3) <a href="https://t.co/TTe9Hd93aU">https://t.co/TTe9Hd93aU</a>
— Wikimedia (@Wikimedia) <a href="https://twitter.com/Wikimedia/status/1217614734645694464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The ban, which lasted for 991 days, is now running out.

According to the Wikimedia Foundation, the website can already be accessed in several parts of the country, depending on the location.

The community-based encyclopedia has faced censorship by regimes across the world and continues to remain blocked in countries like China.

<h6><img alt="Wikipedia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b99d0d51-9f29-4a5a-958e-88331be1c6bb" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_44.jpg" /> 
Image: The online encyclopedia Wikipedia is viewed on January 17, 2012 in Washington, DC | AFP</h6>

&nbsp;

The ban on Wikipedia, which was referred to as an ''administrative measure'' was enforced abruptly. The Turkish government also has a history of restricting access to social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter.

To bypass a ban of this nature, users have to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-has-wikipedia-changed-our-lives-274429">Wikipedia turns 15: How it changed our lives &amp; the world</a>

(With inputs from Reuters)

Following a Constitutional Court ruling citing the violation of Freedom of Expression, Turkey restored access to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia two years after it was blocked.

Following a Constitutional Court ruling citing the violation of Freedom of Expression, Turkey restored access to Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia two years after it was blocked. The ban was challenged In the detailed ruling published in the Official Gazette. Wikipedia was banned in Turkey in April 2017 for the country was accused of having links with terrorist organisations. The Wikimedia Foundation had refused to remove articles that accused the Turkish government of working with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda in Syria. The website will become accessible in the country shortly after the ruling was passed by a 10-to-six majority in the court. Image: This picture of a computer screen taken in Hong Kong on January 18, 2012 shows homepages of the Wikipedia website | AFP ''We are thrilled that the people of Turkey will once again be able to participate in the largest global conversation about the culture and history of Turkey online and continue to make Wikipedia a vibrant source of information about Turkey and the world'', the foundation said in a statement. The Wikimedia Foundation, the parent non-profit organisation of Wikipedia, had reached out to Turkey's highest court challenging the ban. The organisation had refused to delete articles that were critical of the country's government, triggering a ban. ''Wikipedia is a global free knowledge resource written and edited by people around the world. Because of this open editing model, Wikipedia is also a resource everyone can be a part of actively shaping, adding knowledge about their culture, country, interests, studies, and more through Wikipedia’s articles'', the statement added. BREAKING NEWS: After a more than two-and-a-half year block, access to @Wikipedia in #Turkey has been restored! It's one of the best birthday gifts we could have received, and we're thrilled to finally #WelcomeBackTurkey! #WikipediaDay (1/3) https://t.co/TTe9Hd93aU — Wikimedia (@Wikimedia) January 16, 2020 × The ban, which lasted for 991 days, is now running out. According to the Wikimedia Foundation, the website can already be accessed in several parts of the country, depending on the location. The community-based encyclopedia has faced censorship by regimes across the world and continues to remain blocked in countries like China. Image: The online encyclopedia Wikipedia is viewed on January 17, 2012 in Washington, DC | AFP The ban on Wikipedia, which was referred to as an ''administrative measure'' was enforced abruptly. The Turkish government also has a history of restricting access to social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter. To bypass a ban of this nature, users have to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). Also read: Wikipedia turns 15: How it changed our lives & the world (With inputs from Reuters)

Turkey lifts ban on world's largest encyclopedia after two years

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/jaishankar-meets-iranian-president-hassan-rouhani-discusses-progress-in-india-iran-bilateral-ties-269834">Iran</a>'s authorities have restricted mobile&nbsp;internet&nbsp;access in several provinces, an&nbsp;Iranian&nbsp;news agency reported on Wednesday, a day&nbsp;before&nbsp;new&nbsp;protests&nbsp;were expected to kick-off following calls for demonstrations on social media.

Social media posts, along with some relatives of people killed in unrest last month, have called for renewed&nbsp;protests&nbsp;and for ceremonies to commemorate the dead to be held on Thursday.

State media, meanwhile, said intelligence ministry agents had seized a cache of 126 mostly US-made guns smuggled to the central city of Isfahan from abroad.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/protests-in-iran-seen-as-a-consipiracy-to-destabilise-current-political-regime-266160">protests</a>&nbsp;were initially sparked in November by hikes in gasoline prices but demonstrators quickly expanded their demands to cover calls for more political freedom and other issues.

The government, which launched the bloodiest crackdown on demonstrators in the 40-year history of the Islamic Republic, blamed foreign enemies for stoking tensions.

An official denied any order by the authorities to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/3-reportedly-killed-in-ongoing-protests-in-iran-government-blocks-internet-28144">block the&nbsp;internet</a>, which was shut down for about a week in the November unrest. A&nbsp;news agency also cited mobile operators saying their services had not been disrupted.

The semi-official&nbsp;news agency ILNA quoted an informed source at the Communications and Information Technology Ministry as saying mobile&nbsp;internet&nbsp;access to overseas sites was blocked by "security authorities" in Alborz, Kurdestan and Zanjan provinces in central and western&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;and Fars in the south.

"According to this source, it is&nbsp;possible&nbsp;that more provinces will be affected by the shutdown of mobile international connectivity," ILNA said.

Internet&nbsp;blockage observatory NetBlocks said on Twitter: "Confirmed: Evidence of mobile&nbsp;internet&nbsp;disruption in parts of #Iran&nbsp;...real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid&nbsp;reports&nbsp;of regional outages; incident ongoing."

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Confirmed: Evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a> beginning ~6:30 a.m. (03:00 UTC); real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid reports of regional outages; incident ongoing 📉 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Internet4Iran?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Internet4Iran</a> 
 
📰<a href="https://t.co/BNTPP9wEyt">https://t.co/BNTPP9wEyt</a> <a href="https://t.co/1l1ZkLnQKJ">pic.twitter.com/1l1ZkLnQKJ</a>
— NetBlocks.org (@netblocks) <a href="https://twitter.com/netblocks/status/1209796588324958208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 25, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The shutdown appeared to be spreading.

"I just checked myself and asked a friend, and the&nbsp;internet&nbsp;is off on our mobiles," a resident in Ahvaz, the capital of the oil producing <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-oil-field-adds-222-billion-barrels-with-current-technology-iran-261333">Khuzestan</a> province, told sources.

But a communications ministry spokesman denied there was an order to shut down the&nbsp;internet. "No such order has been issued by the judiciary or other relevant authorities. The Fake&nbsp;News are at work," Jamal Hadian said in a Twitter post.

Iran's three mobile operators also denied experiencing any&nbsp;internet&nbsp;disruptions, the local sources reported.

In <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tehran-air-pollution-forces-week-long-school-closure-269782">Alborz</a> province, one of the areas affected by the shutdown, authorities this week arrested the parents of a young man who was shot dead during the&nbsp;protests, after pressuring them to call off a commemoration for their son scheduled for Thursday, citing concerns it could create unrest.

The weapons seized in Isfahan included assault rifles, handguns and pellet guns, the state&nbsp;news agency IRNA said. "Most of the weapons carry USA badges and are American-made," it added.

The&nbsp;internet&nbsp;blockage made it difficult for protesters to post videos on social media to generate support and also to obtain reliable&nbsp;reports&nbsp;on the extent of the unrest.

Security forces have been on alert for any events that could spark more unrest after 1,500 people were killed in less than two weeks after&nbsp;protests&nbsp;erupted on November&nbsp;15, according to reports.

That figure is much higher than estimates by international human rights groups and was also dismissed as "fake&nbsp;news" by a spokesman for&nbsp;Iran's top state security body.

The United States imposed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-unveils-development-at-arak-reactor-amid-us-sanctions-pressure-269852">sanctions</a> on&nbsp;Iran's communications minister last month for his role in "widescale&nbsp;internet&nbsp;censorship," a reference to the nationwide shutdown.

Iran&nbsp;has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and foreign foes - the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-he-and-xi-jinping-will-sign-china-trade-deal-270340">United States</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-launches-air-strikes-on-gaza-after-rocket-attack-270314">Israel</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-will-seek-accountability-on-khashoggi-no-matter-how-high-it-goes-270052">Saudi Arabia</a> - for stirring up unrest through social media.

During the&nbsp;protests, hundreds of banks and public buildings were attacked and damaged.

Iran's authorities have restricted mobile internet access in several provinces, an Iranian news agency reported on Wednesday, a day before new protests were expected to kick-off following calls for demonstrations on social media.

Iran's authorities have restricted mobile internet access in several provinces, an Iranian news agency reported on Wednesday, a day before new protests were expected to kick-off following calls for demonstrations on social media. Social media posts, along with some relatives of people killed in unrest last month, have called for renewed protests and for ceremonies to commemorate the dead to be held on Thursday. State media, meanwhile, said intelligence ministry agents had seized a cache of 126 mostly US-made guns smuggled to the central city of Isfahan from abroad. The protests were initially sparked in November by hikes in gasoline prices but demonstrators quickly expanded their demands to cover calls for more political freedom and other issues. The government, which launched the bloodiest crackdown on demonstrators in the 40-year history of the Islamic Republic, blamed foreign enemies for stoking tensions. An official denied any order by the authorities to block the internet, which was shut down for about a week in the November unrest. A news agency also cited mobile operators saying their services had not been disrupted. The semi-official news agency ILNA quoted an informed source at the Communications and Information Technology Ministry as saying mobile internet access to overseas sites was blocked by "security authorities" in Alborz, Kurdestan and Zanjan provinces in central and western Iran and Fars in the south. "According to this source, it is possible that more provinces will be affected by the shutdown of mobile international connectivity," ILNA said. Internet blockage observatory NetBlocks said on Twitter: "Confirmed: Evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of #Iran ...real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid reports of regional outages; incident ongoing." Confirmed: Evidence of mobile internet disruption in parts of #Iran beginning ~6:30 a.m. (03:00 UTC); real-time network data show two distinct drops in connectivity this morning amid reports of regional outages; incident ongoing 📉 #Internet4Iran 📰https://t.co/BNTPP9wEyt pic.twitter.com/1l1ZkLnQKJ — NetBlocks.org (@netblocks) December 25, 2019 × The shutdown appeared to be spreading. "I just checked myself and asked a friend, and the internet is off on our mobiles," a resident in Ahvaz, the capital of the oil producing Khuzestan province, told sources. But a communications ministry spokesman denied there was an order to shut down the internet. "No such order has been issued by the judiciary or other relevant authorities. The Fake News are at work," Jamal Hadian said in a Twitter post. Iran's three mobile operators also denied experiencing any internet disruptions, the local sources reported. In Alborz province, one of the areas affected by the shutdown, authorities this week arrested the parents of a young man who was shot dead during the protests, after pressuring them to call off a commemoration for their son scheduled for Thursday, citing concerns it could create unrest. The weapons seized in Isfahan included assault rifles, handguns and pellet guns, the state news agency IRNA said. "Most of the weapons carry USA badges and are American-made," it added. The internet blockage made it difficult for protesters to post videos on social media to generate support and also to obtain reliable reports on the extent of the unrest. Security forces have been on alert for any events that could spark more unrest after 1,500 people were killed in less than two weeks after protests erupted on November 15, according to reports. That figure is much higher than estimates by international human rights groups and was also dismissed as "fake news" by a spokesman for Iran's top state security body. The United States imposed sanctions on Iran's communications minister last month for his role in "widescale internet censorship," a reference to the nationwide shutdown. Iran has blamed "thugs" linked to exiles and foreign foes - the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia - for stirring up unrest through social media. During the protests, hundreds of banks and public buildings were attacked and damaged.

Iran curbs internet before possible new protests: Reports

Cybersecurity. A term almost all have heard about but can’t exactly grasp the holistic meaning of. Cybersecurity refers to the technologies and processes made to protect networks and devices from attack, damage and/or unauthorised access. A simple analogy; no cybersecurity is like having all of your valuables in a house that has no doors or windows. Why is cybersecurity of utmost importance to India? According to a 2019 report, India was ranked among one of the most cyber-attacked countries in the world. Approximately 15 per cent of India’s economy is the digital economy and that percentage is on the rise. The nation is also home to over 100 data clouds and centres. Consequently, India’s cybersecurity policy needs an upgrade and resilience to cyberthreat needs to be implemented at the earliest.&nbsp;

With the average Indian consuming up to 20 gigabits of data annually, exponential increase in smartphone usage and the upcoming introduction of 5G, individual data protection becomes an essential part of every citizen’s fundamental right. Furthermore, Indian firms, especially startups, are incorporating more of machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics and cloud computing in their everyday functions. As the recent WhatsApp hack on prominent journalists and the cyber attack on the Kudankulam nuclear plant illustrates, all sectors face persistent and serious threats to India’s security. Incidents can include data leaks, malware, terrorist-driven activity, the spread of extremism, illicit trafficking and radicalisation. Action needs to be taken. This can be done in several ways.&nbsp;

First, a governmental governing body needs to make a comprehensive assessment needs of India’s current cybersecurity across sectors from the individual level to an MNC level. The good news is that India already has existing cybersecurity projects like the National Cyber Coordination Centre and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre. Such agencies can be strengthened and should take the lead on conducting and completing this assessment. It is only upon the completion of the assessment, effective policy can be crafted that solves for loopholes and threats currently faced.&nbsp;

Second, India should create a cybersecurity strategy with the vision of cyber-resilience for the public sector, the private sector, the government and the individual. Rather than just outlining strategy, this document should include approaches to managing threats and directions for safeguarding against cyber attacks. It is crucial that this strategy educates on types of cyber threats/attacks and includes action steps to prevent and solve cyberattacks.&nbsp;

Another important thing to look at is global regulation. External affairs minister S Jaishankar regularly speaks on the importance of cybersecurity for India. At a recent conference in Paris, Jaishankar stressed that multilateralism is needed to come to a global understanding and regulation of cyberspace. Think about it. Cyberspace and digital technology today drives growth in every way; economically, socially and politically. Moreover, though cyber and digital function through national boundaries, they are borderless by design. And in India, digital and cyber technology drives large-scale development programs (ie. Digital India). Such programs are key to effective governance, the economy and Indian innovation. Therefore, India needs to lead in the forefront of the international effort to coordinate the prevention from digital terrorism.&nbsp;

India needs to go into active mission mode on cybersecurity. Otherwise, it’s not just the data privacy of the individual citizen or a business firm that will be compromised. Weak resilience against cybersecurity will significantly impede economic, and infrastructural growth. For example, positive schemes that have shown massive success like Aadhar (unique biometric ID), Jan Dhan bank accounts and internet connectivity will be stunted without resilience to cyberthreats. The impact? Stunted national development. The recent attack on our nuclear plant proves that strong resilience is also needed to protect national interests. Cyberwar is well on its way to becoming a real thing in the international arena with many actors throwing their weight. If India does not become proactive now, consider our influence in the global arena gone for good.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;

Cybersecurity. A term almost all have heard about but can’t exactly grasp the holistic meaning of. Cybersecurity refers to the technologies and processes made to protect networks and devices from attack, damage and/or unauthorised access.

Cybersecurity. A term almost all have heard about but can’t exactly grasp the holistic meaning of. Cybersecurity refers to the technologies and processes made to protect networks and devices from attack, damage and/or unauthorised access. A simple analogy; no cybersecurity is like having all of your valuables in a house that has no doors or windows. Why is cybersecurity of utmost importance to India? According to a 2019 report, India was ranked among one of the most cyber-attacked countries in the world. Approximately 15 per cent of India’s economy is the digital economy and that percentage is on the rise. The nation is also home to over 100 data clouds and centres. Consequently, India’s cybersecurity policy needs an upgrade and resilience to cyberthreat needs to be implemented at the earliest. With the average Indian consuming up to 20 gigabits of data annually, exponential increase in smartphone usage and the upcoming introduction of 5G, individual data protection becomes an essential part of every citizen’s fundamental right. Furthermore, Indian firms, especially startups, are incorporating more of machine learning, artificial intelligence, data analytics and cloud computing in their everyday functions. As the recent WhatsApp hack on prominent journalists and the cyber attack on the Kudankulam nuclear plant illustrates, all sectors face persistent and serious threats to India’s security. Incidents can include data leaks, malware, terrorist-driven activity, the spread of extremism, illicit trafficking and radicalisation. Action needs to be taken. This can be done in several ways. First, a governmental governing body needs to make a comprehensive assessment needs of India’s current cybersecurity across sectors from the individual level to an MNC level. The good news is that India already has existing cybersecurity projects like the National Cyber Coordination Centre and the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre. Such agencies can be strengthened and should take the lead on conducting and completing this assessment. It is only upon the completion of the assessment, effective policy can be crafted that solves for loopholes and threats currently faced. Second, India should create a cybersecurity strategy with the vision of cyber-resilience for the public sector, the private sector, the government and the individual. Rather than just outlining strategy, this document should include approaches to managing threats and directions for safeguarding against cyber attacks. It is crucial that this strategy educates on types of cyber threats/attacks and includes action steps to prevent and solve cyberattacks. Another important thing to look at is global regulation. External affairs minister S Jaishankar regularly speaks on the importance of cybersecurity for India. At a recent conference in Paris, Jaishankar stressed that multilateralism is needed to come to a global understanding and regulation of cyberspace. Think about it. Cyberspace and digital technology today drives growth in every way; economically, socially and politically. Moreover, though cyber and digital function through national boundaries, they are borderless by design. And in India, digital and cyber technology drives large-scale development programs (ie. Digital India). Such programs are key to effective governance, the economy and Indian innovation. Therefore, India needs to lead in the forefront of the international effort to coordinate the prevention from digital terrorism. India needs to go into active mission mode on cybersecurity. Otherwise, it’s not just the data privacy of the individual citizen or a business firm that will be compromised. Weak resilience against cybersecurity will significantly impede economic, and infrastructural growth. For example, positive schemes that have shown massive success like Aadhar (unique biometric ID), Jan Dhan bank accounts and internet connectivity will be stunted without resilience to cyberthreats. The impact? Stunted national development. The recent attack on our nuclear plant proves that strong resilience is also needed to protect national interests. Cyberwar is well on its way to becoming a real thing in the international arena with many actors throwing their weight. If India does not become proactive now, consider our influence in the global arena gone for good. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Cyberwar is a thing. It's about time India prepare itself

China&nbsp;officially started the commercialisation of&nbsp;5G&nbsp;services on Thursday, with the country's three major telecom operators rolling out their&nbsp;5G&nbsp;data plans, according to information released at PT Expo&nbsp;China&nbsp;2019.

Consumers can pay to access the superfast speed of&nbsp;5G&nbsp;starting from Friday.

The three telecom operators,&nbsp;China&nbsp;Mobile,&nbsp;China&nbsp;Unicom and&nbsp;China&nbsp;Telecom, have already pushed&nbsp;5G&nbsp;preregistration with plentiful discounts and free&nbsp;5G&nbsp;data allowance and managed to attract interest from more than 10 million subscribers after they were granted commercial-use licenses for the superfast wireless technology in early June.

Asia's leading information and communications technology (ICT) event, PT Expo&nbsp;China&nbsp;2019, scheduled from Thursday to Sunday, is expected to highlight&nbsp;5G&nbsp;applications in various industries.

China officially started the commercialisation of 5G services on Thursday, with the country's three major telecom operators rolling out their 5G data plans, according to information released at PT Expo China 2019.

China officially started the commercialisation of 5G services on Thursday, with the country's three major telecom operators rolling out their 5G data plans, according to information released at PT Expo China 2019. Consumers can pay to access the superfast speed of 5G starting from Friday. The three telecom operators, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, have already pushed 5G preregistration with plentiful discounts and free 5G data allowance and managed to attract interest from more than 10 million subscribers after they were granted commercial-use licenses for the superfast wireless technology in early June. Asia's leading information and communications technology (ICT) event, PT Expo China 2019, scheduled from Thursday to Sunday, is expected to highlight 5G applications in various industries.

China's three major telecom operators kick off 5G commercialisation

China's "Great Firewall" system of online censorship blocks domestic access to nearly a quarter of the foreign news organisations accredited to report in the country, a press watchdog said Tuesday.

Beijing bars its citizens from accessing the publicly available websites of 23 per cent of 215 international news organisations that have journalists based in China, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) said in a statement.

Thirty-one per cent of news organisations that publish primarily in English, the most widely spoken foreign language in China, are blocked, the FCCC said in a statement.

The numbers were determined via an analysis by the press club and GreatFire.org, which tracks Chinese online censorship.

The statement was released on the final day of the China-organised sixth annual World Internet Conference in the eastern city of Wuzhen, which the ruling Communist Party uses to further its argument that governments should be able to police their own online turf.

"China's internet controls have been used to block a growing list of global news sources," the FCCC said.

"Those digital blocks run counter to the ethos of internet openness, and prevent Chinese access to valuable sources of independent reporting on international matters, as well as China's own domestic affairs."

The blocked sites include the BBC, Bloomberg, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Yomiuri Shimbun and many others, it said.

The FCCC said according to the government 536 foreign journalists have accreditation to report in China.

The so-called "Great Firewall" is considered the world's biggest and most sophisticated censorship apparatus.

It blocks a slew of foreign sites including Facebook and Twitter, and Google shut down its search engine in China in 2010, refusing Beijing's requirement to censor search results.

China's "Great Firewall" system of online censorship blocks domestic access to nearly a quarter of the foreign news organisations accredited to report in the country, a press watchdog said Tuesday.

China's "Great Firewall" system of online censorship blocks domestic access to nearly a quarter of the foreign news organisations accredited to report in the country, a press watchdog said Tuesday. Beijing bars its citizens from accessing the publicly available websites of 23 per cent of 215 international news organisations that have journalists based in China, the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China (FCCC) said in a statement. Thirty-one per cent of news organisations that publish primarily in English, the most widely spoken foreign language in China, are blocked, the FCCC said in a statement. The numbers were determined via an analysis by the press club and GreatFire.org, which tracks Chinese online censorship. The statement was released on the final day of the China-organised sixth annual World Internet Conference in the eastern city of Wuzhen, which the ruling Communist Party uses to further its argument that governments should be able to police their own online turf. "China's internet controls have been used to block a growing list of global news sources," the FCCC said. "Those digital blocks run counter to the ethos of internet openness, and prevent Chinese access to valuable sources of independent reporting on international matters, as well as China's own domestic affairs." The blocked sites include the BBC, Bloomberg, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Yomiuri Shimbun and many others, it said. The FCCC said according to the government 536 foreign journalists have accreditation to report in China. The so-called "Great Firewall" is considered the world's biggest and most sophisticated censorship apparatus. It blocks a slew of foreign sites including Facebook and Twitter, and Google shut down its search engine in China in 2010, refusing Beijing's requirement to censor search results.

China blocks almost a quarter of accredited foreign news sites: Watchdog

&nbsp;A group of pro-Kremlin lawmakers has drafted legislation that would allow authorities to block individual e-mail or online messenger users who circulate banned content.

The bill is likely to alarm advocates of internet freedoms, but the lawmakers say the legislation is needed to combat a wave of hoax bomb threats that have been sporadically called in across the country in recent years.

Under the proposed legislation, Internet companies would be required within 24 hours to block individual users who circulate illegal content if the Roskomnadzor state communications watchdog asks the companies to do so.

Companies that fail to comply would face a fine of 1 million roubles.

"In practice, it is efficient to completely block a user, not the individual messages sent by them," said Andrey Klishas, one of the lawmakers who drafted the bill.

Russian internet search company Yandex and Google declined to comment. Representatives of Facebook, Viber and Mail.ru Group have not yet responded to a Reuters request for comment.

Over the past five years, Russia has introduced tougher laws that require search engines to delete some search results, oblige messaging services to share encryption keys with security services, and make social networks store Russian users' personal data on servers within the country.

The Kremlin says it is trying to protect the integrity of the internet's Russian-language segment. The Kremlin's opponents fear the authorities are using security as a pretext to ramp up surveillance online.

To become law, the bill must be approved in three votes in the lower house of parliament before it is sent for approval in the upper house and then signed by President Vladimir Putin.

The bill can still be amended, but is likely to pass. Other bills tightening controls of the internet have been signed into law in Russia despite opposition from activists and industry lobbyists.

A group of pro-Kremlin lawmakers has drafted legislation that would allow authorities to block individual e-mail or online messenger users who circulate banned content.

A group of pro-Kremlin lawmakers has drafted legislation that would allow authorities to block individual e-mail or online messenger users who circulate banned content. The bill is likely to alarm advocates of internet freedoms, but the lawmakers say the legislation is needed to combat a wave of hoax bomb threats that have been sporadically called in across the country in recent years. Under the proposed legislation, Internet companies would be required within 24 hours to block individual users who circulate illegal content if the Roskomnadzor state communications watchdog asks the companies to do so. Companies that fail to comply would face a fine of 1 million roubles. "In practice, it is efficient to completely block a user, not the individual messages sent by them," said Andrey Klishas, one of the lawmakers who drafted the bill. Russian internet search company Yandex and Google declined to comment. Representatives of Facebook, Viber and Mail.ru Group have not yet responded to a Reuters request for comment. Over the past five years, Russia has introduced tougher laws that require search engines to delete some search results, oblige messaging services to share encryption keys with security services, and make social networks store Russian users' personal data on servers within the country. The Kremlin says it is trying to protect the integrity of the internet's Russian-language segment. The Kremlin's opponents fear the authorities are using security as a pretext to ramp up surveillance online. To become law, the bill must be approved in three votes in the lower house of parliament before it is sent for approval in the upper house and then signed by President Vladimir Putin. The bill can still be amended, but is likely to pass. Other bills tightening controls of the internet have been signed into law in Russia despite opposition from activists and industry lobbyists.

Russian lawmakers look to ban e-mail users who share illegal content

Indonesia has partially lifted an internet blackout imposed following civil unrest in the country's easternmost region of Papua, but is yet to restore access in areas where the most violent protests erupted, a government statement said.

The region of Papua has suffered the most serious civil unrest in years since mid-August over perceived racial and ethnic discrimination. Some protesters have also demanded an independence referendum, something Jakarta has ruled out.

About 6,000 police and military personnel have been flown in to Papua, reinforcing a heavy military presence in a region that has endured decades of mostly low-level separatist conflict.

The government had throttled internet speeds in the region for a few days before cutting off access entirely in the two provinces in the region from August 21.

Late on Wednesday, the communications ministry said in a statement it had restored internet and data access for most parts of Papua except for certain places, where it would continue to monitor the situation in coming days.

The decision was taken because the security situation in those areas had "normalised" while "the spread of hoax information, lies, expressions of hatred, provocations related to Papuan issues, had begun to decline," it said in a statement.

The government had maintained the internet blackout in places where protesters torched buildings, such as the capital of Papua province Jayapura and the capital of West Papua province of Manokwari.

The shutdown also continued in some rural towns, including Deiyai, where some civilians were killed during a clash between security forces and protesters last week.

Authorities and activists have given different accounts on the incident and the internet blackout has made verifying information difficult.

Indonesian authorities have accused Benny Wenda, the chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, a separatist group, of orchestrating the unrest in Papua.

Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told media that diplomatic channels would be used to hold Wenda accountable. A spokesman for Indonesia's foreign ministry declined to comment.

Wenda, who resides in Britain, was quoted in media as saying the Indonesian government should focus on resolving the Papuan issue rather than making accusations against him.

Police have also named a prominent human rights lawyer and activist Veronica Koman a suspect in connection with her Twitter posts about an incident that triggered the unrest.

The protests followed racist slurs against Papuan students, whose dormitory was tear-gassed during their detention in the city of Surabaya on Java island on Aug17, Indonesia's Independence Day, for allegedly desecrating a national flag.

Several Papuan students in Jakarta, who were accused of treason for their protests, have been arrested.

Police have also identified two people suspected of hate speech from the Surabaya incident, who were in a crowd that mobbed the Papuan student dormitory. Two military personnel are also being investigated for their involvement in the incident, while three others have been suspended.

Papua and West Papua provinces, the resource-rich western part of the island of New Guinea, were a Dutch colony that was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised UN-backed&nbsp;referendum in 1969.

Indonesia has partially lifted an internet blackout imposed following civil unrest in the country's easternmost region of Papua, but is yet to restore access in areas where the most violent protests erupted, a government statement said.

Indonesia has partially lifted an internet blackout imposed following civil unrest in the country's easternmost region of Papua, but is yet to restore access in areas where the most violent protests erupted, a government statement said. The region of Papua has suffered the most serious civil unrest in years since mid-August over perceived racial and ethnic discrimination. Some protesters have also demanded an independence referendum, something Jakarta has ruled out. About 6,000 police and military personnel have been flown in to Papua, reinforcing a heavy military presence in a region that has endured decades of mostly low-level separatist conflict. The government had throttled internet speeds in the region for a few days before cutting off access entirely in the two provinces in the region from August 21. Late on Wednesday, the communications ministry said in a statement it had restored internet and data access for most parts of Papua except for certain places, where it would continue to monitor the situation in coming days. The decision was taken because the security situation in those areas had "normalised" while "the spread of hoax information, lies, expressions of hatred, provocations related to Papuan issues, had begun to decline," it said in a statement. The government had maintained the internet blackout in places where protesters torched buildings, such as the capital of Papua province Jayapura and the capital of West Papua province of Manokwari. The shutdown also continued in some rural towns, including Deiyai, where some civilians were killed during a clash between security forces and protesters last week. Authorities and activists have given different accounts on the incident and the internet blackout has made verifying information difficult. Indonesian authorities have accused Benny Wenda, the chairman of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua, a separatist group, of orchestrating the unrest in Papua. Police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo told media that diplomatic channels would be used to hold Wenda accountable. A spokesman for Indonesia's foreign ministry declined to comment. Wenda, who resides in Britain, was quoted in media as saying the Indonesian government should focus on resolving the Papuan issue rather than making accusations against him. Police have also named a prominent human rights lawyer and activist Veronica Koman a suspect in connection with her Twitter posts about an incident that triggered the unrest. The protests followed racist slurs against Papuan students, whose dormitory was tear-gassed during their detention in the city of Surabaya on Java island on Aug17, Indonesia's Independence Day, for allegedly desecrating a national flag. Several Papuan students in Jakarta, who were accused of treason for their protests, have been arrested. Police have also identified two people suspected of hate speech from the Surabaya incident, who were in a crowd that mobbed the Papuan student dormitory. Two military personnel are also being investigated for their involvement in the incident, while three others have been suspended. Papua and West Papua provinces, the resource-rich western part of the island of New Guinea, were a Dutch colony that was incorporated into Indonesia after a widely criticised UN-backed referendum in 1969.

Indonesia restores internet access in parts of restive Papua region

Cubans are able to have WiFi in their homes, another step forward in the diffusion of the internet, which Cuba's Vice-Minister of Communications says is a tool to defend the revolution.

Cuba expands its access to the Internet

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/amnesty-accuses-myanmar-military-of-fresh-war-crimes-in-rakhine-222432">Myanmar authorities </a>ordered telecoms companies to shut down internet services in conflict-torn western <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmars-president-praises-rakhine-state-for-auspicious-year-on-44th-anniversary-184243">Myanmar,</a> a leading operator said on Saturday, amid heightening tensions in the region, where government troops are fighting ethnic rebels.

Telenor Group said the Ministry of Transport and Communications directed all telecoms companies to "temporarily" suspend internet services in eight townships in Rakhine and neighbouring Chin states, citing "disturbances of peace and use of internet activities to coordinate illegal activities".

The shutdown went into effect late on Friday, the statement said.

"Telenor Myanmar has been asking for further clarification on the rationale for the shutdown and emphasized that freedom of expression through access to telecom services should be maintained for humanitarian purposes," the group said.

A spokesman for the transport and communications ministry declined to comment, referring questions to another spokesman who did not answer phone calls.

Rakhine state came to global attention after about 730,000 Rohingya Muslims crossed into Bangladesh fleeing a military crackdown in response to militant attacks in 2017.

UN investigators have called for senior military officers to be prosecuted over allegations of mass killings, gang rapes and arson. The military denies widespread wrongdoing.

More recently, civilians have been caught up in clashes between the military and the Arakan Army, an insurgent group that recruits from the mainly Buddhist ethnic Rakhine population and is fighting for greater autonomy for the state.

Since November, the fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people across a large part of central and northern Rakhine and part of neighbouring Chin, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Much of the region is off-limits to journalists and most humanitarian agencies.

Tun Ther Sein, a regional lawmaker from Mrauk-U township, in central Rakhine, told Reuters by phone the internet connection had been slow for two days before disappearing on Friday.

"People can inform us about what is happening on the ground and also send photos with the help of the internet," he said. "Now that has been shut down."

Myanmar authorities ordered telecoms companies to shut down internet services in conflict-torn western Myanmar, a leading operator said on Saturday, amid heightening tensions in the region, where government troops are fighting ethnic rebels.

Myanmar authorities ordered telecoms companies to shut down internet services in conflict-torn western Myanmar, a leading operator said on Saturday, amid heightening tensions in the region, where government troops are fighting ethnic rebels. Telenor Group said the Ministry of Transport and Communications directed all telecoms companies to "temporarily" suspend internet services in eight townships in Rakhine and neighbouring Chin states, citing "disturbances of peace and use of internet activities to coordinate illegal activities". The shutdown went into effect late on Friday, the statement said. "Telenor Myanmar has been asking for further clarification on the rationale for the shutdown and emphasized that freedom of expression through access to telecom services should be maintained for humanitarian purposes," the group said. A spokesman for the transport and communications ministry declined to comment, referring questions to another spokesman who did not answer phone calls. Rakhine state came to global attention after about 730,000 Rohingya Muslims crossed into Bangladesh fleeing a military crackdown in response to militant attacks in 2017. UN investigators have called for senior military officers to be prosecuted over allegations of mass killings, gang rapes and arson. The military denies widespread wrongdoing. More recently, civilians have been caught up in clashes between the military and the Arakan Army, an insurgent group that recruits from the mainly Buddhist ethnic Rakhine population and is fighting for greater autonomy for the state. Since November, the fighting has displaced tens of thousands of people across a large part of central and northern Rakhine and part of neighbouring Chin, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Much of the region is off-limits to journalists and most humanitarian agencies. Tun Ther Sein, a regional lawmaker from Mrauk-U township, in central Rakhine, told Reuters by phone the internet connection had been slow for two days before disappearing on Friday. "People can inform us about what is happening on the ground and also send photos with the help of the internet," he said. "Now that has been shut down."

Myanmar orders internet shutdown in conflict-torn Rakhine state: Report

Amid the massive outgoing political and financial <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-military-not-involved-in-withdrawing-diplomats-from-venezuela-202985">crisis in Venezuela</a>, a highway in the country's capital Caracas, recently turned into one of the most visited sites after it&nbsp;showed the slightest cellphone signal.

Civilians from all around the region moved to the place to connect to their families and friends after days of separation, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday.

Venezuela which is undergoing a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/venezuela-congress-declares-state-of-alarm-over-blackout-202729">massive blackout</a> in the history of the country has been running out of electricity for many days.

After years of hyperinflation and economic crisis, the country is now living under dark due to the absence of&nbsp;electricity.

The crippling power blackout has also blocked the flow of running water in the country and forced the people to live without any internet or cellphone connectivity.

The crisis has led many people to seek water from places they would never want to take from.&nbsp;

Maduro has blamed a devastating multi-day blackout plaguing Venezuela on Washington and declared "victory" in what he called an "electricity war" triggered by the Pentagon.

He also called for support from allies including Russia and China as well as the United Nations in investigating the US "cyber attack" he said was responsible for the blackout.

While Maduro pointed the finger at Washington, critics have long blamed the government for failing to maintain the power grid.

Guaido, 35, is seeking to capitalise on public anger over the blackout, which has piled misery on a population suffering years of economic crisis and shortages of food and medicine under Maduro.

The youthful opposition chief -- locked in a power struggle with Maduro since declaring himself interim president on January 23 -- has branded the socialist leader a "usurper" over his re-election in May, widely dismissed as neither free nor fair.

(With inputs from agencies)

Amid the massive outgoing political and financial crisis in Venezuela, a highway in the country's capital Caracas, recently turned into one of the most visited sites after it showed the slightest cellphone signal.

Amid the massive outgoing political and financial crisis in Venezuela, a highway in the country's capital Caracas, recently turned into one of the most visited sites after it showed the slightest cellphone signal. Civilians from all around the region moved to the place to connect to their families and friends after days of separation, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday. Venezuela which is undergoing a massive blackout in the history of the country has been running out of electricity for many days. After years of hyperinflation and economic crisis, the country is now living under dark due to the absence of electricity. The crippling power blackout has also blocked the flow of running water in the country and forced the people to live without any internet or cellphone connectivity. The crisis has led many people to seek water from places they would never want to take from. Maduro has blamed a devastating multi-day blackout plaguing Venezuela on Washington and declared "victory" in what he called an "electricity war" triggered by the Pentagon. He also called for support from allies including Russia and China as well as the United Nations in investigating the US "cyber attack" he said was responsible for the blackout. While Maduro pointed the finger at Washington, critics have long blamed the government for failing to maintain the power grid. Guaido, 35, is seeking to capitalise on public anger over the blackout, which has piled misery on a population suffering years of economic crisis and shortages of food and medicine under Maduro. The youthful opposition chief -- locked in a power struggle with Maduro since declaring himself interim president on January 23 -- has branded the socialist leader a "usurper" over his re-election in May, widely dismissed as neither free nor fair. (With inputs from agencies)

Venezuela blackout: Civilians gather at highway for cellphone signal

Thousands rally on Moscow streets against restrictive Internet

Internet users in the country are more likely to encounter fake news online than the global average and social circles are increasingly spreading risks, says a global survey.

The Microsoft survey, covering 22 countries and coming a few months ahead of the general elections, shows that as many as 64 per cent of the Indians surveyed has encountered fake news as against the global average of 57 per cent.

The country is ahead of the global average on Internet hoaxes with 54 per cent of those surveyed reporting so and also instances of phishing or spoofing at 42 per cent, Microsoft said in a statement Tuesday.

Interestingly, the survey finds that there have been a sharp 9 percentage points increase in family and friends spreading online risks to 29 per cent.

"Social circles became riskier in India," the survey said, adding the jump to 29 per cent has taken the country a little over the global average.

Indians are also higher than the global average when it comes to reporting of severe pain from online risks, with 52 per cent saying so as against the global average of 28 per cent.

In what only complicates the matter, the country saw increased consequences from risks and little positive action taken following an online risk exposure, the survey said.

"Indians match the worldwide trend for consequences and were more likely to say that they were stressed and lost sleep in the latest year versus the previous year's study," the survey said.

India also showed a drop in positive actions taken following online risk exposure and are less likely to pause before replying to someone whom they disagreed with online.

Millennials and teenagers are the hardest hit by online risks and also sought help online, it said.

Internet users in the country are more likely to encounter fake news online than the global average and social circles are increasingly spreading risks, says a global survey.

Internet users in the country are more likely to encounter fake news online than the global average and social circles are increasingly spreading risks, says a global survey. The Microsoft survey, covering 22 countries and coming a few months ahead of the general elections, shows that as many as 64 per cent of the Indians surveyed has encountered fake news as against the global average of 57 per cent. The country is ahead of the global average on Internet hoaxes with 54 per cent of those surveyed reporting so and also instances of phishing or spoofing at 42 per cent, Microsoft said in a statement Tuesday. Interestingly, the survey finds that there have been a sharp 9 percentage points increase in family and friends spreading online risks to 29 per cent. "Social circles became riskier in India," the survey said, adding the jump to 29 per cent has taken the country a little over the global average. Indians are also higher than the global average when it comes to reporting of severe pain from online risks, with 52 per cent saying so as against the global average of 28 per cent. In what only complicates the matter, the country saw increased consequences from risks and little positive action taken following an online risk exposure, the survey said. "Indians match the worldwide trend for consequences and were more likely to say that they were stressed and lost sleep in the latest year versus the previous year's study," the survey said. India also showed a drop in positive actions taken following online risk exposure and are less likely to pause before replying to someone whom they disagreed with online. Millennials and teenagers are the hardest hit by online risks and also sought help online, it said.

India topping fake news menace globally, may increase ahead of general elections: Microsoft survey

High satellite bandwidth charges are likely to play a spoiler in the uptake of in-flight mobile services in India as these would make the facility costlier by 30-50 times at Rs 700-1,000 for a two-hour journey, says an industry official.&nbsp;

The chief technology officer of broadband technology firm Hughes India, K Krishna, told PTI that satellite bandwidth charges in India are 7-8 times higher compared to other parts of the world due to the condition that bandwidth can be procured from Indian Space Research Organisation only.&nbsp;

"Passengers are not going to pay 50 times higher price for Internet on a two-hour flight. It has to be extremely affordable and for that to happen open sky mechanism is very much required. You can't be restrictive that only Indian satellites need to provide capacity. Monopolistic policy won't work. The policy will become a duck if these issues are not addressed," Krishna said.&nbsp;

Hughes has applied for a licence for in-flight and maritime connectivity that will allow access to mobile services during air travel and ship voyage within Indian airspace and territorial waters.&nbsp;

He said that there is adequate satellite capacity available at very affordable cost for in-flight and maritime mobile services to work.

"Investment per plane is not small. It is in the range of $500 thousand per plane. None of the Indian airlines or shipping companies will really invest till they see a return, and return has to come from passenger paying for the service.&nbsp;

"The bandwidth will make 70-80 per cent cost of service. At present rates, current tariff will be in the range of Rs 700-1,000 which lot of people are not going to afford if they compare it with routine mobile plans," Krishna said.

He said that the global business model of in-flight mobile services works at 10 per cent passengers opting for the service.&nbsp;

"An option to increase uptake is that in-flight service charges are included in air ticket but the tickets are already in the range of Rs 4,000-5,000 and adding charges of IFC service will not be a feasible business model for airlines," Krishna said.

The mobile services in planes will be provided once it attains a height of 3,000 metres. It can be provided through both using telecom networks on the ground as well as using satellites.&nbsp;

The Hughes India CTO also said restriction imposed in the licence that an Indian service provider can provide connectivity within Indian airspace and waters would be a disadvantage for both the service provider as well as airlines and shipping firms.&nbsp;

"Indian vessels going outside Indian border should also be provided service by an Indian service provider. Otherwise, we are letting service providers from other countries exploit it. None of other country surrounding India has restriction of 12 nautical miles like we have," Krishna said.

He said that as per international norms, Indian service providers can provide service to aircraft and vessels when they are in an international or no-man zone but Indian telegraph act restricts companies to provide services within national boundaries.&nbsp;

"These are the things which the government needs to relax for healthy uptake of service," Krishna said.&nbsp;

The company expects to get a licence for the service early next month and has started discussion to start service in some of the aircraft, he said.

High satellite bandwidth charges are likely to play a spoiler in the uptake of in-flight mobile services in India as these would make the facility costlier by 30-50 times at Rs 700-1,000 for a two-hour journey, says an industry official.

High satellite bandwidth charges are likely to play a spoiler in the uptake of in-flight mobile services in India as these would make the facility costlier by 30-50 times at Rs 700-1,000 for a two-hour journey, says an industry official. The chief technology officer of broadband technology firm Hughes India, K Krishna, told PTI that satellite bandwidth charges in India are 7-8 times higher compared to other parts of the world due to the condition that bandwidth can be procured from Indian Space Research Organisation only. "Passengers are not going to pay 50 times higher price for Internet on a two-hour flight. It has to be extremely affordable and for that to happen open sky mechanism is very much required. You can't be restrictive that only Indian satellites need to provide capacity. Monopolistic policy won't work. The policy will become a duck if these issues are not addressed," Krishna said. Hughes has applied for a licence for in-flight and maritime connectivity that will allow access to mobile services during air travel and ship voyage within Indian airspace and territorial waters. He said that there is adequate satellite capacity available at very affordable cost for in-flight and maritime mobile services to work. "Investment per plane is not small. It is in the range of $500 thousand per plane. None of the Indian airlines or shipping companies will really invest till they see a return, and return has to come from passenger paying for the service. "The bandwidth will make 70-80 per cent cost of service. At present rates, current tariff will be in the range of Rs 700-1,000 which lot of people are not going to afford if they compare it with routine mobile plans," Krishna said. He said that the global business model of in-flight mobile services works at 10 per cent passengers opting for the service. "An option to increase uptake is that in-flight service charges are included in air ticket but the tickets are already in the range of Rs 4,000-5,000 and adding charges of IFC service will not be a feasible business model for airlines," Krishna said. The mobile services in planes will be provided once it attains a height of 3,000 metres. It can be provided through both using telecom networks on the ground as well as using satellites. The Hughes India CTO also said restriction imposed in the licence that an Indian service provider can provide connectivity within Indian airspace and waters would be a disadvantage for both the service provider as well as airlines and shipping firms. "Indian vessels going outside Indian border should also be provided service by an Indian service provider. Otherwise, we are letting service providers from other countries exploit it. None of other country surrounding India has restriction of 12 nautical miles like we have," Krishna said. He said that as per international norms, Indian service providers can provide service to aircraft and vessels when they are in an international or no-man zone but Indian telegraph act restricts companies to provide services within national boundaries. "These are the things which the government needs to relax for healthy uptake of service," Krishna said. The company expects to get a licence for the service early next month and has started discussion to start service in some of the aircraft, he said.

High bandwidth charges a spoiler for in-flight mobile services: Hughes India

American multinational tech company, Google, has approached United &nbsp;Nation&#39;s (UN) aviation agency to ask for airspace access for its new initiative &#39;Project Loon&#39;, that aims to provide internet access in remote areas with balloons, AFP reported today.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Project Loon balloons travel approximately 20 km above the Earth&#39;s surface in the stratosphere and use predictive models of the winds and decision-making algorithms to extend internet connectivity in rural and remote areas.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The project that was launched in 2013, saw its first baloon take off from South America in February, reports AFP. However, it crashed at a tea plantation in Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Google&#39;s parent company, Alphabet, has partnered with Sri Lanka to improve the internet access in targetted areas. &nbsp;The company&#39;s X-Lab says it hopes to set up &nbsp;a network on helium baloons to emit powerful 4G signals.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The project has &quot;significantly improved the balloon design, manufacture and launch procedure,&quot; X Lab told the UN`s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Wednesday, according to a document accessed by AFP.

&nbsp;

&quot;The balloons are now robust, remaining aloft well beyond the targeted 100 days, and are launched through a custom developed auto-launcher, allowing rapid multiple launches,&quot; X Lab told the organisation`s executive committee.

&nbsp;

Google&#39;s parent company has requested the assistance of ICAO member states as they met for its 39th triennial assembly. Alphabet appealed to the member states to &quot;establish bilateral or multilateral letters of agreement with adjacent states and Project Loon to allow Loon balloons to safely transit flight information region boundaries.&quot;

&nbsp;

&quot;Safety and coordination with the international civil aviation community is very important to Project Loon,&quot; a X Lab spokeswoman told AFP.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

Google's Project Loon aims to improve internet access in remote areas worldwide with 'internet balloons' that would emit 4G signals

American multinational tech company, Google, has approached United Nation's (UN) aviation agency to ask for airspace access for its new initiative 'Project Loon', that aims to provide internet access in remote areas with balloons, AFP reported today. Project Loon balloons travel approximately 20 km above the Earth's surface in the stratosphere and use predictive models of the winds and decision-making algorithms to extend internet connectivity in rural and remote areas. The project that was launched in 2013, saw its first baloon take off from South America in February, reports AFP. However, it crashed at a tea plantation in Sri Lanka. Google's parent company, Alphabet, has partnered with Sri Lanka to improve the internet access in targetted areas. The company's X-Lab says it hopes to set up a network on helium baloons to emit powerful 4G signals. The project has "significantly improved the balloon design, manufacture and launch procedure," X Lab told the UN`s International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Wednesday, according to a document accessed by AFP. "The balloons are now robust, remaining aloft well beyond the targeted 100 days, and are launched through a custom developed auto-launcher, allowing rapid multiple launches," X Lab told the organisation`s executive committee. Google's parent company has requested the assistance of ICAO member states as they met for its 39th triennial assembly. Alphabet appealed to the member states to "establish bilateral or multilateral letters of agreement with adjacent states and Project Loon to allow Loon balloons to safely transit flight information region boundaries." "Safety and coordination with the international civil aviation community is very important to Project Loon," a X Lab spokeswoman told AFP. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Internet balloons: Google approaches UN, asks for airspace access for Project Loon?

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