Center for Global Development

Israel is drawing renewed attention online, appearing among the most discussed topics in the southeastern region and ranking on Google Trends in Mexico. The surge in interest comes amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with users sharing news updates, opinions and reactions about the war in Gaza, Israel's military operations, and international responses to the situation.

The World Bank is rolling out a major initiative aimed at bringing affordable internet access to around a billion people, with artificial intelligence placed alongside connectivity as a central priority. The programme signals the institution's shift toward treating digital infrastructure as core development policy, and coverage highlights the scale of the connectivity gap it intends to close.