This year's global events remind us of the critical role that communications play, both in times of upheaval and in everyday life ...

Following the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004, Internews has been working in Indonesia and Sri Lanka to help the devastated media sectors there to recover and to report effectively on the reconstruction process . . . This past summer Internews began building radio stations in Chad to provide refugees from Darfur with humanitarian information . . . Immediately following the Pakistani earthquake in October 2005, Internews mobilized to help Pakistan's hard-hit media reach victims with vital information about relief efforts . . . The spread of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis drive Internews' health journalism efforts, teaching journalists how their reporting can literally save lives . . . The popular uprisings in Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon and Kyrgyzstan highlighted the value of accurate, reliable sources of news in times of crisis . . . Meanwhile, increasing reliance on new technologies motivates Internews' work to improve access to cell phones and the Internet in developing countries . . . After some two decades, the international media development sector came of age this October at the inaugural conference of the Global Forum for Media Development, held in Jordan . . . Following are some highlights of Internews' work around the world this year.