Tom Fletcher will focus on the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the world’s youngest country and escalating protection risks for both civilians and aid workers. On arrival, he headed directly to Malakal in Upper Nile state, meeting with local communities, their leaders, and returnees. He heard firsthand about their needs and the challenges they face amid … Read more
Acknowledging dizzying geopolitical uncertainty marked by conflict in Gaza, Myanmar, Ukraine, Sudan and beyond, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the Council to hold the line on human rights, which he warned were under a “full-scale attack…often led by those who hold the greatest power“. On Ukraine, specifically, the UN chief noted that Tuesday 24 February will … Read more
“Guided by science, we can transform AI from a source of uncertainty into a reliable engine for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said. He urged the international community to build a future “where policy is as smart as the technology it seeks to guide.” New expert panel The Secretary-General noted that “AI innovation is … Read more
From biometric grain dispensers and smart warehouses to crisis-mapping platforms and humanitarian communication avatars, the UN World Food Program (WFP) showcase at the Artificial Intelligence Impact Summit demonstrated how data and machine learning are being applied to strengthen food and nutrition systems at scale. Among the most visible innovations is Annapurti – a “grain ATM” … Read more
Antonio Guterres highlighted the need to build skills, data capacity, affordable computing power and inclusive ecosystems. He expressed concern that without investment many countries will be “logged out” of the AI age. “Our target is $3 billion,” he said. “That’s less than one per cent of the annual revenue of a single tech company.” He … Read more
Speaking at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Mr. Turk told UN News that the technology must be governed through a human rights framework that ensures transparency, accountability and inclusion. This interview has been edited for clarity and length. Volker Turk: Artificial intelligence is a technological tool and it needs to be developed on … Read more
The latest edition of Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity, Unesco‘s flagship monitoring report covering more than 120 countries, warns that generative AI is projected to drive significant income losses for artists by 2028. ‑generated content in global markets. The report stresses that these disruptions are occurring at a pace that outstrips current policy responses, exacerbating inequalities … Read more
These numbers point to an even deeper crisis: in 2024, an estimated 2.3 billion people experienced moderate or severe food insecurity, and chronic hunger affected 96 million more people than in 2015. Against this backdrop, senior UN officials called for urgent investment and innovation to transform global agrifood systems. These systems encompass everything from farming … Read more
Between 31 January and 10 February, tropical cyclones Fytia and Gezani struck the island nation, causing widespread destruction. WFP assessments indicate that 1.57 million people in Madagascar are currently food insecure, including 84,000 facing emergency conditions. That figure could rise to 1.8 million in the coming months. “Families are telling us they have lost everything. … Read more
In a statement on Monday, the independent experts – who serve in their individual capacities under mandates from the UN Human Rights Council and are not UN staff – warned that the alleged acts documented in the files could amount to some of the gravest crimes under international law. The reported conduct could amount to … Read more