Latest news with #UNreport
Bloomberg
5 days ago
- Politics
- Bloomberg
DOJ Disputes UN Report on Migrants US Sent to El Salvador Prison
The US Justice Department urged a federal judge to reject statements by El Salvador that appear to contradict Trump administration claims that the US government lacks legal authority over Venezuelan migrants it sent to a Salvadoran prison. El Salvador's statements were included in a UN report disclosed earlier this month by attorneys seeking the return of some migrants. El Salvador represented to a UN human rights group in April that 'the jurisdiction and legal responsibility' for the detainees 'lie exclusively' with the US under an agreement between the two countries.
Times of Oman
7 days ago
- Politics
- Times of Oman
UN report shows insufficient progress on SDGs
United Nations: With only five years to go, merely 35 percent of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are on track, while nearly half are stalling and 18 percent have regressed, according to a UN report released on Monday. In the past decade since the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted, notable global achievements have been made in health, education, energy and digital connectivity, said "The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025." New HIV infections have declined by nearly 40 percent since 2010. Malaria prevention has averted 2.2 billion cases and saved 12.7 million lives since 2000. Social protection now reaches over half the world's population, up significantly from a decade ago. Since 2015, 110 million more children and youth have entered school. Child marriage is in decline, with more girls staying in school and women gaining ground in parliaments around the world, the report said. In 2023, 92 percent of the world's population had access to electricity. Internet use has surged from 40 percent in 2015 to 68 percent in 2024. Conservation efforts have doubled protection of key ecosystems, contributing to global biodiversity resilience, the report said. However, the pace of change remains insufficient to meet the SDGs by 2030. More than 800 million people still live in extreme poverty. Billions still lack access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene services. Climate change pushed 2024 to be the hottest year on record. Conflicts caused nearly 50,000 deaths in 2024. By the end of that year, over 120 million people were forcibly displaced. Low- and middle-income countries faced record-high debt servicing costs of $1.4 trillion in 2023, according to the report. The document called for action across six priority areas -- food systems, energy access, digital transformation, education, jobs and social protection, and climate and biodiversity action. "We are in a global development emergency -- an emergency measured in the over 800 million people still living in extreme poverty, in intensifying climate impacts, and in relentless debt service, draining the resources that countries need to invest in their people," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the launch of the report. "Today's report shows that the Sustainable Development Goals are still within reach. But only if we act -- with urgency, unity, and unwavering resolve," he said. When introducing the report, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs Li Junhua called for "urgent multilateralism" to address the lack of progress in the SDGs. "The challenges we face are inherently global and interconnected. No country, regardless of its wealth or capacity, can address climate change, pandemic preparedness or inequality alone. The 2030 Agenda represents our collective recognition that our destinies are intertwined and that sustainable development is not a zero-sum game, but a shared endeavor that benefits all," said Li.
Arab News
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
How protracted conflicts from Gaza to DRC are leaving deep scars on children's lives
LONDON: For children trapped in the world's conflict zones, 2024 was a year of unprecedented suffering. The UN verified 41,370 grave violations against children — a record-shattering 25 percent increase over the previous year — devastating countless young lives. From Gaza to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children are among the most vulnerable victims of war. The consequences go far beyond immediate physical danger, shaping the course of their lives for years to come. According to the UN Security Council's June 17 report on children and armed conflict, at least 22,495 were maimed, killed, recruited, or denied life-saving aid — robbed of the safety and innocence that should define childhood. 'The cries of 22,495 innocent children who should be learning to read or play ball, but instead have been forced to learn how to survive gunfire and bombings, should keep all of us awake at night,' Virginia Gamba, special representative of the UN secretary-general for children and armed conflict, said in the report. 'This must serve as a wake-up call. We are at the point of no return.' The report, the most damning since the UN began collecting data in 1996, also noted a surge in children suffering multiple violations. In 2024, some 3,137 children were subjected to overlapping abuses such as abduction, forced recruitment, and sexual violence — up from 2,684 the year before. Months before the report's release, the UN children's fund, UNICEF, warned of a crisis beyond precedent. In December, the agency declared 2024 the worst year in its history for children caught in war. 'By almost every measure, 2024 has been one of the worst years on record for children in conflict in UNICEF's history — both in terms of the number of children affected and the level of impact on their lives,' Catherine Russell, the agency's executive director, said in a statement. These children are more likely to be malnourished, displaced, or out of school than those in peaceful regions — a reality she insisted 'must not be the new normal.' 'We cannot allow a generation of children to become collateral damage to the world's unchecked wars,' Russell added. Beyond the physical toll of conflict, psychological wounds are also profound and enduring, often outlasting conflicts themselves. 'What the recent UN report shows is that children caught in conflict zones are facing unimaginable levels of harm,' Dr. Jeeda Alhakim, a specialist counseling psychologist at City St George's, University of London, told Arab News. 'This kind of violence doesn't end when the event is over. It stays with them.' Alhakim explained that prolonged exposure to danger alters a child's perception of safety and can even reshape their biology. 'When the body is constantly in survival mode, it becomes harder to sleep, concentrate, or feel calm,' she said. Over time, this toxic stress can disrupt brain development, especially in neural regions responsible for memory, decision making, and emotional regulation. 'Trauma doesn't just live in the mind,' Alhakim said. 'It becomes embedded in the nervous system.' (Source: UN, 2024) There are 'disruptions in the brain's stress regulation systems,' she added, 'especially in areas like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex, which are central to managing emotions, remembering things, and making sense of what's happening around them.' She emphasized that trauma is not always visible. 'Some children appear fine on the outside but are struggling internally. Others show signs of distress more openly. It depends on their experiences, the support they have, and what they've lost. 'When children struggle with focus, learning, or emotional outbursts, it's not simply behavioral — it's a sign that their brains are adapting to survive.' Regardless of how it manifests, the consequences are deeply human. 'Many children carry a profound sense of loss — of a parent, a home, or a future they once believed in,' she added. Among the hardest-hit regions, the Palestinian territories ranked highest in the UN's report, with 8,554 verified violations. More than 4,856 occurred in the Gaza Strip alone. The UN confirmed the deaths of 1,259 Palestinian children in Gaza, while it continues to verify reports of another 4,470 killed in 2024. The report also documented 22 cases of Palestinian boys used as human shields in Gaza and five more in the West Bank. Since Israel's military operation in Gaza began in retaliation for the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, children in the Palestinian enclave have faced bombardment, deprivation, and the collapse of essential services. Conditions further deteriorated in March when Israeli forces resumed bombing raids and tightened their blockade, triggering catastrophic levels of displacement and the near-total breakdown of healthcare and education. 'Under our watch, Gaza has become the graveyard of children (and) starving people,' Philippe Lazzarini, commissioner-general of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, posted on X on July 11. 'Their choice is between two deaths: starvation or being shot at. The most cruel (and) machiavellian scheme to kill, in total impunity.' His remarks followed the killing of 15 people, including nine children and four women, who were waiting in line for nutritional supplements in Deir Al-Balah on July 10. The Israel Defense Forces have consistently denied targeting civilians. The UN has nevertheless kept Israel on its blacklist of parties committing grave violations against children for a second consecutive year. Gaza's ruling Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad also remain on the list. Outside the Palestinian territories, other regions also witnessed surging violence. In 2024, the UN recorded more than 4,000 violations in the DRC, some 2,500 in Somalia, nearly 2,500 in Nigeria, and more than 2,200 in Haiti. Among the most alarming trends was a sharp rise in sexual violence. The UN documented a 35 percent increase in such cases last year, with a notable spike in gang rapes, underscoring the systematic use of sexual violence as a weapon of war. 'Sexual violence is especially devastating,' Alhakim said. 'It harms children physically, but also emotionally and socially. It can leave them feeling ashamed, isolated, and deeply confused, especially when used deliberately as a weapon of war.' While the UN verified more than 2,000 cases in 2024, the real number is likely far higher. The report stressed that sexual violence remains vastly underreported due to stigma, fear of retaliation, social norms, lack of access to services, and impunity. 'Children are often too afraid or unable to speak out,' said Alhakim. 'In some communities, the stigma surrounding sexual violence adds an extra layer of suffering and silence.' Save the Children revealed in a June report that at least 1,938 children were subjected to catastrophic sexual violence in 2024 — the highest number of verified cases since records began. The figure marks a staggering 50 percent increase since 2020. 'To normalize this level of violence against children is to accept the dismantling of our collective humanity,' Helen Pattinson, CEO of War Child UK, said in a statement. 'The level of alarm is unprecedented. Governments must act immediately to turn the tide of grief, trauma and loss borne by children.' For millions of children growing up under siege, survival alone is no longer enough. What they need is safety, justice, and a chance to dream again. 'No child should have to carry the weight of mass violence,' said Alhakim. 'And yet far too many are.'
France 24
12-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
US State Department lays off more than 1,300 employees
01:18 12/07/2025 Haiti gang violence claims 5,000 lives in less than a year, UN report shows Americas 11/07/2025 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to Chinese FM at Asia summit Asia / Pacific 11/07/2025 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks at ASEAN summit in Malaysia Asia / Pacific 11/07/2025 Marco Rubio met with Russian & Chinese counterparts during ASEAN summit Asia / Pacific 11/07/2025 Texas officials are trying to figure out who's really missing from the floods Americas 11/07/2025 'Brazil is ours!': Protests in Sao Paulo after Trump threatens 50% levy Americas 10/07/2025 'Tribal politics: If Trump can claim victory to MAGA base domestically that's all that matters' Americas 08/07/2025 John Bolton deems Trump's lack of philosophy and coherent policy 'disconcerting to US allies' Americas 07/07/2025 Texas deadly floods: A state 'can't deal with this scale of disaster' without federal resources Americas
Forbes
12-07-2025
- Science
- Forbes
United Nations Considering These Four Crucial Actions To Save The World From Dire AGI And Killer AI Superintelligence
The United Nations releases an important report on AGI and emphasizes four key recommendations to ... More help save the world from dire outcomes. In today's column, I examine a recently released high-priority report by the United Nations that emphasizes what must be done to prepare for the advent of artificial general intelligence (AGI). Be aware that the United Nations has had an ongoing interest in how AI is advancing and what kinds of international multilateral arrangements and collaborations ought to be taking place (see my coverage at the link here). The distinctive element of this latest report is that the focus right now needs to be on our reaching AGI, a pinnacle type of AI. Many in the AI community assert that we are already nearing the cusp of AGI and, in turn, we will soon thereafter arrive at artificial superintelligence (ASI). For the sake of humanity and global survival, the U.N. seeks to have a say in the governance and control of AGI and ultimately ASI. Let's talk about it. This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here). Heading Toward AGI And ASI First, some fundamentals are required to set the stage for this weighty discussion. There is a great deal of research going on to further advance AI. The general goal is to either reach artificial general intelligence (AGI) or maybe even the outstretched possibility of achieving artificial superintelligence (ASI). AGI is AI that is considered on par with human intellect and can seemingly match our intelligence. ASI is AI that has gone beyond human intellect and would be superior in many if not all feasible ways. The idea is that ASI would be able to run circles around humans by outthinking us at every turn. For more details on the nature of conventional AI versus AGI and ASI, see my analysis at the link here. We have not yet attained AGI. In fact, it is unknown whether we will reach AGI, or whether AGI may be achievable in decades or perhaps centuries from now. The AGI attainment dates that are floating around are wildly varying and wildly unsubstantiated by any credible evidence or ironclad logic. ASI is even more beyond the pale when it comes to where we are currently with conventional AI. United Nations Is Into AI And AGI I've previously explored numerous U.N. efforts regarding where AI is heading and how society should best utilize advanced AI. For example, I extensively laid out the ways that the U.N. recommends that AI be leveraged to attain the vaunted Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs), see the link here. Another important document by the U.N. is the UNESCO-led agreement on the ethics of AI, which was the first-ever global consensus involving 193 countries on the suitable use of advanced AI (see my analysis at the link here) The latest notable report is entitled 'Governance of the Transition to Artificial General Intelligence (AGI): Urgent Considerations for the UN General Assembly' and was prepared and submitted to the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA). Here are some key points in that report (excerpts): The bottom line is that a strong case can be made that if AGI is allowed to be let loose and insufficiently overseen, society is going to be at grave risk. A question arises as to how the nations of the world can unite to try and mitigate that risk. Aptly, the United Nations believes they are the appropriate body to take on that challenge. UN Given Four Big Asks What does the U.N. report say about urgently needed steps regarding coping with the advent of AGI? These four crucial recommendations are stridently called for: Those recommendations will be considered by the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly. By and large, enacting one or more of those recommendations would indubitably involve some form of U.N. General Assembly resolutions and would undoubtedly need to be integrated into other AI initiatives of the United Nations. It is possible that none of the recommendations will proceed. Likewise, the recommendations might be revised or reconstructed and employed in other ways. I'll keep you posted as the valued matter progresses. Meanwhile, let's do a bit of unpacking on those four recommendations. I will do so, one by one, and then provide a provocative or perhaps engaging conclusion. Global AI Observatory The first of the four recommendations entails establishing a global AGI Observatory that would keep track of what's happening with AGI. Think of this as a specialized online repository that would serve as a curated source of information about AGI. I agree that this would potentially be immensely helpful to the U.N. Member States, along with being useful for the public at large. You see, the problem right now is that there is a tremendous amount of misinformation and disinformation concerning AGI that is being spread around, often wildly hyping or at times undervaluing the advent of AGI and ASI. Assuming that the AGI Observatory was properly devised and suitably careful in what is collected and shared, having a source about AGI that is reliable and balanced would be quite useful. One potential criticism of such an AGI Observatory would be that it is perhaps duplicative of other similar commercial or national collections about AGI. Another qualm would be if the AGI Observatory were allowed to be biased, it would misleadingly carry the aura of something balanced, yet would actually be tilted in a directed way. Best Practices And Certification For AGI The second recommendation requests that a set of AGI best practices be crafted. This would aid nations in understanding what kind of governance structures ought to be considered for sensibly overseeing AGI in their respective country. It could spur nations to proceed on a level playing field basis. Furthermore, it reduces the proverbial reinventing of the wheel, namely that the nations could simply adopt or adapt an already presented set of AGI best practices. No need to write such stipulations from scratch. On a similar vein, the setting up of certifications for AGI would be well-aligned with the AGI best practices. AI makers and countries as a whole would hopefully prize being certified as to their AGI and its conformance to vital standards. A criticism on this front is that if the U.N. does not make the use of best practices a compulsory aspect, and likewise if the AGI certification is merely optional, few if any countries would go to the trouble of adopting them. In that sense, the whole contrivance is mainly window dressing and not a feet-to-the-fire consideration. U.N. Framework Convention In the parlance of the United Nations, it is somewhat expected to call for a Framework Convention on significant topics. Since AGI is abundantly a significant topic, here's a snapshot excerpt of what is proposed in the report: 'A Framework Convention on AGI is needed to establish shared objectives and flexible protocols to manage AGI risks and ensure equitable global benefit distribution. It should define clear risk tiers requiring proportionate international action, from standard-setting and licensing regimes to joint research facilities for higher-risk AGI, and red lines or tripwires on AGI development.' The usual criticism of those kinds of activities is that they can become a bureaucratic nightmare that doesn't produce much of anything substantive. Also, they might stretch out and be a lengthy affair. This is especially disconcerting in this instance if you believe that AGI is on the near horizon. Formulate U.N. AGI Agency The fourth recommendation indicates that a feasibility study be undertaken to assess whether a new U.N. agency ought to be set up. This would be a specialized U.N. agency devoted to the topic of AGI. The report stresses that this would need to be quickly explored, approved, and set in motion on an expedited basis. An analogous type of agency or entity would be the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). You probably know that the IAEA seeks to guide the world toward peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It has a founding treaty that provides self-guidance within the IAEA. Overall, the IAEA reports to the U.N. General Assembly and the U.N. Security Council. A criticism of putting forward an AGI Agency by the United Nations is that it might get bogged down in international squabbling. There is also a possibility that it would be an inhibitor to the creative use of AGI rather than merely serving as a risk-reducing guide. To clarify, there are some that argue against too many regulating and overseeing bodies since this might undercut innovative uses of AGI. We might inadvertently turn AGI into something a lot less impressive and valuable than we had earlier hoped for. Sad face. Taking Action Versus Sitting Around Do you think that we should be taking overt governance action about AGI, such as the recommendations articulated in the U.N. AGI report? Some would say that yes, we must act immediately. Others would suggest we take our sweet time. Better to get things right than rush them along. Still others might say there isn't any need to do anything at all. Just wait and see. As food for thought on that thorny conundrum, here's a memorable quote by Albert Einstein: 'The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.' Mull that over and then make your decision on what we should do next about AGI and global governance issues. The fate of humanity is likely on the line.
