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Behind the hoopla over the promise of artificial intelligence lay difficult realities, including how such technology might affect people already disadvantaged in a data-driven world. A new report by the United Nations Development Programme notes most of the gains from AI are likely to be reaped by wealthy nations unless steps are taken to use its power to help close gaps in access to basic needs, as well as such advanced know-how. The report released Tuesday likens the situation to the Great Divergence of the industrial revolution, when many Western countries saw rapid modernisation while others fell behind. Questions over how companies and other institutions will use AI are a near universal concern given its potential to change or replace some jobs done by people with computers and robots. But while much of the attention devoted to AI focuses on productivity, competitiveness and growth, the more important question is what it will mean for human lives, the authors note. It's an is
As the curtains came down at the UN COP30 summit after two weeks of hectic negotiations, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said "denial, division and geopolitics" have hit hard on international cooperation this year. The UN climate talks in Brazil ended with a pledge of more funding for countries to adapt to the wrath of extreme weather. But it did not include a roadmap for phasing out fossil fuels. In his statement on COP30 Climate Summit outcomes, Stiell said that the global body is probably not winning the climate battle, but parties are still in it and are fighting back with resolve. "We knew this COP would take place in stormy political waters. Denial, division and geopolitics has dealt international cooperation some heavy blows this year," he said. Stiell, however, said that the COP30 Summit showed that climate cooperation is alive and kicking, keeping humanity in the fight for a livable planet with a firm resolve to keep 1.5 degrees Celsius within reach. "H
United Nations climate talks in Brazil reached a subdued agreement Saturday that pledged more funding for countries to adapt to extreme weather's wrath. But the catch-all agreement doesn't include explicit details to phase out fossil fuels or strengthen countries' inadequate emissions cutting plans, which dozens of nations demanded. The Brazilian hosts of the conference said they'd eventually come up with a road map to get away from fossil fuels working with hard-line Colombia, but it won't have the same force as something approved at the United Nations conference called COP30. Colombia responded angrily to the deal after it was approved, citing the absence of wording on fossil fuels. The deal, which was approved after negotiators blew past a Friday deadline to wrap up, was crafted after more than 12 hours of late night and early morning meetings in COP30 President Andr Corra do Lago's office. Do Lago said the tough discussions started in Belem will continue under Brazil's leadersh
India has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation on disaster risk reduction, working closely with Asian and Pacific Centre for Development of Disaster Information Management (APDIM) and regional partners to reduce disaster and climate risks across Asia-Pacific, a government statement said Saturday. Addressing the 10th Session of the APDIM hosted by India, Minister of State for Home Affairs and Disaster Management Nityanand Rai said India would champion a broad capacity-building agenda during its chairmanship. Rai, who led the Indian delegation, emphasised the country's commitment to regional disaster resilience and cooperation. The outcomes of this meeting will guide APDIM's overall programme of work and also contribute to advancing the goals of the Sendai Framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the statement said. The minister said that under India's chairmanship and leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will champion a ...
The G20 nations hold enormous potential to ease suffering and set the world on a more peaceful course, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, urging the bloc to lead the action required. Guterres made the remarks at a media briefing shortly after arriving in Johannesburg on Friday to participate in the G20 Leaders' Summit for the next two days. My message to G20 leaders over the next two days is simple. Now is the time for leadership and vision, Guterres said as he cited conflicts, climate chaos, economic uncertainty, inequality and a collapse in global aid as causes of inflicting massive suffering around the world. He added that rising military spending is drawing resources away from development. "As the world's largest economies, the G20 nations can hold enormous influence to ease suffering, ensure that economic growth is widely shared, and set our world on a better, more peaceful course for the future," he said. Guterres said that during the Summit, he would call on G2
The UN atomic watchdog's board of governors urged Iran on Thursday to extend full and prompt cooperation, provide the agency's inspectors with precise information about its stockpile of near weapons-grade uranium and grant access to the country's nuclear sites. The development sets the stage for a likely further escalation of tensions between the UN nuclear agency and Iran, which has reacted strongly to similar moves by the watchdog in the past. There was no immediate response from Tehran. Nineteen countries on the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member board voted for the resolution at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna, according to diplomats who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe the outcome of the closed-door vote. Russia, China and Niger opposed it, while 12 countries abstained and one did not vote. The resolution was put forward by France, the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. A draft was seen by The Associated Press. Iran is legally obliged to .
All eyes are on the Amazonian city of Belem in Brazil as the last leg of negotiations of the UN COP30 Climate Summit began on Tuesday with the release of the draft of the Belem Political Package, which is likely to show the world its next step to work on climate change. UN COP30 President Andre Correa do Lago in his letter to all the countries called them to work side by side, in task-force mode, to deliver the Belem Political Package swiftly, fairly and with care for all. The global platform on climate change expects that the draft texts for the package of decisions will be adopted on Wednesday after due deliberations. Negotiators from more than 190 countries have gathered here for the annual Conference of Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The COP30 summit is taking place at the Brazilian city of Belem in the Amazon region from November 10 to 21. The COP30 Presidency published 11 draft documents on various issues for detailed ...
India has demonstrated that economic growth and social inclusion can advance together and it is helping translate its success stories into global lessons for a more equitable world, a top official of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has said. The India growth story is not only about economic progress, but it is also about using technology and participatory governance to ensure that development objectives are achieved and no one is left behind, UNDP's Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu said. In an interview to PTI, Xu said India's commitment to climate adaptation, renewable energy and inclusive digital finance offers a blueprint for balancing growth with sustainability. India continues to shape "development pathways" that are both economically sound and climate-responsible, he said. The UN Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Acting Administrator was in India on a three-day visit to strengthen and identify new areas of cooperation, including in areas of digital transformation and clima
India has demonstrated that economic growth and social inclusion can advance together and it is helping translate its success stories into global lessons for a more equitable world, a top official of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has said. The India growth story is not only about economic progress but also about using technology and participatory governance to ensure that development objectives are achieved and no one is left behind, UNDP's Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu said. In an interview to PTI, Xu said India's commitment to climate adaptation, renewable energy and inclusive digital finance offers a blueprint for balancing growth with sustainability. India continues to shape "development pathways" that are both economically sound and climate-responsible, he said. The UN Under-Secretary-General and UNDP Acting Administrator was in India on a three-day visit to strengthen and identify new areas of cooperation, including in areas of digital transformation and climate ...
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres here and said he valued the UN chief's assessment of the current global order and its implications for multilateralism and also thanked him for consistent support for India's growth. Good to meet with UNSG @antonioguterres in New York today. Valued his assessment of the current global order and its implications for multilateralism. Also appreciated his perspectives on various regional hotspots, Jaishankar said in a post on social media on Thursday (local time). Jaishankar met Guterres in the UN headquarters and was accompanied by India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador P Harish, Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Yojna Patel and officials from the Permanent Mission of India to the UN. Jaishankar said he thanked Guterres for clear and consistent support for India's growth and development and he looks forward to welcoming the UN Chief in India. Jaishankar was in Canada for
UN climate negotiations were expected to begin on Monday at a meeting on the edge of the Brazilian Amazon, with leaders pushing for urgency, cooperation and acceleration after more than 30 years fighting to curb global warming by drastically reducing the carbon pollution that causes it. Andre Correa do Lago, president of this year's conference, known as COP30, emphasised that negotiators engage in mutirao, a Brazilian word derived from an Indigenous word that refers to a group uniting to work on a shared task. Either we decide to change by choice, together, or we will be imposed change by tragedy, Lago wrote in his letter to negotiators on Sunday. We can change. But we must do it together. Complicating the calls for togetherness is the United States. The Trump administration did not send high-level negotiators to the talks and is withdrawing for the second time from the 10-year-old Paris Agreement, which is being celebrated as a partial achievement here in Belem. The United States