Fresh Israeli airstrikes have struck multiple locations across the Gaza Strip, killing at least two people and injuring 10 others, even as hopes rise for a new ceasefire agreement.

According to reports, an Israeli strike hit a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp after evacuation warnings were issued. Additional strikes in Deir al-Balah also resulted in casualties. Meanwhile, families across Gaza continue searching for loved ones who remain missing amid the ongoing conflict.

The attacks come as U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Hamas has agreed to hand over its weapons to a Palestinian governing committee as part of a proposed second phase of the Gaza ceasefire. Trump said Israel was "very happy" with the agreement and described it as a major diplomatic breakthrough.

Israel Strikes Gaza As Trump Announces Hamas Disarmament Deal | Middle East Crisis

Major developments unfold across India and the world in today's top headlines. The Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) has officially called off its nationwide student protest after the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, following weeks of demonstrations over the NEET paper leak controversy and demands for education reforms. The announcement came after a joint press conference between the Government of India and CJP leaders, marking a significant political development.

Internationally, tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate as Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels claim responsibility for targeting Saudi Arabian oil facilities along the Red Sea coast. The latest attacks have heightened fears of a wider regional conflict, with Saudi Arabia warning of further retaliation.

Europe is battling an environmental crisis as devastating wildfires continue to rage across France and Spain. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has convened another emergency crisis meeting while authorities report that more than 250,000 people have been evacuated, including nearly 197,000 people from southwestern France. The ongoing fires have also disrupted the Tour de France, forcing organizers to shorten one of the race stages due to safety concerns.

Meanwhile, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed deep concern over the situation in the Golan Heights, calling recent developments unacceptable. Syria has once again demanded the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the UN-patrolled buffer zone, adding to growing regional tensions.


Dharmendra Pradhan Resigns, CJP Calls Off Protest | Yemen Crisis | France Fires | Middle East Crisis

India's NEET paper leak protests continue to intensify as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi backs students' three key demands and insists that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan must be removed instead of being shifted to another ministry. Security has been tightened across Delhi ahead of another round of talks between the government and protest leaders.

In this edition of WION World Is One, we also cover:

Rahul Gandhi's demand to sack Dharmendra Pradhan
Delhi security tightened amid NEET paper leak protests
Clashes in Patna during statewide shutdown
Romania shoots down another drone near Ukraine border
Houthi missile attack on Saudi Arabia's Jazan
UN Secretary-General António Guterres visits Syria
Typhoon Nol forces mass evacuations in China
Wildfires continue to devastate France and Spain

Stay tuned for the latest international updates and breaking developments.

Rahul Gandhi backs students' 3 demands | NEET protest intensifies | China Typhoon | Europe Wildfires

Major developments are unfolding across the globe in today's top international headlines.



Delhi Protests | Houthi Missile Attack | Trump-Iran Tensions | France Wildfires | China Landslide 

WASHINGTON – “My main concern is with lethal autonomous weapons systems. Let us call them what they are: killer robots. Machines selecting and engaging their target and taking a life – without human control and judgement. This is morally repugnant.”So said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at a meeting in July that brought together AI leaders from UN member states, international organisations, the private sector, academia, and civil society leaders.Officially named the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, it reflected growing global concern that rapidly advancing AI is outrunning the ability of governments to regulate it. While that applies to all aspects of modern life, it is particularly worrying in warfare.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-s-next-terror-threat-may-not-cross-the-border-it-may-enter-through-your-phone-wion-decodes-1784346117443">India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes</a>Therefore, Guterres argued, the deployment of LAWS (lethal autonomous weapons systems) “is politically unacceptable. And it must be banned by international law.”International law and international bans have a poor track record, but Guterres deserves praise for finally drawing attention to a subject that has been debated for decades by human rights groups, the military and experts working for the world’s biggest AI companies, most of them based in the United States.One of them, Anthropic, is involved in a high-profile dispute with the US Department of Defence that mirrored the concerns voiced by Guterres’s UN conference. Anthropic, along with Google, OpenAI and xAI, won government contracts last year worth around $200 million to accelerate AI adoption for national security.Unlike the other AI companies, Anthropic insisted that its most sophisticated model must not be used by the government for fully autonomous weapons; i.e. robots, and mass domestic surveillance. &nbsp;To emphasise fears that technology is outrunning human control, Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, called for a global, coordinated slowdown in artificial intelligence development. AI systems, he warned, are advancing with such speed that they soon could build and improve their own successors, without human control.Other AI-developing companies reacted coolly. The Pentagon reacted with anger. It ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic technology and declared the company a “supply chain risk” – a designation that is now the subject of a battle in court. &nbsp;It is more than a contract dispute – it is a fundamental disagreement over who controls the use of AI in weapons or other aspects of life.When you talk to techies, sooner or later the different types of control over aerial, ground and maritime unmanned vehicles come up. &nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/what-is-the-tower-of-babel-and-why-did-pope-leo-warn-about-it-while-talking-about-ai-wion-decodes-1779790151646">Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI?</a>There is “in the loop”, meaning that a human operator directs the autonomous system and decides whether or not to kill the target. There is “on the loop” when a human operator does not directly control the automated system but can override its decision. &nbsp;Finally, “off the loop” indicates that the system operates independently and makes life-or-death decisions.For an illustrative example of an “in the loop” operation, let’s look back to the January 3, 2020 assassination of Major-General Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran’s most powerful military leaders, in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump.Soleimani’s movements had been closely tracked for days, and it became known that he was about to visit Baghdad. On arrival, he was greeted by the leader of a pro-Iranian Iraqi militia who escorted him to two cars waiting outside. As they began pulling away, they were hit by 100-pound Hellfire missiles launched from MQ9 Reaper drones high overhead.The cars exploded into fireballs, incinerating Solimani, his host and eight of their aides.Typical for an “in the loop” operation, the American Air Force officer who pushed the button to launch the missile sat in a stationary “cockpit” at Creech Air Force base near Las Vegas, almost 12,000 kilometres from Baghdad.In the six years since the assassination – or “targeted killing” as the US called it- drones have become a central weapon in the wars between Ukraine and Russia, the US and Iran, Sudan, and most of all Israel against Hamas, a campaign which turned Gaza into a field of ruins and killed more than 70,000 Palestinians.Israel’s war on Gaza showed the limits of “in the loop” operations given the green light by military and political leaders. One of the main purposes of using AI in war is to process huge amounts of data to identify suspected enemies. Left to human intelligence officers, that can be a protracted process.It took weeks to follow Solimani and finally pinpoint him at the door of Baghdad airport. In contrast, Israeli AI programmes, based on cellphone data, facial recognition and locations known to frequent Hamas militants, produced a list of 37,000 targets within days of the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas of more than 1,200 Israelis.One user of the system, named Lavender, told the Israeli/Palestinian +972 news outlet that “I would invest 20 seconds for each target and do dozens of them every day. I had zero added-value as a human, apart from being a stamp of approval” (of the AI-generated list). &nbsp;Though you could argue that the Israelis followed “in the loop” procedures, simply pressing a fire button in response to a target provided by a computer, without the time to double-check, does not amount to human control. &nbsp;AI-generated target lists are part of the explanation of the high Palestinian death toll in Gaza. Human rights organisations say most of those killed were civilians, or in military jargon “collateral damage.”It is not often that the chief of an AI company and the chief of the United Nations publicly share worries about how speedily technology spreads. But addressing the UN meeting on Artificial Intelligence this month, Antonio Guterres gave an example.“The Internet took 15 years to reach a billion people,” he said. “AI got there in two. And these systems are no longer tools awaiting instruction – they are writing code, acting online and making choices with less and less human oversight.”Numbers from the two wars the United States fought in Iraq and Afghanistan provide another illustration of the astonishing speed of the development of robotic warfare. The US forces that stormed into Iraq in 2003 had no robots on the ground. There were none in Afghanistan either.Just six years later, the two wars were waged with the help of an estimated 12,000 ground-based robots and 7,000 drones.While there is growing understanding that technology is outpacing both scientific understanding and the ability of governments to adapt, the prospects of universal agreement on a solution are remote.Last November, the UN General Assembly issued a resolution on the risks AI can pose to international humanitarian law and an emerging arms race. &nbsp;The vote was 156 in favour and five against. These five were the United States, Russia, North Korea, Belarus and Israel. There were eight abstentions, including China, which is competing with the US on accelerating AI development.A major problem in pushing ahead, according to a report in the MIT Technology Review, is what the computational neuroscientist Uri Maoz calls “Black Boxes. “He wrote: “Having studied intentions in the human brain for decades and in AI systems more recently, I can attest that state-of –the-art AI systems are essentially Black Boxes. &nbsp;“We know the inputs and outputs, but the artificial “brain” processing them remains opaque. Even their creators cannot fully interpret them or understand how they work.” &nbsp;That will be even more true once the countries that are now using drones – Ukraine has emerged as a leader in its fight against the Russian invasion – begin to use large swarms rather than individual drones. This is why scientists have intensified their study of bees.Like bees, drone swarms operate in large numbers, adapt their behaviour in real time, share tasks, communicate with each other and continue with their tasks even after suffering losses.

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms modern warfare, the United Nations is calling for a global ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems that can identify and engage targets without meaningful human control, warning that the technology is advancing faster than it can be regulated.

WASHINGTON – “My main concern is with lethal autonomous weapons systems. Let us call them what they are: killer robots. Machines selecting and engaging their target and taking a life – without human control and judgement. This is morally repugnant.” So said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres at a meeting in July that brought together AI leaders from UN member states, international organisations, the private sector, academia, and civil society leaders. Officially named the first Global Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence, it reflected growing global concern that rapidly advancing AI is outrunning the ability of governments to regulate it. While that applies to all aspects of modern life, it is particularly worrying in warfare. Also read | India's next terror threat may not cross the border. It may enter through your phone | WION Decodes Therefore, Guterres argued, the deployment of LAWS (lethal autonomous weapons systems) “is politically unacceptable. And it must be banned by international law.” International law and international bans have a poor track record, but Guterres deserves praise for finally drawing attention to a subject that has been debated for decades by human rights groups, the military and experts working for the world’s biggest AI companies, most of them based in the United States. One of them, Anthropic, is involved in a high-profile dispute with the US Department of Defence that mirrored the concerns voiced by Guterres’s UN conference. Anthropic, along with Google, OpenAI and xAI, won government contracts last year worth around $200 million to accelerate AI adoption for national security. Unlike the other AI companies, Anthropic insisted that its most sophisticated model must not be used by the government for fully autonomous weapons; i.e. robots, and mass domestic surveillance. To emphasise fears that technology is outrunning human control, Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, called for a global, coordinated slowdown in artificial intelligence development. AI systems, he warned, are advancing with such speed that they soon could build and improve their own successors, without human control. Other AI-developing companies reacted coolly. The Pentagon reacted with anger. It ordered all federal agencies to stop using Anthropic technology and declared the company a “supply chain risk” – a designation that is now the subject of a battle in court. It is more than a contract dispute – it is a fundamental disagreement over who controls the use of AI in weapons or other aspects of life. When you talk to techies, sooner or later the different types of control over aerial, ground and maritime unmanned vehicles come up. Also read | Pope Leo warns humanity risks repeating ancient mistake: What is the Tower of Babel and what does it have to do with AI? There is “in the loop”, meaning that a human operator directs the autonomous system and decides whether or not to kill the target. There is “on the loop” when a human operator does not directly control the automated system but can override its decision. Finally, “off the loop” indicates that the system operates independently and makes life-or-death decisions. For an illustrative example of an “in the loop” operation, let’s look back to the January 3, 2020 assassination of Major-General Qassem Soleimani, one of Iran’s most powerful military leaders, in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump. Soleimani’s movements had been closely tracked for days, and it became known that he was about to visit Baghdad. On arrival, he was greeted by the leader of a pro-Iranian Iraqi militia who escorted him to two cars waiting outside. As they began pulling away, they were hit by 100-pound Hellfire missiles launched from MQ9 Reaper drones high overhead. The cars exploded into fireballs, incinerating Solimani, his host and eight of their aides. Typical for an “in the loop” operation, the American Air Force officer who pushed the button to launch the missile sat in a stationary “cockpit” at Creech Air Force base near Las Vegas, almost 12,000 kilometres from Baghdad. In the six years since the assassination – or “targeted killing” as the US called it- drones have become a central weapon in the wars between Ukraine and Russia, the US and Iran, Sudan, and most of all Israel against Hamas, a campaign which turned Gaza into a field of ruins and killed more than 70,000 Palestinians. Israel’s war on Gaza showed the limits of “in the loop” operations given the green light by military and political leaders. One of the main purposes of using AI in war is to process huge amounts of data to identify suspected enemies. Left to human intelligence officers, that can be a protracted process. It took weeks to follow Solimani and finally pinpoint him at the door of Baghdad airport. In contrast, Israeli AI programmes, based on cellphone data, facial recognition and locations known to frequent Hamas militants, produced a list of 37,000 targets within days of the October 7, 2023 massacre by Hamas of more than 1,200 Israelis. One user of the system, named Lavender, told the Israeli/Palestinian +972 news outlet that “I would invest 20 seconds for each target and do dozens of them every day. I had zero added-value as a human, apart from being a stamp of approval” (of the AI-generated list). Though you could argue that the Israelis followed “in the loop” procedures, simply pressing a fire button in response to a target provided by a computer, without the time to double-check, does not amount to human control. AI-generated target lists are part of the explanation of the high Palestinian death toll in Gaza. Human rights organisations say most of those killed were civilians, or in military jargon “collateral damage.” It is not often that the chief of an AI company and the chief of the United Nations publicly share worries about how speedily technology spreads. But addressing the UN meeting on Artificial Intelligence this month, Antonio Guterres gave an example. “The Internet took 15 years to reach a billion people,” he said. “AI got there in two. And these systems are no longer tools awaiting instruction – they are writing code, acting online and making choices with less and less human oversight.” Numbers from the two wars the United States fought in Iraq and Afghanistan provide another illustration of the astonishing speed of the development of robotic warfare. The US forces that stormed into Iraq in 2003 had no robots on the ground. There were none in Afghanistan either. Just six years later, the two wars were waged with the help of an estimated 12,000 ground-based robots and 7,000 drones. While there is growing understanding that technology is outpacing both scientific understanding and the ability of governments to adapt, the prospects of universal agreement on a solution are remote. Last November, the UN General Assembly issued a resolution on the risks AI can pose to international humanitarian law and an emerging arms race. The vote was 156 in favour and five against. These five were the United States, Russia, North Korea, Belarus and Israel. There were eight abstentions, including China, which is competing with the US on accelerating AI development. A major problem in pushing ahead, according to a report in the MIT Technology Review, is what the computational neuroscientist Uri Maoz calls “Black Boxes. “ He wrote: “Having studied intentions in the human brain for decades and in AI systems more recently, I can attest that state-of –the-art AI systems are essentially Black Boxes. “We know the inputs and outputs, but the artificial “brain” processing them remains opaque. Even their creators cannot fully interpret them or understand how they work.” That will be even more true once the countries that are now using drones – Ukraine has emerged as a leader in its fight against the Russian invasion – begin to use large swarms rather than individual drones. This is why scientists have intensified their study of bees. Like bees, drone swarms operate in large numbers, adapt their behaviour in real time, share tasks, communicate with each other and continue with their tasks even after suffering losses.

As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms modern warfare, the United Nations is calling for a global ban on lethal autonomous weapons systems that can identify and engage targets without meaningful human control, warning that the technology is advancing faster than it can be regulated.

Urgent UN warnings: time to tame killer robots is running out

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday (Jul 6) called for a global governance system to shape artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. He warned against allowing the technology to “vibe-code” our future. Speaking ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, the UN chief cautioned “an experiment is being run on our own societies, without a plan and without consent,” which is not sustainable.He warned that AI systems are no longer passive tools. “They are writing code, acting online and making choices with less and less human oversight,” he said, noting that current institutions were built for machines that follow instructions – not ones that increasingly make decisions on their own.“The question is whether we will shape this transformation together, or let it shape us,” he said, underscoring both the promise and risks of the technology.<h2>UN chief warns against ‘vibe-coding’</h2>While acknowledging AI’s potential to transform healthcare, education and development, Guterres said the pace of change is outstripping safeguards. He also warned of growing over-reliance on AI systems and the spread of misinformation, cautioning against what he described as “vibe-coding”. “But we cannot vibe-code the truth. We cannot vibe-code the future of humanity,” he said.Vibe coding refers to an intent-driven software development approach where natural language is used to guide an AI assistant in building an application.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-global-supply-chains-shift-can-india-become-the-next-manufacturing-hub-1783159714059">As global supply chains shift, can India become the next manufacturing hub?</a>Guterres added that a key concern is the concentration of AI power in a handful of companies and countries, leaving much of the world without a meaningful voice in shaping its trajectory.Guterres calls for child safety rules and AI standardsHe called for common global standards to assess AI risks, stronger protections for children, and a proposed AI Child Safety Pledge to ensure systems accessible to minors are safe.<h2>‘Killer robots’</h2>On military applications, Guterres issued his starkest warning yet, referring to autonomous weapons as “Killer robots,” describing them as machines that do the “selecting and engaging their target and taking a life, – without human control and judgement.” He said such systems “must be banned by international law.”“The door is still open. It will not stay open long,” he cautioned, urging governments to act before the technology outpaces humanity’s ability to control it.Watch | AI could operate companies under Argentina's new bill<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ai-could-operate-companies-under-argentina-s-new-bill-1783164441244/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/ai-could-operate-companies-under-argentina-s-new-bill-1783164441244/embed</a>&nbsp;

UN chief António Guterres called for global AI rules, warning the world cannot “vibe-code the future” as the technology advances faster than oversight.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday (Jul 6) called for a global governance system to shape artificial intelligence for the benefit of humanity. He warned against allowing the technology to “vibe-code” our future. Speaking ahead of the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva, the UN chief cautioned “an experiment is being run on our own societies, without a plan and without consent,” which is not sustainable. He warned that AI systems are no longer passive tools. “They are writing code, acting online and making choices with less and less human oversight,” he said, noting that current institutions were built for machines that follow instructions – not ones that increasingly make decisions on their own. “The question is whether we will shape this transformation together, or let it shape us,” he said, underscoring both the promise and risks of the technology. UN chief warns against ‘vibe-coding’ While acknowledging AI’s potential to transform healthcare, education and development, Guterres said the pace of change is outstripping safeguards. He also warned of growing over-reliance on AI systems and the spread of misinformation, cautioning against what he described as “vibe-coding”. “But we cannot vibe-code the truth. We cannot vibe-code the future of humanity,” he said. Vibe coding refers to an intent-driven software development approach where natural language is used to guide an AI assistant in building an application. Also read | As global supply chains shift, can India become the next manufacturing hub? Guterres added that a key concern is the concentration of AI power in a handful of companies and countries, leaving much of the world without a meaningful voice in shaping its trajectory. Guterres calls for child safety rules and AI standards He called for common global standards to assess AI risks, stronger protections for children, and a proposed AI Child Safety Pledge to ensure systems accessible to minors are safe. ‘Killer robots’ On military applications, Guterres issued his starkest warning yet, referring to autonomous weapons as “Killer robots,” describing them as machines that do the “selecting and engaging their target and taking a life, – without human control and judgement.” He said such systems “must be banned by international law.” “The door is still open. It will not stay open long,” he cautioned, urging governments to act before the technology outpaces humanity’s ability to control it. Watch | AI could operate companies under Argentina's new bill https://www.wionews.com/videos/ai-could-operate-companies-under-argentina-s-new-bill-1783164441244/embed

UN chief António Guterres called for global AI rules, warning the world cannot “vibe-code the future” as the technology advances faster than oversight.

‘We cannot vibe-code future’: UN chief sounds alarm over AI, calls for global rules

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that the ongoing Middle East conflict risks escalating and the impacts of the crisis are no longer contained within the region. He called for an immediate end to the war and cessation of hostilities on all sides. “We are on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe,” Guterres told reporters in New York.The UN Secretary General pointed to the international consequences of the disruption to maritime routes and cited rising costs, saying people are already struggling from rising energy and food prices.“When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe,” he said.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-to-join-coalition-of-nations-exploring-ways-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-1775136809016">India to join coalition of nations exploring ways to reopen Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;The UN chief painted a grim picture of the rapidly deteriorating situation, as the US and Israel continue to bomb Iran while Tehran carries out attacks on neighbouring Gulf States and threatens ships it deems hostile in the crucial Strait of Hormuz.“Every day this war continues, human suffering grows. The scale of devastation grows. Indiscriminate attacks grow,” Guterres said.“The consequences are already visible in the daily lives of people struggling with rising food and energy costs from the Philippines…to Sri Lanka…to Mozambique,” he added.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-foreign-secretary-yvette-cooper-condemns-iran-s-recklessness-says-urgent-need-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz-1775133637067">UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemns Iran’s ‘recklessness’, says ‘urgent need’ to reopen Strait of Hormuz</a>&nbsp;Guterres called for disputes to be resolved peacefully, appealing directly to all sides to de-escalate the conflict.“My message is clear, to the United States and Israel, it is high time to stop the war that is inflicting immense human suffering and already triggering devastating economic consequences. To Iran, to stop attacking their neighbours,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>‘The spiral of death and destruction must stop’</h2>&nbsp;The Secretary-General also announced that he is dispatching his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, to the region to assist in ongoing peace initiatives.&nbsp;&nbsp;“The spiral of death and destruction must stop,” he implored.&nbsp;Guterres stressed that any resolution must be anchored firmly in international law and the UN Charter.&nbsp;&nbsp;He called for disputes to be settled peacefully, for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Member States to be respected, and for the protection of civilians and nuclear installations under threat in Iran and elsewhere.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-no-one-told-me-says-bengal-cm-mamata-banerjee-after-sc-rap-on-sir-officers-being-held-hostage-in-malda-1775141683773">‘No one told me,’ says Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after SC rap on SIR officers being held hostage in Malda</a>&nbsp;Reiterating that the Security Council has already condemned the attacks and reaffirmed the need to respect navigational rights in critical maritime routes, the UN chief reminded world leaders that the power to end the crisis lies in their hands.&nbsp;“Conflicts do not end on their own. They end when leaders choose dialogue over destruction. That choice still exists. And it must be made—now," Guterres said.&nbsp;<h2>Gulf States decry Iranian attacks</h2>&nbsp;The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Albudaiwi, told ambassadors that Iran had targeted vital civilian infrastructure, including airports, oil facilities, residential and commercial areas, fuel depots, service facilities, and diplomatic missions.&nbsp;“The GCC strongly condemns these blatant Iranian attacks, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of GCC states, as well as the principle of good-neighbourly relations, international law, and the UN Charter,” he stressed.&nbsp;“GCC states do not seek war. They seek the peace, security, and stability that all peoples deserve,” he said.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said he is dispatching his personal envoy Jean Arnault to the region to assist in ongoing peace initiatives and stressed that the spiral of death and destruction must stop. He said that any resolution must be anchored firmly in international law and the UN Charter.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that the ongoing Middle East conflict risks escalating and the impacts of the crisis are no longer contained within the region. He called for an immediate end to the war and cessation of hostilities on all sides. “We are on the edge of a wider war that would engulf the Middle East with dramatic impacts around the globe,” Guterres told reporters in New York. The UN Secretary General pointed to the international consequences of the disruption to maritime routes and cited rising costs, saying people are already struggling from rising energy and food prices. “When the Strait of Hormuz is strangled, the world’s poorest and most vulnerable cannot breathe,” he said. Also Read: India to join coalition of nations exploring ways to reopen Strait of Hormuz The UN chief painted a grim picture of the rapidly deteriorating situation, as the US and Israel continue to bomb Iran while Tehran carries out attacks on neighbouring Gulf States and threatens ships it deems hostile in the crucial Strait of Hormuz. “Every day this war continues, human suffering grows. The scale of devastation grows. Indiscriminate attacks grow,” Guterres said. “The consequences are already visible in the daily lives of people struggling with rising food and energy costs from the Philippines…to Sri Lanka…to Mozambique,” he added. Also Read: UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper condemns Iran’s ‘recklessness’, says ‘urgent need’ to reopen Strait of Hormuz Guterres called for disputes to be resolved peacefully, appealing directly to all sides to de-escalate the conflict. “My message is clear, to the United States and Israel, it is high time to stop the war that is inflicting immense human suffering and already triggering devastating economic consequences. To Iran, to stop attacking their neighbours,” he said. ‘The spiral of death and destruction must stop’ The Secretary-General also announced that he is dispatching his personal envoy, Jean Arnault, to the region to assist in ongoing peace initiatives. “The spiral of death and destruction must stop,” he implored. Guterres stressed that any resolution must be anchored firmly in international law and the UN Charter. He called for disputes to be settled peacefully, for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all Member States to be respected, and for the protection of civilians and nuclear installations under threat in Iran and elsewhere. Also Read: ‘No one told me,’ says Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee after SC rap on SIR officers being held hostage in Malda Reiterating that the Security Council has already condemned the attacks and reaffirmed the need to respect navigational rights in critical maritime routes, the UN chief reminded world leaders that the power to end the crisis lies in their hands. “Conflicts do not end on their own. They end when leaders choose dialogue over destruction. That choice still exists. And it must be made—now," Guterres said. Gulf States decry Iranian attacks The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Jassim Albudaiwi, told ambassadors that Iran had targeted vital civilian infrastructure, including airports, oil facilities, residential and commercial areas, fuel depots, service facilities, and diplomatic missions. “The GCC strongly condemns these blatant Iranian attacks, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of GCC states, as well as the principle of good-neighbourly relations, international law, and the UN Charter,” he stressed. “GCC states do not seek war. They seek the peace, security, and stability that all peoples deserve,” he said.

UN chief Antonio Guterres said he is dispatching his personal envoy Jean Arnault to the region to assist in ongoing peace initiatives and stressed that the spiral of death and destruction must stop. He said that any resolution must be anchored firmly in international law and the UN Charter.

‘World on edge of wider war, people are already struggling,’ says UN chief Antonio Guterres

As the US–Iran war continues to intensify, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all sides to reopen diplomatic channels and pursue negotiations to prevent a wider regional catastrophe. Guterres warned that the ongoing cycle of strikes and retaliation could spiral beyond control, threatening civilians and destabilising the Middle East and global economy.


US-Iran War: UN Chief Calls for Diplomatic Channels to End Conflict 

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, arrived in Beirut for a “solidarity” visit to show support for the people of Lebanon as the conflict linked to the war involving the United States, Israel and Iran intensifies. Guterres said Lebanese civilians were being pulled into a wider regional conflict and stressed the urgent need for de-escalation and humanitarian assistance. The visit comes as Israeli strikes and Hezbollah attacks continue to fuel instability across Lebanon and the broader Middle East.


US-Israel War with Iran: UN Chief in Beirut for Lebanon 'Solidarity' Visit

United Nations Secretary‑General António Guterres has issued a stark warning about the growing risk of nuclear escalation as geopolitical tensions surge amid the ongoing US‑Israel war with Iran. Speaking on the International Day for Disarmament and Non‑Proliferation Awareness, Guterres urged world leaders to halt global arms races, reduce military tensions and stop “rattling the nuclear saber,” noting that the threat of nuclear weapon use is at its highest in decades.


US-Israel War with Iran: United Nations Chief Warns World Over Nuclear Escalation 

United Nations Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres has called on world leaders to halt global arms races and shift resources from weapons to peacebuilding, warning that the threat of nuclear weapon use is at its highest in decades.


Antonio Guterres Urges World to Halt Arms Race; Warns World Over Nuclear Escalation 

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a system-wide transformation to accelerate the global transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. He emphasized that a sustainable energy future is within reach but requires coordinated action across industry.

UN Chief Urges System-Wide Transformation for Clean Energy Future 

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, on Thursday (Feb 19), while speaking at the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, delivered a pointed message to global powers: the future of artificial intelligence must not be shaped by a select few nations or tech giants.<h2>AI's future not limited to the whims of billionaires</h2>Addressing leaders and industry stakeholders at the opening ceremony, the UN chief said that decisions about AI governance cannot be "left to the whims of a few billionaires" or dominated by a handful of countries, a remark widely seen as aimed at the United States and China, which currently lead in AI development.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/galgotias-university-blames-professor-neha-singh-s-enthusiasm-of-being-on-camera-for-ai-robodog-row-1771467435745">Galgotias University blames professor's 'enthusiasm of being on camera' for AI dog row</a><h2>'AI must belong to everyone': UN sets up global scientific panel on AI</h2>"AI must belong to everyone," Guterres said, urging governments, industry and civil society to support the initiative. He stressed the need to move beyond "hype and fear", replacing them with "shared data".The UN Chief announced that the United Nations has now appointed a 40-member Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, following a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly last year.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/swiss-president-parmelin-backs-india-s-push-to-democratise-ai-for-all-nations-1771468420970">Swiss President Parmelin backs India's push to democratise AI for all nations</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi | At the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaAIImpactSummit2026?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaAIImpactSummit2026</a>, UN Secretary General António Guterres says, &quot;The message of this summit is simple. Real impact means technology that improves lives and protects the planet. So let&#39;s build AI for everyone with dignity as the default setting&quot;… <a href="https://t.co/kkB3UXqnUH">pic.twitter.com/kkB3UXqnUH</a>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/2024343394219413916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 19, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Global dialogue and ‘guardrails’</h2>The UN Secretary-General also highlighted the launch of a Global Dialogue on AI Governance within the United Nations framework. The first session is scheduled to take place in Geneva in July, giving all countries a platform to discuss standards, safeguards and accountability mechanisms.He noted that there was a need for "guardrails" to help preserve human agency, oversight and accountability, warning that without coordinated rules, AI risks deepening inequality and enabling misuse.To ensure developing nations are not left behind, Guterres proposed a Global Fund on AI aimed at building basic capacity worldwide, including skills training, data infrastructure and affordable computing power. "Our target is 3 billion US dollars," he noted. "That’s less than one per cent of the annual revenue of a single tech company," he noted, arguing that inclusive AI development would ultimately benefit businesses as well. "AI must be accessible to everyone," insisted Guterres.&nbsp;

At the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, António Guterres warned that artificial intelligence must not be shaped by a handful of nations or billionaires. He said “AI must belong to everyone” and called for inclusive governance beyond hype and fear.

United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, on Thursday (Feb 19), while speaking at the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, delivered a pointed message to global powers: the future of artificial intelligence must not be shaped by a select few nations or tech giants. AI's future not limited to the whims of billionaires Addressing leaders and industry stakeholders at the opening ceremony, the UN chief said that decisions about AI governance cannot be "left to the whims of a few billionaires" or dominated by a handful of countries, a remark widely seen as aimed at the United States and China, which currently lead in AI development. Also read | Galgotias University blames professor's 'enthusiasm of being on camera' for AI dog row 'AI must belong to everyone': UN sets up global scientific panel on AI "AI must belong to everyone," Guterres said, urging governments, industry and civil society to support the initiative. He stressed the need to move beyond "hype and fear", replacing them with "shared data". The UN Chief announced that the United Nations has now appointed a 40-member Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, following a resolution passed by the UN General Assembly last year. Also read | Swiss President Parmelin backs India's push to democratise AI for all nations

At the India AI Summit 2026 in New Delhi, António Guterres warned that artificial intelligence must not be shaped by a handful of nations or billionaires. He said “AI must belong to everyone” and called for inclusive governance beyond hype and fear.

'Future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries': Guterres takes a swipe at US, China | India AI Summit

The United Nations chief is warning that the world body faces “imminent financial collapse” unless its financial rules are overhauled or all 193 member nations pay their dues — a message likely directed at the United States and the billions it owes.


Antonio Guterres: UN Could Run Out Of Funds By July

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday (Sep 23) said that aid cuts were “wreaking havoc”. He made the remarks in his opening address during the organisation’s annual meeting of world leaders. He also urged world leaders to choose peace and cooperation over chaos amid the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, warning them of “an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering.”“We have entered in an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering,” he said in his speech. “The pillars of peace and progress are buckling under the weight of impunity, inequality and indifference.”“Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” the UN chief said.Without naming the United States, Guterres also warned, “development aid cuts are wreaking havoc. They are a death sentence for many. A stolen future for many more.”“This is the paradox of our time: we know what we need – yet we are pulling away the very lifeline that makes it possible.”Guterres painted a dark picture of the world order, highlighting worsening crises in several countries. He also warned of the risk of nuclear proliferation.“Far too many crises continue unchecked. Impunity prevails. Lawlessness is a contagion. It invites mayhem, accelerates terror, and risks a nuclear free-for-all,” he said.Although he also highlighted the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, and the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, “brokered by the United States.”But the UN chief cautions that the “pillars of peace” were “buckling under the weight of impunity, inequality, and indifference.”“Sovereign nations, invaded. Hunger, weaponised. Truth, silenced. Rising smoke from bombed-out cities. Rising anger in fractured societies. Rising seas swallowing coastlines,” he said. Guterres said that “around the world, we see countries acting as if the rules don't apply to them. We see humans treated as less than human.”He also said “civilians are being slaughtered, starved, and silenced” in Sudan, while “horrors are approaching a third monstrous year” in Gaza.

Guterres also urged world leaders to choose peace and cooperation over chaos amid the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, warning them of “an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering.”

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday (Sep 23) said that aid cuts were “wreaking havoc”. He made the remarks in his opening address during the organisation’s annual meeting of world leaders. He also urged world leaders to choose peace and cooperation over chaos amid the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, warning them of “an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering.” “We have entered in an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering,” he said in his speech. “The pillars of peace and progress are buckling under the weight of impunity, inequality and indifference.” “Nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” the UN chief said. Without naming the United States, Guterres also warned, “development aid cuts are wreaking havoc. They are a death sentence for many. A stolen future for many more.” “This is the paradox of our time: we know what we need – yet we are pulling away the very lifeline that makes it possible.” Guterres painted a dark picture of the world order, highlighting worsening crises in several countries. He also warned of the risk of nuclear proliferation. “Far too many crises continue unchecked. Impunity prevails. Lawlessness is a contagion. It invites mayhem, accelerates terror, and risks a nuclear free-for-all,” he said. Although he also highlighted the ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, and the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, “brokered by the United States.” But the UN chief cautions that the “pillars of peace” were “buckling under the weight of impunity, inequality, and indifference.” “Sovereign nations, invaded. Hunger, weaponised. Truth, silenced. Rising smoke from bombed-out cities. Rising anger in fractured societies. Rising seas swallowing coastlines,” he said. Guterres said that “around the world, we see countries acting as if the rules don't apply to them. We see humans treated as less than human.” He also said “civilians are being slaughtered, starved, and silenced” in Sudan, while “horrors are approaching a third monstrous year” in Gaza.

Guterres also urged world leaders to choose peace and cooperation over chaos amid the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, warning them of “an age of reckless disruption and relentless human suffering.”

‘Nothing can justify collective punishment of Palestinians’: UN chief urges peace over chaos, warns ‘aid cuts wreaking havoc’

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and extended his condolences to the families of the victims while expressing his deep concern over rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urged both nations to avoid escalation.
Weeks after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s Pahalgam, the United Nations secretary general said, &ldquo;I understand the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April. I once again strongly condemn that attack and extend my condolences to the families of the victims.&rdquo;&nbsp; Highlighting that war is not the answer, he said that a military solution is no solution and added that his office was available to assist both countries &ldquo;in the service of peace.&rdquo; Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/amid-looming-war-threat-jammu-and-kashmir-school-trains-students-on-survival-evacuation-9037928" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Amid looming war threat, Jammu and Kashmir schools train students on survival, evacuation</a>
&ldquo;It is also essential&mdash;especially at this critical hour&mdash;to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control,&rdquo; he said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet publive-iframes-block publive-Twitter-block" contenteditable="false" width="600" height="400" id="PL_blockquote_block-mabeo5ll-4enfy4zq-ky2tr7j9">
VIDEO | Pahalgam terror attack: United Nations General Secretary Ant&oacute;nio Guterres (<a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@antonioguterres</a>) says, "Tensions between India and Pakistan are at the highest in years. I deeply respect and I am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their&hellip; <a href="https://t.co/OFtWmBXMvn">pic.twitter.com/OFtWmBXMvn</a>
&mdash; Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1919413919241637944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
&ldquo;Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution,&rdquo; the UN secretary-general added.
&ldquo;Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest in years. I deeply respect and am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their significant contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping, and so it pains me to see the relationship reach a boiling point... I once again strongly condemn that (Pahalgam) attack and extend condolences to the families of the victims. Targeting civilians is unacceptable, and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible, lawful means.&rdquo;
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-you-all-desire-will-happen-assures-defence-minister-rajnath-singh-on-pahalgam-retaliation-9032695" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;What you all desire will happen,&rsquo; assures defence minister Rajnath Singh on Pahalgam retaliation</a> &ldquo;The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace,&rdquo; he said. The April 22 attack, which claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists, was carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Pahalgam.
Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-a-failed-state-gen-munirs-remarks-nonsensical-oppn-leader-asaduddin-owaisi-9032050" rel="noopener" target="_blank">&lsquo;Pakistan a failed state, Gen Munir&rsquo;s remarks nonsensical&rsquo;: Oppn leader Asaduddin Owaisi</a>
The attack triggered one of the most serious spikes in India-Pakistan tensions in recent years. In response, India suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty for the first time in history. Pakistan retaliated by announcing the suspension of the Shimla Agreement, further escalating the diplomatic standoff.

World | India News | Pakistan: Highlighting that war is not the answer, Guterres said that a military solution is no solution and added that his office was available to assist both countries “in the service of peace”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and extended his condolences to the families of the victims while expressing his deep concern over rising tensions between India and Pakistan and urged both nations to avoid escalation. Weeks after the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, the United Nations secretary general said, “I understand the raw feelings following the awful terror attack in Pahalgam on 22 April. I once again strongly condemn that attack and extend my condolences to the families of the victims.” Highlighting that war is not the answer, he said that a military solution is no solution and added that his office was available to assist both countries “in the service of peace.” Also Read | Amid looming war threat, Jammu and Kashmir schools train students on survival, evacuation “It is also essential—especially at this critical hour—to avoid a military confrontation that could easily spin out of control,” he said. VIDEO | Pahalgam terror attack: United Nations General Secretary António Guterres (@antonioguterres) says, "Tensions between India and Pakistan are at the highest in years. I deeply respect and I am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their… pic.twitter.com/OFtWmBXMvn — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 5, 2025 “Now is the time for maximum restraint and stepping back from the brink. Make no mistake: A military solution is no solution,” the UN secretary-general added. “Tensions between India and Pakistan are at their highest in years. I deeply respect and am profoundly grateful to the government and people of both countries and their significant contribution to United Nations Peacekeeping, and so it pains me to see the relationship reach a boiling point... I once again strongly condemn that (Pahalgam) attack and extend condolences to the families of the victims. Targeting civilians is unacceptable, and those responsible must be brought to justice through credible, lawful means.” Also Read | ‘What you all desire will happen,’ assures defence minister Rajnath Singh on Pahalgam retaliation “The United Nations stands ready to support any initiative that promotes de-escalation, diplomacy, and a renewed commitment to peace,” he said. The April 22 attack, which claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists, was carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists in Pahalgam. Also Read | ‘Pakistan a failed state, Gen Munir’s remarks nonsensical’: Oppn leader Asaduddin Owaisi The attack triggered one of the most serious spikes in India-Pakistan tensions in recent years. In response, India suspended the long-standing Indus Waters Treaty for the first time in history. Pakistan retaliated by announcing the suspension of the Shimla Agreement, further escalating the diplomatic standoff.

‘Time for maximum restraint’: UN chief condemns Pahalgam attack, offers help to ease India-Pakistan tensions

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has raised grave concerns, warning that without international intervention, Israel could engage in the "ethnic cleansing" of Gaza.

Guterres's warning comes amid escalating casualties in Gaza. Most recently, on Tuesday (Oct 29) a fatal strike in Beit Lahiya left 93 dead, including many children. This attack is one of several incidents classified by the UN as "mass casualty incidents" in Gaza in the past week.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/temporary-appointment-israels-explosive-message-to-hezbollahs-new-chief-qassem-772055">‘Temporary appointment,’ Israel’s explosive message to Hezbollah’s new chief Qassem</a>

The bombing in Beit Lahiya has drawn condemnation worldwide. The US described it as "horrifying," and France called for an end to Israel's siege of northern Gaza.

Adding to the crisis, humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza have reportedly hit an all-time low since the beginning of the conflict, stoking fears and allegations that the situation may be intended to drive Palestinians out of northern Gaza.

<h2>"Ethnic cleansing" already underway</h2>

Speaking to the Guardian on the sidelines of Colombia's COP16 biodiversity conference, the UN chief commended the Palestinians for their resilience and said that "ethnic cleansing" has been prevented this long because of the people's refusal to succumb.

"The intention might be for the Palestinians to leave Gaza, for others to occupy it," said Guterres.

"We will do everything possible to help them remain there and to avoid ethnic cleansing that might occur if there is not strong determination from the international community," he added.

However, just last week, Jordan's Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he believes "ethnic cleansing" was already underway. However, the Israeli military has denied allegations of systematically forcing Palestinians out of Gaza.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/idf-says-its-lebanon-operations-have-achieved-key-goals-diplomacy-now-possible-771697">IDF says its Lebanon operations have achieved key goals, diplomacy now possible: Report</a>

In Gaza, healthcare systems are on the verge of collapse, with only two partially functional hospitals remaining due to extreme shortages in staff, supplies, and fuel.

UN humanitarian affairs agency, OCHA, in a daily bulletin, said: "Only two … out of 20 health service points and two hospitals, Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda, remain functional, although partially, hampering the delivery of life-saving health services."

The agency's data indicates that 80 per cent of Gaza's population is currently without food rations: "Across the Gaza Strip, October has seen very limited food distribution due to severe supply shortages".

(With inputs from agencies)

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has raised grave concerns, warning that without international intervention, Israel could engage in the "ethnic cleansing" of Gaza.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has raised grave concerns, warning that without international intervention, Israel could engage in the "ethnic cleansing" of Gaza. Guterres's warning comes amid escalating casualties in Gaza. Most recently, on Tuesday (Oct 29) a fatal strike in Beit Lahiya left 93 dead, including many children. This attack is one of several incidents classified by the UN as "mass casualty incidents" in Gaza in the past week. Also read | ‘Temporary appointment,’ Israel’s explosive message to Hezbollah’s new chief Qassem The bombing in Beit Lahiya has drawn condemnation worldwide. The US described it as "horrifying," and France called for an end to Israel's siege of northern Gaza. Adding to the crisis, humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza have reportedly hit an all-time low since the beginning of the conflict, stoking fears and allegations that the situation may be intended to drive Palestinians out of northern Gaza. "Ethnic cleansing" already underway Speaking to the Guardian on the sidelines of Colombia's COP16 biodiversity conference, the UN chief commended the Palestinians for their resilience and said that "ethnic cleansing" has been prevented this long because of the people's refusal to succumb. "The intention might be for the Palestinians to leave Gaza, for others to occupy it," said Guterres. "We will do everything possible to help them remain there and to avoid ethnic cleansing that might occur if there is not strong determination from the international community," he added. However, just last week, Jordan's Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he believes "ethnic cleansing" was already underway. However, the Israeli military has denied allegations of systematically forcing Palestinians out of Gaza. Also read | IDF says its Lebanon operations have achieved key goals, diplomacy now possible: Report In Gaza, healthcare systems are on the verge of collapse, with only two partially functional hospitals remaining due to extreme shortages in staff, supplies, and fuel. UN humanitarian affairs agency, OCHA, in a daily bulletin, said: "Only two … out of 20 health service points and two hospitals, Kamal Adwan and Al-Awda, remain functional, although partially, hampering the delivery of life-saving health services." The agency's data indicates that 80 per cent of Gaza's population is currently without food rations: "Across the Gaza Strip, October has seen very limited food distribution due to severe supply shortages". (With inputs from agencies)

UN Chief António Guterres warns of potential 'ethnic cleansing' in Gaza, calls for global intervention

Israel on Wednesday (Oct 2) declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres 'persona non grata' and banned him from entering the country. The action came as Israel's Foreign Secretary Israel Katz accused the UN chief of harbouring bias against Israel and called him out for not condemning the October&nbsp;1 Iranian attacks.

"Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," the Israeli FM&nbsp;said.

"This is an Israel-hating Secretary-General, who gives support to terrorists," he said. The minister added that Guterres would be remembered as “a stain on the history of the UN”.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjc9oqN2u-IAxX2ulYBHfz5E2MQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-did-succeed-in-striking-airbases-during-attack-says-israel-763905" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-did-succeed-in-striking-airbases-during-attack-says-israel-763905&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjc9oqN2u-IAxX2ulYBHfz5E2MQxfQBKAB6BAgIEAE">Iran did succeed in striking airbases during attack, says Israel</a>

“A secretary-general who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran – the mothership of global terror – will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN.”

Earlier, Guterres had invited Israel’s wrath after he said the October 7 attacks by saying&nbsp;Hamas didn’t happen in a vacuum. “The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation,” said the UN chief.

Just last month, the UN had backed a non-binding motion calling for Israel to end its nearly six-decade-long occupation of the Palestinian West Bank territories.

<h2>Israel Katz jumped the gun on UN chief?</h2>

Following Israel Katz’s decision to label the UN chief as PNG, a diplomatic correspondent at Israeli Army Radio has suggested that the minister may have jumped the gun.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjc9oqN2u-IAxX2ulYBHfz5E2MQxfQBKAB6BAgTEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/missile-attack-on-israel-is-over-says-iran-warns-against-further-provocation-763759" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/missile-attack-on-israel-is-over-says-iran-warns-against-further-provocation-763759&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjc9oqN2u-IAxX2ulYBHfz5E2MQxfQBKAB6BAgTEAE">Missile attack on Israel is over, says Iran, warns against further provocation</a>

Yanir Cozin said the Population and Immigration Authority has not been informed about any such decision yet. He added that such a decision anyway lies with the interior ministry, not foreign.

<h2>UN chief condemns&nbsp;Iranian strike</h2>

Following Israeli action Wednesday, the UN chief&nbsp;condemned Iran's missile attack on Israel, telling the UN Security Council the "deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence must stop."

"I again strongly condemn yesterday's massive missile attack by Iran on Israel," Guterres told the UNSC.

(With inputs from agencies)

Israel on Wednesday (Oct 2) declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres 'persona non grata' and banned him from entering the country. The action came as Israel's Foreign Secretary Israel Katz accused the UN chief of harbouring bias against Israel and called him out for not condemning the October 1 Iranian attacks.

Israel on Wednesday (Oct 2) declared United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres 'persona non grata' and banned him from entering the country. The action came as Israel's Foreign Secretary Israel Katz accused the UN chief of harbouring bias against Israel and called him out for not condemning the October 1 Iranian attacks. "Anyone who cannot unequivocally condemn Iran's heinous attack on Israel does not deserve to step foot on Israeli soil," the Israeli FM said. "This is an Israel-hating Secretary-General, who gives support to terrorists," he said. The minister added that Guterres would be remembered as “a stain on the history of the UN”. Also read: Iran did succeed in striking airbases during attack, says Israel “A secretary-general who gives backing to terrorists, rapists, and murderers from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and now Iran – the mothership of global terror – will be remembered as a stain on the history of the UN.” Earlier, Guterres had invited Israel’s wrath after he said the October 7 attacks by saying Hamas didn’t happen in a vacuum. “The Palestinian people have been subjected to 56 years of suffocating occupation,” said the UN chief. Just last month, the UN had backed a non-binding motion calling for Israel to end its nearly six-decade-long occupation of the Palestinian West Bank territories. Israel Katz jumped the gun on UN chief? Following Israel Katz’s decision to label the UN chief as PNG, a diplomatic correspondent at Israeli Army Radio has suggested that the minister may have jumped the gun. Also read: Missile attack on Israel is over, says Iran, warns against further provocation Yanir Cozin said the Population and Immigration Authority has not been informed about any such decision yet. He added that such a decision anyway lies with the interior ministry, not foreign. UN chief condemns Iranian strike Following Israeli action Wednesday, the UN chief condemned Iran's missile attack on Israel, telling the UN Security Council the "deadly cycle of tit-for-tat violence must stop." "I again strongly condemn yesterday's massive missile attack by Iran on Israel," Guterres told the UNSC. (With inputs from agencies)

‘Stain on UN,’ Israel bans Guterres from entering country; did it jump the gun?

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Tuesday that Lebanon was "at the brink" and warned against allowing the country to turn into "another Gaza," a day after Israeli strikes killed more than 550 people there.

"Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it. Look no further than Lebanon," Guterres said at the opening of the&nbsp;UN's annual gathering as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, threatened to plunge the region into all-out war.&nbsp;

"We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza."

War featured prominently in the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;chief's remarks, with references to Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and other ongoing conflicts.

"Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7, or the taking of hostages -- both of which I have repeatedly condemned," said the 75-year-old former prime minister of Portugal.&nbsp;

"And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he continued.

Humanity faces three major threats to sustainability that must be confronted, said Guterres: impunity, which erodes international law; inequality, which destabilizes nations; and uncertainty, "where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways."

Uncertainty, he said, was compounded by the existential threats of the climate crisis -- long a signature issue for the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;chief&nbsp;-- and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, which he said would require a global approach to manage.

"We are in a climate meltdown," Guterres stressed, warning that the world is on course to "careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degrees (Celsius) temperature rise" -- a goal set by the Paris Agreement that scientists say is necessary to prevent the worst impacts from humanity's consumption of fossil fuels.

Still, he expressed hope, citing the plummeting costs and accelerating deployment of renewable energy, as he called on rich nations to step up their climate financing ahead of the COP29 meeting, which will take place in Azerbaijan this November.

Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION&nbsp;audience.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Tuesday that Lebanon was "at the brink" and warned against allowing the country to turn into "another Gaza," a day after Israeli strikes killed more than 550 people there.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders on Tuesday that Lebanon was "at the brink" and warned against allowing the country to turn into "another Gaza," a day after Israeli strikes killed more than 550 people there. "Gaza is a non-stop nightmare that threatens to take the entire region with it. Look no further than Lebanon," Guterres said at the opening of the UN's annual gathering as hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed armed group, threatened to plunge the region into all-out war. "We should all be alarmed by the escalation. Lebanon is at the brink. The people of Lebanon, the people of Israel, and the people of the world cannot afford Lebanon to become another Gaza." War featured prominently in the UN chief's remarks, with references to Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Sudan, and other ongoing conflicts. "Nothing can justify the abhorrent acts of terror committed by Hamas on October 7, or the taking of hostages -- both of which I have repeatedly condemned," said the 75-year-old former prime minister of Portugal. "And nothing can justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people," he continued. Humanity faces three major threats to sustainability that must be confronted, said Guterres: impunity, which erodes international law; inequality, which destabilizes nations; and uncertainty, "where unmanaged global risks threaten our future in unknowable ways." Uncertainty, he said, was compounded by the existential threats of the climate crisis -- long a signature issue for the UN chief -- and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, which he said would require a global approach to manage. "We are in a climate meltdown," Guterres stressed, warning that the world is on course to "careen past the global limit of a 1.5 degrees (Celsius) temperature rise" -- a goal set by the Paris Agreement that scientists say is necessary to prevent the worst impacts from humanity's consumption of fossil fuels. Still, he expressed hope, citing the plummeting costs and accelerating deployment of renewable energy, as he called on rich nations to step up their climate financing ahead of the COP29 meeting, which will take place in Azerbaijan this November. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits for grammar and punctuation. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

'Gaza is a non-stop nightmare,' UN chief Guterres tells world leaders at General Assembly

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations urges world leaders to back his proposed “Pact for the Future,” which aims to establish a new system of global governance capable of addressing future crises.

Mexico, South Africa, Germany Back UNSC Reforms

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The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA on Wednesday (Sep 11) revealed that six of its staffers were killed after two Israeli airstrikes hit a school in Gaza. This incident marks the highest death toll for UN Staff since the start of the war.

"Among those killed was the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other team members providing assistance to displaced people," said the UNRWA on X.

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Just Tragic.<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:404,&quot;y&quot;:181,&quot;w&quot;:38,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:437,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1938}" href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Gaza?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Gaza</a> 
Six <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:217,&quot;y&quot;:196,&quot;w&quot;:61,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:250,&quot;abs_y&quot;:1953}" href="https://twitter.com/UNRWA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNRWA</a> colleagues killed today when two airstrikes hit a school and its surroundings in Nuseirat in the middle areas. 
This is the highest death toll among our staff in a single incident. 
Among those killed was the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other…
— UNRWA (@UNRWA) <a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:399,&quot;y&quot;:286,&quot;w&quot;:116,&quot;h&quot;:14,&quot;abs_x&quot;:432,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2043}" href="https://twitter.com/UNRWA/status/1833967285171630128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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UN Chief António Guterres, in a statement, has called the lack of accountability on UN staff killings in Gaza "totally unacceptable".

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:402,&quot;w&quot;:622,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2159}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-hamas-war-hamas-holds-key-talks-in-doha-with-qatar-and-egypt-over-hostage-and-prisoner-swap-757941">Gaza War: Hamas holds key hostage, prisoner swap talks in Doha with Qatar and Egypt</a>

<h2 bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:8,&quot;y&quot;:438,&quot;w&quot;:723,&quot;h&quot;:26,&quot;abs_x&quot;:41,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2195}">Strikes on school</h2>

Israel in a statement said that its air force had "conducted a precise strike on terrorists who were operating inside a Hamas command-and-control centre," on the school grounds".

However, the UNRWA in a post on X said that the school is home to thousands of displaced people.

"This school has been hit five times since the war began. It is home to around 12,000 displaced people, mainly women and children," said the UNRWA.

UN Secretary-General Guterres, in an interview with Reuters, said that the past year has been "very tough, very difficult".

Also read |&nbsp;<a bis_size="{&quot;x&quot;:88,&quot;y&quot;:664,&quot;w&quot;:585,&quot;h&quot;:16,&quot;abs_x&quot;:121,&quot;abs_y&quot;:2421}" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-airstrikes-hit-un-school-in-gaza-killing-at-least-34-people-757922">Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas militants hit UN school, homes in Gaza; 34 killed</a>

He said that Israel's retaliation against Hamas in Gaza — which has killed over 41,000 people since Oct 7 — are "very dramatic violations of the international humanitarian law and the total absence of an effective protection of civilians."

"What's happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable," he said, adding that nearly 300 humanitarian aid&nbsp;workers, most of them UN staff, have been killed during the conflict.&nbsp;

He said that there should be an effective investigation and accountability for their deaths.

"We have courts, but we see that the decisions of courts are not respected, and it is this kind of limbo of accountability that is totally unacceptable and that requires also a serious a serious reflection," he stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA on Wednesday (Sep 11) revealed that six of its staffers were killed after two Israeli airstrikes hit a school in Gaza.

The United Nations Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA on Wednesday (Sep 11) revealed that six of its staffers were killed after two Israeli airstrikes hit a school in Gaza. This incident marks the highest death toll for UN Staff since the start of the war. "Among those killed was the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other team members providing assistance to displaced people," said the UNRWA on X. Just Tragic.#Gaza Six @UNRWA colleagues killed today when two airstrikes hit a school and its surroundings in Nuseirat in the middle areas. This is the highest death toll among our staff in a single incident. Among those killed was the manager of the UNRWA shelter and other… — UNRWA (@UNRWA) September 11, 2024 × UN Chief António Guterres, in a statement, has called the lack of accountability on UN staff killings in Gaza "totally unacceptable". Also read | Gaza War: Hamas holds key hostage, prisoner swap talks in Doha with Qatar and Egypt Strikes on school Israel in a statement said that its air force had "conducted a precise strike on terrorists who were operating inside a Hamas command-and-control centre," on the school grounds". However, the UNRWA in a post on X said that the school is home to thousands of displaced people. "This school has been hit five times since the war began. It is home to around 12,000 displaced people, mainly women and children," said the UNRWA. UN Secretary-General Guterres, in an interview with Reuters, said that the past year has been "very tough, very difficult". Also read | Israeli airstrikes targeting Hamas militants hit UN school, homes in Gaza; 34 killed He said that Israel's retaliation against Hamas in Gaza — which has killed over 41,000 people since Oct 7 — are "very dramatic violations of the international humanitarian law and the total absence of an effective protection of civilians." "What's happening in Gaza is totally unacceptable," he said, adding that nearly 300 humanitarian aid workers, most of them UN staff, have been killed during the conflict. He said that there should be an effective investigation and accountability for their deaths. "We have courts, but we see that the decisions of courts are not respected, and it is this kind of limbo of accountability that is totally unacceptable and that requires also a serious a serious reflection," he stated. (With inputs from agencies)

'Totally unacceptable': Six UN staffers killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza school; UN chief condemns deaths

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for increased accountability from major consumer technology companies. Addressing concerns over the impact of social media platforms, Guterres emphasised their role in perpetuating misinformation and hate speech.

UN Chief demands accountability from tech giants

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lashed out at businesses for ‘profiting from hate.’ Guterres demanded that big consumer technology firms take responsibility and acknowledge the damage inflicted on people and communities.

Speaking at a news conference to launch a set of UN global principles for information integrity, Guterres called this a starting point to combat misinformation, disinformation and hate speech.

While not taking aim at specific companies, he said, ‘Some stakeholders carry an outsized responsibility. For them, I have a clear message: We demand action. First, to the big tech companies, take responsibility. Acknowledge the damage your products are inflicting on people and communities, and you have the power to mitigate harm to people and societies around the world. You have the power to change business models that profit from disinformation and hate. Second, to advertisers and the PR industry: Stop monetizing harmful content. Strengthen information integrity, protect your brand, boost your bottom line. The climate crisis is a cause of particular concern. Coordinated disinformation campaigns are seeking to undermine climate action. Creatives - don’t use your talents to greenwash. PR agencies – look for clients who aren’t misleading people and destroying our planet.’

Guterres also urged media outlets to enforce strict editorial standards while saying governments should commit to a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape.

He said, ‘Find advertisers who are part of the solution, not the problem. And finally, I say to governments: Commit to creating and maintaining a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape. Guarantee strong protections for journalists. Ensure regulations uphold human rights. Refrain from drastic measures, including blanket internet shutdowns. Respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Let me be very clear: Everyone should be able to express themselves freely without fear of attack.’

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lashed out at businesses for ‘profiting from hate.’ Guterres demanded that big consumer technology firms take responsibility and acknowledge the damage inflicted on people and communities.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres lashed out at businesses for ‘profiting from hate.’ Guterres demanded that big consumer technology firms take responsibility and acknowledge the damage inflicted on people and communities. Speaking at a news conference to launch a set of UN global principles for information integrity, Guterres called this a starting point to combat misinformation, disinformation and hate speech. While not taking aim at specific companies, he said, ‘Some stakeholders carry an outsized responsibility. For them, I have a clear message: We demand action. First, to the big tech companies, take responsibility. Acknowledge the damage your products are inflicting on people and communities, and you have the power to mitigate harm to people and societies around the world. You have the power to change business models that profit from disinformation and hate. Second, to advertisers and the PR industry: Stop monetizing harmful content. Strengthen information integrity, protect your brand, boost your bottom line. The climate crisis is a cause of particular concern. Coordinated disinformation campaigns are seeking to undermine climate action. Creatives - don’t use your talents to greenwash. PR agencies – look for clients who aren’t misleading people and destroying our planet.’ Guterres also urged media outlets to enforce strict editorial standards while saying governments should commit to a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape. He said, ‘Find advertisers who are part of the solution, not the problem. And finally, I say to governments: Commit to creating and maintaining a free, viable, independent, and plural media landscape. Guarantee strong protections for journalists. Ensure regulations uphold human rights. Refrain from drastic measures, including blanket internet shutdowns. Respect the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Let me be very clear: Everyone should be able to express themselves freely without fear of attack.’

UN chief demands big tech accountability to fight hate speech

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