Archive for December 20th, 2024

20/12/2024

These Billion Humans Simply Do Not Exist

Human Wrongs Watch

MADRID, Dec 20 2024 (IPS)* Perhaps demographers would consider designing a new classification system to separate from their estimates of the world’s total population –eight billion plus– the billion humans who live without legal identity and, thus, are deprived from the most basic rights.
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The IOM estimates that one billion people live without legal identity, limiting their access to vital services and restricting their mobility. Credit: Shutterstock

The IOM estimates that one billion people live without legal identity, limiting their access to vital services and restricting their mobility. Credit: Shutterstock

The one billion figure seems to fall short if you consider that there are at least 150 million unregistered births.

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20/12/2024

Gaza: ‘Dying Hungry and in Pain’: A Harrowing Update on “the Most Dangerous Place on Earth Right Now”

Human Wrongs Watch

(UN News)* — The head of the UN aid coordination office in Gaza, Georgios Petropoulos, issued a harrowing update on the dire situation in the enclave on Thursday [], describing it as “the most dangerous place on earth right now.” 

A person walks through a destroyed neighbourhood in Gaza.
© WFP/Jonathan Dumont | A person walks through a destroyed neighbourhood in Gaza.
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Speaking to correspondents via video link on Thursday, the senior OCHA official underscored the grim reality facing over two million people trapped in Gaza, where basic necessities like food, shelter, and safety have become scarce.
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“Dying hungry and in pain” is an increasingly likely outcome for children, mothers, aid workers, and teachers alike, he said.
20/12/2024

‘Humanity’s Fate Can’t Be Left to Algorithms’

By Vibhu Mishra

(UN News)* — The UN Secretary-General on Thursday [] urged the Security Council to act decisively to establish international guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI), warning that delays could heighten risks to global peace and security.

Advances in artificial intelligence offer potential to detect landmines and unexploded ordnance, but misuse of this technology could pose significant risks to society.
UNMAS/Martine Perret | Advances in artificial intelligence offer potential to detect landmines and unexploded ordnance, but misuse of this technology could pose significant risks to society.

Addressing ministers and ambassadors, António Guterres warned that rapid developments in AI are outpacing humanity’s ability to govern it, raising important questions about accountability, equality, safety and human oversight in decision-making.