Politics & Policy

UN Secretary-General António Conflicts Top Guterres has designated artificial intelligence, the climate crisis, and deepening inequalities as three existential threats during his address to reporters ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. He described the current period as an "era of deep uncertainty," urging global leaders to embrace international cooperation rather than relying on fragmented national policies that fail to address cross-border risks. On geopolitical fronts, Guterres emphasized de-escalation as the top priority in the Middle East, calling for respect of navigational rights in the Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab Straits and an immediate halt to Israel's annexation of the West Bank. Regarding Ukraine, he noted there is no end in sight more than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, demanding an immediate ceasefire as a prerequisite for a just and lasting peace. Regarding technology governance, Guterres warned against a "race to the bottom" on AI safety, citing the US-China tech rivalry and the insufficiency of voluntary pauses by isolated entities. He advocated for guardrails centered on human dignity, transparency, and accountability, pointing to the Independent International Scientific Panel on AI as a mechanism to provide evidence-based guidance for global regulation