UN Press Briefing: AI Summit in India, Energy Transition, Gaza, Libya, and Sudan

Secretary-General's Activities

• 🇮🇳 The Secretary-General has arrived in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit, attending a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• 💡 He will emphasize that AI's future should not be decided by a few countries or billionaires, calling for AI to be accessible, beneficial, and safe for everyone.
• ⚡ Addressing the International Energy Agency Ministerial Meeting, he declared the start of the clean energy age, noting renewables are the cheapest and safest electricity source.
• ⚠️ He warned that fossil fuel interests are spreading disinformation to slow the transition, and the world's addiction to fossil fuels is a major threat to global stability and prosperity.
• 🌍 A call was made for a dedicated global platform to deliver a fair, orderly, and affordable transition plan away from fossil fuels, aligned with 1.5 degrees objectives.

Conflict and Humanitarian Crises

• 🇵🇸 In Gaza, families are marking the first day of Ramadan in harsh conditions, with limited access to essential goods and services.
• ⚠️ Conditions at the Rafah crossing are inadequate, with concerns for hygiene and prolonged waiting periods for passengers.
• 🇱🇾 The UN Special Representative for Libya reported no meaningful progress in dialogue between political bodies, warning of a deteriorating situation and a divided judicial system that could undermine state unity.
• 🇸🇩 Over 50 civilians were killed in drone strikes in Sudan in just two days, highlighting the escalating use of drones and renewing calls for a ceasefire.
• 🚚 A UN convoy carrying supplies for over 130,000 people has reached Dilling and Kadugali in South Kordofan after weeks of delays due to insecurity, marking the first delivery in over three months.
• 🆘 Recent analysis indicates likely famine in Dilling and Kadugli, underscoring the critical need for sustained humanitarian access.

UN Governance and International Relations

• 🗳️ The election of member states to UN bodies is a result of voting by member states, and the UN expects all members to uphold the charter and human rights.
• 🗣️ The UN defended the role of special rapporteurs, stating it is not for the UN to support or condemn their remarks, but emphasized that no UN officials should be personally targeted.
• 🤝 The UN continues to have contacts regarding the humanitarian work for the Board of Peace on Gaza, despite not having a representative in a specific meeting this week.
• 🌍 The UN expects member states implicated in the Epstein files to investigate allegations fully and hold perpetrators accountable.