International
Guterres calls for “avoiding at all costs” the integration of AI into nuclear weapons
UN Secretary-General António Guterres advocated on Thursday in the UN Security Council to “avoid at all costs” the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in nuclear weapons, something that could have “potentially disastrous consequences”.
“AI without human supervision would leave the world blind, and would put world peace and security in a dangerous and reckless place,” Guterres told the Security Council, where a ministerial session is being held today, chaired by US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, on the progress of this tool and its implications in global security.
The Secretary General stressed that, while AI is making “a positive difference” in countries suffering from conflicts, food insecurity or the effects of climate change, it has also entered “the battlefield in a more problematic way.”
In this sense, he indicated that recent conflicts have become a testing ground for military applications of AI, which “creates a fertile ground for misunderstandings, miscalculations and mistakes.”
Humans and the algorithm
Thus, he recalled that this tool has already been used to select targets and make “life or death” decisions, and pointed out that cyberattacks made possible by AI “could paralyze the critical infrastructures of a country and its essential services.”
“Let’s be clear: the fate of humanity should never be left in the hands of the ‘black box’ of an algorithm. Humans must always have control in decision-making guided by international law, including international humanitarian and human rights laws and ethical principles,” he added.
In addition to its effects on international security, Guterres focused on the danger posed by the AI creating “very realistic content” that is then spread on the Internet and “manipulates public opinion, threatens the integrity of information and makes the truth indistinguishable from lies.”
The Portuguese politician brought up the UN Global Digital Compact, which was approved last September and addresses the rapid advance of AI, and shared his intention to finance innovative opportunities for this tool “where it is most needed.”
“A world of rich and poor in AI would be a world of perpetual instability. We must never allow (this technology) to lead to an advance of inequality,” he stressed, and said that technology must be “at the service of all humanity.”
International
Meta Says Russia Seeks to Ban WhatsApp for Defending Secure Communication
U.S. tech giant Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, said that Russia is seeking to ban the messaging app because it “challenges government attempts to violate people’s right to secure communication.”
Russian authorities have encouraged citizens to switch to state-backed applications, and in August they already blocked WhatsApp’s calling feature.
On Friday, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor claimed that the platform was being used to “organize and carry out terrorist acts in the country, recruit perpetrators, and facilitate fraud and other crimes.”
“If the messaging service does not comply with Russian law, it will be completely blocked,” the regulator warned.
WhatsApp remains one of Russia’s most widely used messaging services, alongside Telegram.
Moscow is pressuring both platforms to grant authorities access to user data upon request for investigations into fraud and activities the government labels as “terrorist.”
Human rights advocates fear the demand could be used to target critics of the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin, or the war in Ukraine.
International
Archbishop Wenski criticizes Trump’s deportation policies, calls for stronger push for reform
The Archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, has called for increased pressure on the U.S. Congress to advance comprehensive immigration reform and criticized President Donald Trump’s mass deportation policies, arguing that they “do nothing to help.”
“We need to apply more pressure on Congress so lawmakers can make the necessary changes. It is also important for the Administration to listen to our voice. We do not want to be anyone’s enemy—we are Americans,” Wenski said in an interview with EFE.
The religious leader, who heads one of the dioceses with the largest Latino and Haitian populations in the United States, issued a call to defend the rights of migrants. He also emphasized that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has maintained a strong and public stance in favor of migrants for decades.
International
Trump relaunches diplomatic push to finalize U.S.-Backed peace plan for Ukraine War
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his diplomatic team will resume meetings with delegations from Russia and Ukraine in an effort to pressure both sides to accept the peace plan proposed by Washington to end the war in Ukraine.
As part of this new round of talks, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will hold discussions with Ukrainian representatives to narrow differences on the remaining points of the agreement.
Trump also confirmed his intention to meet personally with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and with Putin, though he emphasized that such meetings will only take place “when the agreement is fully finalized or in its final stage.”
The president claimed that his administration has made “tremendous progress” toward resolving the conflict and reiterated that the war “never would have started” if he had been in the White House at the onset of the crisis.
The U.S.-backed peace plan consists of 28 points and has been revised following feedback from both sides. According to Trump, only “a few points of disagreement” remain under active discussion.
One of the most controversial aspects of the proposal is the suggestion that Ukraine cede parts of the Donbas region to Russia and limit the size of its armed forces. Kyiv is working closely with Washington to soften these clauses in search of an arrangement that does not compromise its sovereignty or security.
With this diplomatic push, Trump aims to solidify his role as the main mediator in the conflict and steer the war toward a political resolution after years of devastation, humanitarian crisis, and rising global geopolitical tensions.
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