Middle East, Artificial Intelligence & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (29 May 2024)

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Published Jun 22, 2024

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
_____________________________________________________________________
Highlights:
-Middle East
-Occupied Palestinian Territory
-Sudan
-Democratic Republic of the Congo
-Central African Republic
-Global Employment
-Artificial Intelligence
-Peacekeepers Day

MIDDLE EAST
Tor Wennesland, the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, briefed the Security Council earlier today. He said that as Israel rolls out a significant ground operation in and around Rafah, the devastation is only intensifying. He urged the parties to return to the negotiating table immediately and in good faith. Mr. Wennesland also reiterated the Secretary-General’s repeated calls for the immediate release of all hostages being held in Gaza and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.
Mr. Wennesland said that unsafe conditions resulting from a dangerously deficient humanitarian notification mechanism are compounded by overcrowding, desperation and a breakdown of law and order, imperiling humanitarian operations and costing the lives of our humanitarian colleagues – including almost 200 UN staff.
He added that large-scale Israeli operations persist in the West Bank, which are often met by lethal exchanges with armed Palestinians, as well as a spike in settler violence and attacks by Palestinians against Israelis.
Mr. Wennesland said that the UN remains in regular contact with the mediators and parties, and we are committed to supporting the implementation of an agreement. A sustained ceasefire will be critical to a full-scale humanitarian and early recovery response to meet the immediate needs of people in Gaza, he said. Mr. Wennesland is here in person and he spoke to reporters at the Security Council stakeout.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is organizing and hosting the “AI for Good Global Summit” starting today in Geneva. That is on the UN's first AI Governance Day - to discuss how best to implement principled AI frameworks while ensuring that no country is left behind.
The Secretary-General will send a video message, that will air tomorrow and we will share that with you. He will underscore the importance of building safe and inclusive AI that is accessible to all.
There will also be events during the Summit featuring innovations in generative AI, robotics, and brain-machine interfaces.

Full Highlights:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=29%20May%202024