Latest news with #Spoljaric
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UN revisits 'killer robot' regulations as concerns about AI-controlled weapons grow
Several nations met at the United Nations (U.N.) on Monday to revisit a topic that the international body has been discussing for over a decade: the lack of regulations on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), often referred to as "killer robots." This latest round of talks comes as wars rage in Ukraine and Gaza. While the meeting was held behind closed doors, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres released a statement doubling down on his 2026 deadline for a legally binding solution to threats posed by LAWS. "Machines that have the power and discretion to take human lives without human control are politically unacceptable, morally repugnant and should be banned by international law," Guterres said in a statement. "We cannot delegate life-or-death decisions to machines," he later added. Former Trump Official Slams Un Reform Efforts As 'Eight And A Half Years Late' International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric delivered a statement to nations participating in Monday's meeting. Spoljaric expressed the ICRC's support for efforts to regulate LAWS but warned that technology is evolving faster than regulations, making threats posed by the systems "more worrying." Read On The Fox News App "Machines with the power and discretion to take lives without human involvement threaten to transform warfare in ways with grave humanitarian consequences. They also raise fundamental ethical and human rights concerns. All humanity will be affected," Spoljaric said. Nuclear Watchdog Urges 'Trust But Verify' That Iran Engages In Good-faith Negotiations Artificial intelligence is not necessarily a prerequisite for something to be considered an autonomous weapon, according to the U.N., as not all autonomous systems fully rely on AI. Some can use pre-programmed functions for certain tasks. However, AI "could further enable" autonomous weapons systems, the U.N. said. Vice President of the Conservative Partnership Institute Rachel Bovard, however, says that while regulation of autonomous weapons is necessary, the U.S. needs to be cautious when it comes to the development of international law. "AI is the wild west and every country is trying to determine the rules of the road. Some regulation will be imperative to preserving our humanity. When it comes to international law, however, the U.S. should proceed with caution," Bovard told Fox News Digital. "As we have learned with everything from trade to health, subjecting our national sovereignty to international dictates can have lasting unintended consequences. If existing international law is sufficient at the moment, that is what should govern." Countries in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons have been meeting since 2014 to discuss a possible full ban on LAWS that operate without human control and to regulate those with more human involvement, according to Reuters. In 2023, more than 160 nations backed a U.N. resolution calling on countries across the globe to address the risks posed by LAWS. However, there is currently no international law specifically regulating article source: UN revisits 'killer robot' regulations as concerns about AI-controlled weapons grow
Fox News
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
UN revisits 'killer robot' regulations as concerns about AI-controlled weapons grow
Several nations met at the United Nations (U.N.) on Monday to revisit a topic that the international body has been discussing for over a decade: the lack of regulations on lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), often referred to as "killer robots." This latest round of talks comes as wars rage in Ukraine and Gaza. While the meeting was held behind closed doors, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres released a statement doubling down on his 2026 deadline for a legally binding solution to threats posed by LAWS. "Machines that have the power and discretion to take human lives without human control are politically unacceptable, morally repugnant and should be banned by international law," Guterres said in a statement. "We cannot delegate life-or-death decisions to machines," he later added. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric delivered a statement to nations participating in Monday's meeting. Spoljaric expressed the ICRC's support for efforts to regulate LAWS but warned that technology is evolving faster than regulations, making threats posed by the systems "more worrying." "Machines with the power and discretion to take lives without human involvement threaten to transform warfare in ways with grave humanitarian consequences. They also raise fundamental ethical and human rights concerns. All humanity will be affected," Spoljaric said. Artificial intelligence is not necessarily a prerequisite for something to be considered an autonomous weapon, according to the U.N., as not all autonomous systems fully rely on AI. Some can use pre-programmed functions for certain tasks. However, AI "could further enable" autonomous weapons systems, the U.N. said. Vice President of the Conservative Partnership Institute Rachel Bovard, however, says that while regulation of autonomous weapons is necessary, the U.S. needs to be cautious when it comes to the development of international law. "AI is the wild west and every country is trying to determine the rules of the road. Some regulation will be imperative to preserving our humanity. When it comes to international law, however, the U.S. should proceed with caution," Bovard told Fox News Digital. "As we have learned with everything from trade to health, subjecting our national sovereignty to international dictates can have lasting unintended consequences. If existing international law is sufficient at the moment, that is what should govern." Countries in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons have been meeting since 2014 to discuss a possible full ban on LAWS that operate without human control and to regulate those with more human involvement, according to Reuters. In 2023, more than 160 nations backed a U.N. resolution calling on countries across the globe to address the risks posed by LAWS. However, there is currently no international law specifically regulating LAWS.
Days of Palestine
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Red Cross Warns: Gaza Conditions Have Reached Catastrophic Levels
DaysofPal- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a grave warning that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has reached catastrophic levels, urging immediate action to halt the violence and allow life-saving aid into the besieged territory. In a statement released late Monday, ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire, civilian protection, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid. 'Genuine political will is urgently needed to stop the bloodshed and resume the truce in Gaza,' Spoljaric stated. 'Civilians must be protected from the ravages of war, and the safe and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid must be facilitated.' She described the current situation as 'devastating,' warning that all limits have been crossed and that any further delay in ending hostilities is unacceptable. The ICRC reaffirmed its commitment to its humanitarian mission in Gaza, which includes providing medical care and essential supplies to those affected by the ongoing war. For 71 days, the Israeli occupation forces have maintained a strict blockade on Gaza, severely limiting the entry of food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid. This has coincided with the resumption of military aggression and what observers have described as a campaign of genocide for the 54th consecutive day, following the Israeli occupation's violation of the ceasefire agreement on March 18. The population of Gaza is enduring a crippling humanitarian crisis, facing acute shortages of food, clean water, and basic necessities. Bakeries have been closed for over 41 days, while more than 2.25 million residents remain at risk of famine amid ongoing airstrikes, mass displacement, and an unrelenting siege. The ICRC's call adds to mounting international pressure for an immediate ceasefire and renewed protection for civilians trapped in one of the world's most severe humanitarian emergencies. Shortlink for this post:
Egypt Today
12-04-2025
- Health
- Egypt Today
Red Cross chief describes humanitarian situation in Gaza as hell on earth
Gaza under Israeli aggression - file CAIRO - 12 April 2025: The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, described the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip as "hell on earth," warning that supplies at the organization's field hospital would run out within two weeks, Palestinian news agency (WAFA) said on Saturday. "We now find ourselves in a situation I would have to describe as hell on earth," Spoljaric said from the organization's Geneva headquarters. "People have no access to water, electricity, or food in many areas." She added that supplies were dangerously low. "For six weeks, nothing has entered, so within two weeks we will run out of the supplies we need to keep the hospital running." The World Health Organization (WHO) said that supplies of antibiotics and blood bags were rapidly running out. Richard Peeperkorn, the WHO representative in the Palestinian territories, told reporters in Geneva via video link from Jerusalem that 22 of the 36 hospitals in the Strip were operating at a minimum level. The ICRC president also expressed concern about the safety of humanitarian operations. "Moving people is extremely dangerous, but it is particularly dangerous for our work," Spoljaric said.
Gulf Today
12-04-2025
- Health
- Gulf Today
Gaza 'hell on earth' as hospital supplies running out, warns Red Cross
The president of the Red Cross described the humanitarian situation in Gaza on Friday as "hell on earth" and warned that its field hospital will run out of supplies within two weeks. "We are now finding ourselves in a situation that I have to describe as hell on earth ...People don't have access to water, electricity, food, in many parts," Mirjana Spoljaric told Reuters at the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. No new humanitarian supplies have entered the Palestinian enclave since Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks on March 2, as talks stalled on the next stage of a now broken truce. Israel resumed its military assault on March 18. Rescuers give first aid treatment to a man injured when an Israeli strike hit a building in Gaza City, in the yard of the Al Ahli Arab Hospital. AFP Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said 25,000 aid trucks had entered Gaza in the 42 days of the ceasefire and that Hamas had used the aid to rebuild its war machine, an allegation which the group has denied. Spoljaric said supplies were running critically low. "For six weeks, nothing has come in, so we will, in a couple of weeks' time, run out of supplies that we need to keep the hospital going," she said. Palestinians make their way with belongings as they flee areas in the eastern part of Gaza City, after the Israeli army issued evacuation orders, on Friday. Reuters The World Health Organisation said supplies of antibiotics and blood bags were dwindling fast. Twenty-two out of 36 hospitals in the enclave are only minimally functional, Dr. Rik Peeperkorn told reporters in Geneva via video link in Jerusalem. The Red Cross president also raised concern about the safety of humanitarian operations. "It is extremely dangerous for the population to move, but it's especially also dangerous for us to operate," Spoljaric said. In March, the bodies of 15 emergency and aid workers, including eight members of the Palestinian Red Crescent, were found buried in a mass grave in southern Gaza. The UN and Red Crescent accused Israeli forces of killing them. Spoljaric called for an immediate ceasefire in order to release the remaining hostages held by Hamas and to address grave humanitarian issues in Gaza. Reuters
