Drought data shows “unprecedented emergency" for 1.84 billion people
Almost a quarter of the world faces human-induced drought, and 85% of those live in low- or middle-income countries.
SciTech Diplomacy
The pandemic showed the need to combine science, technology and diplomacy to reach equitable and global solutions. Advances in quantum computing, advanced AI, and other fast-moving fronts point to a demand for more international cooperation while navigating geopolitical tensions in pursuit of opportunities. Follow SciTech Diplomacy via our list @aretenews.bsky.social.
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Majority of nations pass measure setting up U.N. vote on 'killer robots'
The first-of-its-kind provision cites an “urgent need for the international community to address the challenges and concerns raised by autonomous weapons systems."
Geneva gains new quantum institute and science diplomacy curriculum
Each of the Geneva-based global initiatives developed by the GESDA Foundation won pledges of millions of Swiss francs.
UPU closes fourth 'Extraordinary Congress' in Riyadh on digital future
The talks centered on climate, financial services and more cooperation among governments and private partners.
Switzerland, Sweden and U.S. top WIPO's global innovation rankings
But the world's five biggest science and technology clusters are now in East Asia; Japan's is the largest and China has the most.
U.N.-led transfer of oil averts disaster off Yemen's Red Sea coast
The ship-to-ship transfer extracted as much of the 1.14 million barrels of oil as possible, leaving under 2% aboard.
U.N. starts unloading oil from Yemen tanker to prevent disaster
Without U.N. intervention, the tanker could have released as much as four times the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez in 1989.
Deep-sea mining emerges as a flashpoint in shift from fossil fuels
Mining the deep seas: The best way forward to a green energy transition, or a looming environmental disaster?
Diplomats examine AI risks to peace and potential for global oversight
British diplomats are leading a push at the U.N. that could be a starting point for a multilateral approach to regulating AI.
AI robots say they won't rebel but can run world better than humans
Nine social robots, flanked by their creators, offered mixed responses to reporters' questions about their future role in society and how strictly they should be regulated.
U.N. chief backs creation of a new international AI watchdog agency
A new organization to supervise artificial intelligence could be modeled after the U.N. atomic watchdog agency, created in response to nuclear technology.
U.N. stalemate over autonomous weapons enters second decade
Delegates in Geneva mustered a non-binding report that essentially prolongs a decade-old geopolitical impasse.
DIANA makes low-key entrance as NATO’s DARPA-style innovation hub
The new technology accelerator from NATO quietly began taking shape a year before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
At U.N. forum, Swiss promote science and diplomacy for solutions
In the shadow of war in Europe, the first-ever Swiss-led U.N. Security Council "open debate" mirrored GESDA's brand of anticipatory science and diplomacy as a 21st century solution.
Zoonomia Project reveals genetic blueprint of 240 species of mammals
The collaboration found some parts of genomes remained the same for all mammalian species over millions of years of evolution, indicating regulatory functions essential to health.
News consortium reveals trove of data on Russian cyber strategies
The Vulkan Files show Russian intelligence and a defense contractor sought ways to launch cyberattacks and spread disinformation, including two potential hacking targets in Switzerland.