The development of new technologies of warfare, including autonomous weapons or ”killer robots” and cyberwarfare, raised fundamental concerns about the acceptability of allowing machines to independently take life-and-death decisions, the First Committee (Disarmament and International Security) heard today.
Despite persistent challenges, Somalia was going through "unprecedented change and optimism" which must be turned into stable progress through unified efforts by all stakeholders, the Secretary-General's Special Representative for that country told the Security Council this morning.
Reaffirming that Haiti was at an “important juncture” in the consolidation of stability and democracy, the Security Council today extended the mandate of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) until 15 October 2015.
While reiterating demands for progress between the parties on outstanding issues, the Security Council this morning extended the mandate of the United Nations Interim Security Force for the disputed Abyei area bordering Sudan and South Sudan until 28 February 2015.
As discussions begin shaping the post-2015 development agenda, women must have a strong presence to cement the intrinsic link between achieving gender equality worldwide and the global goals of sustainable development and eradication of poverty, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural), heard today during the second day of its thematic debate.
The General Assembly should continue considering sustainable urbanization in the post-2015 agenda and promote it as a transformational force for achieving and advancing sustainable national development, the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) heard today as delegates met to consider the implementation of the outcome of the United Nations Conference on Human Settlements (Habitat II) and strengthening of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat).
Reaffirming its commitment to eradicating the scourge of colonialism, the Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) today concluded its annual consideration of the question of decolonization, and forwarded 11 draft resolutions to the General Assembly, six of which were approved without a vote.
Divergent views on the nature of its role and agenda emerged today, as the Sixth Committee (Legal) took up the work of the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization.
The Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) today examined the status of construction projects at the Economic Commission for Africa, as well as oversight issues across the United Nations system, including its exposure to fraud risks.
In the Security Council today, officials of the United Nations and affected countries alike continued to sound the alarm on the devastating effects of the Ebola epidemic, pleading for international action that matched the magnitude of the scourge and expressing gratitude for the international aid that had already been delivered or pledged.
