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Artificial Intelligence
(UN News) UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday urged governments and technology companies to work together to ensure artificial intelligence (AI) benefits all countries. He warned that without international cooperation the technology could widen global inequality instead of advancing sustainable development. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, Mr. Guterres described AI as “humanity’s greatest opportunity in the 21st century”, but cautioned that it could also become “one of its greatest risks”. “Technology that will shape the future of humanity must be shaped by all of humanity”, he said, stressing that AI governance “cannot be governed by a handful of countries or companies” and that “every nation needs a seat at the table”. – Guterres: AI must be shaped by ‘all of humanity’, not a handful of powers | UN News
Djibouti
(UN News) More than 256,000 people in Djibouti – around 25 per cent of the population – are likely to face crisis or emergency level hunger over the coming months, a UN-backed global food monitoring network warned in a new report released Friday. “Urgent actions are more than necessary to reduce consumption deficits and vulnerability and strengthen the resilience of affected households to prevent their food situation from shifting to higher levels of severe hunger,” according to new analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) index. The latest data reflects a significant increase from the previous May to June period, the report found. Most of the affected people are refugees living in the Ali Addeh and Holl-Holl camps where households remain largely dependent on food assistance. Nearly 70 per cent of their population, over 21,000 people, have been classified under the crisis level or above, the report said. – Djibouti: Emergency alert spotlights sharp hunger spike | UN News
Sudan
(UN News) UN humanitarians working in war-torn Sudan on Friday highlighted rapidly growing needs among the more than 100,000 displaced people now sheltering in camps in the city of El Obeid. “We are providing even not the full food ration to the people, but even that reduced food ration is being shared by the recipients with other families, because they know that they don’t have any other source of income,” said World Food Programme (WFP) Sudan Country Director, Abdallah Alwardat. – Hunger deepens for displaced families in Sudan’s El Obeid | UN News
Ukraine
(Ray Furlong and RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service – RFRE/RL) The man nominated to be Ukraine’s new defense minister is steeped in experience with special forces, drone technology, and the new ways of warfare. But Yevhen Khmara has stepped into a role where he’ll need the political skills to manage potentially tense relations with the Ukrainian general staff amid ongoing protests against the removal of his predecessor, Mykhaylo Fedorov. “We know that he comes from special ops with a very good track record,” Tymofiy Mylovanov, head of the Kyiv School of Economics, told RFE/RL, describing Khmara as “direct, straight, very technocratic…some people from the government have a crush on him”. One former officer of Ukraine’s security service, the SBU, said that Khmara spent 90 percent of his time at or near the front line. – Zelenskyy’s New Defense Chief Has Combat Kudos, But Faces Tough Political Challenge
US – Iran – Middle East – Gulf
(RFE/RL) US strikes on Iran widened early on July 18 from the Strait of Hormuz hotspot to multiple sites throughout central and southern Iran, including through the use of jet fighters, while Iran continued to pound US Gulf allies, as a fragile cease-fire further tattered. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces “launched a round of strikes against Iran…for the seventh consecutive night. The strikes are designed to continue degrading Iranian military capabilities at the Commander in Chief’s direction”. Some six-and-a-half hours later, 5 a.m. Iran time, CENTCOM said the wave of attacks had been concluded. CENTCOM said it “hit surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage, and maritime capabilities. US forces employed fighter aircraft, aerial drones, and warships in addition to other assets”. The announcements came amid reports that traffic through the crucial Strait of Hormuz had dwindled to almost nothing amid multiple actions by US forces and missile launches by the Iranian side. – New US Attacks On Roads, Bridges Reported As Iran Hits Back At Gulf States
(Alex Raufoglu – RFE/RL) Military operations between the US and Iran have renewed attention on the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s seaborne oil trade usually passes. Despite a significant US military presence, shipping companies remain reluctant to transit the strait, highlighting a reality that extends beyond naval power: the greatest challenge may be restoring confidence among commercial operators. RFE/RL spoke with naval strategist and maritime security analyst Joshua Tallis, a research program director at the Center for Naval Analyses, about the evolving military balance, Iran’s asymmetric capabilities, freedom of navigation, diplomacy, and what success would actually look like in the Strait of Hormuz. – Reopening Hormuz Strait Easier Than Restoring Confidence, Naval Analyst Tallis Says
(UN News) The UN Secretary-General remains deeply concerned by the continuing deadly military escalation between Iran and the United States, his spokesperson said on Friday as attacks destroyed key civilian and military infrastructure across the Gulf region. “He is particularly concerned about attacks on civilian infrastructure in Iran and across the region,” said UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. “Such attacks are unacceptable”. A month ago, Tehran and Washington signed a Memorandum of Understanding following the launch of an intense bombing campaign by the US and Israel in late February. – US-Iran war: UN chief calls for new diplomatic push following attacks on civilian areas | UN News
Tech World, Cybersecurity, and Surveillance
(DigWatch) Anthropic has launched Claude for Teachers, offering verified K-12 educators in the US free access to premium Claude features, teaching skills and curriculum-aligned resources. The product is designed to help teachers plan lessons, adapt materials, differentiate instruction and manage classroom workflows. Claude for Teachers connects to Learning Commons, giving it access to academic standards across all 50 US states and related learning competencies. – Introducing Claude for Teachers \ Anthropic
(DigWatch) Visa has outlined a future in which traditional card networks and stablecoins play complementary roles in AI-driven commerce. A joint report by Visa and blockchain analytics firm Artemis examines how AI agents are beginning to make payments, drawing on live on-chain data and emerging payment protocols. The report divides agentic commerce into two broad categories. In macro-commerce, AI agents act on behalf of people in transactions such as travel bookings, subscriptions or other consumer purchases. Visa says those payments resemble ordinary e-commerce and remain well-suited to card networks. In micro-commerce, software systems make small and frequent payments to other software systems, often for API access or computing resources. – Visa explores hybrid future for AI-driven payments | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) OpenAI has called for closer alignment between US state and federal AI safety efforts, arguing that a common framework is needed to govern frontier AI systems. In a policy blog post, the company said recent frontier AI legislation in California, New York and Illinois shows how states can help create a shared baseline before a single federal framework is in place. OpenAI describes this process as ‘reverse federalism’, where state laws move in similar directions and gradually shape a de facto national standard. – OpenAI calls for aligned US AI safety framework | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) The Government of India has approved Semicon 2.0, a long-term strategy worth Rs. 1.275 trillion (approximately €13 billion) to accelerate the development of the country’s semiconductor design and manufacturing ecosystem. Building on Semicon 1.0, the programme aims to strengthen India’s position across the semiconductor value chain through sustained public investment, industrial incentives and workforce development. The strategy is organised around six pillars, such as semiconductor design, manufacturing equipment and materials, fabrication facilities, advanced packaging technologies, research and development, and talent development. – India approves €13 billion Semicon 2.0 strategy | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) A surge in AI infrastructure investment could widen the US current account deficit by increasing demand for imported high-technology equipment, according to a Federal Reserve research note. The note says the US AI buildout depends heavily on imports of advanced inputs, with about 90% of equipment goods used in high-technology sectors sourced from abroad. Suppliers are concentrated in East Asia, where economies specialise in semiconductors and related hardware. – Federal Reserve note warns of AI import dependence | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Ofcom has published its 2026 Use of Age Assurance Report, finding that age-assurance measures have expanded rapidly over the past year while calling for further action to strengthen online protections for children under the UK’s Online Safety Act. The report examines the first six months after child protection duties took effect in July 2025, covering pornography, social media and online dating services. Ofcom said highly effective age assurance can significantly improve child safety, although no single method can completely prevent circumvention. – Ofcom says age checks expand but more action needed | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) Microsoft and 3M have announced a strategic partnership covering AI data centre infrastructure and the deployment of Microsoft AI tools across 3M’s business operations. Microsoft Azure will become the first hyperscale cloud provider to deploy 3M’s Expanded Beam Optical technology, which is designed to improve the physical connectivity needed for expanding cloud and AI workloads. Unlike conventional fibre connectors that rely on direct physical contact, the technology uses an expanded optical beam, making connections more resistant to dust and contamination during installation and maintenance. Microsoft said early deployments suggest the technology could shorten network installation times in some environments while maintaining reliable signal performance under typical data centre conditions. – Microsoft and 3M partner on AI data centre infrastructure | Digital Watch Observatory
(DigWatch) The Illinois State Board of Education has published comprehensive guidance on the use of AI in schools, while also disclosing that the 409-page document was itself developed with assistance from multiple AI models alongside human review. The guidance was prepared following legislation adopted in 2025, with contributions from education, technology and public policy experts. Initial drafts drew ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini, while human reviewers edited, verified and refined the final document. – Illinois issues AI guidance for schools with AI-assisted drafting disclosed | Digital Watch Observatory
