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As artificial intelligence reshapes power, the United Nations is struggling to keep pace. In a candid exchange, the Secretary-General acknowledged that global institutions lack leverage over technology powerful enough to influence elections, conflicts and societies. The result is an ambitious effort to set norms and warn of risks, even as enforcement remains beyond reach.

In a wide-ranging press conference at U.N. headquarters, Secretary-General António Guterres warned that global order is being reshaped by impunity, unchecked power and the erosion of international law. Acknowledging the United Nations’ limited leverage, he drew firm legal lines on conflicts from Gaza and Ukraine to Iran, Sudan and Syria, underscoring the growing gap between expectations of the UN and its ability to enforce its mandate.

The United Nations warned that rising antisemitism and unchecked hatred pose a growing global danger, as officials detailed worsening humanitarian crises from Gaza to South Sudan. During the Jan. 27 briefing, journalists pressed the spokesperson on Rafah access, Iran protests, military escalation in the Gulf and early maneuvering around the next Secretary-General, exposing the tension between diplomatic caution and political urgency.

Europe’s response to Trump’s pressure over Greenland marks more than a diplomatic dispute. It reflects a deeper shift in transatlantic relations, as trust erodes, strategic autonomy rises, and long-standing assumptions about American reliability are increasingly questioned.

The mood in the room followed a familiar rhythm. Reporters pushed for clarity; Dujarric answered calmly, direct when possible, cautious when necessary, and honest about uncertainty. The exchange was persistent but not hostile, circling around access, credibility and capacity. What emerged was a portrait of a UN under strain across multiple crises, yet still working to project steadiness, continuity and relevance.

Federal immigration agents fatally shot 37-year-old U.S. citizen Alex Pretti during an early-morning enforcement operation in south Minneapolis, setting off protests and renewed outrage over federal tactics. Officials say agents acted in self-defense, while witnesses and video dispute that account. Local leaders are demanding transparency as investigations begin and community trust fractures once again.

The UN’s Jan. 23 briefing balanced institutional reflection with field updates. Guterres marked ECOSOC’s 80th anniversary with a call to move from commitments to implementation, while officials reported worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza, limited progress in Syria’s Al-Hol camp, and grave allegations of killings in Iran. Updates from Colombia, Afghanistan, and Africa highlighted ongoing civilian risks and the slow, incremental nature of multilateral response.

President Donald Trump launched the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, presenting it as a new vehicle for conflict resolution beginning with Gaza. But behind the ceremony, diplomats voiced unease over how the initiative may intersect with the United Nations’ authority and existing mandates. Several governments are now weighing whether the new body complements global diplomacy or complicates it.

California Governor Gavin Newsom’s scheduled appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos was abruptly canceled after he was denied access to a U.S.-affiliated venue, an incident his office says followed political pressure linked to President Donald Trump. The disruption has raised fresh questions about political interference in international spaces and the boundaries of executive power beyond U.S. soil.

At the Jan. 22 UN briefing, officials outlined worsening crises from Gaza to Sudan while stressing continuity rather than reinvention. The exchange with journalists reflected a calm, procedural tone, with the spokesperson reinforcing Charter-based principles and the limits of what can be confirmed in real time. The UN’s posture came through as careful and steady — not dramatic, but persistent.