Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC  — The White House has unveiled an accord with leading technology companies outlining a voluntary framework for strengthening safeguards around the development and deployment of advanced artificial intelligence systems. Titled the “White House Accord on Super Intelligence: Joint Commitment on Frontier Responsibilities,” the agreement calls on companies developing and deploying frontier AI models to establish robust internal controls, independent evaluations and board-level oversight.

The accord says companies have a responsibility to develop their technologies safely and in a manner that builds trust among customers and the public. It identifies four layers of controls and audits that participating companies should implement.

The first layer involves internal controls designed to monitor the capabilities and alignment of AI models during both training and deployment. The controls would cover risks involving cybersecurity, biosecurity and chemical threats, while also seeking to prevent AI systems from accessing or hacking technical systems in unintended ways.

The second layer calls for companies to establish dedicated internal teams responsible for ensuring that safety controls, monitoring and detection systems are functioning as intended. Those teams would also be responsible for ensuring that identified problems are addressed.

The third layer involves independent external auditors or evaluators. These outside reviewers would assess whether a company’s controls, monitoring and detection mechanisms are operating properly.

The fourth layer would place responsibility at the board level, with companies designating an independent board committee to oversee the safety framework and receive reports from internal teams and external auditors. The committee would also monitor the remediation of problems identified through the oversight process.

According to the accord, the four-layer system is intended to provide companies, their customers and the public with greater confidence that advanced AI technologies are operating as intended. Participating companies are also expected to meet regularly to develop common standards and best practices aimed at improving the safety of their systems.

The document leaves open the possibility that the measures could eventually become part of formal government regulation. It states that, over time, it may be appropriate to codify the safeguards into laws or regulations, while emphasizing that the companies are committed to implementing the controls regardless of whether they are legally required.

The agreement was released following a White House meeting with leading technology executives on September 29. Reporting on the accord identifies Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, OpenAI President Greg Brockman, xAI CEO Elon Musk and Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang among the participating executives.

The accord focuses specifically on governance, monitoring and auditing of increasingly capable AI systems, rather than establishing detailed technical standards or specific implementation deadlines.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is set to announce a major restructuring of the U.S. military’s senior leadership, with the Pentagon planning to reduce the number of positions reserved for generals and admirals by 20%. The announcement is part of Hegseth’s broader effort to restructure the military’s senior ranks and reduce what the administration views as unnecessary layers of leadership. The planned reduction doubles the 10% cut ordered last year.

Hegseth is expected to outline the changes during his “State of the Force” address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia on Wednesday. Pentagon officials say the reduction will apply across the military services and is expected to be completed by January 1, 2027.

According to reporting based on Pentagon officials, the plan concerns positions for one- to four-star generals and admirals. Some positions are expected to be eliminated, while others could be downgraded so they can be filled by officers at lower ranks.

The Pentagon’s latest move follows Hegseth’s May 2025 directive ordering reductions in senior military positions. That directive included a minimum 20% reduction in active-duty four-star positions, a minimum 20% reduction in National Guard general officers and an additional 10% reduction through changes to the military’s unified command structure.

The latest plan would bring the overall reduction in general and flag officer positions to 20%, according to Pentagon officials cited by AP. The military currently has roughly 800 such positions, meaning the changes could affect about 170 positions.

The restructuring comes as the Pentagon continues to review the organization and priorities of the U.S. armed forces. Hegseth has argued that reducing senior-level bureaucracy will allow the military to focus more resources and attention on operational readiness. The plan is expected to be implemented across the Army, Navy, Air Force and the broader joint military structure.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — United Nations General Assembly President Dr. Khalilur Rahman called for urgent action to reduce nuclear risks and eliminate nuclear weapons, declaring that nuclear disarmament must remain the world’s highest disarmament priority. Speaking Tuesday at a high-level plenary meeting at UN Headquarters in New York to commemorate the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons, Rahman warned that the global nuclear threat remains serious and is being compounded by growing geopolitical tensions and emerging technologies.

“The starting point must be a simple truth, reaffirmed in the Pact for the Future: a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” Rahman said.

He noted that the global nuclear inventory stood at more than 12,000 warheads as of January 2026, with an estimated 2,100 to 2,200 maintained on high operational alert. He also warned that, for the first time since the end of the Cold War, the global stockpile is expected to grow again as new warheads enter arsenals faster than older ones are dismantled.

Growing nuclear risks

Rahman said new technologies, including artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and advanced delivery systems, are creating additional uncertainty around nuclear command, control and decision-making. He also pointed to the expiration of the New START treaty on February 5, 2026, saying that, for the first time since 1972, there are no binding limits on strategic nuclear arsenals.

The 2026 Review Conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty also ended without a consensus outcome, marking the third consecutive Review Conference to do so, according to Rahman.

“These are not abstract diplomatic setbacks,” Rahman said. “They increase the risks of arms racing, escalation, and catastrophic miscalculation.”

Four areas for action

Rahman called for action on four fronts: restoring dialogue and safeguards, strengthening the international nuclear non-proliferation system, reducing and ultimately eliminating nuclear arsenals, and mobilizing the public around nuclear disarmament. He urged nuclear powers to return to negotiations and establish frameworks that provide verifiable limits, transparency and predictability. He also called for stronger crisis communication and measures to reduce nuclear risks.

The General Assembly president reaffirmed the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the role of the International Atomic Energy Agency in safeguards and verification. He also called on states that have not signed or ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty to do so and urged all countries to maintain the moratorium on nuclear weapons testing.

‘Highest disarmament priority’

Rahman said nuclear-weapon states should take concrete, transparent, verifiable and irreversible steps toward disarmament, including reducing the role of nuclear weapons in security doctrines and lowering their operational readiness.

He also highlighted the role of survivors, civil society, young people, scientists and educators in keeping the human consequences of nuclear weapons at the center of international discussions. Despite the continuing risks, Rahman pointed to progress in nuclear disarmament, noting that the global inventory has fallen from roughly 70,000 warheads in 1986 to about 12,000 today.

“If the United Nations is to get back to basics – to prevent the scourge of war – then nuclear disarmament must remain our highest disarmament priority, just as it was at the birth of this Organization,” Rahman said. He urged governments to restore safeguards, reduce nuclear risks and work toward a world free of nuclear weapons.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC — President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched America.gov, a new digital platform designed to provide Americans with a single entry point to federal government information and services, as the administration seeks to simplify how people interact with the U.S. government. The platform was unveiled September 29 in Washington alongside an executive order directing the establishment of America.gov as a unified digital “front door” for Americans seeking federal information and covered online services.

The administration says America.gov uses artificial intelligence and information drawn from government websites to help users find answers and navigate federal services through a conversational interface. The U.S. General Services Administration said America.gov combines information from more than 29,000 government websites with AI-enhanced search technology, allowing users to find information and guidance without having to navigate a fragmented network of individual agency websites.

The executive order says Americans have traditionally been required to search across multiple federal agencies, interpret government terminology, provide the same information repeatedly and verify their identities through different systems. America.gov is intended to change that process by providing a single digital point of entry through which users can communicate in plain language, receive information and, where authorized and technically available, complete federal government transactions.

AI-powered access to federal services

The new platform is designed to allow users to describe what they need rather than determine which federal agency is responsible for providing the service. The GSA said the platform can help users find information about government benefits, passport services, Social Security and other federal needs. The administration’s executive order directs federal agencies to identify qualifying online services and integrate them with America.gov in a secure and privacy-preserving manner.

The order also calls for the integration of Login.gov as the authentication service for America.gov. Under the plan, agencies will continue to maintain control over their own records, systems, statutory responsibilities and decision-making authority. The order specifically states that the unified access system is not intended to create a centralized federal system of records about Americans. Privacy protections are also included in the order, including data minimization, secure authentication, auditable authorization and disclosure practices consistent with federal law.

Passport services among planned features

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said at the launch event that the State Department is partnering with America.gov to overhaul the passport application experience. Rubio announced that, beginning next year, Americans will be able to apply for their first U.S. passport entirely online. Applicants will be able to sign in through Login.gov, use information already held by the government where available, submit a photograph from a phone or other device, make a payment and track the status of the application. Rubio said the administration’s goal is for the vast majority of Americans to be able to apply for a passport or passport card through America.gov by the end of 2027.

Agencies given 90 days for implementation guidance

The executive order directs the Office of Management and Budget to issue implementation guidance to federal agencies within 90 days. Agencies will then be required to identify covered services, integrate those services with America.gov where appropriate and provide usage and performance information to the General Services Administration and OMB. The order defines covered services generally as public-facing federal services that serve more than 100,000 users during a 12-month period and can be accessed or applied for online. The order excludes Internal Revenue Service tax filing services, as well as services provided by the Department of War and elements of the Intelligence Community.

Existing government services will remain available

The administration says America.gov is intended to provide an additional, simplified way to access federal services rather than eliminate existing methods. The executive order specifically preserves existing lawful methods of obtaining government services, including in-person, telephone, mail and agency-specific digital services. That means Americans will not be required to use America.gov as the sole method of interacting with the federal government.

New passport design planned for 2028

Rubio also unveiled the planned design of a new U.S. passport expected in 2028. The redesigned passport features the American eagle and the Great Seal and includes artwork depicting major moments in U.S. history. Rubio said the new passport will visually represent 250 years of American history, with imagery ranging from the Revolutionary era and westward expansion to aviation, the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima and the Artemis space program. The State Department also plans to change how the passport is packaged and delivered.

America.gov represents broader government technology push

The launch comes as the Trump administration expands its focus on artificial intelligence and digital technology as tools for government services. The new website is currently centered on AI-assisted information access, while additional transaction capabilities are expected to be introduced as federal agencies integrate their services with the platform.

The administration has described America.gov as a fundamental shift toward organizing government services around the needs of citizens rather than around the structure of federal agencies. For Americans, the intended result is a single digital starting point for finding federal information, understanding available services and eventually completing more government transactions online.

New York — Nearly 8.3 million refugees and forcibly displaced people could lose access to essential assistance this year as the United Nations refugee agency faces a severe funding shortfall, the UNHCR warned Tuesday. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said it is facing a $5.789 billion funding gap for 2026, with humanitarian needs continuing to rise while donor contributions decline.

According to a new UNHCR report cited by Reuters, the agency had received only 32 percent of the $8.505 billion it estimated it would need for 2026 as of July. Funding available to UNHCR fell by 24 percent between 2024 and 2025, contributing to what the agency described as one of the most serious financial crises in its history. UNHCR expects the number of people under its mandate to reach 131.2 million by the end of 2026, up from 129.4 million at the end of last year.

The agency warned that further reductions could affect refugee registration, child-protection programs and services for survivors of gender-based violence. In Chad, where large numbers of refugees have fled violence in neighboring Sudan, approximately 319,000 people face delays in registration, while around 200,000 women and girls could lose access to safe spaces and prevention programs.

Sudan remains one of the world’s largest displacement emergencies. UNHCR said approximately 140,000 refugees and asylum-seekers in Sudan were still unregistered by the middle of the year after registration operations were suspended for several months. The funding crisis is also affecting assistance for people returning to Afghanistan.

UNHCR grants for returning Afghans have been reduced from $375 to $170 per person, while more than one million people have returned to the country this year following forced or voluntary returns from neighboring Iran and Pakistan. The agency has already taken significant cost-cutting measures. Its workforce was reduced by 33 percent in 2025, while offices were closed in 140 locations and operations were discontinued in 15 countries compared with 2024.

UNHCR also warned that an increasing proportion of donor funding is earmarked for specific purposes, limiting the agency’s ability to redirect resources toward emergencies as they arise. The proportion of tightly earmarked donor funding has risen to 51 percent in 2026, compared with 19 percent five years ago, according to the agency.

UNHCR said the consequences of continued underfunding could extend beyond reduced services, potentially weakening refugee protection systems and leaving more displaced people without documentation or access to essential support. The warning comes as global displacement remains near record levels, putting additional pressure on governments and humanitarian organizations already struggling with limited resources.

Shibbir AHmed, New York — Developing countries are calling for a greater role in shaping the global rules governing artificial intelligence, warning that the rapid expansion of AI could deepen existing economic inequalities if decisions about the technology remain concentrated in wealthy nations. The issue emerged prominently during discussions surrounding the 2026 United Nations General Assembly in New York, where leaders and officials from Africa, Asia and Latin America argued that developing countries should not be left simply to adopt technologies and standards designed elsewhere.

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, foreign minister of the Democratic Republic of Congo, said developing countries should have a meaningful role in establishing international standards and norms for artificial intelligence. She warned that technological changes could reproduce longstanding economic inequalities unless countries in the developing world have a voice in determining how AI is governed.

The debate comes as governments and technology companies accelerate the development of increasingly powerful AI systems, while policymakers grapple with questions involving safety, economic disruption, employment, security and access to technology. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has compared the challenges posed by artificial intelligence with other major global risks, emphasizing the need for international cooperation and attention to power imbalances.

A UN Security Council discussion on artificial intelligence also brought technology leaders into the conversation. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei were among those discussing the importance of international cooperation on AI safety. For developing countries, however, the debate extends beyond safety.

Officials from those countries are increasingly focused on access to computing infrastructure, investment, digital skills, data, economic opportunities and participation in the institutions that will establish AI standards. The World Bank and International Monetary Fund have highlighted the potential economic benefits of AI for developing economies, while also warning that unequal access could widen the technological divide.

The stakes are particularly significant in Africa, Asia and Latin America, where governments are seeking to use AI to improve public services, education, health care, agriculture and economic productivity while confronting limited technological infrastructure.

The discussions at the United Nations therefore reflect a broader question about who will shape the next generation of global technology rules. As AI development accelerates, developing countries are pressing for an international framework in which they participate not only as consumers of artificial intelligence but also as decision-makers in determining how the technology is developed, governed and deployed.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, DC — The Trump administration announced a new visa restriction policy Monday aimed at pressuring foreign officials to help resolve international parental child abduction cases involving children taken across international borders.

The policy targets foreign government officials, judges, judicial administrators, law enforcement officials and others who are determined to be responsible for, or complicit in, intentionally obstructing the prompt resolution of international parental child abduction cases.

Under the new policy, the United States may restrict visa issuance to individuals who intentionally fail to implement or comply with laws, policies or court orders intended to resolve such cases and facilitate the return of children to their country of habitual residence. The restrictions may also apply to the immediate family members of targeted individuals. The State Department said the policy provides the department with an additional accountability tool to encourage countries to meet their obligations and cooperate in resolving cases.

“The Department proactively works to prevent abductions and facilitate the quick and safe return of abducted children to their country of habitual residence,” the department said in its announcement.

The administration said the policy is intended to strengthen U.S. efforts to protect American children abducted across international borders and reunite them with their parents. The State Department also said the measures are intended to promote accountability when countries fail to meet their obligations under international law. The new visa restrictions are being implemented pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The department emphasized that the United States remains committed to protecting the safety and well-being of American children involved in international parental child abduction cases.

Shibbir AHmed, New York — World leaders and senior officials are continuing high-level diplomatic discussions at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, with conflicts, artificial intelligence, climate change, development and international cooperation remaining central issues.

The General Assembly’s high-level week, which runs through September 28, has brought together leaders and representatives from across the world to address major global challenges and debate the future of multilateral cooperation.

The General Debate is scheduled to continue on September 28, following several days of speeches and diplomatic meetings focused on international security, regional conflicts, economic development and emerging global challenges.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as an important issue during this year’s UN discussions. Secretary-General António Guterres has called for stronger international governance of AI and warned that technological developments are moving faster than existing global institutions can respond.

The UN has also placed conflicts and international diplomacy at the center of the General Assembly agenda as governments seek diplomatic approaches to ongoing crises, including tensions in the Middle East. The UN General Assembly’s 81st session is being chaired by Bangladesh’s Khalilur Rahman. The session’s theme is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: A United Nations that delivers for all.”

A major UN meeting taking place today, September 28, is commemorating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, which focuses on combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

The high-level week has also included meetings on climate action, sea-level rise and pandemic preparedness, reflecting the broad range of issues being addressed by the international community.

As the high-level portion of the General Assembly concludes, diplomatic attention remains focused on how governments can address conflicts, technological risks and other global challenges through international cooperation.

NEW YORK — A powerful nor’easter continued to batter the U.S. Northeast on Sunday, bringing coastal flooding, strong winds, heavy rain and power outages from New Jersey through New England. The slow-moving storm pounded coastal communities for a second consecutive day, with tidal surges flooding low-lying neighborhoods in New Jersey while strong winds brought down trees and utility poles on New York’s Long Island.

Some areas of New Jersey received more than 4 inches of rain since Friday. The combination of heavy rainfall and rising ocean water produced significant flooding in several coastal communities, with some residents reporting water entering homes and businesses.

More than 100,000 customers across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic were without power at times Sunday, while numerous flights were canceled or delayed. Boston Logan International Airport reported more than 250 cancellations by late Sunday morning as strong winds affected the region.

The National Weather Service said the storm was gradually weakening but warned that tidal flooding could continue through additional high-tide cycles. Local officials in New Jersey and New York also warned that another high tide could bring further flooding Monday.

The storm also generated dangerous surf and coastal erosion concerns along the Atlantic shoreline. Forecasters expected the remaining heavy rain to affect parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic as the system moved through the region. The nor’easter’s impact has brought renewed concerns for vulnerable coastal communities still dealing with the effects of repeated flooding and severe weather events.

Shibbir Ahmed, New York — Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla has warned that growing military and economic pressure in Latin America and the Caribbean is threatening international law, while accusing the United States of intensifying its longstanding campaign to isolate and weaken Cuba.

Addressing the General Debate of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, Rodríguez Parrilla said the international system was facing a rise in what he described as “expansionism, usurpation, plunder” and military and economic aggression.

He argued that fundamental principles of the UN Charter, including the sovereign equality of states, were under increasing pressure. The Cuban foreign minister called for the United Nations to be strengthened and made “more democratic and effective,” with a closer connection to the people it serves.

Cuba accuses US of economic pressure

A major part of Rodríguez Parrilla’s address focused on Cuba’s decades-long confrontation with Washington. He accused the United States of escalating economic pressure on Cuba since January, including what he called an “energy blockade” and efforts to discourage other countries from exporting fuel to the island. According to the Cuban minister, more than 7,000 containers were stranded in ports, including shipments containing food, medicines and medical equipment. He said some of the shipments had already been paid for by Cuban private companies.

Rodríguez Parrilla also accused Washington of putting pressure on foreign investors, restricting tourism and limiting Cuba’s access to financing, technology and international markets. He further criticized US efforts to discourage governments from maintaining arrangements under which Cuban medical professionals provide healthcare overseas.

“The economic warfare is aimed against the people,” Rodríguez Parrilla said, characterizing the alleged impact on Cuban families as deliberate “collective punishment.” He rejected claims that Cuba poses a threat to US national security.

“Cuba is not a threat; the blockade is!” he declared.

Havana says it remains open to dialogue

Despite his criticism of US policy, Rodríguez Parrilla said Cuba remained willing to engage in dialogue with Washington. He said any negotiations should be based on sovereign equality, respect for international law, non-interference in domestic affairs and the absence of preconditions. The Cuban government has maintained for decades that the US economic embargo has imposed significant costs on the country’s economy, while Washington has defended its policies on various political and security grounds.

Cuba outlines changes at home

The foreign minister also highlighted changes Cuba is pursuing in response to its economic and social difficulties. He pointed to a new program adopted by the National People’s Power Assembly that introduces new economic practices, actors and concepts while maintaining Cuba’s constitutional framework and socialist system.

According to Rodríguez Parrilla, the process is intended to address the needs of the Cuban population while pursuing what he described as greater social justice and protecting the country’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.

Warning over militarization in Latin America

Turning to the wider region, Rodríguez Parrilla criticized what he described as attempts at militarization, intervention and domination in Latin America and the Caribbean. He rejected the Monroe Doctrine and referred to the region’s 2014 declaration as a Zone of Peace.

The Cuban foreign minister also expressed solidarity with Small Island Developing States facing the effects of climate change, reiterated Cuba’s support for Nicaragua, backed Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination, and supported calls for reparations to African and Caribbean nations over colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade.

Concluding his address, Rodríguez Parrilla warned that allowing powerful states to impose their will through intimidation and coercion would create an unstable international order. “The law of the jungle cannot be the future of humanity,” he told the General Assembly, urging countries to strengthen the United Nations and preserve its role in international affairs.