George Soros, a billionaire investor and philanthropist, has claimed that new technology is to blame for helping oppressive regimes like Russia or China exercise greater control.
Tuesday’s dinner for journalists was held on the sidelines to the World Economic Forum annual gathering in Davos. Soros stated that Russia and China were the biggest threats to democratic societies, thanks to “rapid technological development, particularly artificial intelligence”.
He said that AI “is especially good at producing instruments for control that help repressive regims and endanger open society.”
“COVID-19” also legitimized instruments of control, as they are really helpful in dealing with the virus.
Soros also spoke out on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war against Ukraine and Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s decision to double-down on his “zero Covid” policy. He said it was a huge mistake as it pushed China’s economic system into “freefall.”
Soros stated that climate change was rapidly becoming irreversible, and that it could lead to the end of civilization.
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John Kerry, U.S. climate ambassador, says that the U.S. is making progress in forming a group to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Kerry stated to The Associated Press that the two largest greenhouse gas emitters in the world are close to a consensus on the structure and the way decisions will be made during the World Economic Forum meeting held in Davos.
He stated that “we are going on to work with the practicalities of moving faster” in order to reduce carbon emissions. Kerry said that technology could be used to assist China in moving faster. Perhaps China could help us understand certain things better.
The agreement was reached at the U.N. Climate Summit in Glasgow, Scotland last year. China has agreed for the first time to reduce methane emissions. Kerry stated Tuesday that the group would also focus on reducing coal consumption.
Kerry said he believed climate change legislation was still possible in Congress. There is no movement or sign of progress.
Kerry was asked if he would resign soon as many speculated, given the stalled climate legislation in Congress. Kerry replied that “nobody will be in one position forever”, but that he didn’t plan to leave.
He said he is working towards the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Egypt, November.
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Yoon Suk Yeol’s top advisor says North Korea has not responded to his request to send COVID-19 vaccinations to the reclusive nation.
Na Kyung Won said to reporters that she was meeting officials from Red Cross and Gavi, an international vaccine group, in Davos (Switzerland) about ways to send coronavirus vaccines. Pyongyang, however, has remained silent.
Na said Tuesday to The Associated Press at the World Economic Forum that “we worry because North Korea does not open, frankly.”
North Korea claimed that the virus was not present during the COVID-19 pandemic before it acknowledged an outbreak on May 12. It has refused to receive vaccines from the U.N.-backed COVAX distribution system and has not accepted offers of medicine or other assistance from South Korea or the U.S.
Gavi, who runs COVAX along with its partners, stated that it has not received any requests from North Korea for COVID-19 vaccinations, but has given doses to the country.
The World Health Organization has asked for more information about the outbreak, but has not received a response.
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NATO’s head and leaders from several European countries agreed that Ukraine needs to be armed and bolstered as Russia is threatening its neighbor.
Kajsa Ollongren, the Dutch Defense Minister, said Tuesday that the European Union could join forces to provide the complex systems Ukraine requires.
Alexander De Croo, the Belgian Prime Minister, says that there should be greater coordination in deciding which weapons systems the 27-nation bloc requires to achieve its long-term security goals. Ollongren agreed.
North Macedonia President Stevo pendarovski said that while joint arms procurement is important in the long-term, it’s critical to assist Ukraine right now.
