Global Scans · Humans · Weekly Summary

• [New] The UN Human Rights Council adopted a resolution to protect the rights of older persons, recognising their vulnerability to climate change. IASPOINT
• [New] Nano - / micro-plastics (NMPs, diameter < 5 mm) pose significant risks to human health, ecosystems, and the global material cycle. Nature
• [New] By using non-lethal force, U.S. personnel can enforce laws and maintain order while respecting human rights and minimizing the potential for injury or death. MilitarySpot.com
• [New] There are decades of peer-reviewed scientific literature, including in-depth research at scientific institutions within Tanzania, highlighting the human health and ecological risks of pesticide and chemical agents. Beyond Pesticides Daily News Blog
• [New] An ambitious and credible 2040 climate target is not a threat to Europe's prosperity but a key opportunity to protect human health and ensure Europe's long-term competitiveness, security, and fairness. EPHA
• [New] Somalia is once again on the brink of humanitarian catastrophe, with 4.6 million people facing acute food insecurity and 1.8 million children under five expected to suffer from severe malnutrition in 2025. teleSURenglish
• [New] The development of robotaxis and humanoid robots could create new revenue streams for Tesla, diversifying its business model beyond traditional vehicle manufacturing. Noor Trends
• [New] Avian influenza A is circulating in wild birds, poultry and some mammals around the world, and occasional human infections following exposure to infected animals or contaminated environments are expected to occur. FluTrackers News and Information
• [New] Humanitarian Challenges: Despite diplomatic advances, Afghanistan faces severe humanitarian crises, including widespread drought impacting agriculture and livestock, which threatens the livelihoods of many. EDUREV.IN
• [New] In Europe, the proposed EU AI Act is poised to classify most healthcare AI systems as high-risk, meaning they will face strict requirements for risk assessment, documentation, transparency, and human oversight. Intersog Israel: Software Development Outsourcing & IT
• [New] The Canada Tariff Order purports to address an unusual and extraordinary threat in the form of the failure of Canada to do more to arrest, seize, detain, or otherwise intercept [drug trafficking organizations], other drug and human traffickers, criminals at large, and drugs. Industry Intelligence Inc.
• [New] China is betting that competition, especially in sports, will help accelerate advances in humanoid robotics and AI, turning its robot athletes into smarter, more stable, and more agile machines that could one day work in warehouses, elder care, or even the military. Gizmodo
• [New] As in the case of the Manhattan Project, the interests of US politicians in seeing their scientists develop the technology faster than anyone else is drowning out the warnings about the risks for humanity as a whole. The CDO TIMES
• [New] The scientific evidence demonstrates that current warming trends, if continued, will result in irreversible changes to Earth's climate system that will fundamentally alter human civilization's relationship with the natural environment for generations to come. Hot Topics
• [New] Climate change has emerged as the defining environmental and political challenge of 2025, with scientific evidence demonstrating that the planet is experiencing unprecedented warming patterns that threaten to fundamentally alter global ecosystems, economic systems, and human civilization itself. Hot Topics
• [New] The emphasis on autonomous underwater vehicles aligns with global trends in naval warfare, where unmanned systems are increasingly valued for their ability to operate in contested environments without risking human lives. India Sentinels
• [New] Asghari, 35, is among tens of thousands of Afghans whom Iran has deported home in the past few weeks, in the fallout of a conflict the United Nations says risks further destabilising Afghanistan, already battling a humanitarian crisis. Counter Extremism Project
• [New] The Resonance AI Framework by Capgemini helps leaders envision AI's potential, embed it into the foundation of their operations, and enable what Capgemini terms human-AI chemistry. Yahoo Finance
• [New] By choosing to dialog rather than dividing, Europe could trace a path towards once a truly shared security which includes the protection of human rights and the well-being of all its citizens. Fatshimetrie
• [New] In the next 20 years, humanity will confront multifaceted challenges requiring collaboration across disciplines, such as climate change, automation, and global health crises. eduKate Tuition Centre
• AGI - which ChatGPT maker OpenAI defines as AI systems that are generally smarter than humans - will enhance productivity by taking care of menial tasks to free up people for more abstract work and decision-making. Yahoo Tech
• To mitigate disease risks, a concerted global effort is needed to uncover seasonality patterns in mycobacterial infections in both animals and humans, especially in underrepresented countries and in the global South. BioMed Central
• China's move to block not just hardware exports but also human capital - engineers and skilled workers - could emerge as a powerful, albeit quiet, lever in global trade wars. Republic World

Last updated: 13 July 2025