Global Issues

UNITED NATIONS, February 25 (IPS) - As generative artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly expands across nearly every sector of society, those that work in cultural and creative industries are expected to bear some of the greatest losses. With AI-generated content projected to dominate global markets in the coming years, combined with a lack of strong regulatory frameworks to protect intellectual property and AI’s ability to produce content quickly at a low cost, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warns that generative AI may become a major driver of inequality, threatening the livelihoods of millions of cultural workers around the world. Read the full story, “Generative AI Could Deepen Inequality, Revenue Losses in Creative Industries”, on globalissues.org →

GENEVA, February 25 (IPS) - After surviving the harshest winter in a decade, millions of displaced Ukrainians are confronting a growing crisis marked by hardship and ongoing attacks as peace prospects remain distant. Read the full story, “After a Brutal Winter, Millions of Ukrainians Face Deepening Displacement and Uncertainty”, on globalissues.org →

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, February 24 (IPS) - As wars drag on and the international order grows increasingly unstable, Abu Dhabi has been offering a different kind of narrative. It sought to recognize early efforts at reconciliation, bring religious leaders into the same space, and place former adversaries under the same spotlight. At the heart of the February 4, 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony was an attempt to make visible, in a public setting, the choice of moving in the direction of easing conflict. Read the full story, “Can “Human Fraternity” Move Peace?”, on globalissues.org →

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, February 24 (IPS) - The Islamic Republic of Iran has put down another uprising, with a ferocity that makes previous crackdowns seem restrained. The theocratic regime has survived, but it has done so by substituting violence for the economic security it cannot provide and the political legitimacy it no longer has. Its show of force is also an admission of weakness. Read the full story, “Iran: A Regime with Nothing Left but Force”, on globalissues.org →

GENEVA, February 24 (IPS) - A fierce competition for power, control and resources is playing out on the world stage at a rate and intensity unseen for the past 80 years. Read the full story, “People’s Pursuit of Dignity, Equality and Justice is Unshakeable”, on globalissues.org →

PORTLAND, USA, February 24 (IPS) - Loneliness is a significant health concern on planet Earth. It affects virtually every aspect of human wellbeing and development worldwide. Read the full story, “Loneliness on Planet Earth”, on globalissues.org →

BRATISLAVA, February 24 (IPS) - “We have a saying here in Ukraine now – ‘young people meet at their friends’ funerals rather than at weddings.’ It’s sad, but very true.” Read the full story, “‘Nothing Compares to Human Lives Lost’ – Reflections on Ukraine War”, on globalissues.org →

MOSCOW, February 24 (IPS) - Despite consistent criticisms over its operations down the years, Russia still finds it difficult to leave the World Trade Organization (WTO), and instead assessing the opportunities and broad benefits of membership. WTO is not just an organization, but a multilateral bridge for strategic trade engagement and securing results-oriented partnerships. Certainly, unlocking and accelerating trade initiatives should be the key focus in the changing world. Read the full story, “Russia Assessing the Benefits of WTO Membership”, on globalissues.org →

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, February 24 (IPS) - President Donald Trump has shaken up the world economy and the rule of international law in the first year of his second term – ostensibly to make America great again, particularly by reviving US manufacturing jobs. Read the full story, “Trump Tariffs Creating Less Manufacturing Jobs”, on globalissues.org →

The international community must “use every diplomatic tool” to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, a senior UN official told the Security Council on Tuesday as Russia’s full-scale invasion entered a fifth year.Read the full story, “Ukraine: ‘Use every diplomatic tool to end this war’, top UN official tells Security Council”, on globalissues.org →