It can feel as though the world is shifting on several fault lines at once. From the streets of Tehran to humanitarian frontlines in Africa, from record-breaking heat to the closed-door negotiations of global diplomacy, pressures are building—and intersecting.
In Iran, deepening economic hardship has spilled into widespread unrest, with protests reported across the country amid internet shutdowns and a forceful state response. The scale of the crackdown, alongside mass arrests and reports of significant loss of life, has renewed questions about stability, legitimacy and the limits of repression in moments of acute stress.
Elsewhere, the human cost of conflict continues to rise. Sudan’s civil war is driving one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, leaving millions dependent on aid as fighting shatters food systems and basic services. From Yemen to Ukraine, overlapping conflicts add further strain on civilians, first and foremost, but also on an already stretched international system.
At the same time, climate change is no longer an abstract future risk. New temperature records underline how environmental stress is compounding political and economic fragility, placing additional pressure on water, food security and social cohesion worldwide.
Against this backdrop, global governance itself is in flux. Major powers are recalibrating their economic and diplomatic strategies, reflected in gatherings like Davos, where a record U.S. delegation and other leaders will debate rivalry, security and the future of cooperation in a more fragmented world.
- Global Risk Forum 404
- Thursday, 15 January at 17:00 GMT / 12:00 EDT
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- Global Risk Forum 405
- Friday, 16 January at 10:00 GMT
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We’ll be discussing these events, along with any other developments you think are important. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
