Global co-operation to address peace and security has nosedived in the past decade, a new report says, as many governments struggle to see eye-to-eye on how to resolve the greatest conflicts we face.
From Ukraine to Sudan and the wars in the Middle East, there has been a lack of collaboration and few peaceful outcomes, according to a study released before the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos.
Co-operation on peace and security was lower than any point since 2012, with 122 million people displaced, the second edition of the Global Cooperation Barometer released by the forum and McKinsey found.
That dragged down the overall co-operation barometer to stagnate after trending positively for a decade and surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Along with peace and security, it also looks at four other pillars: trade and capital, innovation and technology, climate and natural capital, and health and wellness.
You further see the lack of co-operation around pandemics. And we call out a risk there
Bob Sternfels,
global managing partner, McKinsey
Børge Brende, president of the World Economic Forum, said the barometer was published at a moment of “great global instability and at a time when many new governments are developing agendas for the year, and their terms, ahead”.
With high levels of electoral discontent and geopolitical rivalry, co-operation is “essential to address crucial economic, environmental and technological challenges”.
Joint work on climate and natural capital was a rare green shoot in the report, although its authors said urgent action is needed in the push towards net-zero targets.
“We've reduced the emissions intensity of GDP, largely driven by upticks in EV [electric vehicle] deployment and renewable energy. And that's something to celebrate,” said Bob Sternfels, global managing partner at McKinsey & Company, on a media call.
“But there's also the recognition that less than 10 per cent of the low emissions technologies required to hit net zero by 2050 have been deployed.”
Despite global security crises, the new findings suggest collaboration continues in important areas such as vaccine distribution, scientific research and renewable energy development – offering models for co-operation.
The report said that although there is geopolitical competition for frontier technologies such as semiconductors, “overall global co-operation on technology and innovation advanced in 2023, in part due to digitisation of the global economy”.
There has been a strong increase in the supply of critical minerals, and a related drop in the price of lithium batteries, to the benefit of manufacturers and consumers of goods such as electric cars. But the rapid disruption from artificial intelligence is reshaping the global landscape, raising the prospect of an “AI arms race”.
On the global economy, Mr Sternfels said “that foreign direct investment actually increased and it grew faster than GDP in 2023. And you might say that's a good thing”.
But co-operation on cross-border research and development, including pharmaceutical R&D, was down 15 per cent, which he said should serve as a warning sign.
“You further see the lack of co-operation around pandemics,” he said. “You start to get worried about a future aspect of how do we innovate around co-operation and health and wellness? And we call out a risk there.”
Mr Sternfels also spoke of a “lack of multilateral institutions being effective to navigate these”. In the past year, the UN and its agencies have been tested by a hostile Israel and United States. The Israeli campaign to defund UNRWA left the agency unable to function properly, while there have been Israeli attacks on UN aid convoys. UN agencies and staff have also been denied access, attacked and killed in conflict areas.
Complex political entanglements aside, governments should be able to work together on clear-cut problems, Mr Brende said.
“Cyber crime cost the world $2 trillion a year. There should be enough common interest to collaborate – even in a competitive world.”
Donald Trump will be sworn in as the US President on the eve of the Davos forum on January 20 and his second term is expected to loom large over debates throughout the week-long event.
T10 Cricket League
Sharjah Cricket Stadium
December 14- 17
6pm, Opening ceremony, followed by:
Bengal Tigers v Kerala Kings
Maratha Arabians v Pakhtoons
Tickets available online at q-tickets.com/t10
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
STAY%2C%20DAUGHTER
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EYasmin%20Azad%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESwift%20Press%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company profile
Name: Tharb
Started: December 2016
Founder: Eisa Alsubousi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Luxury leather goods
Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Calls
Directed by: Fede Alvarez
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Karen Gillian, Aaron Taylor-Johnson
4/5
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
THE%20SPECS
%3Cp%3EBattery%3A%2060kW%20lithium-ion%20phosphate%3Cbr%3EPower%3A%20Up%20to%20201bhp%3Cbr%3E0%20to%20100kph%3A%207.3%20seconds%3Cbr%3ERange%3A%20418km%3Cbr%3EPrice%3A%20From%20Dh149%2C900%3Cbr%3EAvailable%3A%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
West Asia Premiership
Dubai Hurricanes 58-10 Dubai Knights Eagles
Dubai Tigers 5-39 Bahrain
Jebel Ali Dragons 16-56 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Smart words at Make Smart Cool
Make Smart Cool is not your usual festival. Dubbed “edutainment” by organisers Najahi Events, Make Smart Cool aims to inspire its youthful target audience through a mix of interactive presentation by social media influencers and a concert finale featuring Example with DJ Wire. Here are some of the speakers sharing their inspiration and experiences on the night.
Prince Ea
With his social media videos accumulating more half a billion views, the American motivational speaker is hot on the college circuit in the US, with talks that focus on the many ways to generate passion and motivation when it comes to learning.
Khalid Al Ameri
The Emirati columnist and presenter is much loved by local youth, with writings and presentations about education, entrepreneurship and family balance. His lectures on career and personal development are sought after by the education and business sector.
Ben Ouattara
Born to an Ivorian father and German mother, the Dubai-based fitness instructor and motivational speaker is all about conquering fears and insecurities. His talk focuses on the need to gain emotional and physical fitness when facing life’s challenges. As well managing his film production company, Ouattara is one of the official ambassadors of Dubai Expo2020.
A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Nancy 9 (Hassa Beek)
Nancy Ajram
(In2Musica)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EKinetic%207%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Rick%20Parish%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Clean%20cooking%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2410%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Self-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
