Rutger Bregman does not identify as an optimist. He says that optimism makes people lazy, complacent that history is going in the right direction. Instead he describes himself as a possibilist, a believer in the possibility that things can be different.
The richest 10 percent of the world's population now owns three-quarters of all personal wealth, according to the newly released World Inequality Report 2026. Income is not much different, where the top 50 percent of earners take home more than 90 percent, while the poorest half of the world receives less than 10 percent of total income. Worldwide, living standards are stagnating for many, while wealth and power are increasingly concentrated at the top.
A declaration of intent to fight deepening global inequality is a booster shot for development, the head of the United Nations declares. At the Second World Summit for Social Development in Qatar on Tuesday, the president of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, announced the adoption of the Doha Political Declaration. list of 3 itemsend of list Social development and inclusion is essential for strong societies, she said, adding that the declaration must end social injustice and guarantee dignity for everyone, prioritising a people-first approach.
Over the last five years, artificial intelligence has shifted from a fringe interest to one of the most important drivers of global economic growth. So important has the technology become that the United Nations Security Council held its first open debate on artificial intelligence last month. While little of substance was achieved, a General Assembly resolution authorizing the creation of an independent scientific panel on AI may have a more enduring impact.