GZERO Media

09/25/2025

Syria’s Ahmed al-Sharaa just addressed the UN General Assembly—after years on a US bounty list—and is now prepping tightly controlled “elections” at home.
Full story from Tasha Kheiriddin explains.

Into the flurry of activity in New York this week stepped Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, on his first-ever trip to the United Nations - and it was quite the diplomatic coup.

09/25/2025

Global demand growth is flatlining as China electrifies, India follows, and renewables surge. Oil prices may stay lower for longer—and the geopolitics will be seismic. Ian Bremmer explains why we may be experiencing peak oil.

The UN General Assembly turns 80 this week, and the mood is grim. It's not just the awful motorcade traffic in New York (do yourself a favor, walk or take the subway).

09/24/2025

The Trump administration’s tariffs have added uncertainty and complexity to global trade, particularly burdening emerging and developing economies.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan calls this a “tectonic shift in the trade regime,” noting that negotiations have replaced a potential tariff war.

09/24/2025

A world beset by war, widening inequality, climate stress, and runaway AI demands institutions that can still deliver. In a Global Stage conversation recorded live on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, moderated by journalist Julia Chatterley, our expert panel probes whether multilateralism can adapt amid crisis and competition.

The panelists test the resilience of global cooperation as conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan strain resources and trust. Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group, argues that despite volatility—especially around U.S. policy—existing institutions remain indispensable, even as power dynamics shift. Rebeca Grynspan, secretary‑general of UNCTAD and former vice president of Costa Rica, warns that tariff escalations and budget cuts risk devastating the most vulnerable economies and humanitarian efforts, urging protection for least‑developed countries and smarter, more efficient use of limited funds. Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, highlights how technology and “data center diplomacy” can boost efficiency and service delivery, while Ambassador Philip Thigo, Kenya’s special envoy on technology, underscores the Global South’s growing role in shaping consensus and the need for multistakeholder governance that brings private sector, civil society, and academia to the table.

The discussion zeroes in on AI’s uneven diffusion—and what it will take to close the gap in electricity access, connectivity, and digital skills so adoption translates into productivity and inclusive growth. S. Krishnan, secretary at India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), positions India as a bridge between North and South, leveraging low‑cost digital public infrastructure and frugal innovation to help countries leapfrog in targeted areas. Smith urges nations to focus not on building chips but on deploying AI to amplify existing strengths and talent, while Bremmer notes that pragmatic engagement with both US and Chinese tech ecosystems can help countries avoid dependency. The optimistic takeaway: reform is necessary, cooperation is rising, and leaders have real agency to steer technology toward the common good.

This conversation is presented by GZERO in partnership with Microsoft, as part of the Global Stage series, which convenes global leaders for critical conversations on the geopolitical and technological trends shaping our world.

09/24/2025

Just order the pizza already.

09/23/2025

Almost 4 billion people lack the infrastructure to participate in the AI revolution. Can business & policy leaders ensure technology narrows, not widens, the global gap?

Vice chair and President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, argues that only bold partnerships between governments & companies can ensure AI lifts everyone.

09/23/2025

Since Trump took office in January, Washington has largely stopped paying its UN obligations and now owes more than $3 billion in unpaid dues and peacekeeping costs, including about $826 million for this year’s regular budget.

Here’s a look at who the UN’s biggest funders actually are.

09/23/2025

In this , Ian Bremmer reflects on Trump's UN speech which he highlights was markedly “very different” compared to his first time speaking in front of the General Assembly.

Ian says that "there was a great focus on being able to protect and secure your borders. There was also a great focus on ending wars.”

09/23/2025

Egypt freed British-Egyptian dual citizen Alaa Abd El Fattah, the country’s most prominent political prisoner, after ~12 years in jail.

Abd El Fattah was jailed for criticizing the current president, Abdel Fattah el Sisi.

12: Egypt freed British-Egyptian dual citizen Alaa Abd El Fattah, the country's most prominent political prisoner, after nearly 12 years in jail. Abd El Fattah, a major leader of the 2011 Arab spring protests, was jailed for criticizing current presiden...

09/23/2025

What we're watching today:
- Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show returns tonight
- Nicaragua goes global with repression
-Super Typhoon Ragasa threatens South Asia

Read more here:

Heeeeere's Jimmy (again)! Late night host Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC tonight, six days after Disney yanked his show over the comedian's monologue on the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension followed threats by FCC chair B...

09/23/2025

At the UN General Assembly, Trump delivered a speech that blended campaign-style hyperbole about his own achievements, sharp criticism of the UN, and stark warnings to leaders that “your countries are going to hell.”

Riley Callanan reports from the scene

“Whoever's in charge of the teleprompter is in trouble,” Donald Trump quipped from the lectern at the United Nations General Assembly, drawing a chuckle as the screen in front of him blinked blankly.

09/23/2025

On the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, our panel of global experts will discuss the future of global cooperation and governance in the age of AI. How can the UN and multilateralism keep pace with a technology transforming economies, societies, and geopolitics? And what will it take to ensure no country or society is left behind in the new AI economy?

Watch "Global Stage: Live from the 80th UN General Assembly" live from the sidelines of UN headquarters.