A number of political, social and economic factors tend to put the brakes on the urge to widen a war or escalate a conflict. So far, the world has been lucky with respect to the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the provocative assassination of a Hamas leader. The dog didn’t bark in the night — at least not yet.

If Vice President Kamala Harris is elected president in November, she will confront a range of severe challenges, including extremism, a Congress likely to be controlled by Republicans, a debt-ridden government, the decline of U.S. power and ongoing international conflicts. Change won’t come easy.

The multilateral trading system faces an existential challenge as Washington and Brussels look to continue, or even boost, protectionism. With the very survival of the WTO at stake, the world should stand up to the challenge.

Nuclear deterrence has been a defining characteristic of international security for nearly a century now. Already having weathered one Cold War, could China push the U.S. over the edge towards an all-out arms race in the 21st Century?

The United Nations estimates that around 200 million people will be displaced by climate change globally by 2050, and most of them will be in developing countries. With extreme poverty and uncertainty about the future, these countries may fall into a vicious cycle of poverty and turbulence.

The political turmoil in Bangladesh offers governance lessons for the Global South and serves as a cautionary tale for developing nations pursuing reforms. And as key partners like India, China, and the U.S. re-engage with Dhaka, they should consider broadening their relationships beyond the ruling party.

There are parallels between the historical lessons of World War I and the current era of hegemonic transition, with China's 10 years old proposal of the "New Type of Great Power Relations" still offering a framework for navigating U.S.-China relations. Ultimately, strategic dialogue and cooperation between great powers is of utmost importance to avert great power conflicts.

The island nation’s Maori traditions help it navigate alliances and multilateral partnerships in a world where geopolitical currents are continually shifting. With China as its largest trading partner, New Zealand in a delicate position: It must balance its economic interests with its alliance relationships and commitments.

Given the high stakes, a coordinated effort to rein in artificial intelligence is crucial. Talks between the two powers must communicate mutual concerns, dispel misunderstandings and prevent this emerging technology from becoming a new source of tension.

Only through steadfast multilateral policy coordination and flexible, effective measures can global financial markets weather the storm safely and achieve stability and development.