Category: Russian Language

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

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February 18, 2026 Peace and security

Libya is facing a deepening political, economic, and institutional crisis that threatens the country's unity and stability, the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Libya, Hannah Tetteh, warned in her address to the Security Council on Wednesday. She called for urgent action to overcome the protracted political impasse.

The Special Representative stated that efforts to advance the UN-brokered political roadmap have stalled, despite months of consultations between Libyan parties. While structured dialogue on governance, security, economics, and national reconciliation has produced proposals aimed at creating conditions for national elections, key political institutions remain unable to agree on the key steps necessary to advance the process.

Political impasse

According to the Special Representative, disagreements between the House of Representatives and the Supreme Council of State are undermining progress, and the unilateral actions of both bodies are further weakening public trust in the authorities. The failure to agree on electoral mechanisms prolongs political uncertainty and deepens public disillusionment with the institutions.

Despite the national political impasse, some positive developments have been noted at the local level. Over the past 14 months, local elections have been held in 119 municipalities, marking a significant step toward strengthening accountable local governance. The election of the country's second female mayor was particularly noted as a sign of increasing women's participation in politics.

At the same time, Tetteh warned of the dangerous deepening of institutional rifts, particularly in the judicial system. Competing constitutional courts in Tripoli and Benghazi are issuing contradictory rulings, effectively creating parallel legal systems, which threatens the effectiveness of governance, government accountability, and the political process itself. Maintaining the integrity of the judicial system, she emphasized, is key to preserving the integrity of the state.

Economic difficulties

The economic situation in Libya is also rapidly deteriorating. The devaluation of the national currency, rising prices, fuel shortages, and declining purchasing power are increasing pressure on the population. An estimated 30 percent of Libyans live below the poverty line, and the cost of food has risen significantly in recent years. The lack of a unified state budget and parallel government structures are contributing to financial instability and undermining confidence in the economy.

Security concerns

Security issues also remain a serious concern. Transnational criminal networks involved in drug, arms, and human trafficking continue to exploit weak state institutions and poorly controlled borders. Recent reports have documented serious human rights violations against migrants, including the discovery of mass graves and signs of torture among released individuals.

Despite numerous challenges, the UN mission is expanding its presence in Libya and strengthening its support for economic reform and the unification of security structures.

"The only way forward is a political solution that unites Libyans," Tetteh said, calling on the international community to continue supporting efforts to restore stability in the country.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: United Nations – United Nations –

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

February 18, 2026 Culture and education

UNESCO has released a new edition of its global report documenting the rapid changes in the cultural sphere driven by digital transformation, artificial intelligence, new trade flows, and growing threats to artistic freedom. Based on data from over 120 countries, the study shows that without updated cultural policies, inequality among creative content creators will only worsen.

UNESCO Director-General Khaled Al-Anani noted that the report, which has been an international reference for over a decade, offers a "roadmap of more than 8,100 measures" to support cultural professionals in the face of rapid technological change.

The industry grows while remaining vulnerable

Although cultural and creative industries are increasingly serving as engines of economic growth and sustainable development, the infrastructure supporting them remains fragile. According to the report, 85 percent of countries include culture in their national development plans, but only 56 percent formulate specific goals in this area, highlighting a gap between declarations and action.

Global trade in cultural goods doubled in 2023 to $254 billion, with developing countries accounting for almost half of exports. However, their share of cultural services trade is only slightly over 20 percent, reflecting growing inequality amid the digitalization of markets.

Direct public funding for culture worldwide remains critically low—less than 0.6 percent of global GDP—and continues to decline. Limited artistic mobility remains an additional barrier: developed countries support the emigration of their creative professionals in 96 percent of cases, but only facilitate the entry of cultural figures from developing countries in 38 percent of cases.

The digital divide increases economic instability.

The report documents profound structural changes brought about by digitalization. The share of digital revenue in creators' earnings has grown from 17 percent in 2018 to 35 percent today, but income volatility and the risk of copyright infringement have also increased. The most alarming forecast concerns the impact of generative AI: by 2028, music creators could lose up to 24 percent of their income, and audiovisual content creators could lose up to 21 percent.

The digital skills gap remains significant: 67 percent of people in developed countries possess basic skills, compared to only 28 percent in developing countries. Increasing market concentration around a few large streaming platforms and opaque recommendation algorithms further marginalize lesser-known creators. Furthermore, only 48 percent of countries collect such statistics, complicating the development of effective policies.

Creative freedom under pressure

UNESCO also notes growing threats to artistic freedom. Only 61 percent of countries have independent mechanisms to monitor violations in this area. Political instability, conflict, and forced displacement increase the risks for cultural workers. Digital surveillance and algorithmic bias pose new challenges.

Gender inequality

Despite progress in women's representation in leadership positions in cultural institutions—rising from 31 percent in 2017 to 46 percent in 2024—the gap between countries remains significant. In developed countries, women hold 64 percent of leadership positions, while in developing countries, they hold only 30 percent. In many countries, women are still viewed primarily as consumers of culture rather than as creators and leaders.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.