IMF sees global economy shrinking 4.4% in 2020
The pandemic-hit global economy is expected to contract by as much as 4.4% this year, the International Monetary Fund forecast.
Americas
The Americas is the combined landmass of North, Central, and South America and is home to 35 countries. The region has a combined population of more than 1 billion people and a collective GDP of over $32 trillion, making it a major force in the global economy.
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China, Russia join U.N. Human Rights Council
Despite criticism from the U.S. and human rights groups, China, Cuba and Russia were among 15 nations that won seats on the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Eight nations craft rules to develop Moon from business 'safe zones'
The U.S. persuaded seven nations to sign agreements for cooperating and extracting resources from the Moon's surface.
WFP wins Nobel Prize to focus world on hunger
The Nobel Peace Prize went to the World Food Program for its efforts to alleviate hunger amid the pandemic and to urge more international cooperation.
Report finds pandemic erodes 80 democracies
Democracy and human rights deteriorated in 80 nations since the coronavirus pandemic began early this year, Freedom House reported.
India forces closure of Amnesty rights office
Amnesty International announced it must cease its human rights work in India because Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government froze its bank accounts.
U.N. virus tracker shows deficit of gender policies
Just 25 nations, or 12% of the world, have comprehensive measures in place to protect women against the pandemic, a new U.N. data tracker found.
UNGA converts into global stage of virtual diplomacy
The U.N. General Assembly opened its first virtual meeting of world leaders, forced by the pandemic to turn its global stage for diplomacy into a ghost village.
U.S. unilaterally restores U.N. sanctions on Iran
The U.S. followed through on its threat to unilaterally restore sanctions against Iran, defying widespread international criticism.
Coronavirus cases top 30 million worldwide
Global coronavirus cases topped 30 million with 944,000 deaths, with the U.S., India, Brazil and Russia accounting for about half of the pandemic.
U.N. panel cites Venezuela 'crimes against humanity'
A report to the U.N. Human Rights Council raised allegations of crimes against humanity in Venezuela by President Nicolás Maduro’s administration.
E.U. vision unveiled in von der Leyen's address
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's inaugurual State of the E.U. speech emphasized pandemic recovery and climate change.
WTO sides with China in Trump's trade war
The U.S. violated international trade rules by slapping US$234 billion in tariffs on Chinese goods without justification two years ago, a WTO panel ruled.
U.N. rights chief censures virus-fueled hotspots
The U.N. human rights chief denounced violence in Belarus and systemic racism in the U.S. among hotspots of global turmoil compounded by the pandemic.
Anti-corruption sports organization in works
New momentum for creating a global organization to investigate corruption in sports surfaced as FIFA and UNODC signed a cooperation agreement.
Pandemic sets back development by decades
A new report says the pandemic halted decades of advances in fighting poverty and disease and reversed progress on the U.N.'s 17 anti-poverty goals.