Democracy on decline in health checkup
Freedom House warned of a continued decline in global democracy in an annual checkup blaming a "leaderless struggle" undercut by autocrats and populists.
China
China is a global power with the world’s second-largest economy and an increasing geopolitical rivalry with the United States. As the U.S. has reduced its engagement with certain multilateral institutions, China has increasingly sought to fill that vacuum by increasing its funding to the U.N. and placing its nationals in leadership roles.
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IAEA reports Iran's uranium almost triples
Iran violated its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers by nearly tripling its stockpile of enriched uranium since November, IAEA reported.
WHO raises COVID-19 risk to 'very high'
WHO raised its global risk assessment for the coronavirus to “very high” as some nations struggled with containment and economic fears lashed markets.
U.N. issues 'call to action' on human rights
U.N. leaders challenged nations, businesses and citizens to respond to a "call to action" for greater efforts to withstand a rising tide of human rights abuses.
Sudan to hand over al-Bashir for ICC trial
In a surprise move, Sudan's transitional government will extradite former leader Omar al-Bashir to the ICC on charges of genocide and war crimes in Darfur.
WHO teams with Big Tech to fight against the coronavirus 'infodemic'
Officials are concerned about misinformation on the outbreak, including conspiracy theories and secret cures.
WHO declares global emergency over virus
WHO said the coronavirus outbreak is a global health emergency, after the epidemic first detected in China spread to 7,800 cases and 170 deaths.
Confidential report shows sophisticated hack of U.N. offices
The U.N. report said 42 computer servers - but no sensitive data or confidential information - were 'compromised.'
U.K. and France stick to Iran nuclear deal
Britain and France recommitted to the Iran nuclear deal despite the U.S. undermining it and Europeans triggering a process that may reimpose sanctions.
HRW warns China is undermining human rights and institutions
Experts cautioned that China has been using its economic muscle to silence critics at home and increasingly abroad.
U.N. proposes global biodiversity pact to ward off mass extinction
Negotiations began last summer in Nairobi to draft a global wildlife treaty on the scale of the Paris climate accord.
U.N. Security Council renews Syrian aid, but cuts humanitarian crossings
The U.N. relies on crossings to truck supplies through Turkey, Iraq and Jordan into Syrian areas beyond Assad's control.
India's energy progress hailed by IEA, but major challenges loom
About half of India’s population — 700 million people — only gained access to electricity between 2000 and 2018.
Enraged at U.S. airstrike, Iran abandons nuclear deal limits
European nations urged Tehran to stop taking steps away from compliance with the nuclear deal it signed with world powers.
New U.S. 'Space Force' may conflict with international space treaties
The U.S. military's first new branch in decades could prompt another Trump administration withdrawal from a treaty.
World Bank warns of crippling debt accumulation among 100 countries
Historically low global interest rates fueled the debt run-up but lowered the immediate risk of another financial crisis.