Morning Multilateralism

Wednesday, May 20 2020

• The World Health Organization will initiate an internal review of its coronavirus performance “at the earliest appropriate moment.” Meanwhile, President Trump escalates his administration’s battle against the organization, outlining complaints and threatening a permanent funding cut.

• UN official briefs the Security Council on “new depths of violence, heartlessness, and impunity” in Libya.

• World Bank president David Malpass calls on private creditors to offer debt relief to poorest countries as the Bank reports that 100 developing countries have now received some form of coronavirus assistance.

• A post-coronavirus world needs Canada on the Security Council, says prime minister Justin Trudeau.

• New filing coming in Ukraine’s case against Russia at the law of the sea tribunal.

• “Who has jurisdiction to decide on jurisdiction?” A report on the duel between Europe’s judges and Germany’s constitutional court.

• An embattled World Trade Organization offers new numbers evidencing plummeting international trade.

• Taxiing for takeoff: Air transportation group pledges cooperation with World Health Organization in restarting the industry’s engines. Plus, the International Civil Aviation Organization unveils new standards for runway safety.