The security crisis in the Sahel reaches Côte d'Ivoire

Attack on Ivorian military base

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Côte d'Ivoire and Benin weaken the African Court of Human Rights

Withdrawal of major special declaration

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The Network Enforcement Act 2020 reloaded – improved as well?

Status of the Network Enforcement Act (Netzwerkdurchsetzungsgesetz, NetzDG), innovations and evaluations. Since 2017, the Network Enforcement Act has provided the framework for removing hate crime and other criminal content from social networks. Now the NetzDG is being reformed.

The currency of the future?

An evaluation of Facebook’s Libra

The perception of crypto currencies as a shady payment method for criminal businesses appears to fade away. At least this is what Facebook must be speculating on. Last summer the social media company announced the development of a cryptocurrency, set to release in 2020. Its name is Libra and considering the 2 billion active Facebook users, Libra could transform Facebook into a serious actor within the international finance sector overnight.

A WTO in crisis – but not at breaking point

World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) dispute settlement body suspended

The Appellate Body of the WTO, responsible for settling international trade disputes, has been unable to function since 11 December. The development marks the crumbling of a pillar of the multilateral trading order. What does this mean for the cross-border movement of goods and services, cooperation between states, and the organisation itself?

Time to grow up!

The Internet urgently needs a new order

At first, Tim Berners Lee’s work in 1989 was intended to simplify the exchange of research results at CERN. In the end, the result of his efforts was crucial for changing the world. After all he developed the basis for a free exchange of information in which today people all over the world can participate in. But Tim Berners Lee is more than just the inventor of the World Wide Web. He is also one of the founding fathers of the idea of a free and open Internet. While the Internet has established itself as the central social medium, his original ideal of a free internet is in danger more than ever before.[1] In order to unfold the liberal and economic potential it is offering, a new or at least a further developed order is needed. One, that must also be defended against competing illiberal approaches.

China: a developing country as a global power?

China has risen to being the second-largest national economy in the world; in terms of purchasing power parity, it is even the largest. Nevertheless, China insists on its status as a developing country and the special treatment in international regimes that goes with it. This is criticised by industrial countries, above all the US, as seeking unfair advantages. The EU has also increasingly been calling for China to move away from its developing country status, while it emphasises China’s role as a partner but also as a systemic rival.

The High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development

Reviewing the Review Mechanism

The High-Level Political Forum for Sustainable Development (HLPF), held at the level of heads of state and government, took place from 24 to 25 September 2019. It was the first meeting of the HLPF at this level since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda in September 2015. In addition to the review of the current state of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this summit also served as opportunity to evaluate the HLPF with regards to its effectiveness as monitoring mechanism of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.

10 key findings from UNHCR’s Global Report on refugees

UNHCR has published its new Global Report on refugees at the end of June. The following analysis summarizes some key points from the report.

Germany needs to get a move on!

Results of the study series “Comparison of national strategies to promote Artificial Intelligence”