Coronavirus

Coronavirus drug study disappoints investors, second wave prospect casts shadow on reopening plans

By Atlantic Council

A study appeared to show that a drug believed to treat coronavirus proved to be ineffective, disappointing investors. European leaders agreed to an economic stimulus deal of sorts, but thin on detail. The issue of a possible second wave of infections continues to garner attention as leaders worldwide wrestle with how best to reopen their economies.

What the world can learn from regional responses to COVID-19

By Anastasia Kalinina

Regional integration projects around the world could be the first step to help countries jointly meet the challenges of COVID-19. In recent weeks we have witnessed many of them coming together to establish collective measures.

Israel-Gulf ties, boosted by COVID-19 research, may trip over annexation plans

By Jonathan H. Ferziger

For policymakers, the prospect of West Bank annexation posed by Israel’s incoming coalition government is a reminder of the delicacy of Mideast peacemaking.

Coronavirus will worsen Venezuela’s emergency, interim president says

By David A. Wemer

“This right now is an unprecedented emergency,” Guaidó said during an April 23 event with the Atlantic Council moderated by journalist and CBS news contributor María Elena Salinas. “Venezuela cannot survive both a pandemic and a famine,” he explained.

It Takes a Village: Helping the Most Vulnerable in Crisis

India’s coronavirus lockdown has sparked an economic pandemic. A collective of community groups and non-profits in Chennai stepped in to help.

Coronavirus hits consumer confidence, businesses in Europe; Germany’s Merkel urges patience

By Atlantic Council

The coronavirus outbreak took its toll on consumer confidence and business activity alike in Europe, with progress to prevent a second wave of the disease set to be “painfully slow”. A summit meeting of European leaders is expected to make limited progress to support the region’s battered economy. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel said the pandemic is “still at the beginning”.

Why the Netherlands opposed unconditional European coronavirus aid

By Elmar Hellendoorn

Southern European calls for northern solidarity should be backed up with a quest for greater empathy in countries like the Netherlands. As long as the Dutch public remain largely unaware of the plight of southern Europe—as well as ignorant of the geopolitical consequences of too much fiscal rigidity—the current clash may only be a prelude to a much larger battle.

Foresight and democracy during a period of growing polarization, turbulence, and misinformation

By Atlantic Council

On April 23, 2020, Sheila Ronis, Leon Fuerth, Lin Wells, and David Bray held a live virtual roundtable on the topic of "Foresight and Democracy During a Period of Growing Polarization, Turbulence, and Misinformation?"

Gaza is unprepared for coronavirus: Providing aid could avert a security and economic catastrophe

By Evanna Hu

Given Gaza’s isolation and the fact that almost two million people are cramped into such a small space—Gaza is one of the most densely populated areas on Earth—physical distancing, especially within refugee camps, is literally impossible. Though there has been a lot of forced ingenuity from Gazans—adapting existing materials to make sanitizers, facial masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE)—it is far from enough.

COVID-19 is transforming education for all: Fast tracking the shift to distant learning

By Robert Feller

The spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has presented the world with a series of challenges that can deepen inequalities across societies, but also (or maybe especially) in the world of education, which is now forced to move into the online realm. COVID-19, however, also gives us the opportunity to increase the quality and access to education for the world’s most vulnerable young people. The impact of new, digital innovations on the education of thousands of young refugees is huge and demands our urgent attention.