Viktor Orban

Hungary’s parliament on Tuesday voted to transfer state assets worth billions of dollars into foundations that will control many of the country’s public universities and cultural institutions, a move opposition figures have decried as a theft of public funds.

Japan has issued emergency declarations for several prefectures, and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson remains in intensive care. And, in Lebanon, Hezbollah’s latest front line is the fight against coronavirus. And in Iran many are wondering if they can survive the disease and the financial crisis accelerated by US sanctions. Also, these monkeys at the Tulane National Primate Research Center are helping humans fight the coronavirus.

Hungary’s government under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has granted itself sweeping powers under the auspices of the coronavirus pandemic. But critics warn it is hastening Hungary’s authoritarian decline.

Novel coronavirus cases continue their exponential rise. But desperately needed global leadership is retreating behind national borders — and in some cases, leaders continue to deny the severity of the crisis. Also, unemployment in the US has hit record numbers, and health care workers around the globe continue to face personal and financial risks. And, should Americans be wearing masks in public? When the people are away, the animals will come out to play. In Wales, a herd of goats has taken to the streets of a resort town.

New research shows how recent laws have slowly eroded the role of nongovernmental agencies all over the world . Experts have said that these actions threaten democracy in countries where institutions have already become weak. See where and how laws like these have had their biggest impact.