This is a roundup of news articles, reports, and other materials focusing on (in)security issues and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of Security in Context. The goal is to shed light on knowledge production on security-related issues that are of public interest from different perspectives. Entries may include academic journal articles, think tank reports, non-governmental organizations releases, official documents or government-commissioned research, and regular news items. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each roundup to admin@securityincontext.com
This month's Media Roundup includes a section on Afghanistan.
Climate Change and Security
How to Talk About Climate Change as Catastrophes Pile Up
July 20, 2021
Many large media outlets that report on climate disasters fail to explicitly identify the human activity as its direct cause.
U.N. climate panel confronts implausibly hot forecasts of future warming
July 27, 2021
While the climate is changing at an alarming rate, scientists are beginning to question the credibility of certain predictive climate models.
Diagnosing Earth: the science behind the IPCC’s upcoming climate report
August 5, 2021
The United Nations gathered the world's top climate scientists to deliver a comprehensive climate report.
Climate change: IPCC report is 'code red for humanity'
August 9, 2021
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has concluded that global surface temperature has risen substantially over the last 10 years and the rate of sea level rise has tripled since 1971.
It’s now or never: Scientists warn time of reckoning has come for the planet
August 15, 2021
There is a multitude of social and political problems that need to be addressed in order to begin a more ambitious approach to climate change.
Security and International Relations
South Africa's ex-leader Zuma seeks further delay in corruption trial
July 19, 2021
Former South African President Jacob Zuma sought to delay his corruption trial. While South African authorities have been able to restabilize the society, Zuma’s trial triggered massive civil unrest from his supporters.
July 22, 2021
China’s Wang Yi met with the Portuguese Minister of State to further a dialogue between China and Portugal and facilitate growth in China-Europe strategic relations.
Israel granted official observer status at the African Union
July 23, 2021
Israel’s observer status in the African Union (AU) was confirmed after Israel's ambassador to Ethiopia presented his credentials to the Chairman of the AU Commission.
Qatar’s foreign minister visits Iran to meet top officials
July 25, 2021
Qatar’s foreign minister Sheikh Mohammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani visited Tehran unannounced and met with top Iranian officials to discuss bilateral cooperation in regional developments. This is part of a larger effort to strengthen communication between GCC countries.
The Rocky New Era of the Saudi-Emirati Relationship
July 27, 2021
The United Arab Emirates and Saudi relations begin to falter as their positions on foreign policy issues such as the war in Yemen and Gulf relations with Israel differ.
Top Bahraini official arrives to deepen Israel relations
August 8, 2021
Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Bahrain's undersecretary to the Foreign Ministry, met with Israeli officials to further develop diplomatic relations between Bahrain and Israel. This will likely add to the international undermining of Palestine.
Ethiopia Plunges Deeper Into Conflict
August 12, 2021
The conflict between Ethiopian and Tigraryian forces continues to get more and more violent with little hope for a diplomatic resolution.
Myanmar: Asia’s Orphaned Cinderella
August 12, 2021
The prospect for civil war in Myanmar continues to materialize and the international community largely ignores the situation.
Migration and Displacement
Why are so many migrants coming to one of Europe’s smallest countries? Blame Belarus, officials say.
August 1st, 2021
There has been a massive increase in the number of immigrants from sub-Saharan Africa and Iraq crossing the Belerusian border. Lithuanian officials claim that Belerusian President Alexander Lukashenko orchestrated the influx of immigrants as a response to E.U. sanctions.
New IRAP Report Recommends Actions to Tackle Climate Displacement
August 2, 2021
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) has published a report on the ways in which the international community can address climate displacement.
‘A sample of hell’: Rohingya forced to rebuild camps again after deadly floods
August 7, 2021
Intense monsoon rain in Bangladesh has displaced over 21,000 Rohingya refugees.
UNHCR alarmed over US 'expulsion flights' to southern Mexico
August 11, 2021
UNHCR has urged U.S. President Biden to end the practice of deporting families who are in urgent need. Under a policy called Title 42, people are being denied asylum protections and procedures.
Rohingya refugees receive first COVID vaccinations in Bangladesh
August 11, 2021
Rohingya refugees will have an opportunity to receive their first vaccines. Facilitated by UNHCR, Bangladeshi authorities will organize the vaccination drive.
Germany and the Netherlands halt deportations to Afghanistan
August 11, 2021
The Netherlands and Germany have stopped deporting Afghan migrants due to the conflict in Afghanistan.
Covid-19, Capitalism & Economy
Delta variant drives surge in coronavirus cases worldwide, WHO warns
July 21, 2021
As the Delta variant spreads, more countries are taking more serious health and safety precautions. Citing an open-access database in Germany, the World Health Organization states that 75% of sequenced virus samples are Delta.
Global COVID-19 cases surpass 200 mln as Delta variant spreads
August 4, 2021
As Covid-19 continues to spread, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for a moratorium on vaccine boosters until every country reaches a 10% vaccination rate.
August 12, 2021
The United States Food and Drug Administration has given emergency authorizations for the distribution of second vaccine doses for people at severe risk.
The World May Never Reach Herd Immunity Against Covid-19
August 13, 2021
The Delta variant has significantly diminished the prospect for herd immunity.
Indonesia reports most COVID-19 deaths in past week; world up 0.1%
August 15, 2021
Indonesia suffered the most Covid-19 deaths last week as the virus swept through the country. The statistics show that developing countries are suffering the most as their vaccination distribution rates pale in comparison to others.
Technologies of surveillance/Data Analytics/AI
L3Harris Technologies Developing Future NATO Surveillance Concepts with International Team
July 19, 2021
L3Harris Technologies, a multi-billion dollar aerospace defense technology innovator, is developing a new surveillance system for NATO. This system will replace the existing Airborne Warning and Control System.
July 23, 2021
Amnesty International has started the Pegasus Project in order to protect individuals from the growth of digital surveillance which has threatened their privacy rights. The project is made up of 17 media organizations and 80 journalists from 10 different countries.
Amnesty seeks moratorium on surveillance technology
July 24, 2021
Amnesty International calls for a moratorium on surveillance technology due to a lack of legal framework to protect individual’s privacy.
Reign of Terror review: from 9/11 to Trump by way of Snowden and Iraq
August 8, 2021
The United States has little to show for the many years it has been involved in the Middle East. Tens of thousands of people have perished in these conflicts over many years.
The NYPD Had a Secret Fund for Surveillance Tools
August 10, 2021
Documents show that the NYPD has spent over $100 million dollars on surveillance since 2007 and investing in predictive policing software, facial-recognition software, and more.
Group of UN experts calls for moratorium on surveillance technology
August 14,2021
In accordance with the Pegasus Project, a project designed to expose how modern surveillance technology grossly infringes on the privacy rights of individuals, a group from the U.N. has called for a moratorium on new surveillance technology.
Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Sexuality
July 26, 2021
Paid sick leave plays a massive role in the intense racial inequalities in the U.S. Many minorities are excluded from paid sick leave policies.
Envisioning A Gender Just World: Global Thought Leaders Weigh In
August 4, 2021
In this collaboration between Forbes, the Global Center for Gender Equality at Stanford, and the ERA Coalition, a diverse set of global activists, academics, politicians, and other thought leaders are asked what they think an equitable world looks like.
U.S. markets regulator approves Nasdaq proposal to require corporate board diversity
August 6, 2021
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has just implemented a policy that requires certain companies to have diverse boards. Specific requirements include having two directors that are female or part of an underrepresented group.
South Korea: Lawmakers must seize chance to pass landmark anti-discrimination act
August 9, 2021
South Korea is on the verge of introducing a bill that will ban all forms of discrimination.
Parents across US revolt against school boards on masks, critical race theory and gender issues
August 12, 2021
Parents across the U.S. are voicing their disapproval of social policies and safety protocols that they deem excessive and invasive. The policies in question include strict mask mandates, enforcing correct pronoun usage, and more.
Arms, Weapons, and Military Industrial Complex
The Global Networks Working to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
July 19, 2021
Nuclear nonproliferation networks have the potential to curb the expansion of nuclear arms.
Analysis: Caught between China and the U.S., Asian countries stockpile powerful new missiles
July 20, 2021
Asian countries are engaging in an arms race as they join China and the U.S. in an effort to develop more and more powerful military capabilities.
We Need to Scale Back America’s War Machine
July 30, 2021
Despite the changing landscape of international conflicts since the Cold War, the United States has been on an unwavering trajectory of military growth.
China’s Hypersonic Missiles: Methods and Motives
July 30, 2021
China continues to develop hypersonic missile delivery systems which will increase the speed and the maneuverability of their arsenal.
US arms sales to Taiwan -- dirty deal, dangerous provocation
August 7, 2021
The United States sold 750 million dollar worth of arms to Taiwan. This sale violates the one-China provision which recognizes the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate governing body of the country.
We Can’t Fight the Climate Crisis Without Fighting the Military-Industrial Complex
August 13, 2021
The military-industrial complex is linked to the climate crisis because the U.S. military is the single largest consumer of oil and gas. The War in Afghanistan cost 1.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
Afghanistan
A Cycle of War Crimes: Today’s Crisis in Afghanistan Grew Out of 20 Years of U.S. War
August 6, 2021
The U.S. has played a major role in the escalation of violence in Afghanistan and continues to act as if it has been an innocent bystander.
Taliban’s Sweeping Offensive in Afghanistan Was “Inevitable” and Stems from Brutal U.S. War
August 11, 2021
Given the nature of the strategic relationship between the U.S. and various Afghan factions, the Taliban’s seizure of Afghanistan and the collapse of the Afghan National Security Forces(ANSF) was inevitable.
Taliban Sweep in Afghanistan Follows Years of U.S. Miscalculations
August 14, 2021
Despite warnings from the Pentagon, the Biden administration was stunned by the disintegration of the Afghan National Security Forces(ANSF at the hands of the Taliban after the withdrawal of American troops.
For Biden, Images of Defeat He Wanted to Avoid
August 15, 2021
U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan has proven to be disastrously complicated and completely contradictory to President Biden’s statements made prior to the evacuation.
Biden’s Afghanistan Exit Raises Questions About His Foreign-Policy Record
August 15, 2021
While President Biden framed himself as an experienced foreign policy leader on the campaign trail, the way he has handled Afghanistan suggests otherwise.
Afghan government collapses as Taliban sweeps in, U.S. sends more troops to aid chaotic withdrawal
August 15, 2021
Despite a 20 year U.S. military presence in Afghanistan ended by President Biden, the Taliban has been able to take control of several key provinces in the country as the Afghan military apparatus crumbles.
Billions spent on Afghan army ultimately benefited Taliban
August 16, 2021
It was a series of major strategic failures coupled with a lack of motivation by the Afghan National Security Forces(ANSF) which led to the Taliban’s successful sweeping offensives.
