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 roundup includes a section on Sudan.
Climate Change and Security
“Blah, Blah, Blah”: Youth Climate Activists Slam Political Inaction at U.N. Summit Ahead of COP26
October 4, 2021
Thousands of young activists protest in Milan ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow, scotland.
Biden administration releases alarming reports on climate change challenges
October 7, 2021
23 federal agencies released reports detailing the extreme threats climate change poses to the administration.
Climate change may already affect 85 percent of humanity
October 11, 2021
An analysis of thousands of scientific studies found that climate change is directly affecting over 85% of the world.
Climate change: Carbon emissions from rich countries rose rapidly in 2021
October 14, 2021
The G20 countries are responsible for 70% of the world's emissions and are projected to continue to emit more despite setting ambitious goals to help curb climate change.
As Western Oil Giants Cut Production, State-Owned Companies Step Up
October 14, 2021
The fossil fuel industry continues to dominate the international economy to meet global demands for goods and services. While large multinationals have slowed down production of fossil fuels, state owned oil companies in North Africa, The Middle East, and Latin America are increasing production in the wake of cutbacks from investor owned companies.
Maldives calls for rapid and immediate action to fight climate change
October 18, 2021
The minister of the environment for the Maldives expresses his concern for wealthy nations’ emissions as The island nation may be underwater soon.
COP26: Praise for updated national climate plans, but ‘nowhere near’ goal
October 25, 2021
The UN climate change office along with countries in Paris Agreement published a report that shows that international climate efforts are far from enough.
Security and International Relations
CIA launches new China-focused unit
October 7, 2021
The CIA formed a new unit that focuses on China as a global competitor.
Global Money Shifts to India as Xi Cracks Down on Tech
October 11, 2021
As President Xi Jinping cracks down on China’s tech industry, foreign investors look to India.
Judges postpone trials of three Egypt activists
October 18, 2021
Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who has been imprisoned since 2019, continues to endure harsh prison conditions as Egyptian judges postpone his trial.
Jailed Egyptian Activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah Publishes Prison Writings as Sisi Cracks Down on Dissent
October 21, 2021
The United States is withholding 10% of its military aid to Egypt due to human rights abuses. Egypt holds approximately 60,000 political prisoners. This included famous Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who just recently published his writings from prison.
Biden’s pick for China ambassador says ‘we cannot trust the Chinese’ on Taiwan
October 21, 2021
Biden’s ambassador to China calls their foreign policy “aggressive and untrustworthy” which reinforces an adversarial foreign policy.
Gunfire and sectarian anger renew civil war fears in Lebanon
October 22, 2021
Gunfire rang out at Lebanon’s capital from Hezbollah and other Shia groups who are calling for the removal of judge Tarek Bitar who is leading the investigation of the Beirut explosion that happened more than a year ago. This violent protest is part of a larger conflict between Shia groups who attribute the political and economic crisis to a corrupt sectarian government.
Lebanon uprising protesters anxiously await military court trials
October 23, 2021
Lebanon continues to suffer from a devastating political and economic meltdown as petroleum shortages cripple the economy and governmental transition creates disarray. Many are protesting the ineffective Lebanese government.
Migration and Displacement
Guatemala police free 126 migrants from abandoned container
October 10, 2021
126 migrants were rescued by authorities in Guatemala after they were abandoned in a shipping container. More than 100 came from Haiti.
EU, fearful of refugee crisis, delays response on Afghan asylum
October 15, 2021
There are still hundreds of thousands of Afghans seeking refuge and the EU is worried there will be another refugee crisis.
Biden admin to build intelligence-gathering cell to track groups of migrants headed north
October 18, 2021
The Department of Homeland Security is planning to develop an intelligence gathering cell in order to track and record migrant movements more effectively.
Humanitarian assistance stepped up on Yemen's west coast, amid clashes
October 20, 2021
Humanitarian aid Mass displacement continues to ramp up in Yemen as ongoing violence calls for more humanitarian aid.
The Refugee Brief, 22 October 2021
October 22, 2021
The UNHCR Refugee Brief includes stories about migrants at the Belarus border, South Sudan, and Myanmar.
EU to keep fighting Belarus’s “weaponization” of migrants
October 22, 2021
The EU continues to crack down on the President of Belarus for aiding the illegal immigration and smuggling of people across the Belarusian border.
Migrant caravan grows as it heads through southern Mexico
October 27, 2021
A large migrant caravan of over 4000 people continues to grow as it moves through Mexico.
Covid-19, Capitalism & Economy
Wealthy Nations Denounced for Hoarding COVID-19 Vaccines
October 12, 2021
Doctors without Borders denounced the United States for hoarding excess vaccines and not spearheading a collaborative international effort to vaccinate those in developing countries.
Moscow is going back into lockdown as Covid-19 deaths multiply in Russia
October 21, 2021
Moscow recently entered another lockdown as it suffered its worst stretch of the pandemic. According to its Mayor, the capital city “will reach historic peaks in covid cases.”
Just 14% of Vaccines Pledged to Poorer Nations Have Been Delivered as Rich Countries Hoard Doses
October 22, 2021
A new report found that developing nations are not receiving their vaccine donations from wealthier nations. In fact, only 14% of people have received theirs.
Colin Powell, Who Shaped U.S. National Security, Dies at 84
October 22, 2021
Former Secretary of State, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and national security adviser, Colin Powell died of Covid-19 despite being vaccinated. Colin Powell is famously known for lying to the UN regarding Saddam Hussein’s alleged possession of WMDs.
Public Citizen Blasts Pfizer for Putting Corporate Profit Over Increasing Access to COVID Vaccines
An organization found that Pfizer played a major role in the restriction of vaccines.
Here’s Why Developing Countries Can Make mRNA Covid Vaccines
October 22, 2021
Big Pharma executives say that licensing their vaccines in developing countries is “too complex.” This highlights the damage of the profit incentive in medicine.
Moderna agrees to sell up to 110 million Covid vaccine doses to African countries.
October 26, 2021
After receiving scrutiny for their responsibility in the lack of access to vaccines for poorer nations, Moderna has agreed to sell 110 million vaccines to African countries.
Technologies of surveillance/Data Analytics/AI
The FBI’s Other Secret Warrant Abuses
October 5, 2021
Despite the FBI’s consistent violation of federal surveillance laws, congress has not made an effort to revive significant privacy legislation.
China’s data-driven dream to overhaul health care
October 6, 2021
China continues to further incorporate technology into their medical system including AI medical research.
China’s cameras face fresh scrutiny in Europe
October 6, 2021
Hikvision, a surveillance technology firm which provides surveillance cameras throughout Europe, has a major vulnerability to hackers.
Global Data Flows Rated Toughest Task for Privacy Compliance
Privacy professionals find it difficult to comply with laws that restrict the flow of information across different areas.
Indian supreme court orders inquiry into state’s use of Pegasus spyware
October 27, 2021
The Indian supreme court is launching an inquiry into the Modi government's use of surveillance technology to spy on journalists and political opponents.
Unmanned tech dominates Turkey’s border security summit
October 28, 2021
A major defense conference in Turkey gave Turkish officials an opportunity to explain the importance of arming and surveying the Turkish border at all times.
Gender, Race, Ethnicity, and Sexuality
Inequalities between ethnic groups are stark, new UN report reveals
October 7, 2021
An in depth UN report found that in many countries there are major economic inequalities between ethnic groups.
Nobel Prize: We will not have gender or ethnicity quotas - top scientist
October 12, 2021
The academy that awards the Nobel Prize has made it clear that they will not give out the award on the basis of gender or ethnicity but rather on the significance of their discovery.
The Racial Makeup of America’s Prisons
October 13, 2021
Black Americans are incarcerated 5 times more than White Americans but this disproportionality is more intense in many places.
Opponents of critical race theory seek to flip school boards
October 15, 2021
After the Guilford school system made active efforts to address racial issues, the overwhelmingly white community pushed back against the more socially progressive policies, namely, critical race theory. .
October 19, 2021
The majority of religious Black Americans say opposing racism is extremely important.
With racial attacks on the rise, Asian Americans fear for their safety
October 22, 2021
An increase in hate crimes against Asian Americans has heightened fears according to a NPR poll.
FBI Releases Updated 2020 Hate Crime Statistics
October 25, 2021
The FBI releases in depth statistics on hate crimes including type of hate, location of crime, and demographics of offenders.
Arms, Weapons, and Military Industrial Complex
Afghan Arms Dealers are Now Selling Abandoned American Guns
October 6, 2021
Gun merchants in Afghanistan are now openly selling U.S. military equipment. In the last two years alone, the U.S. has spent over 2.6 billion on the Afghani military.
Analysis: N.Korea threatens to upstage S.Korea defence expo with duelling military show
October 14, 2021
North Korea holds a defense expo right as South Korea has its own arms convention.The timing of North Korea’s military expo seems to have been deliberate.
U.S. concerned by possible Chinese, Russian uses of hypersonic weapons
October 18, 2021
The United States is concerned that China might be testing hypersonic nuclear weapons which are missiles that travel more than 5 times the speed of sound. China denies these allegations.
Choosing its ‘Gates’: US Punishes Russia But is Giving UAE Free Pass
October 19, 2021
While the U.S. mainstream media fixated on alleged Russian Interference in the 2016 election, evidence has surfaced that the UAE also may have been involved. However, the U.S. continues to sell them weapons.
Putin says Western military backing of Ukraine threatens Russia
October 21, 2021
Military development between the U.S. and the Ukraine is threatening to Putin and Russia.
Agents of Doom: Who is creating the apocalypse and why
October 26, 2021
Those who contribute most to climate change and control the most nuclear weapons are the ones who go unchecked and can act almost entirely with impunity.
Sudan
Sudan coup: Protests continue after military takeover
October 17, 2021
Protests continue to ring out to the point where the military general leading the coup declared a state of emergency.
Sudan security forces arrest PM Abdalla Hamdok, ministers
October 25, 2021
The Sudanese military has detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok as well as other members of leadership. There are many who are protesting this.
Sudan: Release prime minister and all those arbitrarily arrested
October 25, 2021
Amnesty International calls for the release of Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok as well as other members of political leadership in Sudan who have been arrested.
The coup in Sudan could threaten U.S. influence in a strategically important region
October 26, 2021
Sudan was on its way to a democracy but the recent coup challenges the previously promising “pocket of stability” in Africa.
Seven killed, 140 hurt in protests against Sudan military coup
October 26, 2021
As the Sudanese military assumed control of the country there was a violent clash between soldiers and protestors leaving several dead and many wounded.
South Sudan: How to deliver Covid vaccines in a country with few roads
October 15, 2021
Sudan, which has one of the lowest vaccination rates in the world (less than 1%), shows the horrific inequality in vaccine distribution.
