Link to article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56316649 In a letter to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has called for a UN-led peace effort in Afghanistan. He made the push for a 90-day reduction in violence and a transitional government formed from both sides. Also in the letter, he asked for President Ghani to demonstrate “urgent leadership” and reflected… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/16/afghanistan-targeted-killings-civilians-escalate Insurgent groups in Afghanistan have escalated their targeted killings of women and religious minorities. The recent surge of killings, including at least five women and seven factory workers from the minority Hazara community, is intended to eliminate women from public life and produce fear among minority communities. In addition to women and religious minorities, journalists, civil… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/16/iran-reveals-underground-missile-city-as-regional-tensions-rise.html Iran has recently aired footage of a new Revolutionary Guard base; a “missile city” armed with cruise and ballistic weapons. There appears to be advanced munitions including scores of missiles lined up along concrete walls inside of the facility, and electronic warfare equipment, including radar, monitoring devices, and simulation and disruption system outside. The underground facility… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56156233 The UN is enacting a new resolution to hold Sri Lankan human rights abusers to account for and deliver justice to victims of its 26-year civil war. Sri Lankan forces and Tamil rebels have been accused of acts of malfeasance during the war, and communities await justice for loved ones murdered or missing, having to deal… Read more »
Link to article: https://apnews.com/article/iran-imposes-curbs-un-nuclear-inspection-5d8d58dc633c0e2944b7933591083bc9 Iran has begun restricting international inspections of its nuclear facilities, to persuade European countries and U.S. President Joe Biden to lift economic sanctions and restore the 2015 nuclear deal. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported confidentially that Iran had added 38.8 pounds of uranium to its stockpile as of last week. Iran has violated the 3.67%… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/2/privacy-fears-as-indias-govt-schools-install-facial-recognition Facial recognition technologies have been installed in at least a dozen government-funded schools in Delhi. The facial recognition systems are being installed without laws to regulate the collection and use of data, which is an invasion of children’s privacy, digital rights advocates say. India plans for a nationwide system to deploy facial recognition technology in airports,… Read more »
Link to article: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-slips-6-spots-to-86th-rank-on-corruption-index/articleshow/80533471.cms India’s ranking on the Corruption Perception Index-2020 dropped from 80 to 86. The index is released annually by Transparency International and ranks each country by levels of public sector corruption, the abuse of public office for private gain, on a scale of zero to 100. Zero signifies the highest level of corruption while 100 is the… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/2/bangladesh-bought-surveillance-equipment-from-israeli-company Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit has obtained documents and statements proving the Bangladesh army’s purchase of Israeli-made surveillance equipment that can be used to monitor the mobile phones of hundreds of people simultaneously. The equipment was bought in 2018 using a Bangkok-based middleman and Bangladeshi military intelligence officers. Bangladesh has no diplomatic relations with Israel and trade… Read more »
Link to article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/3/rihanna-greta-thunberg-anger-india-by-supporting-farmer-protests Pop superstar Rihanna and climate activist Greta Thunberg have angered the Indian government after tweeting in favor of the huge protests against the new farm laws. The farmers’ protests are one of the biggest challenges to Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he took power in 2014. Tens of thousands of farmers have been camped… Read more »