Europe

Afghanistan: At-Risk Civilians Need Evacuation, Protection: Governments Should Suspend Deportations, Forced Returns

Human Rights Watch) – (New York) – Afghans at heightened risk of persecution from advancing Taliban forces are in urgent need of evacuation and international protection abroad, Human Rights Watch said today. Foreign governments should prioritize providing visas and helping ensure safe passage for civilians whom the Taliban may target for abuse because of their […]

Afghanistan

Top 6 International Winners and Losers from Taliban Reassertion in Afghanistan

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – The fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the establishment of a Taliban government in the entirety of Afghanistan has dire implications for Afghans, especially women, urban people, Hazara Shiites, and generally non-fundamentalists. It also has implications outside the country. Here is a quick scorecard of the drawbacks and benefits […]

Afghanistan

Will Russia use Taliban Resurgence to Reassert itself in Central Asia?

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Informed Comment) – While many Western countries closed their embassies in Kabul, Russian diplomats decided to stay in Afghanistan. The Taliban – a radical movement that effectively took over the country following the US withdrawal – reportedly promised to guarantee the safety of the Russian embassy in the Afghan capital. What is the future […]

Afghanistan

Deja Vu all over Again: The last Time Mazar-i Sharif Fell to the Taliban, there were Massacres

Juan Cole

Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) – In May, 1997, the Taliban swept into Mazar-i Sharif, the capital of the northern Balkh Province. Horrible events ensued, which I’ll tell you about. Right now, it is important to say that Al Jazeera reports that Mazar fell to the Taliban again on August 14, 2021, as the Afghanistan National […]

Climate Crisis

German Public Believes Scientists’ Climate Warnings, 74% Prepared to Change Lifestyle to Forestall Global Heating

Clean Energy Wire

By Kerstine Appunn | – ( Clean Energy Wire) – The majority of Germans (74%) are prepared to make changes to their lifestyle to prevent global warming, a survey among 1,000 consumers commissioned by heating technology company Stiebel Eltron shows. Seventy-nine percent of participants said the climate change warnings by scientists are correct, and 83 […]

Climate Crisis

Germany’s solar PV expansion soars by over 20%, but incoming Government will need to do more

Clean Energy Wire

By Benjamin Wehrmann | – ( Clean Energy Wire) – The construction of new solar photovoltaic (PV) installations in Germany has grown by 22 percent in the first half of 2021 but would still have to be three to four times higher to be in line with the country’s climate targets, solar industry group BSW […]

Bashar al-Assad

Does Renewed fighting in Syria’s Deraa, Birthplace of the Revolution, Show Russia’s Weakness?

Nikola Mikovic

Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) – Russia is making an effort to prevent wide-scale hostilities in Syria’s southern province of Deraa. The Kremlin reportedly aims to increase its influence in the war-torn country, but recent clashes in Deraa al-Balad – a southern district of Deraa city – between the Moscow-backed Syrian Arab Army (SAA) and […]

Russia

Is Russia Helping Syria or Stripping it of its Few Remaining Resources?

The Conversation

By Scott Lucas | – All the standard public relations ploys were in evidence for the recent meeting between Syria’s leader Bashar al-Assad and Russian envoy Alexander Lavrentiev in Damascus. More than 230 officials from 30 federal executive bodies, five Russian regions, and the Russian defence ministry had trekked to the Syrian capital. There were […]

Climate Crisis

Open Letter to Chancellor Merkel: Germany’s Mega-Floods are a Wake-Up Call that We need Radical Climate Action, Now

contributors

Prof. Dr. Eicke R. Weber 10625 Berlin An Bundeskanzlerin Dr. Angela Merkel Bundeskanzleramt Willi-Brandt-Straße 1 10557 Berlin July 25, 2021 Dear Chancellor Dr. Merkel, We are again in deep concern. We were very grateful that our first letter of March 2011, after the terrible Fukushima catastrophe (see attachment), may have helped to reach your quick […]