Whitney High School Model United Nations 16800 Shoemaker Avenue / Cerritos / CA / 90703 / 562-926-5566

S. Rosenberg / S. Yun: Advisors

www.rosenworld.org / www.muncental.com

MUN-RELATED NEWS, ARTICLES, MEDIA and RESOURCE DIGEST “Doing the Research So You Don’t Have To”

This will be the last issue of the news and research digest which you’ll be able to access freely from the RosenWorld website. I’ll still be sending you the daily digests via email, but the website link will be password protected. The work that I’m doing is to benefit the Whitney MUN program and your research, not another’s program. I’ll be sending you a password when I’ve set it all up and I plan to change it once a month or so. Remember, I’m doing this for you guys and not for any other school or program. Highlights of today’s digest:

• The UN is having a merchandise sale until November 30th. So if you’re looking for UN “bling” (does anyone use the word “bling” anymore?) you can find it after the index.

• Foreign Affairs has a special background report on Sudan. Scroll down to the “Special Reports” section below.

• Besides the video version of the daily press briefing, we’ll now include the transcript with the main points being discussed. Make sure to look at the questions and answers section for chestnuts of information. You can find it in the “From the Office of the Secretary General” Section.

• A new section has been put in “New Resolutions and Draft Resolutions” which everyone should glance at when new information is available, as it’s up to the minute material for you to use in your research.

A reminder not to expect this digest this coming Thursday and Friday and I’ll be out of town with my 88-year-old mommy visiting my sister’s for Thanksgiving. The updates will resume on Saturday. Please note that some of this material may be behind a firewall and is unavailable without a subscription. The MUN has subscriptions to many of these publications such as The New York Times, The Nation, Scientific American, and the Economist. Email SiR in order to access any publication you can’t access and we’ll see what we can do to get it to you as soon as possible. Below are your MUN-related news and articles for today, Tuesday, November 23, 2021. These articles can be used for the writing of your article synopsis and position papers. They also can be used informally to help fill you in on a field you would like to specialize in. On each headline I try to identify an MUN-related category the article might relate to in order to help guide you to what you might be interested in. Please let me know what I can do to make these digests better and more informative. SiR

Contents Blue Friday United Nations Merchandise Deals from 15 to 30 November 2021! ...................................................... 5

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES OF MUN RELATED INTEREST Mostly taken from Reuter’s news service ...................... 5

UNCHR / Human Rights / China ................................................................................................................................ 5

Analysis: In Peng case, a glimpse into the machinery of Beijing's control ................................................................ 5

U.S. envoy returns from Ethiopia as Washington urges end to conflict .................................................................... 5

Number of children recruited into conflict grows in West and Central Africa ........................................................... 5

U.S. warship again transits sensitive Taiwan Strait .................................................................................................. 5

Factbox: What could the WTO ministerial conference achieve? ............................................................................... 6

Taiwan talks chips, Chinese 'coercion' in U.S. meeting ............................................................................................. 6

Poland says migrants still crossing from Belarus despite steps by Minsk ................................................................. 6

UN criticizes 'disturbing' arrest of rights activist in Indian Kashmir .......................................................................... 6

Israel sees Iranian atomic bomb in five years, deal or no deal .................................................................................. 6

Children skipping meals in majority of families in Lebanon, UNICEF says ................................................................. 6

IAEA's Grossi says in Iran that he wants to deepen cooperation .............................................................................. 6

FROM OTHER NEWS SERVICES ............................................................................................................................... 6

UNEP / Climate Change / United States / United Nations ........................................................................................ 6

Fearing Liability, U.S. Resists U.N. Fund for Climate Damages – From Scientific American ...................................... 6

Warming Events Could Destabilize The Antarctic Ice Sheet Soon. Very Soon – From Science Alert .......................... 7

Egypt weighs impact of Ethiopia's civil war – From Al-Monitor ................................................................................ 7

Italian cops bust Nigerian crime network forcing women into prostitution – from Deutsche Welle ........................ 7

US, Poland, Hungary land on 'backsliding democracies' list – from Deutsche Welle ................................................ 7

Germans more optimistic over US relations, China fears growing — survey – from Deutsche Welle ....................... 7

US 'deeply concerned' over Bulgarian president's Crimea remarks – from Deutsche Welle ..................................... 7

Xi says China not seeking dominance in Southeast Asia – from Deutsche Welle ...................................................... 7

Destitute and hopeless: Iraqi Kurds return from Belarus – from Al-Jazeera ............................................................. 7

Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed vows to lead army ‘from the battlefront’ – from Al-Jazeera .......................................... 7

Azerbaijan’s internally displaced long to return to regained land – from Al-Jazeera................................................ 8

Backstory: Sudan – From Foreign Affairs .................................................................................................................. 8

‘Finger-licking good’ insects could be the future of food – from Al-Jazeera.............................................................. 8

FROM THE UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE ......................................................................................................... 8

UNEP / Global Warming / Climate and Environment ................................................................................................ 8

Interview: The most impactful actions at COP26 point to progress on climate change ............................................ 8

Feature: Five years after peace deal, Colombian town of Llano Grande is forging a ‘family’ out of disparate parts ................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Immediately release sick Chinese journalist, rights experts urge .............................................................................. 8

Arms trafficking, a ‘defining factor’ in undermining peace ....................................................................................... 9

General Assembly reaffirms commitment to combat human trafficking .................................................................. 9

Current system will not protect us from the next pandemic, ‘which could happen at any time’ .............................. 9

UN will use technology and medical capacity to improve peacekeeping .................................................................. 9

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL ................................................................................................... 9

Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General .................................................... 9

Secretary-General's video message to the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit ............................. 9

Secretary-General's video message to virtual Ministerial Event: Accelerating the Level of Commitment to Fight Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery During the Global COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond ......................................... 9

Deputy Secretary-General's remarks at High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Third Appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action To Combat Trafficking In Persons [as delivered] .......................................... 10

FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL ............................................................................................................................. 10

Security Council - 8909th Meeting (AM & PM) - Small arms ................................................................................... 10

NEW RESOLUTIONS AND DRAFT RESOLUTIONS ................................................................................................... 10

Second Committee (ECOFIN) / Sustainable Development ....................................................................................... 10

Combating sand and dust storms : revised draft resolution ................................................................................... 10

Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations .................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories ......... 10

Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations ................................. 10

Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories .... 11

UNITED NATIONS VIDEOS .................................................................................................................................... 11

United Nations Live ................................................................................................................................................. 11

UN Web TV / Live Schedule ..................................................................................................................................... 11

Colombia, Afghanistan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (22 November 2021) ................................................. 11

Impact of Trafficking of Arms on Peace and Security - United Nations Security Council Briefing ........................... 11

Mexico on the impact of the trafficking of arms - Security Council Stakeout (22 Nov 2021) .................................. 11

MUN STRATEGIES, TIPS, HINTS, ETC. - A collection mainly from the “Best Delegate” website ............................. 11

Free Guide: Learn to Debate Diplomatically in Model UN and the Real World! ..................................................... 11

FROM THINK-TANKS AND RELATED SERVICES - Expect economic political bias, sometimes radial bias, from these services. ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

US should strike terrorists in Pakistan – from the American Enterprise Institute ................................................... 12

Blinken’s moral equivalence making Caucasus violence worse– from the American Enterprise Institute .............. 12

Belarus’s Lukashenko has mastered the global autocrat handbook– from the American Enterprise Institute ...... 12

OPINION, Op-Eds and EDITORIALS - Obviously, there is a whole lot a bias and propaganda, but it can lead to some good insights. ............................................................................................................................................. 12

Where Is Peng Shuai? And What Is the IOC Going to Do About It? – from The Nation ........................................... 12

COP26 was a flop but there is still hope – from Al-Jazeera ..................................................................................... 12

SPECIAL OFFERS Blue Friday United Nations Merchandise Deals from 15 to 30 November 2021! Make a purchase from our selection of merchandise and receive a gift from us! Flag Icon $40 or more* for a free UN flag pin, or Stress Ball Icon $70 or more* for a free purple UN stress ball. The holiday season is around the corner and we are excited to commence the festivities with our annual “Blue Friday” promotion. This year feels a bit more cheerful than the previous one, with the arrival of vaccines families can finally gather to enjoy cherished moments together. Celebrate with our UN gifts, shipping world wide to all your loved ones on your gift list. All proceeds from sales support the work of the United Nations. Access it HERE.

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES OF MUN RELATED INTEREST Mostly taken from Reuter’s news service UNCHR / Human Rights / China Analysis: In Peng case, a glimpse into the machinery of Beijing's control BEIJING, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Tennis star Peng Shuai's sexual assault allegation and its aftermath have brought the realities of China's censorship and secrecy around its leadership to global attention just as Beijing prepares to host the Olympics. Access it HERE. Tigray Crisis U.S. envoy returns from Ethiopia as Washington urges end to conflict WASHINGTON, Nov 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman returned from Ethiopia over the weekend following meetings with senior Ethiopian government officials and African Union representatives, the U.S. State Department said on Monday. Access it HERE. UNICEF / Child Soldiers / West and Central Africa Number of children recruited into conflict grows in West and Central Africa DAKAR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - West and Central Africa has recorded the highest number of children recruited into conflict of any region in the world, and the number is growing, the U.N. children's agency said on Tuesday. Access it HERE. US-China / Taiwan U.S. warship again transits sensitive Taiwan Strait TAIPEI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - A U.S. warship again sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, part of what the U.S. military calls routine activity but which always riles China whose government believes Washington is trying to stir regional tensions. Access it HERE.

World Trade Organization (WTO) Factbox: What could the WTO ministerial conference achieve? GENEVA, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Trade ministers are holding a conference at the World Trade Organization in Geneva for the first time in four years from Nov. 30-Dec. 3 at a critical juncture for the body. Access it HERE. US-China / Taiwan Taiwan talks chips, Chinese 'coercion' in U.S. meeting TAIPEI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Taiwan and the United States discussed chip shortages and how to respond to China's economic "coercion" during the second session of an economic dialogue launched last year, Taiwan Economy Minister Wang Mei-hua said on Tuesday. Access it HERE. UNHCR / Refugees / Poland-Belarus Situation Poland says migrants still crossing from Belarus despite steps by Minsk WARSAW, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Poland said on Tuesday that groups of migrants had made new attempts to cross over the border from Belarus and it would be premature to say that the worst of the crisis on the European Union's eastern frontier was over. Access it HERE. Kashmir / Human Rights UN criticizes 'disturbing' arrest of rights activist in Indian Kashmir SRINAGAR, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Rights groups including the United Nations have criticized the arrest of a prominent activist in Indian-administered Kashmir on terror funding charges. Access it HERE. IAEA / Israel / Iran Israel sees Iranian atomic bomb in five years, deal or no deal JERUSALEM, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Iran is five years away from developing a nuclear weapon, and international talks due to restart next week will do nothing to slow it down, Israel said on Tuesday, adding it reserved the right to act to protect itself. Access it HERE. UNICEF / Lebanon / Food Scarcity Children skipping meals in majority of families in Lebanon, UNICEF says BEIRUT, Nov 23 (Reuters) - More than half of families in Lebanon had at least one child who skipped a meal by October 2021 amid a "dramatic deterioration of living conditions", the UN's children's fund said in a report released on Tuesday. Access it HERE. IAEA / Iran IAEA's Grossi says in Iran that he wants to deepen cooperation DUBAI, Nov 23 (Reuters) - U.N. nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said on Tuesday that he wanted to deepen cooperation with Iran in his talks in Tehran, days before resumption of negotiations between the Islamic Republic and world powers to revive a 2015 nuclear deal. Access it HERE.

FROM OTHER NEWS SERVICES UNEP / Climate Change / United States / United Nations Fearing Liability, U.S. Resists U.N. Fund for Climate Damages – From Scientific American The reluctance reflects long-standing concerns over climate-related litigation Access it HERE.

UNEP / Climate Change / Antarctica Warming Events Could Destabilize The Antarctic Ice Sheet Soon. Very Soon – From Science Alert

Here's another reminder of the precarious position that the world's climate and ecosystems are in: a new study estimates that global warming could push the Antarctic ice sheet past a tipping point in as little as 10 years. Access it HERE. 4th Committee / Tigray Crisis Egypt weighs impact of Ethiopia's civil war – From Al-Monitor The civil war further threatens Ethiopia as Tigray forces threaten to advance toward Abbis Ababa. Access it HERE. UNCHR / Human Trafficking / Italy / Nigeria Italian cops bust Nigerian crime network forcing women into prostitution – from Deutsche Welle Italian authorities said the criminal network forced 41 Nigerian women into prostitution while nine were forced to beg for money on the streets. The exploitation stretched outside Italy into Germany and Libya. Access it HERE. Democracy / Civil Liberties / United States / Poland / Hungary US, Poland, Hungary land on 'backsliding democracies' list – from Deutsche Welle A Sweden-based think tank has warned that the US and some eastern EU members are facing declines in civil liberties and other freedoms. In Asia, authoritarianism in China is casting an ever-larger shadow. Access it HERE. US-German Relations / Chinese-German Relations Germans more optimistic over US relations, China fears growing — survey – from Deutsche Welle Germans view trans-Atlantic relations much more positively than they did 12 months ago, according to a new survey. Meanwhile, doubts have been cast over Olaf Scholz's ability to represent Germany on the global stage. Access it HERE. US-Bulgaria / Crimea US 'deeply concerned' over Bulgarian president's Crimea remarks – from Deutsche Welle The US embassy said it was "deeply concerned" that Bulgaria's reelected president said Crimea was "currently Russian." In a statement, the embassy said the EU and NATO "have all been clear" that "Crimea is Ukraine." Access it HERE. China / Southeast Asia / Myanmar Xi says China not seeking dominance in Southeast Asia – from Deutsche Welle Chinese President Xi Jinping has said his country will not use its position to seek hegemony over smaller neighbors amid a flaring maritime dispute. Meanwhile, Myanmar was not represented at an ASEAN-China conference. Access it HERE. Migration Destitute and hopeless: Iraqi Kurds return from Belarus – from Al-Jazeera For many Iraqi families stuck at the Poland-Belarus border, waiting was simply not an option any more. Access it HERE. Ethiopia’s PM Abiy Ahmed vows to lead army ‘from the battlefront’ – from Al-Jazeera

Nobel Peace Prize winning prime minister says he will lead troops battling Tigrayan rebels from Tuesday. Access it HERE. Azerbaijan’s internally displaced long to return to regained land – from Al-Jazeera Many who fled Nagorno-Karabakh in the ’90s hope to live in their old homes after last year’s war, but progress is slow. Access it HERE.

SPECIAL REPORTS & FEATURES 4th Committee / Sudan Backstory: Sudan – From Foreign Affairs A guide through the debates driving U.S. foreign policy and international affairs using pieces from the Foreign Affairs archives—some recent, some decades old. On October 25, two years into Sudan’s transition to democracy, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan deposed the country’s civilian prime minister. The coup, coming just hours after the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa asked Burhan not to interfere with the transition, was “a direct snub to the United States,” writes Alex de Waal. “Burhan’s power grab has further called into question U.S. influence in an already unstable neighborhood.” Access it HERE. FAO / Food Sustainability ‘Finger-licking good’ insects could be the future of food – from Al-Jazeera ‘I think everybody realizes we need to change our diets,’ says expert on edible insects as global population soars. Access it HERE.

FROM THE UNITED NATIONS NEWS SERVICE UNEP / Global Warming / Climate and Environment Interview: The most impactful actions at COP26 point to progress on climate change Of the many agreements and initiatives announced at the 26th UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, the UN Climate Communications Lead at the Department of Global Communications narrowed down the three that she deemed most impactful. Access it HERE. Columbia / Peace and Security Feature: Five years after peace deal, Colombian town of Llano Grande is forging a ‘family’ out of disparate parts UN Secretary-General António Guterres is headed to Colombia this week to mark the fifth anniversary of the signing of the peace accords that ended 50 years of conflict in the country, and his activities will include travel to the village of Llano Grande, where the townspeople and former combatants are working together to secure a better future. Access it HERE. UNHRC / China / Human Rights Immediately release sick Chinese journalist, rights experts urge UN-appointed independent human rights experts urged the Chinese authorities on Monday to release on humanitarian grounds, imprisoned citizen journalist and human rights defender, Zhang Zhan. Access it HERE. GA 1st Committee (DISEC) / Security Council / Arms Trafficking / Peace and Security

Arms trafficking, a ‘defining factor’ in undermining peace Small arms trafficking is a “defining factor in undermining peace and security”, the Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) told the Security Council on Monday during a ministerial debate. Access it HERE. General Assembly (GA) / Covid / Law and Crime Prevention General Assembly reaffirms commitment to combat human trafficking The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated factors that fuel human trafficking such as poverty, unemployment and gender-based violence, the President of the UN General Assembly said on Monday, urging countries to boost efforts to prevent and respond to this “vile crime”. Access it HERE. WHO / Health Current system will not protect us from the next pandemic, ‘which could happen at any time’ Efforts to reform global pandemic preparedness and response are happening too slowly, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response said on Monday. Access it HERE. UN Peacekeeping / Peace and Security UN will use technology and medical capacity to improve peacekeeping Beginning on 7 December, ministers from around the world will discuss the technology and medical capacity building of UN Peacekeeping, UN officials said at a press conference on Monday. Access it HERE.

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today’s noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General. Topics covered:

• Columbia • Trafficking in Persons • Afghanistan • Myanmar

• Security Council • Federated States of Micronesia • Senior Personnel Appointment • Questions and Answers

Access it HERE. Secretary-General's video message to the Global Manufacturing and Industrialization Summit I am pleased to convey my greetings to this fourth Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit. My thanks to the Co-Chairs, UNIDO and the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates. Access it HERE. Secretary-General's video message to virtual Ministerial Event: Accelerating the Level of Commitment to Fight Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery During the Global COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond Pandemic and poverty, conflict and the climate emergency: the cascade of crises we face has put the most vulnerable at even greater risk of exploitation, violence and abuse by human traffickers. Access it HERE.

Deputy Secretary-General's remarks at High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Third Appraisal of the United Nations Global Plan of Action To Combat Trafficking In Persons [as delivered] Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, My thanks to the President of the General Assembly for convening this meeting on the UN Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. Access it HERE.

FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL Security Council - 8909th Meeting (AM & PM) - Small arms Note: Only a partial summary of today’s meeting of the Security Council is available at this time. The complete summary will be issued later as Press Release SC/14708.

ROBIN GEISS, Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), described the diversion and trafficking in arms — including small arms and light weapons — and ammunition as “a defining factor” in undermining peace and security. The use of these weapons by non-State armed groups, criminals and terrorist actors destabilizes communities and exacerbates situations of insecurity, including by committing serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law, as well as violence against women and children in various contexts. The misuse of illicit arms and ammunition has negative, gendered and age-related impacts, ranging from deaths, injuries, displacement and psychological harm, to long-term socioeconomic effects on access to health and education, the delivery of humanitarian services, the protection of civilians, and sustainable development. Access it HERE.

NEW RESOLUTIONS AND DRAFT RESOLUTIONS Second Committee (ECOFIN) / Sustainable Development Combating sand and dust storms : revised draft resolution Guinea [on behalf of the Group of 77 and China] Access it HERE. Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) Information from Non-Self-Governing Territories transmitted under Article 73 e of the Charter of the United Nations Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (4th Committee) : General Assembly, 76th session Access it HERE. Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) Offers by Member States of study and training facilities for inhabitants of Non-Self-Governing Territories Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (4th Committee) : General Assembly, 76th session. Access it HERE. Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) Implementation of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples by the specialized agencies and the international institutions associated with the United Nations Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (4th Committee) : General Assembly, 76th session Access it HERE.

Fourth Committee (Special Political and Decolonization) Economic and other activities which affect the interests of the peoples of the Non-Self-Governing Territories Report of the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (4th Committee) : General Assembly, 76th session. Access it HERE.

UNITED NATIONS VIDEOS United Nations Live The UN’s 24-Hour service of short documentaries on what it has been doing to improve the world. Access it HERE. UN Web TV / Live Schedule Access it HERE. Subscribe HERE. Noon UN Briefing Colombia, Afghanistan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (22 November 2021) • Secretary-General/Colombia • Deputy Secretary-General • Afghanistan • Myanmar • Security Council • Micronesia • Senior Personnel Appointment • - Noon Briefing Guests Access it HERE. Security Council Briefing / Arms Trafficking Impact of Trafficking of Arms on Peace and Security - United Nations Security Council Briefing Briefing by Robin Geiss, Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), on the impact of the diversion and trafficking of arms on peace and security. Access it HERE. Security Council Briefing / Arms Trafficking / Mexico Mexico on the impact of the trafficking of arms - Security Council Stakeout (22 Nov 2021) Informal comments to the media by Marcelo Luis Ebrard Casaubón, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, on the impact of the diversion and trafficking of arms on peace and security ahead of the open debate at the 8909th meeting of the Security Council. Access it HERE.

MUN STRATEGIES, TIPS, HINTS, ETC. - A collection mainly from the “Best Delegate” website Free Guide: Learn to Debate Diplomatically in Model UN and the Real World!

• The key elements on becoming a Diplomat • A facilitator checklist on how to set up diplomatic debates • A student checklist on how to debate diplomatically in Model UN

Practical tips for enhancing your Diplomacy Skills • And so much more!

Fill out the form to receive your copy of the Guide to Debate Diplomatically! Access it HERE.

FROM THINK-TANKS AND RELATED SERVICES - Expect economic political bias, sometimes radial bias, from these services. Opinion / Terrorism / US-Pakistan US should strike terrorists in Pakistan – from the American Enterprise Institute It has now been almost three months since President Joe Biden pronounced the War in Afghanistan over. He predicated the U.S. withdrawal on the fact that it would not undercut American security. “I also know that the threat from terrorism continues in its pernicious and evil nature. But it’s changed, expanded to other countries. Our strategy has to change too,” he declared , explaining “We have what’s called over-the-horizon capabilities, which means we can strike terrorists and targets without American boots on the ground — or very few, if needed.” Access it HERE. Opinion / Azerbaijan-Armenian Conflict Blinken’s moral equivalence making Caucasus violence worse– from the American Enterprise Institute Last week, fighting erupted between Azerbaijan and Armenia. The skirmish, which killed eight and led to Azerbaijan’s capture of more than a dozen prisoners and the disappearance of several others, came just over a year since Azerbaijan, backed by Turkish Special Forces and Syrian jihadi mercenaries, attacked Artsakh, the self-declared but unrecognized Armenian republic in Nagorno-Karabakh. That conclusion of that fighting was a Russia-brokered ceasefire that inserted Russian peacekeepers into the South Caucasus and Artsakh’s loss of nearly half its territory; Armenia also withdrew its forces from seven districts of Azerbaijan that it occupied between Armenia itself and Nagorno-Karabakh. Access it HERE. Opinion / Belarus Belarus’s Lukashenko has mastered the global autocrat handbook– from the American Enterprise Institute Tools of the trade: weaponize migration; intimidate critics at home and abroad; seek aid from other tyrants; threaten to cut off the West’s fossil-fuel supplies. Access it HERE.

OPINION, Op-Eds and EDITORIALS - Obviously, there is a whole lot a bias and propaganda, but it can lead to some good insights. IOC / China / Human Rights Where Is Peng Shuai? And What Is the IOC Going to Do About It? – from The Nation With the 2022 Beijing Olympics looming, the IOC’s silence in the case of a missing tennis star who accused a Chinese official of sexual assault speaks volumes. Access it HERE. COP26 / Climate Change COP26 was a flop but there is still hope – from Al-Jazeera Only revolutionary activism can help save civilization from a climate catastrophe. Access it HERE.

SiR