The Taliban Take Power In Afghanistan

 

The Taliban has returned to power in Afghanistan. President Ashraf  Ghani has fled the country. Kabul fell to the Taliban and now other citizens  are leaving the country. Russia previously was doing military exercises with other Central Asian states in response to the Taliban's rapid take over of territory. Observers claim that the withdraw of US-NATO troops made this possible. The occupation was not evidence of success. Attacks and fighting from the Taliban was consistent ever since 2001. The country did not gain much from the foreign presence. Economically, the Afghan War was not sustainable. There was not way to win a war that became unpopular as the decades past. The Afghan War was a conflict of aggression. The objective the US claimed was to dismantle al-Qaeda. Osama bin Laden was in Afghanistan . There were no Afghans responsible for the attacks on the World Trade Center or the Pentagon. However, the country was subject to bombing and drone strikes. The government failed to improve the lives of the Afghan  public. The question remains whether or not a new Taliban government will be recognized. China has suggested it may recognize the new Taliban regime. Pakistan will have more influence in Afghanistan, which could result in a response from India. Iran's concern would be a Sunni Muslim state on its border.      

Warnings From The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

 

The IPCC report has issued a warning about climate change. The report noted that across the world's regions the climate system has been altered. The Earth's  temperature is rising and there is a link between carbon dioxide emissions. The result is the exacerbation of the green house effect. This will effect the polar ice caps. The gradual melting will result in rising sea levels. Floods could be more prevalent in the UK, India, South Africa, and the Pacific  region. The IPCC report indicated that the world could reach the 1.5 degree Celsius level. If the temperature goes beyond that then the damage may not be reversible. The new extremes of heat have the the potential to be a public health risk. Too much heat can have a negative impact on agriculture. The water cycle has been effected with not only more floods, but drought in certain parts of the world. The ecosystems of the ocean are going to be harmed. Coastal areas have to consider measures adjusting to rising sea levels. The IPCC report is more mere conjecture. Data was accumulated examining temperature changes from the past to present. The changes in human environment interaction between 1850 and 1900  altered the climate. The use of fossil fuels and the corporations that profit from them are culpable. Governments refuse to challenge this business elite, even when they are contributing to a major environmental crisis. The burning of coal and the emissions from automobiles create higher temperatures. Climate change has occurred without human interference, but economic activity exacerbates a fragile situation. The changes in rainfall patterns could harm basic food security. The constant release of various air pollutants and added methane cause deleterious effects to the environment that could last centuries. More reports are being produced examining paleoclimate compared to the current conditions  and possible solutions. 

President Kias Saied and The Crisis in Tunisia

 

President Kias Saied has suspended parliament. Saied was elected as an independent who vowed to challenge political corruption in Tunisia. The major source of contention was control of the security forces.  The security forces were what kept the authoritarian structure functioning . Disagreements and political factionalism are dividing the country. Saied decided to remove the prime minister and invoke emergency powers. Tunisia experiment with an accountable and democratic government may be coming to an end. Some speculate that what occurred in Tunisia around 2010 was nothing more than a regime change. Since the fall of Zine Abidine Ben Ali Tunisia has struggled to maintain stability. A stagnant economy and problems from a global pandemic only made conditions worse. Demonstrations are growing through out the country. While President Saied still maintains support, it remains in question how much  popularity  the Ennahda Party. Tunisia was suppose to be a model of democratic transition. The narrative of the Arab Spring as being a revolutionary movement does appear to be an accurate assessment. President Kias Saied could become like former leaders of Tunisia. North Africa continues to deal with the fall out from the uprisings that happened ten years ago. Algeria, Libya, and Egypt have similar difficulties. The use of emergency powers in Tunisia could be used against political opposition.  

COVID-19 Infections Increase During The 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

 

As celebrations and the Olympics are underway, there has been a spike in COVID-19 infections. Japanese citizens did protest having the games  go ahead. There were growing concerns that the 2020 Olympics would be cancelled. Japan made too much of a financial investment for the Olympics to be cancelled. Despite volunteers quitting due to safety concerns, that did not deter officials. The spike in cases has to do with athletes coming from all over the world to compete. Even with athletes vaccinated, there is a possibility of getting COVID-19. Although it is a low chance, variants are a cause for concern. The pandemic is not over, yet many are willing to ignore public health measures. Japan is in a state of emergency due to the rise of COVID-19 infections. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga claims that it was vacations and a four day holiday that resulted in the increased infections. Although no spectators are part of the games, this not entirely accurate. The more people coming to the country, the more precarious the condition of the country becomes. Japan may have to go under lockdown and other restrictions to deal with the spike in COVID-19. 

New Viruses Found In 15,000 Year Old Tibetan Glacier Ice

 

Viruses can survive in cold weather. Researchers and virologists discovered new viruses previously unknown in a Tibetan glacier ice . The samples were obtained from the Guliya Ice Cap. The discovery could explain the evolution of viruses. The ice is 15,000 years old, which provides a long history of biological information. Genetic codes were uncovered for 33 viruses. Only four were identified  and twenty eight were novel or unknown. Viruses appear to like cold environments according to the data collected. The origin of viruses might have been from plants and the soil not animals or humans. Scientists  used an ultra-clean method ( clean surface decontamination procedure)  to avoid contamination or being infected . The concern is what happens when global temperatures increase. Heat will cause glaciers to melt and could enable viruses to be exposed. A growing concern is over gain of function research and the hazards of manipulating viruses. Microbes have the ability to thrive in extreme environments. The ice samples provide details of the function of viruses over time. What is now confirmed is that climate can impact microbes as well. 

Demonstrations and Civil Unrest Occur After Former South African President Jacob Zuma Is Jailed

 

President Jacob Zuma has been jailed. The accusations of corruption brought criminal charges. The aftermath was that demonstrations broke out from the verdict. An appeal was denied was denied by the high court. Currently, demonstrations are being held in various cities and townships. The military has been deployed to deal with the violence and reported looting in the country. His support among the rural poor is strong and Zuma does retain loyal followers. President Zuma was a dominant force in South African politics. He was charged wit contempt of court for refusing to appear to answer questions about corruption during his administration from 2009 to 2018. The reason Zuma has support is that he was willing to programs of economic distribution . This is very popular among South Africans who experience the harsh conditions of economic inequality. The apartheid regime impoverished the black majority and the ANC has failed to reverse the damage of the past. President Jacob Zuma promised a change that was refreshing to young voters living in poverty. The reason supports still follow him was that he was actually trying to improve the conditions of South Africa. Despite charges related to money laundering, arms deals, and contempt of court many think this has a political motivation. The imprisonment of former Jacob Zuma will only divide the country more. 

Haitian President Jovenel Moise Assasinated

 

The embattled president of Haiti was killed at his residence. The suspects are currently in custody. Haiti has fallen further into disorder following reports of his murder. The country was already in a constitutional crisis, when President Moise refused to leave office. His term was over, but he refused to relinquish power. Now that he is gone, a power void will follow. To the majority of Haitans his administration represented the worst corruption of government. The police and army are expected to do more crackdowns as protests continue. Demonstrations will not stop simply because there is a new president. The demand for employment, accountable government, and improved living standards is too great. Jovenel Moise had been accused of electoral fraud and graft related to Venezuelan aid. Gangs are becoming more powerful with connections to prominent leaders in the country. The situation could resemble Colombia 's long history of violence. The aid that has come from other countries has not improved the lives of the average citizen. It has been speculated that most has been stolen, but there has not been any confirmation of this. Claude Joseph will be acting president. Without a functional parliament, reforms are not possible.