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Illustration by Alex Esenler, used with permission. Global Voices is seeking media ecosystem analysts to work as researchers in our Civic Media Observatory. We are presently seeking researchers with expertise in the following countries and languages: India (Hindi, Bangla, Assamese, English), Pakistan (Urdu, English), Bangladesh (Bangla), Afghanistan (Dari, Pashto), Mali (Bambara, French), Turkey (Turkish), Russia (Russian), Nicaragua (Spanish). Researchers should either be based or have strong knowledge and ongoing access to local information from these countries. Global Voices’ Civic Media Ob… Continue reading “Global Voices seeks researchers to participate in our Civic Media Observatory projects”

Afghanistan’s new Taliban government has warned US and European envoys that continued attempts to pressure them through sanctions will undermine security and could trigger a wave of economic refugees. Acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi told Western diplomats at talks in Doha that “weakening the Afghan government is not in the interest of anyone because its negative effects will directly affect the world in (the) security sector and economic migration from the country”, according to a statement published late Tuesday. The Taliban overthrew Afghanistan’s former US-backed government in Aug… Continue reading “Taliban warn US, EU of refugees if Afghan sanctions continue”

On 13 October, 2020, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev was interviewed by Turkish Haber Türk TV channel. On 14 October, the TV channel broadcast the interview with the head of state. Trend presents the interview. – We are with the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev. Mr. President, you have a busy schedule, both at the front and in diplomacy. Thank you very much for your time with Haber Türk. – Thank you. – Mr. President, a meeting between Armenia and Azerbaijan took place in Moscow, which lasted 11 and a half hours. But after that meeting, Armenia bombarded the city o… Continue reading “Chronicles of Victory: President Ilham Aliyev interviewed by Turkish Haber Turk TV channel on October 13, 2020”

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department on Tuesday appointed veteran diplomat A. Elizabeth Jones as a new coordinator for efforts to relocate Afghans who have fled or want to flee their country, spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. Another long-serving diplomat, John Bass, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, was sent to Kabul in August to be the point person for relocations amid the chaotic withdrawal of diplomatic staff and at-risk Afghans as the city fell to the Taliban. Jones, a former assistant secretary of state and former deputy special representative for Afghanistan and … Continue reading “U.S. names veteran diplomat to take over Afghan relocation effort”

India’s largest port operator has said it will not handle cargo from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan from next month following the seizure of almost three tonnes of heroin. Adani Ports, part of the Adani Group conglomerate, said Monday that its “trade advisory” will apply to all the terminals it operates including third-party terminals from 15 November. It did not give a reason but the decision follows the seizure of almost three tonnes (6,600 pounds) of heroin from two containers at the Mundra port off India’s western coast in Gujarat state last month. The consignment, which authorities said o… Continue reading “India port operator to shun cargo from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran”

The World Health Organization’s vaccine advisers on Monday recommended people with weakened immune systems should be offered an additional dose of all WHO-approved Covid-19 vaccines. The UN health agency’s experts also said over-60s fully immunised with China’s Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines should be offered an additional third vaccine dose. The Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) stressed it was not recommending an additional booster dose for the population at large, which is already being rolled out in some countries. The WHO wants a moratorium on booster doses for th… Continue reading “WHO experts back extra Covid jab for people with weak immune”

An interpreter who helped rescue US President Joe Biden in a 2008 Afghan snowstorm has escaped Afghanistan with his family after hiding from the Taliban for weeks, the State Department confirmed Monday. After crossing into Pakistan over land, Aman Khalili and his family flew on a US government aircraft to Doha, Qatar, where thousands of refugees from Afghanistan are being processed by US officials for immigration, a State Department spokesperson told AFP. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Khalili, his wife and five children, who were unable to flee in the August emergency airlift f… Continue reading “Interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008 escapes Afghanis”