Famine Threatens Millions of Afghans: Daily Brief

Afghanistan faces a devastating and rapidly worsening humanitarian crisis. The country’s economy faces collapse, set off by widespread lost income, cash shortages, rising food costs, separation from global financial systems, and an abrupt halt to the development assistance that made up at least 75 percent of the previous government’s budget.

This week, 100 countries, representing 85% of the world’s forests, pledged to end deforestation at the climate change summit #COP26 in Glasgow. Amazon activists have warned COP26 delegates not to trust Bolsonaro Brazil’s ‘greenwashing’ promises, and act NOW to save the rainforest.

The decision of the International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan to open an investigation in Venezuela offers a pathway to justice for victims of atrocities by the regime of Nicolás Maduro. Khan announced his decision during a visit to the country this week.

The release of the convicted war criminal Sreten Lukic and his return to Serbia highlights how the authorities in Belgrade are still doing nothing to prosecute other high-ranking officials for wartime crimes in Kosovo and the subsequent cover-up. Read this op-ed by Human Rights Watch's expert Fred Abrahams.

Three weeks after French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin dismissed a Human Rights Watch report on police abuse against migrants in northern France as “lies,” national officials are beginning to change their tone...

And make sure you join us at 10:45 AM EST today for a special Instagram Live conversation with Ai Weiwei and Ken Roth about activism, art, and standing up for human rights in China.