This week's Gandhara Briefing highlights our reporting on the devastation caused by the floods in Afghanistan, an Afghan woman accusing a Taliban official of rape, and the militants holding their first film festival.
A senior aide to U.S. President Joe Biden has hinted that the Taliban could face financial consequences for human rights violations. In his first broadcast interview since his appointment last year, Rob Berschinski, special assistant to the president, said, "We're going to hold them to their word" on human rights pledges' made during talks on the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Berschinski, who is also senior director for human rights on the National Security Council, spoke to RFE/RL's Ray Furlong in Prague on August 31.
A senior aide to U.S. President Joe Biden has warned against "steps that could inadvertently punish innocent Russians" following a European Union move to tighten visa rules for Russian tourists. In his first broadcast interview since his appointment last year, Rob Berschinski, special assistant to the president, also said the United States was financing organizations gathering evidence of Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Berschinski, who is also senior director for human rights on the National Security Council, spoke to RFE/RL's Ray Furlong in Prague on August 31.
Many of the president s own aides and fellow Democrats believe he is set to be played by the kingdom and its de facto ruler, Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman.
Madrid – Yesterday the first Tech4Democracy Venture Day was held at the IE Tower in Madrid, with the presence of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who delivered a speech stressing that it is the duty of democratic governments to rea