By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 12 August 2025 (IDN) — Recall Shakespeare’s great work of dramatic art, The Merchant of Venice, where Shylock was treated as an unpleasant Jew (with a lovely, self-effacing daughter) who dealt mainly in shady usury. His speech to the court is one of Shakespeare’s most remembered: “Hath not a […]
New testimonies of harrowing incidents of sexual violence in Sudan
By Mirjam van Reisen IDN received 15 new testimonies collected by an organisation focusing on supporting rape victims in the war in Sudan. The testimonies document a series of harrowing incidents of sexual violence in Sudan, primarily targeting women aged between 18 and 36 years. These incidents occurred across various locations, including Khartoum and its […]
Leveraging Trump’s Tariff Shock: Diversify Products and Markets — Industrialise
By Darini Rajasingham Senanayake* COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 12 August 2025 (IDN) — Real and staged crises present opportunities to reorient, innovate and think outside the box. Trump’s tariff ‘shock’ presents Sri Lanka’s business sector and national policy makers an opportunity for short, intermediate and long-term economic and industrial policy shift out of the current […]
Malawi’s Youth Urged to Shun Political Violence Ahead of September Elections
By Joseph Kayira LILONGWE, Malawi | 11 August 2025 (IDN) — With Malawi’s general elections set for 16 September 2025, the stakes are high. Political parties, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), and civic bodies are racing to maintain the electoral calendar, ensure voter participation, and safeguard democratic integrity. But amid rising political tension in this […]
Seizing the Global Momentum for a Two-State Solution
Palestinians and Israel, with the unwavering support of the US, must seize on the growing international momentum in support of an independent Palestinian state by heeding France’s and Saudi Arabia’s call, initiated in the recent United Nations High-Level Conference. By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 9 August 2025 (IDN) —The unfolding horror in Gaza has galvanized […]
From Degradation to Restoration: A Strategic Treaty Emerges as a Leading Global Initiative
By Ramesh Jaura* This article was first published on https://rjaura.substack.com/ BERLIN | 9 August 2025 (IDN) — In a world reeling from climate disruption, collapsing biodiversity, and mounting water and food insecurity, land has emerged as both a battleground and a beacon of hope. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) marks not only […]
Palestine: Worsening Humanitarian Catastrophe
By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK | 8 August 2025 (IDN) — For eight decades, the world has witnessed the suffering of the Palestinians. Recently, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres said that “Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions”. The deplorable status of the Palestinians is a vivid example of how Israel […]
Africa’s Drone Vanguard Leads Technological Innovation
By Ramesh Jaura This article was first published on https://rjaura.substack.com/ BERLIN, ABUJA (Nigeria) | 8 August 2025 (IDN) — In a nondescript hangar on the edge of Nigeria’s capital, engineers in Terra Industries uniforms are assembling sleek, black UAVs—machines that could redefine how Africa protects its lifelines. These aren’t weapons of war. They’re first responders, […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: SAF states it destroyed UAE airplane carrying mercenaries
Situation in Sudan (per 7 August) The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) repelled a coordinated assault by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in northern North Kordofan state. They captured and executed dozens of SAF prisoners. The RSF launched a counteroffensive from Umm Sayyala, reportedly inflicting heavy losses on the SAF and forcing a full retreat, with claims […]
Haiti Situation Report: Nonprofits withdraw after Kenscoff kidnapping
Situation in Haiti The nonprofits Our Little Brothers and Sisters and the St. Luke Foundation shut down all operations in Haiti, including hospitals and orphanages, after gunmen abducted seven staff members and a 3-year-old child from the St. Helene Orphanage in Kenscoff on 3 August. Three police officers were killed in an ambush by the […]