A call for peace on the 4th anniversary of the war in Ukraine By Harald Kujat, Michael von der Schulenburg* BRUSSELS | 16 February 2026 (IDN) — The world is currently experiencing one of the most profound geopolitical upheavals since the end of the Second World War – an upheaval in which the European Union […]
Russia Optimising Partnership With Burkina Faso
By Kester Kenn Klomegah MOSCOW | 16 February 2026 (IDN) — Russia and Burkina Faso have moved quickly to finalise a number of key documents forming the bedrock of their future strategic partnership. The agreements span multiple agencies, signalling concrete progress on understandings reached by both leaders, including during President Ibrahim Traoré’s visit to Russia […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: UN accuses RSF of war crimes
Situation in Sudan (per 16 February) The UN Human Rights Office reported that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) committed acts amounting to war crimes during their October 2025 offensive on El Fasher, citing more than 6,000 killings and widespread abuses, according to UN High Commissioner Volker Türk. An RSF drone attack on the Al […]
From Exile to Power: Bangladesh Votes for Change and Reform
By Raghav Kumar* SYDNEY | 15 February 2026 (IDN) — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats in the 13th general elections, reports Hindustan Times. India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and China were swift to congratulate BNP’s leadership while emphasizing the elections’ peaceful, transparent nature. BNP’s decisive victory […]
After New START: Ban the Bomb
Why nuclear abolition must replace deterrence and treaty illusion By Ramesh Jaura* This article first appeared on rjaura.substack.com BERLIN | 14 February 2026 (IDN) — The New START treaty expired on 4 February 2026, marking what many see as a dangerous shift in global security. The last accord limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals—together nearly 90 […]
Suffocating an Island: What the U.S. Blockade Is Doing to Cuba
By Medea Benjamin* NEW YORK | 13 February 2026 (IDN) — Marta Jiménez, a hairdresser in Cuba’s eastern city of Holguín, covered her face with her hands and broke down in tears when I asked her about Trump’s blockade of the island—especially now that the United States is choking off oil shipments. “You can’t imagine […]
The Democrats Need a Concrete Governing Agenda
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 12 February 2026 (IDN) — Since President Donald Trump reassumed office, the Democratic rank and file have been relentless in criticizing what many view as his unhinged exercise of power. Given Trump’s sweeping challenges to political norms, democratic institutions, and long-established economic and cultural frameworks, there is no shortage […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Ethiopia accused of training RSF
Situation in Sudan (per 12 February) There have been multiple recorded drone strikes by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in recent days. One on 7 February near Rahad in North Kordofan killed 24 people including 8 children. Another on 11 February killed 2 people and injured 13 in a boarding school. Fighting between the RSF […]
Elections in Thailand — More of the Same?
By Jan Servaes BANGKOK, Thailand | 11 February 2026 (IDN) — During early general elections on Sunday, February 8, 2026, Thai voters elected a new 500-seat House of Representatives and voted in a national referendum on drafting a new constitution to replace the military-backed 2017 constitution. Approximately 60 political parties participated in these elections. Four […]
European Parliament Publishes Study on Transnational Repression
European Parliament publishes study on transnational repression; Eritrean diaspora among those impacted