By Jason Tan Bangkok | 18 July 2025 — A report released this month by the New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says there are over 4 million refugees from Myanmar living in Thailand, more than half of them undocumented, with law enforcement authorities in the borders areas of northern Thailand referring to them […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Over 100 victims freed after traffickers’ arrest; 450 people killed – North Kordofan; 21 religious leaders in Tigray for peace talks
Situation in Sudan (per 17 July) More than 450 civilians, including 35 children and two pregnant women, were killed in an attack around the Bara locality in North Kordofan State over the weekend. With many more people injured or still missing, UNICEF fears that the number of casualties will increase. The attacks have been attributed to the […]
A Holistic Approach to Advance the ASEAN Power Grid
By Matthew Wittenstein, Kieran Clarke and Yejin Ha* BANGKOK | 16 July 2025 (IDN) — The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) is a key cornerstone of Southeast Asia’s strategy for greater regional integration, energy security economic growth and achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future. With the region’s energy demand projected to more than double by 2050 and […]
Russia’s Real Power Is Not Weapons, It’s Culture
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 16 July 2025 (IDN) — Observers say that what drives President Vladimir Putin is to make Russia respected. However, perhaps Putin overestimates the extent of Russia’s existing power. He has overlooked which trumpets to blow — it is not his “hang tough” militaristic policies in international affairs, especially vis-à-vis […]
UN Report: Progress on Global Development Goals Too Slow as 2030 Deadline Nears
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 15 July 2025 (IDN) — A decade after the world embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a new UN report warns that progress toward its ambitious goals is far too slow. While millions of lives have improved, the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 shows that only a third of global […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: RSF attack on El Fasher
Situation in Sudan (per 14 July) Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed El Fasher in North Darfur on Friday, capturing a cattle market, a prison and a military base. The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) counterattacked on Saturday morning, pushing RSF out of the city. RSF drones continued to attack El Fasher throughout Saturday. SAF and RSF […]
Russia Strengthening Africa’s Food Import Dependency
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 14 July 2025 [IDN] — As global geopolitical dynamics evolve, Africa is anticipated to adapt accordingly. It has gone far, particularly with Russia, opening new directions in bilateral economic cooperation after their joint historic summits. It is also time to make critical appraisals of Russia’s policy towards Africa. By […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Frontex unlawfully shared documents with Europol
Situation in Sudan (per 11 July) The International Criminal Court (ICC) has reasonable grounds to believe that there are war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed in the Darfur region, said the Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan during a meeting at the UN Security Council. “There is an inescapable pattern of offending, targeting gender […]
The rediscovery of America from within
By Jan Servaes MIAMI | 10 July 2025 (IDN) — In 2019, The New York Times published “The 1619 Project” by Nikole Hannah-Jones. Four centuries after African captives arrived on the Virginia coast, this project reshaped America’s origin story, centering on slavery and the contributions of African Americans. An updated version appeared in 2021 and […]
Again, Trump’s Way or the Highway
By Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and the author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. ABUJA, Nigeria | 10 July 2025 (IDN) — It’s hard not to love US President Donald Trump. He is the world’s most powerful president and wears his preeminence on his sleeve. Not for him […]