By Natalia Abril Bonilla and Lisa van den Hoven* AMSTERDAM | 12 May 2025 (IDN) — In 2025, it feels like we are in a period of declining optimism. As the recent World Economic Forum Global Risks Report set out, state-based armed conflict, extreme weather events, ‘fake news’ and falling trust – together with deepening […]
Low Birth Rates and Rising Deaths: What Else Could Reverse Russia’s Declining Population
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 12 May 2025 (IDN) — How vital is Thomas Malthus’ population theory today? Malthus, an English cleric and scholar, published this theory in his 1798 writings, An Essay on the Principle of Population. He believed that exponential population growth could lead to unprecedented pressure on the land and create […]
Situation report Horn of Africa: Sudan cuts diplomatic relations with UAE
Situation in Sudan (per 9 May) A series of drone strikes continued to hit Port Sudan throughout this week, some of which caused damage to key infrastructure points of the city, such as fuel depots and an electricity substation. Thursday marked the fifth consecutive day of assaults. Drone strikes also continued to hit Kassala. With […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Hospital in Old Fangak, South Sudan, deliberately targeted
Situation in South Sudan (per 5 May) A hospital in Old Fangak, South Sudan, was deliberately bombed on 3 May. Two helicopter gunships first dropped a bomb on the pharmacy, completely destroying it, and then bombed the town of Old Fangak for 30 minutes. At least seven people died and 20 were injured in the […]
Europe the Superpower
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 30 April 2025 (IDN) — The European Union is not going to face a break-up; however, the Ukraine/Russian conflict goes. Big crises come, but they also go. The Euro currency crisis was not dealt with as well as it should have been — austerity was the policy of the […]
Military Conflicts and Civil Wars Trigger Rise in Arms Spending Worldwide
By Thalif Deen STOCKHOLM | 30 April 2025 (IDN) — As the long-drawn-out conflicts in Ukraine, beginning February 2014 and Gaza, since October 2023, continue with no signs of a resolution, there is one significant fall-out: the rise in military spending worldwide. The ongoing conflicts also include civil wars in Syria, Sudan, Myanmar and the […]
Russia-Ukraine Peacemaker: BRICS+ or United States
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 30th April 2025 (IDN) – Global leaders have not yet answered Russia’s significant questions around a proposed Ukraine ceasefire. President Vladimir Putin is still searching for the candidates with the right geopolitical mindset and skills for decoding the reasons for the “special military operation” that the Kremlin, with Federation […]
Haiti Situation Report: 35 gang members killed in Pacot clash
Situation in Haiti At least 35 suspected members of the Viv Ansanm gang coalition were killed and 40 injured during clashes with Haitian police (PNH) and military forces in Pacot, Port-au-Prince on 23 April, according to a local human rights organization. The PNH confirmed that six people died, including two soldiers, and said multiple gang […]
How to Avoid Trade Wars – and World War Three
By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies* NEW YORK | 29 April 2025 (IDN) — Not a day goes by without a new shock to Americans and our neighbors around the world from the Trump administration. On April 22nd, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) downgraded its forecasts for global growth in 2025, from 3.3% […]
It Is Time For Asia’s MAGA – A Non-Military Quad Alliance
By Kalinga Seneviratne* BANGKOK | 29 April 2025 (IDN) — The current international tariff saga based on a notion of “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) ideology promoted by President Donald Trump and supported by millions of Americans should, one would hope, trigger Asia’s own MAGA (Make Asia Great Again). The latter is shaping up more the […]