By Paul van Hooft* THE HAGUE, Netherlands | 28 March 2025 (IDN) — European doubts about deterrence predate the current US administration. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and its growing reliance on nuclear coercion to ward off Nato support, brought the importance of nuclear weapons to the foreground again for the first time since the […]
Is Climate Science the Next Power Source for Renewable Energy?
By Laura Quinones NEW YORK | 27 March 2025 (IDN) — As solar, wind, and hydropower expand, scientists say integrating climate data and forecasting is key to making renewable systems stronger. The race toward renewable energy is accelerating. And for all the looming challenges of the climate crisis, signs of progress are clear: Solar panels […]
Mind Your Language: The Battle for Linguistic Diversity in AI
By Fabrice Robinet NEW YORK | 27 March 2025 (IDN) — For two years, one international organization under the umbrella of the UN has been leading a relentless campaign in the corridors of global digital diplomacy. Its mission? To bring linguistic diversity to English-dominated artificial intelligence. With his signature geeky glasses and TED-Talk-style headset, Sundar […]
Beyond ‘If It Bleeds It Leads’
By Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden | 26 March 2025 (IDN) — If it bleeds it leads! The mantra of many a newsroom. In their book, “Pax Ethnica” two great journalists, Karl Meyer and Shareen Brysac, argue that day-in and day-out ethnic conflict and tension along religious and cultural lines make for reliable, if dispiriting, headlines. […]
Rasool Is Africa’s Missed Opportunity to Tackle the Bully
By Azu Ishiekwene The writer is Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. ABUJA, Nigeria | 26 Mach 2025 (IDN) — The question is not where US President Donald Trump has not touched in less than 100 days in office. It is how the world is coping […]
An Ocean of Gold but No Water to Drink
By Sefa Ikpa* LAGOS, Nigeria | 25 March 2025 (IDN) — Privatisation was once heralded as the key to Africa’s economic revitalisation, a promise that essential services would become more efficient, widely available and cost-effective under private ownership. Several decades later, the reality looks very different. Across the continent, the privatisation of electricity and water […]
Trump Catapults the Global Order into ‘Unknown Unknowns’
By Partha Chatterjee* NEW DELHI | 25 March 2025 (IDN) — The world used to be a familiar place, but then along came Donald Trump. Since the end of World War II, people around the world have come to expect certain things, and certain ways of doing things. It’s not that the world has not […]
Australia: How Nuclear Is Already Costing Us
By Ken Baldwin* CANBERRA, Australia | 24 March 2025 (IDN) — Taxpayers have already paid a price for the political division over Australia’s energy future — and now the Coalition’s nuclear policy is effectively hitting their hip pocket even before voters get their say on whether it’s part of the nation’s energy transition. All Australians […]
Serbia’s Massive Protest — Challenges and Opportunities for Vučić
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK 22 March 2025 (IDN) — For the first time in his long political career, President Aleksandar Vučić faces a serious public challenge to his leadership. However, his staying power remains strong. The EU has an opportunity to play a significant role in mitigating the unrest while luring Serbia out of […]
Our Divided World: Insights of a Former Diplomat
Jayantha Kottage* Reviews Somar Wijayadasa’s Memoirs CANBERRA, Australia | 22 March 2025 (IDN) — “History repeats itself, but in such a cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done”, Sydney J Harris Somar Wijayadasa’s memoirs, “Our Divided World: My View from The United Nations” provide a reflective account of global […]