By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 18 July 2025 (IDN) — I appeal to every Israeli—you have become the victims of deceptive and morally repugnant leaders who have systematically betrayed you by pursuing their treacherous messianic agenda while committing in your name heinous crimes against humanity, shocking the conscience of every human being. I beg […]
Thailand: Myanmar Refugees Exploited By Brokers and Police Claim New Report
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Reflections on Cuba, BRICS and Geopolitics
By Dr. Asoka Bandarage* COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 9 April 2025 (IDN) — I returned to the U.S. from Cuba just a few hours before Donald Trump signed a memorandum on June 30, 2025, tightening the long-standing U.S. economic blockade against Cuba. The memorandum includes a statutory ban on U.S. tourism to the neighbouring island. […]
A Subdued BRICS Summit in Brazil Sets Unique Goals
By Somar Wijayadasa* MOSCOW | 9 July 2025 (IDN) — The Annual Summit of the BRICS Alliance took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, amid global turmoil: Israeli and US strikes on Iran, the Gaza crisis, the war in Ukraine, and NATO’s military spending surge – to name a few. Preceding tensions included US President […]
UN80 Restructuring: Sacrificing Expertise on the Altar of Expediency
By Naïma Abdellaoui The writer, who describes herself as a concerned international civil servant, is a staff representative and member of the UN Office of Geneva (UNOG) Staff Union Executive Bureau. GENEVA | 9 July 2025 (IDN) — Budget cuts should not justify mass job cuts. This violates international administrative law and sound management practices. […]