By Kalinga Seneviratne * SYDNEY, Australia | 21 August 2026 (IDN) — In the past year there has been a scramble by the big powers to secure the continuing supply of “rare mineral” that are used in batteries driving electric cars and wind power turbines. There is a looming catastrophe awaiting the Pacific Ocean if […]
EEPA reports on Ethiopia’s national dialogue concludes talks
BRUSSELS | 24 August 2026 (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on Sudan, Ethiopia, Flash floods in Sudan, Ethiopia’s national dialogue concludes talks and Sharp rise of child-malnutrition in Somalia. Situation in Sudan (per 24 August) Forces allied with Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) claimed to have defeated a Rapid Support Forces […]
Beyond the battlefield: Women and girls facing sexual violence in post-Pretoria Tigray, Ethiopia
By Filmon Gebremikael, Daniel Tesfa and Shim Masha ANTWERPEN | Belgium | 19 August 2026 (IDN) — Semhal Hadush was a civil servant in a municipal office in the Central Zone of Tigray. She was forcibly conscripted by the Tigray Defense Force (TDF) from her workplace and taken to the Werie military training center in […]
EEPA reports on US deportations to Liberia
BRUSSELS | 21 August (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on the Migration situation in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, and on East Africa regional and international situations Migration and refugee situation (per 21 August) Liberia has agreed to take 1,200 third-country deportees from the US, including nationals from Africa, […]
The Big American Mistakes with Russia
By Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden | 19 August 2026 (IDN) — Two mistakes, committed on President Barack Obama’s watch, were the triggers for the end of the long post-Cold War period of good relations with Russia. They were the attack on Libya by the US, France and the UK and the subsequent killing of its long-time […]
When Machines Decide Who Dies
The Race to Keep War Under Human Control By Ramesh Jaura This article was first published on https://rjaura.substack.com/ BERLIN | 18 August 2026 (IDN) — As artificial intelligence moves from supporting military operations to becoming a weapon that can choose and launch attacks, governments must now decide, without further delay, whether machines should ever be […]
EEPA reports on AU delegation visits Khartoum
BRUSSELS | 17 August (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on Sudan, Ethiopia, Forced recruitment in Oromia, AU delegation visits Khartoum and Heavy fighting erupts in Baidoa, Somalia. Situation in Sudan (per 17 August) Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Sovereignty Council Chair, called for a […]
The Digital Quarantine: Youth Social Media Bans Undermine Fundamental Rights
By Gina Romero The writer is a UN Special Rapporteur for the rights to freedom of assembly and of association. BOGOTA, Colombia | 17 August 2026 (IDN) — The global trend of imposing blanket social media bans on youth under 16 creates a civic-political vacuum where they can neither assemble nor digitally associate, effectively stripping […]
Are Western Hopes Diving Ukraine Towards Collapse?
The Limits of Drone Warfare and the Growing Urgency of Diplomacy By Michael von der Schulenburg* BRUSSELS | 15 August 2026 (IDN) — As recently as 26 July this year, Ursula von der Leyen appeared full of confidence in victory during her visit to Kyiv: she claimed the tide of the war had turned, that […]
Wars, Inequality, And Poverty No Longer Confined To Faraway Places
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 16 August 2026 (IDN) — Fragmented power, deepening inequality, climate stress, dying democracies, and weaponized information have fused into one global crisis; we can break the cycle if we only summon the will We are living through a moment in time of cascading disorder. Wars, inequality, and poverty are […]