Situation in Haiti Haiti declared a three-month state of emergency on 9 August in the West, Artibonite, and Center departments to counter escalating gang violence and its impact on food production. Two Haitian National Police (PNH) officers were killed in Kenscoff when their armored vehicle got stuck in a ditch dug by gangs and were […]
US-Russia Talks: The Choice Between Pursuing Peace and Escalation
By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies* NEW YORK | 17 August 2025 (IDN) — Donald Trump came into office promising to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours. Now, six months later, his high-stakes meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska may have put the United States and Russia on a new path […]
Haiti Situation Report: Nonprofits withdraw after Kenscoff kidnapping
Situation in Haiti The nonprofits Our Little Brothers and Sisters and the St. Luke Foundation shut down all operations in Haiti, including hospitals and orphanages, after gunmen abducted seven staff members and a 3-year-old child from the St. Helene Orphanage in Kenscoff on 3 August. Three police officers were killed in an ambush by the […]
Haiti Situation Report: Gang violence surges in Artibonite
Situation in Haiti At least seven people were killed and about 10 injured in a 19 July attack by the Kokorat San Ras gang in Kapenyen, a stronghold of anti-gang resistance in Artibonite. A gang attack on the Haitian National Police (PNH) station in Marchand-Dessalines, Artibonite, on 17 July left one resident dead and destroyed […]
At 80, the United Nations Faces a Moment of Reckoning — and Renewal
A milestone year brings calls for gender parity, regional equity, and bold leadership at the helm of the UN. By Ramesh Jaura This article was first published on https://rjaura.substack.com BERLIN, NEW YORK | 22 July 2025 (IDN) — As the United Nations prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2025, the milestone presents an opportunity […]
How Disinformation Is Driving America Further Apart
By Jan Servaes MIAMI | 18 July 2025 (IDN) — “I wrote this book with the hope of sparking a national conversation about the dangers of disinformation and how to combat it. Throughout history, authoritarians have used disinformation to usurp people’s power. As a former national security prosecutor, I see self-serving forces sabotaging our country. […]
Haiti Situation Report: Gangs now control nearly all of Port-au-Prince, says UN
Situation in Haiti Gangs have gained control of an estimated 90% of Port-au-Prince, and authorities are unable to stop escalating violence, say UN officials. The gangs are expanding their attacks not only into surrounding areas but also into previously peaceful areas. The Viv Ansanm gang attacked a Haitian National Police patrol in Viard, Kenscoff, during […]
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. […]
Haiti Situation Report: CPT faces scrutiny over foreign mercenaries and drone use
Situation in Haiti Armed members of the “Talibans” group, based in Canaan, Port-au-Prince, took control of La Chapelle commune on 22 June, burning the police station and blocking reinforcements. Authorities had reportedly received warnings as early as 19 June, but no proactive measures were taken. The assault, linked to the Viv Ansanm coalition, displaced 8,890 […]
Haiti Situation Report: Gangs expand control
Situation in Haiti Gangs now control over 28 zones, according to a report by the Center for Analysis and Research in Human Rights (CARDH). CARDH and other watchdog organizations warn that without structural security reform, Haiti risks falling entirely under criminal control. More than 200,000 displaced Haitians face extreme risk as hurricane season begins, warns […]