By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 2 August 2024 (IDN) — As the spectre of a Nuclear Armageddon haunts our planet, the Central Asian republic of Kazakhstan is joining hands with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) to organize a workshop—first in five years—to bolster the five Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) treaties. States-parties to the five […]
US Strengthens Military Bonds with Asia—with 500 million USD to Philippines
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 1 August 2024 (IDN) — The US is strengthening its economic and military relationships with Asian allies, including Japan and 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), comprising Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand. Brunei Darussalam, Viet Nam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. As political and military tensions […]
What Sets China Apart from Traditional Mediators as Peace-Broker
By Fiona Raval* This article was originally published by The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS). NEW DELHI | 30 July 2024 (IDN) — Ukrainian President Zelenskyy recently identified China as one of the few global actors with enough power and influence to help terminate the war with Russia. China’s peace proposals have garnered […]
US to Elevate Alliance with Japan to an “Unprecedented Height”
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS | 30 July 2024 (IDN) —The US, responding to a new nuclear alliance comprising Russia, China and North Korea, has reassured Japan protection under its nuclear umbrella and pledged to “elevate the Japan-US alliance to an unprecedented height.” At a July 28 press briefing in Tokyo, US Secretary of State […]
Josh Shapiro Would Be a Dangerous Choice for Harris Running Mate
By Jeff Cohen and Norman Solomon* SAN FRANCISCO | 29 July 2024 (IDN) — Kamala Harris has gained strong support as the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate. Putting Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on the ticket would likely fracture that support. The most divisive issue among Democrats is the U.S.-enabled Israeli war against the civilian population of […]
Western Powers Betrayed Russia by Expanding NATO Eastward
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 29 July 2024 (IDN) — U.S. Secretary of State James Baker’s famous “not one inch eastward” assurance about NATO expansion in his meeting with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev on February 9, 1990, was part of a cascade of assurances about Soviet security given by Western leaders to Gorbachev and […]
U.S. Defense Secretary Embarks on His Eleventh Trip to Indo-Pacific
By Joseph Clark, DOD News U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III embarked on his 11th trip to the Indo-Pacific on 26 July amid what officials said is a landmark period for U.S. ties throughout the region. WASHINGTON D C | 27 July 2024 (IDN) — The 10-day series of engagements will include stops […]
Bangladesh Student Protests: More Than an Anti-Discrimination Movement
By Tajul Islam DHAKA, Bangladesh | 27 July 2024 (IDN) — The student protests in Bangladesh began as a legitimate and peaceful movement aimed at addressing inequalities within the educational system and government job reservations. Students were particularly concerned with the country’s quota system in government jobs, which reserved a significant portion of these positions […]
Sudan Descends into Hell: Betrayed and Ignored by the International Community
By Daniel Haile* KILLEEN, Texas, USA | 26 July 2024 (IDN) — The global indifference to one of the deadliest civil and proxy wars is fueling the conflict in Sudan—and the shameful abandonment should ignite condemnation and anger within the international community. The departure of Omar Al-Bashir, the strongman of Nubia, has plunged Sudan into […]
Government Crackdown Sparks Bloodshed and Fury Across Bangladesh
By Shahidul Alam* This article was originally published in The Wire and is being republished with the author’s permission. DHAKA, Bangladesh | 25 July 2024 (IDN) — The televised murder of Abu Sayeed, an unarmed student of Begum Rokeya University, is an indictment of a rogue government that has long lost its right to rule. […]