Situation in Ethiopia/Eritrea (per 9 February) Ethiopia formally accused Eritrea of military aggression by sending its troops deeper into Ethiopian territory and in the support of armed rebel groups operating along its borders. What appears to be a formal letter was issued on 7 February by Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos to his Eritrean colleague […]
The New START Treaty Expired — Ending Nuclear Restraint
By Somar Wijayadasa* NEW YORK | 7 February 2026 (IDN) — On 5 February 2026, the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty)—the last remaining nuclear arms control agreement between the United States and Russia—expired. For the first time since 1972, there are no legally binding limits on strategic nuclear weapons between Washington and Moscow. This marks […]
Human Rights Watch in Disarray Over Palestine
By Jan Servaes The Guardian and Jewish Currents reported on February 3, 2026, that two Human Rights Watch (HRW) staff members had been dismissed, leaving the organisation’s entire Israel and Palestine team. They resigned after HRW leadership blocked a section of a 33-page report that called Israel’s denial of the right of return to Palestinian […]
Situation Report: PM Abiy acknowledges Eritrean troop atrocities
Situation in Ethiopia (per 5 February ) Ethiopian Airlines resumed the flights to and from Tigray on Tuesday, following the suspension of flights due to conflict in western Tigray a week ago. Key private-sector bondholders of Ethiopia’s $1 billion international bond have protested after the Official Creditors Committee, led by China and France, blocked a […]
Will Human Rights Survive a Trumpian World?
By Jan Servaes * Bangkok, Thailand| 5 February 2026 (IDN) As is tradition, for the 36th time, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has examined the human rights situation in more than 100 countries in a 529-page World Report 2026. In his introductory essay, titled “Will Human Rights Survive a Trumpian World? Authoritarian Advances Threaten Rules-Based Order,” […]
India–Europe at a Geopolitical Crossroads
Trade, Trust, and the Return of Strategic Memory By Ramesh Jaura This article first appeared on https://rjaura.substack.com BERLIN | 4 February 2025 (IDN) — When India and the European Union finally inked their long-anticipated Free Trade Agreement on January 27, 2026, the fanfare barely masked the unease that had driven both sides to the table. […]
One More Step Towards Nuclear Obliteration?
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 3 February 2026 (IDN) — Nuclear arms control is close to collapse. On Wednesday, February 4, the so-called New START Treaty, signed in 2011 by the United States and Russia, expires. It capped long-range strategic nuclear warheads at roughly 1,500 each—a dramatic reduction from Cold War levels. Even so, today’s […]
Democracy in The Age of Disinformation and Digital Capitalism
By Jan Servaes* BRUSSELS | 2 February 2026 (IDN) — President Trump’s second term in office started with a crackdown on immigration, the introduction of sweeping tariffs and efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce. Hours after taking office, Trump signed executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs in business and higher […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Details emerging of fighting in Tigray as situation calms
Situation in Ethiopia (per 2 February ) Negotiations are reportedly ongoing between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) following the fighting in western Tigray. Flights to and from Tigray are expected to resume soon, and the TPLF has ordered a stop to any fighting, sources state. One person was […]
Sensitive Data Sovereignty Conference commits to African Health and Humanitarian Data Space
Sensitive Data Sovereignty Conference commits to African Health and Humanitarian Data Space A conference on Sensitive Data Sovereignty held at Tangaza University in Nairobi – Kenya adopted a resolution to support the principle of creating an African Health Data Space including sensitive and humanitarian data. The proposal is supported by universities who acknowledge the critical […]