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 […]
EEPA reports on Severe drought in Central Tigray
BRUSSELS | 13 August (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on Ethiopia, Sudan, Rwanda and EU countries discuss “return hubs”, RSF-aligned coalition captures Sudan’s Geisan, Severe drought in Central Tigray. Migration and refugee situation (per 13 August) Preliminary discussions took place between Rwanda and EU countries on the establishing of possible […]
Paper Tiger: The Failure of America’s Trillion Dollar War Machine
By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies* NEW YORK | 13 August 2026 (IDN) — According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States spent $21 trillion on its military between 2001 and 2024 (in constant 2024 dollars), equal to the combined military spending of the next eighteen countries. Iran barely […]
Thailand and Myanmar Sign Agreement To Tackle Transboundary River Pollution, But Can They Do It Alone?
By Kalinga Seneviratne* BANGKOK, Thailand | 12 August 2026 (IDN) — Witnessed by the visiting Myanmar President Min Aung Hlaing and Thailand’s Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the two ASEAN members signed a Terms of Reference (TOR) on 7th August for the establishment of a joint working group on water quality management for transboundary rivers, such […]
EEPA reports on Addis Standard raided by Ethiopian authorities
BRUSSELS | 10 August (IDN | EEPA) — The following are the situation reports on Sudan, Ethiopia, SAF repel RSF attack in West Darfur, armed clashes erupt in western Libya and Addis Standard raided by Ethiopian authorities. Situation in Sudan (per 10 August) The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and its allies repelled an attack by […]
Catholicos Garegin II in court
By Benoit Lannoo* YEREVAN, Armenia | 8 August 2026 (IDN) — Do you remember the Investiture Controversy, when medieval emperors tried to take over the pope’s episcopal appointments? Or the difficult issue of the appointment of bishops in the People’s Republic of China? Well, although Armenia is considered a democratic state in Western chancelleries, respectful […]