By Ambassador Dr Palitha Kohona The writer is Sri Lanka’s Former Ambassador to China, a former Permanent Representative to the UN, a former Foreign Secretary, and a former Head of the UN Treaty Section. The following is extracted from a presentation De Kohona made to the Colombo Port City Rotary Club. COLOMBO | 1 November […]
From A Beacon of Democracy to Authoritarian Rule
There is a growing consensus among many notable political scientists and historians that America is at a perilous crossroads; Trump has chosen the road that leads to disastrous authoritarianism. The question is what it would take to stop Trump from destroying our democracy and replacing it with a dictatorship. By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: Mass killings by RSF in El Fasher
Situation in Sudan (per 30 October) About 2,000 civilians are estimated to have been killed by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El Fasher, North Darfur, since it captured the city over the weekend. The mass killings were reportedly ethnically motivated, with reports of horrific atrocities including burning and burying people alive, stated the Preliminary […]
Trial against alleged Eritrean trafficker ‘Walid’ will start in The Netherlands on 3 November
Substantive hearings are about to begin in Zwolle, the Netherlands, in the important case against Eritrean national Tewelde Goitom (also known as “Walid” / “Welid”). The hearings are set to run across the month of November. Walid is accused of leading an international criminal network that detained, tortured, raped and extorted Eritrean refugees in Libya. […]
Cuba: International Hotel Chains Allowed to Lease—and Operate—State-Owned Resorts
By Rodrigo Pérez MIAMI, USA | 27 October 2025 (IDN) — In an unexpected step for one of the world’s most tightly managed economies, Cuba has approved a new policy that allows international hotel chains to lease — not merely operate — state-owned hotels. The move marks a historic departure from decades of rigid central control […]
The World Confronts the Genocide Washington Is Trying to Bury
By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies NEW YORK | 27 October 2025 (IDN) — On 4 October 2025, in an interview with Axios, President Trump stressed that one of the main goals behind his Gaza plan was to restore Israel’s international standing. “Bibi took it very far and Israel lost a lot of support in […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: SAF headquarters in El Fasher fall to RSF
Situation in Sudan (per 27 October) The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of the 6th Infantry Division headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur, which was the last major stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur. Various media have confirmed the authenticity of videos showing RSF fighters inside the army base. SAF and allies […]
From Illusion to Real Peace: Trump’s Test in Gaza and Ukraine
By Jeffrey D. Sachs & Sybil Fares This article was originally published on Al Jazeera and is being reproduced with the authors’ permission. NEW YORK | 24 October 2025 (IDN) — United States President Donald Trump styles himself as a peacemaker. In his rhetoric, he claims credit for his efforts to end the wars in […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: RSF attacks Khartoum airport
Situation in Sudan (per 23 October) The international airport in Khartoum was attacked by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drones over three days between Tuesday and Thursday. The airport, controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), was due to reopen on Wednesday after being closed for over two years. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, SAF leader, visited the […]
From Food Aid to Free Trade: Europe Courts India — With Caveats
Brussels Has Yet to Learn Lessons This article first appeared on https://rjaura.substack.com By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 22 October 2025 (IDN) —Since the 1960s, India has prioritised strategic autonomy in its foreign policy, consistently avoiding alliances that could compromise its sovereignty. Western partners often overestimate their influence, overlooking India’s strong commitment to independence. For India, autonomy […]