By Whitney Atieno | 22 July 2025 (IDN) Youth Advocate for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights In Kenya, there is a harmful and outdated belief that contraceptive education is only for the married. This assumption ignores critical group adolescents who are sexually active and face serious reproductive health risks, yet are denied accurate information […]
The West’s Hypocrisy in Ukraine
Will major Western countries tell Ukraine that if the war is to stop, all it must do is to declare that it will not seek NATO membership? By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 22 July 2025 (IDN) — When it comes to Ukraine, the US and the EU are adopting a holier-than-thou attitude which, unfortunately, […]
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. […]
An Open Letter to the Israelis: Rise and Save the Soul of Your Country
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 18 July 2025 (IDN) — I appeal to every Israeli—you have become the victims of deceptive and morally repugnant leaders who have systematically betrayed you by pursuing their treacherous messianic agenda while committing in your name heinous crimes against humanity, shocking the conscience of every human being. I beg […]
Thailand: Myanmar Refugees Exploited By Brokers and Police Claim New Report
By Jason Tan Bangkok | 18 July 2025 — A report released this month by the New York based Human Rights Watch (HRW) says there are over 4 million refugees from Myanmar living in Thailand, more than half of them undocumented, with law enforcement authorities in the borders areas of northern Thailand referring to them […]
A Holistic Approach to Advance the ASEAN Power Grid
By Matthew Wittenstein, Kieran Clarke and Yejin Ha* BANGKOK | 16 July 2025 (IDN) — The ASEAN Power Grid (APG) is a key cornerstone of Southeast Asia’s strategy for greater regional integration, energy security economic growth and achieving a sustainable, low-carbon future. With the region’s energy demand projected to more than double by 2050 and […]
Russia’s Real Power Is Not Weapons, It’s Culture
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 16 July 2025 (IDN) — Observers say that what drives President Vladimir Putin is to make Russia respected. However, perhaps Putin overestimates the extent of Russia’s existing power. He has overlooked which trumpets to blow — it is not his “hang tough” militaristic policies in international affairs, especially vis-à-vis […]
Again, Trump’s Way or the Highway
By Azu Ishiekwene The writer is the Editor-In-Chief of LEADERSHIP and the author of the new book Writing for Media and Monetising It. ABUJA, Nigeria | 10 July 2025 (IDN) — It’s hard not to love US President Donald Trump. He is the world’s most powerful president and wears his preeminence on his sleeve. Not for him […]
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. […]
UN80 Restructuring: Sacrificing Expertise on the Altar of Expediency
By Naïma Abdellaoui The writer, who describes herself as a concerned international civil servant, is a staff representative and member of the UN Office of Geneva (UNOG) Staff Union Executive Bureau. GENEVA | 9 July 2025 (IDN) — Budget cuts should not justify mass job cuts. This violates international administrative law and sound management practices. […]