By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 1 July 2025 (IDN) —The Nobel-prize winning economist, Robert Fogel, believes that China will grow at an average rate of 8% until 2040, by which time it will be twice as rich as Europe in per capita terms. His model is based partly on so-called geometric growth. An example: […]
I Refuse to Defend the Indefensible
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 25 June 2025 (IDN) — Israel’s refusal to acknowledge Palestinian rights and humanity perpetuated a zero-sum narrative where Jewish safety is predicated on Palestinian dehumanisation and death Israel’s and the US’s attack against Iran’s nuclear installations and the still-unfolding repercussions of these attacks, following the ceasefire brokered by Trump, […]
Haiti Situation Report: CPT faces scrutiny over foreign mercenaries and drone use
Situation in Haiti Armed members of the “Talibans” group, based in Canaan, Port-au-Prince, took control of La Chapelle commune on 22 June, burning the police station and blocking reinforcements. Authorities had reportedly received warnings as early as 19 June, but no proactive measures were taken. The assault, linked to the Viv Ansanm coalition, displaced 8,890 […]
No More Business as Usual to defeat Child Labour
By Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU, Nepal | 24 June 2025 (IDN) — The year 2025 should have been one celebrating the end of child labour. This was the plan as per the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with Target 8.7 tackling the most nefarious of children’s exploitation. Unfortunately, we are still a long way away from achieving […]
The Enduring Influence of a Medieval Charter on Contemporary Democracy
By Ramesh Jaura This report was published on https://rjaura.substack.com BERLIN | 19 June 2025 (IDN) — The V-Dem Institute reports that the global outlook at the end of 2024 is less favourable compared to the past 25 years. The trend known as the “third wave of autocratization” is intensifying and expanding. This phenomenon is affecting […]
Brazil Accused of Climate Hypocrisy as Amazon Oil Blocks Auctioned Ahead of COP30
By Rita Joshi* BONN, Germany | 18 June 2025 (IDN) — While Brazil positions itself as a global climate leader in the lead-up to COP30, its actions at home are drawing sharp criticism. On 17 June, as diplomats and civil society gathered in Bonn for pre-COP30 negotiations, Brazil’s National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and […]
UNFPA Attributes Decreasing Birth Rates to Living Costs, Sexist Norms, and Future Fears
Millions of people want children but are unable to have them By UNFPA NEW YORK | 18 June 2025 (IDN) — Millions of people are unable to have the number of children they want, but not because they are rejecting parenthood; economic and social barriers are stopping them. This is the central finding of UNFPA’s […]
A Law of the Sea?
By Jonathan Power* LUND, Sweden | 11 June 2025 (IDN) — David Attenborough said in his wondrous new documentary film, “Ocean”, it had taken him a long time in his 99 years of life to understand that for the survival of our planet the oceans are more important than the land. This week as we […]
Russia’s Economic Influence in Africa Lags Behind Its Geopolitical Rhetoric
By Kester Kenn Klomegah* MOSCOW | 10 June 2025 (IDN) — With its Russia-Africa Partnership Forum Action Plan (2023-2026), approved as a working document by the Kremlin, Russia faces a long and winding road, especially in implementing several bilateral agreements signed with African countries. While manoeuvring around challenges and obstacles within Africa, Russia has still […]
Cameroon: The World’s Most Neglected Displacement Crisis
By Norwegian Refugee Council OSLO | 10 June 2025 (IDN) — Cameroon is now the world’s most neglected displacement crisis, according to a new report from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC). Decision makers must recognise that displacement isn’t a distant crisis; it’s a shared responsibility which cannot be ignored. The annual list of neglected displacement […]