By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 16 September 2025 (IDN) — During the upcoming UN General Assembly high-level meeting (September 22-30), several key European countries are expected to recognise a Palestinian state. The question that looms is how to translate such a significant development into reality, whereby the Palestinians will realise their national aspiration for […]
Human Rights Council’s Revived Harassment of Sri Lanka, Exposes Double Standards
By Kalinga Seneviratne Colombo | 17 September 2025 (IDN) – With the visit of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) Commissioner Volker Turk to Sri Lanka in June and his subsequent report to the 60th session of the UNHRC presented on September 8th, the UN human rights body has revived its 16 year […]
The End Game in Sri Lankan Politics
By Neville de Silva* LONDON | 17 September 2025 (IDN) — Two years ago, in September, a comparatively little-known politician did what many of Sri Lanka’s 22 million people did not expect him to do. He won the country’s presidential election, rising from virtually nowhere. Two months later, he made history. Leading his loosely knit […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: UN Security Council extends sanctions on Sudan
Situation in Sudan (per 15 September) The UN Security Council (UN SC) has extended sanctions on Sudan for another year, maintaining an arms embargo and targeted sanctions while also prolonging the oversight of a UN Panel of Experts until October 2026. Disagreements emerged among UN SC members, primarily US and European allies, advocating for stronger […]
Madness on Steroids in Gaza
By James E. Jennings* ATLANTA, USA |13 September 2025 (IDN) — Israel has announced its intention to forcibly drive from one to two million people from their homes in Gaza city to make room for Israeli settlements, military bases, or glitzy casinos, or whatever else comes to mind. Besides being inhumane, it amounts to insanity. […]
Trump’s Geoeconomics and Africa’s Fork in the Road
By Kester Kenn Klomegah MOSCOW | 12 September 2025 (IDN) — When Donald Trump returned to the White House earlier this year, observers braced for another bout of upheaval in U.S. foreign policy. But what’s unfolding isn’t merely a rerun of his first term. This time around, Trump is deploying geoeconomics—strategic use of economic tools—as […]
Situation Report Horn of Africa: UN peacekeepers in South Sudan ambushed by armed group
Situation in Sudan (per 8 September) Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have committed grave violations against civilians, including killing, arbitrary detention, torture and inhumane treatment, states a new report by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan to the UN Human Righst Council. According to the report findings, the RSF committed […]
Climate change impact on workers’ health explored at Osaka EXPO
By Mahinda Seneviratne* OSAKA, Japan | 8 September 2025 (IDN) — As the sun rose over the picturesque, volcanic mountain region of central Kyushu in Japan, four young women from Myanmar were reporting for work as house maids at a local ryokan (Japanese-style inn). They are part of the growing number of migrant workers evident […]
“Never Again” Has Tragically Lost Its Moral Weight
By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 6 September 2025 (IDN) — The genocidal war in Gaza should put the whole world on notice that this is now simply another episode in the moral collapse of our humanity, as “never again” has lost its moral weight Since he rose to power 30 years ago, Netanyahu has […]
Malawi’s Political Parties Pledge Health Commitments Ahead of Elections
By Hester Nyasulu* LILONGWE, Malawi | 4 September 2025 (IDN) — As Malawi prepares for national elections on September 16, women’s, children’s, and adolescents’ health has taken centre stage in political dialogue. In a two-day engagement organized by Amref Health Africa in Malawi under the Collaborative Advocacy Action Plan (CAAP), more than 20 civil society […]