By Alon Ben-Meir* NEW YORK | 27 July 2025 (IDN) — Hamas’ savage October 2023 attack and Israel’s horrific war of retaliation have reignited the call for a two-state solution. I applaud the joint French-Saudi UN initiative in support of a two-state solution in the hope that it will awaken the international community and end […]
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This
By Charles Glass* FLORENCE, Italy | 23 July 2025 (IDN) — Omar El Akkad, an Egyptian-born journalist, had studied in the United States and worked as a journalist for 10 years when, in the summer of 2021, he became an American citizen. Covering the War on Terror in Afghanistan and at the U.S. detention centre […]
At 80, the United Nations Faces a Moment of Reckoning — and Renewal
A milestone year brings calls for gender parity, regional equity, and bold leadership at the helm of the UN. By Ramesh Jaura This article was first published on https://rjaura.substack.com BERLIN, NEW YORK | 22 July 2025 (IDN) — As the United Nations prepares to celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2025, the milestone presents an opportunity […]
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, […]
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 […]
UN Report: Progress on Global Development Goals Too Slow as 2030 Deadline Nears
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 15 July 2025 (IDN) — A decade after the world embraced the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a new UN report warns that progress toward its ambitious goals is far too slow. While millions of lives have improved, the Sustainable Development Goals Report 2025 shows that only a third of global […]
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. […]
Why Not a World Parliament to Govern Planet Earth?
By P. Soma Palan* COLOMBO, Sri Lanka | 7 July 2025 (IDN) — The current world situation poses an existential crisis for the Planet Earth. The Israel and Palestine war has expanded into a three-nation war with Iran’s entry and Air strikes on Israel, and Israel’s counterattacks. The further escalation and enlargement of this war […]
UN Women Marks 15th Anniversary with Urgent Call for Action on Gender Equality
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 2 July 2025 (IDN) — As UN Women commemorates its 15th anniversary this year, the organisation is warning of a dangerous global backslide in gender equality. Founded in 2010 to accelerate progress on women’s rights and empowerment, UN Women has played a vital role in advancing gender justice worldwide. […]
World Leaders Head to Sevilla to Renew Hope for Fulfilling the SDGs
By J Nastranis New York | 26 June 2025 (IDN) — With increasing debt burdens, declining investment, reduced aid, and growing trade barriers, world leaders are set to convene in Sevilla, 30 June-3 July, for the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FFD4). Access to food, health, education, and water provides communities around the […]