By Mohamed Gabobe* MOGADISHU, Somalia | 14 March 2025 (IDN) — A new African Union peace enforcement mission, known by its acronym AUSSOM, was launched at the beginning of the year to support a fragile Somali government that has struggled against a jihadist insurgency entrenched in the countryside. AUSSOM is the third iteration of a multinational combat […]
A Geologist Explains Why Ukraine’s Minerals Are Exceptional
By Munira Raji* PLYMOUTH, Devon, England | 13 March 2025 (IDN) — Ukraine’s minerals have become central to global geopolitics, with the US president, Donald Trump, seeking a deal with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky to access them. But what are these minerals exactly, and why are they sought after? Ukraine is often recognised for its […]
Is NATO Prepared for Modern Drone Warfare?
By Ahmed Adel* CAIRO | 13 March 2025 (IDN) — NATO is not ready for modern drone warfare, a Ukrainian military commander warned, drawing attention to the technological lag of the alliance. Except for the United States, NATO lags behind Russia, which is why European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an €800 billion […]
The Impact of the Digital Revolution on Culture and Communication
By Jan Servaes* BRUSSELS, Belgium | 12 March 2025 (IDN) — The digital revolution has undeniably transformed the way we communicate and interact. In just under 50 years, we have evolved from a system of basic linear communication to one of complex and intertwined interactions. This digital media ecosystem has diluted structures and contexts, blurred […]
Why South Asian Militaries Need to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint
By Mahmud Hussain* DHAKA, Bangladesh | 12 March 2025 (IDN) — Militaries, which are among the biggest consumers of fuel, account for 5.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the world’s militaries were a country, they would have the fourth-highest carbon footprint China, the USA and India. The US Air Force’s F-35 fighter […]
Men Continue to Dominate Politics
By J Nastranis NEW YORK | 11 March 2025 (IDN) — New data from the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and UN Women underscores the critical need for immediate action, as progress toward gender equality in political leadership at the start of 2025 has been unacceptably slow. According to the 2025 edition of the IPU-UN Women Women […]
Criticism Of Israel Is Misrepresented as Anti-Semitism
By Jonathan Power LUND, Sweden | 11 March 2025 (IDN) — In the New York Times, columnist Roger Cohen argued that anyone who queries the Jewish right to Israel is anti-Semitic. More than that, he accuses us of being racist, even though many of us fought against South African apartheid. He accuses us of “pursuing […]
Is This the Beginning or the End of a New Cold War?
By Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J. S. Davies* NEW YORK | 10 March 2025 (IDN) — When European Union leaders met in Brussels on 6 March to discuss the war in Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron called this time “a turning point in history.” Western leaders agree that this is an historic moment when decisive […]
EU Leaders Miss Chance at Emergency Defense Summit
By Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU, Nepal | 10 March 2025 (IDN) — Was the emergency meeting of the European Council, held on the 6 March in Brussels, a real “watershed” moment for Europe? The President of European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen defined it as a day in which “history has been written”. Considering the chaos […]
A Momentous Occasion for Humanity
By Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury* NEW YORK | 9 March 2025 (IDN) — This year’s International Women’s Day has been celebrated by the world as we observe two major anniversaries — the 30th for the Beijing Platform for Action adopted in 1995 and the 25th for the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 adopted in 2000. […]