Still-born democracy: Expanding fighting in Jonglei state signals South Sudan’s power-sharing collapse

Still-born democracy: Expanding fighting in Jonglei state signals South Sudan’s power-sharing collapse

Kiir later dismissed Bol Mel and reappointed James Wani Igga as second vice president, but political insiders say that decision also caused frustration among certain sections of the fractious ruling party. Other controversial moves by Kiir include last year’s dismissal of powerful intelligence chief Akol Koor Kuc; the appointment of Kiir’s daughter, Adut Salva Kiir, as a special advisor; and a recent anti-corruption drive viewed as politically motivated.

Read more
End-game Why US is developing cold in war with Iran as Israel pummels unbending Middle East nation

End-game Why US is developing cold in war with Iran as Israel pummels unbending Middle East nation

Although the United States and Israel killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in the first round of attacks on Tehran, the Iranian political system did not undergo a fundamental shake-up. Iran quickly elected Mojtaba Khamenei, who holds a more staunchly anti-US and anti-Israel stance, as the new supreme leader.

Read more
China on cusp of New Age as ruling Communist Party’s 15th Five-Year Plan parley features 6G technology, brain computer interfaces

China on cusp of New Age as ruling Communist Party’s 15th Five-Year Plan parley features 6G technology, brain computer interfaces

Citing his experience in China, Dennis Munene Mwaniki, executive director of the China-Africa Centre at the Africa Policy Institute in Kenya, said that China has become a leading nation in AI development and integration.

Read more
Poisoned for decades via food and drugs, Americans are battling Big Pharma and Big Ag that are spending billions to demonise MAHA

Poisoned for decades via food and drugs, Americans are battling Big Pharma and Big Ag that are spending billions to demonise MAHA

MAHA was born by frustrated moms who witnessed rising chronic illness in their children. Its supporters argue that pesticides, plastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), vaccines and ultra-processed foods contribute to declining public health.

Read more
What stands out in China’s ‘two sessions’ of new 5-year plan that begin this week in Beijing

What stands out in China’s ‘two sessions’ of new 5-year plan that begin this week in Beijing

Domestically, China must deftly navigate long-standing structural issues while responding to ever-emerging technological and industrial challenges. Against this backdrop, the new five-year plan will offer a strategic roadmap – not merely a list of tasks, but a framework guiding how the country will navigate its development priorities, ranging from strengthening its supply-chain capacity to advancing its low-carbon transformation.

Read more
Crisis in Middle East shows that when the Internet goes dark, the truth goes with it

Crisis in Middle East shows that when the Internet goes dark, the truth goes with it

Nearly two years after clashes reignited, with 72,045 Palestinians killed according to local authorities, an independent UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, a finding that the Israeli foreign ministry has dismissed as “distorted and false.”

Read more
America torn apart as Democrats, Republicans slug it out over Trump’s attack on Iran

America torn apart as Democrats, Republicans slug it out over Trump’s attack on Iran

Three US service members have been killed and five others seriously wounded during the ongoing US military operation against Iran, according to the US Central Command. In a video posted on Truth Social Sunday afternoon, Trump said that there will “likely be more” service members killed before the conflict ends.

Read more
Global oil market thrown into uncertainty as US, Israel strikes in Iran create biggest crisis in years

Global oil market thrown into uncertainty as US, Israel strikes in Iran create biggest crisis in years

Tanker freight rates, which had already been climbing as tensions escalated, are set to rise further. Benchmark rates for very large crude carriers from the Middle East to China have more than tripled since the start of the year, reflecting both heightened risk and the shrinking pool of willing vessels.

Read more
Uganda as a unit of imagined communities: Without the barrel of the gun, it’s difficult to think of the ‘Pearl of Africa’ as a state

Uganda as a unit of imagined communities: Without the barrel of the gun, it’s difficult to think of the ‘Pearl of Africa’ as a state

The principle of nationality that buried the Soviet Union and destroyed its empire in Eastern Europe continues to shape conflicts among the new independent countries of that vast region. Such peace, security and unity are unstable by nature. They may endure in the short to medium term, but they cannot stand the test of time

Read more
Ethiopian versus Tigrayan, Eritrean tensions are a powder keg that could inflame Horn of Africa

Ethiopian versus Tigrayan, Eritrean tensions are a powder keg that could inflame Horn of Africa

The current domestic friction reflects a dramatic re-jigging of the political and military alliances of the 2020-22 Tigray war, when federal forces and Eritrean troops – backed by Amhara paramilitaries – marched against the TPLF-led regional administration.

Read more