Originating from Argentina, Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope, witnessed firsthand the destruction of the Amazon and the plight of South America’s poorest communities. His concern for justice for vulnerable communities and protection of the planet go hand in hand with his religious leadership.
In this analysis, Max Boot revisits Graham Allison’s “Thucydides Trap” theory to warn that the US-China trade war could spiral into something far more dangerous. Boot traces historical parallels - from WWI to Pearl Harbor - to show how economic strife often precedes armed conflict. As Trump’s extreme tariffs and China’s retaliatory measures deepen the rift, he argues that only cool heads and diplomatic compromise can steer the world away from disaster.
South Africa’s post-election government of national unity (GNU) was heralded as a revival of the spirit of compromise last seen in the 1990s. But less than a year into its term, tensions between the ANC and DA are threatening to derail the coalition. While the GNU has enabled some initial governance and policy gains — from fresh accountability efforts to the promise of public service reform — deep ideological divides and political brinkmanship are stalling progress. As budget disputes intensify, the future of this historic experiment in power-sharing hangs in the balance.
Thought to be a hoax, a new study looking at 616 languages around the world discovered that Eastern Canadian Inuktitut had the highest number of words related to snow.
Artificial intelligence may be the most significant disruptor in the history of mankin. . AI will undoubtedly help solve vast problems, while generating vast fortunes for technology companies and investors. However, the rapid spread of generative AI will also automate vast swathes of the global workforce, eviscerating white-collar and blue-collar jobs alike.
As the planet gets hotter and freshwater sources dry up, cities and towns will not be able to continue the global norm of using millions of litres of clean, drinkable water to flush toilets. South Africa’s Water Research Commission recently commissioned a study into using seawater to flush toilets in Cape Town.
A series of viral videos by TikTok “cucumber guy” Logan Moffitt has raked in millions of views for his cucumber salad videos.
The tariffs decrease US GDP by $438. 4 billion (1. 45%). Divided among the nation’s 126 million households, GDP per household decreases by $3 487 per year. That is larger than the corresponding decreases in any other country.
In the UK, the phenomenon is labelled by some as the “Lagos Shuttle”, highlighting the high number of Nigerian women said to be so-called “birth tourists”.