Homer’s Iliad is a rap battle: The Anger of Achilles by Jacques-Louis David (1819). Kimbell Art Museum Homer’s Iliad is one of the foundational stories of European civilisation. The Iliad is a long poem – an epic – thought to have first been put down in writing in the eighth century BC, though the story …
The battle for Khartoum: tracking Sudan’s war over two years: Sudan has been engulfed in brutal conflict since 15 April 2023, when tensions between the country’s two most powerful military factions erupted into civil war. The conflict stems from a long-standing power struggle over military control and integration. Fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and …
South Africa’s climate battle: mining district exposes gaps in emissions control: In South Africa, the new 2024 Climate Change Act requires local governments to plan responses to global warming. These local authorities should find ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions where possible, such as from their bus services, and reduce their use of electricity that …
Cameroon after Paul Biya: poverty, uncertainty and a precarious succession battle: Cameroon’s President Paul Biya is 91 years old. He is Africa’s oldest head of state and only one has served longer: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema of neighbouring Equatorial Guinea, who is 82 years old. Biya has been Cameroon’s president since 1982. Prior to that, …
Gaza update: Israeli society at breaking point and Palestinians battle to contain polio: Israelis took to the streets last weekend – including outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem – in their latest show of anger at the government’s handling of the war. The protests were spurred by the news that Hamas had executed six …
Mother City: a tough, passionate film about the battle for affordable housing in Cape Town: Activist Nkosikhona Swartbooi leads a protest in the documentary Mother City. Screengrab/Mother City A third of the way into Mother City there’s a scene that characterises this tough, passionate film about Cape Town and its paradoxes of beauty and hardship, …
Why musicians die in poverty – South African study reveals battle to make ends meet: Benefits and appeals were recently launched to support the medical costs of veteran South African guitarist Madala Kunene. It’s not the first time such initiatives have been necessary, nor the first time that media and politicians have expressed astonishment that …
Battle of the Somme: new research shows detonating a massive mine under German lines too early led to a British slaughter: 'The earth rose in the air to the height of hundreds of feet.': but a delay in the infantry attack meant that hundreds of British troops were killed. The Battle of the Somme began …
Wind turbine blades: inside the battle to overcome their waste problem: What to do with them? thaiview/Shutterstock Wind-farm owners in Europe are holding off on scrapping their old turbines to maximise the power they can generate from them. That’s the latest news from a meeting we recently attended on the industry’s future. Wind turbines are …
Canadian government’s battle with big tech platforms and what it means for the future of journalism: Canada recently passed a law to address the continuing financial woes of its traditional news media, trust in which has steadily fallen to 42% in 2022. The Online News Act, known as Bill C-18, passed in June 2023 but …
Disabled Nigerians battle when using minibus taxis – they share their experiences: peeterv/Getty Images People with disabilities often face difficulties when accessing transport services. Inadequate and unsuitable options restrict their mobility, independence and ability to navigate their communities. This limits their opportunities for employment, education, healthcare and social engagement. These individuals can also be very …
Kenya cult deaths: a new era in the battle against religious extremism: Worshippers gather at the New Life Prayer Centre and Church. The head of the Church was recently arrested. Photo by SIMON MAINA/AFP via Getty Images More than a hundred people in Kenya – among them children – have been found dead close to …
Inside the music industry’s battle with the UK government over AI song generators: Universal Music Group has been asking music streaming services like Spotify to stop developers from scraping its material to train AI bots to make new songs. The label, which controls about a third of the recorded music industry, has also been issuing …
An international battle over cheese has left European producers feeling bitter: ventdusud/Shutterstock For most cheese lovers, taste is the thing. Whether it’s a tangy blue stilton or a creamy oozing camembert, the most important element is the eating. But cheese has profound political and economic properties too, with implications for international trade deals and commerce. …
West African footballers battle to fit in while making it in Europe – two share their ups and downs: Footballers in Africa dream of a career in Europe Wikimedia Commons Growing up, many young Africans nurse the ambition of playing football professionally in Europe and becoming superstars. The BBC reports that about 260 million people …
SNP leadership battle: where is the message of economic growth in Scotland?: The search for Scotland’s new first minister is in full flow. Three candidates have emerged to replace Nicola Sturgeon, arguing over subjects including independence, religion and gender recognition. But so far, these topics seem to have overshadowed detailed discussions about the state of …
Yakuza battle Chinese gangs for control of Japan’s criminal underworld: Kabukicho: Tokyo's main red-light district, where Chinese gangs have been active in recent years. Sean Pavone via Shutterstock On the afternoon of October 16 last year a brawl erupted between two groups of gangsters in a restaurant on the 58th floor of the Sunshine 60 …
Ukraine war: the bloody battle for Soledar and what it tells us about the future of the conflict: The battle over the eastern Ukrainian town of Soledar has been raging for several days now, with claims and counter-claims about whether Russia now has full control there. As of the evening of January 11, Soledar was …