African countries shouldn’t have to borrow money to fix climate damage they never caused – economist: As we approach the global annual climate change conference, COP29, the need for increased public finance from the global north to address climate adaptation in Africa has become more urgent than ever. However, framing the finance debate solely around …
The amazing flowers growing in pavement cracks and why you shouldn’t pass them by: Jose V Diaz/Shutterstock In spring and summer flowers pop up spontaneously in lawns, playgrounds, fields and even cracks in the pavement. But what do you see: weeds or wildflowers? You might feel a little frustrated when you see wildflowers growing in …
Russia’s reasons for invading Ukraine – however debatable – shouldn’t be ignored in a peace deal: Recent developments in the US presidential campaign have pushed the question of how to resolve the war in Ukraine war up the agenda. With a Republican presidential victory looking increasingly likely, reports suggest Donald Trump would quickly demand that …
Why you shouldn’t let guilt motivate you to exercise: Using guilt and self-pressure may make you less likely to work out overall. KieferPix/ Shutterstock The hardest part of consistently exercising is finding the motivation to do it. But using the wrong type of motivation for your workouts could militate against you – and could even …
Israel and Palestine: views of students and youth activists shouldn’t be dismissed – they have shaped the conversation for years: University campuses have long been hubs of political activism. As young people form their own opinions away from their parents, many act passionately for causes they believe in. This includes the situation in Israel and …
What you should (and shouldn’t) do with all of your old phone chargers and other e-waste: Most of us have accumulated a stash of old devices, chargers and cables that sit forgotten in our homes. MikhailSk/Shutterstock The statistics surrounding mobile phones are staggering. There are more than 7 billion mobile phone users worldwide, nearly 5 …
Africa is being courted by China, Russia and the US. Why the continent shouldn’t pick sides: Some three decades since the end of the Cold War, the world order is undergoing a structural transformation. At the heart of it is the challenge posed to the hegemony of the US. This is primarily being led by …
Lions are still being farmed in South Africa for hunters and tourism – they shouldn’t be: Lions at a commercial facility in South Africa. Courtesy Bloodlions A man was arrested at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on 23 June 2023 with five lion carcasses in his luggage. He was about to …
South African activist Frank Anthony wrote a novel that has been forgotten: why it shouldn’t have been: Detail of a photo of Frank Anthony (front left) on Robben Island with Walter Sisulu (front right). © Unknown/Courtesy Nelson Mandela Foundation How does it come about that a man who dedicated the greater part of his life …
Cholera cases are on the rise – and Europe shouldn’t be complacent about the risk: Christoph Burgstedt/Shutterstock Cholera, an infection that causes severe diarrhoea and can be deadly, is once more spreading in several low-income countries. In its latest update on the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that the global situation has further …
Nearly a quarter of people in the UK flush wet wipes down the toilet – here’s why they shouldn’t: Shutterstock/BigLike Images Whether you’re cleaning your house, your car or your child, there are a variety of wet wipes manufactured for the job. Wet wipes are small, lightweight and extremely convenient. They have become a staple …
The Holocaust shouldn’t be a catch-all metaphor for hate – but we can still learn from comparisons: Dmitrijs Mihejevs/Shutterstock Gary Lineker’s tweet criticising the government’s asylum policy has led many to question when – if ever – it can be helpful to compare modern events to history. The chair of the Holocaust Education Trust rushed …
ChatGPT can’t lie to you, but you still shouldn’t trust it: Chuan Chuan/Shutterstock “ChatGPT is a natural language generation platform based on the OpenAI GPT-3 language model.” Why did you believe the above statement? A simple answer is that you trust the author of this article (or perhaps the editor). We cannot verify everything we …
Why Biden might drop his vice president (and reasons why he shouldn’t): Despite receiving the greatest number of votes cast in a presidential election, there is discussion among some Democrats and commentators about breaking up the Biden-Harris partnership for the 2024 election. While Joe Biden has become the target of much criticism for the inflationary …
South African rapper AKA’s murder video went viral – it shouldn’t have: Rapper Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes Known during the Metro FM awards nominations in Johannesburg in January. Veli Nhlapo. © Sowetan. In the days after the killing of rapper Kiernan Jarryd Forbe, known as AKA, and his friend Tebello “Tibz” Motoane, the murders kept playing …
Genetics might explain why some people have never had COVID – but we shouldn’t be too focused on finding out: LL_studio/Shutterstock It’s been over three years since the first known COVID infection. Since then, we’ve seen hundreds of millions of cases around the globe. You’ve probably had it – at least once, if not multiple …
Beyoncé is going on a world tour. Why she shouldn’t ignore Africa: Beyoncé performs in Dubai in 2023. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Atlantis The Royal Beyoncé announced her highly anticipated Renaissance World Tour on the first day of Black History Month – an annual observance in the US that honours the African diaspora. Social media …
Ukraine war: casualty counts from either side can be potent weapons and shouldn’t always be believed: The war in Ukraine is shaping up to be one of the bloodiest of the 21st century, with both sides reported to be losing hundreds of soldiers each day as the conflict moves towards its first anniversary. But quite …