Why Trump’s plans for tariffs on foreign films probably won’t have a happy ending: Bill Chizek/Shutterstock With its tariffs policies, the administration of US president Donald Trump aims to correct the country’s persistent goods trade deficit. The president has argued that the US has been “looted, pillaged, raped and plundered” by other countries. Trump feels …
Gabon elections: why a landmark vote won’t bring real change: The upcoming elections in Gabon will test whether the country is on a firm democratic footing, or whether it will be business as usual with military men in control, but under the guise of democratic choice. Brice Oligui Nguema, now the transitional president, staged a …
Electric cars are going mainstream – Elon Musk won’t change that: “When you ride Tesla, you ride with Hitler” according to a reworked second world war propaganda poster that was discovered in Oakland, California last month. When did an electric car brand supposedly become associated with the far right? Perhaps when its CEO, Elon Musk, …
Informal mining in South Africa is here to stay. Police brutality won’t end it – here’s what will: In mid-January 2024 over 1,000 hunger-weakened miners exited two abandoned mine shafts in Stilfontein, near Johannesburg in South Africa. They had been starved out by the police in Operation Vala Umgodi — meaning “plug the hole” – …
Coughing won’t save you if you’re having a heart attack, despite what people claim on social media: P.Kasipat/Shutterstock A recent trend on social media has revived a curious technique from the late 1970s called cough CPR. A post claims that this method can help people, if they are alone, to survive a heart attack by …
Most businesses won’t pay more national insurance. But the UK’s small employers still need support: Stock-Asso/Shutterstock There are nearly 5.5 million businesses in the UK. It may come as a surprise, however, to learn that most of these (about 4.1 million) are not employers. They might be, for example, the sole traders we call to …
Mosquito season in southern Africa: tonic water and vitamins won’t protect you but knowing where the hotspots are will: While the emergence of colourful butterflies is a welcome sign of summer, the constant buzzing of mosquitoes is an annoying part of the season. Mosquitoes are more than just pests. They are the world’s most dangerous …
Competition in South Africa’s electricity market: new law paves the way, but it won’t be a smooth ride: South Africa endured an electricity crisis from 2008 characterised by intermittent rolling blackouts and a growing culture of non-payment. The state-owned utility, Eskom, came to be regarded as the single largest risk to South Africa’s economy. At …
South Africa: coalition government won’t fix past failures – expect the private sector to play a bigger role in delivering power, transport and security: To help save the planet, governments across the globe are choosing to adopt sustainable policies and encourage (or coerce) the private sector to do likewise. Given the climate crisis, most responsible …
Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal – and why it won’t go back: One year ago, Germany took its last three nuclear power stations offline. When it comes to energy, few events have baffled outsiders more. In the face of climate change, calls to expedite the transition away from fossil fuels, and an energy crisis …
Planting trees in grasslands won’t save the planet – rather protect and restore forests: Tree planting is one of the nature-based solutions being used to offset greenhouse gas emissions. Trees absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. Many of these tree planting projects target Africa’s rangelands (open grasslands or shrublands used by livestock and wild animals). They include …
Leaving the European convention on human rights won’t stop the boats – but it will create other problems for the UK: Faced with legal and practical challenges to getting planes off the ground to Rwanda, Rishi Sunak has threatened to leave the European convention on human rights (ECHR). The prime minister argues the convention, which …
Ukraine recap: Russia won’t attack Nato countries says Putin, believe it or not: Vladimir Putin says he has no intention of attacking any Nato members. Visiting an airbase in Torzhok, on the road between Moscow and St Petersburg, the Russian president told a group of pilots he didn’t plan to spark a war with any …
New investment labels aim to help savers spot sustainable products – but won’t always stop greenwashing: Atstock Productions/Shutterstock From the nutritional traffic light system displayed on a box of cereal, to the efficiency ratings we look at when buying a house, ratings and labels help us work out how to spend money responsibly. A new …
Nazi doctors weren’t just ‘a few bad apples’, shows report – and simplistic stories won’t help guard against future medical abuses: Jewish children kept alive in Auschwitz for use in Mengele's medical experiments. Alexander Voronzow/Wikimedia Commons Extraordinary evil involves a total moral collapse across society caused by failure of individual humanity and ethical judgment. This …
There are many reasons disabled people can’t just work from home — threatening to cut their benefits won’t fix the wider problems: PBXStudio/Shutterstock As part of the UK government’s latest economic plan, disabled people may have to look for jobs they can do from home or face cuts to their benefits. Previously, disabled people with …
Israel: why the brand boycotts probably won’t make much difference: McDonald’s and Starbucks are among numerous western companies facing consumer boycotts over the Gaza conflict. McDonald’s found itself caught in the crossfire after an Israeli franchisee said it was providing thousands of free meals to the Israel Defense Forces. Similarly, Starbucks faced boycott calls after …
My prepaid meter has stopped working and won’t accept any tokens? 7 Easy Troubleshooting Steps: One of the worst feelings is when your prepaid meter stops working and won’t accept any tokens. Here are a few steps you can take to address the issue: Check the meter display: Make sure that there are no error …