insert_link Entertainment High-Level Political Forum focuses on 2030 goals The 2024 High-Level Political Forum is underway in New York, bringing ministers and senior officials together to discuss how to get the world back on track to reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the legal framework that can make that a reality. Justice Nambitha Dambuza, a Judge of Appeal who sits on South Africa’s Supreme Court explains the role judges play in environmental protection. todayJuly 15, 2024 9
insert_link Entertainment Brenda Fassie’s 1997 hit song Vulindlela still raises questions about South Africa as a nation By Mbali Mazibuko, University of Johannesburg In 1997, South Africa’s most famous music star had a huge hit. Brenda Fassie’s Vulindlela became a national pop anthem, played especially at weddings and celebrations. Vulindlela can be loosely translated from the Zulu language as an instruction to “make way” or, if you like, “clear the path”. The song is about making way for the groom (and […] todayJuly 12, 2024 10
insert_link Entertainment Why musicians die in poverty – South African study reveals battle to make ends meet By Gwen Ansell, University of Pretoria 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 a renowned musician “died in poverty”. Musicians’ dire financial circumstances are sometimes wrongly blamed on irresponsible spending; a […] todayJuly 9, 2024 13
insert_link Entertainment Hollywood didn’t know exactly what to do with Donald Sutherland – so they did everything with him By Daryl Sparkes, University of Southern Queensland I don’t think Hollywood knew what to do with Donald Sutherland, who has died at age 88. He was not your classically handsome A-list actor like contemporaries Warren Beatty or Robert Redford, nor was he solely suited to the “tough guy” roles such as Robert De Niro, Al Pacino or Gene Hackman. Instead, his early film […] todayJune 26, 2024 11
insert_link Africa Mauritius’ next growth phase: a new plan is needed as the tax haven era fades By Pritish Behuria, University of Manchester Mauritians will head to the polls by November 2024 and politicians are considering the economic direction of the island country. For the last two decades, the country’s economic growth has depended heavily on its offshore sector – the provision of financial services by banks to foreign firms. As an isolated country located in the south-western Indian Ocean, Mauritius has […] todayJune 18, 2024 15
Entertainment Alert level raised for Philippine volcano after ‘explosive eruption’: volcanology agency The alert level for a Philippine volcano was raised Monday after an "explosive eruption" sent a plume of ash, gas and steam five kilometres (three miles) into the sky, the volcanology agency said. Mount Kanlaon on the central island of Negros erupted shortly before 7:00 pm (1100 GMT), prompting warnings for nearby residents to wear facemasks due the threat of volcanic gases and falling ash. "When it […] todayJune 3, 2024 14
insert_link Entertainment Was Beethoven truly the greatest? A portrait of the German composer Ludwig van Beethoven in 1818. 12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images By Philip Ewell, Hunter College On May 7, 1824, Ludwig van Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony premiered in Vienna, Austria. On its 200th anniversary, much was made about this seminal achievement of a composer routinely touted as the greatest master who ever lived. In an essay for The New York Times, conductor […] todayMay 22, 2024 61
insert_link Entertainment Bridgerton season three – all the usual froth, but a more mature edge as Regency fears of spinsterhood explored By Danielle Mariann Dove, University of Surrey Note this piece contains spoilers for seasons two and three of Bridgerton Netflix’s Regency-inspired romance series Bridgerton has returned in all its garish glory (at least if you’re a Featherington) for the show’s much-anticipated third season. Transporting viewers once again into the glittering world of high society scandal, gossip and romantic intrigue, this latest instalment shifts the focus […] todayMay 20, 2024 31
insert_link Entertainment Taylor Swift has got the 1830s all wrong By Emily Ireland, University of Liverpool Taylor Swift has become incredibly popular as a documenter of her dating history. But in her new album, The Tortured Poet’s Department, she tries her hand at writing about actual history. In the second verse of “I Hate it Here” (track 23 on the mammoth 31-track anthology version of the album), Swift sings about playing a game that involves […] todayMay 15, 2024 25
Paying it forward: Kenyan coastal doctor Bashrahil Mohammed Mafudh has made it his life’s work to care for the most vulnerable in his community, at no cost.
