One budget line Congress can agree on: Spending billions on the US military
Aug 15, 2019 17:40 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
The two-year budget deal signed into law in July marks a rare bipartisan agreement. The deal adds US$320 billion over current spending levels spread across defense and non-defense programs, averting the threat of debt...
South Africa's 2019 poll showed dangerous signs of 'insiders' and 'outsiders'
Aug 15, 2019 17:38 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
The general election in South Africa in May conveyed mixed messages: one was that democracy is maturing, the other that it is failing. The good news was that this was very clearly an outcome of a discerning electorate...
Analysis across Africa shows how social media is changing politics
Aug 15, 2019 17:37 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
In mid-July Chad lifted its 16-month social media ban. This ended the longest social media blockage seen in any African country. The government argued that the lengthy ban was necessary for security reasons. The Chadian...

Melania Trump, Donald Trump: POTUS dominates dinner table conversation, Woody Harrelson claims
Aug 14, 2019 10:15 am UTC| Entertainment Politics
President Donald Trump has been a well-known man in the business and entertainment industry, even before he started pursuing his political endeavors. Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump was a fashion model when she met her...
Aug 12, 2019 06:45 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
The temperature has been rising over Brexit. Dominic Cummings, the UK prime ministers special adviser, has indicated that even if the government loses an autumn confidence vote and must ultimately call a general election,...
Modi ushers in a new intolerant India and revokes multicultural democracy
Aug 12, 2019 06:25 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics
The Hindu Nationalist government of Narendra Modi, with unexpected suddenness, has abolished the special constitutional status of the Muslim-majority state of Jammu and Kashmir (JK). On Aug. 8, Prime Minister Modi, in a...

Chinese propaganda goes tech-savvy to reach a new generation
Aug 12, 2019 06:13 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology Politics
Earlier this year, a new app was launched in China to put the patriotism of Chinese citizens to the test. Named Study Xi to Strengthen the Nation, the app quizzes users on all things related to President Xi Jinping his...