Who is Syria’s new prime minister – and what will he do?

Dec 16, 2024 05:06 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Dressed in a modest grey suit and tie with a light blue shirt, bald and bearded, 41-year-old Mohammed al-Bashir addressed his fellow Syrians on Tuesday from behind a desk in an empty conference room. Asking for stability...

Stop and think: An undervalued approach in a world that short-circuits thoughtful political judgment

Dec 16, 2024 05:05 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

Whens the last time you saw a pundit pause? When President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter, who was convicted of three felony charges, the pardon was startling because Biden repeatedly pledged before the election that...

Rail disruption in the UK is so common that the economic damage it causes is barely noticed – but change is possible

Dec 16, 2024 05:05 am UTC| Insights & Views

Recent disruption to Britains rail network, caused by a fault in its outdated nationwide radio system, was more than just an inconvenience for thousands of commuters. It was a stark reminder of how far the UK has fallen...

Why AI eyes-open meditation apps could do more harm than good for your mental health

Dec 16, 2024 05:03 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Easy, portable and convenient. The latest AI-powered wellbeing and meditation apps may sound like the ideal solution for those looking for peace in a chaotic world, but can an AI app really replace the expertise of a human...

South Africa’s low-cost housing model is broken – study suggests how to fix it

Dec 16, 2024 05:02 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

The backlog of subsidised public housing in South Africa is estimated at 2.4 million. In this interview, Hlengiwe Maila, a research fellow at the School of Public Management and Administration at the University of...

Response to CEO killing reveals antipathy toward health insurers − but entire patchwork system is to blame for ill feeling

Dec 16, 2024 05:01 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

The U.S. health care system leaves much to be desired. It is convoluted, fragmented, complex and confusing. Experts have also raised concerns about quality, and disparities are rampant. And, of course, it is excessively...

Global Geopolitics Series

Trump wants China’s help in making peace in Ukraine. He’s unlikely to get it

Dec 16, 2024 05:00 am UTC| Insights & Views

US president-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinas president Xi Jinping to his inauguration on January 20 in a surprise move which appears to be part of a plan to involve Beijing in ceasefire negotiations in...