Britain is a nation of pet lovers – and it has the Victorians to thank
Oct 04, 2019 14:40 pm UTC| Insights & Views Life
Britain was the first country in the world to start a welfare charity for animals, as early as 1824. Now, almost 20m cats and dogs have a loving place in the countrys homes, and almost one in two households is accompanied...
World Cup is reminding South Africans that sport is still divided
Oct 04, 2019 14:39 pm UTC| Insights & Views Sports
As South Africas Springbok rugby team vies for victory in the 2019 Rugby World Cup tournament, it is worthwhile to reflect on the historical substance of sports unity since 1994. South Africa held its first democratic...

Mobile-based lending is huge in Kenya: but there’s a downside too
Oct 04, 2019 14:38 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
Over the past 10 years mobile-based lending has grown in Kenya. Some estimates put the number of mobile lending platforms at 49. The industry is largely unregulated but includes major financial players. Banks such as Kenya...
Backing Putin: Russia's middle class is no longer a catalyst for democratic change
Oct 04, 2019 14:38 pm UTC| Insights & Views Politics
A wave of protests rocked Moscow and scores of other cities across Russia between 2011 and 2013. The demonstrators called for free and fair elections and some even demanded an end to the Putin regime. Many Russian...

Scientists start mapping the hidden web that scaffolds the universe
Oct 04, 2019 14:37 pm UTC| Insights & Views Science
After counting all the normal, luminous matter in the obvious places of the universe galaxies, clusters of galaxies and the intergalactic medium about half of it is still missing. So not only is 85% of the matter in the...

Global bank urges cities to invest in new infrastructure to adapt to climate change
Oct 04, 2019 14:37 pm UTC| Insights & Views Economy
The impacts of climate change on weather, sea levels, food and water supplies should be seen as an investment opportunity for our cities, says global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs. In a report out last month the...
Yes, house prices will rise with lower interest rates, but that's not the only effect
Oct 04, 2019 14:37 pm UTC| Insights & Views Central Banks Real Estate
With the Reserve Bank of Australia cutting official rates to 0.75% on Tuesday, has been a wave of commentary about the move doing little to help the economy apart from boosting housing prices. There are two parts to...