South Africa’s biggest arts festival turns 50 – we assess its impact

Jun 13, 2024 06:08 am UTC| Insights & Views Business

The National Arts Festival was established in 1974 in Grahamstown (now Makhanda) in South Africas Eastern Cape province. Each year, in winter, the rural town transforms into a hive of theatres, galleries, markets and...

In some parts of Australia, local roads are falling apart. Here’s an easy federal fix

Jun 13, 2024 06:04 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy

There are local councils in Australia that cant afford to fix their roads, part of the problem is simply that they arent in Australias biggest states. The problem arises from the archaic way grants to councils are...

The secrets of Maya child sacrifice at Chichén Itzá uncovered using ancient DNA

Jun 13, 2024 06:04 am UTC| Insights & Views Life

After analysing the remains of 64 ancient sacrificed individuals, most of whom were children, researchers have revealed new details about human sacrifice at the ancient Maya site of Chichén Itzá. Published...

Central Banking Series

Inflation is cooling, but not fast enough for the Fed

Jun 13, 2024 06:02 am UTC| Insights & Views Economy Central Banks

It was a double-whammy Wednesday for economic-data enthusiasts. During the morning of June 12, 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics published its latest inflation figures. The news was relatively good, showing that...

No, AI doesn’t mean human-made music is doomed. Here’s why

Jun 12, 2024 06:00 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Recently we have seen the launch of artificial intelligence programs such as SOUNDRAW and Loudly that can create musical compositions in the style of almost any artist. Were also seeing big stars use AI in their own...

Climate Change Series

Food has a climate problem: Nitrous oxide emissions are accelerating with growing demand for fertilizer and meat – but there are solutions

Jun 12, 2024 05:59 am UTC| Insights & Views

Foods role in climate change has emerged as one of the defining challenges of our time. The journey of a steak, fruit or salad from the vast expanses of agricultural lands to the plates on our tables leaves a significant...

Trust hits new low: 45% of people think politicians put party before country

Jun 12, 2024 05:59 am UTC| Insights & Views Politics

There is an air of deja vu about this election. Trust and confidence in how Britain is governed is as low as it has ever been just as it was shortly before the last election five years ago. Yet the circumstances that...