TRENDS
Fallen crypto king Sam Bankman-Fried was ‘perfectly positioned to make a religion of himself’
Book review: Going Infinite: The Rise and Fall of a New Tycoon by Michael Lewis
WORLD
Taliban: why China wants them as a friend and not as a foe
The presence of the Taliban at the Belt and Road Initiative summit can be seen as an example of how China hopes to create an ally in an attempt to shore up its political and economic interests.
TRENDS
Elon Musk is an ‘engineer’ but Bill Gates is a ‘leader’ – new research shows founder personality can dictate startup success
New research points to six distinct founder personality types: leader, accomplisher, operator, developer, fighter and engineer. It also shows that startups which have a diverse blend of these founder personality types are 8 to 10 times more likely to be successful.
WORLD
Xi-Putin meeting on October 17: here’s what it says about their current, and future, relationship
The occasion of Putin’s likely trip to Beijing is the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), an ambitious Chinese project to expand global trade routes with other nations and extend transport and infrastructure links.
TRENDS
As Disney turns 100, the brand’s real legacy is its business acumen
Disney’s greatest legacy is not its animated stories or characters, but the more mundane history of its mergers, acquisitions and intellectual property rights.
TRENDS
Birkenstock goes public: how an ‘ugly’ orthopaedic shoe company created a brand worth billions
Earlier this week, LVMH-backed Birkenstock set its IPO price at $46 per share. The stock fell 12.6 percent on NYSE debut, to USD 40.20, still valuing the 249-year-old company at USD 7.5 billion.
TRENDS
Great Expectations: new theatrical adaptation sets Dickens novel in partition-era Bengal
Tanika Gupta’s adaptation of Great Expectations is set in Bengal in 1899, where alarming rumours of an imminent partition of the province have spread.
TRENDS
As Sarah Burton leaves Alexander McQueen, an expert explores her legacy through five iconic designs
Sarah Burton’s departure from McQueen comes as the label’s parent company, the French luxury goods group Kering SA, is restructuring.
TRENDS
The Fraud by Zadie Smith review: a dazzling depiction of Victorian colonial England
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
AI is reshaping the workplace – but what does it mean for the health and well-being of workers?
Throughout history, periods of technological transformation have introduced new tools to workplaces and altered working conditions in ways that have impacted worker health in both positive and negative ways.
WORLD
China is switching away from its aggressive ‘wolf warrior’ foreign policy – here’s why
China’s President Xi Jinping is busy dealing with significant economic problems at home, while also rejigging his foreign policy approach away from the aggressive “wolf warrior” diplomacy, a strategy he has pursued since 2017.
LIFESTYLE
A slacker’s guide to climate-friendly gardening
An excellent way to avoid a brown, parched patch is to be slack. Mow it towards the end of summer, autumn and winter.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
A fruit fly has landed in your wine. Is it OK to drink?
Unless you are germ-phobic, just remove the fly and drinking the wine. If you want the extra protein, you could even swallow the fly.
TRENDS
Instagram is making you a worse tourist – here’s how to travel respectfully
Instagram and TikTok have made it easy to find “hidden gem” restaurants and discover new destinations to add to your bucket list. But this democratisation of travel has had other consequences.
WORLD
America is on the brink of another civil war, this one fuelled by Donald Trump
How could a defeated president refuse to accept the results of an historically secure election, sic a violent mob on the U.S. Capitol? How could this same person be in a position to return to power in 2024 as the Republican front-runner?
TRENDS
How to make homes cooler without cranking up the air conditioning
From reflective and ventilated roofs to external window shutters, awnings, ventilation chimneys and wind catchers, some natural ways to cool your home.
ENVIRONMENT
Is it really hotter now than any time in 100,000 years?
Globally, 2023 has seen some of the hottest days in modern measurements. Some news outlets have reported that daily temperatures hit a 100,000-year high.
IMMIGRATION
Debunking migration myths: the real reasons people move, and why most migration happens in the global south
What migration really looks like around the world, what drives people to uproot their lives and move, and how some countries in Africa are welcoming refugees.
TRENDS
The forgotten female soldiers who fought long ago – and why their stories matter today
Women have long fought in wars, but their contribution is often erased.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
Beware, the dirty dishcloth in your kitchen could be breeding many diseases
The dishcloth in your kitchen could be hiding harmful bacteria. Multiple studies have reveal that this kitchen essential is the breeding ground of many diseases. Regular washing, drying, and sanitising can help minimise the risk of spreading these germs and causing food poisoning.
TECHNOLOGY
4 ways criminals could use AI to target more victims
As with any new technology, society needs to adapt to and understand artificial intelligence.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
What is a hernia? Are you at risk?
Hernia causes: Hernias, characterised by tissues or organs bulging through a weakened muscular wall, can occur at birth or later in life due to various factors. Inguinal hernias are the most common type, while femoral, umbilical, hiatus, and incisional hernias also pose risks.
HEALTH-AND-FITNESS
The ‘Murph’ challenge: What to know about this CrossFit workout
The challenge involves running one mile, doing 100 pull ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats and running another mile, all while wearing a weighted vest. The challenge can pose some serious health risks, especially if you are not used to doing CrossFit or high-intensity exercises.
IMMIGRATION
Invisible Windrush: How the stories of Indian indentured labourers from the Caribbean were forgotten
Under the British empire over two million people of Indian heritage were transported, through the indenture system, to countries on five different continents.
