Destroying Mosul’s Great Mosque: Islamic State’s symbolic war to the end
The Great Mosque of Mosul - with its iconic leaning minaret - appeared on one of Iraq's banknotes. Its destruction by the Islamic State is an act of great symbolic importance.
How Kenya could move away from the politics of ethnicity
Kenya must address the problem of tribalism and ethnic violence. To do this leaders must critically examine the concept of political ideology.
Understanding the amazing complexity of sign language
Yes, sign language has grammar – and it goes way beyond what you do with your hands.
‘Cow economics’ are killing India’s working class
A crackdown on the beef and leather trades has put hundreds of thousands of Indian Muslims and Dalits out of work, vexing already-tense religious relations and hurting India's economy.
Why ex-combatants pose a threat to Côte d’Ivoire’s stability
Côte d'Ivoire's government needs to provide different incentives and opportunities to former combatants.
As Ebola and zika recur, rethinking global pandemics with lessons from China
Not every country prepares for global health threats in the same way.
ATMs dispense more than money: The dirt and dope that’s on your cash
What's on your cash? Studies show our money carries everything from pet DNA and old food to E.coli and traces of cocaine.
‘I’m so sorry’: when Indian advertisements turn around sexism
India's advertisements not only challenge but also reverse the dominant roles that Indian men assume with the women in their lives.
Why we welcome poetic justice and despair at poetic injustice
Sometimes people like poetic justice because the law is not in a position to mete out what is deserved.
The threat to South Africa’s democracy runs deeper than state capture
South Africa's democracy is in trouble. But the challenge is less about who should control state institutions, and more about how they can be refashioned to deliver to the poor.
Are NGOs responsible for the migration crisis in the Mediterranean?
Accused of cooperating with smugglers, NGOs defend migrants’ right to life and point to the inadequate policies of European states.
Qatar’s conflict with its neighbours can easily set the Horn of Africa alight
Qatar withdrawing its troops has reignited tensions between Eritrea and Djibouti which the UN and African Union are trying to mediate. This comes as Eritrea is also embroiled in the Yemen civil war.
African court’s landmark ruling gives hope to rural people across the continent
The African court has demonstrated its autonomy in a continent where judicial independence remains shaky in many states.
How a community-based approach to mental health is making strides in Zimbabwe
Lay workers are being trained to help Zimbabwe manage mental issues in communities. So far it's proving successful.
When a river is a person: from Ecuador to New Zealand, nature gets its day in court
New Zealand just conferred personhood upon the Whanganui River, giving it standing to legally defend its rights. Can this novel strategy save the environment?
India’s wells are running dry, fast
Hit by weak monsoons, India faces unprecedented water shortages.
Wrecking to ‘revitalise’: São Paulo expels drug users and razes buildings, claiming public safety
Luz, a once-elegant 19th-century neighbourhood in downtown São Paulo, is prime for redevelopment. The only problem: people live there, including at a homeless encampment known as “Crackland”.
Can we predict political uprisings?
A certain combination of demographics and corruption can lead to political upheaval.
How a South African company turned constraints into global strengths
The development trajectory of South African born brewer SABMiller peaked with the 2016 $104 billion merger with Anheuser-Busch InBev. Behind it lies an extraordinary journey.
Science has the power to boost farming in Africa. But a lot has to change
Governments on the African continent must increase their investment in research and development so that science can yield self-sufficiency.