February 27, 2023: Nigerian election unpacked – the largest democratic exercise on the continent. Plus: the impact of recent earthquakes on Turkey’s leadership, the day’s newspapers and the latest arts and culture news.
Monthly Archives: February 2023
Front Page: The New York Times – February 27, 2023
What Layoffs? Many Employers Are Eager to Hang On to Workers.
Despite interest rate increases meant to cool the labor market, companies outside the tech industry worry about having too few workers, not too many.
Lab Leak Most Likely Caused Pandemic, Energy Dept. Says
The conclusion, which was made with “low confidence,” came as America’s intelligence agencies remained divided over the origins of the coronavirus.
Rural Hospitals Are Shuttering Their Maternity Units
Citing costs, many hospitals are closing labor and delivery wards, expanding so-called maternity care deserts.
In Ukraine War, Talking About Peace Is a Fight of Its Own
Russia and the West have argued for months about which side is more willing to negotiate, with the world as an audience.
Droughts: The ‘Vanishing’ Great Salt Lake In Utah
Walking Tours: Old Town Prague In Czech Republic
February 2023 – Old Town, or Staré Mesto, is a lively cobblestoned hub with landmark attractions such as the medieval Astronomical Clock and the Gothic Church of Our Lady Before Týn, on Old Town Square. The Rudolfinum concert hall hosts classical music, while the Estates Theatre stages ballet and opera. Student nightlife is centered around the vast 5-story Karlovy Lázně dance club.
International Art: Apollo Magazine – March 2023
How Italy protected its art from the Nazis
An exhibition in Rome recounts the complicated tale of efforts to safeguard masterpieces across the country during the Second World War
4 things to see this week: Egyptomania
Our hand-picked selection of ancient Egyptian treasures includes a breastplate once worn by an actual pharaoh and a glittering golden crocodile
Nature: Hummingbirds In Argentina And Brazil (BBC)
In the Atlantic Rainforest of Argentina and Brazil, hummingbirds gather around flowers in a spectacular dance.
Front Page: The New York Times – February 26, 2023
Alone and Exploited, Migrant Children Work Brutal Jobs Across the U.S.
Arriving in record numbers, they’re ending up in dangerous jobs that violate child labor laws — including in factories that make products for well-known brands like Cheetos and Fruit of the Loom.
War in Ukraine Has Changed Europe for Good
No event has transformed the continent more profoundly since the end of the Cold War, and there is no going back now.
Their Hair Long and Flowing or in Ponytails, Women in Iran Flaunt Their Locks
Defiant resistance to Iran’s mandatory hijab law has exploded across the country after nationwide protests that erupted last year.
Desperate for Babies, China Races to Undo an Era of Birth Limits. Is It Too Late?
A number of new incentives encouraging people to have children highlight the challenges China faces in trying to boost its declining birthrate.
Culture: A Nomadic Life In The Gobi Desert, Mongolia
In Mongolia, it is becoming increasingly common for the younger generation to leave traditional life behind. Otgo’s dream would take her far from her family’s yurt. She wants to become a dancer and later, a dance teacher. Her parents leave it up to her to decide how she wants to shape her life. They agree to support her, if she embarks on her great endeavor. In the meantime, Otgo has become an almost indispensable help to the family.
She gets up early in the morning to water the camels with her father, and it fills her with pride that she can help her family. The breathtaking landscape of the Gobi Desert and the strong bonds between the different nomadic families do not make it easy for Otgo to follow her dream. Otgo’s story paints a portrait of her world and of the men and women who have long passed on their culture from generation to generation, through the eyes of a child.
Village Walks: Bormes-les-Mimosas, South Of France
Bormes-les-Mimosas (February 2023) is a small village in the Var clinging to the side of a hill, a sort of flowery balcony over an intense blue Mediterranean. Lower down, Le Lavandou and its beaches, the fort of Brégançon not far from the open sea then the sunny coasts of the Côte d’Azur.
This French commune is located on the edge of the Mediterranean and in the southern part of the Moorish massif. Like any locality in the region, the climate is Mediterranean with high heat in July. The tourist attractions of this city are many. The most important of these is the old castle which is located on a hill. Then comes St. Francis Square where you can see a statue of St. Francis de Paul, a famous monk who lived there in the fifteenth century.
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World Economic Forum: Top Stories – Feb 25, 2023
0:15 This zero-emission truck drives itself – The truck is made by Swedish firm Einride. It says autonomous trucks could succeed where self-driving cars, so far, haven’t because freight trucks follow specific routes. Unlike car drivers, who often want freedom and spontaneity and specific, predictable routes require less complex autonomous technology. “But for a lot of transport, it’s actually the exact opposite. You don’t want it to be spontaneous. You don’t want it to suddenly be in another part of the country than it’s expected to be. [Trucks] need predictability. And they need to make sure that it actually arrives on time.”
2:48 Plastic-eating enzymes help recycle clothing – Scientists at the University of Portsmouth have identified more than 70 plastic-eating enzymes. This could divert millions of tonnes of textiles from landfill.
3:59 Why the ‘nowhere office’ is the future of work – This author thinks work will no longer be defined by a fixed time and place and that the culture of office presenteeism is over. The pandemic has changed people’s work habits forever. Many workers now see flexibility as a right, not a privilege. 40% of workers say they wouldn’t take a job without remote or hybrid options. Hobsbawm says we should be campaigning for new ways to value and pay for work, based around set outcomes rather than fixed hours as part of a momentous culture shift she calls ‘the great re-evaluation’.
7:04 Spain approves menstrual leave – It’s the first ‘menstrual leave’ law in Europe. People can take up to 3 days of leave a month paid for by the state if they suffer from cramps, nausea, dizziness or vomiting. In extreme cases, it can even be extended to 5 days. The sick leave will require a doctor’s note and will not cover those in mild discomfort. Similar laws exist in South Korea, Japan, Zambia and Indonesia
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