|
The moment Zimbabweans have been waiting for finally arrived late yesterday afternoon. President Robert Mugabe resigned, ending his 37-year old despotic and disastrous rule. This followed days of tension after the military indicated that they wanted him to go. While there’s been widespread jubilation in the country following the military’s intervention, Enock C. Mudzamiri cautions that the optimism is misplaced. The country’s military commanders have been less interested in restoring democracy than they are in settling a succession crisis in the ruling Zanu-PF.
Between them, Kazakhstan’s 18 million people speak 117 different languages, but the official alphabet is Cyrillic, emblematic of the country’s long relationship with Russia. That will change next year when Kazakhstan adopts an augmented version of the Latin alphabet as it aims for greater integration with the rest of the world. But state intervention in language planning isn’t always straightforward, as Andrew Linn explains.
|
Zimbabwe National Army commander Constantino Chiwenga, second from left, addressing the media.
EPA-EFE/Aaron Ufumeli
Enock C. Mudzamiri, University of South Africa
Contrary to popular sentiment that the coup in Zimbabwe would usher in a new era of democracy, the military intervention is much more about a succession crisis in the ruling Zanu-PF.
|
Arts + Culture
|
-
Andrew Linn, University of Westminster
Between them, Kazakhstan's 18m people speak 117 languages but the country is opting for the Latin alphabet as it aims for wider global integration.
-
Catharine Coleborne, University of Newcastle
The new Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation aims to 'revive' liberal arts and the humanities. Yet the 'civilisation' model of history is now viewed as deeply flawed.
|
|
Environment + Energy
|
-
Kim Pickering, University of Waikato
Tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean each year, but a switch away from petroleum-based products to bio-derived and degradable composites could lessen marine pollution.
-
Jennifer Weeks, The Conversation
Is trophy hunting wholesome sport or pointless violence? The Trump administration moved last week to allow imports of trophy parts from African elephants, but met heavy protest and is reconsidering.
|
|
Politics + Society
|
-
Tom Quinn, University of Essex
The parliamentary arithmetic suggests Merkel would actually be in quite a stable position if she goes it alone, without calling fresh elections.
-
Roger Southall, University of the Witwatersrand
The unfolding misfortunes of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe hold key lessons for his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma who faces the possibility of a forced exit.
|
|
Science + Technology
|
-
Deepak Kumar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Stephen P. Long, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Vijay Singh, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Scientists have engineered sugarcane to increase its oil content and are developing renewable jet aircraft fuel from the oil. The engineered sugarcane could become a valuable energy crop.
|
|
