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New Chinese SUV brand makes South African debut with urban-adventure crossovers

New Chinese SUV brand makes South African debut with urban-adventure crossovers

JETOUR has officially entered the competitive South African SUV market with the launch of two versatile models designed to capitalize on the nation's growing preference for crossover vehicles. The Chinese automaker introduced its Dashing and X70 Plus models to South African consumers amid a broader market trend that saw SUVs and crossovers claim nearly half of all passenger vehicle sales in 2024, despite an overall decline in new vehicle purchases nationwide. The Jetour Dashing, a five-seater SUV, features a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine generating 115 kW of power and 230 Nm of torque. Equipped with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel…
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To truly understand Pope Francis’ theology – and impact – you need to look to his life in Buenos Aires

To truly understand Pope Francis’ theology – and impact – you need to look to his life in Buenos Aires

POPE Francis’ journey from the streets of Flores, a neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to the Vatican is a remarkable tale. Born in 1936, Jorge Bergoglio was raised in a middle-class family of Italian Catholic immigrants. Bergoglio defied his mother’s wish for him to become a medical doctor and chose instead to pursue the priesthood, a calling he felt during confession. The young man joined the Jesuits in the 1950s, attracted to the order’s vow of poverty and its ethos of serving others and living simply. He became a priest in 1969, Archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998, and took…
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Political rivalry reshapes DRC’s future: the Tshisekedi-Kabila saga continues

Political rivalry reshapes DRC’s future: the Tshisekedi-Kabila saga continues

A Dynasty of Division: The Inherited Rivalry THE 2025 crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo represents the latest chapter in a political rivalry that spans generations. The tension between Félix Tshisekedi and Joseph Kabila is not merely a contemporary political contest but an inheritance of their fathers' complicated relationship. Étienne Tshisekedi, a longtime opposition leader, stood against Mobutu Sese Seko and later Laurent-Désiré Kabila, who seized power in 1997 after overthrowing Mobutu. When Laurent-Désiré Kabila was assassinated in 2001, his son Joseph inherited power at just 29 years old, establishing the first political dynasty in the DRC's post-independence era.…
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The Road Less Crowded: A Family’s Journey in the Jetour X70 Plus

The Road Less Crowded: A Family’s Journey in the Jetour X70 Plus

THE summer sun peeked through the curtains as the Mokoena family bustled around their home. It was the first day of their long-awaited holiday road trip to the coast, a journey of almost 800 kilometers that would have seemed daunting in their old sedan. But this year was different. "Dad, I've packed my boogie board!" shouted eight-year-old Thabo, dragging a bag almost as big as himself toward the front door. Daniel Mokoena smiled, remembering the cramped trips of years past—the constant chorus of "He's touching me!" and "I don't have enough space!" from the back seat, the tetris-like challenge of…
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Stellantis Partners with SOS Children’s Villages to combat youth unemployment in South Africa

Stellantis Partners with SOS Children’s Villages to combat youth unemployment in South Africa

AUTOMOTIVE manufacturing giant Stellantis has launched a major initiative with SOS Children's Villages to address South Africa's growing youth unemployment crisis by providing 800 young people with driver's license training and certification. The partnership comes as South Africa's youth unemployment rate has reached 50.47%, its highest level in recent history. The program aims to enhance employability by removing a significant barrier to job entry in multiple sectors. "The initiative aligns with our commitment to driving positive change in the communities in which we operate," said Stellantis Managing Director, Mike Whitfield. "By equipping youth with a skill that increases their employability,…
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Fulani: new study unravels the genetic history of Africa’s largest pastoralist community

Fulani: new study unravels the genetic history of Africa’s largest pastoralist community

THE Fulani people are Africa’s largest pastoralist group. There are between 25 million and 40 million Fulani people across 17 African countries, from the Atlantic shores of Senegal and Mauritania to Sudan. The Fulani have long intrigued social anthropologists with their complex cultural heritage. They raise mainly cattle, goats and sheep in the vast, arid Sahel region. Some are nomadic but many have adopted a sedentary lifestyle. In the wide geographical belt where they live, they speak 11 dialects. The Fulani’s origins and migratory patterns have been subjects of scientific debates. Certain physical characteristics are similar to those commonly observed…
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Wild meat is eaten by millions, but puts billions at risk – how to manage the trade

Wild meat is eaten by millions, but puts billions at risk – how to manage the trade

ONE of the most pressing issues of our time is the wild meat trade. Why? Because it’s consumed by millions and puts billions at risk from emerging diseases. It provides food and income for some of the poorest and most remote communities in Africa and Asia, yet over-exploitation makes ecosystems unstable and threatens the destruction of endangered species. In Africa, wild meat hunting is driven mostly by protein and meat scarcity (“the poor man’s meat”). In some regions, like East and Southeast Asia, it can be found in restaurants, offered as high-priced exotic delicacies (“the rich man’s status”). But consuming…
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Africa’s refugee camps are plagued by flooding: we looked into drainage systems that can withstand local conditions

Africa’s refugee camps are plagued by flooding: we looked into drainage systems that can withstand local conditions

ALMOST one million people live in 24 camps for refugees and internally displaced people in Ethiopia. They have fled wars and massacres in South Sudan and Somalia and forced conscription and government oppression in Eritrea. Life in these camps is difficult. One of the challenges is drainage. The region experiences very intense, short storms. The camps don’t have proper water drainage systems, which means the stormwater causes flash flooding and mudslides. This results in: contaminated water flooding out of latrines, waste disposal sites and other unsanitary areas damage to clean water points, toilets and sewage disposal systems mosquitoes that breed…
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South Africa as G20 leader can take action on Africa’s food supply: 4 ways to make a difference

South Africa as G20 leader can take action on Africa’s food supply: 4 ways to make a difference

SOUTH Africa, the only African country that is a member of the G20, holds the presidency of the grouping until the end of November 2025. During this time, it could help drive the African continent’s food security agenda. The G20 is made up of 19 member countries plus the European Union and the African Union. Its members account for 85% of global GDP, 75% of international trade, and two-thirds of the world’s population. The presidency of the G20 rotates annually among member countries and is run as a troika made up of the past, present and next holder of the…
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