Author: newsnote correspondent
Kristalina Georgieva said 2023 will be “tougher” than last year as the US, EU and China see their economies slow. It comes as the war in Ukraine, rising prices, higher interest rates and the spread of Covid in China weigh on the global economy. In October the IMF cut its global economic growth outlook for 2023. “We expect one third of the world economy to be in recession,” Ms Georgieva said on the CBS news programme Face the Nation. “Even countries that are not in recession, it would feel like recession for hundreds of millions of people,” she added. Katrina…
New Year’s Day is meant for fresh starts. But maybe even more, it’s meant for food. As the new year arrives around the world, special cakes and breads abound, as do long noodles (representing long life), field peas (representing coins), herring (representing abundance) and pigs (representing good luck). The particulars vary, but the general theme is the same: Enjoy food and drink to usher in a year of prosperity. Here are 10 good-luck servings of New Year’s food traditions around the world: 1. Hoppin’ John, American South Field peas or black-eyed peas are the base for Hoppin’ John. A major New Year’s…
With soaring temperatures to start the new year, thousands of locals and visitors flocked to Cape Town’s beaches to enjoy the day. Alderman JP Smith said, “We welcome our visitors, knowing the importance of supporting the countless beachfront businesses and local economies that suffered during the lockdown pandemic.” Alderman JP Smith shared images of the crowded beaches and stated that maximum resources were deployed to mitigate beach safety, crowd control, and traffic control. He also said that some roads around the coast needed to be temporarily closed to ease traffic. Spending New Year’s Day at the seaside is a tradition…
As Covid barrels through China, scientists around the world are searching for clues about an outbreak with sprawling consequences — for the health of hundreds of millions of Chinese people, the global economy and the future of the pandemic. But in the absence of credible information from the Chinese government, it is a big scientific guessing game to determine the size and severity of the surge in the world’s most populous country. In Hong Kong, one team of researchers pored over passenger data from five Beijing subway lines to determine the potential spread. In Seattle, a group of modelers tried in vain…
4 Day Week Global published its findings from its most extensive four-day week pilot, which showed that participating companies experienced increased revenue alongside reduced absenteeism and resignations, while employees experienced a significant increase in health and wellbeing. The four-day week is based on the 100-80-100 model, which prescribes 100% of the pay for 80% of the time in exchange for a commitment to delivering 100% of the output. These findings come after more than 30 companies and almost 1,000 employees in countries including the US, Ireland and Australia recently concluded a six-month four-day week pilot programme – with the UK…
Former Pope Benedict XVI has died at his Vatican residence, aged 95, almost a decade after he stood down because of ailing health. He led the Catholic Church for less than eight years until, in 2013, he became the first Pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415. Benedict spent his final years at the Mater Ecclesiae monastery within the walls of the Vatican. His successor Pope Francis said he had visited him there frequently. The Vatican said in a statement: “With sorrow I inform you that the Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, passed away today at 9:34 in the Mater…
Pioneering US TV broadcaster Barbara Walters has died aged 93 after a career spanning half a century. She became the first US female network news anchor when she joined ABC News in 1976. Born in Boston at the start of the Great Depression in 1929, she won 12 Emmy awards. As well as every US president from Richard Nixon to Donald Trump, she interviewed a host of music and pop culture stars. “Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones,” said publicist Cindi Berger in a statement on Friday night. “She lived her life with no…
Many South Africans argue that the country has a skills crisis. An equal number questions why it can’t sort this out by “adopting the German or Swiss approach”. The reason the country isn’t getting the right skills to grow its economy is because of the way it thinks about both the problem – and solutions. There are two aspects to this. First, in relation to the notion of “skill”, we see it as expertise embedded in bodies of knowledge, as well as gained through practical experience. Expertise is used for and developed at work, but acquired through schools, vocational institutions,…
The shock announcement was made at the very end of the two-day festival, in the early hours of Friday morning. “This is the last Afrochella,” said co-founder Abdul Abdullah to the thousands of people still in the El-Wak stadium in the capital, Accra. He did not give any reason. However, in October California-based music festival Cochella sued the organisers for trademark infringement. Mr Abdullah made the announcement just after headline act Burna Boy had closed his set, wowing the crowd with hits such as Last Last, Angelina and Dangote. Although the stadium was still packed with thousands of people, the…
WHAT’S HAPPENING? Following weeks of speculation, Ronaldo’s short-lived experience as a free agent has come to an end. After cutting ties with United back in November, CBS Sports are reporting that the Portugal international has agreed terms to join Saudi outfit Al-Nassr. The player is said to have put pen to paper on Friday afternoon, with the club set to formally announce his signing after their game against Al-Khaleej on Saturday. THE BIGGER PICTURE: The latest information – which was first reported by Saudi outlet Arriyadiyah – comes after the 37-year-old’s medical was initially mooted on Boxing Day. It is thought that the first part of these…