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Friday, January 9, 2026
TopicThe Conversation

Topic: The Conversation

China’s shrinking population could more than halve. Here’s what that means

China abandoned its one-child policy in 2016. In 2021 the country introduced a three-child policy, backed by tax and other incentives.

Walks weren’t a thing 300 years ago. This is how Victorians turned it into a popular pastime

In the 1800s, when pavements were in their infancy, taking a walk was a whole different experience.

2024’s most exciting space missions– Moon’s south pole to ice-covered ocean world

New missions under NASA’s Artemis plan and Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative will target the Moon in 2024.

What to eat and avoid if you have severe period pains, according to science

Could eating or avoiding certain foods help with painful periods? Here’s what we know based on high-quality research.

Stop overspending this holiday season. Here are 4 tricks

What are some ways shoppers can resist the temptation of appealing, yet expensive, gift options that might strain their finances?

Henry Kissinger’s foreign policy approach was brutish at worst, unsentimental at best

Kissinger’s actions in Vietnam, Chile, Indonesia and beyond significantly challenged his legacy of negotiation and diplomacy and – in the eyes of some – were tantamount to war crimes.

The world is facing its hottest autumn yet. This is how it impacts humans & the climate system

In 2023, climate change and El Niño have jointly led to the hottest autumn on record since 1850.

El Niño may be drying out the southern hemisphere–here’s how that affects the whole planet

A UK study reveals strong decrease in water availability in South America, most of Africa, and central and northwestern Australia.

AI systems could soon run businesses–and they won’t necessarily serve human interests

For scholars who study AI and law, this moment presents a significant challenge to the legal system.

Black South African youth buy luxury goods only to destroy them publicly. Here’s why

The subculture is called izikhothane. In a developing economy like South Africa, it has not been well received. It’s often criticised as wasteful and reckless by society.

On Camera

Why Pinarayi Vijayan is going soft on an Ezhava leader’s anti-Muslim hate speech

Pinarayi Vijayan once called Vellappally Natesan, the general secretary of SNDP Yogam, Kerala’s Pravin Togadia. Now he is giving his hate speech a free pass.

500% tariffs ahead for India? Trump’s lined up a big bad Bill for countries buying Russian oil

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham says bill will be 'well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent'.

2025: Pakistan’s deadliest year in over a decade

Islamabad-based think-tank PICSS's new report says Pakistan saw 'pronounced escalation' in violence last year, with 3,413 conflict-related deaths compared to 1,950 in previous year.

A year-end Mea Culpa in National Interest—The Army-Islam combo doesn’t kill democracy

Many of you might think I got something so wrong in National Interest pieces written this year. I might disagree! But some deserve a Mea Culpa. I’d deal with the most recent this week.