The BRICS grouping of major emerging economies — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — have agreed to invite six new member nations to their increasingly powerful club. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa made the marquee announcement this week at the conclusion of the annual BRICS leaders’ summit, held…

While the global debate about using artificial intelligence in warfare heats up, Israel has already been deploying it against the Palestinians. The Israeli army is using an advanced AI model called Fire Factory to select targets for airstrikes and handle other military logistics. AI deployment is a significant shift in…

There is undeniable excitement about challenges to the American dollar’s position as the global reserve currency. While economists have warned for years that the dollar’s dominance shouldn’t be a foregone conclusion, few have paid close attention to the warnings, especially in the halls of American power. After Russia invaded Ukraine…

As with any Israeli operation in the West Bank, there are several ways to understand the recent events in Jenin. Israel’s explanation for its assault on the Palestinian refugee camp — which killed 12 Palestinians, injured 140, and forced thousands to flee — was to curb the rise of Palestinian…

I have just returned from a family trip to Jeffreys Bay. Located in South Africa’s Eastern Cape, Jbay is home to one of the world’s best right-hand point breaks. From a surfer’s perspective, the wave is as close to perfection as exists in the natural world. Its sheer power and…

Every year, the Israeli government proudly publishes the number of new immigrants. Under Israel’s law of return, anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent is entitled to automatic Israeli citizenship. The law of return is core to the Zionist project of settling the land of Israel with diaspora Jews and…

Lately, I have been struggling with discussions about psychedelics with close friends and family. Since the publication of Michael Pollan’s How to Change Your Mind, psychedelics have become a hot topic. Friends and family that I would never suspect of being interested in plant medicine are suddenly very curious. The…

Apparently, we are on the cusp of learning that the United States government has multiple extraterrestrial aircraft. Conspiracy theories about aliens and the US government are nothing new, but there is something different about this round of leaks and admissions. It’s a funny coincidence that the spike in UFO hysteria…

Many years ago, when I lived in the United States, the mail was a constant source of excitement. I would look forward to opening the mailbox and sifting through the new wonders with giddy excitement. The serendipity of not knowing what each day would bring was a small but cherished…