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Editor's note
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When military parades roll down the streets of Beijing, it's hard not to think China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) is a formidable force. And it's about to get more impressive, if the government has its way: it has launched an ambitious reform of the PLA with the aim of having a world-class army by 2050. Bates Gill and Adam Ni unpack why, despite its strong public profile, China's leaders still lack confidence in the army's ability to match up against a strong adversary – particularly the US.
Men have historically occupied all the Islamic positions of authority in Kenya, with women generally limited to teaching at traditional Qur'anic schools, notwithstanding their scholarly credentials. But, following the issuing of a raft of new radio licences, there’s been a rise in the number of women broadcasting as religious authorities. This has happened in spite of limitations imposed by some conservative Islamic religious scholars. Hassan Juma Ndzovu explains why this represents a significant development.
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Justin Bergman
Deputy Editor: Politics + Society
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Top Stories
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Jason Lee/Reuters
Bates Gill, Macquarie University; Adam Ni, Macquarie University
China has embarked on ambitious reforms to modernise the People's Liberation Army to be able to defeat the US in a potential conflict. But many challenges remain.
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An Imam addresses a Kenyan Muslim Youth Alliance meeting flanked by community leaders.
(Photo by Neil Thomas/Corbis via Getty Images)
Hassan Juma Ndzovu, Moi University
In spite of limitations, new forms of female religious authorities represent a significant development among Kenyan Muslims.
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COVID-19
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Alex Broadbent, University of Johannesburg
What does lockdown mean for the world's poor? This documentary finds out - by asking them
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Pushan Dutt, INSEAD
Lockdowns will have to be lifted cautiously and new waves of infection are likely.
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João Nunes, University of York; Deisy Ventura, Universidade de São Paulo; Gabriela Spanghero Lotta, Universidade Federal do ABC
Jair Bolsonaro has ignored and openly challenged the advice of health authorities, sacked his health minister and tried to use the pandemic for political gain.
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Ken Chitwood, Concordia College New York
Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia halted the pilgrimage of umrah and has now asked Muslims to delay their plans for the hajj. A scholar explains a long history that prevented people from the pilgrimage.
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Arts, Culture and Society
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Vanicka Arora, Western Sydney University
Bhaktapur suffered 300 deaths, 2,000 wounded and over 30,000 houses damaged in the 2015 earthquake. Heritage restoration has become crucial to community recovery.
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Mary J. N. Okolie, University of Nigeria
Ike exemplified the possibility of creating a community where everyone lives according to their own rhythm, and yet respects the individual rhythms of others.
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En Français
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Marin Ferry, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD); Babacar Sène, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar; Marc Raffinot, Université Paris Dauphine – PSL
La prépondérance des créanciers privés dans la dette publique extérieure pèse sur le budget des États africains et complique la lutte contre le Covid-19.
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Alberto Ambrosio, Collège des Bernardins
Les grands textes monothéistes montrent qu’un discours sur la fin des temps appliqué à l’épidémie désigne facilement le péché comme cause des catastrophes sanitaires.
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