Investors are turning away from China as stock prices drop. Slam poetry gains popularity in Francophone Africa. The rarity of athletes excelling in multiple sports is explored.
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Quick takeaways
Foreign investors are losing faith in Chinese markets due to policy uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, causing them to seek alternative investment opportunities.
Slam poetry in Chad is empowering women to speak out against gender injustice and challenge social norms, despite threats and government censorship.
Deep dives
China's Market Turmoil: Trust in Government and Investor Confidence
Investors in Chinese markets have experienced significant turbulence with markets in China and Hong Kong shedding $1.5 trillion in January alone, raising questions about the government's control over the markets. Factors like policy uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and a lack of trust in the Chinese government have contributed to foreign investors falling out of love with China and seeking alternative investment opportunities. The decline in investor confidence and market instability have already had an impact on China's growth prospects, as wealthy individuals and foreign investors become more cautious about investing in the country.
Slam Poetry: Empowering Women in Chad and Francophone Africa
Slam poetry, characterized by its provocative, cathartic, and vulgar expressions, has become popular in Chad as a form of activism against gender injustice. Female slam poets, like Epiphany Nodjukur John Ring, express their rage and call for change in a country where women face high rates of violence, child marriage, and limited rights. Slam poetry in Chad has provided a platform for women to speak truths that are often silenced, challenging social norms and empowering a new generation of young women. Despite threats and government censorship, slam poetry remains a vibrant and influential medium in Chad.
The Decline of Multi-Talented Athletes: Specialization in Sports
The era of athletes excelling in multiple sports simultaneously, like Dion Sanders, has faded due to increasing specialization and technical complexity in sports. Modern-day professional athletes have to choose one sport to pursue, as the level of training and competition demands complete dedication. While there have been rare cases of athletes attempting to compete in different sports, such as cricketers trying out professional baseball, success in multiple sports has become extremely rare. The intensive training and technical demands of each sport make it challenging for athletes to excel in more than one discipline.
China’s firms are shedding value at pace and foreign investors are starting to look elsewhere. We ask why faith is fading in a market that once looked unstoppable. Slam poetry, an American invention of the 1980s, is now conquering Francophone Africa (08:54). And why there are ever fewer athletes who excel at more than one sport (17:32).
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