Indonesia's election focuses on social media campaigning. Neighboring countries eye opportunities as the Panama Canal dries out. Canada faces problems with wild boar hybrids.
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Quick takeaways
Viral campaign videos on TikTok have become an effective way to engage young voters in Indonesia's national election, showcasing the significant influence social media platforms hold in shaping political engagement and outcomes.
The Panama Canal's reduced capacity due to the worst drought in over 70 years has led neighboring countries to consider alternative routes for transporting cargo, although maritime routes remain more efficient and established rail routes already exist in the Americas.
Deep dives
Indonesia's national election and the power of TikTok
Ahead of Indonesia's national election, viral campaign videos on TikTok have become an effective way to engage young voters. One candidate, Propose to Bianto, a former defense minister, has successfully rebranded himself through dancing videos and garnered support from young people, despite his controversial past. With more than half of Indonesia's voters being millennials or younger, social media platforms like TikTok hold significant influence in shaping political engagement and outcomes.
Drought's impact on the Panama Canal and potential alternatives
Due to the worst drought in over 70 years, the Panama Canal is experiencing a 30% drop in trade volume and reduced capacity. Neighboring countries, such as Mexico and Colombia, are considering alternative routes to transport cargo between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, including railway and road projects. However, these alternatives may not fully replace the Panama Canal, as maritime routes remain more efficient and established rail routes already exist in the Americas.
Canada's super pigs causing havoc for farmers
Canadian pig farmers crossbred their animals with wild boars in the 1980s to create larger and more meaty creatures. However, when the market for boar meat declined, some farmers released the hybrid pigs into the wild. This resulted in a population explosion of the crossbred pigs, causing widespread destruction of crops and posing a threat to food production. The pigs' adaptability and prolific breeding make them difficult to control, and there are concerns that they could spread to the United States, affecting the domestic pork industry and potentially transmitting diseases.
Campaigning for a coming election in the world’s fourth-most-populous country has been almost entirely policy-free: a good social-media presence is nearly all candidates need. As the Panama Canal dries out, neighbouring countries spy an opportunity—but how much of that trade can they expect to siphon off (09:11)? And, the wild boar hybrids causing havoc on Canada’s prairies (15:56).
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