Ramaphosa Orders Inquiry Into Apartheid-Era Prosecutions
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate allegations that previous African National Congress governments deliberately blocked investigations and prosecutions of apartheid-era crimes.
The inquiry will address claims of "improper influence in delaying or hindering" investigations into cases referred to the National Prosecuting Authority by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which was established in 1996 under Nelson Mandela and chaired by Desmond Tutu.
According to a government statement, President Ramaphosa is expected to "shortly" make a follow-up announcement naming the head of the inquiry, its timeframe, and "the full terms of reference."
Narrative A
President Cyril Ramaphosa's inquiry into allegations that past ANC governments failed to investigate apartheid-era political crimes is a step in the right direction. This judicial commission will establish the truth and provide guidance on how best to right past wrongs. In the process, this will help heal old wounds and achieve justice for the victims and their families.
Narrative B
While the inquiry is welcome, the government's plan to let the commission decide whether the rights of victims and their families were violated and if they are liable for compensation is completely wrong. As an inquiry, the commission will have no power to act on these, only provide advice, which will leave these important issues unresolved. This will prolong the pain and trauma families and survivors have had to endure.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that South Africa's GDP per capita PPP be in 2030 (in constant 2017 USD) will be at least 12,400, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
US, Ukraine Sign Minerals Deal
The U.S. and Ukraine signed an agreement on Wednesday that will split the profits from future sales of Ukrainian minerals and establish a jointly run "Reconstruction Investment Fund" that will be used to help rebuild the war-torn country.
While the idea of opening up access to Ukraine's mineral resources in exchange for shoring up U.S. support was first proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in October last year, it sat idle until it was reignited by U.S. President Donald Trump after taking office earlier this year.
Since then, disagreements over the initial terms of a deal — reportedly favoring the U.S. — have threatened to derail the relationship between Washington and Kyiv as Trump also sought to negotiate a wider peace deal. In February, Zelenskyy was in Washington to sign a minerals agreement before it led to the Oval Office clash that ended the trip without a deal.
Pro-Trump narrative
President Trump has been tireless in his efforts to secure a lasting peace deal for Ukraine. As part of those efforts, this latest agreement signals America's commitment to a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine.
Pro-Ukraine narrative
This agreement is a historic achievement for Ukraine which has been able to secure more than fair terms for access to its mineral wealth. These terms include joint control over the fund and removing a clause that put the contract under the jurisdiction of U.S. courts, giving the countries parity in case of disagreement.
Nerd narrative
There is a 16% chance that Russia will have significantly expanded its controlled territory in Ukraine by Jan. 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Global May Day Protests Take Place Worldwide
Tens of thousands of protesters are participating in May Day demonstrations across the U.S. and globally on Thursday, with American organizers calling it a stand against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration, federal worker, and diversity policies.
May Day, also known as International Workers' Day, originated from the 1886 Haymarket Affair in Chicago, Ill., when workers striking for an eight-hour workday clashed with police. It's become a global labor holiday, though the U.S. officially observes Labor Day in September.
With over 1,000 events planned in all 50 states and internationally, organizers from the "50501" movement and "May Day Strong" coalition are focused on Trump, Elon Musk's role in government downsizing, and what they call a "billionaire takeover" of American democracy.
Left narrative
May Day celebrates workers' fight for justice, dignity, and equality — values at the heart of a fair society. It honors solidarity, from farm fields to classrooms, against attacks on labor rights. Trump's anti-union policies, like gutting federal workers' protections and safety agencies, betray working families. This May Day, thousands of people stand united for better wages, safer workplaces, and a democracy that uplifts all, not just the elite.
Right narrative
May Day began as a celebration of spring and later honored workers' fight for an eight-hour workday, rooted in the 1890 global strikes and the Haymarket Affair. It wasn't inherently communist, but corrupt leftists have certainly hijacked it, turning it into a stage for radical, anti-liberty agendas. Their nonsensical protests, like those smearing Trump as a dictator, distort the day's labor origins, pushing divisive Marxist rhetoric that fuels chaos over unity.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that in 2050, there will be 4.8 communist states, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Eurozone Economy Grows 0.4% in Q1 2025
The Eurozone economy expanded by 0.4% in the first quarter of 2025, doubling the previous quarter's 0.2% growth rate, while the European Union (EU) grew by 0.3%, according to preliminary data released by Eurostat.
Since the same quarter last year, GDP increased by 1.2% in the Eurozone and 1.4% in the EU, maintaining the same annual growth rates as recorded in the fourth quarter of 2024, though these preliminary estimates are based on incomplete data and subject to further revisions.
Ireland posted the strongest quarterly performance with 3.2% growth, followed by Spain and Lithuania at 0.6% each, while Hungary was the only EU member state to record a contraction, shrinking by 0.2% compared to the previous quarter.
Pro-government narrative
Despite global uncertainty, the euro area economy is proving resilient. With inflation easing and wages stabilizing, lower interest rates are reviving lending and consumption. Strategic trade integration, a robust labor market, and bold initiatives like in defense, AI, and green energy are laying the groundwork for sustainable growth and renewed global competitiveness.
Opposition narrative
While some may see Europe's economy as stable, the reality remains that the continent's growth has long been slowly stagnating. Even if economic rejuvenation is possible, the Iberian Peninsula's recent power outage exposed the vulnerable underbelly of Europe's economy. Weakness within a world of global uncertainty poses serious dangers for Europe as its economy trudges towards irrelevance.
Nerd narrative
There is a 25% chance that one Euro will be worth less than one U.S. Dollar before 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
UK: NHS Rolls Out 5-Minute 'Super-Jab' for 15 Cancer Types
The NHS in England has become the first health service in Europe to offer an injectable form of immunotherapy called nivolumab, which can treat 15 different types of cancer including skin, bladder, and esophageal cancers.
The new injection allows patients to receive their fortnightly or monthly treatment in just 3-5 minutes instead of spending up to an hour connected to an IV drip, with clinical trials showing patients were highly satisfied with the injection.
Approximately 1,200 patients in England per month could benefit from the new treatment, with around two in five patients currently receiving IV nivolumab eligible for the injection, which will be available to patients starting next month when supplies arrive in the U.K.
Narrative A
The revolutionary NHS "super-jab" transforms cancer treatment with breathtaking efficiency — slashing hour-long sessions to mere minutes for fifteen different cancers. This immunotherapy miracle liberates countless patients from lengthy hospital visits while freeing precious clinical resources. Britain's medical innovation delivers profound dignity to sufferers, proving that compassionate care need not sacrifice precious time in humanity's war against cancer.
Narrative B
The "super jab" moniker dangerously masks Nivolumab's complex reality. While transforming delivery from hours to minutes appears miraculous, this immunotherapy demands profound scrutiny — particularly given its checkered clinical history with head-and-neck cancers. Such casual rebranding of a potent treatment trivializes potential limitations and falsely implies universal efficacy across 15 cancer types, potentially raising devastating false hopes among patients.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that there will be a breakthrough in the treatment of hard-to-treat cancers by April 2031, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Senate Blocks Resolution to Overturn Tariffs
The Senate on Wednesday rejected a bipartisan resolution aimed at blocking President Donald Trump's "Liberation Day" tariffs when Vice President JD Vance cast his vote to break a 49-49 tie.
Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.), Susan Collins (Maine), and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) joined Democrats in support of the measure, which sought to end the national emergency declaration Trump used April 2 to impose 10% baseline tariffs on most imports. Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) were absent from the vote.
The vote came the same day the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter of 2025, the first drop in three years.
Pro-Trump narrative
Democrats and turncoat Republicans' efforts to stop the Trump agenda have failed again. As the administration has made clear, tariffs are a necessary tool to address unfair trade practices and bring countries to the negotiating table. Coming off an election victory in November, the administration needs space to negotiate better deals that will benefit American workers and the economy.
Anti-Trump narrative
Although this measure failed, it's crucial that Democrats keep pressing this issue in order to pressure Republicans. Democrats should force as many votes as necessary to get Republicans on the record in favor or against tariffs as Americans begin seeing prices rise. Congress must reassert its constitutional authority in this realm and stop Trump from crushing the U.S. economy.
Nerd narrative
There's a 10% chance that the U.S. Congress will pass a bill implementing Trump's tariff policies in 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump Nominates Waltz for UN Ambassador
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday announced he's nominating National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to be the next United States ambassador to the United Nations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will serve as interim National Security Advisor.
Waltz's deputy, Alex Wong, is also expected to depart the White House.
Waltz had faced controversy since March when he inadvertently added the editor of the Atlantic magazine, Jeffrey Goldberg, to a Signal group chat where senior officials discussed sensitive military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
Republican narrative
As national security advisor, Waltz was a check on the fringe right-wing nationalist faction within the Trump administration. His pragmatic, experienced approach to national security countered isolationist tendencies, ensuring a balanced foreign policy. Moving him to the UN could empower extremists, undermine U.S. credibility, and collapse America's global strength.
Democratic narrative
Trump's change in Waltz's role exposes the dysfunction of the White House. Waltz's reckless Signal chat blunder, coupled with Trump's history of failed advisers, reveals a pattern of poor judgment and instability. This personnel disaster undermines U.S. credibility, weakens global alliances, and risks catastrophic foreign policy missteps.
Reintroduced Endangered Mexican Axolotls Thriving in Artificial Wetlands
Scientists have successfully reintroduced captive-bred Mexican axolotls into artificial wetlands near Mexico City. All 18 released amphibians survived and three gained weight, highlighting the viability of habitat restoration for this critically endangered species, which has declined by 99.5% in the wild.
Researchers from the Autonomous University of Baja California and the National University of Mexico fitted the axolotls with radio trackers. They found that the amphibians developed social bonds, established preferred territories, and were most active at temperatures between 15.5-17°C (55.9-62.6°F).
The study compared two locations — a restored chinampa (traditional farming island) in Lake Xochimilco and an artificial wetland created in an abandoned quarry. Axolotls in the artificial wetland established significantly larger home ranges, averaging 2,747 square meters (29,568 square feet) versus 382 square meters in Xochimilco.
Narrative A
Artificial wetlands represent a crucial "Plan B" for axolotl conservation as their natural habitat continues to degrade. The success of captive-bred axolotls in these environments proves the world can create viable alternative habitats that may better reflect the species' historical conditions before human alteration. If axolotl populations can be restored in a megacity of 20 million people, there's hope for conservation efforts worldwide.
Narrative B
Focusing on artificial habitats diverts attention from addressing the root causes of the axolotl's decline. The true conservation priority should be cleaning up and restoring Lake Xochimilco's natural ecosystem, which requires tackling pollution, removing invasive species, and changing agricultural practices. Without government funding and public engagement to protect their native habitat, axolotls will remain functionally extinct in the wild regardless of captive breeding success.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the first baby of an extinct vertebrate species will be born or hatched naturally by January 2046, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Trump-Appointed Judge Blocks Alien Enemies Act Deportations
A U.S. district judge on Thursday ruled that the Trump administration cannot use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants from South Texas, declaring the president's invocation of the wartime law "unlawful" and beyond its intended scope.
Judge Fernando Rodriguez Jr., a President Donald Trump appointee, determined that the Alien Enemies Act, previously used only during the War of 1812 and World Wars I and II, requires either a declared war or an armed military invasion, conditions he found absent in Trump's claims about the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Rodriguez rejected the administration's argument that courts lack authority to review the president's use of the act, writing that courts retain "the authority to construe the AEA's terms and determine whether the announced basis for the proclamation properly invokes the statute."
Republican narrative
The Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which is considered an unofficial militia of the Maduro regime, poses a serious national security threat and has been designated as a terrorist organization. This judge is dangerously tying the Trump administration's hands as it looks to quickly remove these criminals and make America safe again. This ruling must be reversed on appeal.
Democratic narrative
This ruling correctly recognizes that wartime powers cannot be invoked during peacetime. The president cannot unilaterally declare an invasion exists to bypass due process rights. Many individuals were wrongfully targeted without evidence of gang affiliation and the administration must be stopped from continuing this illegal process.
Nerd narrative
There's a 20% chance that at least twice as many deportations by U.S. ICE will occur in Fiscal Year 2025 compared with Fiscal Year 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.