SportsEvery summer, cities around the world host car-free days and temporarily pedestrianize streets. Following their success elsewhere in the world, temporary pedestrianized streets are becoming more common in North America, such as for large sporting events, cultural festivals and farmers’ markets. This year, as part of the FIFA World Cup,…
SportsAs President Donald Trump presented the World Cup trophy to Spain at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the man in charge of world football’s governing body, Fifa, seemed untouched by the competition’s controversies. In a break with protocol, the final was staged with a glitzy Super Bowl-style half-time show…
SportsNearly two-thirds of Americans would like to stop changing the clocks twice a year, according to a 2026 poll. i-am-helen/iStock via Getty Images PlusIn the 108-year history of daylight saving time in the United States, the country has three times moved to institute it year-round: during each of the two…
SportsAfter Brazil was knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, many fans were quick to blame the team’s poor performance on the evangelical beliefs of some players. On social media, some complained that Brazil’s team was much better when its players were “behaving like Catholics” and that “evangelical Protestant…
SportsThe northern highlands of Ethiopia are among Africa’s oldest agricultural landscapes. Some of the world’s most important crops originated here, particularly pulses and grains, including teff. Yet another crop has a less well-known history in Ethiopia’s Tigray region: the grapevine. We are an interdisciplinary team of geographers, agronomists and archaeologists…
SportsSaying 'cheers' to the lasting goodwill from hosting overseas fans? Martin Rickett/PA Images via Getty ImagesThe 2026 World Cup has been a real moneymaker for FIFA. Revenues from TV broadcasting rights, ticket sales and other commercial sources are projected to amount to nearly US$11 billion, making it the most financially…
SportsManchester has always been an English city that tells its story through culture. Its reputation was not built solely through a global crucible of industry, commerce or politics but through music, football, television, art and a tradition of creative self-invention. The northern English city of Manchester has played a critical…
SportsNot every World Cup goal is a classic. Sometimes a half-hearted shot goes in as a result of little more than goalkeeper error. And on those occasions, goalies may be inclined to find an excuse. During the 2026 tournament, some members of what is jokingly referred to as the “goalkeepers’…
SportsNew research is asking: 'For whom does meditation work?' Ridofranz/iStock / Getty Images PlusMindfulness meditation has become increasingly popular in the United States and around the world in recent decades. Apps such as Headspace, Calm and Plum Village – inspired by the Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh – are…
SportsRacism was in the news once again at the World Cup. But it comes in many forms. Thirdman/PexelsNo African teams made it past the quarter-finals of the 2026 men’s football World Cup, but their strategic and tactical play left a lasting impression. The success of African teams doesn’t come out…
SportsIn a moment of brazen hubris in the Oval Office last year, US President Donald Trump railed at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He accused Zelensky of not being thankful for US support in Ukraine’s existential struggle against invading Russian forces, and famously told him: “You don’t have the cards”. Now,…
SportsTwo contested decisions at the 2026 World Cup have reignited debate over how video assistant referee (VAR) reviews should work, and how far back a referee should look when deciding what counts as part of the same passage of play. VAR allows referees to review contentious incidents using replay footage,…