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Articles by Anthony Egan
Remembering Father Albert Nolan, a best-selling theologian who explored the humanity of Christ
Within a few hours of learning of the death of Albert Nolan, O.P., I was in conversation about him with Dominican friends, fellow Jesuits and one formerly high-ranking member of the South African Communist Party, who recalled how Father Nolan helped him better understand Christianity and what faith might mean. Those who knew Albert, as his friends and confrères called him, should not be surprised. Father Nolan, who died in the early hours of Oct.
A South African Jesuit remembers Archbishop Desmond Tutu
Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu is pictured in a Sept. 21, 2011, photo. Archbishop Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Anglican cleric whose good humor, inspiring message and conscientious work for civil and human rights made him a revered leader during the struggle to end apartheid in South Africa, died at age 90 on Dec. 26, 2021. (CNS photo/Allison Joyce, Reuters) I was in Cape Town, South Africa, at the end of August in 2002.
Sharp Read | Towards a new and better nation state
Mahmood Mamdani’s new book, Neither Settler Nor Native: The Making and Unmaking of Permanent Minorities (Wits University Press, 2020), is a densely packed study of the modern nation state that proposes a shift away from what one might call narrow identity politics. In it, he argues that a new kind of state needs to be created that moves from the idea of majority versus minority – and in (post)colonial states from the categories of “native” versus “settler” – towards a new emphasis.
A man of integrity during political upheaval: A tribute to Fergus Blackie
Former Zimbabwean High Court Justice Fergus Blackie died on 24 April 2021 at his home in Johannesburg. He is survived by his wife, two brothers, five children and six grandchildren. Anthony Egan SJ writes the following tribute to a man whose faith informed his moral choices, even when these cost him his freedom. Fergus Craig Blackie was born on 18 July 1937 in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe).
Fratelli Tutti: A political theology for our time
Yesterday Pope Francis travelled to Assisi to sign his new encyclical letter, considered the most authoritative and developed form of papal teaching, which is entitled in Italian Fratelli Tutti (a citation from one of St. Francis’s admonitions to his early Franciscan brothers), but in English means ‘Siblings’, or ‘Brothers and Sisters all’. Pope Francis released his encyclical today, on the Feast of St Francis of Assisi. Anthony Egan SJ offers five observations about this important document.
Covid-19 in SA: Choosing who lives and who dies
By . 4m ago As the number of Covid-19 infections grows and as we see how our health services struggle, the health services are faced with a prospect that many might find disturbing: Who lives, who dies? In short, triage. Triage is a system of three categories that prioritises who gets treated. First, those needing immediate attention to recover. Second, those who can wait. Third, those whose prospects of recovery are so small that they would be made as comfortable as possible and then left to die.
Hunger begins to replace Covid-19 as existential fear in South Africa
As South Africa moves into the fourth week of its Covid-19 lockdown—the initial 21-day period having been extended a further 14 days—South Africans are beginning to assess its human costs. Apart from its devastating impact on the economy, the lockdown has suppressed some major types of crime and inspired a surge in some others. But above all, the lockdown has translated into a sharp increase in national levels of poverty and malnutrition.
A coronavirus lockdown lands hard on South Africa
Here in Johannesburg on April 6 we are in the second week of a 21-day nationwide lockdown initiated by the South African government. It began at midnight on March 26 and will last, according to the latest instruction, until April 16. The national measures being taken against the spread of the coronavirus in South Africa are unprecedented and are considered among the strictest in the world.
Britain can't play the EU off against the US over Brexit
With the Withdrawal Agreement Bill expected to progress through Parliament relatively smoothly, the government will now be preparing its approach to the next phase of the Brexit negotiations. Already there have been reports of disagreements within Cabinet over whether to conduct parallel trade talks with the US as a means of increasing the UK’s negotiating leverage with the EU. Such tactics, however, are likely to do more harm than good.
The lesson in Britain’s immigration figures
Irrespective of who forms the next government, immigration will remain an important issue, both as a driver of economic growth and its impact on Britain’s reputation as an open and outward-looking nation. In light of this, yesterday’s warrant closer inspection. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that net long-term migration (which only includes those entering or leaving the UK with the intention of staying for more than 12 months) was 212,000 over the year ending June 2019.
Religious Orders: Then and Now
Religious orders and congregations contributed heroically to the struggle against apartheid, but had a mixed record before then, as FR ANTHONY EGAN SJ explains in Part 2 of his brief history of the religious orders in South Africa. By the 1960s religious orders and communities in South Africa grew increasingly aware and started to respond to the complex politics of a segregationist and apartheid state.
A Brief History of religious Orders in South Africa
Religious orders and congregations did not just help build the local Church but also the country. Fr Anthony Egan SJ gives a brief history of religious life in Southern Africa. It is almost impossible — in even a long-ish article such as this — to cover in depth the work of religious orders and congregations of Catholic women and men in South Africa. This is a brief overview that looks firstly, and primarily, at the establishment and some of the founding works of some of these orders.
Understanding St Paul's Teachings
Pauls moral teaching often causes controversy. Scripture scholar Victor Paul Furnish, who tries to show how a more critical reading of Pauls ethics can retrieve the spirit of what he said, observes that when one treats Pauls teaching as if it were a sacred cow, one runs the risk of turning it into a white elephant. By this he means that those who have a fairly fundamentalist understanding of Scripture risk making Pauls ethics a sacred cow, untouchable and beyond challenge.
Paul and Salvation
It used to be a common joke to say that while Jesus was Catholic, Paul was Protestant. Of course we know that both Jesus and Paul were Torah-observing Jews but as with many jokes it has a core of truth. Until recently, in their preaching and theological thinking, Protestants have tended to place greater emphasis on Paul than Catholics.
Paul and Jesus - The Southern Cross
What did St Paul actually know about Jesus? Before his conversion on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-6) Paul would have known very little about Jesus. Having never met the historical Jesus of Nazareth, he had to rely initially on what was being said about him in Jerusalem by Jesus’ disciples and detractors. As a strongly Torah-observant Jew, Paul clearly sympathised with those of his fellow Pharisees who saw Jesus as an imposter a false prophet and possible pretender to the throne of King David.
Paul and the Bible
Fr Anthony Egan SJ – When we think of St Paul on his many great journeys fearlessly preaching the gospel, do we imagine a street preacher proclaiming his message aloud, grasping and sometimes waving around a well-thumbed leather-bound copy of the Bible? When we think of Paul writing his letters, do we imagine him writing away surrounded by a stack of bibles, commentaries and works of theology? We would be mistaken.
St Paul's Big Round-Trip
Even among those who have perhaps no knowledge of St Paul, some will have heard of his dramatic conversion. We often hear the phrase “the road to Damascus”. An infamous international stock market speculator sees the error of his ways and becomes a fierce critic of globalisation. A high-living pop singer rediscovers faith and opts for a celibate lifestyle. A drug dealer embraces Islam and starts an anti-drug campaign.
Cardinal Burke's theological can of worms • spotlight.africa
Cardinal Raymond Burke’s remarks at a recent conference in Rome, Anthony Egan says, open up the ongoing tensions in the Church over teaching authority, the primacy of the papacy and ultimately our understanding of truth. Burke made headlines when he claimed that disobeying the pope might be a necessary way forward. Cardinal Raymond Burke’s comments on 7 April at a conference in Rome (reported in Spotlight Africa 9 April) has potentially opened up a can of theological worms.
Banks Continue to Bleed Talent
This graph show how prices have changed since the midnight December 7th with prices at that point being rebased to 100 Prices as of 11:59 PM UTC 13/12/17 (Source: coinmarketcap) The cryptocurrency market has seen another week of volatility. Litecoin’s market cap has increased by over 200% as it becomes a popular alternative to bitcoin, as the latter has faced fears of increased regulation. XRP has also been riding the wave, seeing a 50% price hike from last week.
Gem Reports Finding Fifth Biggest Diamond in History
These days, when people think of Zimbabwe, they think of this failed third-world state until a few days ago was run by a brutal dictator. Little do they know that this nation was, until the mid-1990’s, one of Africa’s better-performing economies. Former Tanzanian Julius Nyerere, not long after Zimbabwean independence, is reported to have told Robert Mugabe that “You have inherited a jewel, keep it that way”. Needless to say, this advice was not kept.
A Wake-Up Call For Banks: Blockchain Is Here
This graph show how prices have changed since the midnight December 7th with prices at that point being rebased to 100 Prices as of 11:59 PM UTC 13/12/17 (Source: coinmarketcap) The cryptocurrency market has seen another week of volatility. Litecoin’s market cap has increased by over 200% as it becomes a popular alternative to bitcoin, as the latter has faced fears of increased regulation. XRP has also been riding the wave, seeing a 50% price hike from last week.
The Brief Overview of OPEC (Part I)
These days, when people think of Zimbabwe, they think of this failed third-world state until a few days ago was run by a brutal dictator. Little do they know that this nation was, until the mid-1990’s, one of Africa’s better-performing economies. Former Tanzanian Julius Nyerere, not long after Zimbabwean independence, is reported to have told Robert Mugabe that “You have inherited a jewel, keep it that way”. Needless to say, this advice was not kept.
Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies: The Keys to Reforming Inefficiencies in Nigeria?
These days, when people think of Zimbabwe, they think of this failed third-world state until a few days ago was run by a brutal dictator. Little do they know that this nation was, until the mid-1990’s, one of Africa’s better-performing economies. Former Tanzanian Julius Nyerere, not long after Zimbabwean independence, is reported to have told Robert Mugabe that “You have inherited a jewel, keep it that way”. Needless to say, this advice was not kept.
Chinese Tech Focuses on AI
Toyota has announced that all of its models will have electric or hybrid versions by 2025, and it will have more than ten electric vehicle (EV) models for sale from 2020, as it aims to cut CO2 emissions. The company set an annual sales target of one million zero-emission battery EVs and fuel-cell vehicles by 2030. It said it would need to make an investment of over $13bn to develop and make batteries, in order to achieve this.
Berlusconi Makes a Political Comeback
The architects of the Leave vote in 2016’s Brexit referendum will no doubt have been encouraged when EU leaders agreed to move to phase two of the ongoing transitional period on December 15th. The EU 27 summit will review the conduct of UK-EU negotiations expressed satisfaction that sufficient progress has been made in each of the priority areas.
David Cameron’s New Job
The architects of the Leave vote in 2016’s Brexit referendum will no doubt have been encouraged when EU leaders agreed to move to phase two of the ongoing transitional period on December 15th. The EU 27 summit will review the conduct of UK-EU negotiations expressed satisfaction that sufficient progress has been made in each of the priority areas.
SpaceX Launches Used Rocket
As the US continues to allow civilians to carry weapons and gun violence becomes more of a concern, an increasing number of bulletproof apparel retailers are emerging across the country. Their target clients? The average Joe. Or at least those who can afford the hefty price tags associated with the “exotic” new fashion segment. Miguel Caballero, a Colombian designer, sells his bulletproof blazers for 4,343.50 euros, and his tank tops for 2,023 euros.
Toyota to Electrify All Models by 2025
Toyota has announced that all of its models will have electric or hybrid versions by 2025, and it will have more than ten electric vehicle (EV) models for sale from 2020, as it aims to cut CO2 emissions. The company set an annual sales target of one million zero-emission battery EVs and fuel-cell vehicles by 2030. It said it would need to make an investment of over $13bn to develop and make batteries, in order to achieve this.
Chinese Startup Nio Launches Car Half the Price of Tesla’s
China’s electric vehicle startup Nio has launched its first mass-produced model, which is half the price of Tesla’s Model X. The NIO ES8 starts at 448,000 yuan ($68,000), compared to Tesla’s Model X priced at 836,000 yuan ($127,000). Similar to Tesla, NIO is offering an in-car artificial intelligence system, and a charging portal, enabling customers to change their car batteries within a few minutes.
NEO Reaches a New High at $51
This graph show how prices have changed since the midnight December 7th with prices at that point being rebased to 100 Prices as of 11:59 PM UTC 13/12/17 (Source: coinmarketcap) The cryptocurrency market has seen another week of volatility. Litecoin’s market cap has increased by over 200% as it becomes a popular alternative to bitcoin, as the latter has faced fears of increased regulation. XRP has also been riding the wave, seeing a 50% price hike from last week.
Japan Is Behind Bitcoin’s Rise
China’s central bank increased rates on short terms lending instruments within hours of the Federal Reserve raising their base rate from 1.25% to 1.5% on Wednesday. In doing so, the Chinese government aims to put a stop to potentially destabilising capital outflows. Chinese reverse repurchase agreements increased by five basis points for 7-day and 28-day reverse repurchase by 5 basis points to 3.5% ad 3.85% respectively.
Delta Opts for Airbus
This graph show how prices have changed since the midnight December 7th with prices at that point being rebased to 100 Prices as of 11:59 PM UTC 13/12/17 (Source: coinmarketcap) The cryptocurrency market has seen another week of volatility. Litecoin’s market cap has increased by over 200% as it becomes a popular alternative to bitcoin, as the latter has faced fears of increased regulation. XRP has also been riding the wave, seeing a 50% price hike from last week.
Disney Buys Up Murdoch Assets
This graph show how prices have changed since the midnight December 7th with prices at that point being rebased to 100 Prices as of 11:59 PM UTC 13/12/17 (Source: coinmarketcap) The cryptocurrency market has seen another week of volatility. Litecoin’s market cap has increased by over 200% as it becomes a popular alternative to bitcoin, as the latter has faced fears of increased regulation. XRP has also been riding the wave, seeing a 50% price hike from last week.
Trump Promises Tax Cut “For Christmas”
In 1916, in a letter to David Lloyd George’s daughter, Winston Churchill admitted: Can Trump be considered the moral equivalent of World War One in terms of the mayhem he has wrought upon civilised notions of the way the world should be? Probably not, but the damage he has caused is nonetheless considerable.
EU Leaders Agree to Move Brexit Talks onto Next Stage
EU leaders have announced that Brexit talks can move onto discussing the long-term relationship between the EU and the UK, including security and trade. In a two-day summit, the 27 EU leaders said sufficient progress had been made between EU negotiators and the UK government for Brexit talks to move onto the second phase. EU President Donald Tusk tweeted the news following the summit in Brussels. He also congratulated Theresa May on getting the negotiations to this stage.
Breakfast Briefing: Disney Buys 21st Century Fox and Snap’s Studio
Disney has bought assets in Rupert Murdoch’s empire in a deal worth $66bn. Editor’s Remarks: 86 year-old Rupert Murdoch is set to rapidly downsize his business holdings by selling 21st Century Fox to Disney. Before the sale goes ahead, Murdoch’s Fox News will complete its planned acquisition of the 61% Sky that the company does not already own. Once complete, Sky will join other Murdoch assets such as Hollywood studio 21st Century Fox in Disney’s expanding portfolio.
Bulletproof Clothing: How US Fashion Is Going Ballistic
As the US continues to allow civilians to carry weapons and gun violence becomes more of a concern, an increasing number of bulletproof apparel retailers are emerging across the country. Their target clients? The average Joe. Or at least those who can afford the hefty price tags associated with the “exotic” new fashion segment. Miguel Caballero, a Colombian designer, sells his bulletproof blazers for 4,343.50 euros, and his tank tops for 2,023 euros.
Japanese Startup Ispace Raises $90m
President Donald Trump has further instructed the State Department to begin the process of moving its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, with Rex Tillerson also engaging other countries to join in relocating. In yet another bombshell, the President of the United States unleashed a wave of condemnation across the world.
Walt Disney Will Buy 21st Century Fox for $52.4bn
This graph show how prices have changed since the midnight December 7th with prices at that point being rebased to 100 Prices as of 11:59 PM UTC 13/12/17 (Source: coinmarketcap) The cryptocurrency market has seen another week of volatility. Litecoin’s market cap has increased by over 200% as it becomes a popular alternative to bitcoin, as the latter has faced fears of increased regulation. XRP has also been riding the wave, seeing a 50% price hike from last week.
Telegram Is Not for Sale
Google will be opening its first artificial intelligence (AI) research centre in China, despite many of its services being blocked there. “I believe AI and its benefits have no borders. Whether a breakthrough occurs in Silicon Valley, Beijing or anywhere else, it has the potential to make everyone’s life better for the entire world. As an AI first company, this is an important part of our collective mission.
China’s Central Bank Reacts to Federal Reserve Rate Rise
President Donald Trump has further instructed the State Department to begin the process of moving its embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv, with Rex Tillerson also engaging other countries to join in relocating. In yet another bombshell, the President of the United States unleashed a wave of condemnation across the world.
Cryptocurrency as Collateral for Loans: Risky Business?
A growing number of early cryptocurrency adopters, who have seen astronomical gains, will now be able to use their cryptocurrencies as collateral for loans. London-based Nebeus are helping third-party lenders create loans guaranteed by cryptocurrency collateral. The company created 100 of these loans on its first day and has made 1,000 more since says Nebeus’ Managing Director Konstantin Zaripov.
Crypto Briefing: Bitcoin Futures, Scams and ICOs
This graph show how prices have changed since the midnight December 7th with prices at that point being rebased to 100 Prices as of 11:59 PM UTC 13/12/17 (Source: coinmarketcap) The cryptocurrency market has seen another week of volatility. Litecoin’s market cap has increased by over 200% as it becomes a popular alternative to bitcoin, as the latter has faced fears of increased regulation. XRP has also been riding the wave, seeing a 50% price hike from last week.
SALT - A Technology Bringing New Opportunities?
One goes to a bank, asks to take out a loan, but is denied – bitcoin is not accepted as collateral. Given its price fluctuations, it seems natural that a bank declines such a request. Then comes SALT (Secure Automated Lending Technology) – the “first asset-backed lending platform to give blockchain asset holders access to liquidity without them having to sell their tokens”.
South Korea Bitcoin Regulation on The Horizon
One goes to a bank, asks to take out a loan, but is denied – bitcoin is not accepted as collateral. Given its price fluctuations, it seems natural that a bank declines such a request. Then comes SALT (Secure Automated Lending Technology) – the “first asset-backed lending platform to give blockchain asset holders access to liquidity without them having to sell their tokens”.
A Deal Looks Likely for Disney’s Fox Takeover
Disney is on the cusp of confirming a deal to buy most of 21st Century Fox in a $60bn deal, reports claim. The sale would see Disney acquire 20th Century Fox film studios as well as Sky and Star satellite broadcasts in the UK, Asia and Europe, according to the BBC. 21st Century Fox would retain broadcasting network Fox News and Fox Sports 1.
Indian Tax Authorities Swoop in on Bitcoin Exchanges
One goes to a bank, asks to take out a loan, but is denied – bitcoin is not accepted as collateral. Given its price fluctuations, it seems natural that a bank declines such a request. Then comes SALT (Secure Automated Lending Technology) – the “first asset-backed lending platform to give blockchain asset holders access to liquidity without them having to sell their tokens”.
Indian Tax Authorities Swoop in on Bitcoin Exchanges
One goes to a bank, asks to take out a loan, but is denied – Bitcoin is not accepted as collateral. Given its price fluctuations, it seems natural that a bank declines such a request. Then comes SALT (Secure Automated Lending Technology) – the “first asset-backed lending platform to give blockchain asset holders access to liquidity without them having to sell their tokens”.
ExxonMobil under Shareholder Pressure
Disney is on the cusp of confirming a deal to buy most of 21st Century Fox in a $60bn deal, reports claim. The sale would see Disney acquire 20th Century Fox film studios as well as Sky and Star satellite broadcasts in the UK, Asia and Europe, according to the BBC. 21st Century Fox would retain broadcasting network Fox News and Fox Sports 1.
UK Gas Prices Surge Following Deadly Austrian Explosion
Gas prices have soared to their highest level since 2013, following an explosion at a natural gas hub in Austria, which threatened supplies already affected by a closed North Sea pipeline. The blast, at Austria’s Baumgarten import hub, happened at around 9 a.m. and left at least 18 people dead. This interrupted flows at one of the main points where Russian natural gas enters Europe. This follows two days of snow in London and cold temperatures elsewhere in Europe.
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