# opinion & analysis (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 4 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover opinion & analysis. Page: Feed: --- ## [The making of Budism Couture](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/lifestyle/2026-08-21-the-making-of-budism-couture/) _2026-08-21 · Jennifer Krug · SundayTimes_ Inside the Bree Street atelier quietly creating couture for clients around the world ## [Questions raised over Zinn’s consulting ties at Spar and Spur](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/business/2026-08-21-questions-raised-over-zinns-consulting-ties-at-spar-and-spur/) _2026-08-21 · Nompilo Zulu · SundayTimes_ Independence as a nonexecutive director scrutinised due to her shareholding in Tuesday Consulting, an executive search firm engaged by Spar and, in an unpaid capacity, by Spur ## [Inside the plan to push South Africa’s growth past 3%](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/business/2026-08-21-inside-the-plan-to-push-south-africas-growth-past-3/) _2026-08-21 · Thando Maeko · SundayTimes_ Partnership expands to target over 3% annual economic growth with focus on mining, tourism, infrastructure and agriculture ## [Record 910,000 cars pass through Transnet ports in a year](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/news/2026-08-21-record-910000-cars-pass-through-transnet-ports-in-a-year/) _2026-08-21 · Kabelo Khumalo · SundayTimes_ Cheaper Asian brands have flooded South Africa, resulting in more activity at the country’s ports ## [EXPLAINER | Can the ANC’s mayoral candidates overcome a damaged party brand?](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-08-21-explainer-can-the-ancs-mayoral-candidates-overcome-a-damaged-party-brand/) _2026-08-21 · Koena Mashale · SundayTimes_ Party battles declining reputation as internal strife and scandals mount ## [MARK KEOHANE | Series opener is everything to the All Blacks and just the start for the Boks](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/sport/2026-08-21-mark-keohane-series-opener-is-everything-to-the-all-blacks-and-just-the-start-for-the-boks/) _2026-08-21 · Mark Keohane · SundayTimes_ With the world’s top two teams possessing opposite rugby identities and both selecting their strongest combinations, Saturday’s game at Ellis Park promises to be the closest and most compelling of the four Tests ## [TOM EATON | Now that Jacinta and Kallie are thick as thieves, the soft launch is loud](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/opinion-and-analysis/2026-08-21-tom-eaton-now-that-jacinta-and-kallie-are-thick-as-thieves-the-soft-launch-is-loud/) _2026-08-21 · Tom Eaton · SundayTimes_ March and March leader is still talking about South Africa as a single unit, but once you start entertaining segregated universities, it’s not a leap to segregated schools and then states, writes Tom Eaton ## [EDITORIAL | No politician is coming to save Johannesburg](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/opinion-and-analysis/opinion/2026-08-21-editorial-no-politician-is-coming-to-save-johannesburg/) _2026-08-21 · Sunday Times Editorial · SundayTimes_ Institutional decay and coalition politics leave no room for quick fixes ## [Erasmus delves into minutiae as he plots Bok series victory against All Blacks](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/sport/2026-08-21-erasmus-delves-into-minutiae-as-he-plots-bok-series-victory-against-all-blacks/) _2026-08-21 · David Isaacson · SundayTimes_ ‘The pressure is certainly on. It’s a massive, massive Test series and how we start is very important’ ## [Ze Nxumalo fights back as Steve Motsumi moves to wind up his property empire](https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/news/2026-08-21-ze-nxumalo-fights-back-as-steve-motsumi-moves-to-wind-up-his-property-empire/) _2026-08-21 · Mduduzi Nonyane · SundayTimes_ Affidavit reveals rift between politically linked businessmen as multimillion-rand dispute unfolds ## [Open directory of blogs for agents (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/AltWPmN1hVYL) _2026-08-21 · **Sponsored**_ Submit URLs or OPML; receive feed pages with summaries, plus JSON/OPML/plain text ## [Ties of blood: The afterlife of Syria’s jihadist networks from Aleppo to Berlin](https://syriadirect.org/ties-of-blood-the-afterlife-of-syrias-jihadist-networks-from-aleppo-to-berlin/) _2026-08-20 · Tam Hussein · Syria Direct_ Ballout’s story reveals how Syria’s jihadist networks endure across generations, as Europe confronts their ideological legacy and Syria faces signs of renewed interest in Islamic State among disaffected youth. The post Ties of blood: The afterlife of Syria’s jihadist networks from Aleppo to Berlin appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [The Hidden Risk in Data Transfer](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/19/the-hidden-risk-in-data-transfer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-hidden-risk-in-data-transfer) _2026-08-19 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ Cybersecurity has become one of the most defining business challenges of recent times. Organisations have invested heavily in protecting their networks, securing cloud environments and strengthening identity and access management. At the same time, organisations are under increasing pressure to prove they are handling sensitive information securely, not just storing it safely but protecting it \[…\]… ## [Fake Crypto Exec Used Booby-Trapped Google Doc to Target Security Researcher After DEF CON](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/19/fake-crypto-exec-used-booby-trapped-google-doc-to-target-security-researcher-after-def-con/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=fake-crypto-exec-used-booby-trapped-google-doc-to-target-security-researcher-after-def-con) _2026-08-19 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ A threat actor impersonating a senior executive at a well-known cryptocurrency media outlet attempted to infect a Huntress researcher with malware in the days following this year’s Black Hat and DEF CON conferences, according to new research from the security vendor. The campaign began on X (formerly Twitter), where an account impersonating the executive sent \[…\] The post Fake Crypto Exec Used… ## [Education Now the World’s Most-Attacked Sector as Cybercriminals Gear Up for Back-to-School](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/19/education-cyberattacks-back-to-school/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=education-cyberattacks-back-to-school) _2026-08-19 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ Education has overtaken every other industry to become the most targeted sector for cyberattacks worldwide, according to new research from Check Point, with threat actors ramping up activity in the run-up to the new academic year. Between January and July 2026, schools, colleges, universities and research institutes faced an average of 4,696 weekly cyberattacks per \[…\] The post Education Now the… ## [Premier League Introduces Mandatory Cybersecurity Standards, Backed by Fines of Up to £100,000](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/19/premier-league-cybersecurity-requirements/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=premier-league-cybersecurity-requirements) _2026-08-19 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ The Premier League has introduced mandatory cybersecurity requirements for its clubs for the first time, with non-compliant clubs facing fines of up to £100,000. The rules, which apply from the start of the 2026-27 season, mark a shift away from the league’s previous non-prescriptive security guidance towards a formal framework with fixed deadlines and evidence-based \[…\] The post Premier League… ## [Why compliance does not guarantee cyber resilience](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/19/why-compliance-does-not-guarantee-cyber-resilience/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-compliance-does-not-guarantee-cyber-resilience) _2026-08-19 · Lara Joseph · IT Security Guru_ Cyber security has become one of the most audited and regulated areas of enterprise technology. Yet an organisation can satisfy every requirement on paper and still discover, during a real incident, that its systems, people or processes are not ready for the pressure that follows. Compliance can demonstrate that controls have been put in place; \[…\] The post Why compliance does not guarantee cyber… ## [Hacker Claims Millions of Records Stolen From Azure Tenants](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/18/hacker-claims-millions-of-records-stolen-from-azure-tenants/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=hacker-claims-millions-of-records-stolen-from-azure-tenants) _2026-08-18 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ A threat actor is claiming to have stolen millions of employee records from the Microsoft Azure environments of several major companies, raising concerns that the information could be used to launch targeted phishing, impersonation, and privilege escalation attacks. The threat actor, known as “TheHatman,” has reportedly posted internal employee directories belonging to companies including… ## [2,000 Hacked WordPress Sites Were Secretly Running a Global Crime Ring](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/18/2000-hacked-wordpress-sites-were-secretly-running-a-global-crime-ring/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=2000-hacked-wordpress-sites-were-secretly-running-a-global-crime-ring) _2026-08-18 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ A newly identified cybercrime operation dubbed StopAndProtect has been quietly running its entire criminal infrastructure through close to 2,000 hacked WordPress websites, according to new research from Check Point. Rather than relying on dedicated command-and-control servers, which are relatively easy for defenders to identify and take down, the group behind StopAndProtect compromised thousands… ## [International Cyber Expo Unveils New Talks for its Global Cyber Summit 2026](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/18/international-cyber-expo-2026-new-talks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=international-cyber-expo-2026-new-talks) _2026-08-18 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ International Cyber Expo has announced a new line-up of speakers and sessions for its Global Cyber Summit, with discussions set to tackle some of the biggest issues facing cybersecurity leaders. Sponsored by Huntress, the Global Cyber Summit will bring together senior security professionals, government representatives and industry experts at Olympia London on 29 and 30 \[…\] The post International… ## [Proton launches free tool to show enterprises what ChatGPT and Claude know about employees](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/18/proton-launches-free-tool-to-show-enterprises-what-chatgpt-and-claude-know-about-employees/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=proton-launches-free-tool-to-show-enterprises-what-chatgpt-and-claude-know-about-employees) _2026-08-18 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ Privacy-focused tech company Proton has launched a free tool designed to show users exactly what large language models such as ChatGPT and Claude have learned about them from months or years of conversation history, a capability that speaks directly to the shadow AI problem now facing enterprise security teams. The tool, called AI Paper Trail, \[…\] The post Proton launches free tool to show… ## [A Friend Gave You $30 (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/BPzpY9wFyzHj) _2026-08-18 · **Sponsored**_ Sign up, deposit $5 within 30 days, and start investing with expert guidance. ## [Syria’s wells run dry, old grievances run deep](https://syriadirect.org/syrias-wells-run-dry-old-grievances-run-deep/) _2026-08-16 · Natacha Danon · Syria Direct_ A water dispute outside Damascus is testing Syria’s new authorities as worsening shortages, competing local demands and grievances inherited from Assad-era governance collide in two neighboring towns. The post Syria’s wells run dry, old grievances run deep appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [The 80% Problem: Why AI resilience is more important than ever](https://www.itsecurityguru.org/2026/08/14/the-80-problem-why-ai-resilience-is-more-important-than-ever/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-80-problem-why-ai-resilience-is-more-important-than-ever) _2026-08-14 · Guru Writer · IT Security Guru_ AI has been transformational for the workplace, saving time on repetitive tasks and freeing skilled staff to focus on higher-value work. It has become so embedded in organisations that ISACA’s research recently found that 82% of European companies expressly permit the use of AI at work. However, there is a difference between using AI and \[…\] The post The 80% Problem: Why AI resilience is more… ## [Rushed justice won’t bury Syria’s past](https://syriadirect.org/rushed-justice-wont-bury-syrias-past/) _2026-08-13 · Robin Yassin-Kassab · Syria Direct_ Syria’s death sentences may satisfy a thirst for justice, but rushed verdicts cannot substitute for accountability, truth-telling and the long, difficult work of confronting the crimes of the Assad era. The post Rushed justice won’t bury Syria’s past appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [The Plunder of Syria: Syria’s greatest archaeological losses came after IS](https://syriadirect.org/the-plunder-of-syria-syrias-greatest-archaeological-losses-came-after-is/) _2026-08-10 · Tam Hussein · Syria Direct_ A new study reveals how Syria’s antiquities became a currency of war, as widespread looting devastated archaeological sites and the country now seeks to reclaim its heritage through reconstruction. The post The Plunder of Syria: Syria’s greatest archaeological losses came after IS appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [The Road to Nowhere: How the Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Highway Became a National Disgrace](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/zimbabwe/531991-the-road-to-nowhere-how-the-bulawayo-to-victoria-falls-highway-became-a-national-disgrace.html) _2026-08-06 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ The Bulawayo to Victoria Falls Highway is no longer simply another delayed government project; it has devolved into a towering monument to state incompetence. As the primary artery connecting Zimbabwe’s southern industrial hub to its undisputed tourism capital, this road should be a crowning infrastructural achievement. Instead, it is a national disgrace, severely crippling one \[…\] ## [From Exile to Damascus: Our new chapter begins](https://syriadirect.org/from-exile-to-damascus-our-new-chapter-begins/) _2026-08-06 · Malik al-Abdeh · Syria Direct_ Syria Direct is coming home. After years in exile in Amman and Berlin, it is returning to Syria and evolving into a multi-format media development organization built for the country's next chapter. The post From Exile to Damascus: Our new chapter begins appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [Air Zimbabwe’s first six flights: what the numbers actually show](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/business/531987-air-zimbabwes-first-six-flights-what-the-numbers-actually-show.html) _2026-08-01 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika Air Zimbabwe says it carried a total of 637 passengers across its first six A330-300 flights. With each aircraft configured for 302 passengers, those six flights offered a combined capacity of 1,812 seats. This means the average number of passengers per flight was 106.2, giving an overall load factor of approximately 35.2%. \[…\] ## [CAB3 Is Now Law: Zimbabwe Did Not Just Lose a Constitutional Battle, It Exposed Its Own Apathy](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/zimbabwe/531983-cab3-is-now-law-zimbabwe-did-not-just-lose-a-constitutional-battle-it-exposed-its-own-apathy.html) _2026-07-07 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed CAB3 into law. We expected this to happen. ZANU-PF wanted it, ZANU-PF pushed it, ZANU-PF dressed it in constitutional language, and ZANU-PF has now delivered what it always intended to deliver. The gymnastics around words such as “constitutionalism”, “amendment”, “reform” and “legal process” were never convincing. This \[…\] ## [‘Waiting for chaos’: IS adapts under pressure, betting on the failure of Syria’s transition](https://syriadirect.org/waiting-for-chaos-is-adapts-under-pressure-betting-on-the-failure-of-syrias-transition/) _2026-07-01 · Walid Al Nofal · Syria Direct_ Harried by government security campaigns, IS appears unable to regain territorial control in Syria, instead working to maintain visibility through limited operations while betting on the failure of the country’s transition. The post ‘Waiting for chaos’: IS adapts under pressure, betting on the failure of Syria’s transition appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [Outside the plan: Urban growth outpaces roads and services in Daraa](https://syriadirect.org/outside-the-plan-urban-growth-outpaces-roads-and-services-in-daraa/) _2026-06-30 · Walid Al Nofal · Syria Direct_ Driven by high property prices, Daraa residents are building homes beyond the planned boundaries of cities and towns, creating new neighborhoods without basic infrastructure and presenting already overstretched municipalities with a dilemma. The post Outside the plan: Urban growth outpaces roads and services in Daraa appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [Every Channel. One Login. (Sponsored)](https://crawlproof.com/a/bG8YZAniyzQs) _2026-06-30 · **Sponsored**_ 17,000+ live channels, movies and sports on any device. Free trial, no IP lock. ## [The living and the dead return home to Afrin](https://syriadirect.org/the-living-and-the-dead-return-home-to-afrin/) _2026-06-24 · Salam Ali · Syria Direct_ The living and the dead are coming home to Afrin as displaced families return with the remains of their loved ones, fulfilling a long-held wish to lay them to rest in their native soil. The post The living and the dead return home to Afrin appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [‘A repellent environment’: How Israel is reshaping life in southern Syria](https://syriadirect.org/a-repellent-environment-how-israel-is-reshaping-life-in-southern-syria/) _2026-06-22 · Walid Al Nofal · Syria Direct_ Israeli incursions and violations are making life increasingly untenable in southern Syrian border villages, as residents curtail their movements, suspend reconstruction and investment, and consider leaving if they have alternatives. The post ‘A repellent environment’: How Israel is reshaping life in southern Syria appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [Child recruitment persists despite SDF-Damascus integration agreement](https://syriadirect.org/child-recruitment-persists-despite-sdf-damascus-integration-agreement/) _2026-06-17 · Afrin Muhammad · Syria Direct_ The Revolutionary Youth Movement and Syrian Democratic Forces continue to recruit minors in northeastern Syria, despite past commitments and an integration agreement with Damascus. The post Child recruitment persists despite SDF-Damascus integration agreement appeared first on Syria Direct . ## [Rutendo Benson Matinyarare: Economical with the Truth, Extravagant with the Blame](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/politics/531977-rutendo-benson-matinyarare-economical-with-the-truth-extravagant-with-the-blame.html) _2026-06-02 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika In the grand tradition of Zimbabwean political spin, Rutendo Benson Matinyarare has once again delivered a masterclass in selective storytelling. His recent post celebrating new cancer machines from the Netherlands reads like a victory lap for the anti-sanctions crusade. According to him, these shiny new radiotherapy units arrived solely because Joe Biden \[…\] ## [Mnangagwa’s “King” Delusion: The President Must Be Reminded Who Wears the Crown](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/zimbabwe/531975-mnangagwas-king-delusion-the-president-must-be-reminded-who-wears-the-crown.html) _2026-05-19 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika President Emmerson Mnangagwa has finally said the quiet part out loud. “I don’t go around villages announcing my travels… The king will embark on a trip if his time to travel says so.” In one breath, the man entrusted with leading a constitutional republic exposed the imperial arrogance that has long defined \[…\] ## [The Reversal Reality: Why Zimbabwe’s “Correction” Is a White Flag in Disguise](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/zimbabwe/531971-the-reversal-reality-why-zimbabwes-correction-is-a-white-flag-in-disguise.html) _2026-05-13 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika For decades, the word “irreversible” was the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s land reform politics. It was used as a shield against international criticism, a rallying cry for sovereignty, and a warning to anyone who questioned the legality or consequences of the land seizures that began in 2000. Yet in May 2026, Agriculture Minister \[…\] ## [The “Correction” Myth: Zimbabwe’s Quiet Reversal of the Land Reform Legacy](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/news/531965-the-correction-myth-zimbabwes-quiet-reversal-of-the-land-reform-legacy.html) _2026-05-08 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika For decades, the Zimbabwean government framed land as the “vessel” through which the historical wrongs of colonialism would be righted. It was the ultimate revolutionary pillar, an irreversible transfer of wealth from a white minority to the black majority. However, recent announcements in May 2026 have signalled a profound shift that the \[…\] ## [The Chiwenga Dilemma: Power, Factions, and the “Civilianisation” Trap](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/opinion-analysis/531955-the-chiwenga-dilemma-power-factions-and-the-civilianisation-trap.html) _2026-04-30 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika The prevailing narrative of a simple binary struggle between President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Constantino Chiwenga misses the structural complexity of ZANU-PF. Chiwenga’s inability to simply “take” power or halt the Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB3) is not merely a lack of will; it is a result of a sophisticated \[…\] ## [WHAT DOES A BATTERY OUTDOOR POWER TOOL REALLY COST TO OWN?](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/business/531952-what-does-a-battery-outdoor-power-tool-really-cost-to-own.html) _2026-04-29 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ As battery-powered outdoor tools continue to evolve alongside petrol equipment, buyers have more choice than ever – and for most, the price tag is usually the first place they look. That makes sense. The upfront cost matters. But, according to Alec Philp, Director at Cutting Edge, it should only be one consideration when making a \[…\] ## [The “Doctor” Delusion – How ZANU-PF’s Fake Degrees Subjugate Zimbabwe](https://thezimbabwedaily.com/zimbabwe/531948-the-doctor-delusion-how-zanu-pfs-fake-degrees-subjugate-zimbabwe.html) _2026-04-20 · Samuel Musarika · The Zimbabwe Daily_ By Samuel Musarika In the hallowed silence of the National Heroes Acre, names are etched in granite, preceded by a title that once commanded absolute reverence: “Doctor.” But as we peel back the layers of Zimbabwe’s ruling elite, a troubling pattern emerges. The title “Doctor” is no longer earned in the libraries of Oxford or \[…\]