Spring, then fall: a weakened Muslim Brotherhood

This section explores the history and current challenges faced by the Muslim Brotherhood. Originally founded as a social and political movement based on Islamic values, it rose to prominence during the Arab Spring, gaining political power in countries like Egypt and Tunisia. However, autocratic backlash, including coups and repression, significantly weakened the organization. Key figures are either imprisoned or exiled, and the leadership has become fragmented, with a reduced ideological coherence. Despite these setbacks, the fundamental appeal of the Brotherhood—focused on Arab dignity and social welfare—remains significant, which suggests it could potentially recover if circumstances change.

This section discusses the common perceptions of safety in Europe and the US, especially as depicted on social media, with contrasting views of Europe as chaotic and dangerous and the US as gun-ridden and violent. Due to the complexity of crime data collection—differences in definitions, reporting cultures, and city sizes—a straightforward comparison is difficult. A study by James Franchum, utilizing standardized data across 20 major cities, reveals that Chicago has the highest murder rate, significantly above European cities like Barcelona. Conversely, New York, over 35 years, has seen a 90% decline in homicides and now resembles a relatively safe European city. Overall, most cities worldwide are becoming safer, and trends show a decline in violent crime.

This part covers the rapid growth of paddle, also known as padel, as one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide. Originating in Mexico and spreading through Spain and Argentina, it has gained a large following in Britain, with a dramatic increase in courts and players—from 87 courts and 15,000 players to over 2,000 courts and around 1 million players. The sport is characterized by its easy learning curve, social atmosphere, and potential for commercial growth. Discussions include the sport's ambitions to become an Olympic event and its appeal relative to tennis and squash. The commentary also touches on issues of accessibility and the sport's elitist perception, along with the potential for money-making and expanding the sport’s reach worldwide.