Sunday Tribune 2025-01-05

With the festive season behind us, many are turning towards Dry January as a means to detox and reset their bodies. The challenge of abstaining from alcohol for an entire month can be daunting, yet it presents a tremendous opportunity to explore and savour new culinary delights. What is Dry January? Dry January is a public health campaign that urges people to abstain from alcohol for the month. This initiative began as a small campaign in the UK but has since gained widespread momentum with people from all walks of life in every corner of the globe participating on an annual basis. Research has shown that alcohol, even in small amounts, is bad for your health. It can lower the quality of your sleep, impair sexual function and increase your…

As the calendar flips to a new year, it’s that time again – resolutions are on everyone’s minds. From learning a new skill to hitting the gym, many people are eager to make lifestyle changes that boost confidence and improve health. Among the most popular resolutions? Dieting and weight loss. According to a survey by Elliptical, 71% of respondents planned to eat healthier, 65% aimed to exercise more, and 54% wanted to lose weight in the coming year. These goals often stem from a desire to start fresh and take control of one’s health, but the journey isn’t always easy. While motivation runs high in January, research shows that many people abandon their plans within a few months. Why? Short-term plans that promise quick fixes often fail because they require…

In an interesting turn of events, nearly 30 percent of global travellers are opting to vacation with “frolleagues” – friends who also happen to be colleagues, according to Hilton’s Annual Travel Trends Report. This intriguing social shift suggests that the bond between work and leisure is evolving, with predictions that frolleague trips will be among the top travel trends of 2025. But what is propelling this surge in co-worker getaways? Jan Luescher, CEO of the travel social network ASMALLWORLD, offers some compelling insights into the driving forces behind this intriguing phenomenon. A blend of business and pleasure The rise of frolleague travel can be traced back to the broader concept of bleisure travel, a term reflecting trips that intertwine business obligations with leisure activities. Luescher said that thanks to…

Fans of Umjolo: Gone Girl wasted little time in watching Umjolo: Days Ones, the second offering in the four-part film collection on Netflix. Stained Glass, an award-winning production company, continues to prove its Midas touch by holding a mirror to the challenges in modern relationships, unpacking the cultural struggles of an interracial couple, friendship, infidelity and self-love. The new offering asks the question that has resulted in heated debates for the longest time: Can a man and woman be platonic friends? The film centres on Zanele (Sibusisiwe Jili) and Andile (Kay Sibiya). They have been each other’s ride-or-die since they were in school. Initially, their friendship didn’t sit well with Andile’s wife, Jessica (Trix Vivier). However, Jessica was reassured by her husband that they were just friends. Two little girls…

The Christmas Day and New Year’s Day babies are exposing a grim reality: the rise and normalisation of teenage pregnancy. According to Health Systems Trust, 30% of teenage girls fall pregnant, and 65% of these pregnancies are unplanned. What these pregnancies conceal are the statutory rape cases that should be reported by the victims and also by teachers, parents or relatives. In Seshego, Limpopo, a 28-year-old man was arrested on the charge of statutory rape after a 13-year-old girl gave birth at Seshego Hospital on Christmas Day. The swift response of the SAPS members is highly commended. The 13-year-old was among 570 mothers who gave birth that day. On New Year’s Day, South Africa welcomed 1 448 babies. A 12-year-old girl from the Eastern Cape was among those that gave…

UKRAINE’S ill-advised stoppage of the supply of Russian gas through its territory is aimed at harming the economy of Russia and the international standing of President Vladimir Putin. Against a chorus of appeal from several EU member states for President Volodymyr Zelensky to rethink his controversial decision, Kyiv is thus far showing no appetite for a mutually beneficial resolution. As matters stand, Ukraine is staring down the barrel of a gun with no evidence of a positive move over a deal that Russia, the EU, and the international community would rather see sealed without any further delay. Kyiv’s move will undoubtedly trigger a global spike in the price of gas, as I indicate later. On a grand scale, the move by Kyiv that is aimed at punishing Russia would prove…