They actually call it 'Kanaky'

In this issue, I'm taking you to the insides of South African politics (they're talking about introducing universal healthcare! USA, did you hear me?) and to France's 17.000 km-away-colony, no, territory in the South Pacific, New Caledonia/Kanaky (it's a fight for two different things, either nickel for EV batteries or the self-determination of the Kanak people). Plus, two movie-like escapes by two individuals who (I'm sure) we will watch movies about in the coming years, a Palestinian photographer in Berlin, an Oscar-nominated short doc about Taiwan's 'identity crisis', plenty of good news from all over, and so much more.

South Africa is talking about universal healthcare

What happened:
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa just approved a big change in healthcare.

Why this matters:
This is the most significant since apartheid ended 30 years ago. As of today, only about 14% of South Africans can afford private healthcare, while the rest depend on the overburdened public system.

Tell me more:
President Ramaphosa has signed a law that will set up universal healthcare. It's called the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme. While it means healthcare for everyone, the main opposition party isn't happy. They think it'll be too costly and could lead to corruption. Unlike in some places like the UK, once this NHI covers certain health services, you won't be able to use private health insurance for them anymore. This is a big deal because it changes how everyone in South Africa will get medical care. The government says this will make healthcare better and cheaper, but not everyone agrees.

Why now?
President Ramaphosa believes the NHI will help fight poverty by making healthcare more affordable, so families can spend their money on other essential needs. He's pushing this as a major promise to voters, especially with elections coming up. He wants to end what he sees as healthcare inequality --- great healthcare for the rich and poor healthcare for the poor.

• Good to know: On May 29, nearly 28 million South African registered voters have the chance to elect representatives to the national and provincial parliaments. It will be the country's seventh democratic general election.

How will NHI be paid for?
The money for the NHI will come from taxes, and from higher earners and workers paying into the fund. Exactly how much everyone will have to pay isn't clear yet.

So what happens next?
The opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, plans to fight this law in court. They support universal healthcare but think the NHI plan will ruin both private and public health sectors. Plus, some analysts say the NHI just won't work, like Investec Healthcare Equity Analyst Letlotlo Lenake. "Having 5 million taxpayers financing the healthcare needs of 60 million people does not make any sense," he said to Investec Focus Podcast 'No Ordinary Wednesday'. The government and its critics are likely to end up in a big legal battle over this. And, even if the Constitutional Court gives the green light, this isn't going to stand tall on Day One -- not least because the government will first have to come up with the money to finance it.

France wants to change who can vote in local elections in New Caledonia/Kanaky

What happened:
In New Caledonia/Kanaky, a French territory in the Pacific (yes, 17.000 km away), there's been a lot of unrest and protests for a week now. At least five people have died as a result. The protests began because of a new law about who can vote in local elections.

Why this matters:
"#NewCaledonia is usually invisible in the international media, except for tourism ads promoting "a little bit of France in the South Pacific'", writes Nic Mclellan, correspondent for Islands Business Magazine. New Caledonia/Kanaky has been French territory since colonization in the late 1800s. Centuries on, the island's politics is about whether they should stay with France, gain more autonomy, or become fully independent. For Kanaky, this is about a self-determination struggle against French colonialism. For France, this unrest is significant as New Caledonia/Kanaky is a key producer of nickel, vital for electric vehicle batteries.

Tell me more:
The French government says the new voting laws are about maintaining democracy, but the indigenous Kanak people see it as a threat to their voting influence, given they make up about 40% of the population.

• Dig deeper: Radio New Zealand (RNZ) dedicated an entire Saturday Morning with Nic Mclellan with enough time to start unpacking the many complex drivers of conflict. Listen here. On Twitter, Nic also shared that 'The Pacific' program on ABC News in Australia has captured striking images of the destruction in Nouméa (capital), with the voices of shocked residents, business owners and protestors. Watch here.

What now?
France has sent over 600 police officers to restore order, declared a state of emergency, and even banned TikTok in the region due to security concerns. Even with a curfew from 6 PM to 6 AM, the situation is still tense, and the local mayor says things are not getting better. The violence has resulted in several deaths and injuries, and it's causing a lot of damage and fear among the people.

• Good to know: There are some Azerbaijani flags at the protests in New Caledonia/Kanaky. France has therefore accused Azerbaijan of interfering by supporting local independence movements and spreading false information. Why might Azerbaijan do this? Well, France formally supports their 'arch enemy' Armenia. Azerbaijan has denied the allegations. Beware: This is...