 We are pleased to present to you the third edition of the "Jornal Búfalo", which we have slightly renamed "Revista Búfalo" (Buffalo Magazine) to be more inclusive (through a variety of text types and "voices/perspectives").
This edition's slogan is "mais do que revista, a voz dos búfalos", which reflects what the Portuguese lessons aim to achieve: for students to express their ideas, thoughts and feelings through different ways of representing knowledge. I am sure you will love the pieces and games suggested by the students, and you will certainly see how engaged the students are through the way they have written their pieces. There is a plan in the works to eventually sell printed versions of the Revista Buffalo as a fund raiser. The Portuguese department would be happy to accept Generate funds for Nossa Senhora dos Desamparados Adult Center or Chiango Library Project
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Scientists at a Zimbabwean national park have been experimenting with how using animal DNA can be a potential breakthrough for anti-poaching activities. Can this be the new solution to poaching? Can it be scalable? By Tiago  Photo by Birger Strahl on Unsplash Before now, scientists have been, for example, cutting rhino horns off which was an effective way to keep poachers from killing rhinos, though poachers still killed the rhinos for even that little bit of the horn. Scientists have also used AI and put collars on big cats to track them and keep them safe. However, poachers have still found ways to poach specific animals. But things are changing. Recently, two poachers were convicted thanks to new DNA technology and this might just be the beginning. Scientist Simon Dures from the Edinburgh CONSERVATION FILM FESTIVAL works to prevent lion poaching by getting lion DNA and putting it into a genetic database, as well as finding other parts of lions in different parts of the country and testing to see if it is one of their lions. If it is, then they with track down the poachers because they will be able to identify them hopefully. Dures says, “before we had access to this technology, we were only able to do species identification, but sometimes that's not enough.”  Photo by MJH SHIKDER on Unsplash Dures also says that “we can essentially match claws or those products to the lion of interest that we are looking for.” This emphasizes the part of lions that people are interested in and would keep and sell for money. Lion parts are worth a lot of money, mainly due to booming and often illegal international trade. Dures' team finds the parts of the lions on sale and who sold it to them. Using the genetic databases they take the lion parts that they have found and they use the lion DNA profiling databases to see if one of their lions from their park have been poached.  Photo by sam aghili on Unsplash This has only started in the national park in Zimbabwe but it will slowly move worldwide and be used in many different countries. This approach of preventing poaching is new and a more advanced way of exposing poachers by using features that identify specific animals. These genetic databases are likely to be used for other endangered animals in the future; for example, rhinos, elephants etc. How far can scientists take the technology and will it finally be the thing that discourages the people who poach these precious animals?
We all know that El Clasico ( Barcelona vs Real Madrid) is one of the greatest rivalries of all time but do you know how it got here? By Anoosha  https://flic.kr/p/nkXrNa Well, first of all, there’s a huge political backdrop so it’s not just two football clubs hating each other for no reason. There’s a really deep political background to it. Before Spain formed they were just different territories, One of them was named Madrid around Castille in central Spain and another was called Catalonia. Barcelona FC became the biggest club in Catalonia and Real Madrid the biggest club in their region. Catalonia is different from other parts of Spain, with its own language, culture, legal system, police force, and a long-standing political movement for independence. Many people in Catalonia wanted and want to keep their identity separate, and some even wanted full independence. Because of this, FC Barcelona became more than just a football club; it became a symbol of Catalan pride and culture. A lot of fans see the team as a way to express who they are. On the other hand, Real Madrid was and is often seen as representing the Spanish government and the idea of a united Spain. This became even stronger during the time of Francisco Franco, who ruled Spain for many years. During his rule, the Catalan language and culture were not allowed, so the Barcelona stadium became a place where people could still show their identity. Because of all this, matches between Barcelona and Real Madrid weren’t just about football anymore, they were about politics, identity, and pride. Every game felt like a battle between two completely different sides of Spain. If we go even more to the past, from 1808-1814 a strong French leader called Napoleon Bonaparte took over Spain.  Peter Fitzgerald, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons He went so far that he even replaced the king with his own brother, which made many people in Spain furious. Because of this, a serious war started called the Peninsular War. During this period of time, people from a lot of different parts of Spain had to fight to protect their homes and their way of life. Which is why many regions started feeling even more proud of who they were and wanted independence. After the war ended, Spain was free again, but people still didn’t always agree with each other. Different regions had their own ideas, cultures and traditions and wanted to be treated differently. Later on, when football became more and more popular, all of these old roots of history didn’t just disappear. They slowly became part of the rivalry between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, which is why their matches are still so intense today. There was also a very famous player called Luis Figo, who played for Barcelona and then went to play for Madrid leaving the fans betrayed. He decided to come back to Barcelona with a Real Madrid jersey on and many fans started throwing all sorts of things at him: water bottles, shoes, napkins, garbage etc. as a form of disrespect because in the eyes of every fan he had betrayed the whole club itself. Yes, both the clubs are from the same country, but there’ are many differences between them. Real Madrid players are often about speed, power, and scoring fast. However, Barcelona players are often about passing, control, and working together as a team. For example, for Real Madrid, a player like Vinícius Jr. can just simply get the ball and run past defenders really fast. Jude Bellingham shows up in the perfect place a lot which helps him to score important goals. And players like Kylian Mbappé can change the game in a few seconds because they are so fast and good at scoring. However, at FC Barcelona, it’s different. Pedri likes to keep the ball and pass it to teammates keeping it slow and steady instead of rushing. Gavi runs a lot, tries to win the ball back, and keeps things moving. And Lamine Yamal is very skillful and tries to beat players, but he usually plays with short passes and helps the team work together. So basically, Real Madrid is more about fast runs and quick goals, while Barcelona is more about strategy, passing, keeping the ball, and working as a team until they see a chance to score. Each club has their own style and football identity. Looking to the future, El Clásico will probably stay one of the biggest rivalries in football. Even if players and managers change, the matches will still continue because it is about more than just the teams. New young players will come in and try to make their mark in these big games, and fans will still have strong feelings about every match. Technology might also change how people watch it, with better broadcasts and maybe even more ways to follow the game live. But even with all these changes, the emotion and pressure of El Clásico will most likely stay the same. It will continue to be a match that the entire world watches every year. In the end, people might just see El Clásico like any other rivalry, but it is much deeper than that, going back hundreds of years in Spain’s history and the conflict between regions like Catalonia and Madrid. It is not just about football, but also about pride, identity, and the way people see themselves. Over time, it became more than a match and turned into something that means a lot to both sets of fans. Every game carries emotion, history, and pressure, which is why it is watched all around the world. Even today, El Clásico is still one of the biggest matches in football, highlighting how a rivalry can grow far beyond the sport itself. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) sent out a campaign, with one of their petitions against having horses in the Olympics getting over 80,000 people to sign it. Will the petition manage to stop horse abuse in the Olympics? Or in the wider world? Will equestrian sports continue in the Olympics without the whip? Or will they be completely banned after the cases of abuse on horses during the Paris 2024 Olympics? By Maya  Photo by Gene Devine on Unsplash It is hard to imagine a horse still being abused in 2026, but a photo posted on Instagram of a horse's foot falling off starting at the super fixer tendon flexor claimed not to be clickbait. Several Change.org petitions requesting people to help ban equestrian sports and events have gone around, with some petitions getting over 60,000 signatures. At the end of 2025 a petition wanting to stop the rule of bleeding animals still having to do jumps and runs got over 50,000 people to sign in the first week of release The surge in signatures was primarily triggered by a scandal involving Charlotte Dujardin, a top British Olympian horse rider who was suspended after a video showed her whipping her horse, as well as several other incidents of "unnecessary discomfort" to her horse - Imhotep (nicknamed "Pete") - during the Paris Olympics 2024. Dudjardin was banned from the Olympics until 2032 and charged almost 9000€ for being found misusing her whip and relentlessly whipping her horse and mistreating him. Abuse on her horse gave her serious consequences, which made her realize the wrongs of her actions. "An error of judgement" was how Dujardin expressed the incident and claimed to feel bad for what happened. "What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils. However, there is no excuse,” Dujardin later stated at an interview, claiming she did it without the intention of hurting the horse. While there have been calls and protests against it, as of March 2026 equestrian events are not banned and are confirmed to be on and active during the summer 2028 Olympics. Jumping, eventing, and dressage have been confirmed and have stayed in the Olympics, while horse riding has been banned after the 2024 Olympics in Paris. German horse riding coach Kim Raisner was unable to continue in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics (held in 2021) for punching a horse called Saint Boy during the women's jump show. Raisner was also recorded pressuring rider Annika Schleu to use her whip to smack and beat her horse more during practice and during shows.  Photo by Louise Pilgaard on Unsplash The abuse caused on these horses is just a small fraction of what animals go through each year, with over 1,000,000 animals abused and mistreated. If equestrian sports get banned from the Olympics will it stop them from getting abused? Will the petitions make a difference? Will we make a difference?
The answers to these questions might not come so soon but the one thing we all want to know, Will the Olympics ban equestrian sports for good? Or will all the work people put in be for them to ignore. Problematic teen mental health has been here for over a decade, and became more common during the past few years due to many things like Covid and social media such as TikTok taking a turn in popularity. Now that governments worldwide are realizing that this is a serious issue, will they give it their attention? What will be done to reduce the seriousness of this mental health pandemic? By Demi  Photo by IIONA VIRGIN on Unsplash The decline of teen mental health began around 2010-2012 when social media and smart phones began being used rapidly without any adult supervision. Smartphone ownership became commonplace among young people, providing constant access to social media and roughly 91% of young people began using the internet for social networking during this period, with constant online connection becoming the norm. This period aligned with the rapid adoption of smartphone-based technology, high-speed internet, and social media, which are considered major drivers of this trend. Youth suicide rates began to rise around 2007-2017, escalating by over 50% within that decade, notes the National Institute of Health in the US. The issues were already pronounced before the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, which made them worse. Fitting in often feels like a full-time job, but the constant pressure to please others can quickly lead to burnout and anxiety. When a child feels they have to trade their personality for a seat at the table, their confidence and mental health take the hit. It is an exhausting balancing act that makes it hard to feel okay just being themselves . Suicide rates have been unusually high in Gen Z during the past few years, according to CDC.com and Children's Rights.com. Suicide is a significant concern, being the second leading cause of death for children aged 10–14. Substance use is also notable, with 22% reporting alcohol use and 17% reporting marijuana use in the past 30 days. Depression in minors is very common in the 2020’s. CDC data from 2022–2023 show that about 4% of children aged 3–17 had a current, diagnosed depression, with 3% of males and 6% of females affected. The National Survey of Children’s Health (2023) reported that 8.4% of adolescents (about 1 in 12) had a current, diagnosed depression. This was up from 5.8% in 2016. Females are more likely than males to be diagnosed with depression (10.9% vs. 6.0%).  Photo by Michael Marais on Unsplash The Covid 19 Pandemic (2019-2023) also had a big impact on children's mental health. This specifically was caused by schools being shut down which led to kids and teens being stuck indoors which then resulted in the next big point: turning to social media. According to MottPoll.org, “most parents (73%) report that COVID-19 has had a very or somewhat negative impact on their teen’s ability to interact with their friends. Around half of parents (46%) say they have noticed a new or worsening mental health condition for their teen since the start of the pandemic." TikTok and social media in general was probably one of the biggest reasons for minors, specifically females' mental health crashing country-wide, with all the famous influencers and the more “popular-worthy” habits they show online; like having the perfect body, or wearing makeup every second of the day, or even buying the most expensive clothes for no reason. According to Yalemedicine.org, there is "a higher relative concern of harm in adolescent girls and those already experiencing poor mental health, as well as for particular health outcomes, such as cyberbullying-related depression, body image and disordered eating behaviors, and poor sleep quality linked to social media use.” Google and Meta recently faced a massive legal battle because a 20 year old female, identified as K.G.M, claimed that the companies ruined her mental health by using addictive methods on their platforms . Are these companies really making kids addicted to social media on purpose? Well, the lawsuit said yes, according to nytimes.com: “Meta must pay $4.2 million in combined compensatory and punitive damages, and YouTube must pay $1.8 million.” Nytimes.com also states, “The bellwether case, which was brought by a now 20-year-old woman identified as K.G.M., had accused social media companies of creating products as addictive as cigarettes or digital casinos. Citing features like infinite scroll and algorithmic recommendations, K.G.M. sued Meta, which owns Instagram and Facebook, and Google’s YouTube, claiming they led to anxiety and depression." For many teenagers, the school hallway is not a place of learning but a gauntlet of fear, where a single rumor or cruel comment can damage a young person's sense of self-worth. There are many ways bullying has affected people. Many people on TikTok think that bullying should happen more because it “toughens up” kids, but in reality, it makes kids insecure, depressed, and worse, suicidal.
An example is Aubreigh Wayatt. She was a 13 year old girl from Ocean Springs who died from suicide all because of a few bullies. The story goes farther than you think. Right after she hung herself and died on September 4, 2023, a screenshot was shared by the alleged bullies after Aubreigh’s death, showing a doll with a noose around its neck, which was interpreted as mocking her suicide. Australia recently brought in the world's strictest social media law, prohibiting children under 16 from using platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram to curb cyberbullying, anxiety, and exposure to harmful content. Other countries like the UK are planning to do the same. As 2026 continues, many teenagers are still struggling with serious mental health challenges, and it is not just a passing phase. Recent data shows that about 40% of U.S. high school students still feel sad or hopeless, a statistic that has remained high. Even though more people are talking about mental health, 60% of youth with major depression still do not get the help or treatment they need. It will be interesting to see if these social media bans will affect this trend. Vladyslav Heraskevych got disqualified at the Winter Olympics for honoring athletes who died in the Russia-Ukraine war. This was ultimately a decision of the no politics rule, which is because the Olympics is an event to promote international peace. But what other times have politics mixed with sports and changed the results? By Gavin  Mms.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons 1916 Berlin Olympics. These Olympics were cancelled because of the outbreak of World War One, making it so that those in their prime had to wait and affecting their medal chances in the next Olympics. 1934 World Cup. The 1934 World Cup was held in Italy during the Mussolini fascist dictatorship. He made all the players do the fascist salute. which in turn intimidated rival players; yet another instance where politics affected the results. Rumor suggests that Mussolini chose referees for their matches. More on that here: https://medium.com/@thefootballers 1936 Olympics. The 1936 Summer Olympics were held in Nazi Germany. Originally, there was a motion to start a boycott that was stopped by nazi propaganda. Instead of this, Jewish and colored athletes were advised not to come. The whole Olympics was propaganda to show Jewish families were safe so all prison camp projects were stopped for the duration of the Games. They forced the Olympic teams to do the fascist salute and also used the Olympia Stadian for political rallies at night. Some athletes like Jesse Owens came anyway and were successful.  See page for author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons This image even shows how the Nazis linked things. if someone did this now they wouldn’t be able to host! Because of this history, some people want to tear down the Stadian as “it's hard to remember the terrible things when watching soccer there.” 1940-1944 Olympics. The 1940 Summer and Winter Olympics were to be held in Japan as well as the 1944 Summer and Winter Olympics. The Japanese wanted the Olympics to show their modern cities and to celebrate the 2,600th anniversary of the empire. However, the Games were given up by Japan in 1938 because of the outbreak of the war in the Pacific and outright canceled by the spread of World War II, which is the only time to date that the Olympics have been cancelled, meaning that athletes in their prime then didn’t compete. Iran - USA war The war started a few months ago, and is still going strong after the US-Israeli joint operation, with political tensions rising from the latest drone and missile strikes from Iran. On top of that, Trump has threatened to invade by land. This has been made a global conflict as well because the critical Strait of Hormuz has been blocked, stopping the transportation of 25% of oil and gas globally. With this, there are billions of dollars a day being lost and fear is spreading of more strikes. Could this affect the 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the US in just a few weeks, with the Iran team also ready to play games there? What about the LA Olympics in 2028?  Goran_tek-en, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons With so much political tension, could the next Olympics be canceled by war or worse for the first time since WWII? How could that affect the culture around sports? This is a serious problem being brought to the surface once again.
How people on skis caused terror through the Soviet ranks. By Gowtham  Military Museum of Finland, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 1939, the year when World War 2 started. Well, WW2 wasn’t the only war that started in 1939. In November of that same year, the USSR (Soviet Union) forcefully attacked Finland with all their might and they kept attacking each other until March of the next year. The Soviets won the war and Finland ceded land to them. The odds weren’t that fair at all since Finland had 300,000 soldiers and the Soviets had 450,000 at the start of the war. Near the end the Soviets had over a million soldiers and the Finnish had 450,000. The war started due to Soviet Expansionism, which they called “Reclaiming Former Territories.” Stalin - the Soviet leader at that time - wanted to conquer all of the territories the Russian Empire used to own, but since the Russian Revolution (1917-1923) other countries broke free from them and became independent. Another reason was security for Russia’s second largest city Leningrad since the Finnish border was only 32km (20 miles) away. The Soviets proposed an ultimatum to Finland to cede some territories to “protect” Leningrad, which Finland declined. The war seemingly started when the Finnish “bombed” a Soviet town, which is not true. This was a false flag operation; the Soviets bombed their own town so they had a reason to attack Finland. Now let’s see what tactics both sides used in the war. The original Soviet tactics were overwhelming mass (which were the million soldiers), rapid and conventional assaults where the Soviet infantry kept attacking with swift and powerful assaults, and armored breakthroughs which were possible due to tanks etc.  Peltimikko, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons These tactics failed due to the Finnish tactics which halted the Soviet advances. They used highly mobile and small-unit tactics like ski troops that moved fast in the deep snow. They also used specialized winter gear that helped them not freeze to death and intimate knowledge of the terrain such as hills and forests. They also used guerilla warfare and defensive positions along with strongly fortified areas like the Mannerheim line. A further strategy they used was the Motti encirclement tactics, which involves surrounding an enemy force to cut supply lines and deny retreat. Additionally, they used marksmen/snipers like Simo Häyhä (White Death) - one of the deadliest snipers to exist - ,and German support since they provided equipment to the Finnish army. To overcome these tactics the Soviets came up with new counter-tactics that finished the Finns. The Soviets started a war of attrition where they starved Finns making them weaker. Just so they could have an easier time, the Soviets implemented overwhelming artillery where they kept using artillery to weaken the defensive position. Another tactic they used was air support where the Soviet Air Force bombed the Finns' weakening fortified positions. One more factor the Soviets manipulated was logistical superiority where they had more supplies than the Finns. Skis supported Finnish troops to move quickly and silently in snow and forests, supporting guerrilla tactics, flanking maneuvers, and surprise attacks against armored Soviet forces on the road. With fast moving ski troops, they caused encirclements trapping Soviet forces and causing them to suffer casualties. What were the major battles where the Soviets and Finns fought each other? First, comes the Battle of Suomussalmi (Dec 1939 – Jan 1940): a critical Finnish victory where they destroyed two Soviet divisions, showcasing the effectiveness of Finnish ski troops and guerrilla tactics against superior numbers. After that was the Battle of Summa (Dec 1939 & Feb 1940): situated on the key Karelian Isthmus line (South of Finland). The first battle was a Finnish victory, but the second battle in February saw Soviet forces break through the Mannerheim Line (a key defensive position). The Battle of Vyborg Bay (Mar 1940): the final phase of major fighting, which was a stalemate, before the end of the war which led to Finland losing territories  Ceha, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons After the winter war, Finland attacked the Soviets once again in the continuation war which Finland soon lost, ceding more land. Now in the modern world, Finland strongly reacted to the Russo-Ukrainian war by joining NATO and allowing aid from other nations. Militarily, Finland significantly increased defense spending, accelerated arms procurement, provided multiple defense material packages to Ukraine to fight the war, and strengthened border preparedness from any attacks sent by the Russians.
Hopefully, history will not repeat itself. There is a 90% chance that your dog came from a puppy mill. And have you ever wondered if your dog has siblings? Well, they probably did, but 70% of all puppies born in mills die in the first three days of being born. Have you also wondered what your dog's mom looks like? You might never find out because 85% of the "puppy factories" (which are the parent dogs) die directly after birth. And this is all for profit. How can you help? How can you stop forced breeding? By Peter  Photo by Nick van der Vegt on Unsplash The Secret Life of Puppy Mills A puppy mill is basically a big building where dogs are kept in small cages just to have babies over and over again. This is called forced breeding. In America, almost all the cute puppies you see in windows or online come from these awful places. Even though the puppies look cute, "for many of those pups, the way they're brought into the world is absolutely horrific," says Social Democrat politician Jennifer Whitmore, who campaigns for tougher laws on puppy farms. The people who run these mills don't look at dogs as pets or friends. They look at them as machines in a factory. Because the cages are dirty and the dogs don't get to run in the grass, they get sick very easily. When 400,000 puppies die every year in the U.S., it’s because the people running the mills want to save money instead of paying for a vet. Why does this happen? This has been a problem in the past, and it is still a huge problem in the present. The main reason is financial. If a pet store can buy 20 dogs for 3 dollars from a mill and sell them to a family for 50 dollars a dog, they make a big profit from living things. The "puppy factories" - the moms and dads - have it the worst. They spend their whole lives inside a cage. They don't get toys, treats, or belly rubs. Because they have to have so many babies so fast, their bodies get tired and weak. That is why 85% of them die after giving birth to the 10th puppy that they’ll never meet. It is a very sad cycle that keeps going because 40% of people don't know the truth about where their puppies are coming from. "It's not good for the mother dogs, not good for the pups, and it's also not good for the people who buy these pups, who then ultimately have to deal with the behavioural issues or potential health issues that they have. They need to be much more highly regulated," says Whitmore  Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash How You Can Help You can help by being aware. Most people think they are doing a good thing by getting a dog, but they don't realize they might be supporting a mill. It is always best to rescue instead of buy. When you go to an animal shelter to rescue a dog, you are saving a life. When a dog is rescued, no one is paid for breeding them. You are just paying a small fee to help the shelter take care of more animals. If everyone stopped buying dogs from stores or sketchy websites, the puppy mills would have no one to sell to. If they can't make money, they will have to stop forced breeding. Always insist on the seller being transparent; do not agree to meet them anywhere other than the breeding facility. Make sure they show you the mother and siblings, and if something seems strange, report it immediately because it is not ok.  Photo by Joe Caione on Unsplash Looking Toward the Future
If we want the world to be a better place for animals, we have to change how we think about getting a pet. In the future, we should hope for a world where puppy mills don't exist anymore. We can make this happen by telling our friends and family the facts: Puppy mills destroy dogs' lives and give bad people money they don’t deserve. Imagine a future where every dog is born in a warm home with a family that loves them, instead of a cold metal cage in a factory. We have the power to stop the "puppy factories" just by choosing to adopt and not shop. By being aware of these statistics, we can protect the moms and the puppies who can't speak for themselves. Your next best friend should come from a place of love, not a place of profit. Teenage mental health is a worry for people all around the world, especially when it comes to girls. These days girls are more likely to feel anxious than boys. The thing is, it is not one thing that makes them feel this way. By Spogmai  Photo by Anthony Tran on Unsplash Author Theresa Tan mentioned that “Girls go through a sharp spike in social anxiety exceeding boys’ anxiety levels.” Research shows that teenage girls experience higher anxiety levels than boys. For example, one study found that “girls go through a sharp spike in social anxiety exceeding boys' anxiety levels,” highlighting the clear gender difference due to the social expectations and pressure to succeed, which will be mentioned later in this article. People need to talk about this and understand what is going on with teenage mental health, particularly with teenage girls. They need people to know what they are going through, including suffering high levels of anxiety due to social media and academic standards. One factor behind the growing anxiety in girls is that social media can place a lot of pressure on them, especially because there is a specific body image that every girl has to look like to be considered pretty by social media standards. It can get challenging due to the different tastes and styles we all have, making judgment play a major role in the anxiety that teenage girls have. This judgment can start online, all the way to school and teenage girls need people to know what they are going through.  Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash A further reason why teenage girls tend to experience more anxiety is academic pressure; they have this expected behavior of being organized, well-behaved, and getting perfect grades. They mainly struggle with maintaining friendships since teenage girls are arguably more emotionally intense and highly sensitive to change, causing them to be more dramatic when it comes to friendships and friendship break ups. During this process, anxiety levels rise especially with all the rumors they spread in the situation. Biological factors are also significant and can cause them to overthink or be self-conscious due to puberty. Theresa Tan later confirmed this “changes during puberty may heighten their self-consciousness and feelings of shame or embarrassment about their appearance or behaviour. This raises the risk of social anxiety symptoms for girls.” that highlights the change puberty can cause to teenage girls' behavior. Along with all of this, teenage boys tend to be sexist towards teenage girls. Comments like “go back to the kitchen” may be heard often, which can really affect how they look at themselves, relating to body image. Unfortunately, these sexist jokes are still going on to this day. Moreover, this isn’t a one-time thing and it happens every day. A singular picture or video you post can become a negative habit faster than you'd think, which leads us back to the idea of pressure. These filters can make you forget your true identity. Instead of being a fun idea of exploring new looks, it becomes an insecurity around “why can’t I look like that?” As evidenced by BMC Women’s Health, which states: “Images of attractive thin females, often photo-shopped with filters affect viewers’ body image and dissatisfaction.”  https://flic.kr/p/2ijtZRh Governments are quickly analyzing the growing impact of anxiety among teenagers and are beginning to take action to address this issue. Some have introduced restrictions and rules on social media for younger users, attempting to limit exposure to harmful content, online pressure, and, as said before, unrealistic standards. Some governments are encouraging social media companies to take responsibility by strengthening safety rules and cutting off harmful content. Although these actions have not fully resolved the issue. they certainly have shown a growing effort to reduce anxiety for teenage girls and boys. Overall, these growing rates of anxiety, mainly in teenage girls, emphasize that this is a crucial problem and that it will continue to rise if it is not properly discussed. Mainly because we live in a world that is easily influenced by social media changes, this pressure could lead to larger levels of anxiety and suggests that we need stronger mental health support and greater awareness. Another instance of governments stepping in to take action is the Australian government's ban on social media for under-16s all of a sudden, which arguably is a bad idea, as evidenced by an Australian Psychological Society statement on youth mental health and the under-16 social media ban: “The sudden disconnection from digital social spaces could trigger feelings of isolation, anxiety and distress, particularly among teens who rely on social media for connection and self-expression.”  Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash This suggests that the sudden change may harm teenage girls' behavior, leading them to cry or be more emotional and sensitive, especially since most of the teenage girls think of social media as their escape from real-life problems, for example bullying. However, the government ban illustrates that many people believe that social media is what is blocking teens from having a successful life and mindset. It is a very complex issue.
If we continue to find discuss this, future generations may be in a better position to understand and manage these challenges, as well as developing a clearer awareness of both the pros and cons of social media. Information can help teenagers/younger users become more knowledgeable when it comes to the use of social media, particularly on using it safely and building a positive digital footprint. Awareness and support can play an important role in protecting teenagers' well-being and reducing anxiety levels, especially when it comes to girls. Neuroplasticity is the nervous system's ability to change and reorganize for efficiency in response to learning. In a high stakes match, a footballer has to make decisions in split seconds, looking at their players and open spaces to help them make their movements and dribble. While all this happens in a heartbeat, the effect it has is long term. Although this executive skill is often mistaken for talent, recent psychological studies have proven otherwise. 20 years ago there weren’t even college courses for this study (neuroplasticity); now there are sports psychology teams at 50% of professional clubs. This shift in priorities brings up two important questions: how does football training encourage neuroplasticity, and how can our increasing knowledge of this concept help us develop better players? By Sam  Photo by jason charters on Unsplash How football is related to neuroplasticity What separates the great players isn’t their speed, strength or stamina; it is their ability to think faster and more effectively. This adaptation is mainly due to the intense training these players do. Even small activities can impact. For example, the repetitive action of juggling strengthens neural pathways between the frontal, temporal, and cerebellar regions of the brain. This improves flexibility in switching between tasks, and working memory. The need to make quick, accurate decisions under pressure in tight spaces increases processing speed and cognitive flexibility. Every small change increases your mental skill, expanding your progress in more than just the physical aspects of the game. World Cup winner Paolo Maldini, the legendary Italian international defender and five-time Champions League winner with AC Milan, once said, ‘football is a game played with the head, the feet are just the tools.' Regular football participation significantly lowers perceived stress levels, up to 30% lower than non-active people, by decreasing cortisol levels. It has also been shown to improve sports-specific self-confidence and develop stronger willpower. The exercise stimulates the release of ‘feel good chemicals’, acting as natural mood enhancers to combat depression and anxiety. This is reinforced by the research of Zuzana Pustúvková, a psychologist, stating that, ‘regular participation in sports like football can lead to perceived stress levels that are approximately 30% lower than those of non-active individuals, primarily by regulating cortisol and releasing natural mood enhancers like endorphins." The challenging, goal-oriented nature of the sport teaches coping skills, perseverance, and better emotional management, which enhances overall resilience to life. The difference between great and legendary While physical training strengthens the mind's decision making, true separation in football comes down to one element: creativity. This is an important aspect of football, from an unexpected backheel, to a strategic through-ball, or a perfectly timed feint. These moments of genius add to the artistry and spontaneity of the game. People like Ronaldinho and Neymar were especially good at this and the reason behind it was because they grew up in Brazil. In Brazil people play a lot of futsal and small-sided games, an effective birthplace for creativity . Although creativity is a very important thing, it is one of the hardest things to be able to foster. Creating a perfect balance between structured and free training remains a challenge that all coaches face, but with the coming of sports psychology a surprising solution has arisen: mastering the non dominant foot. According to research by author Hugo Vincent, creativity starts in structured environments, places where you know your role. Environments like these allow you to come up with unusual solutions to regular problems. And interestingly enough, this is also the perfect environment for neuroplasticity. development. The journey begins with repetitive training to develop neural connections, improving coordination and motor skills. What’s fascinating is that training one limb directly strengthens the other, so in practice working on your weaker foot sharpens your dominant foot. So how does this relate to creativity? Well, small-sided games or drills that require players to actively use their non-dominant foot are essential for encouraging its development. Over time, these targeted activities not only enhance physical abilities but also contribute to greater tactical awareness and creativity. This is because you can react to different situations with both feet in multiple ways, causing you to create a solution that works best.  Photo by Attareza Naufal on Unsplash Football IQ :the game changer Football IQ is a player's ability to understand, analyze, and react to game situations efficiently. It involves high-level decision-making, spatial awareness, anticipation, and positioning. Neuroplasticity is the hidden driver of this trait. While traditional training focuses on muscles, neuroplasticity allows players to train their brains to interpret complex game situations faster, making "reading the game" automatic rather than conscious. This is crucial when playing football, as it is a shifting game which needs automatic and conscious acts that both contribute to the action. Football IQ is the reason some of the less skillful players make the difference; knowing where to be and when to go is just as important as any other technical skill. This is often an important training sector but unfortunately it is sometimes not directly targeted, though it can come naturally from normal training for some players. Even though it is such a simple skill it is arguably the most important. Like Luka Modric, a historic midfielder in football, said, "football is a game that is played with the head, The physical will never supplant the intelligence." Football isn’t just the skills and the physique. Another important aspect is emotional control. The ability to keep a cool head in heated moments in a match also allows you to perform at your best without strong emotions clouding your decisions. Maldini's ability to keep composure when under pressure and not make unnecessary tackles is a strong showcase of emotional control. Having this composure allows players to make clear responsible decisions without anything clouding their judgment. Scientists at Sia Academy elaborated on this by saying that 'understanding neuroplasticity allows us to develop more complete players capable of adapting to modern game systems, interpreting complex situations, and emotionally managing competition.'  Fanny Schertzer, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons The Future of football training
For players, understanding how their brain learns and adapts is a game changer. Future coaches can start basing training on neuroplasticity to enforce skills in a more efficient way. Ultimately, the brain is not just an insignificant thing when it comes to football. The brain is like a machine, The more you upgrade and fix its mistakes, the better it becomes. If we use this concept for football we can create new players with new heights of potential and skill, and advance the world of football significantly. Sources:
On February 8, 2026, Teodor Zajder, a Polish eight year old broke the 3x3 Rubik’s cube single with a time of 2.76 seconds, breaking the legendary sub-three barrier! To put in perspective how crazy and unexpected this was, Teodor did not have a single prior solve in the top 300 fastest singles (which is a singular solve time or just the time from one solve); he hadn’t even ever gotten a sub 4 solve before. So the cubing world was taken by storm. He wasn't anticipated whatsoever to break the record; everyone expected a different name to be at the top of that leader board. By Felix To give some context, building up to this record was a three year race for sub three. In 2023 a less well known young Chinese boy named Yiheng Wang broke the 3x3 average with a time of 4.69 seconds, which surpassed the previous record of 4.86 seconds held by legendary rivals Tymon Kolasinski and Max Park, two legendary cubers. For context, an average is a time which is determined by five total solves which you complete in a round. It's created by adding the total time from the five solves and dividing it by five. Yes, their rivalry was so significant and evenly matched that they literally tied for the world record. Another outcome of Yiheng’s unexpected success was that before his arrival the cubing world was highly bipolar between Tymon and Max whereas, afterwards the balance shifted to a world where there were many superpowers. In late 2023 when everyone was focused on Yiheng another young Chinese kid named Xuanyi Geng emerged and started gaining attention in September at a cubing competition in Singapore. People noticed him for his speed at such a young age. Meanwhile, Yiheng was busy breaking the 3x3 average seven more times while also being the first person in history to get a sub 4 average, twice! All these rivalries and records are good and well. However, the sheer speed people solve the cube with begs the question: how is it even possible to solve cubes so fast? I mean, how did we go from those old tight cubes with only a few people who could solve them at all let alone fast, to over 216,000 people having participated in a WCA (World Cubing Association) competition globally. There are lots of factors that have helped optimize speed cubing. One of the most notable factors that has contributed to the evolution of speedcubing is computer softwares that help create algorithms for more advanced methods that revolve around solving the cube efficiently with the least amount of moves. These methods tend to be more algorithmic, therefore requiring computer generated algorithms. For example, ZBLL and ACB are two solving methods that have an absurd amount of algorithms (500-800). Just to show how much these softwares help, an advanced method such as ZBLL has over seven hundred optimized algorithms. In comparison, back before advanced software, methods were almost completely intuitive and had basic algorithms only. This means it would have been completely impossible to achieve this back then. Keep in mind that the cubes themselves have also been revolutionized drastically with the addition of magnets and techniques to reduce surface area between the pieces. Furthermore, with the growing cubing community there are simply more people to create methods. Then finally what I think is the largest factor: the creation of media and networking platforms has made it ever easier to access information and learn new things. Nowadays, I could get on YouTube, learn 10 algorithms and take a significant amount of time off my solving if I was efficient about it. I could share a new revolutionary technique for everybody to use. Not only that, I could also get feedback from the best solvers on how to improve that method. Going back to Xuanyi Geng and Yiheng Wang, Xuanyi broke the 3x3 average with a time of 3.84 seconds. Then just a month later Yiheng broke the 3x3 single with a time of 3.08 seconds previously held by Max Park for over 2 years. Xuanyi then broke the 3x3 single just two months afterwards with a time of 3.05 seconds. It was getting heated between them now! At this point in time everybody was going crazy, thinking oh my gosh we are so close to sub three it appeared that everybody was split on the opinion of who was going to get sub three. For the most part, it was between Xuanyi and Yiheng. However, no one could have been prepared for what came next. Teodor Zajder, the Polish 8 year old who was less well known, received an almost improbable extremely lucky scramble. The crowd was tense and silent and then he did it sub three with a legendary time of 2.76 seconds. His execution was infallible and nobody could have expected this. It really does bring up a question though: it seems pretty clear that Teodor is the best but what really defines a good cuber? Is it longevity? In that case, it would be Max since he’s been around so long, or is it average performance? Then it would be Yiheng. Or is it a well rounded cuber who can perform well in many different events? Then it would be Luke Garett since he has the (oh one handed!) 3x3 average record and he’s good at 4x4, 3x3, clock, 2x2, and single. Or is it the ability to handle pressure? Then people could argue Xuanyi Geng. Or is it simply just who has the record? If so, it would obviously be Teodor. Finally, looking at the future there is an extremely significant question that comes up: have we reached the physical limit for cubing? If you look at physical limitations, there is only so fast you can turn the cube. There is also the limitation of information processing; at a certain speed you just wouldn’t be able to keep up. Therefore, people think algorithmic methods will take over as they require muscle memory and not much informational processing. The main takeaway from this is that eventually new challenges will arrive once we have reached the physical barrier. The new challenges that are sure to arrive will mark the dawn of a new era. Sources: https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333/single? https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333/average? https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/about For just about as long as humans have had the ability to speak, both regular people and scientists have pondered the same thing: why do some animals, like cetaceans and birds, possess the vocal flexibility to make such loud and diverse sounds, and in some cases even mimic human voices, while others don’t? By Beth  "Mike" Michael L. Baird, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons A new study by Emory University provides a potential clue to answering our question via studies on the brains of pinnipeds (the clade including seals, sea lions, and walruses). “We’ve discovered an ecological recipe for how a mammal might evolve a vocally flexible brain,” says former Emory postdoctoral author Peter Cook, who greatly assisted in the study. To cut a long story short, seals and sea lions may have developed a brain “bypass” that allows them to make diverse vocalizations by enhancing their voluntary breath control, which is the conscious action of things like speaking, holding breath, and singing. This is also likely what helped them adapt so well to aquatic environments as air-breathing mammals. But why phocids and otariids, the families including true and eared seals, specifically? These animals, especially the earless seals, have extraordinary vocal flexibility, making them one of the few known animals with the ability to copy human voices. Sea lions also possess remarkable vocal plasticity, but to a lesser extent.  https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/358660975 Gregory Berns, senior author and professor of psychology at Emory University, and aforementioned researcher Peter Cook, used diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – a medical technique employing powerful magnetic fields and radio waves to produce imaging of things in your body – to inquire into the structure of the pinnipeds’ brains. This was tremendously helpful, as it provided insights into the connective neural pathways of the animals after death. Connective neural pathways are groups of nerve fibers that send electrochemical signals throughout the nervous system. These nerve fibers control motor functions, cognition and detecting sensory stimuli. After this, they studied the brains of coyotes and compared them to the pinnipeds. They found that in coyotes, the mid-brain area, which is responsible for survival functions like breathing, also manages the cells in the brain stem that communicate with the muscles vital to produce vocalizations. For the marine mammals, however, they discovered that these cell groups are directly connected to the vocal motor cortex, a region of the brain that controls the voluntary action of vocalizing, therefore avoiding the mid-brain altogether. This allows for conscious and direct control over their vocals. Based on their findings, the scientists came up with a hypothesis. They suggest most animals aren’t as vocally flexible as the seals because they don’t have this bypass, and the functions of the mid-brain interfere with and limit their vocal capabilities. Berns says, “By broadening the scope and using these neuroimaging techniques to compare more mammalian species wired to have vocal flexibility with those that are not, we might be able to build up an evolutionary tree for language.” Stories like this are hard to come by nowadays. With all of our advanced technology, and the ever-increasing AI crisis, you’d expect us to know everything by now. But it’s these kinds of discoveries that prove there is and always will be more to unearth and there will always be more to be curious about. Every sound we don’t yet understand could be a cry for help, or the wakeup call we need to remind ourselves to get vocal about the fact that we need to change. We never quite understand the true beauty and mystery of our natural world until it’s already too late, which is why we need to strive to appreciate what we do have–including the wonderfully adaptable pinnipeds we share our world with. Beshbarmak is not only some food chucked on a plate. It is a horizon of light and being with your family and friends. A way to open an endless road of joy and happiness. A way to open heaven in your heart. A way to celebrate. A way to open the golden hour. A way to be together. By Damir  Photo by Laura Ohlman on Unsplash Beshbarmak is my favorite dish in Kazakhstan. Every year, my cousins make it when I visit them. Just thinking about this now is making my mouth water. This dish is special to me not only because it is delicious, but also because it makes me think of my family in Kazakhstan. It’s a dish that brings us together.  Photo by Viktor Hesse on Unsplash Beshbarmak is a traditional dish from Central Asia that consists of tender boiled meat (traditionally lamb or horse meat) served over large, flat noodles and topped with a flavorful onion sauce called chyk. For special celebrations, beshbarmak can include special sausages like kazy (horse meat) and chuchuk (deer meat).  Photo by Pigi Mazzoli on Unsplash This dish is 1,000 years old and symbolizes hospitality, unity, and cultural identity. The name “beshbarmak” means “five fingers” in Kazakh. This is because people traditionally eat this dish with their hands! The host gives different pieces of meat, called ustukan, to different people depending on their age and gender. This dish is served on a dastarkhan (a traditional low table or cloth for meals).  Photo by Melody Zimmerman on Unsplash In conclusion, beshbarmak is very special to me because it is delicious and reminds me of my family. Every time I eat it, I feel happy and connected to my culture. I hope I can continue this tradition when I am older. If you would like to learn how to make this dish, check out this recipe! In Billie Eilish's acceptance speech at the Wall Street journal innovation award, she wondered out loud why billionaires are billionaires. With very wealthy people in the crowd like Mark Zuckerberg and George Lucas, Eilish challenged people to question this. Does she have a point? The wealth gap in our society has increased lately, more than ever. But why? By Betina To understand this, we have to first understand the many numbers when talking about “the 0.001%”. An article by the Guardian shows visual representations of the wealthiest people, stating that there are 56,000 of them. They are only 10% of the population and still own 75% of the world's wealth, while the least wealthy 50% own 2%. Billionaires donate roughly $275 billion over their lifetime. Although this seems like a lot, it often only represents 4.6% to 14% of their total wealth. The main way they donate is with private foundations which can sound great, but they can also prioritize the founder's legacy or desired projects instead of actual pressing social needs. America’s richest people are still not that generous. Their collected charitable donations are just, as stated, 4.6% of their overall wealth, which has decreased 5% since last year. In an interview with Wired magazine, Melinda French Gates says that "I recognize the absurdity of so much wealth being concentrated in the hands of one person, and I believe the only responsible thing to do with a fortune this size is give it away". Gates is part of the Gates foundation and it is the third wealthiest charitable foundation in the world. Their stated goals are to enhance healthcare and reduce extreme poverty. She is right but what can we do to prevent billionaires from growing more and more each year? Countries in Europe like Norway and Switzerland tax the rich a higher amount, preventing them from expanding their wealth. If the US adopted this method, it may help to solve this problem with concentration of wealth. Other possible solutions are having stricter laws on offshore accounts and tax havens. What millionaires do is they store their money in islands or countries like Switzerland so they don’t have to pay taxes as high as they would in their own countries, keeping their money protected and well-invested. Another solution includes limiting corporate power and monopolies. This intense market concentration allows businesses to dictate prices and control access to goods and services, which often harms consumers and reduces overall economic equality.  https://flic.kr/p/2h2MscD With Billie Eilish's new album coming, she’s been more active with the press, standing up to speak about topics from economics to veganism. One of her new songs is "Birds of a Feather" and the billionaires who might not agree with her will stick together to maintain this system. So it's up to influential people like her to take a stand and governments to find solutions to this unfair situation.
“In through the front door, around the back, out through the window, and off jumps Jack!” This is a common phrase to help people learn the steps to knitting. By Lulu  Knitting is the art of interlooping yarn to create textile fabric made of interconnected loops. It is a very versatile fiber with loops created by hand or machine. Knitting creates stitches which are single turns or loops of thread or yarn. These are the fundamental elements of knitting whether by hand or machine. In knitting, the single loop of yarn is secured to the loops beside it to form a row or course of stitches and to the loops above and below it to form a wale. In securing the previous stitch in a wale, the next stitch can pass through the previous either from below or above and depending on the knitting stitch used, there are different types of stitches in knitting.
The origins of knitting are not quite known for sure, but are rumored to have begun in the Middle East around the 11th Century CE. The earliest surviving artifacts being colorful, intricate socks that were found in Egypt and believed to be produced between the 11th to the 15th Centuries CE. Most researchers believe that because knitting is worked right to left that it originated in Semitic speaking regions because those languages read, and write, from right to left. They also came to this conclusion because the intricate patterns are also reflected in Islamica Art. The most common materials used were wool or cotton. Knitting is believed to have been spread to Europe through Spain and Italy by Moorish Traders during the Middle Ages. With the earliest examples associated with the Royal Spanish Tombs. By the 14th century, knitting was established in Europe with Spanish Moors recognized for creating sophisticated knitted items. Before the 15th century, knitting was considered a skilled craft. Over the course of the 14th Century, it grew into a major domestic industry to create knitted items. This continued throughout the Renaissance and all the way up to today. The art of turning string into something that you can look at and be proud of, or more importantly something you can wear, brings so much joy. Knitting is a craft that is making a comeback, the art of interlooping has now become a very popular hobby. A craft that was once considered for grannies or too old fashioned for modern times has now become a popular hobby especially among young people. Global data indicates that between the years 2021 and 2025, there was a 34% increase in 18-34 year-olds who adopted this “Granny craft.” Research shows that amongst those 18-34 years-old, 53% of them engage in knitting on a daily basis (Craft Yarn Council (2014) ). With the help of social media, knitting is now a widespread fashion movement being rebranded as a cool, trendy activity. Young people are now embracing kitting as a therapeutic alternative to screen time because it fosters a sense of accomplishment. Why are young people adopting knitting? Knitting is so beneficial to mental well being. It is a distraction that helps reduce stress and calm you down. You get drawn in and it becomes your main focus. Everything else shuts down. It is a creative outlet that requires a basic technical skill. It tests your abilities and you can push not only your technical capabilities but you can also experiment with how creative you are. How did I get hooked on knitting? As a young person myself, I adopted knitting for the same reasons. For me, it made me calm and focused. It also made me bond with myself. I know that sounds weird but it's true. I learnt how to knit when I was in the 6th grade. It was part of one of the classes we had to take where we learnt how to knit, crochet, sew, cook and bake. That was the beginning of my knitting journey and I never looked back. I did not care if people would label me a “Grandma,” or say that I was doing a grandma craft. I loved it then and still do now. I do not only love knitting, but I wanted others to experience the love that I have developed for knitting. My Capstone Project: When I was trying to decide what to do for my capstone project, I decided to teach a group of 5th graders how to knit over the course of a month. I met with them during PIE time on Fridays. In the first session, I taught them the basics. In the following sessions, I gave them feedback and we continued to practice. At the end they told me how they felt about knitting if they liked it or not. At our last session, my 5th Grade students all said they enjoyed learning how to knit and had a lot of fun. Some said they were skeptical about their capabilities in the beginning, but after a couple sessions, they became more confident. What they were able to create after just a few sessions was very impressive. One or two already knew how to knit, some knew how to crochet, which is another beautiful craft; however, for most of them knitting was a new skill. This was an amazing experience. I am glad I was able to share my skill with them and that they could share this beautiful experience with me. I didn't know I could teach, but I did. Now here we are and we have added some new knitter “Grandmas” to the game. References History of knitting. (2026, May 19). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_knitting&action=history "Knitting & Crocheting Are Hot!" Craft Yarn Council, 31 Dec. 2014, www.craftyarncouncil.com/know.html. McIntosh, Phyllis. "Knitting: A Craft Makes a Comeback." English Teaching Forum, vol. 44, no. 3, 2011, pp. 36-43, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-019-09734-z. Takis are a world renowned snack that have been boosted by social media. From YouTube Spicy Eats to TikTok Dare challenges, this is the story of their incredible success. By Kemi  https://flic.kr/p/pBtLwQ Takis started making waves in 2014 and have become popular due to social media trends like the #challenges, high heat intensity contests, last to stop eating etc. These trends & challenges have raised Takis' sales through the roof, by over 150%, having a 25% yearly growth rate due to social media, reaching up to 2 billion dollars in revenue as of 2024. "These campaigns achieved significant interactions, boasting an average playtime of 11.02 seconds and accumulating over 43 million impressions", says Maddy Hooton, one of the company's brand managers. She highlights how social media has been such a huge part in the success of the brand. Some of the most popular trends/challenges are the “Taki spice reaction” and the”Taki Mukbang Challenge” which significantly boosted sales. "Instead of just posting ads, Takis became a staple of spicy food challenge videos, unboxing content, and ASMR eating clips," claims the Sweet and Glory reviewer on YouTube. Can you handle the heat? In 2015, creators around the world started posting themselves trying to handle Takis' high intensity. Recognizing this trend, the brand produced their very own Takis Flavor Challenge back in September 2018. It was an immediate-win promo created to influence the social media hype. This made social media go wild and Takis plan worked through their sales rising. Another world of Takis In early 2023, another social media trend out of many started: The ”Taki Mukbang Challenge.” It was a trend where content creators ate food while telling stories or making satisfying, or as teens would call it, ASMR sounds, and more. This engages the audience by watching and even doing it themselves. Downside to social media Although social media has contributed greatly to Takis' fame, there has been some controversy starting in the 2010s. This has been fuelled by medical concerns over high spice and acidity. One of these rumors is "The "Mother's Warning" Rumor (2013)". This case was about an unverified account of a mom claiming that her child developed health issues by consuming too many Takis chips. This developed into unsubstantiated claims that two kids passed away due to carcinogens in the chips. Although doctors have confirmed that overconsumption of Takis can cause some issues due to the high fat and chili content, the instances are mostly connected to constant consumption, not moderate snacking. Most of these rumors spread because of social media. There have been trends online of people doing Takis/spicy food challenges, then reporting stomach pains, eventually leading to over exaggerated claims. Although there can be minor issues, there is no clear evidence of these more serious claims against Takis. Then vs. Now: What is Takis' timeline?
THEN: Takis were created in 1999 in Mexico and weren't initially very popular having an estimated value of $100,000 - $500,000 in the Mexican market. NOW: In 2014, Takis started making a name for itself due to social media. The more trends and videos posted, the higher they climbed in popularity. High ranked apps like TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram have really boosted Takis. According to a Snapchat case study, "Takis executed a full-funnel campaign using a mix of AR and video placements designed to grab attention and immerse Snapchatters in the brand's high-heat identity." This highlights how the brand has tried to do things differently and it continues to develop. For example, Takis are doing things like collaborations with celebrities and companies or things like reverse psychology campaigns saying “Don’t eat Takis” to emphasize the extreme spice. Takis high-heat flavors are popular because of their sensory intensity, unique texture, cool kid branding, and gateway to spice. The popularity of Takis is in fact directly linked to hyperbolic behavior on social media because of viral challenges and other marketing strategies. "Takis nailed it by building for a reaction, not just taste... Your product becomes the catalyst for experiences people want to have and share," says Marketing Strategist Debbie Wheeler. What experiences might come next in the Takis journey and will customers be willing to rise to the challenge? When you think of a cyborg you normally think of a fictional character that went through a deadly experience and was reincarnated as a half human half robot. For example, Darth Vader! But what if I told you we are closer to replacing parts of our bodies than you think? By Tommaso  https://live.staticflickr.com/7460/8717336527_4780237a97_b.jpg Noland Arbaugh was the first patient to have gotten a neuralink chip implanted in his brain. He got this after a deadly car accident in 2016 and the chip helped him control objects with his mind. Not really, but he was able to do interesting things. For example, he was said to have played a video game, Civilization IV, for eight hours straight after getting the implant. How it works is that the chip has two main strings inside the brain that detect movement and transfers that to a piece of machinery of his choice. So he played using his brain. He was able to pause the game, stop the music, and more without touching the controller. It's not something wild, but scientific research is growing even more in this field and soon people will be able to control gigantic machines. And that's not all of it. Scientists are also developing a way for two neuralink users to be able to communicate telepathically. 43 year old Neil Harbisson has a rare form of complete color blindness called achromatopsia, but he always had a passion for the arts and wanted more than anything to know an object’s color. So what did he do? He spent his life creating this antenna that detects colors with vibrations implanted into his skull so he can HEAR the colors. At the start, he stated that it was incredibly annoying to have because of the constant vibration, but his brain eventually got used to it like the eyes constantly seeing and the ears constantly hearing, the antenna constantly vibrating. This video is an interview with Harbisson. He is a cyborg activist and gained the name of “the first cyborg” because of his antenna. He cannot take it off and it is even in his passport photo. Not just that, but he also got his cyborg title because of his tooth. He replaced a tooth to a bluetooth tooth called “we tooth” and another person did the same so that they can communicate with each other at a distance using morse code and chattering their teeth. So if you ever walk by the streets of New York City you might just see a walking cyborg. Now we should talk about bionic limbs. Jesse Sullivan lost both his arms in a severe electrical problem and a team of scientists decided to help him. After much time, they created bionic arms that work flawlessly like real hands that he uses to live a normal life nowadays, but scientists are still developing arms for other people In terms of another limb, Hugh Herr is a person that loves to climb, but after a horrible incident when he was only 17, he lost both his legs. Doctors said that he would never climb again, but he took that as a challenge and spent a large portion of time developing bionic legs that he can swap whenever. For example, he made super long legs so he can reach rocks really far away while climbing, really thin legs so that he can enter his foot into thin cracks, and normal legs for walking.  Steve Jurvetson from Los Altos, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons His legs were revolutionary and are to this day the smoothest working bionic legs ever created. With the walking legs he can jump, run and everything people with actual legs can! He is still developing legs and hopes to end disability in humans one day. With all of this, there is one problem that both these stories have: you see, humans have a sense called proprioception, and to explain it, close your eyes and touch your nose. Hopefully, you can do it, but with bionic limbs it's not really the case and it is much harder to do, but scientists are fixing this problem and very soon you will be able to choose any type of limb you want and it will feel like its yours.  Photo by Tommy van Kessel on Unsplash The people I talked about here are only some of the cyborgs you can find today and just imagine yourself having all of these bionic adaptations. In the end, we are closer to the development of Darth Vader than many people think, though hopefully we won't move to the dark side in the future.
(...) a pastelaria proporciona uma sensação de trabalho árduo. Enquanto se realiza esta atividade, sente-se uma sensação de paz, porque as coisas negativas são transformadas em bolos. Por Martina  Photo by Nadya Spetnitskaya on Unsplash Sabias que a pastelaria pode ser uma terapia e uma forma de relaxar a mente? De facto, é verdade que esta atividade contribui para o relaxamento mental. Segundo Nicioli, fazer pastelaria traz benefícios para a mente. Uma das razões pelas quais afirmo isto é que, enquanto se faz pastelaria, a mente afasta-se de outras questões “stressantes”, como a escola, o trabalho e outras responsabilidades importantes. Além disso, esta prática pode ajudar a afastar emoções negativas. Por outro lado, também contribui para a saúde física, pois, durante a sua realização, passamos mais tempo em movimento e a esticar o corpo, o que lhe traz benefícios. Outra razão para defender esta ideia é que a pastelaria também ajuda a aliviar a raiva e outras emoções negativas, uma vez que, ao preparar alimentos como bolos ou biscoitos, a massa é trabalhada com pressão para que tudo fique bem misturado, suave e corretamente preparado. Para além disso, esta atividade pode acalmar os nervos e reduzir o “stress” do quotidiano. Finalmente, a última razão que sustenta esta perspetiva é que a pastelaria proporciona uma sensação de trabalho árduo. Enquanto se realiza esta atividade, sente-se uma sensação de paz, porque as coisas negativas são transformadas em bolos. Quando o processo termina e as pessoas experimentam e apreciam o resultado, surge a satisfação pelo esforço realizado e pela sensação de ter preparado algo delicioso e agradável para os outros.
Em conclusão, a pastelaria relaxa a mente, ajuda a afastar emoções negativas e proporciona uma sensação de trabalho árduo. Estes são, portanto, os benefícios que a pastelaria oferece. Os cães podem demonstrar as suas emoções de muitas formas, conhecidas e desconhecidas. Algumas são muito comuns, como, por exemplo, quando um cão abana a cauda ou fica com a língua de fora. Por Maya  Photo by Richard Brutyo on Unsplash Os humanos têm emoções e sentimentos, mas não somos os únicos a senti-los. Cães, gatos, ratos, vacas, porcos, etc., também têm sentimentos. Os cães sentem, inclusivamente, mais do que nós; e não se trata apenas de amor e frustração, mas também de medo e raiva. Mais de 10 milhões de animais são maltratados todos os anos na América, com os cães a representarem mais de 66% dos casos reportados. Muitos casos nunca chegam a ser denunciados e acabam por causar a morte a cães e a outros animais. Há muitas formas de os cães demonstrarem as suas emoções, bem como razões para o fazerem desta maneira, dependendo de quando sentem estas emoções ou de como é o seu comportamento. Os cães podem ter muitas emoções que não são bem conhecidas e até algumas que não está confirmado que possuam, embora seja muito provável. Muitas emoções dos cães são as mais comuns, como a felicidade, o medo ou a tristeza. Mas os cães sentem muito mais do que isso. Algumas dessas emoções são: felicidade; tristeza; medo; raiva; frustração; amor; alegria; entusiasmo; ansiedade; afeição; vínculo; e luto. Muitas pessoas pensarão que isto não é possível, mas todas estas emoções podem ser sentidas pelos cães. No entanto, existem emoções que os cães não sentem, ao contrário dos humanos. Por exemplo, os cães não sentem culpa, mesmo que fiquem com "cara de culpados" quando fazem algo errado, a verdade é que estão com medo. Medo do que o seu humano irá fazer.  Photo by Oscar Sutton on Unsplash Os cães podem demonstrar as suas emoções de muitas formas, conhecidas e desconhecidas. Algumas são muito comuns, como, por exemplo, quando um cão abana a cauda ou fica com a língua de fora. Muitas pessoas sabem que isso significa que o cão está feliz ou com calor. Mas muitas pessoas não prestam atenção às outras emoções dos cães. Os cães podem demonstrar felicidade de muitas formas e podem, por vezes, parecer zangados, ansiosos ou que estão a tramar algo, mas é apenas a sua maneira de demonstrar felicidade e emoções. Esta foto é uma imagem que explica o comportamento do cão. Maltratar animais é algo muito negativo e é considerado abuso. O abuso de animais pode afetar o futuro deles e o nosso, porque tem consequências graves. No mundo inteiro, é impossível determinar quantos animais são maltratados por ano, porque são tantos que algumas pessoas afirmam que o número ronda os 210 milhões anualmente. No entanto, estudos revelaram que, em 2025, houve apenas cerca de 650 casos de animais reportados. Os cães são um dos animais mais maltratados porque são fáceis de adotar e, como gostam do dono, não revidam. Existem muitas formas de maltratar um cão e outros animais, mas esse abuso tem consequências. O abuso de cães pode manifestar-se através de agressões físicas, puxões de pelo ou de bigodes. Contudo, algumas pessoas maltratam os cães sem saberem ou quererem. Quando alguém tem um cão ou animal de estimação, mas não tem dinheiro para comprar comida, uma cama ou cuidar bem do animal, isso é considerado abuso. Quando alguém está nessa situação, o melhor é dar o cão ou o animal para adoção, ou entregá-lo a alguém que se saiba que cuidará bem dele. O abuso de animais pode ter consequências muito graves para si e para o animal. Pode acabar na prisão ou ser impedido de cuidar de animais por muito tempo. As consequências para os animais são: se sobreviverem, deixarão de confiar nas pessoas; caso contrário, poderá ser necessário eutanasiar o animal se este estiver muito ferido. Os cães são dos animais mais inteligentes. Tudo o que fazem tem uma razão. Eles fazem coisas estranhas porque acham que nós, ou outros animais, iremos entender. Os cães são muito carinhosos com as pessoas de quem gostam. Mas, se não gostam, demonstram-no à sua maneira. Os cães comunicam se estão desconfortáveis ou se não gostam do que lhes estamos a fazer. Há muitas formas de o fazerem, como, por exemplo, quando rosnam ou se afastam. Os cães atacam quando acham que lhes vai ser feito mal ou quando não conhecem alguém e estão desconfiados.
Os cães podem sentir estas emoções em situações diferentes. Podem demonstrar felicidade quando estão a brincar ou com alguém de quem gostam. Podem sentir tristeza quando alguém de quem gostam sai de casa ou quando precisam de ir ao veterinário. Também podem sentir medo quando estão a ser maltratados ou quando alguém grita com eles. Os cães têm muitas formas de sentir estas emoções e de as tornar conhecidas e informativas para que nós saibamos. Em conclusão, conseguimos ver que os cães têm emoções importantes e é incrível como conseguem fazer-nos ver essas emoções, que mostram quem o cão é e como se sente. Os cães são maltratados em todo o mundo e isso afeta não só os animais, mas também quem os maltrata. Eles sentem muitas mais emoções do que a maioria das pessoas sabe, têm um motivo para tudo o que fazem e possuem formas próprias de mostrar os seus sentimentos. Por fim, aprendemos que os cães sentem emoções em situações distintas. Os cães são animais complexos, mas se tentarmos compreendê-los, tudo se torna muito mais fácil. As viagens tornam-se importantes quando nos proporcionam memórias boas ou, por vezes, menos boas, mas que nos fazem recordar determinado lugar de forma especial. Por Thandi  Photo by Eva Darron on Unsplash Viajar remonta aos tempos dos nómadas. Desde sempre, os seres humanos tiveram o impulso de se deslocar de um lugar para outro, movidos pela procura de novos espaços ou ambientes que garantissem a sua sobrevivência. Eu viajei durante toda a minha vida, mas nunca me questionei verdadeiramente sobre o significado de viajar. Será partir? Será regressar? Será simplesmente pegar numa mala e dirigir-se a algum destino? Uma das atividades de que mais gosto na vida é viajar. Quando afirmo que fiz uma viagem, refiro-me a várias experiências distintas. Uma delas acontece quando me desloco para um lugar que considero uma segunda casa, um espaço onde me sinto confortável, tanto pelo ambiente como pelas pessoas que me rodeiam. Outra experiência que me faz sentir que viajei é conhecer um local que nunca visitei, independentemente de ser distante ou próximo de casa; sinceramente, isso não importa. Com isto, pretendo dizer que o termo “viajar” é frequentemente utilizado por muitas pessoas apenas para designar o ato de se deslocar de avião de um lugar para outro. Contudo, para mim, viajar significa ir para um local onde me sinto em casa ou conhecer um espaço inédito, seja de carro ou de avião, com mochila ou mala: tudo conta como viagem. Referi anteriormente que gosto muito de viajar e que estas experiências são extremamente significativas para mim, mas porquê? O que torna as viagens tão especiais?  Photo by Dino Reichmuth on Unsplash Naturalmente, isso varia de pessoa para pessoa, mas gira sempre em torno da mesma ideia: experiências memoráveis. Guardo inúmeras recordações de vivências em viagens, tanto positivas como negativas, e ambas contribuíram para as tornar ainda mais marcantes. Algumas deslocações são motivadas por pensamentos e sonhos que acompanham alguém desde a infância. Por exemplo, um país visto na televisão por uma criança que, desde esse momento, passou a desejar visitá-lo. Noutras situações, as viagens tornam-se especiais simplesmente porque apreciamos aquilo que estamos a fazer ou o lugar que estamos a conhecer. Esta é, aliás, uma das razões mais comuns pelas quais as pessoas gostam de viajar. “Viajar é despertar para a realidade de que tudo é possível.” Janet Street Porter. Esta citação sustenta a nossa reflexão sobre as razões que levam tantas pessoas a viajar, pois remete-nos para uma das mais importantes: a adaptação. Muitas pessoas viajam para se ajustarem a contextos diferentes, descobrindo versões de si próprias que talvez nunca encontrassem se permanecessem em casa. Outras deslocam-se em busca de inspiração ou criatividade, algo bastante frequente entre autores que procuram ideias para escrever um livro. Além disso, uma das motivações mais comuns para viajar é a vontade de explorar o mundo, aprender coisas novas, conhecer culturas, compreender diferentes lógicas culturais e contactar com novas pessoas. Contudo, viajar não beneficia apenas quem viaja, mas também a economia dos locais visitados. Isto acontece porque os investimentos feitos durante as deslocações contribuem para o desenvolvimento económico, seja ao jantar em restaurantes, seja ao adquirir lembranças em mercados locais para si próprio ou para oferecer à família.  Photo by Mesut Kaya on Unsplash Todavia, nem toda a gente aprecia viajar. Pesquisas indicam que 13% das pessoas não gostam nada desta prática. Mas porquê? Esta perspetiva resulta de várias motivações, entre as quais o elevado custo, uma vez que muitas pessoas mais jovens desejam viajar, mas não dispõem de recursos financeiros suficientes para tal. Outra razão prende-se com o facto de algumas pessoas preferirem permanecer no seu espaço habitual, evitando sair da sua zona de conforto. Além disso, existe quem não queira lidar com o stress associado aos imprevistos, bem como com toda a organização de documentos e com a complexidade do processo.
A boa notícia é que estes “problemas” podem ser resolvidos. Por exemplo, uma das justificações mais frequentes para não viajar é o custo elevado. No entanto, nem todas as deslocações são dispendiosas, sendo possível optar por viagens locais, entre outras alternativas. Quando algumas pessoas afirmam que o processo é demasiado complicado, importa reconhecer que isso faz parte da aventura, permitindo aprender e melhorar na experiência seguinte. Por fim, para aqueles que dizem preferir ficar no seu próprio espaço, importa esclarecer que viajar não significa perder esse conforto pessoal, mas sim enriquecer-se através da inspiração e aprender a adaptar-se. Então, se fôssemos rever tudo o que aprendemos, qual seria a conclusão? Em primeiro lugar, já sabemos que viajar pode significar deslocar-se para um sítio completamente novo ou para um local onde nos sentimos confortáveis, como se fosse uma segunda casa. Em segundo lugar, as viagens tornam-se importantes quando nos proporcionam memórias boas ou, por vezes, menos boas, mas que nos fazem recordar determinado lugar de forma especial. Além disso, conseguimos identificar as razões pelas quais as pessoas apreciam viajar, entre as quais se destacam a adaptação a novas realidades, o contacto com novas pessoas, a inspiração e o conhecimento cultural. Por outro lado, também compreendemos os motivos que levam algumas pessoas a não gostar desta prática, como o custo, o apego à zona de conforto e a perceção de confusão no processo. Contudo, o mais importante é reconhecer que estes desafios fazem parte da aventura e que é com eles que aprendemos. Kim Jong Un, leader of North Korea has revealed that he has a daughter, Kim Ju-Ae. He first introduced her after NBA player Dennis Rodman returned from his trip in 2013 from NK. Her first public appearance was made in November 2022 alongside her father while inspecting a ballistic missile test launch. She wasn’t known as Ju-Ae yet, but she was seen as ‘precious’ or ‘beloved’ daughter. Kim Il Sung, Jong Un's grandfather, first gained power when the Soviet Union appointed him after WW 2, and then he slowly changed the economy, media, and military. The Kim dynasty is already the longest dictatorship with a total of 78 years. What impact could she have on North Korea and will this dictatorship continue? By Noah  J.A. de Roo, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons When she was first introduced, Ju-Ae was seen beside her father at state affairs, and was believed to be seen giving her opinion on political matters, which reinforces her possibility as heir. Furthermore, she walks beside her father, not behind him, which, in North Korean culture, says a lot about respect, equality, and perception of power. She was widely believed to be 13 or 14 partly based on intelligence reports. They were expected to look into possible siblings, but have since distanced themselves from the assessment. In North Korea, women struggle to be treated equally to men. Female officials are rare, and female military commanders are even rarer. Furthermore, former NK official Ryu Hyun-Woo sees little possibility of Ju-Ae leading the country. As of early 2026, there are 28 confirmed female leaders. Ju Ae will most likely be the 29th female leader. In North Korea, women struggle to be treated equally as men. Female officials are rare, and female commanders are very unexpected. According to Ryu, in Pyongyang taxi drivers refuse to drive women as their first customers of the day because of a superstition that it brings misfortune. "If they do, they finish the ride then go to the back of their car and spit three times to dispel the bad luck," Ryu says. Information regarding North Koreans' opinion on Ju Ae is gathered by NK Intelligence, analysis of state media, and testimonies from defectors. Many people in North Korea disagree with Ju-Ae leading North Korea because of a patriarchal tradition of men being the rulers. The Kim dynasty has had the power passed down from father to son for three generations. RAND Corporation analyst Soo Kim completely doubts this ‘female as heir’ theory and actually believe that Kim has an older son and is using his daughter as a distraction or to make his image seem softer. But experts say that if Kim appoints her as his successor, her gender will not stand in the way of her ascent to power. "It was an intelligence failure," says Cheong Seong-chang, a North Korea watcher and vice-president at Sejong Institute who was an early proponent of the theory that Ju Ae will become the heir. They now believe that Ju-Ae is the oldest child and has a nine year old sister. Kim Jong Il died about 1 year after he introduced Kim Jong Un, which Kim Jong Un might be trying to avoid so the next leader is pre-chosen.  https://flic.kr/p/S8ioQC When Kim Jong Il died and Kim Jong Un took over at the age of 28, many people hoped that he would free North Korea and open NK up to the world, but that dream very quickly vanished when he executed his reformist uncle Jang Song Thaek in December 2013. Ju Ae is not expected to open up North Korea because of her frequent appearances inspecting military troops and missile test launches. Signs are showing that Kim Yo Jong is becoming Ju Ae's guardian and keep the ‘Iron Grip’ On Ju Ae regarding opening up North Korea.
The meaning of traditions is ways of doing things. A woman leading the country is not necessarily North Korea's way of doing it. In the past, there have been some minor protests against the communist and leadership in remote villages and towns. These have had consequences such as punishment and in some cases even death. North Korea intelligence surveys have been taken and have suggested that civilians think that even Ju-Ae’s children might not be accepted because they will bear a different family name. Ju-Ae is not considered of the Kim bloodline, but she is a full member of the family. Her children will possibly be considered a whole different family solely from their different names. There have been protests against the leadership, but a critical change like this could lead to a major protest, which is going to be a problem for national stability and regulation of power. Will Disney's new movie and shows reunite the galaxy or cause a new galactic civil war? Disney is planning on releasing one Star Wars movie and two shows this year. The movie is The Mandalorian and Grogu which will be released on May 22 this year. One of the shows will be a new season for Ahsoka which will come out late 2026 or early 2027, and the other show will be Maul-Shadow Lord set to be released on April 6 2026. Is this all a profit-driven play or something else that fans should look forward to? By Daniel  Ever since Disney bought Lucas Films in 2012, the fanbase has been split, with some people enjoying the new storylines and others preferring the old storylines. Many diehards have been calling Disney greedy and calling these new movies profit-driven and not connected enough to the old stories. One other question is whether all of this Star Wars media dilutes the franchise and makes the new movies less special, which might lead to less profit for the brand overall. Could this even change how Star Wars is seen forever? Dave Filoni, an executive producer for Star Wars said “we’re in a completely different era”. The fact that Filoni is saying this highlights how big of a risk Disney is taking with this new movie and shows. Filoni also said that “Episode VII was a completely different entity," but was still in the main story arc, unlike these new shows perhaps. One other thing is that it is not normal for a franchise to release so much media so quickly. If they keep doing this, they may take the shine out of Star Wars and make the new movies less special.  Claudio Marinangeli, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons A further drawback is that film critics are saying that the trailers are failing to create hype, which has led to a negative response from the fanbase already. This can lead to less viewers going to see the movies on the big screen. In the past, when Star Wars 1, 2 and 3 came out, they all had a very positive following with millions of people going to see them in movie theaters and some hardcore fans cosplaying and even having lightsaber duels in the theaters! That can be contrasted with 7, 8 and 9 which had very negative reviews (that continue even to this day), because of storytelling that was not at the same high level, less compelling acting and the films not capturing the original feel. One pro for Disney, however, is economic growth for the company. The first ever Star Wars movie that was released, Star Wars: A New Hope, has made 775 million USD (49.56 Billion meticais) in the 48 years it has been out. The new movie, however, is estimated to make up to 1 billion dollars (64 billion meticais).  Miguel Discart, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons One other pro is that this new movie could also revive Disney Star Wars if it is received positively. It could bring back the majority of the fanbase which could also act as an example for Disney of what the fans like, and renew people's faith in the franchise. Besides this, it can bring new fans into the Star Wars community, which can lead to more merchandise like lego, shirts and posters which might snowball into a more positive fanbase going forward. This can lead to a virtuous circle.
Overall, Disney has taken a major risk with this movie and these new shows released hot on each other's heels. They are trying something new to rejuvenate the franchise and try to bring fans back. But will this work? Ultimately, it's all up to the fans. Will the new Star Wars media shape a new era or end in disaster? Will the force be with Disney or with the dark forces against them? The Iran started two and a half months ago. Many people have died and economically the effects have been significant too. By Channy  Photo by Giorgos Barazoglou on Unsplash Globally, most people have the same challenge right now. The war by the US and Israel against Iran has impacted global fuel prices, which have spiked globally by about 40 percent. It is mostly due to Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz and also destroying or threatening the boats that try to pass. This is very significant because more than 20% of the global oil passes through the Strait of Hormuz. The interesting part is that something similar happened before. Egypt blocked the Suez canal in 1956 and the Suez canal was also a really important pathway for global trade because that route saved ships from going around the African coastline. British and French militaries tried to force Egypt to open it up again and eventually other countries like the US had to get involved.  Photo by Waldemar Brandt on Unsplash The Iran war started on February 28th 2026 with the US and Israel launching the first airstrikes to kill the Supreme Leader. The US overall launched more than 850 Precision Strike missiles by late March. Iran, on the other hand, fired more than 1,300 ballistic missiles and also sent self-destruct drones around the Middle East. The ballistic missiles and the drones that Iran has cannot reach the US, so instead they attacked the gulf targeting all the military bases. In terms of the economic problem, the main cause would be Iran blocking the strait of Hormuz where all the Middle East fuel transports from and to. This caused cars not to be able to fuel and in fact, right here in Mozambique, the oil price has gone up by more than 40 percent at times. Also the average cost of an oil ship is about 100 to 120 million dollars and Iran managed to destroy more than 20 ships. From a military perspective, Iran has no chance of winning because the US has more than 5000 nuclear bombs and is much more developed in their military. They also have Israel's strong army on their side. However, if you look at this geographically, Iran can just attack the U.A.E which in fact is what it is doing. If Iran had a nuclear bomb, this war would’ve been over already. For example, India and Pakistan both have nuclear bombs and so that’s why they don’t fight for real. The worst scenario would most likely be that Europe picks a side, China and Russia help Iran and so does most of Asia. It might escalate to World War 3. The most significant part is that Iran has still not opened the gate by early April and now the Americans have also blocked ships from passing. This highlights the fact that the world is going to keep facing a possible economic collapse in terms of oil and gas.
In terms of the future, it seems that the oil price will stay high and the production of oil will be unstable. However, many people think this conflict is about to be over since ultimately Iran wants money to rebuild infrastructure. That seems to be the reason why Iran apparently charged than 2-4 million dollars per ship to pass the Strait. Iran and America are talking now and there are hundreds of tankers waiting to pass. Will the countries find a way to agree and open up the trade again? So, will we end up with the worst case scenario where China and other countries join the conflict and help Iran? Or the best scenario, where Iran reopens the strait of Hormuz and the oil starts flowing again. The Taliban have made a decision that will affect every Afghan's mental health and possibly also new generations. In Afghanistan, they have been recently burning instruments and all music-related things. This is happening because they want a music-free country. The Taliban’s Directorate of Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Parwan on February 8th 2026 announced that “around 500 musical instruments were burned”. Afghan musicians live in the fear of being caught playing music, that would lead them to discrimination, imprisonment, torture and for women even sexual violence. The effects are not only for musicians but also for the population as Afghans are missing out on things like cultural music traditions. Besides this, they are also losing all the mental health benefits that music provides. By Emma  Photo by Feifei Peng on Unsplash The Taliban are not the first to ban music. The banning music journey goes all the way back in history and includes the Nazis, who banned jazz because it was seen as emotionally dangerous. Rock 'n roll was banned in the Soviet Union, East Germany, Iran and early United States radio studios because it was believed to lead to rebellion and sexual liberation. Hip hop was banned in China, Iran, Cuba and the United Arab Emirates because it promoted inappropriate messages and content. These are just some of the bans over time. Why would certain leaders ban music? Some of the reasons might be that they think that such music could push influence from other countries and may lead to political protests. Another reason might be they believe that such genres of music could favor moral corruption. Two of the reasons the Taliban have banned music are because they consider music a sin and because they think it causes displeasure to God. “Since their return in 2021, the Taliban have waged a war on music, claiming that it causes ‘moral corruption,” states journalist Sarah Dawood. Torture is not the only form of violence against musicians, in fact they suffer from things like discrimination, humiliation, imprisonment, rape and, in the most extreme cases, even death. Banning music has a wide range of negative effects, but one of the main ones is the loss of culture and tradition. Afghanistan has plenty of inspirational cultural music and songs; in fact it is famous for having one of the most characteristic folk music traditions in the world. An example of traditional music is Klasik, initially from South Asia. This type of music includes both instrumental and vocal forms. One example of precious things that the Afghans would be losing are the typical instruments used to create these magical cultural melodies. A representative of an instrument is the rubab, a lute with a short neck from Pashtun. Lutes can also be considered ancestors of the modern day guitar. Over 250 people from Afghanistan National Institute of Music moved to Portugal in late 2021, after the ban on music. It must have been devastating for all those musicians, because they couldn’t perform in front of their community and their citizens. The people that escaped from Afghanistan are called the “exiled orchestra" because they are denied artistic freedom at home. "The burning of musical instruments in Herat is just a small example of the cultural genocide that is taking place in Afghanistan under the leadership of the Taliban," said Music Educator Dr Ahmad Sarmast, who is now in Portugal. Culture is not the only thing that the Afghans are losing by music being banned. In fact, another thing they would be losing is all the mental benefits that music provides. According to Dhruva Koranne, the author of Positive and Negative Effects on Human Behaviour, “music is really helpful for things like reducing anxiety and improving mood. Music also has other benefits like improving memory, and helping with symptoms of depression.” The Taliban is known for its excessive use of violence. Since the moment they regained control, they have implemented several forms of harassment very similar to the late 1990s. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan has reported several violations of human rights since 2021. This is the the background that has led to Afghan musicians living in fear of things like torture. When will this end and people be able to listen and play music again? The US forces left Afghanistan in 2021 and since then the Taliban have had full power on the Afghan population. Without international control, it will be unlikely that the Taliban's mind on music will change just like everything else. Will the Taliban itself worsen its attitude with the lack of music? Will the future generations ever be able to hear live music? How will the Afghans that are still in Afghanistan be able to keep their culture alive? Only time will tell. This article explores the role of women in the struggle against the apartheid regime in South Africa between 1948 and 1994. It analyses the impact of their contributions on the state of the country during the era, while also acknowledging the limitations they faced, thereby highlighting the significance of their actions in the quest for South Africa's liberation. By Merciny  Participants of the Defiance Campaign (1952) Introduction In South Africa, apartheid was a system of institutional racial segregation that existed from 1948 to 1994, formally beginning with the National Party's victory in the general elections in 1948 and ending in April 1994, when the first multiracial elections took place. Segregation is the action or state of setting someone or something apart from others. Historically, segregation has occurred based on race and gender. Segregation had long been part of South Africa before the official establishment of the Apartheid System, as the colonial powers had already established land policies restricting Black, Asian, and Mixed peoples' access to land, such as the Native Administration Act (1927). Upon its victory in the general elections, the National Party, then led by Daniël François Malan, proceeded to create a formal, rigid and comprehensive system of legalised oppression that defined every aspect of life in South Africa. The beginning of apartheid was marked by legislative changes affecting key areas of life, such as the passing of the Prohibition of Mixed Marriages Act (1949), which prohibited interracial marriages and its extension, the Immorality Ammendament Act (1950) forbiding sexual relationships between whites and other races (Andrews); the Population Registration Act (1950), classifying every South African into a racial group: white, Black, Coloured, and later Indian; and the Group Areas Act (1950) mandating residential and business segregation, leading to forced removal of nonwhite South Africans from white-designated areas. While the South African parliament often excused the apartheid laws as a mechanism to allow the development of each ethnic group without interference and to safeguard their cultural identity, While the South African parliament often excused the apartheid laws as a mechanism to allow the development of each ethnic group without interference and to safeguard their cultural identity, in reality, Black, Asian, and mixed individuals felt the weight of oppression, with such laws serving as a constant reminder that they had lost their human rights within their own land, thus catalyzing the start of the antiapartheid struggle. Despite their active contribution to the success of the anti-apartheid struggle, the role played by South African women in it is often dismissed. This article aims to examine the role of women in the success of the anti-apartheid struggle. To fully understand how women's contributions impacted South African society during the apartheid era, this article will consider their impact in four areas of the struggle: mobilisation, education, the military, and gender equality, taking into account both the strengths and limitations of their contributions. As part of the research, both primary and secondary sources have been used. A particularly useful source for this research is the archival footage "This Week: Johannesburg (1968)," a primary source containing interviews with members of the Black Sash and others, while also providing a contemporaneous perspective on their political engagement. Although patriarchal structures marginalised women within the anti-apartheid movement, a close examination of their political activism, grassroots organising, and resistance reveals that women were an indispensable force in dismantling apartheid, ultimately proving that the struggle's success was inseparable from their contributions. Mobilisation For the purpose of this article, mobilisation refers to the strategic organisation and activation of people, labour, and national and international resources with the purpose of disrupting the apartheid regime and creating change. Women's capacity to mobilise was central to their involvement in the anti-apartheid struggle, instead of operating as an isolated effort. Their mobilisation manifested across multiple domains: through campaigns, journalism, and art, they raised awareness; through military participation, they demonstrated actionable resistance; and through advocacy for gender equality, they challenged the very structures that sought to silence them. The sections that follow examine each of these areas, collectively demonstrating how women's mobilisation was not a single event, but a sustained and multifaceted force. Section One: Education Women in South Africa used education and knowledge as mechanisms of resistance, using journalism, literature, and legal outreach to expose apartheid's injustices and empower marginalised communities. Amongst the prominent figures was Ruth the First, an investigative journalist who exposed racial oppression and gender inequality, making her a target of the regime (Iconic South African Women). She was then assassinated in 1982 by a government-attributed letter bomb, becoming a martyr of freedom of expression (Iconic South African Women). Similarly, Fatima Meer, co-founder of the Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), produced over 40 books documenting apartheid's abuses, inspiring critical awareness while demonstrating that intellectual work was as much of a weapon as physical protest (Iconic South African Women). Still in the area of literature, Sheena Duncan contributed through the Black Sash organisation, translating legal rights books into indigenous languages, directly equipping vulnerable communities with juridical knowledge to understand and challenge their oppression ("Black Sash"). On the other hand, Helen Suzman, the only Jewish woman in parliament for much of her career and twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, used her political platform to internationally expose human rights violations, proving that education and advocacy could penetrate even the highest level of power (Andrews). Despite their strong activism in educating people domestically and abroad, these women's contributions still possessed significant limitations. Helen Suzman, for instance, despite exposing apartheid, remained distant from the lived reality of vulnerable communities. Her statements about black passivity undermined her credibility, which created tension between awareness-raising and genuine solidarity (1960s South Africa documentary). Furthermore, Ruth First's assassination proves that the regimens suppression of educational resistance limited the reach of journalism and literature, making written materials largely inaccessible to illiterate or rural communities (Iconic South African Women). Thus, women's effort in educating the masses was significant; however, was limited by the challenges of accessibility and the regime's suppression of information, which hindered their ability to reach the most vulnerable communities effectively. Section Two: Military South African women challenged social gender roles by actively participating in armed resistance, demonstrating their direct involvement in the struggle. One of the most outstanding figures in women's representation in the armed forces is Thenjiwe Mtintso, who demonstrated that women were capable of transcending gender barriers in the military space, while also exposing the systematic sexism within the military space and political organisations, such as the ANC, which limited female contribution in leadership positions (Iny an Labelle). Similarly, Thandi Modise actively participated in the armed resistance, standing out as a notable military member whose presence in the struggle redefined gender roles. Furthermore, Winnie Mandela, upon Nelson Mandela's arrest, took the lead herself, becoming the president of the ANC Women's League, a member of the parliament, demonstrating radical resistance against the regime (Ardoin, Hartnett). Despite their impact, women's military participation also faced its own limitations. Thenjiwe Mtintso recounted that often times women in men-led organisations had to work much harder than their male colleagues, to prove their capacity and deserve the same opportunities (Iny and Labelle), supporting the idea that the oppression was not limited to the apartheid system, but was also within the movement itself. Not only that, Winnie Mandela faced controversy regarding her image, as her speeches were labelled as violence-inciting, which raised questions regarding her ethics in the movement, which significantly hindered their ability to receive international support (Ardoin, Hartnett). Overall, women's contributions to the military efforts largely went unrecognised, and their significance was often overlooked by the very leaders of the struggle. Section Three: Gender Equality While gender equality may seem unrelated to the struggle against apartheid, it was, in fact, a significant barrier to the movement's effectiveness. Despite their marginalisation and the limitations placed on their contributions, women actively challenged discrimination within both the apartheid and patriarchal systems by fighting for gender equality in South Africa. This struggle not only enhanced the anti-apartheid movement domestically but also resonated internationally. During the 1930s, South African trade unionists led the opposition to Afrikaner nationalism, advocating for equal rights irrespective of race. They pushed for access to free education for everyone and vocational training opportunities without racial distinctions (Andrews). The Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW), a multiracial organisation, went beyond the call for political freedom to demand social and economic rights, including fair wages, dignified working conditions, childcare provisions, and equality in marriages and jobs (Hiralal). Moreover, FEDSAW played a crucial role in drafting the Freedom Charter (1955), which was later incorporated into the country's constitution, highlighting the longstanding contributions of South African women. Despite their efforts, organisations such as the ANC, AZAPO, and PAC were male-dominated, often viewing women as passive supporters rather than active leaders ("Apartheid"). As a result, issues like gender inequality and domestic violence were frequently considered secondary to the anti-apartheid struggle ("Iconic South African Women"). Thenjiwe Mtintso described the gender inequality present in these organisations as a "cancer" that permeated the movement, affecting policies and men's behaviours in ways that hindered women's access to leadership positions (Iny and Labelle). Conclusion In conclusion, despite being marginalised and failing to receive adequate recognition for their contributions to the anti-apartheid struggle, women in South Africa tirelessly engaged in the fight through military participation, political activism, and grassroots organising. They resisted not only the apartheid system but also the patriarchal structures that impeded their activism. In doing so, women became a pivotal and indispensable force in dismantling apartheid, ultimately ensuring that the success of the struggle is inextricably linked to their contributions. References:
African Travel Canvas. “Iconic South African Women & Their Role in the Struggle against Apartheid.” African Travel Canvas, 6 Aug. 2012, africantravelcanvas.com/experiences/history-and-politics/iconic-south-african-women-and-their-role-in-the-struggle-against-apartheid/. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025. Andrews, Penelope. “Federation of South African Women (FEDSAW) | Activism & Importance.” Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 June 2014, www.britannica.com/topic/Federation-of-South-African-Women. Accessed 2025. Ardoin, Winston. “The Role of Women in Apartheid & the Anti-Apartheid Movement.” ArcGIS StoryMaps, Esri, 30 Nov. 2020, storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/646cf287c3de4f4d9aacdd47c936d344. Accessed July 2025. Hiralal, Kalpana. “Narratives and Testimonies of Women Detainees in the Anti-Apartheid Struggle.” Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity, vol. 29, no. 4 (106), 2015, pp. 34–44, www.jstor.org/stable/43824351. Accessed 2025. Iny, Shoshana, and Anya Labelle. “Black Women’s Contributions to South Africa’s Anti-Apartheid Movement.” Intersections, 15 Mar. 2025, intersectionsjournalmcgill.com/2025/03/15/black-womens-contributions-to-south-africas-anti-apartheid-movement/. Accessed June 2025. Mary Ingouville Burton. The Black Sash: Women for Justice and Peace. 2025. Auckland Park, South Africa, Jacana Media, 2015. South African History Online. “A History of Apartheid in South Africa.” South African History Online, 15 Mar. 2018, sahistory.org.za/article/history-apartheid-south-africa. Accessed Oct. 2025. ThamesTv. “1960s South Africa | Apartheid | Nadine Gordimer | Industry | This Week | 1968.” YouTube, 10 Apr. 2022, www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4a01h6PxW0. Accessed June 2025. ---. “Winnie Mandela Interview | South Africa | Sanctions | Daytime | 1985.” YouTube, 4 Apr. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=onYFq2PPYSY. Accessed 3 Oct. 2025. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Apartheid.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 3 Dec. 2018, www.britannica.com/topic/apartheid. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025. “The Role of Women in the Struggle against Apartheid, 15 July 1980.” South African History Online, 2017, www.sahistory.org.za/archive/role-women-struggle-against-apartheid-15-july-1980. Accessed 2025. “Truth Commission - Special Report - TRC Final Report - Volume 4, Section 1, Chapter.” Saha.org.za, 2025, sabctrc.saha.org.za/reports/volume4/chapter10/subsection5.htm. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025. Wikipedia Contributors. “Black Sash.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Sept. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sash. Accessed July 2025. |
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