Nagaland's Imnainla Jamir honoured with 'National Youth Icon Award'

Imnainla Jamir with her National Youth Icon Award trophy and citation. (Photo Courtesy: X)

NEW DELHI, (MExN): In a proud moment for Nagaland, Imnainla Jamir, Global Ambassador of MasterPeace COOLeaders, was awarded the prestigious 'National Youth Icon Award' during the National Youth Day celebrations in New Delhi. The event, which commemorates the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, celebrated Jamir's remarkable contributions to youth empowerment and social development.

Hi-Tech Group of Institutions presented the award at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi on January 12 to mark National Youth Day. The award ceremony was graced by Jual Oram, Minister of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, as the chief guest, along with a host of other dignitaries. Jamir, who follows in the footsteps of Olympic Gold Medalist Neeraj Chopra—a former recipient of the award—was recognized for her tireless work in promoting youth leadership and fostering global peace.

The prestigious National Youth Icon Awards are presented to honour youth success in various fields. This year, 30 outstanding youths from across the country were given the honour. Jamir's efforts in youth empowerment, social progress, and peacebuilding earned her this recognition as she continues to inspire others globally.

In a message on social media, Abu Metha, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Nagaland, congratulated Jamir, calling it a "proud moment for Nagaland" and a "terrific new benchmark for Girl Power."

Reflecting on her achievement, Jamir said, "Receiving the National Youth Icon Award is an indescribable honor. It’s not just a personal achievement but a testament to the incredible potential we all carry within us. This award reminds me that no dream is too big when we believe in ourselves and remain committed to our purpose. I hope it serves as an inspiration to others, showing that with passion and perseverance, we can overcome challenges and achieve greatness. I am deeply grateful for this recognition and for everyone who has been part of my journey."

Jamir also shared an empowering message for the youth of Nagaland, urging them to dream big and embrace their unique heritage.

“My message to the youth in Nagaland is to dream big, stay determined, and never underestimate the power of hard work. Our culture and heritage are rich and unique, and we have so much to offer the world. I encourage every young person to embrace their passions, remain grounded in their values, and strive to make a positive difference in their communities. Together, we can show that our talents and voices matter on a global stage.”Imnainla Jamir, known for her talent as a guitarist, gained national attention when she performed the Indian national anthem on her electric guitar at the 2022 Hornbill Festival. Her passion for social change was further recognized when she was honored with the H.E.R Award at the 6th edition of the ‘We The Women Festival’ in Jaipur in March 2023. Nagaland's Imnainla Jamir honoured with 'National Youth Icon Award' | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

Ross and Hugo Turner attempting to break a record, flying a paraglider-style aircraft at 10,000ft in the French Alps – via SWNS

The ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ announced they’ve broken a world record, by flying a tandem electric para-motor 8,000ft over the French Alps.

Ross and Hugo Turner, known as the Turner Twins, took the custom-made aircraft 2,438 meters high, floating over the mountains.

The British siblings have submitted the information on an application to FAI—the World Air Sports Federation—to claim a world record for tandem electric altitude.

The brothers based in Devon, England, have already set a world record while becoming the first twins to row the Atlantic Ocean.

For this recent flight, the twins had to wait months for the “perfect weather conditions.”

“It was great to get the weather we finally needed for the record and having waited months for perfect conditions we had the perfect flight,” said Hugo.

“The flight was smooth, which was surprising as we were expecting turbulent conditions, and the battery lasted much longer than we expected—probably due to the colder conditions keeping the battery cooler.”

Ross said their official observer for the record didn’t think the electric battery would be able to do it.

“He said we won’t have enough power, this won’t work. Thankfully, we proved him wrong.”

Ross and Hugo, the Turner Twins, on a para-motor flying over French Alps breaking altitude record – via SWNS

Their quest for adventure was born following a terrible auto accident in which Hugo broke his neck at age 17 and narrowly missed paralysis. In the mix of heightened emotions came a drive to follow their passion for exploration—always guided by their values and “always doing them together”.

The daring duo made headlines at age 21 when they rowed the Atlantic in just 41 days. They also helped set a world record as part of the youngest crew ever to complete that challenge.

Since then they have climbed Mt. Elbrus and they cycled 1,550 miles (2500km) across South American to reach another goal, traveling through deserts and jungles in the searing heat. The pair also used bikes to ride 2.6K across North America, cycling across mountains, desserts, and national parks.

They also attempted a hike across the Greenland and Iceland wearing kit and clothing worn by early polar explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The Turner Twins making final preparations for a world altitude record in a tandem electric paramotor – SWNS

During many of their missions they’re testing new technology, like driving the Cyberster EV car from MG Motors on a 10,000-mile drive from London to China, posting videos about their adventures in the red convertible electric sports car.

World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

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Teenage prodigy Gukesh D defeats Ding Liren to become youngest world chess champion

David Smerdon, The University of Queensland

Eighteen-year-old Indian prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju has become the new world chess champion, winning the final game of the title match after a dramatic blunder from the reigning champ, China’s Ding Liren.

Gukesh is now the youngest world champion in chess history, and the first Indian to hold the title since Vishwanathan Anand lost it to Magnus Carlsen in 2013.

Ding was gracious in defeat, saying

Considering [my play], it’s a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets. I will continue to play, and I hope I can show the strength like this time.

For Gukesh, the victory fulfilled a childhood dream. At the age of 11, in a video clip that later went viral, he told an interviewer “I want to be the youngest world chess champion.”

In a post-match press conference, Gukesh said spotting Ding’s blunder “was probably the best moment of my life”.

The road to the title

Ding became world champion in 2023 after an unlikely journey. He almost missed qualifying due to COVID lockdowns in China, and even then only made it into the championship match when Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin was disqualified over his support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Ding is renowned for his kind demeanour and defensive skills, having once achieved a record-breaking 100-game unbeaten streak. However, after defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi to claim the champion’s title in 2023, he struggled both on and off the board. Plagued by fatigue and depression, he dropped to 23rd in the world rankings.

In stark contrast, Gukesh has been a force of nature in 2024. He led the Indian team to an historic gold medal at the biennial Chess Olympiad, personally achieving a performance rating of 3,056 – the highest at the event, winning the gold medal on the top board.

Drama on the board

The championship match – a series of 14 games held in Singapore and sponsored by Google – was marked by twists and turns. Ding was regarded as the clear underdog before play began, but he set the tone for tense battle when he pulled off a shock victory in game 1, playing black. In chess, the player with the white pieces has an advantage, so when games at the top level are not drawn it is usually the white player who comes out ahead.

Before game 14, Ding and Gukesh were tied with two wins each. It was widely expected the game would be a draw, setting the scene for a round of high-speed games to break the tie.

When the game began, Ding – playing white – achieved a small advantage out of the opening, but was unable to capitalise on it and instead settled for a technically equal endgame.

However, after four hours of play, just as the game seemed destined for a draw, Ding made a catastrophic blunder, handing Gukesh a decisive advantage.

On his 55th move, Ding offered a trade of rooks, attempting to simplify the position and steer the game towards a draw. However, this offered an opening for the young challenger to also trade off the remaining bishops and reach a winning king-and-pawn endgame. In the process, he secured his place as the 18th world chess champion.

Elite commentators such as former world champions Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik and grandmasters Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura criticised the quality of play throughout the match, with both players missing several key opportunities.

Following the final game, Carlsen labelled Ding’s fatal mistake “one of the worst blunders we’ve seen in a world championship.” Because the final position is a textbook chess endgame studied by all grandmasters in their youths, many expressed shock at the abrupt and anticlimactic conclusion to the sport’s most elite contest.

Yet the sheer drama of the three-week match, with its high stakes and emotional rollercoasters, kept millions of fans riveted across the globe.

The Carlsen question

Hanging over the world chess championship is the presence of 34-year-old Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, widely regarded as the greatest chess player of all time. (Disclosure: I once played a drawn game with Carlsen, at the 2016 Chess Olympiad.) In 2022, citing a lack of motivation, Carlsen relinquished the title of world champion.

However, Carlsen continues to play chess, and he is still number one in the International Chess Federation (FIDE) rankings. His presence casts doubt on the idea that the winner of the championship is “the best player in the world”.

Gukesh’s victory, while historic, doesn’t resolve this debate. With a chess rating of 2,777 after this match, he will remain outside the world’s top three by rating. (Chess ratings are based on the Elo system, a complicated method for calculating the relative skill levels of players based on their previous wins and losses.)

Remarkably, he is not even the highest-rated Indian. His 21-year-old compatriot, Arjun Erigaisi, is rated 2,801.

Yet Gukesh’s win may signal something larger: a generational shift, and the emergence of a new star in the chess universe.

In his post-match press conference, Gukesh acknowledged that “becoming the World Champion doesn’t mean that I’m the best player in the world – there’s obviously Magnus”.

Carlsen himself remarked that Gukesh had shown the potential to “establish himself as the number-two player in the world”, before adding “and who knows, maybe in the not-too-distant future, the number one”.

What’s next for chess?

The triumph of the 18-year-old Gukesh represents the dawn of a new era. His victory also underscores the growing influence of India – the gold medallists for both the Open and Women’s competitions at the recent chess Olympiad – in global chess.

For Ding, the defeat is a heartbreaking end to a short, challenging reign. Yet his resilience in reaching this stage, despite his personal struggles, has not gone unnoticed by fans around the world.

The championship itself, as a showdown between players from China and India – two nations with over a billion people each – has captured global attention and highlighted the game’s surging popularity. Chess has experienced a renaissance in recent years, fuelled by the pandemic-induced shift to online play and pop-culture events such as the Netflix drama The Queen’s Gambit.

Platforms such as Chess.com and Lichess have turned the game into a spectator sport, with live commentary from grandmasters such as Carlsen and Nakamura drawing huge audiences. For India, Gukesh’s victory could ignite a new wave of chess enthusiasm, cementing the country’s status as a rising superpower in the game.

As chess fans celebrate the rise of a prodigy, the future of the sport looks brighter than ever.

David Smerdon, Assistant Professor, School of Economics, The University of Queensland

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

Ross and Hugo Turner attempting to break a record, flying a paraglider-style aircraft at 10,000ft in the French Alps – via SWNS

The ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ announced they’ve broken a world record, by flying a tandem electric para-motor 8,000ft over the French Alps.

Ross and Hugo Turner, known as the Turner Twins, took the custom-made aircraft 2,438 meters high, floating over the mountains.

The British siblings have submitted the information on an application to FAI—the World Air Sports Federation—to claim a world record for tandem electric altitude.

The brothers based in Devon, England, have already set a world record while becoming the first twins to row the Atlantic Ocean.

For this recent flight, the twins had to wait months for the “perfect weather conditions.”

“It was great to get the weather we finally needed for the record and having waited months for perfect conditions we had the perfect flight,” said Hugo.

“The flight was smooth, which was surprising as we were expecting turbulent conditions, and the battery lasted much longer than we expected—probably due to the colder conditions keeping the battery cooler.”

Ross said their official observer for the record didn’t think the electric battery would be able to do it.

“He said we won’t have enough power, this won’t work. Thankfully, we proved him wrong.”

Ross and Hugo, the Turner Twins, on a para-motor flying over French Alps breaking altitude record – via SWNS

Their quest for adventure was born following a terrible auto accident in which Hugo broke his neck at age 17 and narrowly missed paralysis. In the mix of heightened emotions came a drive to follow their passion for exploration—always guided by their values and “always doing them together”.

The daring duo made headlines at age 21 when they rowed the Atlantic in just 41 days. They also helped set a world record as part of the youngest crew ever to complete that challenge.

Since then they have climbed Mt. Elbrus and they cycled 1,550 miles (2500km) across South American to reach another goal, traveling through deserts and jungles in the searing heat. The pair also used bikes to ride 2.6K across North America, cycling across mountains, desserts, and national parks.

They also attempted a hike across the Greenland and Iceland wearing kit and clothing worn by early polar explorers like Sir Ernest Shackleton.

The Turner Twins making final preparations for a world altitude record in a tandem electric paramotor – SWNS

During many of their missions they’re testing new technology, like driving the Cyberster EV car from MG Motors on a 10,000-mile drive from London to China, posting videos about their adventures in the red convertible electric sports car. ‘World’s Most Intrepid Twins’ Break World Altitude Record Flying Over The Alps at 8,000-ft in Electric Paraglider

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World youth unemployment rate lowest for 15 years: UN

GENEVA - Global youth unemployment is at its lowest level for 15 years, the United Nations said on Monday, though not all regions have yet recovered from the Covid-19 slump.

The number of 15- to 24-year-olds who are not in employment, education or training (NEET) is concerning, the UN's labour agency said, adding that the post-Covid-19 pandemic recovery has not been universal in all regions.

"Young people in certain regions and many young women are not seeing the benefits of the economic recovery," the International Labour Organization said.

At 64.9 million, the total number of unemployed young people worldwide in 2023 was the lowest since the start of the millennium, the ILO said.

At 13 percent, the youth unemployment rate last year represents a 15-year low and a fall from the pre-pandemic rate of 13.8 percent in 2019, it said.

"It is expected to fall further to 12.8 percent this year and next," it added.

"The picture, however, is not the same across regions. In the Arab States, East Asia and South-East Asia and the Pacific, youth unemployment rates were higher in 2023 than in 2019."

The ILO's Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 report cautioned over the growing casualisation of work for young people -- and the widening gap in the supply of young graduates and the number of suitable jobs for them to take up.

It said too many young people were NEETs and opportunities to access decent jobs were limited in emerging and developing economies.

The NEET rate stood at 20.4 percent in 2023 -- and two in three NEETs are women.

The NEET rate was 28.1 percent for young women in 2023, and 13.1 percent for young men.

Globally, more than half of young workers are in the informal employment.

Only in high- and upper-middle-income economies are the majority of young workers today in regular, secure work.

The report said that despite the positive economic and labour market signals, surveys show young people are increasingly anxious about the future.

"Many young people today feel stressed about job loss and job stability, the state of the economy, a lack of social mobility across generations, and their prospects for eventual financial independence," it said. World youth unemployment rate lowest for 15 years: UN

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Teens and screens

New Delhi, Technology has become ubiquitous over time, keeping us informed and connected to the world like never before. But for parents, this new digital world can be a bit of a mystery, especially when it comes to managing their kids’ screen time and content consumption.

With 95% of teens now owning a smartphone and 45% stating they are online 'almost constantly', understanding healthy screen time habits could not be more imperative. Excessive technology usage can lead to issues like shorter attention spans, disrupted sleep cycles, and reduced academic performance. However, at the same time, the internet is also full of useful information if leveraged wisely.

Let’s explore how parents and kids can make the most of technology, without letting it take over their lives.

Crafting Responsible Digital Lifestyles

Kids today are the first generation growing up surrounded by technology. As they grow and develop, digital media becomes a big part of their lives. This puts a lot of pressure on parents to show them how to use technology healthily, and it’s completely up to them how they can teach their kids to thrive, not just online, but in the real world as well.

How much screen time is too much?

According to the guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2016, it’s crucial for children, between the ages of 2 and 5, to have no more than an hour of screen time each day. This helps their brains grow healthy and strong. Plus, it leaves plenty of time for important stuff like sleep, playing outside, and spending quality time with the people taking care of them.

The organization recommends setting clear boundaries and focusing on high-quality content instead of just letting kids passively consume entertainment media. They also emphasize that playtime isn’t just for little ones. Even for teenagers, having time to play freely is essential to boost their brain power, keep them physically active, socialize, and even support their emotional health.

While the 2016 recommendations focused predominantly on traditional devices like TV, computers, and video games, today's reality of smartphones warrants even greater vigilance on the back of its constant access.

Potential Risks

Excessive immersion in screens correlates strongly with health issues like obesity, sleep deprivation, symptoms of depression, and reduced academic achievement.

Entertainment content and social media platforms give us instant rewards - a like here, a comment there, and we feel good. But here’s the catch. When we’re scrolling and swiping, we’re not doing much else.

We might be missing out on things that help us grow as individuals - like playing sports, pursuing hobbies, hanging out with friends, getting creative, or even spending quality time with family. And because everything online happens so fast, we might find it harder to be patient in the real world. So, while it’s fun to get lost in the online world, let’s not forget to balance it with the real one

Additionally, studies reveal that over 50% of adolescents report being bullied online. Screen time necessitates constant parental guidance regarding cyberbullying, privacy protection, avoiding predators, and reporting abuse.

Benefits

While there are valid concerns about the use of technology, it’s not entirely fair to demonize it, especially given how it’s woven into every aspect of our lives. When used mindfully, the internet can be a treasure trove of resources for young people, offering endless opportunities for learning, creativity, and personal growth.

Think about it. There’s a wealth of educational content on a wide range of topics, allowing kids to learn at their own pace and in line with their interests. Digital tools spark creativity and let them experiment with things like photo editing, coding, game design, and animation. Staying tech-savvy is key to success and satisfaction in the future.

And let’s not forget about social media. It can provide a sense of connection and community support. Young people facing common challenges, like exam stress or college applications, can find solace in shared experiences, especially when these discussions are held openly and under parental guidance. For those who don’t have local access to certain hobbies, online groups can be a lifeline, helping them pursue their passions and develop new skills. Even esports and some online games can sharpen strategic thinking and leadership skills. So, outright banning technology seems like a missed opportunity to tap into its potential in a meaningful way.

Strategies for Finding Balance

Establish Trust Through Open Dialogue: Instead of laying down the law arbitrarily, have an open conversation with your kids about online behavior and boundaries. Make sure they understand the possible consequences of overuse and risky actions but also point out the positive ways they can use the internet. This approach not only shows respect for their perspective but also helps them understand the importance of being responsible online. They’ll be more likely to make smart choices and view any restrictions you set (like using parent-controlled apps) as helpful guidelines, rather than oppressive rules. Set Reasonable Time Limits It’s a good idea to check out pediatric guidelines and recommendations for screen time, keeping in mind that kids with special needs might have different requirements. Using the built-in controls on devices, you can set daily limits and schedules, with some extra time for wrapping up tasks. This approach helps kids learn to manage their time and prevents the shock of sudden restrictions.

Role Model Healthy Technology Habits: As caregivers, it’s important to show kids how to balance tech use with real-life interactions. Simple actions like putting phones away during conversations, meals, and family time, or excusing yourself to take urgent calls or messages, can make a big difference. By demonstrating responsible tech use, you’re teaching kids valuable digital etiquette.

Use Built-In Monitoring Tools: Consider activating parental controls on devices to block suspicious contacts or apps and keep an eye out for potential issues like bullying or grooming. Location-tracking apps can also provide an extra layer of safety. These tools can help keep kids safe online without resorting to snooping, which can violate their privacy and trust.

Foster Transparent Dialogue About Online Lives: Try having weekly check-ins to talk about your kids’ online experiences. Ask about the apps they’re using, who they’re chatting with, how they feel about their screen time, and whether they’ve encountered any problems like bullying. The goal is to work through any issues together, helping them stay open to discussing problems and learning how to handle challenges on their own.

Encourage Diverse Interests Beyond Technology: Encourage your kids to explore hobbies like sports, music, and arts to fuel their creativity. Make time for offline family activities, like board games or just chatting, especially during device-free weekends. This can help kids develop a well-rounded identity, boost their self-esteem, and find a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.Parenting in the digital age is all about balance. Technology isn’t the enemy, but it’s not the only solution either. When used wisely, it can be a powerful tool for a child’s development. By promoting open communication, setting sensible limits, and encouraging a range of interests, parents can guide their kids to make the most of technology while keeping a healthy balance with the real world., Teens and screens | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Teens and screens

New Delhi, February 9 (IANSlife) Technology has ubiquitous over time, keeping us informed and connected to the world like never before. But for parents, this new digital world can be a bit of a mystery, especially when it comes to managing their kids’ screen time and content consumption.

With 95% of teens now owning a smartphone and 45% stating they are online 'almost constantly', understanding healthy screen time habits could not be more imperative. Excessive technology usage can lead to issues like shorter attention spans, disrupted sleep cycles, and reduced academic performance. However, at the same time, the internet is also full of useful information if leveraged wisely.

Let’s explore how parents and kids can make the most of technology, without letting it take over their lives.

Crafting Responsible Digital Lifestyles

Kids today are the first generation growing up surrounded by technology. As they grow and develop, digital media becomes a big part of their lives. This puts a lot of pressure on parents to show them how to use technology healthily, and it’s completely up to them how they can teach their kids to thrive, not just online, but in the real world as well.

How much screen time is too much?

According to the guidelines issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2016, it’s crucial for children, between the ages of 2 and 5, to have no more than an hour of screen time each day. This helps their brains grow healthy and strong. Plus, it leaves plenty of time for important stuff like sleep, playing outside, and spending quality time with the people taking care of them.

The organization recommends setting clear boundaries and focusing on high-quality content instead of just letting kids passively consume entertainment media. They also emphasize that playtime isn’t just for little ones. Even for teenagers, having time to play freely is essential to boost their brain power, keep them physically active, socialize, and even support their emotional health.

While the 2016 recommendations focused predominantly on traditional devices like TV, computers, and video games, today's reality of smartphones warrants even greater vigilance on the back of its constant access.

Potential Risks

Excessive immersion in screens correlates strongly with health issues like obesity, sleep deprivation, symptoms of depression, and reduced academic achievement.

Entertainment content and social media platforms give us instant rewards - a like here, a comment there, and we feel good. But here’s the catch. When we’re scrolling and swiping, we’re not doing much else.

We might be missing out on things that help us grow as individuals - like playing sports, pursuing hobbies, hanging out with friends, getting creative, or even spending quality time with family. And because everything online happens so fast, we might find it harder to be patient in the real world. So, while it’s fun to get lost in the online world, let’s not forget to balance it with the real one

Additionally, studies reveal that over 50% of adolescents report being bullied online. Screen time necessitates constant parental guidance regarding cyberbullying, privacy protection, avoiding predators, and reporting abuse.

Benefits

While there are valid concerns about the use of technology, it’s not entirely fair to demonize it, especially given how it’s woven into every aspect of our lives. When used mindfully, the internet can be a treasure trove of resources for young people, offering endless opportunities for learning, creativity, and personal growth.

Think about it. There’s a wealth of educational content on a wide range of topics, allowing kids to learn at their own pace and in line with their interests. Digital tools spark creativity and let them experiment with things like photo editing, coding, game design, and animation. Staying tech-savvy is key to success and satisfaction in the future.

And let’s not forget about social media. It can provide a sense of connection and community support. Young people facing common challenges, like exam stress or college applications, can find solace in shared experiences, especially when these discussions are held openly and under parental guidance. For those who don’t have local access to certain hobbies, online groups can be a lifeline, helping them pursue their passions and develop new skills. Even esports and some online games can sharpen strategic thinking and leadership skills. So, outright banning technology seems like a missed opportunity to tap into its potential in a meaningful way.

Strategies for Finding Balance

Establish Trust Through Open Dialogue: Instead of laying down the law arbitrarily, have an open conversation with your kids about online behavior and boundaries. Make sure they understand the possible consequences of overuse and risky actions but also point out the positive ways they can use the internet. This approach not only shows respect for their perspective but also helps them understand the importance of being responsible online. They’ll be more likely to make smart choices and view any restrictions you set (like using parent-controlled apps) as helpful guidelines, rather than oppressive rules. Set Reasonable Time Limits It’s a good idea to check out pediatric guidelines and recommendations for screen time, keeping in mind that kids with special needs might have different requirements. Using the built-in controls on devices, you can set daily limits and schedules, with some extra time for wrapping up tasks. This approach helps kids learn to manage their time and prevents the shock of sudden restrictions.

Role Model Healthy Technology Habits: As caregivers, it’s important to show kids how to balance tech use with real-life interactions. Simple actions like putting phones away during conversations, meals, and family time, or excusing yourself to take urgent calls or messages, can make a big difference. By demonstrating responsible tech use, you’re teaching kids valuable digital etiquette.

Use Built-In Monitoring Tools: Consider activating parental controls on devices to block suspicious contacts or apps and keep an eye out for potential issues like bullying or grooming. Location-tracking apps can also provide an extra layer of safety. These tools can help keep kids safe online without resorting to snooping, which can violate their privacy and trust.

Foster Transparent Dialogue About Online Lives: Try having weekly check-ins to talk about your kids’ online experiences. Ask about the apps they’re using, who they’re chatting with, how they feel about their screen time, and whether they’ve encountered any problems like bullying. The goal is to work through any issues together, helping them stay open to discussing problems and learning how to handle challenges on their own.

Encourage Diverse Interests Beyond Technology: Encourage your kids to explore hobbies like sports, music, and arts to fuel their creativity. Make time for offline family activities, like board games or just chatting, especially during device-free weekends. This can help kids develop a well-rounded identity, boost their self-esteem, and find a healthy balance between their online and offline lives.

Parenting in the digital age is all about balance. Technology isn’t the enemy, but it’s not the only solution either. When used wisely, it can be a powerful tool for a child’s development. By promoting open communication, setting sensible limits, and encouraging a range of interests, parents can guide their kids to make the most of technology while keeping a healthy balance with the real world. Teens and screens | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

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Iowa Teen Has Donated 7,000 Pounds of Produce from Her Own Garden to Food Banks: ‘A really good feeling’

Lauren Schroeder – FFA, Facebook.

When Iowa teen Lauren Schroeder showed up to a community food drive during COVID, she didn’t see a lot that actually nourished people—just a lot of boxed and canned goods.

She decided to become the change she wanted to see, and after receiving a half-acre of land from her parents, she grew 7,000 pounds of produce with a market value of around $15,000 and gave it all away to food banks and non-profits in the Quad Cities area.

The senior from Calamus-Wheatland High School likes to tend cattle and play softball, and had never managed a garden before, but according to her mother Katie Schroeder, she took studies of agronomy and gardening to heart.

Her work drew the attention of the education-industry organization called Future Farmers of America, which gave her a small grant for supplies and seeds. She received help from her younger siblings, but still put in the hard yards of watering and deweeding—2 to 3 hours in total every day.

Her work, and FFA’s trust, soon bore fruit, and she began donating 15 types of veggies to organizations like Carroll Assistance Center, Wheatland Nursing Home, Café on Vine, River Bend Food Bank, Lost Nation Food Pantry, Family Resources, Lady of the Prairie, and Community Action of Eastern Iowa.

“It was a really good feeling to know that anyone who wanted fresh vegetables would be able to get them,” Lauren told the Washington Post. “I knew that I wanted to keep going.”

After receiving a second grant from Future Farmers of America, she turned her half acre into a full acre, and expanded the number of vegetables to 20 different species.

Her goal is to donate 20,000 pounds of vegetables by the time she graduates next June.“How could you not be proud,” said her mother Katie, “she really chose to focus on learning about agronomy, learning about gardening, learning about vegetables, but just really taking it to the next level and actually helping people out with it.”Iowa Teen Has Donated 7,000 Pounds of Produce from Her Own Garden to Food Banks: ‘A really good feeling’

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At Just 19, Runner with Down’s Syndrome Makes History as the Youngest Impaired Person to Finish the London Marathon

Mom Ceri and her son Lloyd at the opening of the race – released to the press by family

19-year-old Lloyd Martin has become the youngest person ever to finish the London Marathon with Down Syndrome.

Receiving a Guinness World Records plaque at the finishing line, Martin says it’s a dream come true, and celebrated the 26.4 miles with some pretty fly dance moves for someone with impaired motor function.

He ran continuously for the first 14 miles—a personal best—before switching to bouts of walking and jogging.

“In Lloyd’s words, it’s achieving his dream,” said his mom, Ceri Hooper. “Really anything is possible if

 

you put your mind to it. With a bit of work, you can achieve it.”

Hooper represented Wales internationally in track and field competitions, and ensured that her son Lloyd had all the training and motivation he needed when he set his mind on the task of a marathon.

He had developed his strength and stamina mainly through 5k races.

She herself has run six marathons in her life: 4x in London, the Boston Marathon, and the Chicago edition.The Special Olympics organization for Great Britain helped Lloyd get everything prepared for the race, where he became the youngest person ever to finish in the intellectual impairment category. At Just 19, Runner with Down’s Syndrome Makes History as the Youngest Impaired Person to Finish the London Marathon

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Teen with Incredibly Rare Genetic Condition is Cured in World First By British Doctors

Kai Xue with her mom and team members from University Hospitals at North Midlands – NHS Trust via SWNS

A teen diagnosed with an incredibly rare genetic condition has become the first person in the world to be cured, thanks to a team of pioneering British doctors.

13-year-old Kai Xue is one of just 21 people in the world stricken with a disease called WILD syndrome, which impairs cells, causes lymphedema and warts, and leads to infections—but she was also diagnosed with severe chylous ascites, a potentially fatal illness that caused 28 liters of lymphatic fluid to collect within her abdomen.

It took over a decade to find a special team of doctors who could locate the cause of the fluid buildup from chylous ascites—and stop it for good.

Kai was born with an abnormal lymphatic system and her mother Ning Chen said they spent her daughter’s childhood in the UK visiting different hospitals and had even travelled to China to see if she could get treatment there.

But more than a decade later, Kai was finally cured after she was diagnosed by Dr. Mona Mossad, a national expert in lymphatic intervention.

The doctor went on to work alongside experienced surgeons to remove the excess fluid from Kai’s body, while also fixing a leak that had developed in her liver.

After a five-week stay at Staffordshire Children’s Hospital at Royal Stoke, which is run by University Hospitals at North Midlands NHS Trust, she was finally able to return home to her grateful family.

“Throughout her childhood, we were under the care of a number of different hospitals to try to find out what the matter was, but nobody knew the cause,” said her relieved mom.

“We tried everything, from restrictive diets to even flying to China for treatment. “We’re very excited to finally be going home, I still cannot believe it.”

When Dr. Mossad, a consultant interventional radiologist, was first introduced to Kai, there was still some debate over her diagnosis.

“Kai was in a very difficult situation. Nobody could diagnose the cause of the leak that was leading to the build-up of lymphatic fluid into her abdomen over the years.

“That leak caused two major problems. The first being the large amount of fluids which were leaking into her abdominal space causing severe abdominal distention and pressure on internal organs. The second was that if we drained these fluids to relieve the pressure, we would be removing all the nutritional fluid from her body- protein, fat, antibodies, electrolytes and white blood cells.

“These types of leaks are usually very difficult and multifactorial, there is not just one cause for it. So clinically and radiologically we tried to eliminate the causes starting with the least-invasive,” recalls Dr. Mossad.

After initially carrying out a procedure to improve her lymphatic drainage, they then embarked on more challenging surgery to block lymphatic vessels in her liver that measured less than one-tenth of a millimeter.

Dr. Mossad said that because of Kai’s age and size, they had to special order smaller needles that would work.

“We successfully managed to find a large leak that was going into her abdominal cavity from the left lobe in her liver and were able to repair the leak using a special surgical glue.”

Kai was also under the care of Dr. Yvonne Slater, a Consultant Pediatric Gastroenterologist at the teaching hospital, who was thrilled that the young teen had responded so well.

“We are all over the moon for Kai, who is the first child to undergo this treatment anywhere in the world.” said Dr. Slater.

“It was an extremely long, difficult, and specialized case, over the two procedures that (also) involved the skills and dedication of many teams at University Hospitals at North Midlands—including Radiology, Anesthetics, Children’s Intensive Care, Gastroenterology and Dietetics.

“Despite this, Kai has remained remarkably robust, and after coming to us very weak, she has left a completely different girl, smiling for the first time in a long time.

“I’m delighted that everybody has moved heaven and earth to do the right thing for them.”

Kai’s mother praised the doctors and surgeons following the successful outcome.“I’m so happy for the excellent care, and everybody was so nice and helpful and they tried their best to help us. The whole team is amazing.”Teen with Incredibly Rare Genetic Condition is Cured in World First By British Doctors

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More than one alcoholic drink a day raises heart disease risk for women

Heart_dreamstime_m_34545146

Young to middle-aged women who drink more than one alcoholic beverage a day, on average, were more likely to develop coronary heart disease than people who drink less, according to new research by Kaiser Permanente Northern California.

Women in the study who reported drinking eight or more alcoholic beverages per week were 33 to 51 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease. And women who binge drink – three alcoholic beverages per day – were 68 percent more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those who drink in moderation, the research showed.

“There has been an increasing prevalence of alcohol use among young and middle-aged women as women may feel they’re protected against heart disease until they’re older, but this study shows that even in that age group, women who drink more than the recommended amount of one drink per day or tend to binge drink, are at risk for coronary heart disease,” Jamal Rana, a cardiologist with the Permanente Medical Group and the study’s lead author, wrote in an email.

The study will be presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session in early April. It was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Institute on Alcohol 

Abuse and Alcoholism.

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Risk is highest for binge drinking

The study used data from 432,265 adults, ages 18 to 65, who received care in the Kaiser Permanente Northern California integrated health organization. The group was composed of about 243,000 men and 189,000 women who filled out routine assessments between 2014 and 2015 in which they reported their alcohol intake. Researchers then looked at the coronary heart disease diagnoses among participants over the four years that followed.

Participants were divided into three groups, according to their alcohol intake: low (one to two drinks per week), moderate (three to 14 drinks per week for men and three to seven drinks per week for women), or high (15 or more drinks per week for men and eight or more drinks per week for women).

Participants were also categorized as either engaging in binge drinking or not, with binge drinking being defined for men as having more than four drinks in a single day and for women as having more than three drinks a day, in the prior three months. Those who reported no alcohol use were not included.

During the four-year follow-up period, 3,108 participants were diagnosed with coronary heart disease. Higher levels of alcohol consumption were associated with a higher incidence of coronary heart disease. Both men and women who reported heavy episodic drinking, or binge drinking, had the highest risk.

The link between alcohol and coronary heart disease proved to be especially strong among women, the data showed.

Coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease, is the most common type of heart disease in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disease develops when the arteries of the heart are unable to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart because of plaque buildup.

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American women, according to the CDC. Symptoms differ, and often there are none until people suffer from a heart attack or other problem, a NIH report said.

“There has long been this idea that alcohol is good for the heart, but more and more evidence is challenging that notion,” Rana wrote.

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Alcohol is a risk factor for many health issues

Alcohol is actually a toxin to the heart, said Nieca Goldberg, a clinical associate professor of medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and medical director of Atria New York City. Alcohol raises blood pressure, increases the risk for heart rhythm problems, especially during times of binge drinking, is associated with an enlarged heart and is a toxin to the heart muscle, she said.

“I think this is an important study to do because for a while, people thought that alcohol was protective against the heart because of earlier studies that were done in the past. But in fact, we don’t prescribe alcohol to fight heart disease,” she said.

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Alcohol use is rising among women

The link between alcohol and heart disease for women is cause for concern, given that alcohol use among women is on the rise. While men used to drink more, studies over the past several years show that gap is closing.

Approximately 13 percent of adult women report binge drinking, with 25 percent of those women saying they do so at least weekly, on average, and 25 percent saying they consume at least six drinks during a binge drinking occasion, according to the CDC. A study in July in JAMA Network Open showed the number of alcohol-related deaths among women was rising at a faster rate than those among men, particularly for people 65 and older.

“I think this raises an important issue, because oftentimes, we think of heavy drinkers as men only. But we have to have heightened awareness that women may be heavy alcohol drinkers,” Goldberg said.

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Occasional binge drinking can affect heart health

But it wasn’t just heavy drinkers who were affected, said Mary Ann McLaughlin, cardiologist at the Mount Sinai Fuster Heart Hospital. The study is interesting because it showed that even occasional drinking, if it reaches the level of binge drinking, can affect heart health, she said.

There are those who thought just drinking on the weekends was not a big deal, because they weren’t drinking every day, she said. “But the fact is, if they have more than four drinks as a woman or more than five drinks as a man on one day, in the past three months, they were at increased risk,” McLaughlin said.

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Women are more adversely affected by alcohol

It is not a surprise that alcohol poses a higher risk for women than men when it comes to heart health, said C. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai.

Women are more adversely affected than men by a lot of things such as cigarettes and pharmaceuticals and a bottle of beer or a glass of wine, where the dosage for men and women is the same and yet women are smaller, she said, referring to women being physically smaller, on average. Women also metabolize differently, their blood pressure is different, their liver function is different, they even deposit fat differently, Merz said.

“Women and men are built differently,” she said, noting she wasn’t even referring to the obvious reproductive differences. “It could be that in addition to body surface area … there are just pure biological differences in how the alcohol is metabolized.”

It’s possible to mitigate some of the ill effects of alcohol, the experts said. For instance, when people reduce or stop drinking, their blood pressure can improve and some lose weight as alcohol is a sugar that is no longer being consumed.

But issues such as enlargement of the heart happen with long-term heavy drinking, and even if the person stops, that may not improve, they said.“If one stops drinking, some of the risk could reverse,” McLaughlin said. “The degree of improvement would depend on the age of the person and number of years of drinking.”More than one alcoholic drink a day raises heart disease risk for women

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‘Do I have to get it in writing?’ Even with compulsory lessons, some teens are confused about how consent works

Tirachard Kumtanom/Pexels, CC BY Giselle Woodley, Edith Cowan University and Lelia Green, Edith Cowan University

Consent education has been mandatory in Australian schools since 2023.

Amid growing public understanding we need to reduce sexual violence and teach young people about healthy relationships, consent is now part of the national curriculum until Year 10.

But is this education working?

Our research with teens suggest some young people are not coming away with an adequate understanding of consent or how to use it in their relationships.

What is consent education supposed to involve?

Before 2023, consent was taught at the discretion of each school as part of relationships and sexuality education classes. The Morrison government announced age-appropriate consent lessons in 2022, to start in the first year of school.

The aim is to teach students about the importance of consent, ensuring they understand it is an ongoing agreement between individuals. This means consent needs to be actively sought and freely given.

It is still largely up to individual schools to work out how they teach the material.

Consent education is now a compulsory part of Australia’s National Curriculum. Wendy Wei/Pexels, CC BY

Our research

This research is part of a broader study of young people’s perceptions of online sexual content and experiences of relationships and sexuality education.

For our research, we have spoken to 46 Australian teens (aged 11-17) through a mix of interviews and focus groups. The interviews were done between 2021-2023 and the focus groups were held in December 2023.

As part of this, we asked interviewees what they learned about consent at school. The comments in this article were made after consent education became compulsory.

‘Nothing’ about how to speak to peers

While some young people told us their schools had over-emphasised consent – “like they’ve gone through everything” – other interviewees found the lessons difficult to apply in their lives. As one focus group participant (in a group of mixed genders, aged 14-16) explained:

[Young people are] taught in a basic stereotypical movie way like ‘no’, ‘stop that’, but they don’t actually teach, like, real-life situations.

Lauren* (14) added young people were only taught “if you didn’t want to have sex, then just say no”. As she explained, teens need more practical advice on how to respond to potential partners. This includes:

more focus on examples of other people asking for sex and what [to] do if you were asked to have sex with someone [or] on how to say ‘no’.

Another participant (from a focus group of mixed-genders, aged 14-16) noted how saying “no” was more complex than what school lessons suggested and teens could be taught how to advocate for themselves:

Especially for non-confrontational people ‘cause my friend, [a] creepy guy was being really weird to her, and she wouldn’t say anything about it ‘cause she’s so nice and other people had to step up for her because she wouldn’t tell him that she didn’t want it.

Interviewees said they wanted more advice on how to handle real-life situations around consent. ArtHouse Studio/Pexels, CC BY

‘We don’t want to get in trouble’

Interviewees told us how consent is often discussed within the context of unwanted sex and sexual assault, or as Tiffany (15) explained “all the negative things”. This may contribute to fears about sexual activity.

Young people also saw consent as a means to avoid “getting into trouble”, rather than checking the comfort and willingness of their sexual partners. As Warren (17) told us:

My friend group that I hang out with, we’re very big on consent. That’s because we’ve heard of cases where people might not have got consent, then they’ve got in trouble because of it […] we don’t want to get in trouble for doing the wrong thing […]

In response to discussions about affirmative consent laws, and the need to demonstrate consent has been sought and given, Warren continued:

I don’t know how I’d go about getting it every time, like, if I just invited a girl over [do] I have to get it in writing or something?

He added he and his friends were thinking about having partners sign a form during their end-of-school celebrations:

if we bring girls back, we want them to sign a consent form or something like that. That’s an idea we had.

There are several issues with teens thinking they need a written form for sex. Not only is it transactional and impractical, it could create an idea someone is not “allowed” to withdraw consent at any time. It also presents consent as a simple box-ticking exercise for “yes” or “no”, when it should be based on mutual respect and care, as part of an evolving discussion.

Going beyond consent

We only interviewed a modest sample of students from Perth. But our study feeds into other research suggesting “consent” in itself may not stop or prevent sexual violence. That is, even if one partner says “yes” it does not mean the sex is free from coercion or is pleasurable.

Other Australian studies have found young people can demonstrate high levels of knowledge about consent but may not know how to apply it.

This suggests young people need more skills and knowledge than simply being told to “seek consent” – a low bar for ethical sex. Consent education also needs to explore communication skills, self-confidence, pleasure, love and relationship dynamics: all topics teens tell us they want to learn about.

This should not be taken as a criticism of passionate, hardworking teachers and schools. But it suggests they need more support and training to provide consent education in ways young people can actually use.

*names have been changed.

Imogen Senior from Body Safety Australia, Gracie Cayley from the Kids Research Institute, Associate Professor Debra Dudek and Dr Harrison W. See from Edith Cowan University contributed to the research on which this article is based.

Giselle Woodley, Researcher and PhD Candidate, School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University and Lelia Green, Professor of Communications, Edith Cowan University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Arjun Tendulkar resembling Justin Bieber has taken the internet by storm

The social media had an 'Aila' moment when the found out how much Tendulkar looks like the pop icon. 

Every major celebrity these days is taking the social media by the storm and there are even those who have risen to celebrity status through the platform that provides a mass outreach. Netizens have also been finding doppelgangers of famous people whose pictures have time and again created a buzz on the social media. Look-alikes of people like Johnny Depp, Priyanka Chopra and Angelina Jolie have already rocked the internet. But this time people have managed to find out famous people who are doppelgangers of each other, as a lot of netizens feel that Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun, bears uncanny resemblance to none other than Justin Bieber. In didn’t take long time for tweeple to pick this up and soon the internet was going berserk over what many called twins and some even labelled Arjun the ‘Indian Justin Bieber’, as is tradition. Source: The Asian Age

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41 per cent of India’s population below 20 years

The share of the young population has declined since 2001 census when it was 45 per cent. — Tribune file photo

Tribune-India: New Delhi, January 13, Around 41 per cent of India's population is below the age of 20 years with Muslims having the highest proportion of children and teenagers among all religions, according to just released Census 2011 data. The share of the young population has, however, declined in the country since the previous census in 2001 when it was 45 per cent for the whole country. Forty-seven per cent of Muslims are aged below 20 years, the highest among all religious communities, while children and teenagers make up 40 per cent of the Hindu population, according to the 2011 data. As per the Census data, just 29 per cent population among the Jains are in the age group of 0-19 years while among the Christians, it is 37 per cent, Sikhs 35 per cent and Buddhist 37 per cent. Among India's total population, around 41 per cent is below 20 years and 9 per cent above 60 years, leaving 50 per cent in the intervening 20-59 age group. According to the 2001 census data, among the Hindus, 44 per cent were below the age group of 20 years, among Muslims 52 per cent and Jains 35 per cent. Overall, life cycles of different religious communities in the country have shown common trends of declining proportion of children and teenagers and increasing share of elderly citizens, the 2011 data showed. The proportion of elderly people in the country has risen across all communities as life spans have generally increased. According to the Census data, people of the age of 60 years and above make up about 9 per cent of the country's total population. Interestingly, among the Muslims, just 6.4 per cent of the population is over 60 years, almost 50 per cent lower than the national average. Among Jains and Sikhs, the share of elderly is around 12 per cent each. Age-wise population shares reveal another important aspect of the lives of people-dependency. Both children and the elderly are dependent on the able and adult population. Overall, the young dependency ratio -- the number of children aged up to 15 years dependent on every 1,000 members of the working age population -- has declined from 621 in 2001 to 510 in 2011. This is a direct consequence of declining number of children. At the other end of life spectrum, the old dependency ratio has increased from 131 in 2001 to 142 in 2011, in accordance with the growing elderly population. Across religious communities, Muslims have the highest total dependency ratio of 748 compared to the lowest ratio for Jains which is just 498. For Hindus, the ratio is 640. — PTI. Source:: http://www.tribuneindia.com/

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Heavy internet use may put teens at high BP risk

New York: Teenagers who spend hours on the internet may be at risk of gaining unhealthy weight and having high blood pressure, say researchers. The study found that teens who spent at least 14 hours a week on the internet had elevated blood pressure. "Using the internet is part of our daily life but it should not consume us," said study lead author Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow from Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, US. "In our study, teens considered heavy internet users were on the internet an average of 25 hours a week," Cassidy-Bushrow pointed out. Researchers analysed data compiled from 335 teenagers ages 14-17 enrolled in the study. Their blood pressure reading taken during a physical exam. Participants also completed a 55-question survey of their internet use during the week leading up to their physical exam. For their study, researchers defined internet use as visiting web sites, emailing, instant messaging, playing games, doing homework, shopping, downloading software and creating or maintaining webpages. Of 134 teenagers described by researchers as heavy internet users, 26 had elevated blood pressure. The researchers also found that 43 percent of heavy internet users were overweight compared to 26 percent of light internet users. "It is important that young people take regular breaks from their computer or smartphone, and engage in some form of physical activity," Cassidy-Bushrow said "I recommend to parents they limit their children's' time at home on the internet. I think two hours a day, five days a week is good rule of thumb," she suggested. The study was published in the Journal of School Nursing. —IANS. Source: Article

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Schoolgirl sets off on 112km expedition to ski to the geographical North Pole

Alyona Belyaeva, 16, will join six other youngsters from across Russia on the Eighth Youth Polar Expedition. Picture: Alyona Belyaeva

By Olga Gertcyk: Adventurous Alyona plans to dance and play football on the roof of the world after beating off competition to join polar team. An adventurous schoolgirl from the Urals has spoken about fulfilling a dream by being part of a team to ski to the North Pole. Alyona Belyaeva, 16, will join six other youngsters from across Russia on the Eighth Youth Polar Expedition which will culminate on the roof of the world on April 23. The group is made up of five boys and two girls, from Moscow, Moskovskaya oblast, Yekaterinburg, Stavropol, Kirov, and Novosibirsk, along with famous travellers Matvey Shpiro and Boris Smolin, and Russia’s Minister of Science and Education Dmitryi Livanov. They were chosen from 40 contestants who had won science competitions, having shown great endurance during a training camp in Karelia where they skied 100km a day.

Alyona Belyaeva in a wetsuit in the training centre (top). Alyona Belyaeva and her schoolmates in a training camp in Karelia. Pictures: Alyona Belyaeva

Alyona is currently in Moscow with the explorers, making final preparations for the trip, but will leave by plane and helicopter for the research unit at Barneo on Wednesday. From Thursday they will edge north 112km over the frozen ice pack to the geographical North Pole.

The schoolgirl, who has a passion for dancing, said she loves travelling and is excited about her expedition. She said: 'I have managed to visit Italy, France, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Poland, and Belarus with my dancing team, and together with my classmates I have been backpacking in Perm Krai.

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Siberian beauty Elmira Abdrazakova, 18, is crowned Miss Russia

Miss World 2013? A student of the Siberian Railway University in Novosibirsk, Elmira has won the right to represent her country at the 'Miss Universe' and 'Miss World' beauty pageants. Picture: Elmira Abdrazakova 

By The Siberian Times reporter: Nicknamed the 'Angelina Jolie of Russia', the student says her victory was like a Cinderella fairy tale come true. She has been studying crisis management which seemed useful for a victory she never expected. A student of the Siberian Railway University in Novosibirsk, Elmira has won the right to represent her country at the 'Miss Universe' and 'Miss World' beauty pageants. She also receives a $100,000 prize, a car, and wears a crown said to be valued at more than $1 million.  'I don't have enough words to tell you what 's going on in my heart,' said Elmira, 18, after her victory in Moscow.  The new Miss Russia is from the coal mining city of Mezhdurechensk in Kemerovo region. From a family of

Elmira, 18, pictured make up free in her native Mezhdurechensk, Kemerovo region and, below, she is posing for the Miss Snow Universe 2013 contest in Novosibirsk (first from the left). Pictures: Elmira Abdrazakova, World Snow Forum 2013 

teachers, newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda said that a key to her victory was her success during an 'intellectual contest' the 15 finalists undertook at the Barvikha Luxury Village Concert Hall outside Moscow. 'It was an absolute improvisation!' Elmira said. 'I am a very sociable and communicative person, it is easy for me to speak in public. When I was a child, I was interested in journalism and took interviews for the children's show on our the local television.' She has been studying at the Faculty of World Economy and Crisis Management in Novosibirsk and was doing a little modelling for shopping catalogues - before her victory on 2 March changed everything.  Asked if she will now give this up, she replied: 'I am so lost with understanding what is going on in my soul, and I can't say what will be tomorrow'.  She was happy to be a finalist but had no inkling she would

Elmira, who many compare to Angelina Jolie, has been studying at the Faculty of World Economy and Crisis Management in Novosibirsk and was doing a little modelling for shopping catalogues - before her victory on 2 March changed everything

win, Siberian beauty said. 'I really did not expect it! You never believe in Cinderella-style fairy tales. And when I was on my way to this contest, somehow I did not even have such thoughts! I was crazily excited when I got among the 15 finalists'. 'Now I am standing here and I can't imagine how I look on the screen! I am just shocked!' Told her crown cost more than $1 million, she was almost speechless. 'Really? I just can't imagine it.' Elmira was the eldest of two children raised on her own by art teacher Olga. Source: Article

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The longest sketch in the world

Katya Gushchina, 19, grew up travelling on the railways, from her home city of Nizhny Novgorod, a city on one branch of the Trans-Siberian. Picture: Katya Gushchina

Art student draws unique glimpse of the 9,258 kilometre Trans-Siberian Railway. Katya Gushchina, 19, grew up travelling on the railways, from her home city of Nizhny Novgorod, a city on one branch of the Trans-Siberian. Often it was to dancing competitions in Izhevsk, other times to Kazan, on the other western branch of the great railway. 'Once in about two months I'd be packing my suitcase to go somewhere,' she recalls.  It stirred a love of travel which would inspire her long after she quit dancing. 'We'd always go by train, which for me was the most remarkable part of the whole trip. Packing up, booking tickets, choosing seats in such a way that all the members of the dance team are not too far from each other, taking passports, the junk food, plastic mugs,' Katya said. 'These are the small things which I still remember. The trains were old, the decor dark, and it all seemed to be a part of some fairy tale where you fall asleep in Nizhny Novgorod and wake up hundreds of kilometres away'.

'We'd always go by train, which for me was the most remarkable part of the whole trip.' Pictures: Katya Gushchina

'If you wake at night, you'd hear the breathing of people sleeping around you, the train would pass small stations, and you can't fall asleep again and just try to figure out what's the time and how soon will you'll need to drag your heavy bag stuffed with make-up, costumes and high-heels.  'A new city, fresh impressions and thoughts that you'd like to share with others. At the time, I was too lazy to jot them down, but the idea to do that got stuck in my head. After a few years, it was clear that my dancing career wouldn't work out, so I had to make a choice about my further education. 'After getting my school diploma, I entered the department of design at a Moscow university, and left my hometown. One of the major projects I had to do was running a sketchbook on one subject for a year. 'I didn't really think twice about the subject, as I can discuss travelling for hours and hours. My tutor suggested a particular route - Moscow to Vladivostok.' And so Katya's series of sketches of the world's greatest railway line was born. It is all the more remarkable because she has not actually been on the trip right across the country - even though it is her dream to do so. Combining pictures with useful information, though not yet in English, she gives a novel and intriguing look at this amazing journey.

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