Disclaimer

This is the only statement I’ll making concerning the ongoing conflict in this edition. It is not due to its lack of importance but rather because I am aware my knowledge on the matter is limited, and I cannot offer insights beyond what is likely already known. Two million people are now under siege in Gaza without food, water, medicine or power, and over a thousand are already dead.

In times like this it feels strange to have a whole section dedicated to celebrate progress. Disrespectful even. Cynicism is easy because you're never wrong. If you keep on insisting the world is an awful place, and that it's only going to get worse, eventually a week like this comes along and proves you right.

My aim isn't to say "look over here! there's good stuff too!". Suffering isn't relative, and there's no cosmic scale weighing things up and pronouncing its verdict on world events. There are moments when the world feels like it hangs by a thread. This is one of them. And it can be hard to watch.

People in power on both sides want war. But they don’t speak for all. What we can do is keep showing up with our attention and our humanity. Don't switch off, stay with it. Here are some other stories that might make that easier.

Micael.

THE MUSTS

• Global poverty reduction efforts are back on track. After three lost years due to the pandemic, the World Bank estimates that for 2023 only 8.6% of the global population will be living in extreme poverty - which would represent the lowest proportion in human history.

• New more affordable and effective vaccine could eradicate malaria in less than 20 years. The addition is expected to benefit all children living in areas where malaria is a public health risk.

• Brazil´s Supreme Court is a step closer to decriminalizing abortion. The court is now considering a case that could decriminalise abortion in the country up to 12 weeks of gestation. If successful, it will join the Green Wave movement along with other Latin American countries like Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico.

• Egypt has become the first country to achieve 'gold tier' status on the path to eradicate hepatitis C. The country has diagnosed 87% of people living with the disease and provided 93% of those diagnosed with treatment.

• Mauritius decriminalises same-sex relations. There’s is a growing list of African countries overturning their colonial-era laws and decriminalising same-sex activity.

and there’s more if you keep scrolling.

Ozempic makes whole industries question their future

The rapid adoption of the medicine was accelerated this year mainly due to social media trends and celebrity endorsements, leading to over 9 million prescriptions written in the last three months of 2022 alone: +300% compared to three months pre-pandemic. Business has really exploded.

It’s all about Marketing: The pharmaceutical companies responsible for producing drugs in the Ozempic category invested almost $500 million in direct advertising in the first seven months of the year - an increase of 20% YoY. As a result, food retailers are already considering potential changes in the way products are marketed and offered.

Walmart's CEO gave an optimistic statement claiming that although Ozempic users spend less on food, they spend more on lifestyle and fitness products. This shift in consumer behavior has had financial repercussions, with basic consumer items on the S&P 500 experiencing a 0.5% decline.

Cheaper flights: Weirdly enough, airlines are already estimating savings of US$ 80 million on fuel, due to the lower average weight of passengers. Can you believe that?

Willy Wonka would be worried: Chocolate companies are also paying attention. Lindt's shares fell and Nestlé's fell by 2.5% - the most since May. In clothing, plus-size retailers may see sales fall, while fitness and sportswear brands may make more money.

Looking Forward: By 2035, almost 7% of the US population is expected to be taking weight-loss drugs.

Fast facts

• Even Disney is taking aim at sports betting. After buying ESPN, the company has signed a $2 billion deal to launch the ESPN Bet app next month.

• Amazon’s and Microsoft’s cloud services are under investigation. Combined, the two owned 80% of the UK’s public cloud infrastructure, which could make it hard for businesses to switch providers.

• The Michelin Guide will be evaluating hotels from 2024. Instead of Stars for hotels, they will be Michelin Keys.

• Ferrari goes tech. The company will start accepting cryptocurrencies as a means of payment for its vehicles.

   

 nadie sabe lo que va a pasar mañana by Bad Bunny: Bad Bunny just set a new Spotify record this week with his new album, becoming the most-streamed album in a single day in 2023 so far.

 To appreciate his new project and understand why fans are going crazy over it, you have to understand the cultural context of this album, which goes back to 2015–18. Although a lot of people were waiting for reggaeton, in reality, he delivers a trap album for his older fans. The highlights are definitively the innovative production on the beats which are refreshingly amazing.

 Here, Bunny successfully avoided sounding like everyone else while showcasing that he can still rap and push the envelope. This project is a testament to his star power and an assertion/reminder of why Bad Bunny of was the most-streamed Spotify artist for three straight years in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Best songs: Nadie Sabe; Baby Nueva; Gracias Por Nada; Hibiki; Baticano

For those that enjoy Myke Towers, Quevedo, Feid, Bryant Myers. (Rating: 7/10)

• Purrrrrr. Devoted to cats, but not entirely sure why? Here’s what exactly makes someone a cat person.

• Pee pee time. Trying to find the perfect time for a bathroom break during a movie? There’s an app for that.

• Go Brazil! Tamara Klink - daughter of the iconic Amyr Klink - becomes the first Brazilian to cross the Arctic Circle alone.

• Lazy Sunday. Fall is a great time to settle down and watch a movie. Here’s a list of some of the most exciting new titles you should know about.

• Animal Kingdom. This particular kind of jellyfish may not have a brain, but that doesn’t stop it from learning.

• A girl’s best friend. How 2023 became the official year of Lab-Grown Diamond and why its popularity is changing the jewellery market.

 Answer this:

1. Are we good in certain high school subjects because we like them?

2. Or do we like certain high school subjects because we are good at them?

I was always the best student in my history class for example (lowkey a genius). And I always wondered if I liked history because it was easy for me, or if, on the contrary, I did well in history because I was interested and liked the subject.

It's human nature, isn’t? We tend to gravitate toward the things we slay at. If something doesn't seem to play nice with our skills, we often give it the cold shoulder. You've heard it before. "I'm not the athletic type" or "I don't sing, I wasn’t born with the gift." We're all guilty of it.

I always loved dancing and last year in Australia I did a few months of Brazilian Funk classes. Fast forward to the present, and since two weeks ago I'm a proud card-carrying member of Milan's one-and-only twerking class. But here's the thing: I completely suck at it.

My hips don't move as they should, and my movements completely lack fluidity. And still, every week I go there and make a fool out of myself. But you guys have no idea how big is the feeling of fulfillment realizing that every time I go to class I suck. a. little. less.

It's honestly been a fantastic exercise of trying not to compare my ability to others but understand that everybody has their own twerking journey and there’s no point in twerk-shaming yourself.

Returning to that first question – my love for history? Still a mystery. Maybe I had an innate talent, or perhaps my history teacher was just that good. But when it comes to dance, I can assure you I have no talent - and I could never let this stop me.

Micael.

PS: What about you? Anything you have zero skills and would like to learn either way? let me know and see you soon.