Peru: Priest of Pacopampa exhumed after 3,000 years
The tomb in northern Peru contained the remains of a man dubbed the Priest of Pacopampa, officials say.
1970-01-01 08:00
How to help your child make friends at secondary school
Back to school… those three words mean many things to many people – but it’s safe to say, with a new school year comes the unknown: What will it be like, and will I fit in? “Starting a new school year can stir up an array of emotions in young people,” says Yvonne Kekeliadis, creator of Brightstarz, an organisation which runs workshops to help teens and tweens learn life skills. “The prospect of academic and social pressures, whilst exciting for some, can leave others feeling dread and trepidation as the summer holidays draw to a close.” She says building up a social safety net of peers in whom they can confide is a critical part of ensuring young people feel supported – and enjoy their time in secondary school. This is particularly important for children making the leap from primary school to secondary, says Kekeliadis. “Therefore, it’s imperative young people are equipped with the skills and support to be able to foster healthy, positive friendships.” Principal at Impington Village College, a high-ranking state school, Victoria Hearn says: “The transition to the next stage of their education can be an exciting time for students, but for some, the change of routine, environment, and teachers, coupled with the loss of some of their established network of friends, can be daunting.” Secondary school should be an enjoyable and enriching experience for every student, says Hearn, and building a strong friendship group can play a key role in making this a reality. Key tips which parents should share with their child include… Be proactive and don’t be afraid to reach out to others “The most important thing for students starting secondary school to remember, is that everyone is in the same boat,” says Kekeliadis. “Moving from a small class of 30 to a school year of more than 100 can feel incredibly daunting – and while it takes confidence to put yourself out there and take the first step, it will help to put others at ease who will be feeling shy, too.” Be open-minded Kekeliadis says a part of what makes starting secondary school exciting is being able to take part in new activities and initiatives, such as sports clubs and other extracurriculars. “This also provides a fantastic opportunity for students to meet peers who share similar interests,” encourages Kekeliadis. “Helping them to form a bond and eventually a friendship.” As well as taking advantage of an array of extracurricular activities, Hearn says to encourage them to support local, national, and international volunteering projects. “Which enables them to meet new people and work together to support a cause greater than their own individual needs.” Set healthy boundaries “When young people enter a new social situation, they are likely to feel pressure to fit in, and while having a strong social group is important to a child’s wellbeing, it’s vital young people know how to step away from an unhealthy friendship,” advises Kekeliadis. To encourage the setting of these boundaries, she says parents should ensure their child knows that it’s okay to tell a friend ‘no’ when they are feeling uncomfortable – as well as when it’s best to speak to an adult if they feel they are being pressured. Conversation is key Parents, guardians, and teachers can all have a positive impact on a student’s ability to make friends, says Hearn, but it’s important to remember every child is different and moves at their own pace. “If your child hasn’t made hundreds of new friends within the first week of school, it doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t soon establish a strong friendship group. “At all times, but particularly around periods of change, I encourage parents and guardians to engage in frequent open conversations with their child(ren), to check in with them regularly,” advises Hearn. “And, most importantly, validate their feelings.” Listening to your child’s concerns and providing reassurance is often all students need to approach making friends with confidence, suggests Hearn. Ask for support Hearn says at the heart of every education provision should be a desire to help all children thrive… “For the last four years, we have not grouped students with their friends from previous schools when they join us in Year Seven,” notes Hearn. “Instead, we create mixed ability, balanced groups, where students are able to interact with a wide range of other pupils.” She says this has proved hugely successful in ensuring all students feel they are included – and presented with the best opportunities to make new friends. “Your child(ren)’s school should also have an established pastoral support network to help them through any challenges they are facing,” says Hearn. “Please encourage your child to reach out to their tutor when necessary,” she urges. “Or, if required, contact their school directly with any concerns.” Hearn continues: “The transition to secondary school can be daunting for students, but with the support of families and teachers, we can ensure every child gets the absolute most out of their experience – and establishes friendships that will extend far beyond the school walls.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live 9 ways to make dark rooms look lighter Men experience imposter syndrome too – here’s how to overcome it This is how stress affects different parts of the body
1970-01-01 08:00
AMLO’s Insular Politics Predicted a Global Shift, But Will It Protect His Legacy?
On a Saturday afternoon in early July, Mexico City’s vast Zócalo square was packed wall-to-wall with supporters gathered
1970-01-01 08:00
Chad Stahelski's Highlander reboot could launch a franchise
Chad Stahelski has suggested that his reboot of the classic fantasy film 'Highlander' could mark the beginning of a new franchise.
1970-01-01 08:00
'An annoying distraction': Leonard Bernstein's daughter defends Bradley Cooper in Maestro nose row
Leonard Bernstein's eldest daughter Jamie has described the controversy surrounding Bradley Cooper's prosthetic nose in his portrayal as her father in the biopic 'Maestro' as "an annoying distraction".
1970-01-01 08:00
Man ruptures is eardrum after kissing his girlfriend for 10 minutes
A man was reportedly rushed to hospital when a passionate kiss with his girlfriend resulted in a painful rupture in his ear. As per Hangzhou TV, the man and his girlfriend were locking lips for ten minutes on Chinese Valentine's Day (22 August) on the idyllic West Lake in China’s eastern Zhejiang province. It was claimed that the man's left ear suddenly became painful and he started to experience a bubbling sound, making it difficult for him to hear. The couple immediately visited the hospital where he was told his eardrum was perforated. Luckily, the man was prescribed antibiotics and was told it would take approximately two months to heal. In more serious cases, surgery may be required. According to the publication, medical professionals said passionate kissing can lead to a rapid change in air pressure inside the ear. While you may find that scenario baffling, one woman's seemingly innocent outfit soon turned into an incredibly unfortunate disaster. TikToker Sam (@imtoooldtobeonthis) ended up in the hospital after her 'wedgie' caused her sepsis. "That night, I noticed that I had a large bump where the chafing had occurred, and as time went on, it started becoming more painful. The pain was isolated to one sport and it felt like a throbbing, stabbing pain," she told Buzzfeed. Sam was rushed to the emergency room when doctors realised it was caused by developing cellulitis - a bacterial skin infection that can become deadly if left untreated. "I was shivering, very breathless, could not walk and had extreme body aches," Sam said. "They admitted me to the ICU, and that’s when I realized this was a bit more serious than I had anticipated." Fortunately, after four days of surgery and being treated, Sam was able to make a full recovery. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
What is Russia's Wagner group, and what has happened to its leader?
Russian officials have confirmed Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a plane crash on 23 August.
1970-01-01 08:00
How Richard Mille Watches Became Code for Extravagant Wealth
A Richard Mille Co. watch is a powerful symbol of wealth for anyone who’s in-the-know enough to recognize
1970-01-01 08:00
Maruti Suzuki to Spend $5.4 Billion to Double Car Output by 2031
Coming soon: Sign up for the India Edition newsletter by Menaka Doshi – an insider's guide to the
1970-01-01 08:00
Live worm discovered in woman's brain in a worrying world first
A worm has been found living inside a woman’s brain, in a horror-movie-style world first. Doctors in Canberra, Australia, were left stunned after they pulled the 8cm (3in) parasite from the patient’s damaged frontal lobe tissue during surgery last year. "Everyone [in] that operating theatre got the shock of their life when [the surgeon] took some forceps to pick up an abnormality and the abnormality turned out to be a wriggling, live 8cm light red worm," said infectious diseases doctor Sanjaya Senanayake, according to the BBC. "Even if you take away the yuck factor, this is a new infection never documented before in a human being." Senanayake and his colleagues believe the parasite could have been in there for up to two months. The patient, a 64-year-old woman from New South Wales, was first admitted to her local hospital in late January 2021 after suffering three weeks of abdominal pain and diarrhoea, followed by a constant dry cough, fever and night sweats, The Guardian reports. By 2022, her symptoms extended to forgetfulness and depression, and she was referred to Canberra Hospital, where an MRI scan of her brain revealed “abnormalities” that required surgery. “The neurosurgeon certainly didn’t go in there thinking they would find a wriggling worm,” Senanayake told the paper. “Neurosurgeons regularly deal with infections in the brain, but this was a once-in-a-career finding. No one was expecting to find that.” The team at the hospital sent the worm to an experienced parasite researcher who identified it as an Ophidascaris robertsi. This type of roundworm is commonly found in carpet pythons – non-venomous snakes that are ubiquitous across much of Australia. Writing in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Mehrab Hossain, a parasitologist, said she suspected that the patient became an "accidental host" to the worm after cooking with foraged plants. The 64-year-old was known to have often collected native grasses from around her lakeside home, Senanayake told The Guardian. He and his co-workers have concluded that the woman was probably infected after a python shed eggs from the parasite via its faeces into the grass. By touching the plants, she may then have transferred the eggs into her own food or kitchen utensils. Fortunately, the unlucky and unique patient is said to be making a good recovery. However, Senanayake told the BBC that her case should serve as an important warning to society more broadly. "It just shows as a human population burgeons, we move closer and encroach on animal habitats. This is an issue we see again and again, whether it's Nipah virus that's gone from wild bats to domestic pigs and then into people, whether its a coronavirus like Sars or Mers that has jumped from bats into possibly a secondary animal and then into humans,” he said. "Even though Covid is now slowly petering away, it is really important for epidemiologists… and governments to make sure they've got good infectious diseases surveillance around." Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
1970-01-01 08:00
RBA Is Studying Economic Impact of Climate Risks, Bullock Says
Australia’s central bank is developing its capacity to model the macroeconomic implications of climate risks for monetary policy
1970-01-01 08:00
UK Watchdog Cracks Down on Junk Carbon Offsets as Stranded Assets Surge
Britain’s watchdog overseeing corporate marketing claims says it’s aware of a number of companies making false green statements
1970-01-01 08:00
