International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor says the escalating situation on the Red Sea has confirmed government’s fear that the longer the war in the Middle East lasts, the higher the chance of many other parties being affected. On Monday, BP announced its decision to suspend its gas and oil shipments through the Red Sea amid a surge in attacks on ships by Houthi rebels in Yemen.

Their decision follows that of a string of big shipping companies who have suspended passage by vessels through the region. The attacks are allegedly in protest over the Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
BP’s announcement pushed up global oil prices, fueling fears that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could stifle energy supplies.

Pandor says, “Certainly this is something we are alert to with colleagues in government, we are discussing and we’ll continue to discuss with various partners as to what the eventuality may be. This confirms our fear that the longer this conflict lasts, the more the probability of drawing in many more parties to the conflict and actually having a worsening condition in terms of the global community.

Source: eNCA

In other news –

Social media challenges are wide-ranging. But why do young people take up challenges that pose a threat to health, well-being and, occasionally, their very lives? We identified four key factors that motivate young people to participate in a challenge: social pressure, the desire for attention, entertainment value and a phenomenon called the contagion effect.

1. Social pressure

Social pressure typically comes when a friend encourages another friend to do something, and the person believes they will achieve acceptance within a particular social group if they do it. Participation in challenges that promote a good cause, such as the ice bucket challenge, often resulted from direct encouragement.

Young adults who engaged in riskier challenges primarily wanted to feel included in a group that had already participated in such a challenge. This was true for the cinnamon challenge, where participants rapidly consumed cinnamon and sometimes experienced lung damage and infection.

2. Seeking attention

A form of attention-seeking behavior exclusive to participants of the ice bucket challenge was a wish to be recognized for supporting a commendable cause.

However, the attention-seeking behavior we observed among teens and young adults often led to participants innovating a more hazardous version of a challenge.

For example, one participant in the cinnamon challenge swallowed powdered cinnamon for a period longer than their peers. “It was definitely peers, and like I said, you know, the attention,” they said. “Seeing other friends posting videos and who could do the challenge longer.”

3. Entertainment

Many young adults participated in these challenges for amusement and curiosity. Some were intrigued by the potential reactions from people who witnessed their performance.

“It seemed like fun, and I personally liked the artist who sings the song,” said one participant about the Kiki challenge. The challenge involves dancing next to a moving car after stepping out of it to Drake’s song “In My Feelings.”

A Florida man got hit by another car while attempting the Kiki challenge.

4. Contagion effect

Challenges, even those that are seemingly benign, can spread quickly across social media. This is due to the contagion effect, where behaviors, attitudes and ideas spread from person to person.

After analyzing digital media content related to the blue whale challenge, we found YouTube videos about this challenge often violated the Suicide Prevention Resource Center’s nine messaging guidelines. Half of those who engaged in a risky challenge indicated that if they had understood the physical danger or potential risk to their social image, they might have opted not to do the challenge.

Source: People

Most people skip 0ral s.e.x to jump straightaway to sexual penetration because supposedly, it’s the most pleasurable part of it all.

Well, most people are wrong. Oral s.e.x can be deeply satisfying as it arouses all our senses, leaving the person receiving oral s.e.x, writhing in pleasure. Here are some tips about oral s.e.x that everyone ought to know about!

1. Practice good hygiene
To have oral s.e.x, you should be very clean down there. Nobody wants to be greeted with a nasty smell. Taking a shower before you go for it, is a good idea because this will make you confident and relieve you of stress if you have any.

2. Avoid food that can change your odour
Certain foods you eat can impact your body’s odour. Foods that have a strong smell can make your private area smell quite different. So, it’s best to indulge in mild foods that aren’t too spiky, sugary or garlicky.

3. Don’t rush
Oral s.e.x is all about going slow. Rushing to pleasure your partner down there is either going to give them a rush or just a sour mood! Going slow and slowly rubbing your partner down there will increase the stimulation, paving the way for a heavenly feel.

4. Try to blindfold your partner
This can add an exciting element to s.e.x because leaving your partner blindfolded when you go down on them leaves them guessing which part of theirs you’re going to pleasure next. A touch becomes even more sensitive and erotic.

Source: People