On October 31st, our group met to share something rare—positive global news. With headlines often dominated by conflict and crisis, we challenged ourselves to find stories that offer uplifting perspectives. It wasn’t easy, but we succeeded.
We began with a comment about the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, signed on October 9. It’s not a perfect situation—Israel hasn’t stopped its violence against Palestinians—but public opinion in the U.S. is finally shifting from Israel’s narrative, and that’s something.
Next came a story from Oxford University, where Mākereti Papakura—a Māori woman who began her studies nearly a century ago in October was awarded a posthumous Master of Philosophy in Anthropology. Her academic journey was finally recognised, and it was a good point about historical justice.
In medicine, we listen to promising results from large-scale trials of personalised mRNA cancer vaccines. These treatments aim to train the immune system to target cancer cells, using the same technology as COVID-19 vaccines. Another member shared updates on weight-loss drugs that are now showing major benefits for heart, kidney, and liver health—beyond just losing weight.
Environmental updates included the ratification of the Deep Seas Treaty by 60 countries, set to take effect in January 2026. It’s designed to help protect 30% of the world’s oceans by 2030. From another member, we learned that Green Turtles have been reclassified from “Endangered” to “Least Concern”. The entry into force of the Deep Sea Treaty is a significant victory for highly migratory species such as the Green Turtle. One more comment was that this year, some 500 hectares of coral reefs had been repaired in the seas off Australia and Florida. A global program was underway to repair coral reefs and educate all sea users in the importance of coral reefs and the diversity of marine life that uses them as a home.
We also heard about China’s solar energy boom—record-breaking installations, massive projects, and a forecast that they’ll make up over half of global solar capacity this year, driven by large-scale installations and policy support. It’s reshaping the country’s energy landscape and making significant contributions to emissions reduction.
Barcelona was mentioned for hosting several exhibitions this year focused on digital innovation, transport, and urban planning. The takeaway? Cities are moving toward smarter, cleaner, and more collaborative futures.
And then, something totally different came up, with KPop Demon Hunters. It’s an animated musical about a K-pop girl group who secretly fight demons. The film blends urban fantasy, high-energy music, and Korean folklore, creating a vibrant atmosphere, with a narrative that speaks to the universal struggle between embracing and questioning one’s authenticity, good and bad sides. It’s a global hit—400 million views on Netflix, viral songs, TikTok dance covers everywhere. It’s fun, flashy, and somehow manages to say something real about being authentic in a world that constantly pressures you to perform.
If you haven’t seen it yet, give it a go. It’s weird and wonderful.
