ISSUE #06

GENERAL HEADLINES

Pocket P-Wing

So, I have a confession to make…my weekly screen time average just went up by 3 hours last week. I have a valid reason though, and that reason is the new Delta Emulator (I’m never succumbing to TikTok brain rot). As a kid who grew up playing a lot of Nintendo classics, this is a dream come true. You probably have a lot of questions, and if you’re a Nintendo fan, you would have even more. However, fear not, for I will answer them in this article.

Backstory

Delta was developed by a team led by Riley Testut. He started with ‘GBA4iOS’ which allowed people to emulate Game Boy Advance titles on their iPhones. However, the app unfortunately caught Apple’s attention and it got killed in 2014.

So, here we are 10 years later. Why the change of heart? Long story short, the EU doesn’t like monopolies. But long-ish story, The EU believed that Apple was behaving like a monopoly, and that made a few regulators not so happy. The app store prevented “sideloading,” which basically refers to downloading apps through third-party app installers and websites. This is all due to Apple’s walled-garden approach to their ecosystem, but at some point, they did have to bow down to the EU. This inadvertently led to us now being able to emulate our favorite vintage Mario titles.

So, you really just got a console on your iPhone? Pretty much. You can emulate not only GBA games, but N64 games, Gamecube games, DS games, and more. It is the whole package. You can screencast onto your TV so you can enjoy this with your family, friends, or in my case, my totally real girlfriend (trust me guys she’s real).

Testut recently announced that this will also be coming to iPad as well, allowing you to enjoy these titles on a much bigger screen. He also announced that the team will commence creating a multiplayer experience. This feature is going to be incredible for playing two-player Mario 64 or a proper 2 player Mario Galaxy, which I’m sure most of us have dreamt of for most of our lives.

Nintendo, are you awake?

Most people who are aware of Nintendo’s reputation with emulators would also know that they always do their best to shut them down. Not so long ago, the Yuzu project got into a legal battle with Nintendo, and it resulted in them ceasing active development and distribution immediately.

However, Nintendo has been ominously quiet about Delta. It’s like one of those horror movie silences when you know a cheap, blood-curdling, nightmare-inducing jump scare is waiting around in the corner. It sucks that there is a possibility that Delta can face some legal issues, but you can’t blame the giant for protecting their prized IPs.

Honestly, Delta is just incredible with its capabilities and how it can emulate pretty much every title dating before 2007. It would be a shame to see this beautiful time capsule die at the hands of Nintendo, as that would be the death of my re-run of New Super Mario Bros. Nintendo if you could express some sympathy, it would be nice if you could hold off the jump scare until I finished the re-run.

Samar Shah

HEALTH

How your diet can affect your brain

The research was conducted by UK Biobank. Researchers asked volunteers about food preferences in several categories, including dairy, fruits, flavorings, alcohol, meat, snacks, starches, and vegetables.

The study found that the balanced dietary subtype saw the most benefit of all four groups — those in the balanced dietary subtype had lower scores for most mental health measurements and higher scores for well-being.

This group also had the best-measured reaction time, while the high-protein, low-fiber diet group scored the best on a cognition test involving symbol substitution.

People in the balanced dietary group also had higher levels of gray matter in certain areas of the brain compared to the high-protein, low-fiber group. However, the vegetarian group also showed higher levels of gray matter in certain brain regions. The balanced dietary group also had a relatively lower genetic risk for most mental disorders. In contrast, the vegetarian group had a higher genetic risk for Alzheimer’s disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and several other mental disorders. The high-protein and low-fiber group had a higher genetic risk for ischemic stroke.

A balanced diet is best for brain health

Researchers also found that several genes were different between the balanced group and the high-protein, low-fiber group. These genes were “enriched in biological processes related to mental health and cognition,” which points to how genetics may be involved in the observed outcomes. Overall, the results show how following a balanced diet may help improve brain health and mental well-being.

Molly Rapozo, RDN, registered dietician nutritionist, and senior nutrition and health educator at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, CA, not involved in the research, shared her thoughts on the findings with MNT. “This study found that a ‘healthier’ diet with balanced preferences in various food categories — fruit, vegetables, starches, protein, and snack foods were noted — is associated with better mental health status, higher levels of cognitive functions and fewer risks of mental disorders,” she explained.

Tang Li

SPORTS

Cricket

Indian Premier League (IPL): The IPL continues to deliver thrilling moments. Suryakumar Yadav's outstanding century was instrumental in Mumbai Indians' victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders surged to the top of the points table with a notable win against Lucknow Super Giants. Royal Challengers Bangalore also maintained their winning momentum, driven by Virat Kohli's consistent performances.

Tennis

Madrid Open: Andrey Rublev displayed remarkable resilience in his thrilling comeback win in the final. This achievement underlines his determination and skill. On a different front, Rafael Nadal's return to the Italian Open is eagerly anticipated by fans, marking a significant event on the tennis calendar.

Football

European Leagues: Chelsea made a statement with their impressive 5-0 triumph over West Ham in the English Premier League. Mohamed Salah's contributions led Liverpool to victory over Tottenham Hotspur. Bayer Leverkusen also reached the Europa League final, thanks to a late-game win that extended their unbeaten streak.

Formula 1

Miami Grand Prix: Max Verstappen continues to dominate the F1 circuit. His second-place finish in Miami further solidified his lead in the championship and showcased his season-long consistency.

Giro d'Italia

Tadej Pogacar grabbed the lead in this renowned cycling event after a strong showing on the second day.

By Ji Li

AVIATION

Boom Supersonic’s Overture

The aviation sector is standing on the edge of a significant revolution by Boom Supersonic’s Overture, which will be the fastest commercial airliner globally. This aeroplane is introducing the age of supersonic travel once again, offering speeds of Mach 1.7. This is more than twice the velocity of the current quickest airplanes. The decrease in time will be substantial as a flight from New York to London would take just 3.5 hours. Overture is built with a sophisticated carbon composite airframe that improves aerodynamics and reduces weight. It is also equipped with advanced technology for noise reduction, which supports sonic booms lower than perceived sound. It is also compatible with sustainable aviation fuel. It seats between 65 to 88 passengers at most and will be on its first flight in 2026, while industrial operation will begin in 2029. This has created much hope, with significant airlines such as United and Japan Airlines having already placed orders. Boom Supersonic’s Overture is thus a giant leap forward in every measure and the future of ecologically friendly travel, speed, and efficiency. It has the potential for a massive shift in global aviation and connectivity.

By Noah Dewitte

TECHNOLOGY

Tiktok develops technology to differentiate AI and human content

Tiktok has recently become the first company to release their technology which allows content to be differentiated between human and AI generated. It will be able to label content created by AI websites to provide a needed crackdown on deepfaked content. This provides timely boost as governments have been requesting a crackdown on possibly misleading deepfakes in political propaganda. This technology will implement a digital identification of content and tell the user whether content is human or AI generated. However, it hasn’t been mass tested so its accuracy and usability remains to be seen.

By Ayaan Cassim

ECONOMICS

Sweden lowers Interest Rates

Last week, Sweden’s Riksbank cut its interest rate from 4.00% to 3.75%, as expected from banks and nations around the world. They intend on maintaining this expansionary monetary policy due to a mild inflation rate; the Riksbank plans to make two more cuts in 2024. Inflation has stabilised in Sweden to 2% after a peaking at over 10% towards the end of 2022. There are concerns that an easier policy may result in the Swedish currency’s depreciation in value, having the same exchange rate with the Euro as it did during the financial crisis of 2008-2009. Central Banks around the world are looking to ease their interest rates after a two year hiking cycle in inflation.

Recession strikes New Zealand once again.

The island in Oceania has entered its second recession in 18 months. New Zealand’s economy shrank by 0.1% in the quarter to December, causing a contraction in the country's economy; specifically, its GDP. A major issue that New Zealand faces is a lack of population growth, preventing a stimulated economics growth for the nation. “We’re in a slump, but that won’t be news to you, because you’ve already been living in it,” regulation minister David Seymour said. Should they implement strategies and policies to increase migration rates in the country? With more immigrants, more workers would be contributing to the economy, potentially inducing a much needed kick-start to their economic cycle- from a slump to a recovery.

By Vihaan Poddar

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

In the chronicles of fashion and business history, few names command as much reverence and admiration as Coco Chanel, the iconic designer whose pioneering spirit and entrepreneurial acumen not only revolutionized the world of fashion but also left an indelible mark on the landscape of business, paving the way for women in a male-dominated industry. Coco Chanel was raised in the abbey orphanage since age 12. She revolutionized fashion with simple designs like the little black dress. Coco Chanel working as a seamstress in her teens and she opened a small millinery shop in Paris about a decade later, in 1910. In 1912 she established a boutique in Deauville, France. Her practical, elegant designs attracted influential women, and Chanel was soon heading a thriving couture house. By her 40s, her business was already grossing about $70 million in today's dollars. She was the first designer to free women of corsets and to offer beautiful and comfortable clothing made from jersey in which one could play sports. Chanel adopted men's wear into new modern styles for women. She continuously inspires millions of women to change the world for the better.

By Aishah Ahmad