Crude corruption: How insider trading is looting global oil markets

US regulators are investigating a series of unusually timed oil trades worth hundreds of millions of dollars, executed just minutes before major government announcements regarding the war with Iran.

17-year-old Anika Butala reports on potentially dodgy deals worth millions tied to the US–Iran war

The Harbinger Prize 2026

Key dates and procedure:
Competition announcement: 27 April 2026 ✅
Prompts and selection criteria announcement: 4 May 2026 ✅
Submission opens: 1 September 2026
Submission deadline: 30 November 2026
Shortlist announcement: 20 December 2026
Interviews: 11–25 January 2027
Winners announcement: 14 February 2027

Learn more

Harbingers’ Weekly Brief

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Hollywood’s remake obsession is killing original cinema

I tried a digital detox for two weeks, and this is what I learned

We need to stop keeping animals in concrete boxes

Editor’s pick

society

Are TikTok cooking recipes legit? I gave it a go

While waiting for my girlfriend Aurora to finish cooking for us for probably the millionth time, I asked myself a question: why don’t I cook for once? It’s true that I’ve never tried to cook a whole meal, and boiling sausages and noodles doesn’t count. Also, I will be leaving for uni in just a few months… isn’t this the perfect time to start practicing cooking?

18-year-old Sofiia Didenko attempts to cook two popular online recipes

opinion

Does it matter that we know who Banksy is? Nope.

Banksy is one of the most famous – and mysterious – artists in the world. A street artist who emerged in the 1990s, Banksy is believed to be from Bristol, England, but has never publicly revealed his (or her) identity, choosing instead to remain anonymous while creating politically charged graffiti and installations in public spaces.

18-year-old Katie Chen reflects on the media’s obsession with uncovering Banksy’s identity

human rights

How Amnesty Hungary is educating Gen Z about human rights

Founded in 1991, Amnesty International Hungary is the Hungarian chapter of the global human rights movement, working through advocacy, campaigns and education to defend human rights and promote equality.

17-year-old Viola Papp interviews activism coordinator Anna Horvath about Amnesty’s work

Film & Book Club

film & book club

A system of exploitation in which, knowingly or not, we all participate – Parasite analysis

In a quiet neighbourhood of Seoul, two families live entirely different lives. One resides in a luxurious hilltop mansion surrounded by sunlight and space. The other struggles in a cramped semi-basement apartment where the window reveals little more than street-level feet passing by.

Igor Rybkowski and Mateusz Sarna, both 16, on Bong Joon Ho’s film considered the best one made in the 21st century

film & book club

Oscars 2026. Four acting races, four strong opinions – and four correct predictions

Should an Oscar honour a single role in isolation, or also reflect a wider story about an actor’s career, public image, and cultural moment? The results of the 2026 Oscar night did not fully settle that question

Klara Hammudeh, Alicja Melaniuk, Karolina Orfinger and Antoni Popczyński, all 17, discuss the Oscars for acting

Rating:

film & book club

Pattinson steals the show as Zendaya’s character is underdeveloped. The Drama review

The Drama is the ultimate cross-over of opposites: satire or thriller? The nerve-racking shots and storylines are flawlessly mixed with obscene humor and jokes.

17-year-old Sonia Rybus reviews Kristoffer Borgli’s star-studded premiere

How Katseye exemplifies the exploitation of female artists

Worldwide stardom, brand deals with big-name companies and a Grammy nomination – and performance – under their belt; at the start of 2026, it seemed like American girl group Katseye had nowhere to go but up.

18-year-old Ryleigh Lemsic discusses the US girl group’s recent scandal and what it means for women in the music business

afghanistan newsroom

The impact of climate change on Afghanistan

Earlier this month, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) declared: “Afghanistan is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world, facing increasing droughts, floods, and water shortages despite contributing very little to global greenhouse gas emissions.”

18-year-old Maryam from the Afghanistan Newsroom explains how droughts, floods and rising temperatures are damaging her homeland

education

The high cost of higher ed in Southeast Asia

With graduation season rolling in for many countries in Southeast Asia, many students will be faced with the same old question: “What university are you going to?” Some may have an answer prepared, others may be undecided. But a number of students face a different dilemma: “Will I even go to college at all?”

18-year-old Ryleigh Lemsic explores the financial barriers to tertiary education in the Philippines

Rating:

music

Justin Bieber was standing on business at Coachella 2026

Feeling like one less lonely girl after watching Justin Bieber at Coachella? Same. Justin Bieber headlining the 2026 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival means that Bieber Fever is officially back. Performing over two weekends, the Canadian artist partied like it’s 3012 with an electric crowd of millennials and Gen Z, creating a pop-culture moment that is forever engraved in our brains.

16-year-old Jennifer Yung-Coak gives a heartfelt review of Justin Bieber’s touching performance at Coachella 2026

sports

Harbingers’ writers share their thoughts on the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The four-year countdown has finally reached zero. On 11 June, the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off its opening match – Mexico vs South Africa – in Mexico City. For the first time in history, the tournament is co-hosted by three nations, the United States, Canada and Mexico, with matches played across 16 cities.

16-year-old Jennifer Yung-Coak explains how the world’s biggest sports party brings people together and creates unforgettable memories

Featured author

Stephanie KwokSouth Asia Editor 2026 Hong Kong, China

Stephanie Kwok, born in 2009 in Hong Kong, joined Harbingers’ Magazine in November 2025 as the overall winner of the Harbingers Prize 2025. After completing the writing course, she became a regular writer for the magazine.

Her strong writing and editorial engagement led to her appointment as South Asia Editor for 2026, a role she took up on 1 March. In this position, she helps coordinate reporting and contributions from the region.

Stephanie lives and studies in Hong Kong and is an aspiring journalist and writer. She is particularly interested in investigative journalism, English literature and classics.

She is also a contributing writer for several publications, including Polyphony Lit and FilmPsych, and enjoys writing poetry in her free time.

Stephanie speaks English, Cantonese, Mandarin and Shanghainese, and is currently learning Latin.

nepali newsroom

The experience of a Gen Z Leader: An interview with Rakshya Bam

Rakshya Bam is one of the young leaders who led the Gen Z uprising in Kathmandu last September. She had several opportunities to join politics or enter parliament, but chose to stay outside and question the government.

Binita Nepali, 16, Laxman B.K., 13, and Ramita Chadara, 14, from the Nepali Newsroom interview one of the leading activists in the protests in Nepal

Rating:

AI & tech

Are you an apocalyptist or an optimist?

Have you ever felt grateful that AI (artificial intelligence) just saved you from spending hours on your maths homework? Or have you ever felt like AI is going to take over and destroy our world? If you have felt either, or likely both, The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is the reality check you didn’t know you needed.

16-year-old Jennifer Yung-Coak reviews a new documentary about the role and the future of AI

international affairs

Micronations: A unique political and social phenomenon

Seven miles off the coast of England lies a rusting metal platform the size of a football field called Sealand. It contains infrastructure, hosts internet services, runs on renewable energy and even has a jail.

17-year-old Mutaz Sameh explores the world of hobby politics through the world’s micronations

armenian newsroom

Travel doesn’t bond you, it tests you

Travel is often imagined as the ultimate bonding experience involving sunsets, shared meals, laughter, deep late talks, inside jokes and memories that last a lifetime. But there might be an ugly side to it that people don’t talk about as often.

16-year-old Carla from the Armenian Newsroom on what travel reveals about friendships

economics

Finance 101: Basics of the stock market

As the leader of the Finance Society at my school in the UK, I have experience teaching these subjects to a class of more than 40 beginner students aged 13 to 18. Through that experience, I understand that finance can be much less intimidating to learn when explained in simple terms.

17-year-old Lukas Abromavicius launches a series explaining key financial terms for young readers

opinion

Congratulations, you’ve ‘maxxed’ everything – except the point

A mirror, a phone and a ring light. A young man turns his face slowly to the left, then to the right, studying the angle of his jaw and the subtle upward curvature of his nose. He has been doing this for 20 minutes. He will do it again tomorrow.

16-year-old Jennie Yao dives into the motivations of those who ‘maxx’ to avoid nihilism

opinion

The cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is an attack on free media

The final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ran on 21 May. CBS, the network behind the show, announced in July 2025 that, although it was the most watched late-night show, it was getting cancelled for “purely financial reasons”. It is clear to me that this is not the case and that the decision was politically motivated.

17-year-old Lola Kadas on CBS’s decision to end the show after 33 years

nepali newsroom

Nepalis at home and abroad suffer due to Iran war

US and Israel’s war against Iran may appear to be a distant conflict, but its consequences have quietly made their way into the kitchens of ordinary Nepali families. People throughout the country are feeling the effects of rising prices, a shortage of gas cylinders and more expensive food. The conflict is altering the way Nepalis cook, eat and live.

Samuna, 15, and Rakshya, 14, from the Nepali Newsroom report on the impact of the Iran war on Nepali households

opinion

Met Gala 2026: The best dressed and controversies

As a girl with absolutely no interest in sports, the Met Gala is my Super Bowl. The 2026 Met Gala did more than flood social media feeds with extravagant gowns and celebrity headlines. It raised a record-breaking $42m for New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, surpassing last year’s $31m, also a record.

17-year-old Ava Miltenberg breaks down the most inspiring interpretations of this year’s theme, Costume Art

opinion

What if quitting is not a failure? How Alysa Liu redefined success

When American figure skater Alysa Liu stepped on to the podium to claim Olympic gold this February, it seemed at first to be a familiar story: years of sacrifice, finally rewarded.

17-year-old Stephanie Kwok argues that success should not require sacrificing well-being

science

Future missions to the Moon: The Artemis programme explained

On 1 April, NASA’s Orion spacecraft launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It carried four astronauts on the Artemis II mission to loop around the far side of the Moon and return to Earth ten days later. Undoubtedly, many families sat down in front of the TV to watch this historical moment.

18-year-old Sofiia Didenko explains the next steps in NASA’s plans and the possible future of space travel

health & wellness

Uncurving my story: A life in braces and X-rays

Many people hear the word “scoliosis” in passing, maybe as a joke about someone’s posture, or a casual comment forgotten as quickly as it’s spoken. They think it’s just about standing up straighter – but they don’t realise that it’s so much more.

17-year-old Luvella Man explains what happened after she was diagnosed with scoliosis – a twisted spine – in 2020

international affairs

UN slavery resolution: What was declared and what is being demanded

On 25 March, in a landmark resolution, the United Nations general assembly declared the transatlantic slave trade “the gravest crime against humanity”.

18-year-old Ruqaiyya Jhandawala explains the United Nations’ historic resolution condemning the slave trade

afghanistan newsroom

Tensions rise between Afghanistan and Pakistan

In recent months, relations between the two countries have worsened due to cross-border attacks, political disagreements, economic struggles and the effects of international sanctions. These tensions are especially visible in areas near the border – where ordinary people are facing growing fear and uncertainty.

15-year-old Elaha from the Afghanistan Newsroom explains why worsening relations between the two countries are a cause for concern

armenian newsroom

When ‘I talked to AI’ replaces ‘I talked to a friend'

The first time I realised AI was replacing real friendship, I was standing outside a bathroom stall, listening to my friend talk to someone who wasn’t there.

13-year-old Vivienne Movsisyan argues that AI is replacing real friendship and human connection

culture

From facial expressions to body language: How actors bring characters to life

How do actors convince audiences – on screen or stage – that their characters are believable? The audience would not believe in the storyline or the actions of a character if the actors did not play their roles realistically and authentically. A good character is not just down to the script, the actors bring it to life because they feel and express it naturally.

16-year-old Anastasia Kulikova explores the acting techniques that actors use to build authentic and realistic characters

society

Tanzania teaches children to obey, not to dream – this has to change

I’ve grown up in a society where children are treated like they are invisible, particularly when it comes to sharing their opinions, feelings and ideas. Speaking up, whether at home or in school, is often seen as disrespectful. Those who dare to speak tend to be silenced through harsh punishments and shaming.

16-year-old Lidya Gasper argues that a strong society should listen to its youngest members, not dismiss them or beat them into submission

sri lankan newsroom

Should IAL exams be postponed globally?

On 2 April, UK exam board Pearson Edexcel announced that in-person exams for the International GCSE, the International A Level and iPLS qualifications have been cancelled in the Middle East for the May/June 2026 series. The countries affected so far are Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

17 -year-old Lisindi Liyanage from the Sri Lankan Newsroom explores how the Middle East conflict is affecting international students

politics

Sánchez vs Trump: Spain’s prime minister says no to the US

On 28 February, the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran, killing the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and sparking a wider conflict that has affected numerous countries across the Middle East.

18-year-old Sofiia Didenko analyses what the recent disagreement with the US could mean for Spain

economics

Iran war fuels oil price hikes in the Philippines

Philippines president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a state of national energy emergency on 24 March, citing unmanageable rising fuel prices amid the escalating unrest in the Middle East following US and Israel’s attacks on Iran.

17-year-old Samantha de Mesa explains how Filipino transport drivers and consumers have been impacted by war in the Middle East

politics

Hungary election 2026: What Orban’s ousting means beyond Hungary’s borders

The Hungarian elections have finished, and they tell a story few thought was possible a year ago – Péter Magyar’s Tisza party won the election by a landslide, ending 16 years of far-right prime minister Viktor Orbán’s dominance.

17-year-old Filip Wieczorek analyses the new government’s likely approach to the EU and other countries

afghanistan newsroom

Criminalisation of women: What does the Taliban’s latest order reveal?

On 15 January, a report was published from Takhar province, stating a new order that aims to “confront rebellious women”. The text, which is described as administrative and neutral, is in fact a new step in the intensification of restrictive policies against women.

18-year-old Maryam from the Afghanistan Newsroom explains how morality is being used as an excuse to control women’s lives

opinion

What’s up with protein obsession?

It feels like everywhere you look on social media, you’re being told to eat more and more protein. Influencers, fitness accounts, even regular people constantly push the idea that higher protein intake is always better.

16-year-old Irma Mecele debunks Gen Z’s obsession with their protein intake

economics

War and rising oil prices: Is the energy crisis benefiting Russia?

This triggered a sharp increase in global energy prices, and oil markets became unstable. Countries such as China, India and Turkey started buying more oil from Russia, increasing its export revenues. This raises the question: does the oil crisis benefit Russia’s war economy?

16-year-old Maria Fiala explains how the US-Israel war in Iran is reshaping Russia’s war economy

The Harbinger Prize 2026

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