#can kantar

[mayoiayasep]

we got paralive 5th anni stream in about a week im placing my bets and manifestations for a cover album. i already have ideas avex hire me rn

[anjuice]

my kannagi playlist has a new cover, combining illustration and design was a lot of fun

(x)

[desperatepleasures]

here's my hot take if they wanted to add a female character to the main cast they should've made yakko a recurring character instead of inventing suzu. hear me out I know that yakko has a job and maybe the commute from the red light district would be untenable BUT it's no more unrealistic than "middle school girl's well-to-do family lets her hang out after school every day with the exorcist they hired one time". and also "geisha who bullies kantarou" is fundamentally a more interesting character concept than "middle schooler with a crush on haruka"

[tsuki-tsuki-koi-koi]

Umm anyways go check out the twitter account @ _KUZUDANA_ they are my old men life blood right now

Hello friends… do I have any Kantarou/various old men supporters here? I want to write Toni/Kantarou but i am shy 👉🏼👈🏼

[spot-the-ableism]

https://www.tumblr.com/homochadensistm/762029424206020608/do-not-open-this-persons-archive-and-go-to-october

just was made very uncomfortable with the use of the r-slur (especially as an autistic person)

“The R-word, also known as the R-slur, is a hurtful term that remains prevalent throughout social media, according to a Kantar Social Listening study. The research shows that when social media users are posting about people with intellectual disabilities, 7 in every 10 of those posts are negative, and 6 in 10 contain a slur.  The R-word is a form of hate speech that stands for “retard,” “retarded,” or other offensive words ending in “-tard.” While “mental retardation” was originally introduced as a medical term in 1961 for people with intellectual disabilities, in the decades since, the R-word has become an insult used all too commonly in everyday language. Those who use the R-word often do so with little regard for the pain it causes people with intellectual disabilities—and the exclusion it perpetuates in our society.” -source

there’s not exactly any perfect resource I can point to that explains everything correctly so I will explain, since I will be @‘ing homo with this information I genuinely do think it’s that because their first language is not English they probably don’t know about the reason why people are upset, so I am using the benefit of the doubt.

“Retard”, “retarded”, “retardation” and “retardant” are all words that mean to slow or delay something. It’s originally a French-ish word.

there are many different contexts that the word is used, not all times is it a slur.

But the reason it is, is due to almost a hundred plus years of systemic abuses to intellectually disabled people, epileptics, people with learning disabilities and people with autism and schizophrenia.

for almost a 100 plus years people were sent to institutions or asylums to live out the rest of their lives abused or dying, many many people died in those institutions.

they were diagnosed with “mental retardation” which is actually an umbrella term for all sorts of mental and neurological disabilities, many people with Down’s syndrome, facial deformities and differences, people without the use of their vocal cords and more were also treated in these asylums and institutions and were among the many effected by the rampant systemic ableism and eugenics of the time.

there is this idea that asylums and institutions are not bad, when in reality it’s been almost 200-300 years of them and you can have families and friends and people who wrote books about it and they’ll tell you what it is. Hell.

so why did I give you that context?

well the reason “retarded” or “retard” is a slur is because of those institutions and asylums treatment of people they called the R slur.

their autonomy was taken away, they had no rights, anyone calling out the abuses of institutions were for a long time also penalised, and the eugenics of the time had swayed way too many peoples opinions of the rights of the neurodevlopmentally disabled.

over time things got better and the eugenics of it all started to be penalised, but the fact remains that the r slur is incredibly hurtful and harmful to people still to this day.

there is generational trauma that comes with being neurodevlopmentally disabled or having intellectual disability.

so a lot of people are very insulted and upset at the usage of the word as a slur to insult or belittle others.

I hope that makes sense to you @homochadensistm

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Elsie Carson-Holt at LGBTQ Nation:

Though conservatives often accuse companies of losing out when a brand touts progressive values, the right-wing adage “go woke, and go broke,” has been disproven by a recent study. Brands that are supportive of LGBTQ+ rights or social justice movements see greater consumer engagement and loyalty from customers.  Unstereotype Alliance, a business initiative convened by UN Women, more inclusive advertising campaigns positively impact profits, sales and brand worth. Researchers at Saïd Business School at Oxford University analyzed data from Diageo, Kantar and Unilever, in collaboration with the Geena Davis Institute. The research, based on an analysis of 392 brands across 58 countries, reveals that inclusive advertising can boost short-term sales by nearly 3.5% and drive long-term sales by over 16%. The study spanned various product categories, including confectionery, snacks, personal care, beauty, pet food, pet care, alcohol, consumer healthcare, and household products across diverse regions. Inclusive advertising also persuades 62% of consumers to choose a product and enhances brand loyalty for 15% of shoppers. The study highlights that ads that authentically portray people, without using stereotypes, have a clear competitive advantage in the marketplace, influencing consumer preferences and long-term success.

[...]

On the other side, the beer brand Bud Light also faced right-wing rage after partnering with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney. After the incident,  Jason Warner, CEO of the European branch of Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch InBev, said that the company would no longer attempt inclusivity and “stay in our lane.”

The study comes after right-wing influencer Robby Starbuck has forced multiple companies to cave by accusing them of having “woke agendas” and sending a social media mob after them. Starbuck succeeded in getting companies such as Lowe’s, John Deere, Harley Davidson, and more to drop their DEI initiatives, stop partnering with the Human Rights Campaign, and end sponsorship of Pride festivals. When fear of Starbuck caused Ford Motors to follow behind the other brands, President of the Human Rights Campaign, Kelley Robinson, called Starbuck a “MAGA bully and Republican-reject.” It later released a study that details how rollbacks on DEI from large corporations in recent years are wildly unpopular with LGBTQ+ individuals and alienating many consumers. The latest research adds even more weight to that argument.

A new study by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School and Geena Davis Institute reveals that pro-inclusive advertising and support for social justice (esp. LGBTQ+) causes see increased consumer engagement and loyalty from customers, much to the chagrin of anti-inclusion activists like Robby Starbuck.

[quillpokebiology]

Hi! do you know any interesting facts about Lurantis?

I do! I really like them, and while it's not a lurantis, my friend has a fomantis named Snapdragon who I absolutely love.

Lurantis Facts

-The scientific name for Lurantis is "Montoludia sicula" which translates to "Sickle soothsayer-actress"

-When lurantis were first discovered, there was a lot of controversy on why they should be classified as a bug type. But further research shows that it isn’t bugs pretending to be plants; it’s plants pretending to be bugs

-Scientists theorize that the reason lurantis became predators was because they weren’t getting enough sunlight at some point in history

-As ambush predators, lurantis are able to sit in an area for days without the need of sunlight or food; waiting for their next prey

-The Alolan saying, “A plant in bug’s silk,” which refers to someone who is pretending to be nice only to betray you, came from lurantis

-Male lurantis are slightly smaller than female luranits

-Newer studies show that ancient lurantis were shown to be grass/poison types. There is still a large debate among that between researchers, though

-Because of the the protectors on its eyes, everything it sees has a red tint

(Art by Kantarou on Zerochan.net)

-A common misconception is that the lurantis line is related to the leavanny line. This isn't true at all. Its similarities to leavanny is just convergant evolution

-Lurantis have a "flower mode," which is a state they go into when sleeping or going into camaflouge

(From concept art)

-Female lurantis are more aggressive than male lurantis. It's also one of the few species where the female will fight and compete for males

-They developed the "goggles" on their eyes to protect them from pollen and dust

-They care a lot about their appearance and will spend a lot of time editing it and preening themselves

-Lurantis are good pest controls for unwanted bug types

-Lurantis in Alola tend to be more colorful than the lurantis in any other region because of the amount of sun (the ones in Galar tend to be the dullest)

Care Tips

(For the Anon that asked but I couldn't awnser)

Lurantis can be a big change from fomantis. They become bigger, require more work, and are more aggressive. But once you get the hang of it and get used to daily routines, it won't be difficult at all!

Lurantis require a lot of sunlight and become wilted and irritable if they don't get enough. Giving them a lot of time outside where they have open sunlight is highly recommended. A good space for them would be an open field with a small pond or fountain to play in and bathe themselves.

If your lurantis is female, it can be harder to train them since they're more stubborn and aggressive. Trying to bond with them in activities they like or trying to understand why they won't listen (like why they use Solar beam instead of sword dance as an example). They're smart, and will find a way to communicate these issues with you.

They enjoy more aggressive playtime. Toys like the feather toys in Galar or tug of war would be games and toys they really enjoy.

A thing to look out for would be their sharp toe tips and the sharp tips at the end of their leaves. They can be as dangerous as knives, and you can get hurt if you touch them. Plus, they can scratch your walls and furniture

[here-lies-golden-kamuy]

NSFW | The Ultimate Golden Kamuy Breast Guide

Yes. You read that right. This came to me in a fever dream.

AKA I was taking a bath and pondered how it was unfair that GK has an official penis and ass chart but not a breast chart…I decided right then and there that I needed to do something for my fellow women lovers

Basically, if the Golden Kamuy universe was genderbent, what would the breast chart look like? 

The only canon woman included in this boobie companion guide is Ienaga because her being a transwoman is important to me. But honestly, I don’t think her cis women self would be any different. ALSO! While some characters have been assigned by me personally, this chart also involved a randomizer. What can I say? Breast sizes are moderately based on genetics, and genetics is a game of probability. So if you’re unsatisfied, don’t blame me, blame probability! /lh 

All just putting it out there, all breasts are beautiful! They’re all gorgeous gorgeous gals, and I love them all <3 

Is your favorite not here? Reblog so I can add them here! 

LET’S START 

BREAST 101: BREAST MORPHOLOGY

For this guide, I’ve chosen three parts of breast morphology: breast shape, breast cup size, and nipple and areolae size and shape. 

ONE: BREAST SHAPE (check the link for reference illustrations on breast shape!)

Round Round breasts have a uniform appearance with roughly equal fullness on the top and bottom

GK GALS WITH ROUND BREASTS: Koito, Ienaga, Kikuta, Tsurumi

Bell-Shaped Bell shaped breasts typically occur in people with larger breasts. These breasts tend to be narrow at the top and full at the bottom

GK GALS WITH BELL-SHAPED BREASTS: Tsukishima, Ushiyama, Tanigaki, Kiroranke

Slender Slender breasts are narrow and long, with nipples pointing downwards

GK GALS WITH SLENDER BREASTS: Boutarou, Toni, Usami, Kantarou

Conical Conical breasts are cone-like in shape: the top of the breasts slope down toward the nipples, which point outward. This shape often occurs in people with smaller breasts 

GK GALS WITH CONICAL BREASTS: Sugimoto, Yuusaku, Kadokura, Nikadous

Relaxed Breasts with looser or thin breast tissue tend to have a relaxed or elongated shape. The nipples typically sit lower on relaxed breasts, and they may or may not point downward

GK GALS WITH RELAXED BREASTS: Shiraishi

East-West East-West breasts are full on the top and bottom, and the nipples point in opposite directions, away from the body’s midline

GK GALS WITH EAST-WEST BREASTS: Ogata, Vasily, Kirawus

Close-set Close-set breasts have little or no space between them. They sit in the center of the chest, which leaves a bigger area between the breasts and the shoulders

GK GALS WITH CLOSE-SET BREASTS: Ariko, Edogai, Nakagura, Hijikata

Asymmetrical Breasts Breast asymmetry occurs when one breast is a different shape or size to the other. Most people have slight breast asymmetry

GK GALS WITH BREAST ASYMMETRY: Ariko, Sugimoto, Edogai, Kantarou, Hijikata, Boutarou, Kiroranke, Yuusaku, Tsukishima, Ushiyama, Ogata, Vasily, Ienaga, Nakagura, Koito

GK GALS WITH NO BREAST ASYMMETRY: Shiraishi, Tanigaki, Nikadous, Toni, Usami, Kirawus, Tsurumi, Kadokura, Kikuta

TWO: BREAST CUP SIZE

There are two parts to breast size: the band size and the cup size. The band size is the number that refers to the circumference of a person’s ribcage (typically measured underneath the breasts). The cup size is the size of the actual bust. All-in-all, breast sizes (and shapes!) are influenced by different factors, such as age, lifestyle, weight, pregnancy or breastfeeding, genetics, etc. 

For this, I followed a Japanese guide for bra sizes (here’s a reference for international conversion of bra sizes) and opted to instead focus on the characters’ cup size rather than the band size (too difficult to think of, because we don’t exactly have their canon measurements). 

JAPANESE A TO B BRA SIZE: Sugimoto, Shiraishi, Kadokura, Ienaga, Tsurumi, Kantarou

JAPANESE C TO D BRA SIZE: Koito, Ogata, Toni, Nikaidous, Edogai, 

JAPANESE E TO F BRA SIZE: Nakagura, Hijikata, Vasily, Usami, Yuusaku

JAPANESE G TO H BRA SIZE: Ariko, Tsukshima, Kikuta, Boutarou

JAPANESE I BRA SIZE: Tanigaki, Ushiyama, Kiroranke

THREE: AREOLAE AND NIPPLE SHAPE AND SIZE

Last but certainly not the least: the areolae and nipples. The nipples are the nubs on each breast that is designed to be where an infant will latch its mouth during the breastfeeding age. On the other head, the areolae are the darker-colored skin surrounding the nipple. All areolae and nipples are unique, hence why I felt like this part also had to be included in this guide. 

A. AREOLAE 

GK GALS WITH LIGHTER COLORED AREOLAE: Nikaidous, Tsukishima, Shiraishi, Vasily, Usami, Kadokura, Edogai, Sugimoto, Kantarou, Ienaga, Ogata, Kirawus

GK GALS WITH DARKER COLORED AREOLAE: Yuusaku, Nakagura, Kiroranke, Hijikata, Kikuta, Toni, Tsurumi, Ushiyama, Ariko, Boutarou, Tanigaki, Koito

GK GALS WITH SMALLER AREOLAE: Kadokura, Boutarou, Ogata, Koito, Kiroranke, Tsukishima, Ariko, Shiraishi, Ushiyama, Usami, Kantarou, Nakagura

GK GALS WITH BIGGER AREOLAE: Tanigaki, Nikadous, Edogai, Vasily, Hijikata, Kirawus, Kikuta, Tsurumi, Yuusaku, Ienaga, Toni, Sugimoto

B. NIPPLES

GK GALS WITH BUMPY NIPPLES: Kiroranke, Kikuta, Nikadous, Toni, Hijikata, Sugimoto, Usami, Vasily

GK GALS WITH SUPERNUMERARY* NIPPLES (EXTRA NIPPLE/S): Ariko, Tanigaki, Ienaga, Ushiyama, Boutarou, Tsurumi

GK GALS WITH EVERTED (ERECT) NIPPLES: Kadokura, Koito, Tanigaki, Ushiyama, Kantarou, Tsukishima, Vasily, Usami

GK GALS WITH FLAT NIPPLES: Ienaga, Yuusaku, Kikuta, Ogata, Sugimoto, Nikaidous, Nakagura, Kirawus

GK GALS WITH PUFFY NIPPLES: Shiraishi, Kiroranke, Edogai, Ariko, Hijikata, Tsurumi, Toni, Boutarou

*It is totally normal to have an extra nipple or two! The extra nipple/s look more like moles than nipples. 

[teddog]

OCtober 2024 Day 2: New OC

My newest OC is one I made as a fanfic antagonist for a Vampire Dies in No Time story. He’s mostly a means to an end, but I can share some details.

In the main timeline, the vampire Insignificant Concerns is talented at using hypnosis to make people extremely worried about things that don’t matter— “Did I leave the oven on?”, “Is my toilet running?”, “Did I leave the windows open?”. He works as a security guard at an upscale shopping mall in Yokohama and generally has a reputation for being a petty person who rules his pathetic kingdom with an iron fist.

In the Uso timeline, which the story concerns, he’s a security officer working for a vampire controlled territory bordering Shin-Yokohama. His hypnosis here is more fine-tuned to crush the egos of human opponents, making them feel like insignificant garbage before snuffing out their free will.

This is a lot of thinking for a baddie to be tossed in front of Kantarou and Nagiri and die, but I felt those two deserved a compelling challenge.

No art, but here’s that fanfic:

[truly-morgan]

[Sex Pollen fuckery (nsfw-ish)]

KanNagi | The Vampire Dies In No Time 13-03-2023

Me think Kantarou and Tsujigiri should fuck 😌

I can see Kantarou slowly falling for "Tsujita" after all the time he's investigated Tsujigiri with him and really like being with him.

Meanwhile Tsujigiri prolly still is on guard with him, but just accepted this was his fate now.

hence how they end up hit with some sort of sex pollen power 😌

Imagine just how helpless and weak to this power Kantarou could be, pitifully rutting his hip against him as the vampire tries to help him while not being as affected.

"Tsujita" should help his friend in times of need 😤😤

wonder who would top tho. I feel like Kantarou could be quite the cute bottom. But him fucking heretically into his friend while Tsujigiri is overwhelmed by how good it actually feels sounds very

Original

[ciaossu-imagines]

Hello there! For the mini event may you please do gintama with the au avatar the last airbender, thank you!

Hello there, my lovely anon! I definitely can do that - I really couldn't come up with solid ideas, so I admit to taking the lazy way out, so have a pretty comprehensive list on what type of Benders everyone would be in this AU! And guys, there are so many characters in Gintama so I swear it wasn't as easy and lazy as it looks! Thanks for sending in a request and I hope you'll enjoy!

Okay, so we're going into this AU with there being the four major bending types - Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Each bending type is as it is portrayed in Avatar: The Last Airbender, with people possessing different degrees of bending and different skills being present within each bending type.

So, when considering which type of Bender each character would be, I kind of broke it down into personality types and traits and qualities to look for, based on what I figure the 'stereotypical' Bender is for each of the four.

Earth Benders are a little rough around the edges, slow to anger, slow to decide on things, but stubborn once their mind is made up. They can be sensitive and they are often very patient.

Air Benders are gentle souls, respectful and adaptable, changeable. They're fast, both in their movements and in their thoughts.

Water Benders are typically calm and easy-going, flexible enough to adapt to their companions or situations. They're often quite easy to talk to and rather content with their lives.

Fire Benders are often prideful and confident individuals who are loyal, determined and ambitious. They can be very playful and fun but they often also have very short fuses on their tempers, which can be very volatile and explosive.

Keeping that in mind, this is what I figure the characters would be for Benders.

Earth Benders

Shimura Shinpachi

Shimura Tae

Shimura Ken

Chin Pirako/Doromizu Pirako

Kanemaru

Otose

Hanako

Saigou Tokumori

Saigou Teruhiko

Doromizu Jirochou

Hiraga Gengai

Hiraga Saburou

Haji

Terada Tatsugorou

Otaki

Jigsaw

Ofusa

Kirara

Urara

Rokkaku Kirie

Hongou Hisashi

Terakado Tsuu

Terakado Ichi

Hachibei Takaya/Takachin

Takatin

Rotten Maizou

Hijikata Toushirou

Sasaki Tetsunosuke

Kumanaku Seizou

Saitou Shimaru

Sasaki Isaburo

Oboro

Katsura Kotarou

Dragon Leader

Fat Dragon

Nakamura Kyoujirou

Shachi

Kameyama Duuke

Onijishi

Hijikata Tamegorou

Tsukuyo

Mutsu

Daraku

Abuto

Shijaku

Blu-Rayko

Prince Dai

Princess Bubbles

Otakai Sayaka

Water Benders

Sataka Gintoki

Kanemaru

Hasegawa Taizou

Hachirou

Tatsumi

Obi Hajime

Ketsuno Crystel

Ketsuno Seimei

Kuzunoha

Uchino

Hashida Kantarou

Hashida Kanschichirou

Hashida Kahei

Daigo

Kitaooji Daigorou

Izumi

Kawakami Bansai

Yamazaki Sagaru

Kamiyama

Harada Unosuke

16th Ikeda Yaemon

Hattori Zenzou

Wakikaoru

Momochi Rappa

Kurokono Tasuke

Takechi Henpeita

Kidomaru

Ebina

Seita

Suzuran

Hinowa

Kamenashi

Neptune Shokaku

Umibouzu

Shiramizu Pinko

Anigasaki Momo

Air Benders

Ikesawa

Tama

Oryou

Azumi Agonoske

Musashi

Kozenigata Heiji

Honjou Kyoushirou

Juurouta

Murata Tetsuko

Murata Tetsuya

Murata Jintetsu

Hedoro

Nishiki Ikumatsu

Hasegawa Hatsu

Hayashi Ryuuzan

Hayashi Fuyou

Sakurajima Chiharu

Okuni

Isao Kondou

Tokugawa Shige Shige

Tokugawa Soyo

Tokugawa Mori Mori

Tokugawa Sada Sada

Sarutobi Ayame

Elizabeth

Sakamoto Tatsuma

Yoshida Shouyou

Chougorou

Urashima

Oiwa

Rei

Enshou

Daishikyou

Mahha Noriko

Fumiko

Megami

Sorachi Hideaki

Fire Benders

Kagura

Kamui

Sakata Kintoki

Catherine

Ane

Kurogama Katsuo

Kujaku Hime Kada

Madame Yagami

Kanbei

Yagyuu Kyuubei

Yagyuu Binbokusai

Yagyuu Koshinori

Toujou Ayumu

Kitaooji Itsuki

Nishino Tsukamu

Minamito Sui

Shirino Douman

Gedoumaru

Antenmaru

Mone

Professor Meguro

No.305

No.502

Death Cancer

Ochi-san

Ben

Haga Kenji

Yocchan

Kimiko

Matsudaira Katakuriko

Matsudaira Kuriko

Hanano Saki

Goemon

Bichie

Sougo Okita

Hitotsubashi Nobu Nobu

Itou Kamotarou

Shinohara Shinnoshin

Imai Nobume

Ikeda Asaemon

18th Ikeda Yaemon

Utsuro

Jiraia

Banzou

Takasugi Shinsuke

Kajima Matako

Okada Nizou

Tendou Soutatsu

Mashiroi Kaguzou

Mashiroi Utsuzou

Inoue

Tasuke

Kuraba Touma

Eromes

Kurikan

Okita Mitsuba

Housen

Otohime

Admiral Abou

Ougai

Soutatsu

Kouka

Suitsu

Prince Hata

Jii

[mayoiayasep]

paradox live phone charm tier list that absolutely no one asked for 👍🏾

[marshmellowpaint]

The phantometals are so fucking random like. Shikis is his rosary. Kantarou's is his phone case. Rokutas is a fucking finger piercing??? You can pierce your finger??? Hello???

Finger,,,, finger piercing??? FINGER PIERCING????? Rokuta WHAT

Anyways I like how phantometals can be anything, that's so silly, imagine seeing some dude perform on stage with like,,, a beach umbrella avdjajjs that would be so silly

[desperatepleasures]

sorry for how Unsafe this sex is gonna be but I really do think kantarou would take an "if i die I die" approach to sex with haruka. like to him "died during rough sex with my hot tengu boyfriend" would be his ideal way to go

[snowboyclarkov]

Beyblade -> Mix Ore

Done something like this with Corpse Party, now for something much less clear cut. What if the Beyblade main protagonists and main antagonists, and both Kai and Free because I can, were in a Mix Ore style situation. I refuse to include Shogun Steel. There are only 5 people in the Mix Ore series, so inevitably multiple sitings of the same person will be there. MBTI and Enneagram are used for this. Some are very similar, some are barely similar.

Before heading into battle, choose a drink. It'll be needed.

Tyson Granger -> Rikana Millefiori

Gingka Hagane -> Rikana Millefiori

Masamune Kadoya -> Rikana Millefiori

Valt Aoi -> Sanae Cocoaulait

Aiger Akabane -> Rikana Millefiori

Dante Koryu -> Nagisa Ichigaulait

Hikaru Hizashi -> Ayano Cafeaulait

Hyuga Hizashi -> Rikana Millefiori

Bel Daizora -> Rikana Millefiori

Tala Valkov -> Nagisa Ichigaulait

Zeo Zagart -> Sanae Cocoaulait

Brooklyn Masefield -> Nagisa Ichigaulait

Ryuga -> Rikana Millefiori

Damian Hart -> Nagisa Ichigaulait

Faust -> Sanae Cocoaulait

Rago -> Sanae Cocoaulait

Lui Shirosagi -> Rikana Millefiori

Shu Kurenai -> Sanae Cocoaulait

Phi -> Sanae Cocoaulait

Arthur Peregrine -> Rikana Millefiori

Gwyn Reynolds -> Nagisa Ichigaulait

Lain Valhalla -> Rikana Millefiori

Rashad Goodman -> Nagisa Ichigaulait

Kai Hiwatari -> Kantarou

Free de la Hoya -> Kantarou

[beardedmrbean]

1. University life? A master's class on higher education in Belgium

Belgium is home to a number of renowned institutions with students coming from around the world to study in the higher education system. But the step from school to university can be daunting, especially for those unfamiliar with the procedure. If you're wondering where to start, here's a low-down of the need-to-know facts for you to make the right decisions. Read more.

2. One third of Belgians prepared to not pay energy bills

Polling institute Kantar has surveyed over 1,000 Belgians on the ongoing energy and climate crises, finding that one in three respondents are considering not paying their upcoming energy bills. Read more.

3. Tour & Taxis site in Brussels completely car-free from 2023

In recent years, an urban development project on the Tour & Taxis site has triggered the revival of historic buildings of Brussels, from the Royal Depot to the Gare Maritime. As part of ambitions to make the area even more liveable, it will be made entirely car-free from 2023. Read more.

4. Self employment appeals to almost a quarter of Belgians

Belgium is among the most ambitious European countries when it comes to people wanting to become self-employed in the future, either as a first or secondary occupation. Read more.

5. 'General lack of interest': Belgians indifferent about Qatar World Cup

A week before the Red Devils' first match in the highly controversial World Cup in Qatar, the Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) has decided to cancel its official fan village – planned to be set up just outside of Brussels, in Vilvoorde – amid general disinterest in the tournament this year. Read more.

6. Brussels Airlines presents new plane for national teams... but there's a catch

Brussels Airlines unveiled today its new football-themed plane – Trident – to honour Belgium's national football teams. However, the unveiling did not quite go to plan. Read more.

7. Hidden Belgium: Het Smaaksalon

A stunning restaurant called Het Smaaksalon opened in 2012 in a grand town house in Hasselt. The building, known as Huis de Corswarem, was built at the end of the 19th century by a wealthy Hasselt family. It is a spectacular Neoclassical mansion decorated with pillars, chandeliers and oil portraits. Read more.