CAIRO: An Egyptian cyclist has set off on Saturday from the heart of downtown Cairo heading to Moscow to support Egypt’s national soccer team in the World Cup.
Mohammed Nufal, 24, embarked on the long-haul journey from the famed Tahrir Square and is planning to traverse seven countries across three continents including Jordan, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine. Nufal said he will only take a flight from Jordan to Bulgaria to bypass war-torn Syria.
“The languages are among the biggest challenges,” Nufal told The Associated Press. “I will deal with that using translation apps and sign language.”
He expects the weather to be bearable during the trek.
According to his official Facebook page, Nufal said his trip would take 65 days covering a distance of some 5,000 kilometers (3,160 miles). He expects to take nine days to travel 800 kilometers in Egypt alone, where his last stop will be in south Sinai’s Nuweiba, before heading to Jordan.
Nufal had previously biked for 70 days to Gabon, passing through Chad, Sudan and Cameroon.
Egypt qualified for this year’s World Cup for the first time since 1990.
Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
Egyptian cyclist pedals to Russia to support team in World Cup
- The trip taken by Mohammed Nufal will take 65 days to complete
- Nufal will cover 5,000 kilometers on his epic journey through seven countries
Viral phenomenon in Argentina has young people identifying themselves as animals
- As the movement gains traction, psychologists are stepping in to analyze the phenomenon and its place in public discourse
BUENOS AIRES: On a recent Sunday, a Buenos Aires plaza transformed into a makeshift wilderness for an unusual group of teenagers.
Sofía, wearing a lifelike beagle mask, ran across the grass on all fours. Nearby, 15-year-old Aguara leapt through the air, clearing an obstacle course while imitating the precise movements of a Belgian breed dog. Others dressed as cats and foxes perched in the branches of trees, keeping their distance from curious onlookers.
It was the latest gathering of “therians,” individuals who say they identify mentally, spiritually or psychologically with non-human animals. The trend has taken over Argentine social media over the past few months, gaining traction on platforms like TikTok, where the hashtag #therian has surpassed 2 million posts, with Argentina leading all other Latin American countries in engagement. The surge has drawn the attention of influencers and media outlets alike, sparking reactions that range from laughter and bewilderment to outright anger.
And as the movement gains traction, psychologists are stepping in to analyze the phenomenon and its place in public discourse.
Aguara, who claims to identify as a Belgian Malinois and counts her age as the equivalent of two years and two months in dog years, says she’s a lot like any other teenager.
“I wake up like a normal person and live my life like a normal person,” she said. “I simply have moments when I like being a dog.”
As the leader of what she calls her “pack,” Aguara — the name she identifies with — boasts more than 125,000 followers on TikTok and coordinates regular meetups around the Argentine capital.
Aru, a 16-year-old who wore a seal mask to the park meetup, said she considers herself part of the “otherpaw” branch of therians: individuals who wear masks and tails or move on all fours just for fun. “It’s not necessarily about identifying as an animal,” she said.
She reckons the therian trend took off in Argentina because of the country’s “fairly free” environment. For other young Argentines, the movement has provided a vital community where they can feel truly accepted.
Should parents be worried?
Débora Pedace, a psychologist and director of the Integral Therapeutic Center in Buenos Aires, acknowledged that the phenomenon generates a complex mix of confusion, laughter and even anger.
“From a psychological standpoint, this is a symbolic identification with an animal,” Pedace said. “It becomes pathological or alarming only when it turns into a deeply rooted belief and the person fully assumes the role of an animal, potentially leading to self-harm or hurting others.”
