Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2023

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 15 September 2023 > In the News

The Commonwealth Youth Awards honour young people from around the world for their work trying to advance one or more of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This year’s winner, Maya Kirti Nanan from Trinidad and Tobago, founded an organisation to help people with autism in her Caribbean island home.  The Commonwealth is a voluntary association … Continue reading “Commonwealth Young Person of the Year 2023”

Teens Sue Montana Over Climate Change

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 04 September 2023 > In the News

The first of a series of lawsuits by young U.S. citizens against state and federal governments over climate change has come to trial. Held v. Montana was the subject of a two-week court case in June. Sixteen young Montanans accused their state of  violating their constitutional rights to a “clean and healthful environment”; to seek … Continue reading “Teens Sue Montana Over Climate Change”

Young Inventors Sail Model Boats Around Antarctica

Posted by Speakeasy News > Tuesday 25 July 2023 > In the News

Scottish brothers Ollie and Harry Ferguson are just 13 and 11, but they’ve dedicated their lives to having adventures. The latest one is building two model boats that have been launched to sail around Antarctica and collect scientific data about the ocean and the air. Ollie and Harry already have a Guinness World Record for … Continue reading “Young Inventors Sail Model Boats Around Antarctica”

Australia to Hold Referendum on Indigenous Representation

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 26 June 2023 > In the News

Australia will hold a referendum later this year on a change to the Constitution that would give Indigenous Australians a greater voice in the legislature. If approved, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice would be a consultative body which would advise lawmakers on issues affecting Indigenous Australians. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who … Continue reading “Australia to Hold Referendum on Indigenous Representation”

What is the NBA Draft?

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 23 June 2023 > In the News

There has been a lot of news about the NBA draft recently. But what is the draft in the NBA and other U.S. sports? A draft system is used in the NBA but also the National Football League, Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer. It’s a system for allowing all … Continue reading “What is the NBA Draft?”

Book Bans in U.S. Schools

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 09 June 2023 > In the News

Amanda Gorman, who wrote and performed her poem “The Hill We Climb” for Joe Biden’s inauguration, is the latest author affected by a wave of book bannings in U.S. schools and libraries. She took to social media to denounce her book being banned after one single complaint from a parent. The poem was one of … Continue reading “Book Bans in U.S. Schools”

Tina Turner : A Star is Dead

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 26 May 2023 > In the News

Tina Turner, celebrated for her incomparable voice, electrifying stage presence, and resilient spirit, passed away on Wednesday 24 May at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich. She was 83. Turner durably marked the music industry. Born Anna Mae Bullock on 26 November , 1939, in Nutbush, Tennessee, to a poor sharecropping African-American family, Tina … Continue reading “Tina Turner : A Star is Dead”

Roald Dahl Rewritten?

Posted by Speakeasy News > Monday 13 March 2023 > In the News

There has been a lot in the news about Roald Dahl’s publishers putting out new versions of his novels for children, changing some of the language, like “fat” and “ugly” that sensitivity readers felt were inappropriate for today’s readers. After negative reactions the publishers said they would continue to publish the original texts of books … Continue reading “Roald Dahl Rewritten?”

Scottish First Minister Resigns

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 15 February 2023 > In the News

On 15 February, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced she was resigning after eight years in the post. Like Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’ Prime Minister, less than a month ago, Sturgeon blamed the brutality of political life for her resignation. Nicola Sturgeon has been an MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) since the first elections … Continue reading “Scottish First Minister Resigns”