The mathematician Katherine Johnson has died at the age of 101. Her calculations were vital many NASA space missions. She was one of the “Hidden Figures” brought into the spotlight by the 2016 book and film. Hidden Figures told the true story of a team of female mathematicians who worked in NASA during the early … Continue reading “Katherine Johnson Human Calculator Dies”
Brits are gearing up to raise money for charity with Sport Relief on 13 March. The high-energy version of Comic Relief is asking people to lace up their running shoes, put on their swimsuits or get on their bikes to tackle issues such as mental health stigma, domestic abuse, homelessness and poverty, both in the … Continue reading “Be a Sport!”
Kobe Bryant was a hero to basketball fans in the U.S.A. and around the world. They were devastated to learn about the former NBA star’s death in a helicopter crash on 26 January, along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others. Her coaches said Gianna, the second-oldest of Bryant’s four daughters, was destined to … Continue reading “NBA Giant”
The race to the White House is heating up, but there’s still a long way to go to the 3 November election. Because in this year’s election the incumbent President, Republican Donald Trump, is standing again, most of the focus so far has been on the campaign to become the Democratic candidate. Some hopefuls declared … Continue reading “U.S. Presidential Marathon”
After more than three and a half years, three Prime Ministers and two elections, but with no celebratory ringing of Big Ben, Brexit finally means Brexit. Sort of. While Britain officially leaves the EU at midnight on 31 Jan 2020, it is only to enter a transition period that will last till 31 December. So, … Continue reading “Brexit Day”
With the Conservative Party winning an overall majority in the UK Parliament for the first time since 2017, Prime Minister Boris Johnson means to make good on his promise to, “Get Brexit done.” The Conservatives won at least a 78 seat majority on 12 December, with 364 seats,a much more comfortable position than the minority … Continue reading “Brexit is Back On”
On 18 December, President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives, only the third president in U.S. history to be rebuked in this way. The second stage of impeachment, before the Senate, is unlikely to succeed, but it will run into the beginning of primary season for the November presidential election. The impeachment … Continue reading “Impeached”
It’s been quite a year for Greta Thunberg. As well as leading millions of people in climate protests around the world, the 16-year-old activist has addressed the United Nations, met and harangued world leaders. It’s no wonder that Time Magazine named her its Person of the Year. Thunberg never imagined her solo protest would have … Continue reading “Greta’s Year”
South Africa’s rugby captain was born one day before the official end of apartheid in 1991. Yet he is truly part of the “born-free generation”. The first black captain of South Africa’s emblematic rugby team, Siya Kolisi was the third Springboks skipper to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, after his team won the 2019 Rugby … Continue reading “Born Almost Free”
There has been talk of impeaching President Trump practically from the day he took office in 2017, originally over alleged electoral irregularities. But on 24 September, impeachment proceedings were actually launched in the House of Representatives, although they have little chance of being approved by Congress. What exactly is impeachment? “The President, Vice President and … Continue reading “Word of the moment: Impeachment”