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, 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”
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?”
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”
Buddha of Suburbia author Hanif Kureishi, 68, is hospitalised in Rome after a fall. His four limbs are paralysed and doctors don’t know if he will walk again. But he is using his voice to venture out into the world, and finding nourishment in the responses of his readers. Kureishi’s son, Carlo, encouraged him to … Continue reading “Author Hanif Kureishi Chronicles Life from Hospital Bed”
On 19 January, New Zealand’s Prime Minister announced that not only would she not seek re-election this year, she was resigning with effect on 7 February. On 19 January, New Zealand’s Prime Minister announced that not only would she not seek re-election this year, she was resigning with effect on 7 February. Ms Ardern said … Continue reading “Jacinda Ardern Resigns as NZ Prime Minister”
After the Midterm elections in November, the 118th Congress has been sitting since 3 January. The Midterms were expected to result in a defeat for the Democrats and a lame-duck presidency for the next two years. But the Democrats have kept hold of the Senate and although the Republicans have a small majority in the … Continue reading “What’s Going On in the U.S. Congress?”
The British Royal Foundation is awarding five Earthshot prizes a year till 2030 for innovative ideas to help the planet. The 2022 winners were announced at a ceremony in Boston, Massachusetts, on 2 December hosted by Prince William. The winning projects are based in Australia, Britain, India, Kenya and Oman. The first Earthshot Prizes were … Continue reading “The Earthshot Prizes: Class of 2022”
Various dictionaries have been revealing their “words of the year”, including “permacrisis”, “goblin mode”, “gaslighting”, and “homer”. Not in your vocabulary yet? We’ll give you all the info you need on the words people are talking about and why. For the first time, Oxford Dictionaries asked the public to vote for its word of the … Continue reading “Words of the Year: Talking about 2022”
Maxwell Alejandro Frost is 25, the minimum age to be a candidate for the House of Representatives. And he just won a seat in Florida: he’ll be the first member of Gen Z to sit in the U.S. Congress. Frost was standing for Florida District 10, a safe Democrat seat in his native Orlando. He … Continue reading “At 25, He’s Heading to Congress”