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”
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 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”
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?”
The American novelist and Pulitzer Prize winner Cormac McCarthy, passed away on Tuesday 13 June, in Santa Fe, New Mexico (U.S.A.) at the age of 89. Known for his dark and gripping narratives, McCarthy left an indelible mark on the literary world with his most famous masterpieces, The Road and No Country for Old Men. … Continue reading “Cormac McCarthy : the Road Ends”
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”
