Australia Goes to the Polls

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 13 May 2022 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

Australia’s Prime Minister, Liberal Scott Morrison, has called a federal election for 21 May. “ScoMo” and the Liberals were the surprise winners of the 2019 election and currently have a single seat majority in the 151-seat parliament. Opinion polls are favouring Labor and its leader Anthony Albanese over Morrison, who has been accused of bullying … Continue reading “Australia Goes to the Polls”

Historic Supreme Court Nomination

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 15 April 2022 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

On 7 April, the U.S. Senate confirmed the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as a Supreme Court Justice — the first ever African-American woman in the court’s 233-year history. Despite hostile Senate hearings, three Republican Senators gave their votes to confirm the nomination.  When he fulfilled an election promise by nominating Ms. Brown Jackson, … Continue reading “Historic Supreme Court Nomination”

Koalas in Danger

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 11 February 2022 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

The Australian government has announced that it now considers koalas an endangered species in three out of five of the states and territories where they are native. Palace populations have declined precipitously in just a decade. The 2019-20 bushfires were the last straw. Koalas, like kangaroos, are marsupials only found in the Australian continent. Because … Continue reading “Koalas in Danger”

Arise Sir Lewis!

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 31 December 2021 > In the News

The Formula One driver is no longer simply Lewis Hamilton, but Sir Lewis after being knighted by Prince Charles. The driver was awarded a knighthood in the 2021 New Year’s Honours list after he won his seventh World Championship. Hamilton received the award at Windsor Castle on 15 December, just days after missing out on … Continue reading “Arise Sir Lewis!”

A Year in Words

Posted by Speakeasy News > Friday 17 December 2021 > In the News

Different dictionaries have been revealing their “words of the year” for 2021. The COVID pandemic has had a major influence on the words we use and look up. Vax, double-vaxxed, vaccine and pingdemic all show up, as well as perseverance, which we’ve all had to show. Oxford Dictionaries announced vax was their word of the … Continue reading “A Year in Words”

400 Years of Thanksgiving

Posted by Speakeasy News > Thursday 25 November 2021 > In the News

This year sees the 400th anniversary of the ancestor of today’s Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S.A. 400 years after the meal shared by Pilgrims and Wampanoag Indians in Massachusetts, efforts are gaining ground to see the event from the points of view of both communities. When the Mayflower brought 102 Puritans to New England in … Continue reading “400 Years of Thanksgiving”

Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Found Liable for Defamation Over Sandy Hook Shooting

Posted by Speakeasy News > Wednesday 17 November 2021 > In the News Shine Bright Lycée

Controversial U.S. broadcaster Alex Jones has been found liable in defamation cases brought in Connecticut and Texas by parents of children killed in the 2012 mass school shooting. Jones has spread conspiracy theories for years saying the shooting was a government hoax aiming at promoting gun control. Twenty children and six adults were shot dead … Continue reading “Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones Found Liable for Defamation Over Sandy Hook Shooting”