Innholdsfortegnelse for 177 i The Week Junior

A SPECIAL VOTER Indian election officials have travelled for around 40 miles into the Gir wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, in western India, so that a 69-year-old holy man could vote. Bharatdas Darshandas lives alone in the jungle, and cast his vote at a special polling station set up for him. BIRDS IN INDONESIA Zoologists (experts who study animals) have discovered two new species of bird in Indonesia. Known as the wakatobi white-eye and the wangi-wangi white-eye, the birds live on islands off Sulawesi, which is known for its beautiful birds, animals and flowers. The team, from Trinity College Dublin, have been studying wildlife there for 20 years. A LUCKY SKYDIVER A man whose prosthetic leg flew off while he skydived has been reunited with his lost limb. Police in California,…

A snake has been removed from a bus in Paisley, Scotland, after it slithered along a window and frightened the passengers. The corn snake, which isn’t dangerous to humans, was caught by bus inspector Mick McArthur on 26 April during an evening journey. He said he knew it was harmless straight away but wanted to stop it scaring everyone. It is thought to have escaped from its owner’s bag earlier that day and has now been returned home.…

It all began with Teletubbies. At the age of three, when Nafisah Baba was tapping and dancing along to her favourite episodes of the children’s TV show, her mum decided to encourage her to learn ballet. Now aged 21, Baba is making her debut in London’s West End and is the reigning champion of the BBC’s Young Dancer competition. Between rehearsals for her new show, Inala, Baba spokee to The Week Junior about how the BBC Young Dancer competition sparked her career at a time when she had lost confidence in herself. She explained, “I didn’t want to apply because I didn’t think I’d get very far. I thought there wasn’t any point in me going for it. A friend told me if I didn’t do it I’d regret it…

Sirocco, the world’s best known kakapo, became the first male of his species to be raised by humans when he suffered an illness shortly after hatching. Once recovered, he was released into the wild, but still seemed more interested in humans. Sirocco became world famous in 2009 when, during the filming of a TV documentary about kakapos, he jumped on the cameraman’s head and started flapping his wings, as if dancing. As a result, a set of dancing parrot emojis were created in his honour. He was made the Official Spokesbird for Conservation, and has his own Facebook page.…

An “extinct” flower A flower once thought to have gone extinct has been rediscovered by a drone flying over a remote location where it grows. The rare plant, known as Hibiscadelphus woodii, can only be found on the islands of Hawaii in the US. Before being spotted earlier this year, it was last seen in 2009. Star spotters A new survey claims that just one in 50 people in England can view the night sky free from the glow of artificial lights. The Campaign to Protect Rural England asked people to count stars around the Orion constellation – just 2% saw more than 30, even though up to 40 stars are visible in a dark sky.…

What would be your first rule, if you were prime minister of your country? I recently learnt that on the last day of National Book Week in the Netherlands, the Dutch state railway offers free train travel if you show them a special book instead of a ticket. It’s a book you receive as a gift when you buy Dutch-language books or join a library during Book Week. They also have readings and signings by authors on the trains. Brilliant. I think that’s the first rule I might introduce as PM. Do you have any favourite middlers? One is Lauren Child’s Clarice Bean because she makes me laugh. One of my favourite youngests is Damian from Frank Cottrell-Boyce’s Millions, a completely believable, quirky character who stole my heart. There’s also…

I started dancing when I was two, as I come from a big Irish family. I travel two hours to my class twice a week, and I love it! My dance school is like a family, we have lots of role models who are amazing at dancing. We enter championships, called feiseanna, and we wear make-up, wigs and dresses with lots of crystals. My favourite things are making friends from all over the world and learning dances. My teachers are the best and help make me the best dancer I can be.…

On 1 May, Japan celebrated its new emperor (see All about on page 12). Naruhito took over the role a day after his father, Akihito, aged 85, stepped down from the Chrysanthemum Throne due to old age. Akihito was a very popular emperor, and although the position is largely symbolic, he was known for bringing the royal family closer to the people. During a ceremony at the Imperial Palace, Naruhito promised to continue in his father’s footsteps. A sword and jewel dating back thousands of years was handed to him to mark the historic change. The story reveals a lot about Japan. It’s a country rich in history – the monarchy dates back to about 600BC, and some traditions don’t change, such as a law dating back to 1947 that…

The shoe with added poo The last thing you want to do in a pair of new trainers is to step in some dog mess. Yet Nike’s new dog-themed skateboarding-style shoes come with a recognisable brown smear shape on the sole, all too familiar to those who have accidentally stepped in poo. Other canine touches include a dog pattern on the insides and Dalmatian-style spots on the outside. Despite the fact they look like they’re covered in poo, the shoes cost around £95. Real OR Rubbish? Scottish sheep turning tartan Scottish farmer Maxine Scott knew she shouldn’t give the fizzy drink Irn-Bru to her sheep. However, it was a special occasion and she thought they deserved a treat, so gave them a sip each. The next day, Scott found all…

Eight-year-old Freddie Cook from Bracknell, Berkshire, has become the youngest person in the world to be fitted with a bionic arm. Cook was born without a right forearm, and his mother was told that it would be at least 20 years until there was technology that could recreate hand movements. However, on 28 March, just two days before his eighth birthday, Freddie’s bionic Hero Arm was fitted. He celebrated by eating his favourite food, a hamburger, which he can now pick up and enjoy with two hands. The Hero Arm was made by a Bristol-based company called Open Bionics. It creates prosthetics (artificial body parts) for children that are specially designed to have a futuristic appearance. There are many different covers that young people can put over their arms; there…

● Many museums around the world have human remains on display, such as hair, bones and skeletons, collected from different parts of the globe. The museums argue that displaying these historic humans is helpful for scientific research and improves our understanding of the human race. ● Ancestors from different countries want the remains of their distant relatives returned to them so that they can be buried. They say they are not objects to be kept in cases on display. ● Some museums, including the British Museum and the National Army Museum in the UK, have returned some items.…

Ali Jawad The weightlifter on working hard to accomplish his dream. As a child, who did you want to be like and why? Michael Johnson – the first and only person to win the 200-metre and 400-metre double, at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, in the US. I realised I wanted to compete at the Paralympic Games. What do you do now? I have been a full-time athlete since I was 16 years old. I have competed at three Paralympic Games (Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016) – winning silver in Rio. Hopefully, I’ll go one better in Tokyo 2020. How did you get there? It started off with a big dream and making sure that I hung in there throughout the process. From the hours in the gym to dieting…

Two bald eagles have been brought to Lyme Regis in Dorset to scare off gulls, because of fears that the sea birds are menacing tourists. Winnie and Kojak are carried by handlers near the popular beaches. ● LIFESPAN IN THE WILD: Up to 28 years. ● HABITAT: Near water, mostly lakes and oceans, across North America. Around half the world’s population of bald eagles can be found in the state of Alaska. ● DIET: Fish and small mammals. ● FUN FACT: Bald eagles can dive at a speed of up to 100mph into water when hunting. SIMPLY THE NEST Bald eagles have the biggest nest of any bird on Earth. One pair’s nest was six metres deep and 2.8 metres wide and weighed more than two tonnes.…

Mario Arguably the most recognisable video-game character ever, Mario has appeared in countless Nintendo games, various TV series, and a film since 1981. Creator Shigeru Miyamoto named Mario after the owner of a Nintendo warehouse. Bullet train Racing along at speeds of up to 200mph, bullet trains are among the fastest-moving trains in the world. They can seat up to 1,000 people each. Much of the rail system is through tunnels and, in some places, trains run every 10 minutes. CD players They may be old-fashioned now, but compact discs were once at the very cutting edge of technology. Designed by Japanese company Sony, they went on sale in 1982, and a portable player became available two years later. Manga/anime This style of Japanese comic and cartoon, which is loved…

Anew treatment by Canadian scientists has helped patients who have advanced Parkinson’s disease to move normally again. Parkinson’s disease is a condition in which parts of the brain become damaged over many years. Symptoms include shaking, slow movement and stiff muscles. Many people with Parkinson’s fall over; some patients in the study couldn’t leave their houses. When you want to get up and walk, your brain sends signals to your legs telling them to move. It also receives signals back from the legs that allow your brain to monitor the action. Professor Mandar Jog of Lawson Health Research Institute in Canada believes that Parkinson’s disease reduces the signals coming back to the brain. This breaks the information flow and causes patients to freeze on the spot, and sometimes to fall…

Meet the Artist: Frank Bowling by Zoe Whitley and Hélène Baum (Tate Publishing) Meet the Guyana-born British artist, Frank Bowling, with this make-and-do book that is inspired by his work. It is packed with activities to try yourself: experiment with paints and glue, make layered collages using recycling, and design your own fantasy world using stencils and maps. Art Masterclass with Claude Monet by Katie Cotton and Hanna Konola (Wide Eyed Editions) Take a masterclass with one of the most famous artists of all time, Claude Monet. There are 12 different lessons in this book, including collage, colouring, drawing and sketching activities. Then use everything you’ve learned to create your own Monet-inspired masterpiece. Tate Kids Modern Art Activity Book by Sharna Jackson and James Lambert (Tate Publishing) Each of the…

Every month we’ll feature a video created by primary school pupils for Pupil Parliament as part of LitFilmFest. Pupil Parliament helps you and your school friends become news reporters and politicians. Class 6C from UCS Junior school in Hampstead, London created this month’s video on air pollution. They chose to produce a film about the impact of car pollution on students’ health when travelling to and from school. “It’s really important for us to look at politics and issues like this so that we know about them for when we grow up,” said one pupil. They explored ways to cut down pollution, and alternatives, such as electric buses and cars, were suggested. Another pupil commented, “I really enjoyed making this because it let us all work together.” A Year 6…

Where can I try Irish dancing? Many dance schools offer Irish dancing classes, and there are also plenty of specialist Irish dancing schools throughout the UK – search Google for your nearest. What do I eed to do Irish dancing? “The shoes are the only piece of kit you need, and for your first few lessons you don’t actually even need those,” says Irish dancing coach John Carey. You will need an outfit for competitions, once you begin entering them. For girls, wearing a curly wig is important in competitions – they are decorated with sparkly headbands and tiaras. Any other benefits? Irish dancing improves your social skills. You are often dancing in groups, practising for hours, and the other dancers soon become your friends because of your shared interest…

Teacher’s name: Dr May School: Winterfold House School, Worcestershire “I have nominated Dr May as teacher of the week because she is an amazing science teacher and she does a lot of fun experiments with our class. She is also a very kind and fair teacher and always makes science interesting.” Willem If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

1 For what reason has Avengers: Endgamemade film history? a) It’s the longest film ever made b) It’s had the most successful opening weekend of all time c) It has the most songs in any single film 2 True or false? The word bionic can mean having exceptional strength. 3 What “spy” animal was found off the coast of Norway? 4 The people of which countries have asked for human remains to be returned to them from museums? 5 True or false? Nafisah Baba is the reigning champion of the BBC Young Dancer competition. 6 What sort of animal is Sirocco? a) Green sea turtle b) Kakapo c) Bald eagle 7 When were emojis created? 8 True or false? The human brain consists of 80% fat. 9 Pusha the cat…

Do you want to get your hands on two Stephen Biesty books? To be in with a chance of winning one of the five sets up for grabs, visit dk.com/theweekcompetition by 24 May 2019. You will need someone aged 18 or above to enter on your behalf. Terms and conditions apply. Details about how we manage the data you provide can be found at dk.com/uk/information/privacy-policy-and-cookies. The deadline for entries is 24 May, so get cracking! For full terms and conditions, please visit dk.com/uk/information/the-week-terms-and-conditions/…

8 May 1945 Churchill announces the end of the war On 8 May 1945, UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill officially announced the end of the Second World War. Thousands of people gathered in London to celebrate. The Second World War started in 1939, and was the largest war in history. The UK sided with France, the US and the Soviet Union (a group of countries that were once ruled from Moscow, the capital of Russia), to fight against Germany and its allies. Between 40 and 60 million people died during the conflict.…

Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls. Vote YES if you think human remains in museums should be returned, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties. The page is created in association with the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity helping young people discover their voice and realise their full potential. For more information, please see esu.org…

The fortunes of the critically endangered kakapo parrot might be changing for the better, after 2018–19 was their most successful breeding season on record. Around 30–50 new chicks have hatched and are likely to make it to adulthood, according to New Zealand’s Department of Conservation (DOC). The kakapo is a flightless species of parrot that comes out at night and can weigh up to four kilograms. They live on islands off the coast of New Zealand, and there are only 146 adults left – so few that each of them has been given a name. A few hundred years ago, kakapos were widespread, but their numbers declined rapidly when humans brought cats, rats and stoats to the islands. Because they nest on the ground, kakapos were easy prey for these…

Kate Sanders Head of predators, ZSL London Zoo As well as being very large and powerful cats, African lions are known for their social nature. Lion prides don’t really choose their leader – instead the largest and strongest male simply takes the lead. Younger males are pushed out of the pride once they reach adulthood, and one male will rule over a group of females. Dominant male lions have dark and bulky manes to advertise their position, and this usually puts off rivals. Do you love animals? ZSL London Zoo’s Junior Zoo Academy is a great way to learn about creatures from all over the world. Find out more at zsl.org/experiences…

The Middler by Kirsty Applebaum (Nosy Crow) Eleven-year-old Maggie lives in the village of Fennis Wick, kept carefully enclosed and protected from the outside world by the Boundary. Beyond, the Quiet War goes on: there’s wildness, lawlessness, and the dangerous wanderers roam free. The brave Eldests venture out to fight and keep their families safe, but Maggie is not an Eldest. Her older brother Jed is the special one – the courageous hero whom everyone admires. Maggie is just the Middler. She isn’t important, brave or interesting. She’ll never be a hero. Instead, she’s destined to be left behind. Then Maggie meets Una, a hungry wanderer girl in need of help, and everything she has ever believed is suddenly turned upside down. This unusual and exciting story is a thought-provoking…

Irish dancing is a traditional, distinctive style of dance that you won’t be surprised to hear comes from Ireland. It has a long history, many different styles and colourful and flamboyant costumes. It is performed all over the world. Irish step dancing is one of the most popular forms of Irish dancing, and can be performed solo or in a group. The dancing involves only your legs – your arms and upper body stay still, with your arms straight down by your sides. This means that your legs do all the work, and they have to move to a certain pattern. The moves are very precise and take a lot of practice, but in doing so you will stay very fit and have lots of fun. Some step dances are…

What you need ● 1 leek ● Olive oil ● 300ml vegetable stock ● 200g frozen or fresh peas ● Handful of fresh mint ● Crème fraîche or yoghurt (optional) ● 1 knife ● 1 saucepan ● 1 potato masher or blender Instructions First, wash the leek then chop it as finely as possible. Put the pan on a medium heat, add a little olive oil and fry the leek for four minutes. When it has softened, add the hot stock and peas and let it simmer (when the water bubbles gently) for around 10 minutes. Then, turn off the heat, take the potato masher and carefully mash the soup until it is almost smooth. If you have a blender, you can ask an adult to help you liquidise the…

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Follow The Week Junior on PopJam@TheWeekJunior. You can download the free PopJam app from the App Store or Google Play. On Easter Sunday, a series of bomb attacks were carried out in Sri Lanka. You said... “I feel so angry and upset” “I am thinking of everyone affected by this tragedy” “This is so sad. No one there deserved that” A railway connecting Cambodia and Thailand has been reopened for the first time in 45 years. You said... “Awesome! I’d love to go on it!” “Cool” “Fascinating” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here. The Week Junior is delivered in a recyclable LDPE plastic bag to protect it in the post. Visit tinyurl. com/TWJgetrecycling to check if your council collects…