The Week Junior UK - 09 July 2022

32 Pages·2022·46.6 MB·English

This week’s big news
UK welcomes
Hong Kong’s new
I S L A N D L I F E leader, John Lee. Hong Kongers
Th2He5or0en gais rKleao nmndgos r rieen g tthihoaenn . MHaonny gh aKvoen gle.ft
Since China began taking more
control of Hong Kong, the UK
Government has introduced
a scheme that allows people
from Hong Kong to live, study
and work in the UK. The scheme
opened in January 2021 and
is very popular – more than
100,000 people have signed
up for it. The scheme is open to
those born in Hong Kong before
the handover in 1997, and more
than five million Hong Kongers
can apply. Many Hong Kongers
have left the region because
they believe that Hong Kong
is no longer democratic and
the government has too much
power and control over people’s
lives. Many of them say they
don’t plan to return.
Hong Kong’s new leader sworn in
Hong Kong’s new leader, John Lee, was sworn in government on 1 July 1997. Britain had ruled Hong its role in keeping Hong Kong stable. Xi was also
(officially made leader) on 1 July. That was also Kong since 1841, when, during a war with China, the present as Lee was sworn in. In his first speech as
the 25th anniversary of Britain handing control of country gave up the region to the British. In 1898, Hong Kong’s leader, Lee said that with him, Hong
Hong Kong back to the Chinese government. Hong China allowed Britain an extra 99 years to rule Hong Kong would be able to “start over”. The anniversary
Kong is a region on China’s south coast that has many Kong, which came to an end on 1 July 1997. In was also marked by a flag-raising ceremony,
of its own laws, as well as its own flag. that time Hong Kong became one of the a parade by a fleet of ships and military
world’s most important centres for helicopters flying with Chinese and
Who is Hong Kong’s new leader?
trade and financial industries. Upon Hong Kong flags.
His name is John Lee, and he is a former security
the handover, China promised the
chief (in charge of police and protecting the state).
How did people react?
UK that Hong Kong would keep
He was elected as leader in May but he was the only
many of its own laws, which Xi Jinping said that Hong Kong
candidate. He is best known for being in charge of
included freedom of speech must be governed “by patriots”,
the police response to pro-democracy protests that
and law courts independent of saying that Hong Kong would
took place in Hong Kong in 2019. These started when
mainland China. However, many go through a “new stage of
mainland China, which has run Hong Kong since
people, including those who took development, from chaos to
1997, began to take more control over the region. The
part in the protests that began in order”. However, Boris Johnson,
response of police and security forces to the protests
China’s president,
2019, believe these promises have the UK’s Prime Minister, said, “We
has been criticised for its violence, especially since Xi Jinping.
been broken. simply cannot avoid the fact that, for
the demonstrations started peacefully. Lee replaced
some time now, Beijing has been failing to comply
Carrie Lam, who was in charge of Hong Kong in 2019
How was the anniversary marked?
with its obligations,” referring to China’s promise to
when the protests took place.
China’s president, Xi Jinping, visited Hong Kong in his allow Hong Kong to keep many of its own laws. He
What was the Hong Kong handover?
first trip outside mainland China since the beginning said that this “threatens both the rights and freedoms
Lee became leader on the 25th anniversary of of the Covid-19 pandemic. He visited a base of the of Hong Kongers and the continued progress and
Britain’s handing control of Hong Kong to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, China’s army, praising prosperity of their home.”
2 The Week Junior • 9 July 2022
This week’s big news
India introduces ban
on single-use plastics
India, the country with the second biggest
population in the world, has introduced a ban on
single-use plastics in an attempt to tackle pollution.
The ban covers lots of everyday items, such as straws
and disposable cutlery, but not plastic bags.
About 14 million tons of plastic are used every
year in India as its economy is growing quickly, which
means it is making lots of products that use plastic P O P U L A R
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The Pride parade
The new law, banning the making of some single-
in London.
use plastics or buying them from abroad, aims to deal
Pride marks 50th anniversary
with this problem, but not everyone has welcomed
it. Some businesses have complained that they were
not given enough time to prepare for the ban, and
drinks companies wanted straws to be excluded. On 2 July, more than one million people went his first Pride, because he was with his friends. He
Experts believe that it might be difficult to make sure to the Pride parade in London, 50 years on said that they had “broken down a barrier” by
everyone follows the new rules. It will be down to from the first ever march. This was the first marching freely and being themselves.
local governments to check that the rules are obeyed. event since cancellations because of the The parade began at Hyde Park
Covid-19 pandemic. Pride celebrates Corner at midday and ended at 6pm,
Many plastic
members of the LGBTQ+ before more than 100 performers
items are banned.
community, which includes men took to four stages across
who love men, women who London, headlined by singer
love women, and people whose Ava Max. Some held signs and
gender is different from their Ukrainian flags to show their
birth sex. support for Ukraine following
There were representatives the Russian invasion.
from more than 600 LGBTQ+ The people at the march
Pride groups, and the march was led included Dame Kelly Holmes, the
by the group who organised the 1972 Dame Kelly Olympic champion who announced she
Holmes
march, the Gay Liberation Front. Andrew was gay in June. Speaking onstage, she
Lumsden, who was at the march 50 years ago, told said, “We have the right to stand side by side with
the BBC that he felt “no nervousness at all” to attend each other, we all deserve to have our voices heard.”
IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…
A CHARITY TRACTOR RUN
To raise money for the breast cancer research
CYCLING THE LENGTH OF BRITAIN
appeal, a group of more than 100 women
A grandmother from Birmingham, England, in Norfolk and Suffolk, England, have been
has become the oldest woman to cycle the decorating their tractors in pink and holding
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9 July 2022 • The Week Junior 3
UK news
The new Chancellor
Javid and Sunak at a cabinet meeting
before they resigned later that day.
Nadhim
Zahawi MP
The Chancellor is seen as
the second most important
politician after the Prime
Minister because they are in
charge of the country’s money.
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for Stratford-on-Avon, England.
PM loses ministers’ support
The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has been left conscience, continue serving in this Government”. Bridgen, said that if Johnson doesn’t go, “The party
fighting for his job after two of the most important Sunak said, “The public rightly expect Government to will have to force him out.” Opposition parties still
people in his Government stepped down. The be conducted properly and seriously.” say the Prime Minister should go. Labour leader Keir
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, and Starmer said that the Government is “collapsing”.
What was the reaction?
Health Secretary, Sajid Javid, announced their
Will the PM hang on?
The Prime Minister acted quickly by
decisions on the evening of 5 July.
appointing Nadhim Zahawi as Even if lots of people in the Conservative party
Why did they resign?
Chancellor and Steve Barclay want him to go, it’s not easy to get rid of the Prime
Sunak and Javid’s resignations came as Health Secretary. Zahawi, Minister. One way is through a “vote of confidence”,
in response to a problem with Chris who was the Education but Johnson won one of those last month and there
Pincher MP, who was given one of Secretary, has been replaced can’t be another for a year under current rules.
the top jobs in the Conservative party by Michelle Donelan. Other Conservative MPs are now discussing whether
even though Boris Johnson knew he senior ministers, such as to change the rules. However, if more ministers
had behaved inappropriately towards Dominic Raab and Priti Patel, withdraw their support Johnson may have to quit.
people he worked with. Javid said he was said they support Johnson. As The Week Junior went to press, 27 people had
Michelle
leaving because he could “no longer, in good However Conservative MP, Andrew resigned from the Government.
Donelan
WORD WEEK THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
OF
THE
9 July 1856
QUEUE
Inventor Nikola Tesla is born
The word “queue” comes from a French word On 9 July 1856, the scientist and inventor Nikola
with the same spelling that means “tail”. Tesla was born in what is now Croatia. Tesla is
Presumably because a line of people looks a known for his breakthroughs in electricity, such as
bit like an animal’s tail. If you inventing the first alternating current (AC) motor, a
find it difficult to spell queue way of providing power that is used in fridges. He
think about when you have to also made great advances in the development of
queue for the toilets – when wireless radio, remote control, X-ray and renewable
Nikola
you get there UE and UE (you energy. His impact has been so great, Tesla is often
Tesla
wee and you wee!). called “The man who invented the 20th century”.
4 The Week Junior • 9 July 2022
UK news
Joseph
Coelho
Toys can be
expensive.
Glasgow’s new toy library
At oy library has opened in Govan, in the city of
Glasgow, Scotland, to help families struggling
with the cost of living. People can choose four toys –
which they can keep for a month – from more than
650 toys and games. People pay £8 a month to use
the library but families with less money can have free
membership. “We aim to cater for ages birth to teen L I B R A R Y
so there really is something for everyone,” said Gosia LO V E R
Dabrowska, who works for the library. Jolopsceatapnotlh hd lji eoebC imronnaee ir7clxih0,et ao s tmn wbjodoeoi rnfh eoyee erod eaav ir1tems4hr.e0s
Poet named Children’s Laureate
The protesters.
Poet Joseph Coelho said it was “a dream come true” behind the scenes. “Poetry Prompts” will break down
Oil protesters disrupt gallery
as he was announced as the new Waterstones people’s fears about poems, showing why they are
Children’s Laureate on 4 July. The position is awarded for everyone. Finally, Coelho wants to complete his
Ag roup of protesters have glued themselves to a
every two years to recognise “exceptional talent” “Library Marathon”, celebrating these hubs of books
painting by Vincent van Gogh, a Dutch painter,
in children’s literature. A writer and performer and community by joining a library in every local
in The Courtauld Gallery in London, England. Just
of poems, plays and stories, authority in Britain.
Stop Oil is a group that wants the Government to
Coelho’s works include the Luna At a ceremony in London, Coelho
stop supporting companies that sell oil, which is bad
Loves picture books, young adult performed The Power of a Poem,
for the environment. Its members stuck themselves
verse novel The Girl Who Became a new work he wrote for the
to the painting to draw attention to their message.
a Tree and the poetry collection occasion that celebrates
Other artworks, including a painting by English artist
Overheard in a Tower Block. poetry, including the line: “A
J.M.W. Turner in Manchester, have been targeted.
Kate Edwards, chair of the poem has the skill to cure any
Children’s Laureate judging ill.” He was given his medal
Canada geese
panel, said Coelho “inspires by writer Stuart Lawrence. The
on the loose.
children of all ages”. ceremony was attended by the
Being named Laureate was most recent Laureate, Cressida
a “huge surprise,” Coelho told Cowell, author of the How to Train
Michael Rosen, Joseph
The Week Junior. He had imagined Your Dragon series. Coelho says that
Coelho and Cressida Cowell.
himself in the role but said it was “like Cowell and previous Laureates have
dreaming of being in a Hollywood movie”. Making been a huge inspiration for him, especially Michael
it onto the shortlist led him to think about what he Rosen, the author, poet and presenter.
Lost geese guided to canal would like to achieve in the position, resulting in So what advice does Coelho have for The Week
three main projects. “Bookmaker Like You” will focus Junior readers? “Read what interests you,” he says.
Am an in Birmingham, England, has guided a flock on increasing diversity in publishing, allowing all “Carry a notebook, use your local library, and observe
of Canada geese through the city’s streets back to children to see themselves as a writer, illustrator or the world around you.”
N
A the safety of a canal. Simon Finnegan found the birds
G
E
N FINN lost and causing chaos on the roads. “They hated the THE WEEK’S SILLIEST HEADLINE
O
M buses and were really scared of them,” said Finnegan.
MY · SI “When they strayed into the road, I would walk “Missing homing pigeon Bob found
A
AL
GES · behind them so they would go back to the pavement.” 4,000 miles away in Alabama”
MA It took Finnegan two hours to direct the birds back to BBC News
Y I
ETT the canal and into the water.
G
9 July 2022 • The Week Junior 5
Around the world
Veneto, Italy Geneva, Switzerland
Larso, the solar-
Alpine glacier collapses Butterfly begins trip
powered trailer.
Rescue workers in the Dolomite mountains in north- A trailer shaped like a butterfly and
eastern Italy are searching for people after the collapse of powered by the Sun has set off on a
a glacier (large field of ice) caused an avalanche on 3 July. four-year world tour, where it will visit
At the time The Week Junior went to press, seven people around 80 countries to raise awareness
had died and 13 people were missing. Experts believe about climate change. Named Larso,
that a heatwave in Italy made the glacier melt faster. the trailer is a tiny house attached
to the back of a car. It has a kitchen,
A helicopter searches
toilet, shower and up to six beds. The
the mountain range.
solar panels on the 15-metre-wide
wings produce enough energy to drive
up to 186 miles a day.
Tobruk, Libya
Protests over delayed elections
Anger over power cuts, rising costs and delayed elections
in Libya have led to protests across the country. In the city
of Tobruk, protesters broke into a parliament building, and
the biggest demonstrations in years took place in other
cities. People are unhappy with politicians for long delays
to elections to choose a new government.
A protest in Libya’s
capital, Tripoli.
Santiago, Chile
New constitution finalised
Chile’s new constitution (a list of ideas and rules that
set out how a country is governed) has been finalised. On
4 September, Chileans will vote on whether to accept it.
It gives more rights to indigenous groups (people in Chile
since the earliest times) and says that the government Mecca, Saudi Arabia
must have equal numbers of men and women. Pilgrims left frustrated Hajj pilgrims
in Mecca.
Saudi Arabia’s new booking system
for Hajj, a pilgrimage to Islam’s
holiest site, has been criticised as
international visitors have had their
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6 The Week Junior • 9 July 2022
Around the world
Kyiv, Ukraine Cairo, Egypt
Ukrainian
Soup added to UN list Famous houseboats to be destroyed
borscht.
The cooking of Ukrainian borscht, Houseboats in Egypt’s capital, Cairo, on the river Nile,
a sour soup made with beetroot, will be destroyed to make the river more beautiful. The
has been added to the United brightly painted houseboats have a long history going
Nations Educational, Scientific and back to the time of the ancient pharaohs. However, the
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list government has ordered the residents of the 30 remaining
of endangered cultural traditions. houseboats to leave, so they can be cleared away.
Ukraine considers borscht a
national dish, but it’s also popular in
neighbouring countries. Ukrainian
minister Oleksandr Tkachenko, said,
“Victory in the war for borscht is ours!”
Houseboats
on the Nile.
Sri Lanka
Schools shut due to fuel crisis
On 3 July, the Sri Lankan government announced schools
would be closed for another week because there is not
enough fuel (petrol and diesel) for teachers and pupils to
travel to school. Schools in towns and cities had already
been closed for two weeks to save fuel. The government
has run out of money to import fuel (buy it from abroad).
Drivers queue
for fuel.
New South Wales, Australia
Honey bees go into lockdown
Bees in New South Wales are in lockdown because of a
deadly parasite called the varroa mite. Beekeepers cannot
move beehives, bees or honeycombs. Hundreds of
infected hives will also be destroyed. The mite, about the
Maldives size of a sesame seed, is a huge threat to bees worldwide
Sea city takes shape and was first detected in Australia in late June.
A floating city for 20,000 people is The parasite
being built in the Maldives, a group of kills bees.
more than 1,000 islands in the Indian
Ocean. The new city is just 10 minutes
by boat from the capital, Malé, and
will include houses, restaurants, shops
and schools. People should move in by
2024. The city will help the Maldives,
one of the lowest-lying countries in
The city
the world, stay above water as climate
from above.
change makes sea levels rise.
9 July 2022 • The Week Junior 7
The big debate
Should takeaway apps be banned?
Some people think the apps CO S T LY
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In May, the World Health Organization
(WHO) said that food delivery apps were
contributing to rising levels of obesity in
the UK.
The NHS says that being obese (very
overweight) means the chances of
developing conditions such as diabetes,
heart disease and some types of cancer
are much greater.
Takeaway apps allow people to order
food directly to their door and research
shows they are now more popular than
they were during the pandemic.
Campaigners have criticised the apps for
Takeaway apps became very
profiting from rising obesity.
popular during the pandemic.
Yes – they’re bad for people’s health No – people can choose what to eat
Pizza, burgers, kebabs... you name it, the apps do it.
A recent survey found that the UK is now one of In Europe obesity results in 1.2 million deaths a year. People should be able to choose what they want to
the most overweight nations in Europe. The Unless action like banning takeaway apps is taken eat. It’s a person’s own responsibility to monitor what
pandemic saw a big rise in people ordering takeaway this is only going to get worse. The convenience of they eat and to take enough exercise to stay healthy.
meals using apps. Takeaways can contain twice as takeaway apps means people order whatever they Takeaways are often a treat; it’s unfair to spoil
many calories (units of energy) as supermarket want and they encourage people to order more than someone’s birthday treat because other people are
versions of the same foods – and the main cause of they need through offers of free food or money off making unhealthy choices. Plus cooking every day
obesity is taking in more calories than you use. Food their bill. Banning delivery apps would mean people can be a chore – a lot of the time it’s parents who
campaigners say that takeaway apps are harming are more likely to cook their meals, which is better for want a break and order food from an app. The boom
people’s health because being obese means people them. Plus, all those scooters zooming around in takeaway apps adds to the economy (a nation’s
are more likely to develop health conditions such as dropping takeaways off to people’s homes in plastic wealth) because it has created jobs for drivers and
diabetes and heart disease. Others argue that the containers harms the planet. Research has found that more business for restaurants. Research from 2020
apps provide access to delicious and often nutritious three delivery apps in the UK alone are responsible has found that the takeaway app market in the UK is
meals with a few quick taps. So, what do you think? for creating a plastic waste mountain of more than worth £8 billion. Without them, in the pandemic
Should food delivery apps be banned? one billion pieces of plastic every year. many restaurants would have closed forever.
Three reasons takeaway apps Three reasons takeaway apps
Scan the QR code
YES NO
Junior to hear both sides should be banned should not be banned
SH W of this debate on
our podcast. 1 Lives are at risk because of obesity and 1 People should be able to choose what
the problem is expected to get much and when they eat.
LAST WEEK’S POLL worse. Food deliveries contribute to
2 B anning the apps would mean spoiling
this problem.
treats for a special occasion, like a
Last week, we asked you if
2 T hey’re too convenient and encourage birthday celebration. Plus cooking
Minnie Mouse should 20%
people to order too much. If they were every single day is a chore.
ditch her famous YES
banned people would cook more.
polka dot dress and 3 The rise in apps has led to more
wear a trouser suit. 3 Takeaways are bad for the environment business for restaurants and work for
80%
Most of you thought from the plastic packaging they are drivers. Many restaurants might not
NO
she should keep her delivered in to the miles they travel to have survived the pandemic without
classic look. get to people’s front doors. this digital delivery solution.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? 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. GES
A
M
Vote YES if you think takeaway apps should be banned, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. Y I
ETT
G
8 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 Week Junior • 9 July 2022
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
People
A fantastically
Kate
Pankhurst
famous family
Kate Pankhurst’s activist relative changed society.
Growing up, Kate Pankhurst had no such as US civil rights activist Rosa
idea that her family was related to Parks, artist Frida Kahlo and scientist
Emmeline Pankhurst, a woman famous Mary Anning. Kate wanted to draw
for campaigning for women to be attention to stories and women that
allowed to vote in the UK during the came from all over the world. “I have
late 19th and early 20th centuries. learned a lot,” she said. “It was a real
Speaking to The journey for me.”
Week Junior, Kate said, The book has been
“We were just a normal adapted into a musical
family from Liverpool.” It production, called
was her aunt, a historian, Fantastically Great
who discovered the Women, which is now on
truth about their famous tour around the UK. It’s
relative. Kate, who was about a girl called Jade
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realised she had a chance to use her and meets the women featured in the CO M I N G
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Inspired by her brother
THEY SAID IT!
Aleesha
Gadhia
Tabitha Jennings, 11, a young author from Belfast,
Northern Ireland, has written a book about her
older brother. Tabitha’s brother, Micah, has non-
verbal autism, a condition that affects the brain’s
“I was called
development and can make people struggle with
communication. The book, Micah My Big Little Brother, ‘manure boy’
is about her life with her brother, including going on at school, so
holiday and visiting the park. Tabitha hopes the book
I hid my love
will educate her classmates about her brother’s
of nature till
condition. Her school will host a book launch for it,
and the school’s headteacher has said that he hopes later.”
the book can be given to other schools.
Explorer and wildlife
presenter Steve Backshall
Meet an Earth champion Tabitha
describes his childhood,
Jennings
growing up on a farm.
On 24 June, seven-year-old Aleesha Gadhia was
named the Environmental Champion at the 2022
Child of Britain Awards. She is the first youth
ambassador for Cool Earth, a charity working to protect
rainforests and stop global warming. In August 2021,
Aleesha raised £3,600 for Cool Earth by scooting 50
miles across Nottingham, England. Since then she has
asked businesses how they are helping the
MY environment and raised awareness of climate change
A
AL
D · by planting trees with local politicians. Aleesha’s
R
O
WF mother, Pooja, told the Nottingham Post newspaper,
A
R
O C “We hope Aleesha will inspire other young children.”
J
9 July 2022 • The Week Junior 9
Animals and the environment
The world’s oldest tree?
Yew trees in the UK can live for 2,000
years or more, but some places have
trees that have survived even longer.
One candidate for the oldest tree of
all is Methuselah, a 4,853-year-old
bristlecone pine in California, US.
However scientists recently announced
evidence that Gran Abuelo (“great
grandfather”), a Patagonian cypress
tree growing in Chile, could be an
astounding 5,484 years old.
The gnarly
Methuselah.
T R E E S
O F L I F E
Mbparr2teou,ev3rdi0edi 0neog afd oksiff optdreaer,c eesesnh f teion slrt p teaherre coa iuUennsdK.d
Some trees have been
around for centuries.
Map of England’s ancient trees
England is full of old trees with fascinating histories, One ancient oak has more biodiversity than 1,000 they can be everywhere, in places where you wouldn’t
and according to a new study there are 10 times younger trees, which is why these trees are so think an ancient tree might be.” The definition of an
more of them than people thought. important for the environment. Biodiversity means ancient tree depends on its species. An oak is a
The study, carried out by a team from the the variety of plants and animals living in “veteran” at 150 years, and “ancient” at 400, whereas
University of Nottingham, suggests that a particular habitat. a birch is considered ancient if it’s 150 years old.
there are around two million Dr Victoria Nolan and her team Adam Cormack of the Woodland Trust charity
previously unknown ancient trees in used computers to work out where hopes that the map will change the way these
England with “exceptional cultural ancient trees are most likely to be “cathedrals of the natural world” are treated. “These
and environmental value”. Until found, based on the layout of the astonishing trees are our inheritance from history,
they are catalogued (added to an landscape and the distance from and we should be treating them like national
official list), however, most of towns and cities. Volunteers then treasures,” he says. “We are petitioning (officially
these trees will have no legal went to likely spots on the map to asking) governments across the UK for better
protection. The team have made look for ancient woodland. “At first protection for our most ancient and important trees
a map of them, hoping that if people Mapping ancient we couldn’t believe the results, said Dr and to do more to support people who are looking
tree hotspots.
know about them, they will be kept safe. Nolan. “The surprising bit for me was how after them.”
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Buddleias draw the butterflies
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The purple spires of buddleia are a walls and on stony waste ground has allowed
common sight from midsummer well them to thrive, especially in towns and cities.
into the autumn, as these hardy bushes bloom Growing up to four metres tall, they are a
across all parts of the UK except the far great source of nectar for summer
north. Perhaps surprisingly, however, insects, leading to the common
buddleias are not native plants – name of “butterfly bush”. Each
they were introduced from China spike is actually a cluster of tiny,
in the 1890s. Since then, their honey-scented flowers that
Colourful
ability to spread winged seeds attract butterflies and moths
buddleia spikes.
on the wind and form roots in over large distances.
10 The Week Junior • 9 July 2022