THE AWARD-WINNING WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR KIDS £1.20 5 – 11 NOV 2010 ISSUE 232 First News supports children’s charities
Working with
JEDWARD INTERVIEW Who do they want to win X Factor?
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DOUBLE DISASTER
FOOD
Volcano and tsunami in Indonesia
Family food chosen by kids
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EXTINCT? BUT WE COULD BRING
ANIMALS BACK TO LIFE! SCIENTISTS say they are close to being able to bring extinct animals back from the dead. by editor Nicky Cox Thousands of blood samples from endangered animals around the world are being banked at a lab called The Frozen Ark at Nottingham University. The blood contains DNA which holds information about how each animal is created. If the animals become extinct, the experts have worked out how they could use the blood to create embryos which would grow into new babies of the species. Some people argue that this meddles with nature too much. But the Frozen Ark’s Dr Ann Clarke says the arguments can be talked about later. She says we need to act now, and we need to act quickly, to collect samples from animals on the danger list. “It is for future generations to decide what should be done,” she said. “But, if we haven’t saved material, we will have no options. We will have no choice. We will be able to do nothing.”
See next s irstNew F ’s k e e w e ook at th l r e s o l c d for a roject an P k r A n e Froz you think t a h w s tell u about it.
The southern white rhino is close to extinction with a few old animals in zoos and hardly any in the wild. Its DNA is stored at The Frozen Ark so the species could be brought back to life if it becomes extinct.
EXPERTS SAY WE ARE FACING THE WORST RATES OF EXTINCTION SINCE THE DINOSAURS
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FIRST NEWS HEADLINES IN BRIEF
Young snapper AN 11-year-old boy has been named young photographer of the year.
Volcano and tsunami hit Indonesia
These children’s homes have been destroyed by the tsunami
First a volcano erupts, then a tsunami strikes
INDONESIA has been struck by, not one, but two natural disasters in the space of a few days. On 26 October Mount Merapi volcano began to erupt, throwing out ash and rocks into the air. At least 32 people were killed and 42,000 more had to leave their homes because it was too dangerous to stay. Only a few days later an earthquake on the sea bed caused a tsunami, an enormous wave,
by Gabrielle Utton to hit the Mentawai islands. More than 300 people have been killed with hundreds more missing. Many villages have been destroyed or swept away by the wave and 16,000 people have left their homes to go to higher ground.
After the 2004 tsunami an early-warning system was put in place but it’s thought the alarm wasn’t working when the tsunami hit. Getting food, clean water and tents to those made homeless by these disasters is made more diffi cultby bad weather and after shocks.
The competition was organised by the Royal Horticultural Society and Sam Kaye, from Surrey, won in the 11 to 18-year-old category. Sam says: “I feel inspired by seeing other people taking pictures and enjoying it myself. Feeling proud of the end image and seeing that you’ve taken it feels great.”
Bedbugs grip New York NEW YORK is so riddled with bedbugs that an iPhone app has been made about them.
We reported on the bedbug pandemic warning back in September and the situation is worsening in New York, USA. The Empire State Building, the United Nations, Bloomingdale’s, Niketown and Abercrombie and Fitch have all had problems with the little critters. An iPhone app is now available that shows you on a map where bedbugs have been found.
CHECK OUT
Tips to avoid bedbugs
Rules tighten on air travel You can make Queen’s logo FOLLOWING the discovery of explosive devices at East Midlands airport and in Dubai, security on planes will be improved.
The packages were transported on cargo flights. This is where the plane carries objects rather than people. The Government’s emergency planning committee, Cobra, is carrying out a full review of airport security and will decide what needs to be done to make air travel for cargo, as well as people, safer. Both devices had started their journeys in Yemen and were bound for America. A woman in Yemen who had been arrested and questioned has been released without charge.
Planes on the tarmac at Dubai airport
THE Queen wants children in the UK to design the offi cial logo to celebrate her 60 years as monarch. The Queen will celebrate her 60th anniversary as head of state next year – her diamond jubilee. TV show Blue Peter is running the competition for children aged six to 14 to design the Queen’s logo. The design can be anything you like but it must include the crown and must not include a picture of the Queen’s face. The winning logo will be on all offi cialroyal jubilee souvenirs from mugs to clothing. The young designers of the top 30 logos will go to Buckingham Palace next February to find out who’s won. The closing date is 8 December.
www.FirstNews.co.uk /discover
Exercise makes you happy A STUDY has found that being active in your spare time can improve your mood.
A study of 40,000 Norwegians found that exercising in your own time, rather than at school or work, and with company can make people feel happier and less worried. The activity doesn’t have to be hard, just being active with your friends makes a difference.
CHECK OUT
101 things that make you happy at
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FIRST NEWS HEADLINES
Staying safe on Bonfire Night Teen sailors rescued GUY Fawkes’ night on 5 November can be great fun but make sure you stay safe with these simple tips.
Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose near the bonfire. Don’t throw any fireworks onto the bonfire. Keep fireworks in a closed box and take only one out at a time. Use an electric torch, not a flame, to read any instructions. Never return to a lit firework, even if you think it hasn’t gone off. Never throw fireworks. Hold sparklers very carefully and don’t give them to young children. When a sparkler has finished don’t touch the end as it will still be very hot. Put it in a bucket of water. For more info go to www.saferfireworks.com. To find out how to keep animals safe CHECK OUT on bonfire night turn to page 6. For more firework safety tips As First News was going to press www.FirstNews.co.uk/ firefighters in London were planning discover to strike from 5 to 7 November.
A GROUP of teenagers stranded in stormy seas has been rescued.
The Fryderk Chopin tall ship was caught in a storm in the Atlantic Ocean which broke both of the ship’s masts. On board was a crew of 47 people, 36 of whom were aged between 14 and 16. The teenagers were all from Poland. The ship was rescued by a fishing boat from Newlyn in Cornwall. It towed the ship to Falmouth where it was safely moored. A lifeboat spent 20 hours alongside the ship in case help was needed. Peter Hicks from the St Mary’s lifeboat said: “The ship was rolling heavily in a big swell with all the rigging hanging over the starboard side.”
EDITOR’S COMMENT I THINK this week’s front page story is fascinating – but I’m not sure what I really think about it.
Like most people, I think it’s desperately sad when a species dies out and becomes extinct but is that just the natural process of evolution? Should we be interfering Editor Nicky Cox MBE with nature to stop it? Many critics say we shouldn’t be. On the other hand, there is nothing natural about some species being on the endangered list. They have been put at risk because of human actions such as poaching, over-fishing and the tearing apart of their habitats. The IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) say that extinction is happening at a much faster rate than the evolution of new species. They claim that nearly half of the world’s primates are threatened with extinction, as well as one third of the world’s amphibians, nearly a quarter of the mammals, and more than one in ten birds. In all, there is a really interesting debate to be had so we’re looking at the issue more next week. Then I’d love to know what you think.
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY On 11 November 1992 the Church of England voted to allow women to become priests.
Teenagers take over Parliament LAST Friday the usual Members of Parliament were replaced by the younger Members of Youth Parliament. This event was judged to be such a success last year that the adult MPs voted 499 to 21 for it to happen every year. More than 300 young people aged between 11 and 18 from all over the country sat in the House of Commons and debated a number of issues including: Should school leaving age be raised to 18? The majority disagreed. Should all British troops be withdrawn from Afghanistan by 2012?
The majority disagreed. Should reduced transport fares for young people be protected from spending cuts? The majority agreed. John Bercow is Speaker of the House and he was one of the people who made the youth debate happen last year. This year he said: “I have always been struck by the fact that 50% of you or thereabouts are female, approximately 20% of you are from black and minority
ethnic communities and approximately 10% of you have some form of disability. “So, in terms of representing the kaleidoscope of modern society, the UK Youth Parliament does it very impressively and does it in a way from which the elected House of Commons itself can learn.” On the past two years one million young people have voted in Youth Parliament elections.
BAD
WEEK FOR... Heurelho Gomes
The Spurs goalie let Man Utd score the easiest goal of the season. He put the ball down in front of Nani, thinking that he had a free kick.
GOOD
WEEK FOR... Cheryl Cole
The X Factor judge’s new single, Promise This, went straight to number one, beating the Barbadian star Rihanna.
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SPECIAL REPORT
For more information visit www.savethechildren.org.uk
Munching the (credit) crunch YOUNG people in London have been busy in the kitchen over the past few months helping to produce a brand new cookbook which came out last week. Food for less The recipe book, called Big Flavours for a Little Purse, is packed full of recipes – all created by young people and their families – which are designed to feed a family of six a delicious and healthy meal for less than a tenner – a bargain! What’s more, all the dishes are easy to cook, and there’s something for everyone. Some of our personal favourites are Casey’s tasty Swedish meatballs, Jeanne’s spicy African fish and Maxine’s spare ribs – there’s even a goat curry!
food – I wait until everything is reduced. Everything is overpriced and healthy food is too expensive, so it’s really helpful to see how on £10 you can feed a family of six and give them a healthy meal.” Big Flavours was produced by a family group in Newham called ‘Munch the Crunch’, who got together when they realised that, with the credit crunch pushing up the cost of food and tightening the purse strings, it was becoming harder and harder to feed a family a nutritious meal without it costing a bomb.
Healthy eating
Making savings Maxine, mum of four and the chef behind the spare ribs, said: “I spend a lot of time waiting for healthy
Children as young as Sky and Chloe have been learning about healthy eating
The whole project was led by young people, working alongside Save the Children, loveLife Generation and Rights and Equality in Newham, east London. Funded by Save the Children, the young people decided that they wanted to focus on money and food – and after nine weeks of intensive cooking (and eating), Big Flavours was the result. In the process, the young people learned all about healthy eating – things like the advantages of brown bread over white bread and the risks of nasty chemicals – and enjoyed tasting food from all over the world. The cookbook is not the only thing they achieved. They also designed and delivered workshops about healthy eating and even made presentations at the Houses of Parliament. What a result! Big Flavours for a Little Purse is being distributed free to young people and families in the Newham area. If you fancy giving one of the recipes a go, why not try Casey’s spicy meat balls?
CASEY’S SPICY MEAT BALLS WITH SPAGHETTI AND COLESLAW
Ingredients
Meatballs with Spaghetti: 1 pound of lamb mince Lamb seasoning Moroccan seasoning Salt & pepper Handful of fresh chopped coriander 1 large slice of brown bread 1 packet of spaghetti 1 carton of sieved tomatoes ( Passata ) 1 small onion 2 cloves of garlic Dried oregano Extra virgin olive oil
Coleslaw
Half a small red and white cabbage 1 large carrot 1 small onion Salad cream Light mayonnaise Salt & pepper
Cooking
Put the mince in a bowl and add lam b seasoning, Moroccan seasoning, salt and pepper to taste Add the coriander and grated slice of bread then mix well with a wooden spoon until small balls can be made Roll out the mince mixture into evenly sized balls and place in a fridge to cool While the balls are cooling, prepare the sauce Chop an onion and the garlic and shal low fry them in a pan with a tablespoon of olive oil Add the sieved tomatoes, and salt, pep per, oregano to taste Simmer sauce gently Get the meatballs from the fridge and shallow fry in olive oil until evenly brown and cooked thro ugh Add meatballs to sauce and continu e to simmer Cook spaghetti in boiling water for spe cified time While spaghetti is cooking, grate cab bage halves, carrot and mix into a bowl to make the coleslaw. Add finely chopped onion, salt and pepper to taste. Add a mixture of salad cream and may onnaise to your coleslaw mix. Drain spaghetti and serve at once with meatballs and coleslaw
Why not try
Feta cheese and spring onions could be used in the mince mixture Rice could be used instead of spaghett i Sauce could be seasoned differently or an alternative sauce could be made.
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THE NEWS IN PICTURES 27 OCTOBER
LONDON, UK: Mjukuu, a western lowland gorilla at ZSL London Zoo, has given birth to a baby boy. The baby doesn’t have a name yet, but will grow up to weigh a huge 158kg.
1 NOVEMBER
28 OCTOBER
LONDON, ENGLAND: The X Factor finalists take time out of rehearsals to visit The London Dungeons. Belle Amie are pictured getting the chop just days before it happened for real on the show!
KLATEN, INDONESIA: Local residents leave the area as the Merapi volcano continues to spew ash. The volcano is Indonesia’s most active and has claimed more than 30 lives in the last week.
1 NOVEMBER
SCHMALKALDEN, GERMANY: A giant crater opened up in the town of Schmalkalden in eastern Germany. No-one was hurt in the landslide which experts believe was due to natural causes. Around 25 residents were evacuated from their homes.
28 OCTOBER
COLCHESTER, ENGLAND: Frankie Sandford, Una Healy, Molly King, Rochelle Wiseman and Vanessa White of The Saturdays pose with Major Alastair Macartney as they launch The Royal British Legion’s 2010 Poppy Appeal at The Physical Training and Recreation Centre, Colchester Garrison.
1 NOVEMBER
AMRITSAR, INDIA: A man makes garlands from Marigold flowers in preparation for Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, which falls on 5 November.
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ANIMAL NEWS
Search for the skulll IF you’re out and about this autumn conservationists are asking you to keep an eye out for the Death’s Head Hawk-moth with its distinctive skill pattern. The moths are unusual visitors to the UK from Southern Europe and are the largest moths we see. They are identified by their spooky skull pattern and their ability to make a screeching sound when touched! They are rare visitors to Britain so, if you see one, register your sighting online at www.mothscount.org
Firework safety THIS weekend people up and down the UK will be celebrating Guy Fawkes night and Diwali by watching fireworks.
While we may enjoy the loud bangs and flashes caused by fireworks, our furry pets may get upset or scared by them. There are lots of things you can do to make your pet more comfortable during this period. If your pet is one that lives outside, like a rabbit, maybe you could bring it in for the weekend when firework displays are most likely to be happening. Dogs and cats should also be kept indoors
Walking on water WILD dolphins in Australia have been seen learning to “walk on water”.
The behaviour is often taught to trained dolphins at zoos and aquariums, but is not a trait often seen in the wild. To walk on water the dolphins use their tail fluke to paddle really quickly. This drives them up out of the water and across it. Scientists working for the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society say there is no real reason why the dolphins would be doing this, and that it must just be for fun! Dolphins are one of the few animals that like to do things just to enjoy themselves. They are often seen playing and leaping out of the water, just because they enjoy it.
when fireworks will be going on. Make them feel safe by closing all windows and curtains, and turning the TV up a little to help muffl ethe banging sounds. If your pet is scared, try not to fuss them. If they see you are calm they will calm down too. Also, never shout at your pet for being scared. There are lots of other tips online to keep your pets safe and happy during fireworks at www.firstnews.co.uk
Fireworks can frighten pets
Nap in a tree
SCIENTISTS are praising the Amazon after more than 1,000 animals and plants have been discovered there in the last decade.
A LIONESS at Longleat Safari Park has decided her new favourite place to nap is at the top of a tree!
Sweet Pea is keeping staff at the Safari Park on their toes by climbing up a tree and hiding among the foliage. Climbing trees is a natural behaviour for lions in the wild, especially if they want to hide their food!
Amazing Amazon
Luckily, Sweet Pea has managed to get herself down after each nap, but staff are worried that one day she will get stuck. We can’t see the fire brigade wanting to help that cat if she gets stuck in a tree!
According to a WWF Report, Amazon Alive!, this means a new species was found every three days. Incredible. The discoveries show that the Amazon is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world. The species discovered include 637 plants, 257 fish, 216 amphibians, 55 reptiles, including a new type of anaconda, 16 birds and 39 mammals!
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WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
GREEN NEWS
What do you do to help fight climate change? How do you get your friends, family and school to do their bit too? Tell us and First News readers, write to newsdesk@firstnews.co.uk or the address on page 14.
with Gabrielle Utton
From farm to fork TWELVE-year-old Ben Padwick lives on a farm near Leicester, owned by The Co-operative Group and managed by his dad. He keeps a regular diary for First News of life on his family’s farm.
Autumn animals
IT’S all change on the farm again and autumn is well and truly here. The weather has been a bit of a problem at times but, at last, all of the oilseed rape and wheat has been planted and is growing well. The turkeys seem to get bigger by the day but still enjoy playing on the swings and see saw. Mum said they love it when the school children visit. As soon as they see the coach they all come running across to the fence to see what’s going on. The school children pick sunflower heads to throw into the field and the turkeys all hurry around to peck at the seeds. Field Fares, small thrush-like birds from Scandinavia, have been spotted on the farm already and is apparently the sign of a hard winter. We quite often see a buzzard circling over the school field and, last week, when Mum went across to the bio barn, the partridge were all hiding under the porch, probably trying to avoid becoming the buzzard’s lunch! The biggest change for us is that, after 22 years working for the co-operative group, Dad is leaving
What’s in season? THE clocks have gone back and it’s getting chilly but there’s still lots of fruit and veg ready to eat right now.
There’s nothing like a roast dinner to keep you warm and toasty. You can roast pretty much any veg. Just ask a parent to help you part boil them before popping them in the roasting tin. You could also try sprinkling some fresh herbs on your roasting veg – thyme is delicious on carrots. Find a recipe and ideas to use up any leftover food at www.lovefoodhatewaste.com.
A partridge
and will be working on a farm over in Norfolk. It’s a really important time for my brother, George, as he is taking his GCSEs next year so, for the time being, Mum, George and I will be staying here in Leicester and Mum will continue to run the school visits. We still get to see lots of wildlife though – like a squirrel who was burying his nuts in our flower pots and a fox who visited our garden.
For more information about ‘From Farm to Fork’ go to www.fromfarmtofork.co.uk and to find out more about Think Food and Farming visit www.thinkfoodandfarming.org.uk
Parsnips
Caulifl ower
Apple
Carrots
Spinach
Potatoes
Leeks
Turnips
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OUR STORIES THE WEEK’S WEATHER
with Jonathan Powell
From Friday 5 November 2010 to Thursday 11 November 2010 WEEK IN GENERAL Wet and windy, possible flooding for the north and west. FRIDAY 5 NOVEMBER Scotland/N Ireland – Rain, overcast. Day 11c/52f Night 6c/43f. Moderate southwesterly. England/Wales – Showers, drier spells. Day 13c/55f Night 8c/46f. Brisk southwesterly. SATURDAY 6 NOVEMBER Scotland/N Ireland – Rain, overcast. Day 10c/50f Night 4c/39f. Moderate southwesterly. England/Wales – Showers, drier spells. Day 12c/54f Night 7c/45f. Brisk southwesterly. SUNDAY7 OCTOBER Scotland/N Ireland – Rain, overcast. Day 10c/50f Night 3c/37f. Brisk southwesterly. England/Wales – Showers, drier spells. Day 11c/52f Night 6c/43f. Light southwesterly. REST OF THE WEEK Unsettled but quite mild.
Home News Wales
Belfast
Orkney
Power to search
Airport bomb
Tomb discovered
Teachers in Wales now have the power to search and screen pupils at school for weapons. Under the Violent Crime Reduction Act, schools and colleges have extra authority, but teachers want clear guidelines on what they can and can’t do.
A small bomb has been discovered in a parked car at Belfast International Airport. The suspicious vehicle was searched by police who found the device. No-one was injured because of the incident and no flights were cancelled.
A local man in Orkney has accidentally discovered what experts think is a 5,000-year-old multiple tomb. The site is being examined by archaeologists, who think it contains a passageway with lots of smaller chambers off the main passage. The site is close to The Tomb of Eagles which is a neolithic burial site which contained 300 bodies.
River Orchy Gold rush A company are searching for gold just outside a national park. The company asked for permission to open an old gold mine, but were refused. Now they’re searching nearby. Conservationists are worried about the effects mining would have on the local area which is a haven for hill walkers and climbers. Scotgold Resources think there could be gold and silver deposits in the area.
North Sea First marine plan A section of sea between East Yorkshire and Suffolk has been chosen to be the first area in England to get a marine plan. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) will draw up plans for the area that will include all marine activities within the site, including off-shore wind farms. The site will be used as a blue print for other marine plans for sites around the UK over the next few years.
Oxford
WEATHER FAST FACT
Sussex
Tinie Temper talks
Wetland created
THE average temperature in Kuwait City, Kuwait, is 25.8 °C (79 °F).
THE WEEK IN NUMBERS 1
in five primary schools in England is too full, according to Government statistics.
163,250
pounds is how much a first edition copy of the book Wuthering Heights sold for at auction this week.
Rapper Tinie Tempah has given a talk at the Oxford Union, one of the most famous student debating societies in the country. Tinie answered questions from students during the talk. Lots of celebrities have spoken at the Union, including Michael Jackson and Stephen Fry.
A river at a wildlife reserve in West Sussex has been re-routed to help create a wetland area for birds and other native animals. The new route of the Woods Mill River means the surrounding area will be flooded to create a wetland habitat which will attract birds like kingfishers and egrets and small mammals like the water shrew.
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farmers in Jersey are applying to get the Jersey Cream brand name protected. They want only cream made in Jersey to be entitled to the name.
25.4 cm is the length of a baby adder found in a box of grapes in a factory in County Armagh, Northern Ireland.
2 letters written by author Beatrix Potter (pictured) are to go up for auction in London this week.
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new bells are being awarded to Truro Cathedral in Cornwall to celebrate its centenary.
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SCHOOL NEWS
New school
Winning film... THIS year is the International Year of Biodiversity.
AS founding students at Evelyn Grace Academy we have just moved into our amazing new accommodation after two years in temporary buildings. Our school day is longer than others – we start at 8:30am and finish at 5pm but we know we are being prepared for a working life as we grow up. The mission of our Academy is to allow each and every one of us to go to university and to get a good job so, in lessons, we are treated like mature young adults and everyone has high aspirations for us. Now we have amazing rooms and equipment in a building
As a new addition to the syllabus at our school, the Border Reivers themed visit gave us an opportunity to learn about the local heritage, embracing life on the EnglishScottish borders while using Carlisle Castle as an additional classroom. We were divided into groups, where we found out about the exploits of the Border Reivers. We dressed up to do battle between the English and the Scots, and enjoyed learning about this dangerous time through stories.
right at the heart of Brixton and it is the perfect way to prove any negative views about the area wrong. Standards for all individuals are high and teach us the common courtesy and skills needed in everyday life. The new building creates a calm, peaceful atmosphere in which exciting and interesting lessons and activities take place. Each member of staff does their best to ensure that every student is a step further towards adulthood and achieving 100% in all their endeavours. Evelyn Grace Academy’s longer day is worth it. Even though we finish at 5pm, the extra-curricular lessons and masterclasses mean there is something for everyone, making school a place of creativity, education and fun.
Our task set by The Natural History Museum was to make an exciting film about biodiversity. We found making the film so much fun but it took us three or four days and several takes to learn our lines and get it perfect! We included our chickens, compost heap, log pile and our pond in the film. On Tuesday 12 October we went to the Natural History Museum. We went because it turned out that we won first prize in the competition all about biodiversity. Our prize was £500 and some books for our school. We also went behind the scenes and met one of their scientists who worked for them. (Did you know that more than 300 scientists work behind the scenes at the Natural History Museum?) We learned what biodiversity meant and how we could protect species from becoming endangered. We all enjoyed it!
WE left our text books in the classroom and descended on Carlisle Castle to embark upon a voyage of discovery back to Tudor times.
Year 3 pupils, Yewdale Primary School, Carlisle
Here’s what some of us thought: Caitlan Hodgson was delighted to discover she had a Reiver surname. She said: “I have really enjoyed this school trip, especially playing an English guard and keeping the Scots in their blue hats out. I found out that my name Hodgson is one of the Reiver names so that is very exciting! “I have learned lots about the Castle today and that will really help me at school and I like
the story about Kinmont Willie the best.“ Kelsey Blaylock, 7, was a big fan of the dungeons. She said: “I was a little bit scared but it was very exciting to go down into the dungeons. My favourite part of the trip has been when we were all sat in the kitchen learning about the people in Carlisle and the food that they ate.” It was a great day and we can’ t wait to go back again.
A Polish adventure The visit was the beginning of an offi cial partnership between the two schools which involves sharing ideas and joint projects. During the stay the three teachers, Paul Mobberley, Mary Bannister and Danielle Joyce spent time in the school and also took part in a full day trip with class 4B (11 to 12-year-olds) to a Polish forest where the children took part in a range of outdoor activities. Children in Poland learn English from when they begin school at the age of seven and we were amazed by how well they speak the language. One class put on a performance of Little Red Riding Hood for our benefit entirely in English and we also saw an English lesson being taught to a class of eight-year-olds.
Pupils from Hampton Hill School, Richmond
Camille Brown and Keanna Williams, Evelyn Grace Academy
Tudor times
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THREE teachers from St John Bosco Primary School spent their half-term holiday as guests of Szkorta Podstawowa School in Sieradz, Poland.
Mr Mobberley, St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, West Bromwich
Mr Mobberley with pupils Adam and Dominic
Away from the school we experienced the Polish lifestyle including traditional food and were also taken to see the museum of the horrors of the concentration camp at Auschwitz. The visit was organised by Polish teacher Gosia Presmycki, who will hopefully be making a return visit to St John Bosco next year and, then, we are hoping to extend the link to include children visiting each other’s schools. With approximately 10% of the pupils at St John Bosco of Polish origin we have learned a
Mr Mobberley, Ms Bannister and Ms Joyce with the class in the forest
great deal about their culture and even learned a small bit of language we can use in lessons.
Your school in First News We want to hear what your school is up to ARE you doing something sponsored for charity? Starting your own school newspaper? Or putting on a show?
Send your report (including pictures) to the address on page 14 or email newsdesk@firstnews.co.uk. If we print your story we’ll send you a copy of the paper and an exclusive First News certificate to be presented to you in assembly! Don’t forget to include your name, age, and your school’s name and address. (Please note: by writing to First News you give consent to First News printing details and photographs of those involved in the report.)
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ISSUE 232 5 – 11 NOV 2010
GLOBAL STORIES
World News
SNIPPETS Research for a TV show has shown that 2,000 bosses who work for the Dutch government earn more than the prime minister’s salary of £167,000.
USA Friends remember
Sweden
Germany
Whale surprise
Shooting shock
Paul passes away
Scientists say a fin whale that died in Vejle Fjord was nearly 140 years old. The animals have an average lifespan of 90 years, but It was first thought that the creature was closer to 15-20 years old. The 30tonne mammal was probably blind and suffered from arthritis and weak bones.
Police in Malmö are investigating more reports of shootings, after three teenage girls heard three gunshots. The city has been shocked by a recent wave of shootings, most of which have been aimed at immigrants. At least one person has died and many more have been wounded.
Paul the octopus, who shot to fame predicting results at the World Cup this summer, has died at his home in Oberhausen. Paul was born in Weymouth, England, two and a half years ago, but octopuses don’t usually live to be older than two. Books and toys for Christmas have already been planned.
Huge task China is preparing to carry out the latest national census. This is a huge survey that will tell offi cials how many people live in the country and where they are from. A census is a massive task even in a small place like the UK, but China has a population of more than a billion. Six million workers have been hired just to carry out the census.
Getty
More than 200 students turned up to a memorial service for Chase Bunting, who died from skateboarding injuries. The teenager, from Northwest Guilford High School, wasn’t wearing a helmet and died from injuries to his brain when he fell.
Denmark
China
Australia Pylon fall
Getty
An 18-year-old man has died after trying to climb an electricity pylon in Mount Hutton. Offi cials think that the man was electrocuted. He was found dead at the bottom of the pylon. A spokesman said that it showed how dangerous electrical equipment was, and warned people to stay away from pylons and sub-stations.
Haiti
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Cholera warning
Brazil
Greece
Iraq
Girl power
Bombs found
Church attack
The French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, was one of the targets of a series of parcel bombs in Athens. Another two were addressed to the Dutch and Belgian embassies. One addressed to the Mexican embassy exploded at a courier company, injuring one employee.
More than 50 people have been killed at a Catholic church in Baghdad, with dozens more seriously wounded. Early reports claim that the gunmen were working with al-Qaeda, and that the attack was partly revenge for the American pastor who threatened to burn copies of the Koran recently.
Brazil has got its first ever female president. Dilma Rousseff will take over at the beginning of 2011, when Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva steps down. Rousseff said that she wants to improve the lives of the poor and to make sure that woman are treated equally with men.
Getty
Save the Children has warned that the recent outbreak of cholera is threatening the lives of tens of thousands of newborn babies and their mothers. There are hundreds of temporary camps around the capital, Port-au-Prince, and the poor sanitation means that a disease like cholera can spread rapidly. The charity is distributing soap, clean water and medicines to try to stop the disease spreading.
SNIPPETS A third of families in New South Wales, Australia, are in financial trouble because they have to spend more than they earn. Thousands are skipping meals.
KIDS’ WORLD Name: Deng Age: 15 Lives: Northern Bahr El Ghazal State, Southern Sudan DENG works to support his family. He’s the oldest of seven children. His father is disabled and doesn’t have the use of his legs, so he relies on Deng to do all the manual work in their home, including looking after their crops, so Deng doesn’t go to school, though he wishes he could. Because of his father’s disability, Deng’s family was enrolled in the cash transfer programme. The family uses the monthly cash payments to buy
food, medicine and livestock. Deng Says: “I left the army to help look after my father, who’s disabled, my mother, and my six younger brothers and sisters. I do all of the handiwork around our home. Recently I’ve been collecting wood and dried grass and I’m using it to construct another room for our homestead. During the rainy season we work on cultivating
our land. During the dry season, I prepare the land for cultivation during the morning hours before it becomes too hot. “I would like to go to school, but it is not possible at this time. School takes place during the cultivation season so, when I am away at school, there is no-one left to cultivate the land that our family relies on.”
Find out more about Save the Children at www.savethechildren.org.uk
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ENTERTAINMENT NEWS with Serena Lacey
Meet Alexis Jordan
ALEXIS Jordan is the latest young singer in line for the teen star crown! Having released her debut single, Happiness in America, earlier this year, Alexis has just released this brilliant song in the UK! We asked Alexis what makes her different to all the other young stars out there and she said: “I want to stand for something, I want to be a role model for my fans, for young people… oh and I’ve got naturally red hair!” While promoting her new single in London, the young redhead managed to squeeze in an appearance on the Xtra Factor where she got to meet the contestants and catch up with X Factor judge, Simon Cowell. Alexis is no stranger to reality TV having wowed audiences in America when she sang a Whitney Houston song.
v e i l e b s y Alwa in yourself HE released his debut single14 years ago and now he is about to release his seventh album. Peter Andre talks to First News about following your dreams and why he never gets bored of being a pop star. Tell us about your new album, Accelerate. It’s my seventh studio album to date and I really feel that I have found my sound now and that I have developed as an artist. Each song is so different and I’ve worked with such a great team on each track. I’m really happy that the first single is Defender but I also love Mercy On Me which I co-wrote and Perfect Night which I worked on with Taio Cruz and Guy Chambers.
Happiness is out now. Watch the video online at www.firstnews.co.uk
Glee songs go on tour THE music from Glee has stormed up the charts, and now a host of reality TV singers are taking a stage show, packed with Glee tunes and performances on the road. GleeMania has put together some of the most talent singers off reality TV to make a touring supergroup. Singers who have appeared on X Factor, Pop Idol, Grease is the Word and Britain’s Got Talent will tour the country early next year performing some of the most-loved songs from the hit TV series. The singers gave us a sneak preview at the show’s launch in London this week. They belted out Don’t Stop Believing and Golddigger. Check out our video from the launch online at www.firstnews.co.uk. For more info on the show see www.gleemania.co.uk
Let’s Shake It Up! Hi Kenton! Tell us about your new show… I play a character called Gunther on the new Disney Channel show, Shake It Up. The show follows the story of two girls called CeCe and Rocky who dream about becoming
TV, Film, Music and Theatre!
professional dancers – but Gunther is one of their main rivals. It’s got comedy. It’s got dancing. It’s got music. It’s awesome! You’ll learn a lot if you watch Shake It Up. It’s a lot of fun. How does it feel to play a rival? It feels cool! CeCe and Rocky are always trying to outshine my character and his sister, but we give them a pretty good run for their money. It’s funny because we all get along really well on the set, so it’s weird to play a rival. It feels like we’re brothers and sisters more than arch enemies or anything. Are you the bad boy on the show? I’m a mixture between the good boy and the bad boy – but I’m definitely a
Is it different from previous Peter Andre albums? Yes. I think people will be really surprised when they hear the album as it’s totally different to any of my other albums. It’s also my third album in 18 months and I’ve been involved in all aspects of the album creatively which has been great and something I’ve
Peter performing at Glastonbury earlier this year
really enjoyed. You’ve been making music for years – do you ever get bored of it? No, I never get bored! I feel so fortunate to have such a great fan base and able to release music for them. The best bit of the job for me is performing live and meeting my fans. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks travelling around the UK on a signing tour and the turnout has been insane! People have been camping overnight and, in one day, I signed over 5,000 singles! I’ve got my arena tour at the end of the year as well and start rehearsals for that next week. We’ve got loads of great ideas and, as we are playing all the major arenas, I really want to put on a fantastic show. Do you remember your first public performance? Yes. I was 13 years old and I performed at a competition in Australia for my school and I sang Stevie Wonder’s I Just Called To Say I Love You. I felt unbelievable and I knew at that moment that I always wanted to be a singer. I remember the school’s live band were there and it was such a great feeling being on the stage and performing. What were you like when you were at school? I was cheeky and I used to get into trouble, not because I started trouble but I always found myself in the middle of trouble. I recently went back to my school when I was in Australia and
IF you like music, dancing and comedy, then the new Disney Channel series, Shake It Up will be right up your street. We caught up with one of the stars of the show, Kenton Duty, to find out more… good guy when I’m not working. I like to make sure everyone’s happy and laughing on the set. That’s my role, alongside Roshon Fegan, who is the biggest prankster on the set. How much fun do you have filming the show? Filming Shake It Up is crazy! It’s awesome and it’s so much fun. Everybody always has a good time, but we are all professionals as well. We like to laugh and joke, but we also get on with the work when we need to concentrate. Have you got a cool dressing room? Yes! My dressing room is really cool. I have an adjoining dressing room with Roshon, so we keep the door open and we pump the music out. Everybody walks past and says: “Hey, are they having a party?” And then they always join us. It’s great.
Did you always want to be an actor? I fell into acting when I was younger. I did some presentations at elementary school and my dad said that I needed to be able to project myself a little more. He said that I needed to be able to talk to people and not get nervous. That’s why he signed me up for a theatre camp and an acting class. I loved the theatre camp and I loved the acting class – and an agent soon signed me up. I’ve never looked back! Catch Shake It Up on 12 November at 6pm on the Disney Channel. For clips and trailers check out www.firstnews.co.uk
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GAME ZONE
ve
with Aaron (14) and Josh (11) Game Testers
SHHH! Robert Pattinson
it was such a weird feeling as I went with my best friend. What advice would you give to kids who want to follow in your footsteps? I would say it’s very important to get your grades and take as much out of your educational experience as you can. You have to make sure you really want something and then chase after it. There will be times when you get knocked back, I know I have plenty of times, but you have to come back fighting and always believe in yourself. It’s so important to have a dream and make the most out of life. I think if you put your mind to something you can achieve it but you have to work hard. What would you think if your kids wanted to be pop stars? I’ve never stopped my children doing anything that they wanted to do as long as they wanted to do it for themselves not anyone else. Whatever they choose to do I will always support them. At the moment Junior is giving me a run for my money – I’m sure I will be going to see him in concert soon!
Twilight star Robert Pattinson once turned down a record deal from Simon Cowell because he didn’t think anyone would want to hear his music. He said: “I am selfish with my music. I get my guitar and I play what I like, but the problem is I don’t think many other people would like it!”
Take That Demand for tickets to the Take That Progression Tour in 2011 was twice as much for tickets to Michael Jackson’s This Is It tour, according to Ticketmaster. Websites and phonelines crashed as people from all over the world tried to get tickets to the tour dates when they went on sale last week. The show is the first tour with all five original members of the band in 15 years.
Justin Bieber
! Y L L E TOP T DANGEROUS ANIMALS Steve and Naomi are back on the road bringing more animals to meet you! Live and Deadly, BBC2, Saturday 6 November @ 9:00am SCHOOL IN A TANK Brand new comedy cartoon about three fishy friends who live, and go to school, in a fish tank. Fish Hooks, The Disney Channel, Saturdays @ 9.35am.
Professor Layton and the Lost Future (DS)
THE Professor and Luke are back, with more tricky brainteasers for you. Get those thinking caps on! Although the series has been going for a while now, you don’t need to have played the others to love this one. The story this time starts with a time machine demonstration that goes wrong, leading to the disappearance of the prime minister. As you wander around
JUSTIN Bieber really is intent on taking over the world. The pop prince is going to design a perfume. The fragrance won’t be sold in bottles, but infused in dog tags and wrist bands and will be suitable for both boys and girls. The fragrance will be launched across America in Walmart stores in November.
Peter Andre’s new album, Accelerate, is out now. Check out the video online at www. firstnews.co.uk. For info on Peter’s national arena tour go to www.peterandre.com.
INVENTION FUN In the second episode of this fab new series, the brilliant duo investigate the art of flying! Wallace and Gromit’s World of Invention, BBC1, Wednesday 10 November @ 7:30pm.
Quiz time
investigating, people and places will throw up new and cunning puzzles. There are over 150 puzzles, with a huge variety of styles. As in previous games, there’s a hint system that allows you to take coins you’ve earned and buy tips with them. Aaron says: “Professor Layton and the Lost Future is the third game in the series and possibly the best one yet! The puzzles are much more inventive, and the story as gripping as ever! The cutscenes are amazing, and Professor Layton is really cool! Some of the puzzles will need RATED! help from mum or dad, though, as they can be quite tricky!”
10/10
Portable pet EyePet (PSP)
WE loved the original PS3 version, so we took Sony’s cute, furry pet out for a walk to see if it’s just as much fun on the PSP. Compared to standard computer pet games, EyePet is much more realistic. By using the PSP camera attachment, you can take your pet pretty much anywhere to play. Whether it’s on your table, the floor, a wall or even a playground swing, your virtual fuzz-ball can appear in a limitless number of real places. You can give your pet a name, dress it up,
change its hair length and style, feed it and give it a shower and shampoo. By pressing a button, you can take a snapshot of your pet at any time. There are two picture frames in your pet’s house that you can use the pictures in, as well as a tank for any fish that you catch, a car to play some driving games on, a diary and a bed. You can also still draw pictures and get your pet to bring them to life. There are a few other mini-games, like bowling and trampolining, and all of them allow you to unlock more outfits for your pet. The camera bringing the pet into your home is really cool, RATED! and it’s a fun change from the other pet games out there.
8/10
See the trailers for both games at www.FirstNews.co.uk/bored
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THE BIG INTERVIEW
The Piers Morgan interview…
We’ll give Britney some Jedward pjs! THEY may not have won X Factor but Jedward have become some of the biggest stars to emerge from the TV talent show. We caught up with the bonkers duo to talk about their new job at Nintendo, celebrity friends and pyjamas! The last time we saw you two was on First TV. So what’s happened since? Edward: We’ve done loads of TV programmes, interviews and performances. It’s been really weird! We don’t even remember what we’ve done half the time, we just do it and have loads of fun! John: Right now we’re promoting Dragon Quest on Nintendo DS, and we’re really excited because we’ve had Nintendo everything in the past. All of those years back, we never thought we’d be doing the adverts!
you know, it’s funny because we’ll watch it and we’ll call Louis during the breaks and be like: “What are you wearing? What’s with that shirt?” Who do you think is going to win? Edward: Well, hopefully Mary will win because she’s the most genuine plus Louis’s our manager so we’d have unlimited access
coming to collect us, but it wasn’t, we got to the door and it was someone delivering a big sack of fan mail. We haven’t read it all yet, but we’re trying to. Edward: Our fans are crazy because they always seem to know what we’re doing, like if someone bad mouths us, they’re right there, ready to take that person down! They’re outside hotels we’re staying in,
CHECK OUT videos of our time with Jedward
JEDWARD
You two are always on Twitter! Edward: Yeah! We want to be able to look back, and it doesn’t matter if we spell wrongly, it reminds us of all the fun we had on that day!
doll, because Britney Spears and Michael Jackson had one. Do JLS have a doll? Okay, well ours will be better than theirs! The Jedward dolls would have hair inside of their heads so that it could keep growing, then you have to cut it and customise it – just like Dragon Quest!
You must have loads of celebrity friends now – who’s the most famous person that you have in your mobile phone? Edward: We have Victoria Beckham’s number, Randy Jackson’s and Kate Winslet’s. We have loads of other UK artists too… oh and Simon Cowell’s. We have everyone’s number from X Factor.
We’ve heard you might be doing an American TV show. Is that true? Edward: Well, it’s kind of a continuation of… Both: …Let Loose. We’re going to go to Louisiana and track down Britney Spears… John: …We’ll give her a pair of Jedward pyjamas.
We heard you off ered a recent X Factor evictee a shoulder to cry on? John: Oh Nicolo, yes, we have friends in the X Factor so we were on the phone to him. Edward: We don’t like to see anyone down so we spoke to him on the phone, told him he was awesome and how he should be proud for what he’d done. He’s really cool. So you’ve been watching X Factor this year then? Edward: We’ve seen some bits of it but,
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to the winner and be like, “Hey, can we have your autograph for our friend?” John: But you know, it’s really diffi cult because there’s still so many people in the show. I think I know who’s going to win but I don’t want to say. You two are pretty famous now – have you got any crazy fans? Edward: Our fans are really great. John: This morning I thought it was the taxi
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screaming… they’re classic fans. John: They don’t care about anyone else – just us. So what do you have planned next? John: We have our UK tour this month which will be really, really fun. Edward: We’re also going to do some other adverts, maybe some hair products and we have Jedward pyjamas coming out! And we really want to come out with our own
What about Glee? Can you see a Jedward episode in the future? Edward: Right now me and John need to get our status up there, then hopefully we’ll get a Glee episode. Brian Friedman knows the producers and he said he could get us in there. John: Give us some time and we’ll be known by the whole entire world in no time. Dragon Quest IX on Nintendo DS is out now.
THE FIRST NEWS TEAM Editor Nicky Cox Deputy Editor Gabrielle Utton Entertainment Editor Serena Lacey Writer Ian Eddy Editorial Assistant Kirsty Macdonald Intern Ben Pulsford Design Manager Richard Robson Website Editor Nicola Williams Accounts Assistant Kelane Henderson Advertising Nina Chaudhry, Anisha Unzia, Leanne Walker Subscriptions Manager Rachel Henderson Direct Marketing Manager Emma Robson Partnership Marketing Director Lindsaye Fox Publisher, First News Explorer Susan Downey Publisher Kelly Austin Founders Piers Morgan, Nicky Cox, Sarah and Steve Thomson Email: firstname.surname@firstnews.co.uk Tel. 020 3195 2000 www.firstnews.co.uk
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A whole new Zhu-niverse PREPARE yourself for cuteness, as the hottest toys of the year prepare to become the hottest videogames of the year. If you enjoyed watching your loveable ZhuZhu Pets scurry around your room, now you can take the hamster fun to a whole new level with the new Wii and DS games. ZhuZhu Pets: Featuring the Wild Bunch has all of your favourite hamster characters, as well as a whole load of new animals to play with in the game’s exciting new Zhu-niverse. Whether you prefer the sweet but fearless Pipsqueak, or the noisy and nutty Stonewall, there’s a character for everyone! Not only that, but the limited edition versions of the game come with an exclusive chipmunk pet, the cute and cuddly Nutters.
IF you prefer a bit more action for your hamsters, Kung Zhu will definitely be up your street. This cool new DS game lets you choose whether you want to be the camouflaged Special Forces tribe, or
ZhuZhu g aturin e F : s t e P is Bunch d l i W e th nd DS. a i i W n le o availab u is available h Kung Z games h t o b and on DS, on are out r. mbe 5 Nove
slash and kick your way through the game as the Ninja Warriors. Just wait until you find out how satisfying it is to take a cute and snuggly little hamster, and turn it into a hard-as-nails warrior! You can show your stealthy side with Yama, Azer and the rest of the Ninja Warriors tribe, or display your fierce fighting skills with Stonewall, Rock’O and the Special Forces crew. Now prepare to select your hamsters and let battle commence!
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SCIENCE
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Bees’ brains are tiny, but they still cope with tricky puzzles
Did you
know
Galaxies spotted by a HAWK
Getty
The constellation Eridanus takes its name from the rivers mentioned in the ancient Greek, Egyptian and Babylonian cultures. The stars that make up the constellation twist and turn, just like a river.
ESO/P. Grosbøl
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Bees are maths geniuses WITH the help of some artificial flowers, scientists have discovered that bees can solve problems that even take computers a long time to solve.
CHECK OUT
Bees quickly learn to solve a mathematical puzzle known as the ‘travelling salesman problem’. For bees, this involves finding the shortest path between lots of flowers, but still visiting all of them once. With a lot of destinations, this becomes tricky for computers to deal with quickly, but bees do it with a brain the size of a grass seed! A team at Royal Holloway used artificial flowers hooked up to computers to see the order in which bees visited them. Scientists now want to know how the bees do this so quickly, and whether they use some kind of mental short cut to solve the problem. The work could be useful in dealing with human networks, such as traffi c jams and the flow of information around the internet.
One of the six images released by the ESO. This one shows the spiral galaxy NGC 1300, which is around 65 million light years away from Earth, in the constellation Eridanus.
www.FirstNews.co.uk for a gallery of the galaxy pics
SIX stunning new images of spiral galaxies have been released this week. The images were taken using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile. The telescope’s new HAWK-I camera was used to capture the detailed images. HAWK-I, or High-Acuity Wide-field K-band Imager, uses infrared light to help it see
by Ian Eddy through the thick dust that is found in the arms of most spiral galaxies. HAWK-I has 16 times as many pixels as the ISAAC camera that was previously used
to take these sorts of images. It can cover a greater area of sky in one shot, but is also much more sensitive to faint infrared light. These detailed new pictures should help scientists to increase their understanding of how stars in these galaxies form in spirals.
The taste buds in your lungs
No-one has managed to photograph the elusive creature yet. This Photoshop reconstruction is the closest thing available.
Sneezing monkey found
Scientists at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, USA, made the discovery that taste buds aren’t just on our tongues
Getty
BIOLOGISTS working in Myanmar have found a monkey that is new to science, although the local people know it well. The new species of snub-nosed monkey has upturned nostrils. This means they fill with water whenever it rains, causing them to sneeze. Its local name is mey nwoah, or ‘monkey with an upturned face’. Locals say that the monkeys spend rainy days with their heads tucked between their knees. Scientists think that the species
has not been discovered by previous researchers because it is isolated from other species by two major rivers. The population has been estimated at between 260-330, meaning that it is critically endangered. Logging roads built by Chinese companies have been blamed for increasing the number of the monkeys that have been hunted.
Getty
Scientists were studying the muscles in the lungs that make our airways contract and expand when they made the discovery. The receptors are the same as the ones on our tongues that detect bitter tastes. The study’s leader, Stephen B. Liggett, said that none of his team believed what they had found at first. At first they thought that the cells were there to warn the body against natural poisons, which usually taste bitter. However, the researchers found that bitter substances actually helped to open up the airways better than any known drug used to treat asthma. The scientists now hope to develop better asthma drugs that use this effect.
Dr Thomas Geissmann
COMPLETELY by accident, researchers have discovered that there are working taste receptors in our lungs as well as our mouths.
The research could be helpful for dealing with complicated traffic fl ows
?
Did you
know
The expression “the bee’s knees” means something that is excellent. However, although bees’ legs have joints, they don’t have anything like a kneecap, so they can’t really be said to have knees at all.
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THE NEWS CREW
Fashion wizards Turning back time WHEN my mum told me I had been picked to take part in Disney Channel’s brand new fashion series Fashion Wizards, I was really excited and shocked at the same time.
LIVING in the Victorian era for TV show Turn Back Time has been one of the greatest experiences of my life! by Safron Sergison
by Paige Williams, Surrey I love fashion and I tend to borrow things from my sister’s wardrobe! For those of you who don’t know anything about the show, it’s inspired by Wizards of Waverly Place’s very own style icon Selena Gomez. I worked with Jack, Isabel and Lulu on the challenge and, from the minute we met, it felt like we’d known each other for years. We were challenged to create a fashion collection and catwalk show. I can’t give too much away but you’ll see us choosing fabrics, making the clothes, casting the models and selecting music and choreography to put on our very own fashion show – it’s the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced – much harder than my maths homework! We were helped by celebrity stylist Kate Halfpenny, who is amazing and has worked with some really famous people like Pixie Lott and Kate Moss. Meeting Kate was the best bit about the whole experience – she’s so lovely and very
patient as I was a complete beginner to designing clothes. Since taking part in the show, I’ve realised that I definitely want to do textiles for my GCSEs. It’s been so much fun – the best summer ever! My friends and family are really supportive and can’t wait to see me on TV. Follow the fashion designers of tomorrow in Fashion Wizards at 5.30pm on Disney Channel
Walking into Shepton Mallet for the first time and seeing our own grocery store was amazing. I knew this was going to be the best history lesson ever. On the first day of filming we met the Turn Back Time chamber of commerce (with Gregg Wallace from the TV) and they told us what to expect from the era and the rules we had to stick to. Unfortunately this meant that me and my mum, being ladies, weren’t allowed to go to the front of the shop. I didn’t mind too much and I loved the way we had to do everything by hand. As well as working in the shop we had to live the life of a real Victorian, living in a small flat that had been specially decorated by the production team’s art and props department. It was so strange walking in there for the first time but really cool. My bedroom was so old fashioned, and the bed was quite uncomfortable but the living room was my favourite – it had a chaise lounge and an open fire but the table was so wobbly and our food went everywhere!
One of the biggest changes for me was the outfits. Because I wore so many layers it meant the clothes were really heavy and, although I got used to it after a while, the corset was really, really uncomfortable. I really enjoyed my time in the Victorian era. It was a fantastic adventure and I made a lot of friends.
Turn Back Time is on BBC 1 from 2 Nov. BBC Learning is off ering viewers the chance to continue the Turn Back Time experience in their own area. Find out more at: bbc.co.uk/ history/handsonhistory
Dragon training at London Zoo! I WENT to a special film screening of How To Train Your Dragon at London Zoo, and We also got to meet the author of the story, Cressida Cowell. This is a fantastic story based on dragons. The main character is a young boy called Hiccup whose father will not let him go on the battle field and so he goes out by himself and shoots a night fury which is a type of dragon that nobody has ever caught before! He catches the night fury and trains it to fly! This film is good for young children and grown-ups too. The sound effects and graphics of this film are amazing. The designing of the costumes and characteristics of the main characters are fantastic. Some characters are up-beat and
Bongo LLP presents Slim the Vegetarian Ogre
by Elise White-Phillips. Age: 11 loud. Hiccup is more solemn and never listened to! Although he may not seem smart he is destined to find a way to prove that dragons are not as bad as they seem! I would recommend this film to any fantasy film lovers! The special screening we went to was at London Zoo so, as well as watching the film, we got to see all the animals including living dragons, the huge Komodo dragons. It was a brilliant day.
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CRAZY BUT TRUE
Mermaid wanted
Fab fluff!
A MAN has won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records after collecting fluff from his belly button every day for 26 years.
AN aquarium in Wales has put out a job advert for a real life mermaid! Rhyl SeaQuarium are looking for a male or female mermaid to swim in one of their tanks wearing a mermaid costume. The successful applicant will have to swim with sharks, rays and eels and need to be a certified scuba diver. The advert was placed a month ago
by Serena Lacey and the SeaQuarium say they have been flooded with offers from around the world, including one from a paintball marshall! Paul Tyson, the displays manager of the
RECORD OF THE WEEK The record for the most ballet leg switches in one minute is 71 and was set by Kathryn Pounder and Rebecca MacEnri (both UK) from Aquabatix, UK, in the Trafalgar Square fountains, London, UK, on 9 November 2006 as part of Guinness World Records Day. For info on this record and hundreds more, go to www.guinnessworldrecords.com
Email us your jokes to newsdesk@firstnews.co.uk
Written and illustrated by Paul Palmer
Graham Barker from Perth, Australia has so far collected 22.1 grams of fluff and colour codes the stuff in jars. So far he’s even managed to sell three jars of his belly button fluff to a museum. What weird things do you collect? Tell us online at ww.firstnews.co.uk
Miniskirt ban THE mayor of a seaside city in Italy wants to ban revealing clothing, including miniskirts.
MOST BALLET LEG SWITCHES IN ONE MINUTE OF SYNCHRONISED SWIMMING
QUICK CHUCKLES
SeaQuarium, says: “It’s not all going to be about sitting around looking good. As a qualified diver our mermaid will have to help out with cleaning some of the 50 square metres of glass that make up the inside of our ocean ecosystem tank!”
Mayor Luigi Bobbio wants to crack down on antisocial behaviour in Castellammare di Stabia. If it goes ahead the mayor’s tough new dress code would mean people could be fined between £22 and £446 for wearing a short skirt in the city and people also couldn’t wear low-cut jeans. Mayor Bobbio would also like to ban sunbathing, playing football in public places and blasphemy.
HA HA Q: What do you get if you cross a firework and a dinosaur? A: Dinomite
Q: What falls in autumn? A: Leaves
Q: How do you fix a broken pumpkin? A: With a pumpkin patch
HA HA
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ASK ESTHER
With thanks to
I’M Esther Rantzen, President of ChildLine, which helps 2,500 children every week. If there’s something worrying you, please write to me at the address below.
Friend issues I HAVE recently started a new school leaving most of my old friends behind. I have left my best friend behind too. She used to always want to play with me whenever she had the chance so we arranged quite a few play dates but she always forgets on the day. I’m not desperate for her but I don’t want to be forgotten either. Jennifer, 11
It sounds like you are finding it diffi cult to manage all of the changes that have been going on in your life recently, and moving school can be very diffi cult. I am wondering if you have thought about talking to your friend about how you feel? This may let her know that you would still like to spend time with her even though you have moved school. Also I am wondering if it would help if you reminded your friend about the arranged play dates the day before? For more advice you can call ChildLine on 08001111 or chat to us at www.childline.org.uk
Self harming... THERE’S this girl in my class, I do not really know her, but I know she keeps asking her boyfriend for scissors and then cuts herself on the arm. She likes to show off about it as if it’s something good. My friend and I are really concerned about her. Emma, 11
This sounds like you are in a diffi cult situation and you and your friend are both worried about this girl at school. It sounds like this girl at school is having a diffi cult time at the moment and people self harm for many different reasons. I am wondering if you have thought about what you might like to happen if you did talk to someone about this? Have you considered talking to someone at school about this, such as a teacher? This can be confidential and they may be able to help. If you feel like you would like to contact ChildLine to discuss your worries further call free on 0800 1111.
WIN
Scared to leave...
I KNOW this seems silly, but I have recently started to become scared to go out of the house on my own. Every time I try I start to panic and feel sick. This has only just started and I don’t know why as I’m happy at school and at home. Lisa 12 What you have said does not seem silly. Many people panic and feel sick when thinking about going outside. Sometimes these feelings happen for no reason. You say that you feel happy at home, I am wondering if it’s the thought of leaving somewhere that you may feel happy and safe to go outside alone that’s scary? Maybe you could call us for free at ChildLine on 08001111 or chat to us at www. childline.org.uk.
WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR POPPIES? HAVE you noticed people wearing red paper poppies over the past few weeks? Even on X Factor the judges and contestants are wearing poppies. The red poppy is a sign of remembering soldiers who have died. Every year, on the second Sunday in November, people across the UK remember those who lost their lives in battles since the First World War. This day is called Remembrance Sunday. For people whose friends or family have died serving in the armed forces, this can be a diffi cult time of year. People use words like grief and bereavement to describe the loss that people feel when someone close to them dies. Each person’s reaction to bereavement will be different and it is impossible to predict how you will feel. Some people find it diffi cult to accept
WRITE TO ME: Ask Esther, 4th Floor, Shand House, 14- 20 Shand Street, London, SE1 2ES. EMAIL ME: newsdesk@firstnews.co.uk and put ‘Ask Esther’ in the subject box. I’m sorry I can’t reply to every letter. If you have a problem you want to talk about please call ChildLine on 0800 1111. If you are worried by anything you read in First News, please visit www.childline.org.uk/Helpandadvice.asp
LIMITED EDITION BRONZE ETCH A SKETCHES!
I BET you didn’t know that one toy which you could find in your stocking this Christmas might also have been in your mum’s or dad’s when they were young – and maybe even your gran’s and granddad’s too! In fact, the legendary Etch A Sketch is celebrating its 50th anniversary and is exactly the same today as it was when first launched in 1960! Almost everyone is familiar with its bright red frame and little white knobs to twist and turn to create a whole host of pictures and designs and then you can simply shake the screen to clear it and start all over again! But what about the Etch A Sketch of the future? Do you think it will still look and work the same in 50 years time? First News has teamed up with Etch A Sketch and has some fabulous prizes up for grabs including five 50th
ENTER NOW!
the person has died, some people can feel guilty, perhaps for still being alive, even though it was not their fault. Another common reaction is for people to start worrying about death. Feeling worried or sad can also come out in other ways like not sleeping, not wanting to eat, having headaches or other pains. The main thing to remember is it’s okay to feel worried or sad or angry – or however you’re feeling. Talking won’t make the pain go away but it can help to sort out complicated feelings. If talking to someone you know doesn’t feel okay then call ChildLine any time on 0800 1111.
Anniversary Bronze Etch A Sketch which will be the envy of your family and friends as you can’t buy them in the shops. For the lucky 20 runners-up, there are traditional Etch A Sketches to win. To enter the competition, all you have to do is come up with a design of how you think Etch A Sketch should look in the 21st Century. Will it be electronic and computerised? Or should it be a completely different shape and size? Let your imagination flow and send in your entries. Finalists will not only be highlighted on the First News website, but will also take pride of place on toy company Flair’s website for the whole world to see.
MARK YOUR ENTRY SKETCH
www.firstnews.co.uk/competitions or turn to page 14. The closing date is 18 November 2010.
To find out more about Etch A Sketch visit: www.flairplc.co.uk/products/classic-etch-a-sketch
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FUN STUFF
WIN
ER T S A M K C I R B LEGO KS! O O B S R A W R A ST
COMPLETE our prize crossword using the clues below. Send in your answers and one lucky winner could win their very own Smartbox experience. Smartbox, the experiencebased gifting company, is giving one lucky reader an opportunity to win an amazing Kid’s Adventure Smartbox. You could take a helicopter ride or become a spy for the day at Spy School. www.smartbox.com/uk.
THIS week we have the usual 3x3 grid and you need to fill in the numbers one to nine. Send in your answers and you could win one of two LEGO Brickmaster Star Wars books. If you love LEGO bricks, then you’ll enjoy this book complete with 140 fantastic LEGO bricks and two mini-figures. Find out all about building with the LEGO bricks provided while you take on Darth Vader, in LEGO Brickmaster Star Wars. www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk
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JOIN firstnews.co.uk and you can be in with a chance of being Member of the Week and see YOUR NAME in our Member of the Week hall of fame! Check out the wordsearch below and see if you can find previous members naturegirl, polesworth, gummybear, lizziexxx, lionlover, rockgirl, redhorse, k mirri. weeand of hannii ber mem kiwicat, nintate,
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E G N E L L A H C S FIRST NEW Q1 Whereabouts in the body, apart from
in the mouth, have taste buds been found?
Q2 Where have wild dolphins been seen to “walk on water”?
Q3 In which country has Mayor Luigi Bobbio banned miniskirts?
Q4 Kenton Duty is an actor in which Disney Channel show?
Q5 How old is the tomb found in Orkney?
Q6 Which sport does Joe Buckland compete in?
Q7 Who writes the Jamie Johnson series of football novels?
Q8 Where has a volcano erupted and a tsunami hit recently?
Q9 Who took over the House of Commons?
Q10 Which country has just elected its first female president? LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS: FIRST NEWS CHALLENGE 1)39 mins and 35 seconds 2) Isle of Skye 3) 1,600 4) two 5) Armenia 6) £128,000 7) spray paint dog poo 8) Madrid’s Siesta competition 9) 13 tonnes 10) The Hobbit. SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Fred’s scarf is a different colour, Velma’s logo is missing, Daphine’s mouth is missing, Scooby’s collar is a different colour, an extra club has been added in.
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5 – 11 NOV 2010 SEND your finished puzzles to Puzzles 232, First News, Shand House, 14 - 20 Shand Street, London, SE1 2ES. The closing date for puzzle entries is Friday 12 November 2010.
IN L R E M WIN DVDS!
CAN you spot the five changes to this picture from Merlin? Send in your answers and three lucky winners could win a copy of Merlin, series three volume one on DVD. Sorcery and swashbuckling adventure return in this third series of the hit BBC series, following heroes Merlin and Arthur as they face their greatest challenge yet. When secrets are exposed and old friends choose new sides they soon discover that the great battle for Camelot is only just beginning.
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THE point of this great new game, which anyone aged from around eight years old can play, is to make the other players laugh, so you score points!
a) Knock Knock b) Ring Ring c) Tap Tap
For stockists visit www.drumondpark.com
MARK YOUR ENTRY LAUGH ENTER www.firstnews.co.uk/competitions or turn NOW! to page 14. The closing date is 18 November 2010.
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THE BOOK CORNER
BOOK REVIEWS
www.redhouse.co.uk
BLOOD RANSOM SOPHIE MCKENZIE reviewed by Chloe Dennis, 14
RACHEL and Theo are clones. It’s been nine months since they escaped from the evil scientist, Elijah, who created them. Now living thousands of miles apart, they still hope that one day they will see each other again. But when Rachel tries to save an old friend and is kidnapped, Theo refuses to believe the stories that she’s killed herself and sets off to find her. The two clones must stop a sinister experiment and come face to face once again with the man who made them. Blood Ransom is the thrilling sequel to Blood Ties and, if you enjoyed the first book, you won’t be disappointed with this one. It shocks and surprises with each new chapter, a definite must-read for Sophie McKenzie fans, and certainly recommended for those yet to discover these amazing books.
SAXBY SMART PRIVATE DETECTIVE: SECRET OF THE SKULL SIMON CHESHIRE reviewed by Sebastian Westwood, 9
TO most people Saxby Smart appears like an ordinary young school boy. But Saxby has a secret life as a private detective. He doesn’t operate from the FBI headquarters or Scotland Yard, but from a simple garden shed. This riveting book features not just one, but three Saxby Smart mysteries, so get reading! I loved the references to James Bond and the fast-paced story lines and I think most children over the age of eight would love this book. And, if you find you don’t want to say goodbye to Saxby Smart at the end, he has his own website to explore too!
READING CHAMPIONS EVERYONE knows a Reading Champion – they’re people who inspire others to get reading. Each week one of our champions tells you a bit about their favourite reads and what they think makes reading so appealing.
Henry Winkler on the My Way! tour with First News editor Nicky Cox
Reaching for the stars!
FIRST NEWS is running a campaign called My Way! It’s about recognising that for some people school is easy but, for others, it might be harder – but that the way you learn has nothing to do with how smart you are. Around six children in each class have learning challenges which means that their brains work in a different way. But that doesn’t mean that they won’t be fantastically successful in whatever they choose to do. Last weekend the Teaching Awards were on TV. They are the Oscars for schools – celebrating the best in education. One of the awards is the Henry Winkler Special Award to recognise achievement in special needs. Henry, dyslexic author of the Hank Zipzer books, is the My Way! ambassador and is proud to have the award in his name. Ambergate Sports College in Grantham, Lincolnshire, was announced as the UK winner of the Henry Winkler Teaching Award for Special Needs – a new Teaching Award for 2010. It is an outstanding special school for four to 16year-olds with learning and behavioural diffi culties and conditions including autism. The £15,000 prize will allow Ambergate to improve still more on a ‘groundbreaking’ plan which targets two groups – students who are struggling and those with strong potential who can fly higher. An astronomy club has begun and students reach for the stars through GCSE astronomy; a log cabin is planned for the grounds. New sports, such as yachting and rafting, will be introduced alongside music therapy and singing coaching. Want to share your story? Find out how online at www.firstnews.co.uk
WHAT’S IN THE SHOPS? ARCADE MACHINE ALARM CLOCK WWW.ARGOS.CO.UK £14.99
CHECK out this retro alarm clock. Perfect for all gaming fans out there! The time is displayed on a large LCD. All you need to do is use the joysticks to set the alarm and you will wake up to a barrage of retro gaming sounds.
Name: Dan Freedman Dan is a children’s author and is currently writing the sixth book in his Jamie Johnson series of football novels. He lives in London and goes slightly crazy if he hasn’t played football for a few days. Favourite reads: “When I was younger, I read anything by Roald Dahl and anything about football. I collected hundreds of match programmes. Then it came full circle when I went on to write The FA Cup Final Programmes when I worked in football for my job! “Reading a good book is like having the best conversation with the wisest, funniest most entertaining character you’ve ever met. I have my own opinions though, so no person inspires me to read – only the quality of the book itself. Reading gives you knowledge and entertainment. That’s a powerful combination. “If you don’t like reading, don’t worry, I understand. I didn’t think I liked reading – because everyone told me I had to do it. These days, I would ask the person what they were interested in… and then ask them if they wanted to find out more about it. “I love hearing from people that have read my books. That can be when I visit schools around the UK or from further afield. A young girl from South Africa recently wrote to me. She told me she had read The Kick Off and it had inspired her to become a professional footballer herself. My smile was as big as a World Cup winner’s!”
Do you think you would make a good Reading Champion? Ask your school to sign up today. www.readingchampions.org.uk
COLOUR CHANGING STAR PROJECTOR ALARM CLOCK WWW.FIND-M E-A-GIFT.CO.UK £9.99
THIS Night Time Alarm Clock is a mood light, star projector and digital alarm clock all rolled in to one! Watch the dome phase through colours of the rainbow as stars are projected onto the nearest wall or ceiling. This cool alarm clock will project the time on the ceiling or on a small LCD screen on the side.
FARMLAND ALARM CLOCK WWW.FIREBOX.COM £14.99
ARE you fed up with the boring sounds of your morning wake up call? If so, this is the alarm clock for you! This fun alarm clock will moo, baa and cluck you out of bed. In order to stop the farmyard clatter, you must remove whichever animal corresponds with the din from the picket-fenced pasture and slot it in above the large LCD display. How long will your’s last?
GREAT GIZMOS POTATO CLOCK WWW.JOHNLEWIS.COM £10.95
THIS is the ultimate eco-friendly clock!. You won’t need any electricity because the potato will provide it! The potato battery is a type of electrochemical cell. An electrochemical cell basically converts chemical energy into electrical energy. All you have to do is buy your own potatoes and set it up. Full instructions enclosed.
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SPORT NEWS
Skating star ?
Did you
know
Ice skate blades have two edges – inside and outside. Skaters need to use the edges when they’re doing moves that involve travelling in a circle.
Joe hopes to compete in the 2014 Winter Olympics
FAMILY and sport go hand-in-hand at David Lloyd Leisure. Team Family at David Lloyd Leisure has been launched to raise awareness of the vital role sport can play in family life, and the importance of parental support in the future sporting involvement of our younger generation. Joe Buckland talks to First News about his passion for ice skating and how his family’s love for skating began with his grandparents. When did you first realise you had a talent for ice skating? When I won my first British Figure Skating Championship. It was my first major achievement and I knew from then that ice skating was what I wanted to do. When I was 15, my skating partner, Georgia Robinson, and I won the British under-16s competition at our first attempt and came second in an international competition in Slovakia. Who is the most influential person in your career to date? My older brother, Nick, who competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. He trains in America now but, when he’s over here, he trains with me and that is a big boost. My entire family have influenced me: my granddad was a champion speed skater and my grandma was a professional ice dancer.
How much do your parents guide and encourage you to do sport? My parents really support me with everything I do. Not just ice skating, but all the training I have to do to support my ice skating career. My parents travel with me when I compete and are always 100% behind me, which is invaluable. They’ve always made sure sport is something that’s fun and not just a competition. I think that’s part of the reason why I still enjoy ice skating and keeping myself fit and healthy.
flexibility, and for rehabilitation, which is really important to make sure my body is in the best condition possible. Throughout the summer holidays, my partner and I spent up to 20 hours a week at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham – I had to get up at 5am to be there for the 6am session! Now I’m back at school, we have to fit training in around school activity.
How often do you train and what other factors help you to perform on the ice? I use the gym, swimming pool and tennis courts at my David Lloyd Leisure club to help improve my strength and
To get your body ready for the ice this winter, try activities such as DL Kids classes to improve your flexibility and core balance. For more information, go to www.davidlloyd.co.uk or call 0844 543 9783.
Sporting visitors Kevin Pietersen, the England cricketer, and Olympic 400m gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu shared their thoughts on the 2012 Olympics. Kevin talked about the Ashes, while Christine talked about growing up to be where she is today. She was interviewed in last week’s First News. In this special assembly, we also listened to them being interviewed by our very own Platinum Young Ambassador, Amie Alexis. We then watched a video message from David Beckham explaining all about adiStars and the treats and prizes that can be obtained. The main point of this event was to encourage young people to connect with each other through sports challenges and to become an adiStar. Kevin and
PICTURE OF THE WEEK
by junior reporter Cory Williamson Christine offered us advice and told us to stick at sport in order to excel in the long run. After an informative interview, the celebrities and ten students moved to the sports hall, where we had the privilege of playing against these competitive superstars in a game of table tennis. I was bewildered and amazed by the skill shown by Kevin, and how he managed to play table tennis with a cricket bat is beyond me. But what I do know is that they have not only opened my eyes, they have inspired others with their visit to WLA and have hopefully encouraged more people to be healthy, active and do more sports. To see Cory playing table tennis with KP and talking about his day, head to www.firstnews.co.uk
CHECK OUT
Getty
TWO special guests visited West London Academy to launch adiStars, the new online sports scheme from adidas.
AT DAVID LLOYD…
www.FirstNews.co.uk
for a gallery of the week’s best sport pictures
Chilo Rachal (left) and Michael Crabtree of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate their team’s second touchdown in their match against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium
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CRAZY BUT TRUE
GREEN
Any mermaids out there?
Autumn animals
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Up-and-coming German star Martin Kaymer has moved up to No3
Perfect Power RONNIE O’Sullivan has won the first ever Power Snooker tournament, saying that the new format has dragged snooker into the 21st century.
Lee Westwood, officially the world’s best golfer
BRITISH golfer Lee Westwood is the new No1 in the Offi cial World Golf Ranking, and has ended Tiger Woods’ record run of 281 weeks at the top. by Ian Eddy Due to the famously bizarre way that the rankings are calculated, all Westwood had to do to go top was stay at home and leave his golf clubs in the garage. Westwood said that he spent the day “bumbling around Sainsbury’s” looking for some rubber gloves and mashed potato. “The world ranking is about consistency over a certain period and that’s why I am up there at the moment,” he said. “It is a huge boost for my confidence.”
“I hope I can play well enough to stay up there for a while” O’Sullivan said the win was probably the one he enjoyed most
Getty
– Lee Westwood
O’Sullivan won the £35,000 first prize at the event at the O2 in London, beating China’s Ding Junhui 572-258 in the final. Power Snooker is a shorter, faster version of the game, with fewer reds and a 20 second limit for each shot. Snooker bosses hope that it could do for their sport what Twenty20 did for cricket. To make a livelier atmosphere, referees were told to let fans cheer and sing football-style chants.
In 2003, Westwood had slumped to a low of 266th in the rankings. His hard work on the course and in the gym has seen him shed a lot of weight and return to top form, as shown by his recent performances in the Ryder Cup.
“To be able to sit down and say that I am the best player on the planet has got to be the most satisfying moment of my career so far” – Lee Westwood Westwood is the first European to be No1 since Nick Faldo was there in 1994. Woods has now dropped down to second place, but needed just one more week at the top to have been there for a total of 624 weeks, or 12 years. The young German star Martin Kaymer has moved up to third place, but would have been No1 himself if he had finished in the top two at the Andalucia Masters last week.
know
Although Lee is the new world No1, he still hasn’t won any of the four major tournaments. His best finishes were second in the Open and Masters, and third in the US Open and PGA Championship.
Getty
Lee’s glee
?
Did you
At last! ONE of sport’s biggest rivalries took a new turn this week, as Australia ended a huge losing streak against the All Blacks. Getty
Tiger Woods has dropped to world No2
James O’Connor (left) scores the crucial try
The two giants of rugby union met again in Hong Kong, with New Zealand having won all of the last ten Test matches between the two sides. James O’Connor was the Aussies’ hero, as he scored a try and conversion after the siren to win the game 26-24.