The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper. * First News readership figure is 2,235,888. Source: Opinion Matters 2016. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17. * Working with MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS * 10 YEARS OF AWARD WINNING NEWS! * Issue 545 £1.80 25 Nov – 1 Dec 2016 WIN A TV! AND ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE 23 500 MOBILE PHONES – not while you’re mobile! A QUARTER of children admit that they have been distracted by mobile phones while crossing the road. Eleven-year-olds are three mes more likely to be hurt or seriously injured on the way to and from school than ten-year-olds – and six mes more likely to be sending a text when it happens. children die EVERY day on the roads Road Safety Week 21 - 27 November Another 2,000 are disabled for life and 5,000 more are leſt seriously injured. Many accidents happen walking to or from school. In Road Safety Week (21 to 27 November), First News is calling on governments worldwide to make roads safer for children. In the UK alone, more than 2,000 under-16s are killed every year on the roads. On our online news channel, First News Live!, we have teamed up with the FIA, the governing body of Formula One and motorsport, to bring you a film called Save Kids Lives, which you can watch at live.firstnews.co.uk/safety-mission/save-kids-lives. The powerful film, first launched for Internaonal Walk To School Day, has been made by movie director Luc Besson. It calls for safe school journeys for every child. We want to join the FIA to deliver the message that all children must have the right to walk to and from school free from road traffic danger, this week and every week. Filmed on locaon in South Africa and France, the film – co-funded by the FIA and the FIA Foundaon – compares the journey to school of children in both countries, and the different, but real, risks both face. The film asks people to sign the Child Declaraon For Road Safety of the #SaveKidsLives campaign, put together aſter talking to children around the world. You can sign it at savekidslives2015.org. Jean Todt, President of the FIA and Special Envoy of the UN for Road Safety, says: “I urge all governments to take new acon to keep children safe. Every child should have the right to a safe journey.” by editor in chief Nicky Cox EVERY day, 500 children are killed crossing roads around the world.
Transcript
The 2012 Newspaper Awards: Best weekly national newspaper and best niche market newspaper. Also, Plain English Campaign: Best national newspaper. * First News readership � gure is 2,235,888. Source: Opinion Matters 2016. First News supports children’s charities – see page 17. *
Working with
MORE THAN TWO MILLION READERS*10 YEARS OF AWARD
WINNING NEWS! *
Issue 545 £1.80 25 Nov – 1 Dec 2016
WIN A TV!
AND ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE
23
500 MOBILE PHONES – not while you’re mobile!
A QUARTER of children admit that they have been distracted by mobile phones while crossing the road. Eleven-year-olds are three ti mes more likely to be hurt or seriously injured on the way to and from school than ten-year-olds – and six ti mes more likely to be sending a text when it happens.
children die EVERY day on the roads
Road Safety Week 21 - 27 November
Another 2,000 are disabled for life and 5,000 more are left seriously injured. Many accidents happen walking to or from school.
In Road Safety Week (21 to 27 November), First News is calling on governments worldwide to make roads safer for children.
In the UK alone, more than 2,000 under-16s are killed every year on the roads. On our online news channel, First News Live!, we have teamed up with the FIA, the governing body of Formula One and motorsport, to bring you a fi lm called Save Kids Lives, which you can watch at live.fi rstnews.co.uk/safety-mission/save-kids-lives.
The powerful fi lm, fi rst launched for Internati onal Walk To School Day, has been made by movie director Luc Besson. It calls for safe school journeys for every child.
We want to join the FIA to deliver the message that all children must have the right to walk to and from school free from road traffi c danger, this week and every week.
Filmed on locati on in South Africa and France, the fi lm – co-funded by the FIA and the FIA Foundati on – compares the journey to school of children in both countries, and the diff erent, but real, risks both face.
The fi lm asks people to sign the Child Declarati on For Road Safety of the #SaveKidsLives campaign, put together aft er talking to children around the world. You can sign it at savekidslives2015.org.
Jean Todt, President of the FIA and Special Envoy of the UN for Road Safety, says: “I urge all governments to take new acti on to keep children safe. Every child should have the right to a safe journey.”
by editor in chief Nicky Cox
EVERY day, 500 children are killed crossing roads around the world.
The number of plasti c bags on UK beaches has dropped by almost half in just one year, according to results from the annual Great Briti sh Beach Clean.
Arti sts have reimagined some of our favourite children’s toys, but with disabiliti es. Toy Box Tales is an online exhibiti on of 12 photographic images created by #ToyLikeMe. They’ve given Barbie a doll-sized prostheti c leg, the Incredible Hulk a diabeti c line and customised the cast of Frozen. The images have been shared thousands of ti mes on social media and aim to challenge how disabled children are represented in the media.
Children as young as nine could be jailed in the Philippines under an idea for a new law. Young people are oft en used to carry drugs and commit crimes for others, so President Rodrigo Duterte’s advisors want the age at which children can be jailed lowered, to stop these crimes. The United Nati ons are strongly against the plan and said the country could be breaking an internati onal law designed to protect children.
Young criminals
2. quick news FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that she will run for a fourth term in offi ce. Mrs Merkel has been in charge of Germany since 2005. An electi on is due to take place next year. If re-elected, she would become Germany’s longest-serving chancellor since World War 2.
A folding bike helmet has won the internati onal James Dyson Award. The EcoHelmet is made from recycled paper and can be folded up so that it’s easy to carry about. It can also stay rainproof for up to three hours, thanks to a special biodegradable coati ng.
Following the release of Fantasti c Beasts And Where To Find Them, a Harry Pott er road trip across the UK has been created! Att racti onTix have put together a map which shows fans where they can fi nd some of their favourite places from the fi lms, including 12 Picket Post Close, otherwise known as 4 Privet Drive.
A row broke out in the Canadian Parliament over the word ‘fart.’ MP Michelle Rempel used it when she said the government was treati ng Alberta province “like a fart in the room”. Another MP, Elizabeth May, took off ence and asked Rempel to withdraw her use of the word, but she refused. The debate rumbled on!
The likes of Tom Hanks (below), Ellen DeGeneres, Robert De Niro and Bill Gates are all set to receive the highest US civilian honour from President Barack Obama. The Presidenti al Medal of Freedom honours those who have made a big contributi on to America and inspired people across the world.
A host of child stars and shows were honoured at this year’s Children’s BAFTA Awards. Nick James won Best Performer for Hank Zipzer, Zootropolis won Best Feature Film and Horrible Histories won Best Comedy.
Pop star Adele had an unusual guest at her show in Mexico City last week – a bat! The singer had to duck when the creature fl ew at the stage and around the audience.
In her fi rst speech since her defeat against Donald Trump in the US electi on, Hillary Clinton admitt ed there were a few ti mes “when all I wanted to do was just to curl up with a good book or our dogs and never leave the house again.” But she urged all of her supporters not to give up, saying: “It’s up to each and every one of us to keep working to make America bett er and stronger and fairer.”
Record-breaking astronaut Peggy Whitson is to become the oldest woman in space during her latest mission to the Internati onal Space Stati on. Peggy, who already holds the record for the longest ti me spent in space by a woman, will celebrate her 57th birthday on the stati on.
A drawing of Tinti n has sold for a record €1.55m (£1.33m) at aucti on in Paris. The drawing shows Tinti n, his dog Snowy and Captain Haddock in spacesuits, walking on the moon.
Ariana Grande scooped the top prize at the American Music Awards, being named Arti st Of The Year. Zayn Malik won Best New Arti st, while Justi n Bieber won Best Pop/Rock Male Arti st.
Fourth Term Jumbo record
Dyson award
Fantastic road trip
Space woman
US honours
New barbie
Bafta awards
Plastic bags
Bat attack
Clinton speech
Fart fight
TinTin drawing
Irn-Bru sale
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Irn-Bru sales have soared in the UK Parliament aft er the number of Scotti sh Nati onalist MPs grew to 56. In the year 2015-16, 8,708 cans of the Scotti sh fi zzy drink were sold in Parliament’s bars and restaurants – 3,256 more than the year before!
The AMAS13
Prince Harry is carrying out a royal tour of the Caribbean. He will spend 15 days touring seven island nati ons on behalf of the Queen.
Caribbean trip14We asked you: Are you worried about Donald Trump being president? 78% of you said that you are. Read a comment from one of our readers to the left .
Poll results20
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Three people – two French tourists and one Briton – died in one week while scuba diving on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The deaths are being investi gated.
Scuba deaths11
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15Bronx Zoo has set a new Guinness World Record for the world’s largest display of origami elephants. In total, there were a whopping 78,564 of them! Around 50 states, 40 countries and 40 zoos all got involved.
Quick news to read yourself and share WITH FRIENDS...
THINGS TO KNOW AND TELL
20
quote First News reader,
Gracie, on Donald Trump:“I think people voted for him because they wanted change. I wonder what sort of change
he will bring?!”
The number of people dying each year while taking a selfi e has increased. That’s because people are taking more risky steps to get the perfect shot. Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Pitt sburgh, USA, are hoping to develop an app to help warn people when they are in danger.
Selfie danger5
3. big news FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
Nicky Cox MBEWE were shocked to fi nd out that 500 children are killed on roads every day somewhere in the world.
Every single one of those lives lost is a tragedy, not just for the victi m, but for the world. Each of those children had the potenti al to be a doctor, a lawyer, a builder, a teacher – all people the world needs.
We’re calling on governments to make roads safer. But take so much care yourself, too. Never be distracted when you cross a road.
Editor’s comment
BAD week forDONALD TRUMP ANTI-Donald Trump messages started appearing on Club Penguin (the online game for 6 to 14-year-olds) this week. Social media users started sharing pictures of Club Penguin characters saying “Not my president” and “No wall”.
THIS shocking stati sti c was revealed by the United Nati ons (UN) to mark World Toilet Day on 19 November.
There are seven billion people in the world and six billion of them have mobile phones. However, only 4.5 billion people have access to toilets or latrines. That leaves 2.5 billion people, mostly in rural areas, who do not have proper sanitati on. A lack of proper sanitati on means that there is nowhere to go to the toilet in private or wash your hands aft er. Many people have to go to the toilet in the street, in fi elds or other areas near their homes. Good sanitati on is important for health, safety and privacy.
The aim of World Toilet Day is to raise awareness and encourage people to try to tackle the world’s sanitati on crisis, which is high on the list of prioriti es for governments and chariti es. The target is to ensure everyone around the world has access to a toilet by 2030.
Imagine how you would feel if you didn’t have a fl ushing toilet at school or a home. It’s a scary thought.
GOOD week forRenewable energy NEARLY 50 countries that are at risk of being aff ected by climate change have pledged to only use renewable energy by 2050. The decision was made at the United Nati ons Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco.
MOre people have mobile phones than toilets!
pricey palace fix THE Queen’s house may be getti ng a makeover that could cost the UK Government more than £369 million!
The huge sum of money will be spent on Buckingham Palace as part of a ten-year refurbishment plan. Old brickwork needs restoring, and wiring and pipes which are more than 60 years old will be replaced, in a bid to reduce fi re and fl ood risks.
The fi nal decision on whether the work goes ahead will be made by Parliament in March, with the fi rst stage of constructi on due to start in April 2017.
The palace is the Queen’s main home and she plans to stay there while the work takes place. The 775-room building has been the home of the UK’s kings and queens since 1837.
‘sir’ andy?
Murray beat Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-4 at the annual ATP World Tour Finals last week. It meant that Murray ended his impressive season at the top of the world rankings for the fi rst ti me. The superstar Scotsman has now gone 24 matches without losing.
“I’m very happy I managed to win today,” said Murray. “To fi nish the year number one is something I never expected.”
Murray is the fi rst Brit to top the list since computerised
rankings began in 1973.Murray has certainly got tongues wagging across the
country right now. He has even been ti pped to receive a knighthood (which are given out by the Queen every year) for his achievements, with many expecti ng to see his name on this year’s New Year Honours list.
Despite all the talk, Murray has commented: “I don’t know, I feel too young for something like that”.
WORLD number one Andy Murray has had a prett y good run lately, but is a knighthood the next ti tle on his list?
by Ben Pulsford
could murray’s next HONOUR be a knighthood?
ANDY’S not the only member of the Murray household celebrati ng right now. His
brother Jamie is also number one in the current tennis world rankings; they are the fi rst brothers ever to occupy the top spot at the same ti me. Andy is number one in the men’s singles rankings, while Jamie and partner Bruno Soares of Brazil are top of the men’s doubles.
Proud mummy Murray, Judy, has been chatti ng to the press this week and described her two boys as “the kings of tennis”.
poll of the weekIs Buckingham Palace’s
makeover money well spent?live.fi rstnews.co.uk/polls
4. big news FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
First News readers’ fave xmas ad
WHICH DO YOU LOVE THE MOST?
Marks & Spencer Christmas With Love
From Mrs Claus
John Lewis Buster The Boxer
Heathrow AirportComing Home For Christmas
WaitroseComing Home
Aldi Kevin The Carrot
Sainsbury’s The Greatest Gift
AmazonA Priest And Imam Meet
For A Cup Of Tea
wWFTiger In Suburbia
argosChristmas Yeti s
cast your vote at live.firstnews.co.uk/polls
Space junkTRAVELLING the world has never been easier!
Tech giant Google has released a brand-new version of Google Earth, made especially for virtual reality. It works a bit like Google Street View does, but with realisti c 3D buildings and landscapes, so you can walk virtually around places you might never visit otherwise – like the Amazon River or the Grand Canyon! In the app, you can lean around, and examine, certain buildings, or choose to fl y around a fully 3D world; up mountain ranges and down through canyons, or even into space! So far, the app is only available for the HTC Vive, but Google says it’ll soon be available on their own VR headset, the Google Daydream View, which only works with Google’s Pixel smartphone for now. Where would you like to visit in virtual reality?
SPACE junk might stop us from ever living and working in space, warns a top researcher from the University of Southampton.
Space junk is the name given to the bits of rubbish that are in orbit around the Earth, and it might be a serious problem for future space travellers.
There’s thought to be around 100 million pieces of space junk whizzing around the Earth, and they can all cause some serious damage. Back in May of this year, astronaut Tim Peake highlighted what a hazard space junk can be, by showing the 7mm chip that appeared in one of the windows of the Internati onal Space Stati on aft er a small bit of paint fl ew into it at 22,000mph (35,406km/h).
While most space junk is extremely ti ny, at least 27,000 pieces are wider than 10cm. The biggest is the Envisat satellite, which is around the size of a double-decker bus! The researcher, Dr Hugh Lewis, said: “Tackling the problem of space junk is one of humankind’s greatest environmental challenges, but it is also perhaps the one that is the least known.”
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And we’ve all gone a bit ad mad because of it, haven’t we?From bouncing boxer dogs to ice-skati ng yeti s, to a helicopter-
fl ying Mrs Claus, 2016 has been a big year for Christmas ads. Millions have taken to social media to share their favourite videos, as well as their views, over the last few weeks.
Christmas is an important ti me of year for businesses. Every year, some of the country’s biggest companies release their own Christmas ad to encourage people to shop with them this festi ve season. But these adverts aren’t your everyday adverts – companies like Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Aldi, Marks & Spencer and John Lewis almost empty their banks to pay for them. UK companies will spend an esti mated £5.6bn on marketi ng in the run-up to Christmas. They turn a short advert into a funny, heartf elt, magical blockbuster to get everyone talking – and this year, we’re certainly talking!
One of the fi rst ad campaigns to melt our hearts this year is said to have cost £7m and came from retailer John Lewis, with their Buster The Boxer advert. As First News went to press, John Lewis’ ad had been viewed more than 18 million ti mes on YouTube and #BusterTheBoxer was sti ll trending. Other popular adverts include
a robin’s treacherous journey home from Waitrose; a mission for Mrs Claus from Marks & Spencer; and a cute, clumsy carrot from Aldi. First News even released one last week, which you can see at live.fi rstnews.co.uk!
One of our faves is a newcomer to the advert race, and it comes from our friends at WWF-UK. The advert, which is called Tiger In Suburbia (below), shows a family nursing a poorly ti ger back to health, and was made by some of the geniuses that worked on Disney’s The Jungle Book.
But which advert has stolen the show? The race is sti ll on and we want to hear from you. Check out the list (right) and then head to live.fi rstnews.co.uk/polls to cast your vote.
THE country’s biggest companies have been batt ling it out in a bid to become the makers of the nati on’s favourite Christmas ad.
xmas AD MAD! christmas ads go head to head to win the hearts of the nation
Mrs Claus in Marks & Spencer’s Christmas ad The world’s cutest teddy couple in Heathrow’s ad
by Ben Pulsford
A sti ll from WWF’s fi rst Christmas ad
5. the week’s news in pictures FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
Whenever you see the Blippar icon on a page, you will know we have added some digital content to it, like a video, picture gallery or poll. Go to iTunes or Google Play and download the free Blippar app onto a mobile phone or tablet (it needs a rear-facing camera on it). Then hover your phone or tablet over the Blippar icon and story. Magic!
FIRST NEWS AND BLIPPAR
LONDON, ENGLAND: Performers dressed as children’s toys and characters from television shows take part in the Hamleys Christmas Toy Parade on Regent Street.
Use Blippar to watch our new daily TV bulleti n from our team at Blippar to watch our new daily TV bulleti n from our team at BlipparSky News. It will tell you all you need to know each day in just 60 seconds! Come back every day for a new bulleti n! It’s also showing daily at live.fi rstnews.co.uk.
BILLINGSHURST, ENGLAND: An aucti oneer prepares a dodo skeleton ahead of its aucti on. The skeleton dates from
around 1600 and will be the fi rst to be sold since 1914.
LEÓN, MEXICO: Hot air balloons fl y during the 15th León Internati onal Balloon Festi val in Metropolitan Park.
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WINCHESTER, ENGLAND: Choir boys from Winchester Cathedral try out the new arti fi cial ice rink beside the cathedral. The unveiling of the ice rink came at the same ti me as the cathedral’s Christmas market opened.
LONDON, ENGLAND: Fift y new #iwill Ambassadors were unveiled on Monday at the Houses of Parliament. They are young people between 10-20 years old who give up their ti me to help other people or the environment. More than 600 organisati ons who lead the UK-wide #iwill campaign call this ‘youth social acti on’. These young people all have great character qualiti es and skills, and that’s why the Jubilee Centre at the University of Birmingham helps celebrate them too! Find out more about them at iwill.org.uk/iwill-ambassadors.
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6. Special Report FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
Did you know at live.fi rstnews.co.uk you can learn more about the lives of refugee children? You can watch all the fi lms on First News Live!, our brand-new website, which is the world’s fi rst online news channel for young people. Ali is one of the many children featured in First News Live! fi lms – you can use the Blippar app on this page to be taken straight to his fi lm. Or you can see it at live.fi rstnews.co.uk/investi gates/syrias-lost-generati on.
by UNICEF and Ben Pulsford
“We left Syria because of the war. We were scared and my father was scared for us because of the war. And I was scared for my sister. The last day we packed our clothes and then we left Syria – we were leaving for Jordan.”
Sadly for many children like Ali, they have witnessed violence that no child should have to witness.
“Back in Syria they were bombing us when we were sitti ng inside the house and then I started to stutt er. One ti me when we were living there, in our village they were shooti ng, and a boy came there and he was shot and he died.
“I miss my home. I miss my house. I wish to go back to the house to see the trees and my friends.”
Ali has not been to school since he moved to Jordan, which means he’s missed out on six years of educati on, so far. He’s one of over 90,000 Syrian refugee children in Jordan not receiving any form of educati on right now. For many Syrian families struggling to put food on the table, sending children to school is becoming less and less of a priority. Syrian refugee families are taking desperate measures to survive – children are dropping out or not enrolling in schools, and child labour and child marriages are increasing.
“I’m not in school. I don’t feel happy, I stay at home and I feel bored. The days
that I don’t play, I feel bored. I love school because in school you can always play and you can study and you can do everything, but if you stay at home and there is no school, there is nothing; you will just get bored. Right now, if I could study, I would be really happy.
“My future is not working out very well, but when I go back to school, then my future will become a good future.”
UNICEF is working to make sure that as many Syrian children as possible do not lose their right to educati on, by ensuring local Jordanian schools have the resources they need to cope with the large numbers of Syrian refugee children.
Ali is currently on a waiti ng list to return to school. In the meanti me, he att ends a UNICEF-supported centre for refugee children aged 7-17 who do not att end school. The Makani (‘My Space’) centres are a safe place where children like Ali can access informal educati on, learn life skills, and receive support to help them deal with the trauma they have faced. Crucially, they are also a place for children to be children, and play games and take part in fun acti viti es.
LIVE!
You might not always hear about it on the news, but the Syrian refugee crisis is sti ll a global issue aff ecti ng the lives of millions of children, men and women. Oft en, when ongoing stories last for months or even years, editors and broadcasters choose to give newer, fresher stories more coverage – so the world forgets about the story, as well as the people who can’t forget. Think of it this way: you’ve probably heard far more about the American electi on than the Syrian refugee crisis over the last few weeks.
UNICEF and First News have teamed up to give refugees a voice, to help the world remember that this crisis is sti ll a global issue that needs att enti on and to help voices be heard.
On First News Live! (live.fi rstnews.co.uk) you’ll meet lots of incredible young boys and girls who have sat down with First News fi lm crews and shared their diffi cult stories over the last few months. One of these children is 12-year-old Ali.
THERE are more than two million Syrian child refugees living in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey and Egypt right now.
ALI is 12 years old and lives in Irbid, north Jordan, with his mother, father and older sister. The family fl ed from their home in Umm Walad in Syria almost six years ago, when it was no longer safe to stay. In his fi lm on First News Live!, Ali explains:
Watch Ali’s fi lm, Syria’s Lost Generati on, using Blippar. Or go to live.fi rstnews.co.uk/investi gates/syrias-lost-generati on
7. home news FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
News in numbers
14 stone (89kg) is how much the female Aldabra giant tortoises at Paignton Zoo weigh. Staff had to create a special frame to X-ray them, as they are so big they were damaging expensive equipment.
3-legged dog Ralph has found a new home. The pooch was mistreated by his previous owners and had to learn to walk again. The dog was rescued by the RSPCA, and has just been re-homed in Derby.
96 puppies were seized by the DSPCA at Dublin Port as part of a crackdown on the illegal puppy trade.
300 million pounds has been set aside to secure practi cal music teaching in England for young people for the next four years. The money will go to 121 hubs around the country where children play instruments and sing or play in bands.
200,000 people have signed a peti ti on to ban shops opening on Boxing Day.
ENGLANDDippy’s on tour
Dippy, the Natural History Museum’s Diplodocus skeleton, is getti ng ready to go on tour. The dino will be travelling all over the UK from early 2018 to late 2020. Dippy’s last day on show in London will be 4 January 2017.
northern IrelandHappy placeNorthern Ireland is the friendliest region in the UK, says a new survey. The survey, which marks the release of The BFG on Blu-ray and DVD, reveals that 69.6% of Northern Ireland residents say ‘Hi’ to strangers on trains and in lift s, while 47.8% claim that they frequently say ‘Hello’ to ten or more strangers each week.
UKOnline hateA new survey by media regulator Ofcom has revealed that one in three people between the ages of 12 and 15 have seen ‘hate speech’ online in the past year. Hate speech is defi ned as anything hateful directed at a parti cular group of people. The survey also revealed that young people are spending more hours a week online than ever before.
AberystwythTornado terrorCaravans were fl ipped over and trees ripped up when a tornado hit Clarach in west Wales. High winds of up to 95mph (153km/h) hit the area but, luckily, no-one is believed to have been hurt in the rare extreme weather.
UKAngry Angus Storm Angus swept across the UK this week, causing fl ash fl ooding in many areas. Although the storm has now left the UK, the Met Offi ce has issued a number of weather warnings, and many homes are without power. As First News went to press, around 50 fl ood warnings were sti ll in place.
glasgow Crazy courseThe University of Glasgow is going to be off ering a new philosophy course based on the Simpsons character Homer Simpson. The one-day course will look at moments in the cartoon show and relate them to philosophical questi ons about morality, religion and free will. The course will be called ‘D’oh! The Simpsons Introduce Philosophy’.
12.2 billion pounds is how much the UK is giving to help people in need in foreign countries. This meets the target set by the United Nati ons.
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london Fancy-dress fi lmThe Science Museum is going to be the only European venue to screen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in 70mm IMAX fi lm (the largest commercial fi lm format ever invented). The child-friendly screenings will run from 15 December. Audience members are encouraged to dress up as their favourite Star Wars character.
Great BritainSuper surnamesThe 25 most common surnames in Britain have been revealed by researchers at University Of The West Of England. Is your name on the list? They are: Smith, Jones, Williams, Taylor, Davies, Brown, Wilson, Evans, Thomas, Johnson, Roberts, Walker, Wright, Robinson, Thompson, White, Hughes, Edwards, Green, Lewis, Wood, Harris, Marti n, Jackson and Clarke.
8. science news FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
For more pictures and videos, go to fi rstnews.co.uk
A STORY about an inventor who happens to be a sloth has won the Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize 2016.
How Machines Work, an illustrated book by author-illustrator David Macaulay, follows the adventures of Sloth as he tries to outwit his zookeeper with a fantasti cal array of escape att empts – all of them related to engineering. He builds bridges, pulleys and levers as part of his daring escape plans.
The book uses pull-outs and pop-outs to show how these simple mechanics work in real-life situati ons.
The Young People’s Book Prize is judged by schoolchildren and youth groups across the UK. The children judged the winning book from a shortlist of six selected by expert judges. The Royal Society, an organisati on that is based in London, is made up of the world’s top scienti sts.
DID YOU KNOW?
DID YOU KNOW?
CHINESE spacecraft Traveller II took its fi rst fl ight recently with a very special passenger on board: a tortoise! The craft only reached
an alti tude of 12km.
US President Barack Obama has introduced a ban on off shore
drilling for oil in the Arcti c for at least fi ve years. The ban applies to two seas in the Arcti c Ocean
off the coast of Alaska. However, environmentalists are worried
that the next president, Donald Trump, will cancel the ban.
SLOTH WINS PRIZE!
This report is from our friends at the Science Museum, part of the Science Museum Group.
THE plan to tackle climate change, agreed in Paris last year, must not be wrecked by Donald Trump’s presidency.
That’s the verdict of Dr Jonathan Pershing, the American special envoy on climate change.
During the US presidenti al campaign, Trump promised to withdraw America from the deal, reached in 2015 by nati ons from across the world, to limit the global temperature increase to 1.5°C.
Dr Pershing said that he was “confi dent” the deal would go ahead. But others are not so sure. The Swedish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Climate, Isabella Lövin, has said the European Union will have to take a bigger role when it comes to climate change, as a result of Trump’s electi on victory. Lövin said: “It is very, very negati ve” but that “there is a strong politi cal momentum that we should not destroy our planet.”
Mr Trump has called climate change a “hoax” and there are reports that he is looking at quick ways of quitti ng the Paris deal.
Despite the evidence, Mr Trump has said he doesn’t believe in climate change
DEAl in CRISIS?
by Eddie de Oliveira
A RESEARCHER in America hopes that the incredible way cat tongues work could make life a lot easier for humans.
Alexis Noel of the Georgia Insti tute of Technology became curious to learn how the feline tongue can clean so well, aft er sitti ng with her own pet. She found that the tongues are more sophisti cated than we thought.
Noel discovered that the ti ny ‘spines’ on a cat’s tongue are a bit like litt le Velcro hooks. As they glide over fur, these hooks catch tangles and snags. When the tongue hits a snag, it pulls on the hooks, which then rotate to start untangling the fur. Noel says the hook is a “heat-seeking missile for snags” that “allows the cat to bett er tease tangles apart”.
Whereas a human hairbrush collects clumps of hair that need to be removed by hand, the cat’s brush – its tongue – has fl exible spines that make it easier to clean. Noel and her team used a large 3D print of a cat’s tongue and special video equipment to carry out their studies.
It is hoped the research could help scienti sts fi nd ways of developing soft materials in robots to grip surfaces. Noel said: “The fl exibility of cats’ tongue spines may have broad-reaching applicati ons, from an easy-to-clean hairbrush to wound cleaning in medicine.” Noel wants to work on a human hairbrush but, fi rst, she plans to study lion and ti ger tongues!
TONGUE BRUSH
Children take a look at the new gallery in 1931
JUST FOR KIDSON Tuesday 1 December 1931, the Science Museum opened the world’s fi rst nati onal museum gallery dedicated to children.
The legendary TV naturalist Sir David Att enborough told us: “I was one of the fi rst visitors to the original Children’s Gallery, which opened back in 1931, and can sti ll remember the wonderful door that opened before I had even reached it.”
It was a ground-breaking gallery, with butt ons to press that made things move, and it was created by the Science Museum with a mission to “fi re the imaginati on by letti ng children control the miracles of science and make them feel that science is a wonderful thing”.
That remains our mission today, but the way we do it has changed. Our newest interacti ve gallery, Wonderlab: The Statoil Gallery, has live demonstrati ons, experiments and huge exhibits to walk through and on and marvel at. It just goes to show that, nearly 100 years later, science is sti ll amazing people!
Scie
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9. World News FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
OURWORLD
Name: Diba Age: 13 Lives: Bangladesh
DIBA’S family earns a living by picking tea leaves.
They do not feel they can complain or ask for anything from the people who own the land.
Diba’s family used to drink dirty water and go to the toilet in the bush. WaterAid built taps and toilets and taught them about the importance of keeping clean.
Diba said: “It is a lot bett er now. It is much less smelly. People keep clean and get sick less oft en.
“I make sure my nails are short and clean. I wash my hands with soap. I am a member of a youth group sharing what we’ve learnt. I visit homes with my mum and we explain about good hygiene. I show children how to wash their hands.”
CHINAPicky panda problemTwo giant panda twins who were born in the US have been moved to China’s Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. But they’re having a litt le trouble fi tti ng in! Panda sisters Mei Lun and Mei Huan grew up hearing people speak English and were fed mostly American crackers as treats. Now, they fi nd themselves unable to understand any Chinese. They also, apparently, don’t like any Chinese food, so keepers have had to make sure that everything they eat – from bamboo to apples and even water – is mixed with the crackers to keep them happy.
LIBYAMonkey sparks clashesAt least 16 people died and another 50 were wounded in Libya during four days of clashes between rival groups. The fi ghti ng is said to have been sparked by a monkey. Three men reportedly set their pet monkey on a young schoolgirl, who was scratched and bitt en. The girl’s family then went out for revenge and all three men were killed – along with the monkey. It didn’t stop there, as the men belonged to a larger gang who fought back. The batt le conti nued to escalate unti l tanks and missiles were used.
Obama talks TrumpPresident Barack Obama will soon open up on his opinion of President-elect Donald Trump. At his last foreign press conference in Peru, Obama made it clear that, when he’s no longer in offi ce, he’ll be more than willing to share his views on Donald Trump’s choices as president – especially if they questi on “America’s values”. He did, however, state that he feels the world should “wait and see” what Trump does before commenti ng.
USA
ARGENTINAEnd of the world for beavers Tierra del Fuego is a group of islands at the very bott om of Argenti na and nicknamed ‘the end of the world’, due to the stunning views on off er. Sadly, for 100,000 of the beavers that live there, it soon really will be the end of
the world, as they’re being culled to stop them from destroying the fragile ecosystem on the islands.
KUWAITFingerprint foundA team of excavators has discovered a human fi ngerprint on a piece of broken clay, which they reckon is around 7,300 years old! It’s thought the clay, which was found in the Al-Sabiyya area of northern Kuwait, was from a pot. They also found an ancient town, a temple, a cemetery, wells and pott ery. Some scienti sts have said that it’s the oldest fi ngerprint ever, although others aren’t so sure.
AUSTRALIAWorst at climate changeAustralia has been singled out as one of the worst of the world’s developed countries for climate change. The country was ranked the fi ft h-worst country for greenhouse gas emissions and one of the six worst in the G20 when it comes to climate acti on. Australia is one of the largest exporters of coal in the world, and the government has revealed plans to invest even more funds into the coal industry – even though coal has a bad impact on the environment. Studies say that, every year, 3.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are released from coal power plants – the same amount as you’d get by chopping down 161 million trees.
RUSSIAThe rodent burgerRussian foodies have fallen for a rather odd new meal – the rodent burger! Made from the coypu (also known as the nutria), a giant, orange-toothed rodent, the burger is being sold at a number of restaurants that pride themselves on high-quality local ingredients. Apparently, it tastes a bit like a mix of turkey and pork. Would you try a rodent burger?
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10. Subscriptions FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
The gift THEY’ll be talking about all year!
WHAT IS THE FIRST NEWS FACTIVITY BOOK?The exclusive First News Facti vity Book is packed full of acti viti es, puzzles and more for a fun-fi lled festi ve season.
It is the perfect gift for curious minds to open on Christmas Day, featuring quizzes and games the whole family will enjoy.
Presented with a First News Christmas card inside a holographic kaleidoscopic envelope, it’s the perfect start to your Christmas and a subscripti on to First News.
DO you know someone who would enjoy First News delivered to their home every Friday? The First News Christmas gift subscripti on is the perfect soluti on!Order by 16 December 2016 and a presentati on gift set including the First News Facti vity Book will be sent out to wrap up for Christmas Day.
The subscripti on will start from 6 January 2017.
from Just £31.49 for6 months
ORDER NOW and quote code X16NOVP for special offer pricesOnline: www.firstnews.co.uk/christmas By phone: 01795 592 946
11. animal news FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
start birdspottingYOUR class can register now to take part in the RSPB's Big Schools' Birdwatch.
The Big Schools' Birdwatch takes place from 3 January to 17 February and is so easy to take part in. All you have to do is choose an hour slot in the fi rst half of the spring term, record all of the birds you see in your school grounds, then submit your results to the RSPB.
The results go into the world's largest wildlife survey, the Big Garden Birdwatch.
To register, go to ti nyurl.com/RSPBschools.
Secret penguin passageA TOWN in New Zealand has built a special underpass to help a group of teeny blue penguins get to the sea safely.
The 25m tunnel in Otago on the South Island helps the blue penguins (the world's smallest penguin species) travel from their nests to the sea at Oamaru Harbour. It allows them to avoid traffi c, as well as tourists who want to take their pictures.
PRINCE William has visited a school in Vietnam, where he spoke to the pupils about the need to protect rhinos.
The Duke of Cambridge was in the country to att end the Hanoi Conference on the Illegal Wildlife Trade and saw fi rst-hand the work of Humane Society Internati onal. He also heard how the government is inspiring the country's
schoolchildren to protect the animals from poaching. The Prince listened as the pupils at Hong Ha Primary School read from a book called I'm A Litt le Rhino, which aims to educate children about wild rhinos and how using their horns in medicines doesn't work.
The Duke has been campaigning to end the illegal wildlife trade for years and is a patron of conservati on charity Tusk Trust.
12. crazy but true FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
record dayHUNDREDS of people across the world took part in Guinness World Records Day on 17 November. Here are some of the amazing records that were broken: • The UK’s thrill-seeking, bungee-jumping, tea-loving Simon Berry, 24, achieved the ‘Highest Bungee Dunk’ by dipping a chocolate hobnob biscuit in a cup of tea at the full extension of a bungee jump measuring 73.41m (240ft 10in).• The Harlem Globetrott ers in America broke nine new world records! The basketball team now hold the ti tles for ‘The Farthest Basketball Shot Made While Sitti ng,’ ‘The Farthest Basketball Shot Made Under One Leg’ and ‘The Most Basketball Three Pointers In One Minute (Single Ball).’• The world’s ‘Shortest Married Couple’ was revealed. Meet Paulo Gabriel da Silva Barros (aged 31 and 90.28cm tall) and Katyucia Hoshino (aged 28 and 91.13cm tall) from Brazil. • Skipper, a blue and gold macaw from the USA, scooped the ti tle for ‘The Most Rings Placed On A Target By A Parrot In One Minute,’ with 19 rings.
Perfect porti onsTHE world’s most expensive cat food has just gone on sale!
The luxury food for our feline friends features Scotti sh salmon, hand-caught lobster, crab and caviar (a posh delicacy). It’s suitably called the Briti sh Banquet.
So how much is this fi shy feast?! Well, a month’s supply costs nearly £750, which makes a year’s helping around £9,000! That’s some pawfully pricey grub!
Written and illustrated by Paul Palmer
Share your jokes with us at newsdesk@fi rstnews.co.uk
quick chuckles
HA!HA!
record of the weekYoungest female with a full beard
The youngest female with a full beard is Harnaam Kaur, who was aged 24 years 282 days when she was confi rmed to have achieved the feat in Slough, UK, on 7 September 2015.
For info on this record and hundreds more, go to guinnessworldrecords.com
Q: What is a pretzel’sfavourite dance?A: The twist!
Q: What do you call an elephant in a phone box?A: Stuck!
Gui
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ecor
dsTHE world’s largest LEGO store has opened in London, and it’s a treasure trove of amazing models!
With the focus on iconic London features, the store has a huge Big Ben, a life-size underground train carriage, a red telephone box, a mosaic of the city’s skyline and a tube map – all made from thousands of LEGO bricks!
Big Ben is perhaps the most impressive of all. At 6.5 metres tall, it consists of a whopping 344,020 bricks and took six model builders 2,735 hours to make.
But it’s not the model with the most bricks! That ti tle goes to the underground train, which has 637,902 bricks and took 3,399 hours to build. It also features a fi gure of famous playwright William Shakespeare.First News check it out!
LEGO in london
AMAZING!
HA!HA!
13. Mauritius Adverti sement feature FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
MAURITIUS: EXPLORING NATURETHIS week we’re looking at the amazing nature that Mauriti us boasts. For a ti ny island in the Indian Ocean, there are plenty of beauti ful plants and creatures that live in the jungles of Mauriti us.
GIANT TORTOISES
WHAT IS LE MORNE?
SUNNY CHRISTMAS
INSIDE!
THE NATURE OF MAURITIUS
``
Giant tortoisesGiant tortoises are nati ve to some of the Indian
Ocean islands: Mauriti us, the Seychelles and Madagascar. However, since the Dutch sett lers arrived on Mauriti us’ shores 250 years ago, the giant tortoise was hunted to the brink of exti ncti on. The numbers were rapidly reduced because the Dutch sailors had very limited food supplies and resorted to eati ng the animals, which hardly seems like a tasty meal! There are now conservati on eff orts being made in Mauriti us to increase the populati on of giant tortoises in their natural environment.
No nastiesDespite having dense rainforests, Mauriti us is not home to any
dangerous fl ora (plants) or fauna (animals). On land you won’t stumble across any snakes, poisonous plants, or deadly creepy-crawlies, and the coral reef protects swimmers from sharks. It’s no surprise the community in Mauriti us is known for being so happy!
Le morneLe Morne is the square-shaped mountain on the southwesterly
ti p of Mauriti us. In the early 1800s, Le Morne was a secret hiding place for slaves who had been able to run away from the plantati ons they worked on. Because of its historical importance, the mountain is the fi rst World Heritage Site on Mauriti us, and it is seen as a symbol of freedom.
ClimateMauriti us is in the southern hemisphere, which means the seasons are
the opposite of Britain’s – so you could spend Christmas Day on the beach in the sunshine rather than the snow and cold! The climate in Mauriti us is lovely and warm all year round, with cyclone season bringing rain in January and February.
14. Mauritius Adverti sement feature
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place for slaves who had been able to run away from the plantati ons they worked on. Because of its historical importance, the mountain
Climate
THE NATURE OF MAURITIUSThe Black River Gorges
The Black River Gorges is Mauriti us’ biggest and most impressive nati onal park. The park is home to many nati ve species of plants and animals, including monkeys, wild boars, deer and the dodo’s cousin, the pink pigeon. The Black River Gorges Nati onal Park is hugely important to Mauriti us, as many of the species that live here cannot be found anywhere else in the world.
Mauriti us has been ranked by the Internati onal Union for Conservati on of Nature (IUCN) as having the third most endangered fl ora in the world, so Mauriti us conserves the park to make sure that the rainforest is protected.
14. Mauritius Adverti sement feature FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016 15.
DID YOU KNOW?
Mauriti us is home to giant lily pads that can grow to three
metres in diameter – that’s the same size as a smart car!
Brought to you by Mauriti us Tourism Promoti on Authority
16. Mauritius Adverti sement feature FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
WIN A DREAM HOLIDAY
to MAURITIUSWE’VE teamed up with Thomas Cook who are giving away an amazing family holiday to the island of Mauriti us. Enter today for a chance to win!
How to enterTo enter this amazing competi ti on, all you
need to do is ask a parent or guardian to visit www.thomascook.com/campaigns/mauriti us and enter their details to be in with a chance of winning!
The closing date is 6 January 2017.
The prizeThe winning family will get to experience the
magic and beauty of Mauriti us, with a ten-night stay at The Ravenala Atti tude! The prize includes accommodati on and fl ights for a family of four (two adults and two children). You’ll fl y out from London to Mauriti us with Air Mauriti us, take a transfer to your hotel and enjoy a fabulous acti on-packed holiday complete with tons of sun, sand and sea. There’ll be loads of acti viti es to make your stay an unforgett able adventure!
Terms and conditi ons: The prize draw is aimed at families. The prize draw runs from 25 November 2016 to 6 January 2017 (entries to be received by 1800hrs). Winner will be selected at random from all entries received. Full prize draw rules, terms and conditi ons and prize details can be viewed at www.thomascook.com/campaigns/mauriti us. Promoter is Thomas Cook Tour Operati ons Ltd, ABTA V6896, ATOL 1179.
17. behind the scenes FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
a day in the life of... a disney animator
FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
AMY Smeed is one of the two heads of animati on on Disney’s magical new movie, Moana, which hits cinemas on 2 December. Adam Tanswell steps into Amy’s shoes to fi nd out exactly what it’s like to spend a day in her life at Walt Disney Animati on Studios in California…
“I’ve been working on Moana for about two years,” says Amy. “I work very closely with the movie’s two directors, Ron Clements and John Musker, who are Disney icons. They’ve directed many Disney fi lms, including Aladdin, The Litt le Mermaid, The Princess And The Frog, and Hercules. Ron and John started out as animators at Disney. It’s very entertaining to work with them!”
“At the start of my day, I spend a couple of hours doing something called the rounds,” says Amy. “That’s where I go to an animator’s desk to look at the piece of animati on they are working on. As one of two heads of animati on on Moana, I was brought on to the movie about a year before animati on began. At that point, it’s our job to get all the characters up and running. Then, once the animati on starts, we’ll also work with the 90 animators on the movie to help get everything completed.”
“At midday, I take a break for lunch. We try to sit outside because it’s always nice and sunny in California. During lunch, a lot of the animators will have a game of pool or they’ll play table football to get away from their desk for a while.”
“At 4pm, it’s ti me for the dailies. That’s where the animators show their scenes to the movie’s directors, Ron and John – and it’s a lot of fun. This is Ron and John’s ti me to let us know what they’re looking for in the performance of the characters and to make sure we’re all on track.”
“I love my job,” says Amy. “In a movie like Moana, there are 24 frames per second of animati on, which means there are 24 pictures for every second of the movie. In total, each animator may only work on one minute of animati on in the fi nished fi lm – that’s how long it takes! Every week, we try to animate around three seconds of footage. It’s a ti me-consuming process, but it’s super-fun and challenging.”
“Have you noti ced the mirror on my desk? That’s there to help me animate. If I need to animate an angry face, I’ll pull an angry expression and see how my face looks in the mirror and I’ll use that for inspirati on in my animati on. If I need a sad face, I’ll pull a sad expression and take a peek in the mirror. Some animators fi lm themselves acti ng out a scene to help them animate, too!”
“I work mostly on the character of Moana, who is the lead in the movie,” says Amy. “Moana is a very brave and courageous 16-year-old girl who sets off on a crazy adventure. Moana doesn’t know much about sailing, but she sails out into the deep ocean to fi nd a character named Maui, who is voiced by The Rock. I can’t wait for everyone to be able to see the movie!”
18. entertainment FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
THE Big Friendly Giant himself, actor Mark Rylance, told us all about The BFG’s movie magic and wishing he had bigger ears!
THE BFG fi rst appeared in Roald Dahl’s book Danny, The Champion Of The World. He was a character in a bedti me story that Danny’s father told him.
DID YOU KNOW?
TWELVE-year-old Hayden Rolence is the voice of Nemo in Finding Dory.
How did you get the role of Nemo?Well, Pixar sent out a request for someone to be the new voice of Nemo, so I practi sed and practi sed and practi sed. I watched the movie over and over again. And I must have done prett y well, because they sent me a second script that wasn’t lines from the fi rst movie. That was a litt le bit harder, because I couldn’t just copy what Nemo said earlier. So I had to practi se a lot more.
Are you anything like Nemo?I can’t say it for myself, but I think I’m prett y nice!
What does Nemo get up to in Finding Dory?Well, Finding Dory takes place about a year aft er Finding Nemo, aft er the gang of Dory, Marlin and Nemo go back and start building a life in the reef. Then Dory starts fi guring out that she has a family that she wants to go and look for. Nemo’s right there as she says it and asks his dad if he can go. Marlin doesn’t know, but Nemo convinces him and he goes on an adventure.
If you could be a marine animal for a day, which one would you be?I love all marine life, but I think I would want to be a shark, because then I wouldn’t get eaten by anything!
Finding Dory is out on DVD and Blu-ray on 28 November.
HAYDEN ROLENCE
BIG FUN
Is it strange to see your facial features used in the giant in the movie?
The eyes and the mouth are the only thing that you recognise. I found it easier than most ti mes I fi rst watch myself in a fi lm, as I oft en criti cise my facial expressions and what I do. So it was quite nice to have all of that stuff removed and just to see it. It was like a very good make-up job. A very expensive make-up job!
What’s the biggest diff erence between you and the BFG?
It’s quite diffi cult to get ears that are expressive! I mean, imagine how diff erent a human would be if we had ears that were expressive like a dog’s! We have eyebrows and we can do diff erent things with our faces, but generally our ears… they get red, don’t they? But to have ears that droop, it would be an amazing additi on.
So you can’t fl ap your ears on command?
No, I can’t. I’m thinking of ear enhancement, though! It might help improve my acti ng. Why are we not getti ng big ears?
How did it work fi lming with Ruby (who plays Sophie), in terms of the size diff erence between Sophie and the BFG?
In my set she would be kneeling and I’d have a puppet. If she then tried to run away, say, Steven [Spielberg, the director] would have a tennis ball on a sti ck and he would move the tennis ball where she was, and I would look at that for her. And then I might say: “Come on Sophie, you get over here. Come on, get on my hand.” I’d lift her up, put her in my pocket and walk away. The next day we’d go into a room where the table was much bigger than this room and the props were huge. I was on a tower maybe 12m up, looking down to her and a big hydraulic blue hand would come in. She’d have to have safety stuff on because there would be a drop. That hand would then lift her at exactly the same pace onto a big hydraulic version of me, and the computer would tell the hydraulics to move that thing exactly as my body had moved. The computer technology of it was incredible.
Why are human beings bett er than giants?
I don’t think they’re bett er than giants, “because they’re dropping bombs on each other all the ti me”. Some lines I felt rather sad they got cut. Sophie had this odd litt le speech about how nasty the giants are. That puts it in perspecti ve. The giants never eat each other or beat each other up or kill each other. Maybe I’ll ask Steven to put that back in.
The BFG is out now on Digital Download, Blu-ray and DVD
Five minutes
with
19. entertainment FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
This week...1 The trailer for Disney’s Beauty And The Beast was
viewed a record-breaking 127.6 million ti mes in the fi rst 24 hours aft er it went online. The fi lm itself won’t be released unti l March.
2 Liked Fantasti c Beasts And Where To Find Them? Then you’ll love ITV’s new show, which goes behind
the scenes on the movie. Fantasti c Beasts And JK Rowling’s Wizarding World sees actor Warwick Davis chatti ng to Eddie Redmayne (Newt Scamander) on the fi lm’s set and catching up with JK Rowling in New York. Tune in on Saturday 26 November at 4.30pm on ITV.
3 Justi n Bieber had a litt le cry while performing on stage in Germany. The singer appeared to shed a tear while
singing Purpose, the ti tle track of his new album.
4 Actor Leonardo DiCaprio visited a very special restaurant in Edinburgh when he was in town to speak at a business awards ceremony. The Hollywood star ate at Home, a restaurant that helps the homeless.
5 Alesha Dixon has revealed that she will be hosti ng a brand-new show on ITV called Dance Dance Dance. The show will see celebriti es team up with a partner of their choice to recreate legendary dance routi nes, from Beyoncé’s
Crazy In Love to Britney’s Baby One More Time. Ashley Banjo will also be on the show, as one of the judges.
EDDIE Redmayne has revealed that he suff ered some very magical injuries during fi lming for Fantasti c Beasts And Where To Find Them.
The actor confessed that aft er the movie’s duel scenes, he and other cast members suff ered from “wand wrist” and “wizard elbow”!
Wizarding worries
who are The Tide?FIVE things you need to know about the new US pop foursome…
The Tide are Austi n Corini (lead vocals and guitar), Drew Dirksen (lead guitar and backing vocals), Levi Jones (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Nate Parker (drums and backing vocals).
The band are from LA and Ohio, and are signed to The Vamps’ record label.
Austi n was once on The X Factor in America, where judge Britney said he was “adorable”. He made it to Simon’s house but didn’t get through to the live shows.
The band toured with The Vamps on their Wake Up world tour.
Their debut EP, Click My Fingers, is out now.
the voice for kidsITV have revealed that Pixie Lott and Danny McFly will be joining will.i.am as judges on The Voice Kids.
The show is open to solo singers aged between 7-14, and blind auditi ons will kick off next month.
The Voice Kids will air aft er the new series of The Voice UK, which starts on ITV in January.
Gett
y
have revealed that Pixie Lott and Danny McFly The Voice Kids.
The show is open to solo singers aged between 7-14, and
The Voice UK,
20. Game zone by Aaron Henderson
POKÉMON GO has scooped two awards at the 34th Golden Joysti ck Awards!
Winning both the Handheld/Mobile Game of the Year and Innovati on of the Year awards, Pokémon GO was described as a “global phenomenon”. With well over 100 million downloads, there’s no doubt the game took the world by storm this year! It beat off some prett y tough competi ti on too, including all the virtual reality headsets that were launched, like the HTC Vive, Oculus Rift and PSVR.
This year’s Golden Joysti ck Lifeti me Achievement Award went to Eiji Aonuma, the man behind The Legend Of Zelda.
Picking up the Breakthrough Award was the fun farming game, Stardew Valley (pictured below).
fi rstnews.co.uk/competi ti ons or see page 23. The closing date is 24 November 2016.
FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
Competition Advertisement feature
PORTAVENTURA World is a unique holiday desti nati on with three theme parks for the whole family. PortAventura Park, Caribe Aquati c Park and Ferrari Land (opening in 2017) together off er fi ve exclusive themed hotels, four 4-star and one 5-star.
The lucky First News Junior Travel Reporter will win a holiday for up to four people to PortAventura World, complete with return fl ights from London Stansted, accommodati on and free ti ckets to PortAventura Park and Ferrari Land (grand opening in 2017).
All you have to do is answer this questi on:
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In which area of PortAventura Park can you � nd the rollercoaster Dragon Khan?a) China b) Mediterrània c) Far West
FOR MORE INFO, VISIT PORTAVENTURAWORLD.COM/EN
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your answer, with the ti tle HOLIDAY, to our address
on page 23.
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big wins at the...
SKYLANDERS: Imaginators is a Skylanders game that fi nally lets you make your own character – but are the updates to the long-running series any good? Game reviewers Roberta McMillan and Kit Johnston tell all.
“Unlike the other Skylanders games, you can design and upgrade your own characters using special chests, which are won by completi ng quests and tasks set by the original Skylanders. These chests can contain four diff erent types of items, ranging from common to ulti mate, which power up your created character. There are also special sets of items that really boost your character. Customise carefully, since it can change the gameplay a lot – the bigger your character, the less you can see! One of the best bits of the game is that you can customise the characters’ sayings, mixing and matching them to create funny catchphrases. Overall, the game has some amazing and hilarious features and some fl aws, but is defi nitely worth trying out and putti ng on your Christmas or birthday list!”
SKYLANDERS: IMAGINATORS (PS4, XBOX ONE, WII U, PS3, 360) 8
PLUS:Live music, campfire singalongs, 2 full circus shows, arena
programmed with jousting tournaments, motorcycle displays and theShetland Pony Grand National...
F E S T I V A L 2 0 1 7
ARLEY HALL 27/28/29TH MAY
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ARCHERY • MOBILE GAMING BUS WITH VIRTUAL REALITY
10 ACTIVITIES YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS AT GERONIMO:
Please note the age restrictions on social media sites.
21. Subscriptions FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016 T
he P
rofessors of Hogw
arts
2 nd Februar y 2017
OUTNOW
TEACHERS! LIBRARIANS! Get ready for a magical night …Register for a printed event kit before 30th November at harrypotterbooknight.com
and get ready to share the magic on 2nd February 2017!#HarryPotterBookNight
Go on a magical adventure this Christmas
Visit harrypotter.bloomsbury.com for trailers, games, competitions and more!
Go on a magical adventure this Christmas Go on a magical adventure this Christmas Go on a magical adventure this Christmas with the Harry Potter Illustrated Editions
Past Times: The War Collection is the perfect gift for inquisitive mindsHelp your children explore history with this special collecti on.
Past Times delves into what life was like during signifi cant moments in history, using news stories to explain events as they happened.
This collecti on includes all three of the Past Times special newspapers: Past Times: WW1 (We Are At War); Past Times: World War II (This Country Is At War With Germany); and World War II – Britain At War.
Past Times delves into what life was like during signifi cant moments in history, using news stories to explain Past Times delves into what life was like during signifi cant moments in history, using news stories to explain
ORDER NOW AT:live.fi rstnews.co.uk/PTcollecti on
22. puzzle time FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
CAN you complete our sudoku and fi ll in the numbers one to nine? Send in your answers and two lucky winners will each win a Teksta Newborn Kitt y from Character. Newborn Teksta Kitt y is an adorable lifelike roboti c kitt en that responds to your voice and physical gestures, as well as lights and sounds. Your devoted companion responds to cutti ng-edge hand gesture technology, so you can command Newborn Teksta Kitt y to sit, walk and beg.
win!
2 7 8 58 1 2 4
4 5 8 7 1 93 8 4
8 2 3 55 2 6
7 8 6 3 5 29 2 8 33 4 6 7
Teksta Newborn Kitty
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8
9
10 11
12
13 14
15 16
17
Across1 - Marks such as full stops (11)
6 - Move upwards (4)
8 - Opposite of fast (4)
9 - Ancient object (7)
10 - Move slowly (5)
11 - Play (5)
13 - Go back from a dangerous position (7)
15 - Sour; sharp-tasting (4)
16 - Part of the earth not covered in water (4)
17 - Power that flows from a battery (11)
Down1 - Take part (11)
2 - Space agency (4)
3 - Up to the time when (5)
4 - Inactive or doing nothing (4)
5 - The 1st of January (3,5,3)
7 - Went inside (7)
8 - Strange or bizarre (7)
12 - A mistake (5)
13 - Ready to eat (of fruit) (4)
14 - Form of transport you hire (4)
The lodge cdwin!CAN you complete our prize
crossword? Send in your answers and five lucky winners will each win music from the Disney Channel series The Lodge on CD. The soundtrack includes 15 songs from the series plus bonus tracks, If You Only Knew and Believe That.
Newborn Kitt y from Character. Newborn Teksta
companion responds to cutti ng-edge hand gesture technology, so you can command Newborn Teksta Kitt y to sit, walk and beg.
Teksta Newborn
win! FAmily tickets to see Mr Popper’s Penguins
BE the fi rst to see Mr and Mrs Popper and their amazing family of performing penguin puppets, as they make their West End debut at the Criterion this Christmas – direct from a UK tour and New York City season!
A painter and decorator by day, Mr Popper spends his ti me dreaming of Antarcti c adventures. He is astounded when, one day, a packing crate arrives on his doorstep, out of which waddles a penguin! Mayhem, music and fun ensue.
This delightf ul musical adaptati on of Richard and Florence Atwater’s book (also made into a Hollywood fi lm starring Jim Carrey) is brought to you by the producers of the Olivier Award-nominated Hett y Feather.
Mr Popper’s Penguins will be at the Criterion Theatre for a limited period only from 15 to 31 December 2016! To be in with a chance of winning one of fi ve family ti ckets (two adults, two children), just answer this questi on:
Which of these is a type of penguin?
a) Rockstepper b) Rockhopper c) Rockjumper
To book your ti ckets and for more informati on, please visit MrPoppersPenguinsLive.com
ENTER NOW! MARK YOUR ENTRY PENGUINfi rstnews.co.uk/competi ti ons or see page 23. The closing date is 8 December 2016
SEE if you can get from the top of the ladder to the bott om by changing one lett er at a ti me to make a new word.
word ladder
RUNS
DASH
Across1 Marks such as full stops (11) 6 Move upwards (4)8 Opposite of fast (4)9 Ancient object (7)10 Move slowly (5)11 Play (5)13 Go back from a dangerous positi on (7) 15 Sour; sharp-tasti ng (4)16 Part of the Earth not covered in water (4)
17 Power that fl ows from a batt ery (11)
Down1 Take part (11)2 Space agency (4)3 Up to the ti me when (5)4 Inacti ve or doing nothing (4)5 The fi rst of January (3,5,3)7 Went inside (7)8 Strange or bizarre (7)12 A mistake (5)13 Ready to eat (of fruit) (4)14 Form of transport you hire (4)
23. puzzle time
Crossword
HOW TOENTER:
Send your fi nished puzzles to Puzzles 545, First News, First Floor, 58 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0AS. The closing date for puzzle entries is Thursday 1 December 2016.
COMPETITIONS: You can enter First News competi ti ons in one of two ways. 1. Go to fi rstnews.co.uk/competi ti ons and follow the instructi ons. 2. Write to us at ‘competi ti on name’ (e.g. Holiday), First News, First fl oor, 58 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0AS. Please note: First News will not share your personal details with third parti es. First News will only use your details to contact the competi ti on winners. First News competi ti ons are open to those aged 17-and-under and residents of the UK & Republic of Ireland, except employees of First News, First News (UK) Ltd, Trinity Mirror and any associated companies and their families. Winners will be the fi rst correct entries drawn aft er the closing dates. No purchase necessary. No responsibility can be accepted for entries that have been lost or damaged in transit. First News will not enter into any correspondence. All winners will be noti fi ed accordingly and their names and addresses will be available on request. No cash alternati ve for any prizes will be off ered. The winner may be required to partake in media acti vity relati ng to the competi ti on.
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS:Spot the Diff erence: tatt oo is missing, tree has been removed, hand is bigger, handle has changed, mouth has disappeared.
CAN you spot the fi ve changes we’ve made to this picture from Dr Strange? Four lucky winners will each win an Oddbods 30mm collectable fi gurine set. Can’t wait to get hold of your favourite Oddbods characters? The 30mm fi gurine set featuring Bubbles, Fuse, Jeff , Newt, Pogo, Slick and Zee is perfect for fans! Each character has a unique facial expression to match their disti ncti ve personality. www.goldenbeartoys.com
win! oddball figures
A
win! win!Christmas 2016 special stamp sets
a TV and THe Angry Birds Movie on Blu-ray
ENTER NOW! MARK YOUR ENTRY BIRDSfi rstnews.co.uk/competi ti ons or see below. The closing date is 8 December 2016
HAVE a jolly Christmas with the Angry Birds! The hit animated comedy, The Angry Birds Movie, is the perfect fi lm for all the family over the festi ve holiday.
Based on the most downloaded app of all ti me, the fun-fi lled fi lm takes us to an island populated enti rely by happy, fl ightless birds. In this paradise, hot-headed Red, speedy Chuck and the volati le Bomb have always been outsiders.
But, when the island is visited by mysterious green piggies, it’s up to these unlikely outcasts to fi gure out what the pigs are up to in order to save their home.
One lucky winner will win a 32-inch TV and a Blu-ray of the fi lm. Four runners-up will each get a copy of The Angry Birds Movie on Blu-ray. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this questi on:
Which Angry Bird is yellow?
a) Bomb b) Chuck c) Hal
The Angry Birds Movie is out now on Digital, 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray 3D, Steelbook, Blu-ray and DVD.
ROYAL Mail have released the images of its Christmas 2016 Special Stamps.
The six stamps celebrate some of the best-loved traditi ons of a UK Christmas – decorati ng the Christmas tree, making a snowman, hanging out a stocking, eati ng a Christmas pudding and lighti ng a Christmas lantern. Also featured is a robin redbreast, which has a stong connecti on to Royal Mail and is associated with sending and receiving cards and messages. Its appearance on cards was inspired by the red coats worn by postmen in Victorian ti mes, who were known as redbreasts.
The traditi on of sending Christmas cards was established in 1843, with the introducti on of the world’s fi rst commercially produced Christmas cards. The cards were commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, who just three years earlier had played a key role in helping to introduce Royal Mail’s Penny Post service.
We have 15 Christmas 2016 Stamp sets up for grabs. To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this questi on:
ENTER NOW! MARK YOUR ENTRY CHRISTMASfi rstnews.co.uk/competi ti ons or see below. The closing date is 8 December 2016
What colour coats did postmen wear in Victorian ti mes?
a) blue b) green c) red
B
24. focus on yoU FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
Feeling bored, lonely or fed up
A good ti p if you really are lonely or bored and can’t do much about it, is to just accept it and make the most of it! This may sound crazy, but what about that room that you’ve been meaning to ti dy? You could go through the things in your drawers and closet and make piles to keep and piles to give to your favourite charity shop. Then you could sit back in comfort and read a book, listen to music or just have some chill-out ti me.
If you don’t have your own space, you can sti ll fi nd ways to enjoy your own company. Your local library is always a good place to start. They usually have an informati on secti on where you can see what’s going on, and don’t forget that the librarian can be a very useful person for knowing what’s happening! What about fi nding that book you’ve been meaning to read? Again, if you don’t read much, or are stuck, you can ask your
librarian for suggesti ons or ask someone
your age what they like – that’s a great way to start a conversati on with someone.
Are there any acti viti es in your local paper? Even if you go to watch your local sports team play, you’ll be with other people and won’t feel so alone. And what about volunteering? This is such a good way to get yourself out and about and meet new people while you’re doing something for charity. Doing things that can help others feel good is one of the best ways to make you feel good!
A Childline counsellor said: “It’s normal to feel fed up or bored at diff erent ti mes in your life, and you can feel like this even when there are people around you.
Someti mes it can be hard to know what to do to change things. Talking to a Childline counsellor could help you think about what you’d like things to be like and to take steps to move forwards and feel less fed up.”
Writt en by NSPCC Ambassador, Ruby.
EVERYONE feels bored, lonely or fed up someti mes, but there are things you can do to help yourself get out of this mood.
I’m Esther Rantzen, President of Childline, which helps 2,500 children every week. If you ever need to talk, you can visit www.childline.org.uk or call them on 0800 11 11.
What I doI am the Head of Wardrobe for First Family Entertainment. That
means I’m responsible for all things involving the costumes for pantomimes and performances.
How I got my jobI applied to a job advert, then I had an interview and showed a portf olio
of my work.
What I love about my jobI love its variati on. One day I can be
doing costume fi tti ngs and designing costumes, the next I can be on press launches in some lovely locati ons around the UK, like the London Eye or Nati onal Trust properti es. However, I can also be washing wigs and sweaty ti ghts some days! Every day is diff erent. I like designing specialty costumes and seeing them brought to life by our very talented costume makers. The talented people I work with make it fun and incredibly creati ve.
What is diffi cult about my jobThe logisti cs of organising makers
and fi tti ngs with busy actors that live in diff erent parts of the country can be hard. The hours can be long and you’re oft en away from home, too.
What skills I needPati ence, organisati onal skills,
creati vity, the ability to think on your feet and a sense of humour!
Where to startI’ve always had an interest in
costume – I did texti les at GCSE and then theatre studies and texti les at A level. From there, I did a degree in costume. I was lucky enough to get a job in repertory theatre and worked my way up to Supervisor. I was willing to travel, work long hours and work hard. But work experience is key. See if you can help out in your local theatre, get some contacts and keep your ears open for diff erent things.
First Family Entertainment have amazing pantomimes on all over the country. Visit www.ff e-uk.com/current-season.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
CHANCES are, most of you will have heard that questi on at home, in class or in the playground. In First News’ Just The Job, you will meet lots of diff erent people with lots of diff erent jobs!
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Emma WaughHead of Wardrobe
25. your news FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
I met Tim Peake
Walking TourI was told we would get to see some of
the places where the movies were fi lmed, and where JK Rowling got her inspirati on from for some of the places in the books.
I found out that the scene of the bridge collapsing in The Half Blood Prince was just a computer eff ect. Amazing!
We met our lovely tour guide, Hazel, outside the London Bridge Post Offi ce.
If you do get a chance to go on this tour, you must look out for the dragons and the phoenix.
The dragons are everywhere: on
lampposts and in shopping squares. The phoenix, the inspirati on behind The Order Of The Phoenix, was sitti ng on the top of St Paul’s Cathedral.
If you’re a true Harry Pott er fan, you will know that a phoenix turns into ash when it dies and then rebirths!
One of my favourite parts was when we walked across the Millennium Bridge, as the views of London were excepti onal.
I am now looking forward to my next Harry Pott er trip to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour for my birthday!
Rollercoaster winner
ON an autumn Sunday morning, I set off on the train to London Bridge with my dad, to tour some of the fi lming locati ons for the Harry Pott er movies.
by Kati e Abram
by Matt Zhao, Eaton House Belgravia
I WON a competi ti on to go to the Principia Schools Conference at the University of York. I got to meet Tim Peake, the brave Briti sh astronaut.
SCHOOLNEWS
juniorjournalist
juniorjournalist
Thanks to supporti ng partners BFI, Briti sh Library, IntoFilm, Turner Contemporary, PopJam and V&A Museum of Childhood
OUR Lives: Growing Up Today is a project to create a snapshot in ti me of life as a young person in the UK in 2016 – as told by you!
First News is working with the Children’s Commissioner to create this unique record of our young people.
We want YOU to put the record straight and say what’s really going on in your lives. This week we want you to make a video selfi e and fi nish the following sentence:
“The most important person in my life is…because…”
Watch the Our Lives fi lm at live.fi rstnews.co.uk/ourlives and take part yourself! You’ll fi nd a link there for your teachers with a step-by-step guide to run the challenge in your school, with resources available for them to explore the issues that matt er most to you. If your school isn’t taking part, you can sti ll join in by drawing your answer and submitti ng it via ‘FirstNews’ on PopJam.
Tim opened the conference with a speech. He told us about his trip to the Internati onal Space Stati on (ISS) and back.
Did you know that when Tim’s rocket, the Soyuz, was launched, the astronauts on board couldn’t hear the countdown? They had to look at their watches to know when to blast off .
Then I met Tim. He asked me what I did to win the competi ti on. I told him I wrote a story about me and him going into space.
I asked him if there were any books to read while on the ISS. He said that there was an atlas and some other books. Aft er that, we had a photo together.
Finally, I read my story, My Trip To The Moon, to Tim. What a brilliant and inspiring day!
My design was based on a dragonfl y and was picked by Mark Rose, a rollercoaster designer and engineer at Busch Gardens in Florida. I was lucky enough to meet him this summer when I went to America on holiday with my family. He shared some great ti ps on designing theme park rides. I’d love to do this as my job one day. He told me a ride should be smooth and make you want to ride again, just like Falcon’s Fury, a 102m-high drop tower that makes you feel like you’re skydiving.
Cobra’s Curse opened this summer and is a brand-new ride. I was lucky enough to ride it with Mark, who helped design it. It’s an amazing spin coaster with a verti cal lift , which was my favourite part. There’s nothing like it in the UK.
Meeti ng Mark Rose is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done because he’s experienced and talented at theme park design. This was my fi rst trip to Busch Gardens and I can’t wait to go back!
I WON a First News competi ti on to design a rollercoaster.
Mark and Lars checking out First News
by Lars van de Crommert
Ride testi ngRide testi ng
Meeti ng Tim Peake
26. TOP TOYS FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
FOR the last two weeks, visitors to the First News website have been voti ng for their favourite toys. The results are in, so see if you agree with their choices!
TOP TEN TOYS as voted for by you
6 7 10
2 3 4 5
Whether you’re riding around your neighbourhood or cruising to a friend’s place, Hovertrax 2.0 off ers the performance and manoeuvrability you need to make every ride a blast!
This litt le pup is mischievous and silly, and plays tug-of-war, but when it’s bedti me Georgie is ready to snuggle. Georgie responds to 12 voice commands and has over 100 unique acti ons. Watch him dance, then make him sit and stay. He can even give you a high fi ve! Complete with rope toy, neck bandanna and puppy training guide, Georgie is one smart pup!
Each supercar is a self-aware robot, driven by powerful arti fi cial intelligence and equipped with deadly strategy. Whatever track you build, they’ll learn it. Wherever you drive, they’ll hunt you down. The bett er you play, the bett er they become. And with conti nuous soft ware updates, the gameplay always stays fresh.
The UK’s top-selling electric scooter gets even bett er!
Power up your ride with
this high-performance
electric scooter. With increased ride ti me, you get up to 60 minutes of conti nuous use on a single charge. Thanks to the Power Core in-hub motor, this model promises bett er accelerati on and a higher top speed. Perfect for thrill-seekers!
The Teksta Puppy understands your voice commands and even reacts to hand gestures. What’s more, he loves to play with his favourite ball and will even gnaw on his bone. Watch your pup’s ears and head move as he barks and plays. Want your litt le dog to do more tricks? Simply use your iPad or Android tablet and turn your Teksta pup into the next Pudsy.
Guinness World Records 2017 is bursti ng with all-new records on topics as diverse as black holes and killer plants. Want to know the highest anyone has travelled on a skateboard, or the largest loop-the-loop completed in a car? Dying to know just how many tricks a cat can do in one minute? The answers to these questi ons and so much more are right inside.
This board game is a game of nerves, as two players batt le it out at the same ti me, placing their heads in the two frames and loading the arm with whipped cream or the included sponge. When the arm gets close to one of the opponents, it will spring up and that player will get splatt ed in the face. The lucky player who doesn’t get ‘pie-faced’ wins the game, ready to take on another opponent.
Cool Create IDO3D Verti cal Deluxe Design Studio lets you take art to the next level and bring it to life! Draw in 3D and create amazing multi colour 3D masterpieces! Draw, set and connect using the UV light included; you can even draw in the air! Design like a pro with the 3D templates and accessories included, or let your imaginati on run free.
Meet the Furby Connect, your companion and friend! The Furby Connect features a light-up antenna that glows when there’s something new to discover in the Furby Connect World app, including music and videos. This Furby Connect friend has lots to say! Even when Furby speaks in Furbish, it’s not hard to fi gure out what Furby means. It has colourful eyes that display more than 150 animati ons to help express what Furby wants.
Head through the turnsti les to the amusement park and stand in line for the rollercoaster. Sit in the front seat to switch on the light brick! Take a ride on the Ferris wheel or the drop tower, pull down your safety bar and go spinning down to the ground. There are photos to buy and share with friends. You won’t want your day to end!
Teksta Voice Recognition Puppy thetoyshop.com £39.99
Razor Power Core E100S Electric Scooter
Argos £179.99
Guinness World Records
2017 Book Waterstones
£10.00
8 9
1
The UK’s top-
Power up your ride with
27. Family Fun FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
FirstNews QuizHAVE a go at our First News Challenge! Why not set yourself and your friends or family a ti me challenge and see First News Challenge! Why not set yourself and your friends or family a ti me challenge and see First Newswho can get the highest score in the quickest ti me? Good luck! See how well you did by using the answers at the bott om.
1 What’s the name of the dinosaur heading off on a tour of the UK?
2 What is the world’s smallest penguin species?
3 Which character does Hayden Rolence voice in Finding Dory?
5 How many rooms does Buckingham Palace have?
6 How many LEGO bricks were used to create the underground train at the new LEGO shop in London?
7 Which football club does Alex Iwobi play for?
8 Who was named the Arti st Of The Year at this year’s American Music Awards?
1) Dippy 2) blue penguins 3) Nemo 4) Northern Ireland 5) 775 6) 637,902 bricks 7) Arsenal 8) Ariana Grande
4 According to a new study, which region is the happiest in the UK?
Challenge! Why not set yourself and your friends or family a ti me challenge and see who can get the highest score in the quickest ti me? Good luck! See how well you did by using the answers at the bott om.
Which character does 4 According to a new study,
who can get the highest score in the quickest ti me? Good luck! See how well you did by using the answers at the bott om.
WHAT HAVE WE
LEARNED THIS WEEK?
GIANT COLOURING SHEETSHOP.UNICEF.ORG.UK £6.95There’s hours of fun to be had with this giant colouring sheet. The sheet outlines a child-friendly city where every child has a chance to explore and discover. Perfect for colouring alone or with others. Each item purchased from UNICEF Market will
benefi t UNICEF’s programmes, which provide life-saving nutriti on, medicine, educati on, clean water and emergency relief to children in danger.
PLANT AN ALLOTMENT OXFAM.ORG.UK £24.00Your Oxfam allotment gift could be a lifeline for families who are struggling to get by. Oxfam provides access to the tools, seeds and training to help make a litt le bit of land more producti ve. Once the plot is up and running, it can provide a family with food and income.
What’s in the shops?
Book ReviewSARAH CROSSAN – Apple And Rain, reviewed by Cherish Amadi, 13 years old.
Apple And Rain is a novel about a girl named Apple, and how her life completely changes when her mum returns aft er 11 years away. I especially like how Apple’s character develops over the course of the book. I would recommend this book because it’s a good read and the writer, Sarah Crossan, makes you feel as though you’re immersed in Apple’s world. She never fails to leave any detail out and there’s never a dull moment.
A MINI LIBRARY MUSTHAVEGIFTS.ORG £26.00Help more children to experience the magic of story ti me by giving a children’s mini library. This gift from World Vision will allow children to read and share stories within a safe and fun environment.
To read Lari’s full interview, visit wordsforlife.org.uk/author-interviews For book recommendati ons, acti viti es and games, go to wordsforlife.org.uk
Wordsfor lifeLARI Don is a children’s writer and storyteller, inspired by myths and folklore. Her collecti on of horse legends, Horse Of Fire, has just been published by Bloomsbury. Here Lari tells us what storybook character she would be:
“A dragon, soaring high above the world, watching all the stories happening below.”
28. sport FirstNews Issue 545 25 November – 1 December 2016
28 athletes in total – 16 from the Beijing 2008 Olympics and 12 from London 2012 – have been punished for doping (using banned drugs to cheat) aft er their samples were re-tested. Many of them won medals, including Russian weightlift er Aleksandr Ivanov (below), who won silver at London 2012. His medal was taken away aft er he tested positi ve.
Play
Stati
on
FIRST News spoke exclusively with 20-year-old Arsenal midfi elder Alex Iwobi, who has recently broken into the fi rst team and become a regular with the Nigeria nati onal side. We spoke with Alex at a PlayStati on Schools’ Cup event. Now in its fourth season, the cup is the biggest grassroots football tournament in the country, with more than 150,000 secondary school boys and girls involved.
In the last year you’ve become a regular for club and country. How are you enjoying it so far?It’s been really fast. I wouldn’t say I’m getti ng used to it, because something crazy always happens the next day! I’m just going with the fl ow and enjoying it.
You joined Arsenal at the age of seven. What was it like playing for such a huge club? Was it scary? No, not at all. I was just enjoying football and playing for the fun of it. I was playing in a match for my Sunday league team and an Arsenal scout came and spott ed me. I used to run everywhere in those days; take the goal kicks, the free kicks, the corners – everything. I used to play and enjoy my football. I loved the game, did anything, and never got ti red. I expressed myself in every way I could.
Arsène Wenger, your manager at Arsenal, is a legendary coach. Is it daunti ng playing for him?Arsène prepared me for the big ti me very well. He spoke to me a lot [before my debut]. He said: “Just play as if you’re playing for the under-21s”. Before I even played in the fi rst team I was training with them, so I was slowly adapti ng. I remember well when I fi rst went to training as a fi rst-year scholar. The more you train, the more you realise the senior players are just like you. Once I broke that barrier, everyone was the same. In my debut against Sheffi eld Wednesday, I wasn’t phased by it because I’d been playing with quality players for some ti me.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far?There are a few. For Arsenal it would defi nitely be starti ng against Barcelona, the best team in the world, in my opinion. That’s something I didn’t expect. Internati onally, I scored my fi rst goal for Nigeria on my debut, so that’s another highlight.
What was it like playing against Barcelona? Could you focus on your game or was it way too nerve-wracking?I was just excited to play. When I saw Messi, Suárez and Neymar beside me, I was thinking: “Oh wow, this is actually crazy.” But once the whistle went, I just forgot about everything. I didn’t even hear the fans, that’s how concentrated I was.
What are your ambiti ons this season for Arsenal and Nigeria?To maintain my spot in the Arsenal team and conti nue playing as many games as I can. I think I’ve done that quite well, I just need to get goals and infl uence the game a bit more. With Nigeria, I need to make sure I’m starti ng and doing my best.
Who do you think is the greatest player ever and the greatest player sti ll playing?He’s sti ll playing: it’s Messi, 100%. For someone to have natural ability like he has is crazy and scary! Every ti me he has the ball it looks like something’s going to happen. He’s just class. The best I’ve ever seen in my life.
Who’s the best player at Arsenal, apart from yourself?It was never going to be me! I’d say that it’s Mesut Özil.
IN THE BIG TIME
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512 points was the total won by the Land Rover BAR sailing team as they won the America’s Cup World Series. The Briti sh team, led by Sir Ben Ainslie, fi nished 19 points ahead of Oracle Team USA. Two more qualifi ers take place in May and June 2017, with the America’s Cup itself later in June.
18 teams in four divisions are taking part in the Briti sh Wheelchair Basketball Women’s League, the largest such league in the world. Almost 200 competi tors, including athletes from the Briti sh women’s Paralympic team, are involved.
sport innumbers
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34 points to 8 was the score as Australia defeated New Zealand to win the Rugby League Four Nati ons ti tle in Liverpool. The Australians are also top of the world rankings now.
