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The Week Junior|423South Africa takes Israel to courtSouth Africa has asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to decide if Israel is committing genocide in a war in Gaza. Genocide is a deliberate attempt to destroy part or all of a particular group of people. The ICJ is the most important court run by the United Nations (UN), a group of 193 countries that work together on the challenges facing humanity. What is the case about? On 11 January, lawyers representing South Africa told the ICJ that Israel’s government is committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. A long-running conflict between Israel and Palestine got much worse on 7 October last year when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 240 people as hostages (prisoners). Hamas is a military and political group that the…2 min
The Week Junior|423Taiwan elects new presidentOn 13 January, people in Taiwan voted for William Lai to become their country’s next president. Lai is a member of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which has been in power since 2016. He won more than 40% of the vote, meaning the DPP will be in power for its third term in a row. The Chinese government was not happy with the result. China believes that Lai is a “troublemaker” and criticises the DPP’s ideas that Taiwan should be a separate country. Taiwan has its own government but China says Taiwan is part of China. Many people living in Taiwan reject China’s claim and are in favour of independence but they are afraid of a war between the two countries. Very few nations accept Taiwan as an independent country.…1 min
The Week Junior|423THIS WEEK IN HISTORY20 January 2009 Obama sworn in as US president History was made 15 years ago when Barack Obama was sworn in as the US’s first African-American president. Outside the Capitol Building in Washington DC, Obama delivered a speech to a crowd of 1.8 million people. He spoke about the challenges facing the country and his hopes for the future. After four years in charge, Obama was reelected and served as the US’s 44th president for a total of eight years.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Photos show best of BritainThe winning photographs from the 2023 Portrait of Britain competition are being displayed on digital advertising screens around the UK for the rest of January. Portrait of Britain is an annual photography competition that started in 2016. It is organised by the publication British Journal of Photography to celebrate British people. The most recent competition opened in summer last year, and photographers were asked to send in pictures that celebrate the many faces of modern Britain and capture the country’s unique traditions. Out of the entries, 200 of the shortlisted photographs have been printed in a book called Portrait of Britain Volume 6. The final 100 winners are being displayed around the UK on screens at train stations, shopping centres, airports and bus shelters. The winning portraits show people of…2 min
The Week Junior|423What you need to know• Ofsted, Estyn, Education Scotland and the Education and Training Inspectorate inspect schools and services that provide childcare and education in the UK.• Schools are inspected to see how well they are performing. In some countries of the UK schools are given grades as well as a written report.• Some school leaders and teachers have asked for changes to inspections, saying they put too much pressure on staff.• At the start of 2024, Ofsted (which inspects schools in England) stopped inspections for January while its inspectors are given extra training.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Sandra Day O’Connor 1930–2023In 1981, US president Ronald Reagan chose Sandra Day O’Connor as the first female Supreme Court Justice in American history. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and the judges, called Justices, are chosen by the president. Reagan chose O’Connor because he believed she was “a woman of great legal intellect, fairness and integrity”, he later wrote in his memoirs (his account of his time as a politician). O’Connor was born in Texas in 1930 and grew up on an enormous cattle ranch in the Arizona desert. She once described herself as “a cowgirl from the Arizona desert”, and the stories from her childhood would later inspire two books she wrote for children about life on the ranch. O’Connor left home to study law but after passing…1 min
The Week Junior|423King Alfred’s cakes cling onThis fungus is easier to spot in winter when other plants have died back. It grows on the dead or rotting wood of deciduous trees (ones that shed their leaves) all over the UK – especially on beech and ash trees. King Alfred’s cakes look a bit like lumps of coal. Their name comes from a legend about an ancient English king who was hiding from the Vikings. King Alfred stayed at the home of a woman and was asked to keep an eye on her baking cakes but he accidentally let them burn until they became crispy black lumps. The round caps start off a pinky brown and become black and shiny as they age. They catch fire easily and it’s thought they’ve been used for thousands of years…1 min
The Week Junior|423What is the biggest animal at the zoo?The Asian elephant – we have a multi-generational herd of them. When an Asian elephant is born they weigh on average 100 kilograms – that’s 100 bags of sugar. Once fully grown they can weigh between three and four tonnes and reach heights of between three and four metres. Their brains are four times the size of ours, making them intelligent and fascinating animals to work with. Enjoy unlimited visits to ZSL London and Whipsnade Zoos, plus a host of other benefits with ZSL Membership. Find out more at zsl.org/membership/zsl-membership…1 min
The Week Junior|423Show celebrates latest gadgetsThe Consumer Electronics Show (CES) took place in Las Vegas, US, between 9 and 12 January. The event shows off some of the coolest new inventions that might one day be available to the public. One was a robot companion to help people around the house. The device uses artificial intelligence (AI), which is when a computer can learn from experience and do things that usually require human intelligence. The robot is designed to be the ultimate assistant, controlling household appliances, keeping an eye on pets and even patrolling like a mini security guard. AI technology featured in many more products at CES 2024, including a smart fridge made by Samsung. This can recognise up to 33 food items and suggests recipes that will use up what you have. In…2 min
The Week Junior|423App could ease hearing problemA new app has been developed that can help to improve the symptoms of tinnitus, a condition that causes the sound of ringing in people’s ears. Before you were born, your brain learned how to filter out the sounds your body makes, like blood pumping through your veins. As you grow up, it tunes out other sounds you don’t need, like traffic or background chatter. When someone has tinnitus, the ringing sound makes their brain very alert and aware of the nuisance noise. People can have therapy to train them not to notice it so much but the therapy can be expensive and hard to get. The new app, called MindEar, was tried on 28 people suffering from tinnitus. It includes relaxation exercises, sound therapy and mindfulness (the practice of…1 min
The Week Junior|423Egypt’s squash successMany of the world’s top young squash players recently competed at the British Junior Open, which took place at the University of Birmingham, England. There were events for girls and boys in age categories from under-11 to under-19. Players from Egypt won all 10 titles. Squash is an exciting and fast indoor sport that requires a lot of skill. Usually played in singles, matches take place in a walled court and you hit a small rubber ball against the front wall until your opponent can’t hit it back. The ball can only bounce once on the floor before being hit back. There are other rules to do with where you must hit the ball on the wall and when it can hit the side and back wall. All eight players…1 min
The Week Junior|423A wonderful miniature worldThe animated film A Bug’s Life has been wowing audiences ever since it was released in 1998. It tells the story of a plucky ant – and a team of helpful bugs – who must summon up the courage to fight an army of greedy grasshoppers. Although the story in the film is made up, a new wildlife series is aiming to show that the lives of tiny creatures in the real world are just as weird and wonderful. The series, called A Real Bug’s Life, was inspired by the Pixar film. It takes viewers around the world to watch the forces of nature play out on a miniature scale. Nine different micro-worlds are shown in the series, and the bugs living in them have to use teamwork and special…1 min
The Week Junior|423THIS WEEK’S WATCH LISTYoung Masterchef 8pm, Mondays on BBC Three and iPlayer Nine of Britain’s best young cooks are putting their kitchen skills to the test. For each challenge, the contestants will be judged by chefs, social media star Poppy O’Toole and food YouTuber Big Has. Craig of the Creek Available now on Cartoon Network This series follows Craig and his friends as they explore a world where children are in charge. In these new episodes, they are searching for the mysterious villain who is messing with their search for the Heart of the Forest.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Jennifer KillickBest childhood memory? Most of my memories are of doing something naughty, my sister snitching and getting into trouble. A happy memory is from Christmas Day when I was nine, and I received a doll I had wanted for ages. She was called Cherry. Would you prefer to be too hot or too cold? I would always prefer to be too cold. I HATE being too hot. What are you scared of? Lots of things. Clowns have a special place in my deepest, darkest fears. Five things you couldn’t live without? I couldn’t live without my family, my dogs, somewhere cosy to sleep, tea and the One Piece graphic novel series. Favourite bit in the book? There’s a chase scene that is straight out of my nightmares, so it’s my…1 min
The Week Junior|423Play that tune againFortnite has hosted some spectacular music concerts by pop stars including Ariana Grande and Marshmello, and now its latest mode is all about music. Fortnite Festival went live in December and involves choosing popular songs to play along to by tapping buttons in time to the music. It’s based on tech originally made for console music game series Guitar Hero and Rock Band, with some songs playable for free, and others that can be bought from Fortnite’s in-game shop. If you love music but aren’t a Fortnite fan, how about parping a virtual trombone? Trombone Champ is one of the silliest music games of recent times, but also one of the most fun. Available for Nintendo’s Switch, as well as PC and Mac computers, you have to raise and lower…1 min
The Week Junior|423House-proud mouse at workWhen Rodney Holbrook noticed that objects left out in his shed were often tidied away overnight, he decided to set up a camera to find out more about his mystery helper. To his surprise, the secret cleaner was an ordinary, small mouse. Footage from the camera showed the furry little creature gathering corks, clothes pegs, and nuts and bolts, and tidying them away into a tray. Holbrook, who calls his little friend Welsh Tidy Mouse, said, “I don’t bother to tidy up now, as I know he will see to it.”…1 min
The Week Junior|423Editor’s noteDo you like birds? I don’t know much about the ones in the wild but I think I can name most species that visit gardens. The RSPB’s Great Garden Birdwatch over the weekend of 26–28 January is the perfect chance to test myself (page 10). I’m also fascinated by the idea of seeing the world from a bug’s point of view (page 20). This week I’ve got a horrible cold but listening to some music and really concentrating on it (page 19) sounds like a great way to relax. There is more music on page 24, with some brilliant apps. The idea of parping a virtual trombone makes me giggle before I’ve even tried it! The photo taken by reader Aron of his cat (page 17) also makes me laugh…1 min
The Week Junior|423Send a message to the futureThe Week Junior Science+Nature and Fun Kids Radio have teamed up to launch a leap year project called Time Machine. What would you like to tell the children of tomorrow, and what do you hope the future world will be like? Your messages will be put into a high-tech time capsule that will go on display at We The Curious museum in Bristol, England. Send us a drawing of your dream future world by email to hello@science-nature.co.uk (subject TIME MACHINE) or record an audio clip at funkidslive.com/timemachine. All entries must be in by leap day on 29 February.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Teacher OF THE WEEKTeacher’s name: Miss Spooner School: Southville Primary School, Bristol, England “Miss Spooner is a teacher in training and she is doing very well. She always greets us in the morning and never gets angry at us. She is always happy and smiling. She makes fun games to help us learn. When we come into the classroom in the morning she puts relaxing music on to calm us down. Keep it up!” Margot If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…1 min
The Week Junior|423Quiz of the week1 How many languages did teenager Suchetha Satish sing in at a concert? ☐ a) 240 ☐ b) 140 ☐ c) 40 2 True or false? DLR trains in London now have window stickers that let passengers pretend they are driving. ☐ True ☐ False 3 What is the name of the NASA mission that aims to send astronauts around the Moon and back in 2025? _____________________ 4 What is the name of the organisation whose job it is to inspect schools in England? ☐ a) Estyn ☐ b) Ofsted ☐ c) The Education Inspectorate 5 True or false? Television presenter Simon Reeve takes tea bags and Marmite with him on trips. ☐ True ☐ False 6 What are Siamang gibbons also known as? ____________________ 7 Which charity organises the…1 min
The Week Junior|423Why does South Africa support Palestine?For more than 40 years, starting in 1948, South Africa’s government enforced a system known as “apartheid”. This meant white people were in charge and black people had very few rights – even though there were many more black people than white people. The Israeli government supplied weapons and technology to South Africa’s government during this period. Many South Africans think Israel’s treatment of Palestinian people is like apartheid. Today, South Africa is one of the only countries in the world that has an official relationship with Hamas.…1 min
The Week Junior|423IT’S AN AMAZING WEEK FOR…FINDING 16TH CENTURY ART Paintings hidden for almost 300 years have been found by builders at the University of Cambridge, England. The three crowns, found in a roof space at Christ’s College, were painted to celebrate the college’s royal connections and are in good condition. A SINGING RECORD Eighteen-year-old Suchetha Satish from India achieved a Guinness World Record for singing the most languages in a concert. She spent nine hours singing in 140 languages last year. It was for COP28, an event where 140 world leaders gathered to discuss climate change. Satish began singing when she was three. PRIZE GOLDFISH All the local councils in Wales have agreed to ban pets being given away as prizes at events held on public land. Goldfish are sometimes given away at funfairs in…1 min
The Week Junior|423Warnings for snow and iceThe Met Office, the UK’s national weather service, issued snow and ice warnings across the northern half of the UK for several days. On 17 January temperatures fell to -14°C in the Scottish Highlands. In Aberdeen, Scotland, 15 centimetres of snow fell on 15 January. Around 200 schools in Scotland closed because of the snow, as well as schools in parts of northern England. The UK is about 5°C colder than is usual for this time of year, the Met Office said.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Around the worldInuvik, Canada Here comes the Sun A special festival took place in Inuvik to celebrate the Sun rising for the first time in 30 days. The Inuvik sunrise festival featured ice skating, fireworks and music. The natural tilt of the Earth means that places such as Inuvik spend long periods either facing away from or towards the Sun – so in mid-winter the Sun doesn’t rise for 30 days. The US Moon missions delayed On 9 January, NASA, the US space agency, announced that it is pausing plans to send astronauts to the Moon. Its Artemis 2 mission, which was due to carry astronauts around the Moon and back to Earth, has been delayed until September 2025. NASA wants more time to make sure the spacecraft will keep the astronauts…3 min
The Week Junior|423WHAT DO YOU THINK?Now that you’ve read a bit more about it, tell us what you think by voting in our poll at theweekjunior.co.uk/polls. Vote YES if you think schools should be inspected, or NO if you don’t. We’ll publish the results next week. The aim of the Big debate page is to present two sides of an issue fairly and objectively, in order to stimulate discussion and allow our readers to make up their minds. The views on the page do not reflect those of The Week Junior, and the page is not funded by third parties. The page is created in association with the English-Speaking Union, an educational charity helping young people discover their voice and realise their full potential. For more information, please see esu.org…1 min
The Week Junior|423Count birds to help their survivalThe Big Garden Birdwatch is the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. This year it takes place from 26 to 28 January. A charity called the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) organises the survey as a way to gather accurate information on the welfare of the UK’s garden birds. Anyone can take part in the survey. Ask an adult to help you download a free bird guide from the RSPB website. Then choose a place where you will count birds for one hour, at any time from 26 to 28 January. It can be a balcony, a garden or a park bench. During that hour, you simply record every bird that lands in your patch and send in the results. Last year, more than half a million people…1 min
The Week Junior|423Socialising makes dogs happyMany studies have shown that spending time with friends and family is good for a person’s health and wellbeing, but now a study has revealed that the same is true for dogs. Scientists say our furry friends can improve their health by socialising (spending time) with other dogs. A team of researchers in the US carried out a survey and spoke to more than 21,000 dog owners. Each owner was asked about their dog’s diet, behaviour, health and physical activity. The researchers used these answers to learn about the dogs, such as how much time they spent with adults, children and other dogs. They found that different parts of a dog’s lifestyle and the environment in which they grow up can be used to predict their health. The results showed…1 min
The Week Junior|423The schools bringing people togetherIn November last year a school in the city of Jerusalem won an international award. The Max Rayne Hand in Hand school teaches Palestinian and Israeli students alongside each other in a region where the two groups are deeply divided. Jerusalem is claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians. Israelis are mostly Jewish, and Palestinians are mostly Muslim. Most Palestinians are also Arabs, an ethnic group in the Middle East. Why were the schools opened? The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians goes back many years. The two sides disagree over who owns different areas of land and who should be allowed to live in certain places. The conflict has got much worse recently. In 1997, Amin Khalaf, a Palestinian who lives in Israel, and an American-Jewish man called Lee Gordon came…3 min
The Week Junior|423Apple unveils new gogglesOn 2 February, technology company Apple’s headset, the Vision Pro, will launch in the US. The wearable device lets people see what’s around them but also lets them see a screen through which they can browse the internet, access apps, send messages or watch films. Apple describes it as “mixed-reality” but when you look at your surroundings you’re seeing things through cameras, not glass. The headset tracks the user’s eyes. To open an app, people just have to look at it and pinch their thumb and forefinger together.…1 min
The Week Junior|423An interesting food sourceA Finland-based company has created a paste made from crushed-up animal bones that can be added to meat. SuperGround grinds up fish or chicken bones, briefly heats them to a high temperature, then grinds again so that they become a paste. Whenadded to meat products, the paste provides extra nutrients (chemical substances that help the body), such as calcium. It can be mixed with meat products, bulking them out so they can feed more people, which SuperGround says is better for the environment. Enjoy these stories? Find more in this month’s The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine sciencenature.theweekjunior.co.uk…1 min
The Week Junior|423THE WEEK’S WINNERS…Agnes Ngetich The Kenyan runner won the Valencia Ibercaja 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) road race in a world record time of 28 minutes and 46 seconds. Kevin De Bruyne The Belgian footballer scored and set up the winning goal as Manchester City beat Newcastle United 3-2 in the Premier League. Great Britain track cycling team With six golds and 14 medals in total, Great Britain finished top of the medal table at the European Track Cycling Championships. Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson The British pair came second in the ice dance at the European Figure Skating Championships in Lithuania.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Enjoy the original filmA Bug’s Life, Pixar’s second full-length film after Toy Story, was an instant classic and has been enjoyed by families for years. It follows the adventures of Flik, voiced by David Foley, a courageous ant who belongs to a colony being bullied by grasshoppers who steal their food. One day, Flik decides to leave the colony to hunt for a team of bigger bugs to help the ants fight their tormentors. His quest leads him to find wonderful and unexpected new friends. A Bug’s Life is available to stream on Disney+ or can be rented on YouTube, Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV.…1 min
The Week Junior|4235 stories that take place in schoolsThe Detention Detectives: Murder By Mistake by Lis Jardine (Puffin Books) It’s been five months since Jonno, Lydia and Daniel teamed up to solve a mystery and there’s been another murder at Hanbridge High. Lydia leads the investigation. The second book in this detective series is ideal for fans of Robin Stevens. The Final Year by Matt Goodfellow. Illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Otter-Barry Books) Nate is starting his last year of primary school. There are changes ahead and even his reliable best friend seems different. Things get worse when his brother is rushed to hospital. Can some friends, a teacher and his love of books help Nate cope? This illustrated story is told in verse. First Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton (Hachette Children’s) Darrell is about to start…1 min
The Week Junior|423YOUR TURNEmail your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it’s printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Describe the book in three words, what you liked about it and why you’d recommend it to others. Don’t forget to include your name and address.* *If you are the competition winner, we will only use the details you provide to contact you and arrange delivery of your competition prize. Further details about how we manage the data you provide can be found at futureplc.com/privacy-policy…1 min
The Week Junior|423Draw a wacky inventionHello, my name’s Olaf Falafel. I’m a dad, a standup comedian and the author and illustrator of the Trixie Pickle Art Avenger books. Every month I show you how to create art based on the works of a famous artist. Plus, I tell you a really bad joke, like this: Where do you find giant snails? At the end of giants’ fingers! William Heath Robinson was an illustrator and artist who lived and worked in Victorian England. He was famous for being eccentric, meaning he was considered a bit strange by many people. Heath Robinson specialised in drawing silly machines that didn’t really work, and they became known as “Heath Robinson contraptions”. These crazy inventions had lots of twists and turns and were usually over-complicated solutions to very minor problems.…2 min
The Week Junior|423A fun fake canal bridgeThe world’s highest canal bridge has been installed in Amsterdam, a city in the Netherlands that is full of canals. The bridge is a miniature version of a typical Amsterdam bridge, with a wonky street lamp and railings. It sits 10 metres above the ground on top of a glass walkway that links two canal-side offices. Dutch artist Frankey spent three years building it and has made more than 500 other artworks around Amsterdam. The bridge is not open to the public but Frankey says it “stands as a connection between humour and wonder”, brightening up people’s days.…1 min
The Week Junior|423CHARITY OF THE WEEKTools for Solidarity This charity collects tools and sewing machines from across Northern Ireland. Volunteers fix them up in the charity’s Belfast workshop and send them to projects in Africa. They run training centres in Tanzania supplying sewing machines to local tailors, and hand tools are sold very cheaply to workers who couldn’t usually afford good quality equipment. Tools that could end up in landfill find a new use with some of the poorest people in the world. toolsforsolidarity.com…1 min
The Week Junior|423GET INVOLVEDEmail your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a Roving Reporter badge if your contribution makes it onto the page. We will only use the details you provide to arrange delivery of badges, and we will not share them with anyone else. By submitting your reports and pictures, you give consent to The Week Junior to print them in magazine and digital editions, and mention on our podcast. We reserve the right to edit contributions for length, accuracy and suitability. Ensure you have your parent/guardian’s permission before sending anything to us.…1 min
The Week Junior|423READERS RESPONDWe love hearing from you! It’s easy – just write a comment when you vote in our online Big Debate poll, or even record a voice note for The Week Junior Show. Last week we asked our readers whether private jets should be allowed… “No, it might be more luxurious but it’s more polluting and dangerous to the environment.” “Yes, as world leaders or famous people might need to get somewhere quickly without any delays.” “No, it’s not fair for the people who can’t afford it.” “Yes, people should do what they want with their money.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Crowds cheer King Frederik the 10thOn 14 January, tens of thousands of people gathered in Copenhagen, Denmark’s capital, to welcome a new king. Some wore crowns or waved Danish flags to mark the occasion. King Frederik the 10th walked onto the balcony of Christiansborg Palace at 3pm to huge cheers and silver confetti. Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, also appeared and told spectators, “Long live King Frederik the 10th.” Frederik was then joined by his wife, Queen Mary, and their children – 18-year-old Christian, who is next in line to the throne, 16-year-old Princess Isabella and 13-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent. In a speech, King Frederik said he wanted to be a monarch who brings people together. “It is a task I take on with pride, respect and joy,” he said. Frederik had…1 min
The Week Junior|423Post Office workers promised justiceThe Government has said it will clear the names of people who worked for the Post Office who were wrongly convicted of stealing because of a faulty computer system. It said this after a TV series (see panel) told the story of what happened. What happened? From 1999 to 2015, 736 Post Office workers were wrongly convicted for stealing money because of data from an IT system called Horizon. The Post Office introduced Horizon in 1999 to keep track of money. However, the system was faulty and, at many post offices, it wrongly reported money had gone missing. Post Office workers were held responsible and some went to prison. What is being done to put things right? So far, 93 people who were found guilty have had their convictions overturned…2 min
The Week Junior|423Children’s word of the yearOn 16 January, Oxford University Press, publisher of the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) announced its Children’s Word of 2023 is “climate change”. In a survey of 5,000 children, around a third picked the phrase. Earlier in January, the OED had released a list of new words to be added to the dictionary, including “forever chemical” – a chemical that does not break down in the environment. The dictionary is updated every few months to reflect how language changes.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Should schools be inspected?Education is vital, so it’s important that all schools are as good as they can be. In the UK, all schools are inspected to check that they are safe and provide a good education. Organisations such as Ofsted send an independent inspector to observe what is going on. You might have seen an inspector sitting in your class or talking to pupils and teachers. They gather information over a couple of days, looking at the quality of teaching and the environment inside and outside the classroom. This means making sure that all children feel supported in their learning and are safe from bullying. However, some people argue that inspections put too much pressure on teachers and are not the best way to make sure a school is good. What do…2 min
The Week Junior|423The explorer who loves adventureAs his new show hits TV, adventurer Simon Reeve reveals he has been wanting to make this series about the world’s wildernesses (the harshest, most remote environments in the world) for more than 12 years. He explains, “We all need the wild in our lives. We have to know about the planet to be able to respect and love it.” What Reeve loves most about exploring is meeting people and having new experiences. In the first episode of Wilderness, he journeys through the Congolese rainforest in central Africa to find the Baka, a group of people who live deep in the jungle. Then, Reeve meets a conservationist who helps him find a group of bonobo apes, one of humans’ closest living animal relatives. For readers of The Week Junior who…1 min
The Week Junior|423Singing to unborn chicksMother fairywrens sing to their babies when they are still in their eggs, and researchers have discovered that the babies hatch knowing these tunes already. Scientists first studied the superb fairywren, one of the best-known bird species in Australia. They recorded the mothers singing melodies to their eggs, and later, the chicks sang the same tune to beg for food. In a recent study, researchers found that this behaviour is also true for seven other species of fairywren.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Siamang gibbonTwo Siamang gibbons, also known as singing gibbons, have been released into the wild in Indonesia. The pair, called Jon and Cimung, were rescued from illegal pet traders who treated them badly. Jon and Cimung will be monitored for four months to make sure they can survive on their own in the wild forest. • LIFESPAN: 25–40 years.• HABITAT: Tropical rainforests and monsoon forests in Southeast Asia.• SIZE: 74–89 centimetres tall.• DIET: Bird eggs, fruit, leaves and insects.• FUN FACT: Siamang gibbons have large throat sacs that inflate (fill with air) when they sing and can become as big as a grapefruit.…1 min
The Week Junior|423How others are working for peaceNeve Shalom Neve Shalom is a small village between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv that is home to around 70 Arab and Jewish families who live alongside each other. It has a primary school and an art gallery. Souk El Tayeb This farmer’s market opened in Lebanon in 2004. The market’s founder says its aim was to bring people together who had been fighting each other in a civil war (a war between groups in the same country) that lasted 15 years. The market helps people connect over food. EcoPeace Middle East EcoPeace brings together people from Jordan, Israel and Palestine to work on environmental projects across the Middle East. In October 2022, it helped to improve the quality of water on the coast of Gaza, an area where Palestinians live.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Artificial skin designed for underwater robotA team of researchers have developed an artificial skin for a robot, which can help it to feel the difference between objects and living sea creatures. The robot could be used to pick litter from the ocean or for underwater exploration. The skin’s sense of touch is caused by something called “magnetoelastic effect”. This means that when it is pushed or pulled by coming into contact with something, its magnetic field changes. It was thought that magnetoelastic effect only happened in rigid metals. However, researchers from the University of California, US recently discovered it also happened in polymers – soft, skin-like plastic materials. Using their discovery, the team designed an artificial skin from polymers that could detect magnetic changes. The skin was attached to a robot arm, which was trained…1 min
The Week Junior|423Photos of the weekYOURPHOTOS Email photos you have taken to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If your photo is printed in the magazine you’ll receive a Roving Reporter badge. Photos could be of buildings, pets, nature or anything you find interesting.…1 min
The Week Junior|423Get lost in musicHave you noticed how upbeat, happy songs can give you energy, while calm, soothing tunes can help you unwind? Music really shapes people’s moods, and getting lost in it can help you enjoy the magic of music even more. What is “getting lost in music”? This means concentrating on the music so hard you shut out your other thoughts for a short time. People often play tunes while they are doing something else, like reading a book or talking to friends. However, experts say if you try out different styles of music and listen closely to things like rhythm (the pattern of sounds), you boost its benefits and let it change how you are feeling in that moment. How is it good for you? Music is a language everyone understands…2 min
The Week Junior|423Paddington to be a stage starA new stage musical starring Paddington Bear is making its way to the theatre in 2025. The production – called Paddington: The Musical for now – will be adapted from the best-selling book series by Michael Bond, about a marmalade-loving bear from Peru. The music and songs for the show will be written by Tom Fletcher, from the band McFly. Fletcher has also written children’s books, including The Christmasaurus and Space Band. The show’s cast has yet to be announced. Sonia Friedman and Eliza Lumley, who are creating the stage show, said, “We cannot wait to bring Paddington, his antics, adventures and mishaps to the stage. He sees the very best in humanity.” Paddington fans have other projects to look forward to as well, including an interactive experience opening soon…1 min
The Week Junior|423Dread Wood: Fright Bite(Farshore) It’s Colette’s birthday, and she, Angelo and the rest of their friends are delighted to be spending the evening at the Neon Perch – an entertainment spot where all the cool kids hang out. They’ll eat pizza, ride on the go-karts, play mini golf, sing karaoke and take part in a thrilling new zombie escape room experience called Project Z. However, the birthday celebrations take a strange and sinister turn when the gang get inside the escape room. Somehow, Project Z seems to know each player’s greatest fears – and soon, they find themselves face-to-face with creatures from their darkest nightmares. The latest book from Jennifer Killick’s super-spooky Dread Wood series has a science-fiction twist. The perfect blend of funny and scary, it’s just right for readers who like…1 min
The Week Junior|423Write stories you loveThe author SF Said moved from Beirut, Lebanon, to London when he was two years old. He was “an urban kid” he told The Week Junior, living in a flat with his family. Said spent most of his spare time reading and writing. When he was eight, Said’s mother gave him a copy of Watership Down by Richard Adams. The book’s length (500 pages) and its subject matter (a group of rabbits) meant that at first he felt a bit put off. From the first page, though, he discovered “the best book ever, an amazing epic story about rabbits.” One day, thought Said, “I’d like to try to write something even half as good.” If you want to write books, Said recommends having a go at making something you love.…2 min
The Week Junior|423PuzzlesWord fill in All these words fit in the grid. Can you work out where each word goes to complete it? 4 letters Orzo Ziti 5 letters Pasta Pesto 6 letters Cheese Garlic 7 letters Gnocchi Ravioli 8 letters Linguine Rigatoni 9 letters Bolognese Spaghetti 10 letters Cannelloni Fettuccine Wordsearch Can you find all of the words listed here? They are hidden horizontally, vertically or diagonally and may read forwards or backwards. APE AYE-AYE BABOON BONOBO BUSHBABY CAPUCHIN CHIMPANZEE DRILL GELADA GIBBON GORILLA INDRI LEMUR LORIS MACAQUE MARMOSET MONKEY ORANGUTAN SAKI TAMARIN Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each circle is the sum of the numbers in the two circles directly beneath it. Spot the difference These two pictures appear to…1 min
The Week Junior|423Sea lion pups become city petsIt’s mating season for the sea lions in the New Zealand city of Dunedin. The animals are walking onto streets, driveways and golf courses. The pups come too and are so cute that some of the residents try to make friends with them and adopt them as half-tame pets. Jim Fyfe, an expert at the department of conservation, has told people not to regard the pups as pets because they are wild animals and one of the world’s rarest sea lion species. He added that he can see why residents are tempted – “people just fall in love with them”. still, it’s not a good enough excuse. Are pups really pets or is this a loveable lie? *Rubbish! Although it is mating season for the sea lions in Dunedin and…1 min
The Week Junior|423The MagpieWhat have you been up to lately? Which books have you enjoyed reading? What have you made? Have you written a poem or drawn a picture that you’d like to see published on this page? Whatever you have to show or tell us, get in touch athello@theweekjunior.co.uk The Magpie Swoops and glides, Flying in the blue skies, Whispering, shouting, Squawking without doubting, The magpie dips then swirls, Snaps, cries and curls, As he circles the deep blue lake, The mischievous magpie Never made a mistake.”…1 min