Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
THE OLYMPIC GAMES COME TO THE UK FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1948
2012
THIS will be the year Britain sees the world and the world sees Britain, declared Prime Minister David Cameron in his New Year message.
ps) And Simon Cowell returns to Britains Got Talent see page 7
*Source: First News Readership Survey, January 2011, Opinion Matters
6 12 JANuARy 2012
IN BRIEF
Piggy bank winners
WERE pleased to announce the winners of the piggy bank competition for the charity PiggyBankKids.
The panel of celebrity judges, including Alesha Dixon, David Tennant and First News editor Nicky Cox, chose Thomas The winning piggy bank, by Wades piggy bank Thomas Wade as the overall winner. He will receive the top prize of a family trip to LEGOLAND, plus a subscription to First News, a box of books for his school and a Nintendo Wii games console. Runner-up prizes went to Bertie and Vilu Borodi and Francesca Skillicorn.
inner d
COLLECTIONS of special stamps will be released throughout 2012 to mark the big events happening this year, the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic Games.
The House of Windsor stamp collection will include all five kings and queens who have reigned Stamps to since the start of the 20th Century. The last in the celebrate the series will be our current queen, Queen Elizabeth II, Olympics and in celebration of her 60 years on the throne. Paralympics Six portraits of the Queen, taken from stamps, coins and banknotes will appear on a sheet of stamps in February. There will also be four series of stamps celebrating the London 2012 Olympic Games. The first of the series went on sale yesterday (5 Jan). Other stamp collections for 2012 include a set celebrating the books of Roald Dahl, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr Fox and the Twits. The 200th anniversary of the birth of author Charles Dickens will also be honoured with a collection of stamps in June.
OLy
cOu N T D pIc
Olympic Fact
0W
9.6 million tickets went on sale 8 million for the Olympics, and 1.6 million for the Paralympics.
EEkS TO gO
N OW
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EDITORS cOmmENT
hAPPY New Year to you!
I loved looking at the pictures on page 5 of this weeks First News showing the New years Eve celebrations around the world. The dawn of a new year always comes with hope for a good and fulfilling year ahead. As Im writing this in the First News newsroom, there is a ferocious wind outside. So, do you see the wind as blowing in your face and holding you back? Or do you feel it behind you, propelling you forwards to your dreams this year? your choice 2012 should be an extraordinary year for Britain. There are lots of challenges ahead for us because of the money problems that the country has been facing, along with many other countries. But it should be a proud year too, with both the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games meaning the eyes of the world will be on Britain. So, what are your hopes for 2012? Write to us at newsdesk@firstnews.co.uk putting 2012 in the subject box. Or send me a message on Twitter @Nicky_FirstNews.
6 12 January 2012
SPECIAL REPORT
rEuTErS/Mohammad Ismail courtesy of www.alertnet.org
HEADLINES
BEHIND THE
Drought in Afghanistan
save the Childrens andrew Wander tells First News about the impact that drought has had on afghanistan and how it is affecting children.
Mats Lignell/Save the Children
drought is worst, parents have told us that they have nothing to feed their children but bread and tea. Vegetables, once part of the daily diet, are an occasional treat, and meat has become a luxury few can afford. as Save the Children work with children all over the world, we know how dangerous such a diet can be. Growing children need all sorts of different foods to be healthy. Too much of one thing is almost always a bad thing. When there is only one food available, like bread, children become ill and, in afghanistan, it can be hard for the poorest families to find medical treatment.
clean water to drink but, as the weather gets worse, the concern is that they will risk drinking dirty water rather than face long treks through the winter storms.
Changing diet
A mother cradles her ill son
Greater effects
Just as bad, the wells villagers rely on for drinking water have dried up. We know families are already walking miles to find
Save the Children work in afghanistan helping families already facing war and terrible poverty. In the north, where the
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6 12 January 2012
LONDON, ENGLAND: Fireworks light up The London Eye ferris wheel just after midnight on January 1, 2012. Thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames in central London to see in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display. MOSCOW, RUSSIA: Thousands of people gathered to celebrate New Years Eve in Red Square, Moscow. As well as fireworks, the revellers enjoyed lots of lively parties.
NEW YORK, AMERICA: Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber performed at the annual New Years Eve celebrations in Times Square in New York City. BERLIN, GERMANY: Fireworks explode over the Quadriga statue on the Brandenburg Gate. According to the media, up to one million people celebrated at the countrys biggest New Years Eve party.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Fireworks light up the skyline over Sydney Harbour during the midnight fireworks display. The theme of Sydneys New Years Eve celebrations was Time To Dream.
Iraq: Iraqi Kurds watch fireworks lighting up the sky on New Years Eve in the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan, Arbil, at midnight on January 1, 2012.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND: Revellers take to Princes Street to celebrate the start of 2012. Nearly 80,000 people turned up to the party.
6 12 JAnuARy 2012
SCIENCE
Getty
A man pays his respects after the devastating earthquake in Japan in March
people are more likely to tell porkies in texts or emails than when theyre talking to someone in person, on the phone or in a video chat.
more likely to have been lied to compared to a video chat. They were also 31% more likely to have been told fibs than those who had faceto-face deals, and 18% more than the people who spoke on the phone. Scientists say that the video made sellers more aware that they could be being watched, which lowered their desire to lie. Experts call this the spotlight effect.
Maggots 1, medicine 0
medical researchers in France have found that maggots can clean wounds faster than standard surgery.
Although it sounds gross, maggots have been used to clean wounds for hundreds of years, especially in remote locations Maggots can heal wounds during wars. faster than surgery Maggots are the larvae of flies, which usually lay their eggs in dead animals. The maggots release a chemical into the rotting flesh, which gradually breaks down enough so that they can feed off it. Since maggots dont eat live flesh, this means that they can be used to clear away any dead or rotten flesh around a wound. In tests with 119 wounded men in hospital, medics treated half of them with surgery and half with maggots. After a week, there was less dead flesh in the wounds treated by maggots. The wounds had also healed up more than in the patients treated with surgery. Strangely, even though all of the patients in the experiment were blindfolded, around half from each group said that they had a feeling like something crawling around in their wound.
Getty
Did you
know
The most deadly earthquake in history happened on 23 January 1556 in Shaanxi, China. 830,000 people are thought to have died and the tremors were felt 800km away.
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For more home news, pictures and videos go to www.firstnews.co.uk/news
OUR STORIES
uk
BGT judges revealed
The new judges for the 2012 series of britains Got Talent have been revealed. It has been confirmed that Simon Cowell WILL return to the show alongside Amanda Holden. They will be joined by two new judges, comedian David Walliams and Alesha Dixon. This year the prize is even bigger than ever: the winner will win 500,000, half of which Simon Cowell is paying himself. The first ever open audition is being held in partnership with virgin media on Sunday 22 January at Londons oval.
Home News
leeds
Dog ban
Leeds City Council is trying to cut down on unruly dog behaviour by banning dogs from certain areas. Some school grounds, remembrance sites and wildlife areas have all been marked as dog-free zones since new Years Day. The new ruling also states that dogs must always be kept on a lead on footpaths, roads and grass verges around the city and members of the public can only walk four dogs at a time.
FACT FIL E
scotland
Twitter warning
Teachers in Scotland are being warned about using Twitter and Facebook by the Scottish Secondary Teachers Association. They believe too much information can be revealed on the networking sites, which could lead to teachers becoming too familiar with pupils. new guidelines for teachers on social networking are being drawn up.
scotland
Wildcat winters
researchers have discovered that Scottish wildcats may struggle to get out after heavy snowfall. The end of 2011 saw Scotland blanketed with heavy snow but camera traps that usually capture images of the wildcats didnt spot any at all. other predators in the Cairngorms national Park were pictured during the bad weather. Scottish wildcats are very rare and it is believed that only 400 pure wildcats still survive.
The average daytime temperature in Indonesia during January is a very warm 27C/81F.
uk
Station thefts
A list of all the items stolen from police stations in the last five years has been revealed. Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of stuff has been stolen, ranging from a 2.50 cup of coffee to a 10,000 police patrol car. results show that Greater manchester Police were the worst hit force, with a patrol car and a private vehicle being stolen. other unusual items include a packet of crumpets, a mannequin and a copy of an antiques guide.
From Friday 6 January 2012 to Thursday 12 January 2012 Week In general Showers, chilly, very windy. FrIday 6 january Scotland/n Ireland rain showers. Day 6c/43f night 2c/36f. Strong southwesterly. england/Wales rain, west. Drier, east. 8c/46f night 3c/37f. Strong southwesterly. saturday 7 january Scotland/n Ireland rain showers. Day 5c/41f night 1c/34f. Strong southwesterly. england/Wales rain, west. Drier, east. 7c/45f night 2c/36f. Strong southwesterly. sunday 8 january Scotland/n Ireland rain showers. Day 5c/41f night 1c/34f. Strong southwesterly. england/Wales rain, west. Drier, east. 8c/46f night 2c/36f. Strong southwesterly. Monday to thursday Turning drier but a lot colder.
lancashire
Lollipop honour
Lancashires longest-serving lollipop lady has been acknowledged in the Queens new Years Honours list. Irene reid has been made an mbe after working for 43 years as a lollipop lady. She said: People say I deserve a medal but I didnt expect to get one!
2,500 60
insurance claims were made by churches reporting stolen metal from their sites in 2011.
5.6
percent is how much an average ticket for travel on London Transport has gone up by this January.
miles is how far two former olympic medallists will run as part of a relay to celebrate the start of the olympic year. It will start at much Wenlock in Shropshire, the alleged birthplace of the modern olympics.
341,000
metres is the size of the dead sperm whale that washed up on a beach on norfolk on Christmas eve. It is still there and officials are now warning people not to touch it, as it is a health hazard. specially modified wheelchairs have been stolen from a basketball club for disabled youngsters in northamptonshire. A fundraising appeal has been set up to help replace them.
16.7 15
pounds is being given to police forces in the South West to buy 3D road crash scanners. This will help reopen roads faster after an accident.
6 12 January 2012
www.thomson.co.uk
First News and thomson Holidays teamed up to call for a Family Charter, listing rules that would make family life better and quality time together a priority. we asked YOU to send in the rules and to vote for your favourites and here are the rules youve chosen.
From around 3,000 suggestions you sent in, youve now voted for your top ten, below. The first eight were chosen by you and numbers nine and ten were chosen by the grown-ups in your family. as you can see, what is most important to you all is quality time together. Cut out this Pledge Poster for your wall to remind you and your loved ones to make time for family time and to enjoy it!
3. 4.
Be honest with each other Always keep promises Finish work on time so we have more time together
5. 6.
Have one family at home day per week when we watch DVDs or play board games together Ask before you borrow each others stuff, but dont refuse for no good reason
8.
7.
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For more world news, pictures and videos go to www.firstnews.co.uk/news
World News
Germany Sweden Denmark
Missing millions
Experts say that there is still 5.67 billion of old German money that people havent exchanged for euros. The Deutschmark was replaced by the euro ten years ago, when the new currency was introduced throughout Europe.
Germany
Piggy pong
A court in the town of Osnabrck has given a farmer permission to carry on feeding his pigs raw onions. Neighbours claimed that the smell of the pigs trumps was overpowering, so the council banned the farmer from using onions. However, a court has now decided that there is no evidence that the onions are to blame for the stench.
Canada
Avalanche deaths
Two skiers have died in separate avalanches in remote areas of the country. One group of skiers was dropped into a wild area of the Selkirk mountain range, which is away from the normal skiing resorts. Three buried skiers escaped, but one man wasnt so lucky. In the other incident, a man was trapped overnight and died before he could be rescued.
Getty
Doggy armour
To protect dogs from wolves, a hunter has created new body armour for pooches. The coat has pockets filled with red-hot spices, so that any wolves trying to bite the dog will be warned off. The pockets also contain antifreeze to keep the mixture liquid.
Cyclist crackdown
The first increase in cycling punishments in 12 years has seen some fines double. Offences that will now cost more include cycling on pavements, jumping a red light or using a phone while riding. The countrys main cycling group said that the fines are way too high and that Parliament is using a bazooka to shoot a butterfly.
New Zealand
Ship in pieces
The stranded cargo ship Rena is still stuck on a reef off the coast of the country, nearly three months after it ran aground. Waves have battered the ship so much that it has split in two now. Several more containers have fallen overboard and at least one penguin has died in the last week after being covered in oil.
USA
Wandering kitty
A cat that escaped from his new home in Florida has turned up over 3,000km away in Colorado. Waylon escaped just 30 minutes after being taken home from a shelter in Naples back in August, but vets in Colorado scanned his microchip to find out who his owner was. Its still a mystery as to how he got so far.
Getty
USA
Arson investigation
Police have been holding a man in custody as they look into a string of arson attacks in Los Angeles and Hollywood. Dozens of fires have broken out in recent days, most of them in cars that were parked outside their owners homes.
Somalia
Town captured
Ethiopian troops have taken over the town of Beledweyne. The town was previously held by rebels from the Islamist al-Shabab group, which occupies much of the country. The rebels were forced to flee after troops pounded the town for hours.
Australia
Mushroom mistake
Four people have been taken to hospital after mistakenly eating death cap mushrooms. The four thought they were eating the paddy straw mushroom, which is a common delicacy in Southeast Asia. The death cap has claimed at least three lives in the last ten years.
SNIPPETS
A 64-year-old Australian man says that he is still turned down for jobs because he has a criminal record for swimming with no clothes on when he was just 14 years old.
A KIDS WORLD
Name: Josef Julius Conteh Age: 14 Lives: Makeni, Sierra Leone My father drowned when I was young. My mother remarried but, during the war, soldiers attacked our village. They set fire to our house and killed her.
My stepfather was shot and his leg badly damaged. The doctors had to amputate it. He was in hospital and unable to care for me. I was forced to live on the streets. I made a little money by washing dishes. One day I won a school uniform. Even though I wasnt registered at a school, I wore it and sneaked into class. The teachers didnt notice because there were 80 children in the classroom. I washed that uniform in the river every day. Sometimes I had to wear it when it was wet, which made me sick. I had to work again to raise money for medicine. One night, staff from Street Child of Sierra Leone found me. Im so glad they did. They spoke to my stepfather and convinced him to let me come home. Now they are helping him pay for my school. We live on an amputee camp with other people who lost limbs in the war. Life isnt easy but, for now, I am happy and proud. Street Child of Sierra Leone saves hundreds of street children across Sierra Leone each year. It provides counselling, clothing, medical care, food and a safe place, and unites children with a family member or guardian. It also funds the childrens return to education or training and offers ongoing financial support to their families. You can find out more about Street Child of Sierra Leone at: www.street-child.co.uk.
Getty
Getty
6 12 january 2012
ANIMAL NEWS
Tree recycling!
IF you still havent taken down your real Christmas tree and want it to go to a good home instead of landfill, you might want to look to your local zoo.
Paignton Zoo in Devon is asking for old Christmas tree donations for their animals. The trees will be used to enrich the homes of all sorts of animals, from meerkats to tapirs. Phil Knowling, a spokesperson for the zoo, says: The Zoo can make use of old Christmas trees, so long as they havent been sprayed with fake snow, glitter or needle glue, as all of these may be toxic. The local Scout group will be collecting trees on 7 and 8 january for the Zoo for a minimum donation of 5. If you dont live close to Paignton Zoo, why not speak to your local zoos to see if they can use old trees for their animals instead of sending them to landfill.
First News web editor Nic Williams tree is perfect for recycling
CORAL reefs in Florida suffered more damage in 2011 than in the previous six years, according to studies.
Oshine the Bornean orangutan has shed an amazing 25kg (a quarter of her body weight) since she was taken to the ape rescue centre in 2010. Oshine was rescued from a home in South africa where she had been a pet for 12 years. When she was rescued, she weighed more than double the natural weight of a female orangutan, after being fed sweets and processed food for most of her life. Oshine arrived at the centre unfit and unhealthy. after moving into a new home with five other orangutans, she has started eating healthily and exercising with her new friends. She has even started caring for an orphaned baby orangutan at the centre. Oshine can now climb, play and enjoy her new level of fitness. just like humans, it is bad for apes to get too overweight, as they suffer from problems like heart disease.
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For more big issues, pictures and videos go to www.firstnews.co.uk/discover
SPECIAL REPORT
by John Read, Clean Up Britain
Litter issues
Sadly, Britain is now one of the most littered countries in Europe and it costs local councils an astonishing 1 billion a year, thats 1,000,000,000, to clean up litter in Britain. This sort of money could pay for 60,000 new nurses, 5,000 libraries or 40 new secondary schools.
Gabby Logan (pictured below, with husband Kenny), Steven Gerrard, Julia Bradbury, Gary Lineker, andrew Lloyd-Webber, Mo Farah and Goldie.
Joining forces
The rSPCa is a Campaign Partner of the CLuB campaign. They receive more than 7,000 phone calls a year about litter-related incidents, and their officers regularly rescue pets, farm and wild animals trapped or hurt by discarded litter.
Most recently the rSPCa have tended to: a fox cub with its head stuck in a dumped wheel hub a dog with its tongue caught in a discarded tin can a cow with its head stuck in a fly-tipped
Celebrity fans
So far 47 celebrities are supporting CLuB, including Jonny Wilkinson, Kevin Pietersen,
6 12 JANUARY 2012
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Its not quite a Disney movie, but Jedward dressed up as Disney characters to launch the Disney Universe game at the end of 2011
ThE Borrowers is one of the most loved stories of all time, about the tiny people who borrow things from humans. Christopher Eccleston plays Pod Clock in a brand-new version of the film, so we caught up with him for a quick chat about playing a Borrower.
Are you a fan of the Borrowers book? The Borrowers is one of the very first books I remember reading as a child, and I loved it. As a child, if I liked a book, I tended to keep reading it. The film is a contemporary take on the story and still retains all the original elements of the book, which is really about a loving family a dad learning how to let go of his daughter so that shell come back. What was it like playing Pod? As the book was such an important part of my childhood, I was very familiar with the character of Pod. Ian Holm, who Ive worked with, is one of my heroes, as is Jim Broadbent both fantastic actors, so it was nice to think that Id play a role that those two great actors have played. Pod borrows his clothes from an action figure of the 80s, perhaps loosely based on a character from Raiders Of The Lost Ark. I think that appeals to Pods image hes quite an adrenaline junkie, he likes risk and adventure. Pod is also a lovely dad, and a hero. Ive played lots of troubled men and anti-heroes, but Pods a straight hero. Theres a great sense of humour to him, and a gentleness. Thats what attracted me to the role. Did you get to wear any cool costumes? Pods costume is very torn, tattered, spattered in mud, and half hanging off him. Hes a typical fella, hes not too concerned with what he looks like. When they go on this extraordinary adventure, Pod is reduced to rags really. Hes nearly dissected and his shirt is taken off him by the human beings he starts off pretty Harrison Ford-ish, and ends up like Steptoe and Son. What was it like performing the stunts in the film? Playing the role of Pod is unlike anything Ive done before. There was a huge amount of green screen. Ive done little bits of green screen in the past, but not that much. I would say its the most challenging role Ive done physically, because one of the conditions for me playing the part was that I did all the stunts.
13
GAME ZONE
CELEb SPLITS
Two high-profile celebrity romances came to an end over the festive period. Both Katy Perry and Russell Brand and Gethin Jones and Katherine Jenkins went their separate ways. The splits were announced on Twitter.
JAY-Z
Rapper Jay-Z will be performing at two charity concerts this February to benefit children from poor homes. Jay-Z said: That really bothers me someone who really applies themselves and wants to go to college and they cant further their education because of their situation, because of money or because they have to stay in the house to watch their siblings. The star says he wants children to have opportunities he didnt growing up.
Back Row: (left to right) Coronation Street star Andy Whyment, Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere, TV presenter Mark Rhodes, Hollywood actor Corey Feldman, free runner Sabastien Foucan, TV presenter Sam Nixon, singer Chesney Hawkes (although as First News went to press he had injured his leg) and Emmerdale actor Matthew Wolfenden. Front Row: (left to right) Hollyoaks star Jorgie Porter, actress Jennifer Ellison, British skier Chemmy Alcott, Sugababe Heidi Range, fitness guru Rosemary Conley, actress Laila Morse and Dallas star Charlene Tilton.
magIc Search Four new celebrities battle it out to work out who is the best magician among them in this new live series. The Magicians, BBC1, Saturday @ 6.35pm. Ice Ice BaBy Its back! Fifteen new celebs will take to the ice to try to be the next ice champion. Hosted by Phillip Schofield and Christine Bleakley. Dancing on Ice, ITV1, Sunday @ 6.30pm. Under the Sea Amazing new series looking at the complex underwater ecosystem that is the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Great Barrier Reef, BBC2, Friday @ 7.00pm.
TOP TELLY!
The Vita has a touch screen, but also a rear touch pad. We werent sure at first how the rear touch pad would work, but two games made us realise why its such a genius idea. The Vita version of LittleBigPlanet (above) looks great, but theres a point early on where you see blocks of different sizes and shapes in the background and a platform out of reach. Using the rear touch pad, you have to push the right blocks through to make a staircase for Sackboy, which adds a new twist to the LBP world. Little Deviants is a funny collection of mini-games, including some augmented reality shooting games similar to those on the 3DS. But theres also one (below) where you have to guide a ball-shaped character to the end of each level, which you do by putting your finger on the rear pad. This pushes the ground up and causes you to roll down the hill youve just made. Its tricky at first, but pretty cool and unlike anything weve played before. Theres also a game in a wrestling ring, where you have to use one hand to pinch the front and rear of the Vita, which twangs your character off the ropes and into your opponents. Vita also has a gyroscope and accelerometer, which means you can tilt and turn it to play things like Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz (below), which is a lot of fun and fans of the series should love it, especially the
Racing fans will be blown away by Ridge Racer (below), which looks fantastic, especially when you watch a replay of your slick overtaking moves (or crashes!) Everything we played looks great, as the screen is bigger than the PSPs and the quad-core processor means that the graphics are pretty close to those on the PS3. A pretty useful feature is the ability to use text or voice chat with your mates, even when youre playing offline or playing different games. And the price? Well, the basic Wi-Fi model is going to be around 230, with a 3G/Wi-Fi model costing 50 more.
6 12 jANUARY 2012
AN EGAN KI
friendship with each other. From the early days that was the natural thing that happened. And, you know, we knew what we were. We werent one of these boy bands that were trying to be something were not. We werent trying to be cool and hip and trendy. We werent trying too hard. We just knew who we were and we stuck to it. We didnt try to change it. We are about ballads, mid-tempo, up-tempo songs that we like, that are just good fun. And I always think we were just ourselves. We were never fake. What you saw with us was what you got. We always just tried to be ourselves. Your Greatest Hits Tour in 2012 is going to be amazing. Why is it so important for you guys to kind of do that tour? Its a big thank you really and its a tribute to our fans, to ourselves. Its a pat on the back. Its a celebration. Its a celebration about what weve achieved as a band. Its a celebration about what the fans have given us. We want to go out on the tour and we want everybody to have a great time. We want it to be happy memories.
Westlife performing on their ITV Special Westlife For The Last Time
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6 12 january 2012
Furious frog
A PeT bullfrog has become an internet sensation after getting frustrated playing a game on a smartphone.
by Serena Lacey The youTube clip of the frog playing ant Smasher has had more than 2.5 million views so far. The frog tries to catch the ants, before eventually getting frustrated. Watch the hilarious clip online at www.firstnews.co.uk and see how the frog gets revenge on its owner!
www.guinnessworldrecords.com
QUICK CHUCKLES
Q: What did one snowman say to another? A: Do you smell carrots? Q: What is a cows favourite day? A: Moo years day!
covered loo
www.firstnews.co.uk
The toilet is being called the worlds most valuable loo and was made as an offering to the god of lavatories. It is studded with more than 72,000 Swarovski crystals, worth around 82,000. The unusual toilet is on display in the Ginza shopping district, which is full of posh shops. The director of the Lixil interior fixture company, who created the loo, said: In japan, we believe a deity exists in the lavatory. Thats why keeping lavatories clean and taking good care of them has been a japanese custom since long ago. Opinions about the toilet have been mixed, with some members of the public saying the toilet is too nice to use, while others want to have a disco around it. What do you think? Would you like a crystal-covered loo? Vote online at www.firstnews.co.uk.
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SPECIAL REPORT
Struggling to go to school
How many children across the world are in school?
Around the world, more than 69 million children of primary school age are not in school. Thats more than the entire UK population. One reason that so many children miss out on an education is because its too expensive for their families to send them to school. Although school is free in the UK, it isnt in many poor countries, so families have to cover the costs of school fees as well as uniforms and textbooks. For many of the worlds poorest families, who struggle to survive on less than 1 per day, these costs are too high. Even in places where school is free, the quality of teaching is often so bad that many parents feel they would be better off sending their children to work instead. supported by UK aid. Yasmeen uses the vouchers to pay the 3 it costs each month for Samia to go to school in Rawalpindi. I get a good education at my school, says Samia. My favourite subject is English and I want to be a doctor when I grow up. Yasmeen is very happy that Samia can go to school. She didnt get an education and, like half of all adults in Pakistan, she cant read or write. My younger kids will get a good education, get a better job and have a better future, says Yasmeen.
Vicki Francis Vicki Francis
ImagIne what your life would be like if youd never had the chance to go to school. For one thing, its unlikely you would be reading First news!
Like many poor families, Samias mother, Yasmeen, has struggled to give her children an education. She earns just 48 per month working as a cleaner. When Samias father died a few years ago, her older brothers dropped out of school so they could go to work and help Yasmeen earn money for the family. Samia would have missed getting an education too, if it wasnt for the special vouchers her family started to receive from an organisation called the Punjab Education Foundation, which is
DFID
DFID
6 12 JANuArY 2012
GREEN NEWS
with Keilly Swift
Green Queen
WINdSoR Castle, one of the Queens official residences, is being powered by hydroelectricity now an eco-friendly way to generate power from flowing water.
The hydroelectric turbines, called Archimedes screws, have been installed in the romney Weir on the river Thames. They will not only power the castle, but also more than 300 homes in the area. Windsor Castle isnt the first royal residence to use eco-friendly power. The Queen already has a hydroelectric plant at her residence in Balmoral and Prince Charles has solar panels on his estate. Hydroelectricity is not only good for the environment, it also helps to save money on electricity bills. This will please the Queen, who has been trying to cut back on the cost of the royal family, as the economy is so weak. The latest project also helps river life, as a fish path has been built alongside the weir. This allows fish and eels to migrate up the
river for the first time in hundreds of years. David DeChambeau of Southeast Power Engineering, the turbine developer, said the royals were quietly excited by the project.
affected. The supply of food, water and energy would change, so humans and animals would have to adapt how and where they live. Jon Bergengren, a scientist who led the study, said: For more than 25 years, scientists have warned of the dangers of human-induced climate change. The researchers say the study shows how important it is stop temperatures on Earth rising.
ASK ESTHER
With thanks to
Im Esther Rantzen, President of ChildLine, which helps 2,500 children every week. If theres something worrying you, please write to me at the address below.
Wanting a pet
LookINg after a pet can be great fun and there are lots of different types you can have.
A pet is also a big responsibility to take on so, if you really want one, having the backing of your parents or carers is important. Maybe youve been asking for a pet for ages and it feels like all you ever hear is: Well think about it! There could be good reasons why you cant keep a certain type of animal in your home. Maybe someone you live with is allergic to them or where you live doesnt suit that animals needs like having a big dog in a top floor flat. Another big thing to think about is who looks after your pet feeds them, cleans out their house or takes them out for a walk. Most of the time it could be you, with some help from the rest of the family, but there may be times when you arent around, like if you go on holiday or are unwell. And, finally, pets can be expensive and itll probably be an adult paying for a lot of the pets care. It may be a good idea to ask your parents or carer to sit down and talk through all the issues around having a pet. This will show maturity and that youve really thought things through. And dont forget to check out websites that offer great advice on keeping pets, like www.rspca.org.uk.
New Year
EvERy year I make at least one New years resolution and I never manage to stick to it. How can I find the willpower to commit to it this time? Lots of people have plans at New something unrealistic, you will find it very Year for various New Year resolutions. difficult to stick to. Also, it might help to However, sometimes it is difficult to stick make it something that is an enjoyable to them and, by the end of January, they experience, such as playing more sport? are forgotten! If you really want to keep This way you will have more chance of a New Years resolution, it is important to enjoying it and fulfilling your resolution. make your resolution manageable. If it is Good luck!
my boyfriend has just dumped me and I cant stop crying. He has asked a friend out now and she wants to say yes but doesnt want to upset me. I couldnt bare the thought. How should I handle the situation? This sounds like a difficult situation for you at the He might not realise how his actions are affecting moment and it is complicated when other peoples you. It is important to think about your actions decisions are out of your hands. It seems that you before you do or say anything, so that you dont do have spoken to your friend about this, which is a something you regret. It might help to have a look good place to start as she will be able to make a at the ChildLine message boards at www.childline. decision while having your feelings in mind. Have org.uk to see if any other young people have been you thought about talking to your ex-boyfriend through the same thing and have any other useful and letting him know how upset you are over this? advice. Good luck.
FirstNews
Issue 291
6 12 January 2012
19
For more news crew, pictures and videos go to www.firstnews.co.uk/news
YOUR NEWS
Tennis fun
ON Tuesday 22 November I was lucky enough to win a competition LIST in First News to meet the Barclays jOURNA Ball Kids at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tennis tournament and join in with a training session.
Fundraiser
jUNIOR
MY favourite charity is the WDCS, a charity to help save whales and dolphins. Through the WDCS I have adopted dolphins Lightning and Stardance, to help towards saving these beautiful creatures. I would like to be a marine biologist when I am older so I can study all marine life to help preserve our oceans.
by Frazer Dale I have loved dolphins ever since I was very young. I think that their smiley faces, mischievous behaviour, trustfulness and super intelligence are wonderful. When I was eight, instead of presents, I asked all of my friends for a donation and gave all of my birthday money to the WDCS, which raised about 80. I have seen captive dolphins and didnt like it. The pool that they were kept in was small and boring. They were almost never given any freedom and, when they were, it was to entertain humans. I wanted to raise some funds for the WDCS again, so I chose to set up a stall, because I had lots of used and unused toys and games that I had saved for this event. My dad and I headed to the local church to set up our stall. There were lots of other stalls. As the day passed by, our stall became the most visited. I handed out all the leaflets on adopting dolphins that the WDCS had sent me and displayed some posters. By the end of the day we had raised 60. Seeing dolphins in the wild is a much more pleasant experience. Dolphins leap and twirl on their own because they want to in their natural habitat, not because they are made to. We need to help whales and dolphins because it would be a tragedy to lose them from our seas and rivers forever.
jUNIOIR L ST jOURNA
NEWS VIEWS
HeRe are some of the views on the news from our website users. Wed love to hear more of your views!
RSPCA release their funniest calls of 2011 I think these stories are really funny, but I do think the rSPCa should only be called in serious cases. Tabbycat16 (Age 11) New law introduced to help battery chickens Thank goodness! Bunnycat (age 13)
Harry Judd wins best celebrity hair of the year LOL! Justin Bieber should win an award for the most stupid hairstyle. Musicluva (Age 12) Time travelling island skips a day That would be really weird!! ellie-mo (age 12)
by Maddie Ribton As if that wasnt enough, afterwards I had tickets to watch Federer vs Nadal (Federer wiped the floor with him, unfortunately) and a doubles match at the glitzy O2 Arena. It was a great experience, almost like a West End show. I really Maddie with the Barclays Ball Kids enjoyed it. They were all so lovely and welcoming as well as showing great sportsmanship. The Ball Kids were very professional, patient and each movement they made was precise and perfect. You could sense their effort and determined focus through their silent presence on the court, a result of the long training programme that they go through. Thirty boys and girls aged 12-16 were selected out of 2,500 hopefuls. The chosen Ball Kids, after a final selection at a boot camp in London, had a weeks intensive training to participate in the worlds largest indoor tennis tournament, the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals. The Barclays Ball Kids are working with the eight best tennis players in the world. This marks a wonderful achievement for them and an experience that they wont ever forget.
www.firstnews.co.uk
L SCHOOS
jUNIOR ST
jOURNA LI
I HAVE just found out that I have won 30,000 for my design idea, The Snug Hug, and have been presented with the cheque at a cool event at my school.
by Joseph Weaver, Winterbourne International Academy, Bristol All of this first came about in June when my teacher told me about a competition by Sound Asleep, who were searching for young inventors to come up with an idea for a sleeprelated product. I immediately knew I wanted to create a travel product aimed at children, and was Joseph (right) with Trevor Baylis OBE and Ortis Deley inspired by animal toys and photos Id seen of monkeys holding their young in the wild. My idea The Snug Hug is a child car seat accessory that gives the impression theyre sitting on the lap of a giant soft toy, to encourage them to travel. When I heard that Id won and that there was going to be a presentation at my school, I was amazed! It would be fantastic to see The Snug Hug go into production and be sold by Sound Asleep. I cant thank them enough for the way this competition has inspired me and other young inventors across the country. Its definitely going to take a lot of beating, thats for sure.
NEW
6 12 january 2012
FUN STUFF
WIN
9 5 3 7
WIN
5 8 7 1 2 7 3 5
THIS week we have the usual 3x3 grid and you need to fill in the numbers one to nine. Send in your answers and three lucky winners will each win a goodie bag filled with London 2012 goodies. The London 2012 Shop is offering you the chance to win a selection of London 2012 goodies to get you into the Games spirit! Prizes include a Mandeville beanie toy, Mandeville figurine, car pack and a classic routemaster bus toy.
6 5 3 1 4
8 2 7
5 3 4 5 7
CoMPLETE our prize crossword using the clues below. Send in your answers and three lucky winners will win a copy of The Clockwork Man 2: The Hidden World on PC CDroM. join Miranda and her robotic friend, Sprocket, on an amazing journey through a parallel Victorian universe where steam fuels technology! Miranda finds herself embroiled in a new adventure after discovering a strange artefact, which leads Miranda on a quest for The Hidden World, a land lost in time and glimpsed through legends.
www.avanquest.co.uk
ACrOSS 1 Strictly Come Dancing 2011 champion (5,4) 6 Fruit (5) 7 Part of the hand (5) 1 2 9 Erased (7) 12 Left out (7) 16 new ___ : the capital of India (5) 6 17 Polar ___ : large white animals (5) 18 jonny ___ : England rugby player who has retired from international duty (9) DOwN 2 Strong cord (4) 3 Produce or deliver (5) 4 up to the time when (5) 5 Feelings of uncertainty (6) 6 Dr Who's assistant (3,4) 8 nocturnal mammals with a black and white face (7) 10 What you see with (3) 11 Type of tree (6) 13 Spin around quickly (5) 14 Member of the united
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2 - Strong cord (4) 3 - Produce or deliver (5) 4 - Up to the time when (5) 5 - Feelings of uncertainty (6) 6 - Dr Who's assistant (3,4) 8 - Nocturnal mammals with a 10 - What you see with (3) 11 - Type of tree (6) 13 - Spin around quickly (5) 15 - What you hear with (4)
Where oN earTh
aLL of these are flags. Do you know which countries they belong to?
WhaT oN earTh
9 - Erased (7) 12 - Left out (7)
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aLL of these are items that you might find in the fridge. Can you guess what they are?
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17 - Polar ___ : large white animals (5) 18 - Jonny ___ : England rugby player who has retired from international duty (9)
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COMPETITIONS: you can enter First news competitions in one of two ways. 1. Go to www.firstnews.co.uk/competitions and follow the instructions. 2. Write to us at competition name (eg. Holiday), Shand House, 14-20 Shand St, London SE1 2ES. Please note: First news will not share your personal details with third parties. First news will only use your details to contact the competition winners. First news competitions are open to aged 16-and-under residents of the uK & republic of Ireland, except employees of First news, newsbridge Ltd, BGP and any associated companies and their families. Winners will be the first correct entries drawn after 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 notified accordingly and their names and addresses will be available on request. no cash alternative for any prizes will be offered. The winner may be required to partake in media activity relating to the competition.
FirstNews
Issue 291
6 12 january 2012
send your finished puzzles to Puzzles 291, First news, shand House, 14 - 20 shand street, London, se1 2es. The closing date for puzzle entries is Friday 13 January 2012.
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www.arrietty.co.uk
Can you spot the five changes to this picture from the film arrietty? Send in your answers and three lucky winners will each win a copy of arrietty on DVD. Discover an amazing adventure thats unlike any other. Beneath the floorboards of a sprawling mansion set in a magical, overgrown garden in the suburbs of Tokyo, tiny 14-year-old arrietty lives with her equally tiny parents. The house is occupied by two old ladies, who are unaware of the existence of their miniature tenants. arrietty and her family live by borrowing. Based on Mary nortons muchloved childrens classic The Borrowers, arrietty is a beautiful story of childhood and friendship.
Word Ladder
Q7 How many pieces of litter are dropped every day? Can you get from the top to the bottom by changing one letter at a time to make a new word?
Q3
Q7
Q2
TWIG
Q8 What boy band is Kian Egan part of? Q4 What is the average temperature in daytime Indonesia during january? Q5 Who are the new judges on Britains Got Talent? Q3 What creatures can clean wounds faster Q6 In the last 100 years, how many species have gone extinct? than standard surgery?
LAsT Issues AnsWeRs: FIrST NEwS ChAllENgE 1) Golf 2) Durham Tees Valley airport 3) youngest person to fly solo around the world 4) Two billion 5) The Thames 6) We brought a Zoo 7) 690,850 8) Michael Carrick 9) 31 october 10) Weymouth Sea Life Park SPOT ThE DIFFErENCE T-shirt has changed colour, part of the a is missing, tooth is longer, glasses have been coloured in, nose is a different colour whErE ON EArTh australia whAT ON EArTh Party hats, cakes, balloons, confetti, champagne, streamers wOrD lADDEr Tall, tell, teal, teak, weak, week
Q9 Who is the fastest person to trek to the north Pole? Q10 How many goals have been scored in the Premier League since it started in 1992?
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SOAP
6 12 january 2012
Book reviews
A Monster CAlls PAtrICk ness
reviewed by Hollie Reston, 12
a Monster Calls is about a boy named Conor and his relationship with his mum. Conor has been getting nightmares ever since his mum got ill. every night, the monster comes and asks Conor to tell the truth, but he doesnt. Its only when he is faced with losing his Mum quicker than he thought that the truth is revealed and we understand how Conor feels. all is not what it seems in this exciting, fantastic book full of amazing illustrations!
GrACe MorrIs GleItzMAn
reviewed by Year 7 Discovery Club at the Sholing Technology College
Be a My Way! star
fIRST nEWS has been running a campaign for a year called my Way! Its about getting people to understand that everybody learns in their own way. for some people school is easy but, for others, it might be harder. The important thing we want everybody to understand is that the way you learn has nothing to do with how smart you are. Around six children in each class have learning challenges, but that doesnt mean that they wont be fantastically successful in whatever they choose to do. As my Way! champion, Hank zipzer author Henry Winkler says: Every child has brilliance inside them. Their job is to dig it out and give it to the world.
We would like you to star in this column. Write around 150 to 200 words about your learning challenge and how youre succeeding in spite of it, and send us a photo too. HoW you learn is just as important as WHat you learn and we want to hear from you. send your reports to newsdesk@firstnews.co.uk, putting My Way! in the subject box. and tHanK you! Want to share your story? find out how online at www.firstnews.co.uk and click on my Way!
We love the way Morris Gleitzman keeps you entertained with humour and real-life drama. Grace is a normal girl brought up within a strict religious community and she finds it hard to obey the rules. she tries to keep her family together but can she do it without putting herself in danger? Grace is quite controversial, as it deals with religion and will hold your attention all the way through until the unexpected ending. If youre looking for something that will make you laugh and think, then give Grace a go! these books are short-listed for the red House Childrens Book award 2012. Visit www.redhousechildrensbookaward.co.uk to view the full short list and to vote for your favourite. the closing date for votes is 20 january 2012.
READING CHAMPIONS
EvERYonE knows a Reading Champion theyre people who inspire others to get reading. Each week, one of our champions tells you a bit about their favourite reads and what they think makes reading so appealing.
name: Helen Dunmore Helen is an award-winning novelist and poet as well as a childrens writer. Helen was inspired to write the Ingo series by life on the Cornish coast. She spends much of her time writing in her house in Cornwall and so it seemed natural that she should set her stories there. What books did you read when you were a child? I loved Hans andersen and the Brothers Grimm. I read school stories, ballet stories, comics I loved jennings and anything funny. I remember my father reading the Wind in the Willows to us. If you could be a storybook character, who would you be? If I could choose, I would be tom in toms Midnight Garden. What is the best thing about reading? Going into other worlds and becoming at home there. What is your all-time favourite book? I dont have one favourite. However, if I were choosing a favourite childrens book, it might be Little Women, which I loved as a child. How important is reading in life? It is essential to my happiness, and from talking to other readers over the years I know that this is true for many, many people.
Do you think you would make a good Reading Champion? Ask your school to sign up today. www.readingchampions.org.uk
FirstNews
Issue 291
6 12 january 2012
23
No limits
Sport NewS
20,000 1
seasons is how long the premier League has been going. When ryan Giggs scored against Fulham recently (left), it ensured that he had scored in all 20 seasons. He is the only player to have achieved the feat.
Getty
20
is the number of premier League seasons where the team who was bottom at Christmas has avoided relegation. West brom were the lucky ones in 2005, but can blackburn repeat their escape this season? Head to www.firstnews.co.uk/polls to let us know whether you think theyll do it!
people watched the match between saracens and Harlequins at twickenham (left), a new world record for a club rugby match. saracens won 19-11 and gave Harlequins their first league defeat of the season.
82,000
Get INVoLVeD
Weightlifting is a great way to keep your body strong, but its always best to get advice from a trained adult before you start. For more information or to find a club, see www. britishweightlifting.org/club-finder.
one of the most awesome sights at the olympics is seeing weightlifters straining every muscle in their body to lift chunks of metal that weigh more than they do. GB weightlifter Helen Jewell told us why she thinks its such a great sport.
I got into weightlifting when a new teacher at my school set up a club. It was a different sport, something I had never been aware of before. I went along with a friend for a bit of fun, but I was strong for my age, so I knew there was potential for me to do well. I liked it because it gave me a sense of achievement, and I suppose it looks quite impressive. at first, I struggled to get into the correct positions and was quite unstable with the weights overhead. practice and repetition in training helped, and additional exercises improved my stability. We also do a lot of core strengthening and shoulder stability exercises. the technical side of lifting was challenging and is something that I still keep an eye on. It is a very technical sport and physically demanding. there is also such a fine line between having a good lift and missing it. but you can see progression very easily and there are no limits: you can always lift more! Weightlifting has become part of my life and part of me. Its addictive and I know I havent reached my full potential yet. With London 2012 being so close, that is a massive incentive. to qualify and make the Olympics in London is my ultimate dream and I am trying to do all I can to make it come true. Its a unique sport and very specialist, so its not for everyone. It is different because although you are competing against other people, you dont come into contact with them directly. Its between you and the bar! It gives you a good body workout, strengthens your muscles, bones and heart, and keeps you fit and healthy. youve got nothing to lose from having a go and trying it out, but not everyone will have the chance to try weightlifting so, if you do, you should feel privileged and count yourself lucky.
Austrian ski jumper Andreas Kofler sails over GarmischPartenkirchen in Germany during the FIS World Cup
Getty
6 12 jAnuARy 2012
SPORT
with Ian Eddy
Suarez (right) and Evra tussle for the ball during the match that started the row
GREEN
Big changes ahead for planet Earth
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the FA has finally released the full reasons behind Luis suarezs eight-match ban.
by ian eddy
The epic 115-page report goes into great detail about the way Liverpool striker Suarez racially abused Manchester uniteds Patrice Evra when the two teams met in the league. An independent panel set up by the FA had to consult several language experts, as the evidence rested on the meaning of the word negro in Spanish. In some Latin or South American countries it can be used as a friendly greeting to someone with dark skin or even just dark hair. However, the experts said that as the uruguayan Suarez called Evra negro seven times during an argument, he meant it in an offensive way. Even though Evra started the argument by swearing at Suarez in Spanish, the panel said that Evras evidence was more believable and consistent. Evra was angry at Suarez for fouling him, and said that when he asked why he had done it, Suarez replied: Because youre black. Although Liverpool are considering whether to appeal, they have been criticised by some for sticking by Suarez, even though he has been found guilty. Piara Powar, the head of Football Against Racism in Europe, has called on Liverpool not to appeal. He says that their campaign to stick by Suarez and clear his name is damaging their reputation around the world.