Due Date for Kate
The Duchess of Cambridge revealed on Wednesday that she is expecting her second child mid-April to the end of April.
The information was disclosed when she was visiting a Home-start charity center, a charity that helps both children and their families in Woolwich, at Brook Hill's childrens center. This time in April means that there are several important dates that the baby could be born on, for example, Saint Georges day- 23rd of April-, The Queen’s birthday- 21st of April or the Duke and Duchess’s fourth wedding anniversary- 29th April.
The baby could even be born on the day of the elections. The big question still left though is that we do not know if the baby is male or female, so what if the baby is born on Saint Georges day?
By Betsy, Y7
Gym thinks all Dr's must be men
A female Paediatrician was locked out of womens changing room at a gym due to the fact that everyone with the title Dr was automatically recognized as a male. Dr Louise Selby, who is 31, was given an eight digit number to access the changing rooms after she joined PureGym. When she entered the code to get into the female changing room it did not work. She was so confused that she asked a member of staff to help her. They then told her that their security system had registered her as a man because her the title “Dr”. She was outraged.
The gym said the system couldn’t be changed unless she dropped her title. Dr Selby,who lives in Balsham, Cambridge,was speechless at the cambridge gym attitude.She said: “Their archaic attitudes and blatant sexism really are second to none. I was speechless and I’m not often speechless.If it is some sort of IT glitch then why don't they they fix it?”. The gym has said it is trying to fix a computer bug which caused the issue and has apologised for any offence.
Our teacher, Miss Rutherford, stated “It’s despicable in this day and age, to automatically assume that the doctor would be female. It is a shocking demonstration of societies problems which need to be tackled”.
By Martisse, Y7
Voting age to be lowered?
The voting age for the general elections this year is being debated as to whether it should be lowered or not. The Labour party are all for it however the conservatives are not so sure and it is unclear yet as to what the Liberal Democrats are thinking. Two thirds of 15-18 year olds have said that they think sixteen year olds should get a vote only if they have an education in politics.
One girl we asked who was Georgina aged 15, soon to be 16 said: “ If anyone in the UK gets a vote then everyone should. If sixteen year olds in Scotland and Wales are allowed to vote then so should sixteen year olds in England.” Saffron aged 16 said: “ I think sixteen year olds should vote and should have a compulsory education in politics just like PSHE.” All the girls we asked agreed on a similar basis. However some people are against it and even voting completely for example Russell Brand. He said in the Newsnight interview "Don't bother voting. Stop voting, stop pretending, wake up, be in reality now. Why vote? We know it's not going to make any difference."
Sixteen year olds can vote in Scotland as shown in the referendum, they can also vote in Wales, so why not England?
Here are some opinions from 15-18 year olds:
“I don’t really mind”. Nadia
“When you are sixteen you are not as independant as you should be to make an informed decision”- Jasmine.
“You are not technically an adult when you are sixteen if you let all sixteen year olds vote then you have to let all children vote.”-Ocean
“Most of the policy’s are irrelevant to sixteen year olds” Olivia
“ If you can have a child or marry at sixteen then you should be able to vote.” Belle.
“Including sixteen year olds would encourage engagement in politics.” Sophie.
“ Before sixteen year olds are allowed to vote, form politics education in sixth forms and colleges.” Emily.
“I disagree because it can be hard to understand policies and you can be swayed easily if you don’t fully understand.” Hannah.
By Betsy, Y7
Turtle terror, the struggle with plastic bags
The rare giant leatherback turtle is a gentle creature but often they are treated with brutality. Some heartless people strap bombs to their shells, carry them in the boot of their cars, steal or harm the eggs or sit on them to try and look cool and then take pictures, this is not the case. The leatherbacks’ are washing onto the shore because they eat plastic bags which could cause a build-up of gas in the digestive tract, making the turtle buoyant and washing it to shore. they also choke to death on the plastic bags because they have mistaken them for their favorite food, jellyfish.
Because of all or he bags that have been dumped into oceans, rivers, lakes and ponds, the Government is going to put a price on the bags. In Wales this has already started, for every plastic bag you must pay 5p. Firms face a £5,000 fine if any shop gives away free plastic bags as that will be illegal.
This new law is from the Royal Mail.
By Chloe, Y7
Connecting the Oceans?
Chinese Billionaire, Wang Jing, who intends to build a shipping canal through Nicaragua connecting the Atlantic and Pacific has dismissed project’s critics.
When speaking to the BBC in a rare broadcast interview, Wang Jing said that having Chinese companies leading the project will help ensure its success. Mr Wang's company HKND began initial site work in Nicaragua last December but the canal project is scheduled to begin in earnest after publication of the environmental assessment next month.
With no experience in infrastructure, a background in traditional Chinese medicine, and a fortune made in telecoms, the 42-year-old Chinese billionaire is embarking on what is arguably the world's biggest construction project.
"I feel great pressure because no matter how well we prepare, new problems will inevitably crop up," Mr Wang said.
"We can't think of everything in advance. But we can try to solve each problem as it emerges."
By Chloe, Y7
Jobs expected to be cut as Yahoo abandons China
Yahoo’s is set to close down its Beijing office as part of a worldwide association aimed at cutting cost,leaving around 350 employees jobless. Yahoo has said in a statement “We are constantly making changes to align resources, and to foster better collaboration and innovation across our business.”
Recently Yahoo has been struggling to maintain profit growth,competing with one of many popular search,like Google. One employee said the news was”very sad” and he then added “I had a good relationship with my colleagues and now i have to say goodbye.”
Outside the Yahoo centre an employment agency had created a campaign to assign the sacked staff new jobs. Yahoo has said to be rapidly retreating from the chinese markets.Recently in 2013,it stopped contributing online services to other email users in China.
Yahoo has had an often fraught relationship with the chinese government-Martin Patience,BBC News. Contentiously the information has been handed over to the authority that led to two chinese protesters being jailed. There is no confirmation of what will happen to the sacked employees but Yahoo has said they will be “treated with respect and fairness.”
By Sajida, Y7
Colston's Girls' raises over £1,000 for charity
Year 8 Colston's girls washed cars, baked, stayed silent and ran in the aid of Lepra from 25th February to 11th March. They all participated and put their best efforts in to help those with Leprosy and as a treat they all came together on Wednesday 11th March to take part in a half an hour dance workout.
They raised over £1,000 pounds that will go towards helping people in and their families with Leprosy.
The charity Lepra states that Last year almost 216,000 people were diagnosed with leprosy and they as a charity have reached 2.4 million since they started.
We talked to two of the girls who took part in the fundraising and told them grand total. One of them said “Wow! It is so amazing we raised so much money in so little time. All the money that was raised will help so many people and will change lives.” Another said “Everyone that raised money should be really proud as that’s an amazing total.”
By Mia, Y10
Lion Hugger
Lion hugger Valentin Gruener saved a 10 day old lion cub after it was captured by a farmer got tired of shooting animals that preyed his cattle. The lions had killed the other two or three cubs in the cage and the mother abandoned the remaining cub, Sirga."Since the lion arrived, which is three years now, I haven't really left the camp," says Gruener."Sometimes for one night I go into the town here to organise something for the business, but other than that I've been here with the lion."
When rescued, Sirga was very small, she was the only surviving cub and after being saved has made an extraordinary friendship, everytime Valentin visits and opens the door Sirga runs up and leaps into his arms and Gruener lifts him off of the ground. Truly outstanding.
By Chloe and Izzy, Y7
Is Titan submarine the most daring space mission yet?
Is Titan submarine the most daring space mission yet?
Dropping a robotic lander onto the surface of a comet was arguably one of the most audacious space achievements of recent times.
Scientists are proposing to send a robot submarine to the oily seas of Saturn’s moon titan. The seas are filled, not with water, but with hydrocarbons like methane and ithane. But one concept mission being studied by the US space agency could top even that.
These compounds exist in their liquid state on the moon, where the temperature averages -180C.
The plan is funded by an initiative called Nasa Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC), where researchers are encouraged to think out of the box.
"That's quite liberating," says the scientist behind the project, Dr Ralph Lorenz, who is outlining the concept here at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) in Texas.
By Chloe, Y7
TED 2015: Google Boss wants technology on roads in five years
Chris Urmson, head of the Google self drive project, revealed his secret behind his desire yesterday for getting self drive cars on the road (18th March 2015). He told delegates, At the TED talk, that his eldest son was eleven and was due to take his driving test in “four and a half years.”
He said “My team are committed to making sure that doesn’t happen.”
Chris Urmson had named his new produced TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design).
The prototype that was revealed in December, is due to be tested later on this year - TED will have extra controls fitted for early testing incase of technical difficulties.
The car is thought to reduce traffic and amount of car collisions - he said "Some 1.2 million people are killed on the roads around the world each year. That number is equivalent to a jet falling out of the sky every day."
The speed limit on the prototype is 25 mph, seats for two passengers and, sensors for self driving.
By Kirsty, Y7
Waste of a journey?
Britain's first bus to be powered by human and food waste has taken to the roads throughout Bristol and Bath. The bus (which has been nicknamed ‘ the number two’) runs on biomethane gas which is made at a sewage works in Avon. The bus is able to travel up to 186 miles on one tank of gas, which uses the annual waste products of around five people to produce.
The environmentally-friendly buses emit 30% less carbon dioxide gas when compared to average diesel buses through the process of anaerobic respiration. The gas is stored in a compartment above the bus and impurities will be removed to produce virtually odor free emissions. Collin Field from Bath Bus Company's said: "With so much attention being directed towards improving air quality generally, the public reaction to the appearance of this bus on a service between a world heritage city and an airport will further focus on the potential for this particular fuel." The reveal of the bus comes shortly after Bristol was named the next European Green Capital and is part of the city’s campaign for an environmentally friendly city.
By Mia, Y10
Time up for Man City Boss?
Manchester City may have a new boss after the Champions League exit
City failed to reach the last 16 in the Champions League after they lost 3-1 to Barcelona. They are also 6 points behind the top of the Premier League team Chelsea.
Man City’s new boss may have a good impact on the team as Manchester City have not been too great at scoring goals and winning matches lately! Fans hope that the team's skills will improve as a result of the new management.
By Izzy, Y7
Chocolate differentiation among the nations
Moves to prevent retailers importing British-made Cadbury chocolate into the US have scandalised some expats, who say US-made Cadbury chocolate is inferior - and who often view Hershey's, the most popular US chocolate, as beneath contempt. But how big is the difference?
"American chocolate is rubbish," says John Hanson the owner of The British Shoppe, a UK food store based in Orlando, Florida.
"Cadbury's chocolate tastes like chocolate," he says, "whereas Hershey's chocolate tastes like wax."
He's not the only one who thinks so. More than 37,000 people have signed a petition to boycott Hershey's, which has the licence to produce Cadbury chocolate in the US, and regards imported British-made Cadbury chocolate as a trademark infringement.
By Chloe, Y7
