Jobless young people a big problem

The number of young people without a job is very high in many countries. There are 73 million 15-24-year-olds around the world who want to work but cannot find a job. The International Labour Organization (ILO) said that although youth unemployment is coming down in rich countries, it is rising in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa and Brazil. The rate in China increased from 9.3 per cent in 2010 to 10.6 per cent last year. It could be 11.1 per cent in 2016. In Brazil, the figure was 14 per cent at the beginning of this year, but is now almost 16 per cent.

The ILO said: "It's still not easy to be young and starting out in today's labour market." It is worst for young women. The highest rate of youth unemployment is for women in the Middle East and North Africa. This figure is around 45 per cent. There are many reasons for the high youth unemployment. One big factor is the global financial collapse of 2008. Many countries still have problems from that. The ILO says youth unemployment is not just important for economic reasons. It also affects health, peace and levels of people's happiness. (Breaking News English)

 

Earth has lost half its trees because of humans

There is good news and bad news regarding the number of trees on our planet. The good news is that there are seven times more trees on Earth than we thought. Until a few years ago, scientists estimated that the world had around 400 billion trees. However, a new study from Yale University estimates that there are around three trillion trees. That's a three followed by 12 zeroes. That means there are more than 420 trees for every person alive today. Lead researcher Dr Thomas Crowther told the BBC that the new estimate will not change anything. He said: "It's not like we've discovered a load of new trees. It's not good news for the world or bad news that we've produced this new number."

The bad news is that thousands of years ago, the earth had around six trillion trees. Human activity has cut in half the number of trees on the planet. A good example of this is the fact that Europe used to be one giant forest. Now much of it is farmland, fields, cities and towns. Dr Crowther said people are responsible for the loss of three trillion trees over the past several thousand years. Humans are destroying around 15 billion more trees every year because of deforestation and the demand for farmland. The scientists said this figure is "considerably higher" than just a century ago. Dr Crowther warned that: "This study highlights how much more effort is needed if we are to restore healthy forests worldwide." (Breaking News)

 

Smaller plates help reduce obesity

New research suggests there is a simple and easy way that helps people to stop over-eating. Researchers say there is an alternative to fancy diets. They say that using smaller plates, knives, forks, glasses and other tableware could reduce the amount of food we eat. Many of us tend to use the size of the plate as a measure of how much we can eat. If we use a large plate, we fill the plate with food, which often means we eat too much. Research from Cambridge University in the U.K. suggests that smaller plates could lower the amount of food we eat. British people could reduce their calorie intake by up to 16 per cent, while Americans could see a reduction of up to 29 per cent in calories.

The research team looked at data from 6,711 people who took part in the eating trials. Dr Gareth Hollands, one of the leaders of the research, said that many people think it is, "obvious that the larger the portion size, the more people eat," but said that until now, there was little research on this. He added that it was wrong to think people ate too much because of a lack of self-control. He said: "Helping people to avoid 'over-serving' themselves or others with larger portions of food or drink by reducing their size, availability and appeal in shops, restaurants and in the home, is likely to be a good way of helping lots of people to reduce their risk of overeating." (Breaking News)

 

 

 

1981 - Prince Charles marries Lady Diana

Nearly one billion television viewers in 74 countries tune in to witness the marriage of Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, to Lady Diana Spencer, a young English schoolteacher. Married in a grand ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral in the presence of 2,650 guests, the couple’s romance was for the moment the envy of the world. Their first child, Prince William, was born in 1982, and their second, Prince Harry, in 1984.

Before long, however, the fairy-tale couple grew apart, an experience that was particularly painful under the ubiquitous eyes of the world’s tabloid media. Diana and Charles announced a separation in 1992, though they continued to carry out their royal duties. In August 1996, two months after Queen Elizabeth II urged the couple to divorce, the prince and princess reached a final agreement. In exchange for a generous settlement, and the right to retain her apartments at Kensington Palace and her title of “princess,” Diana agreed to relinquish the title of “Her Royal Highness” and any future claims to the British throne. (H History)
 

Rural Olympics in Los Pedroches

King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicates

King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his intention to abdicate, after nearly 40 years on the throne.

 

"A new generation must be at the forefront... younger people with new energies," the 76-year-old king said in a televised address.

His son, Crown Prince Felipe, 45, will take over the throne.

For much of his reign, Juan Carlos was seen as one of the world's most popular monarchs, but recently many Spaniards have lost confidence in him. (BBC News)

1953: Queen Elizabeth takes coronation oath

Queen Elizabeth II has been crowned at a coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in London.

In front of more than 8,000 guests, including prime ministers and heads of state from around the Commonwealth, she took the Coronation Oath and is now bound to serve her people and to maintain the laws of God.

After being handed the four symbols of authority - the orb, the sceptre, the rod of mercy and the royal ring of sapphire and rubies - the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Geoffrey Fisher, placed St Edward's Crown on her head to complete the ceremony.

A shout of "God Save the Queen" was heard and gun salutes were fired as crowds cheered. (BBC on this Day)

Chat: Should chewing gum be banned?

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver says he would ban chewing gum if he was Prime Minister because it's ruining Britain's streets.

He says people should be stopped from chewing it until a gum can be invented that causes less mess on our roads, paths and pavements.
But is he right?
Should chewing gum be banned?

What you think...

I think that chewing gum should be banned because it can get on your clothes and can be hard to get off.
Jessica, London
I don't think it should be banned because it makes your breath smell nice and is fun to chew on.
Sam, Oxfordshire
I think chewing gum should be banned because since you can't swallow it people spit it on the street and it makes a disgusting mess. Also you get it stuck to your shoe and it is horrid.
Victoria, Scotland
I think it should be banned because at my school it is everywhere. It is under desks on chairs and on the floor so when you sit down it goes on your clothes from the desks and it gets all stuck in your hair and it is disgusting.
Amy, Hemel Hempstead
I think chewing gum should be banned because it makes our road messy and it's practically littering when people spit it on the floor.
Leslie, London
I agree that it should be banned to a certain degree however chewing gum is such a big thing in the United Kingdom that banning it altogether is a step too far. Jamie Oliver is a very inspirational person and I think that decisions he makes have a massive impact all over Britain.
Minnie, Sheffield
I think chewing gum should be banned because when you're on a train it is always down the back of the seats.
Emilia, Oundle
Chewing gum should be banned because it gets stuck to your shoes and it takes you forever to take off and at school you touch it under the table because somebody stuck it there.
Libby, Kingston Upon Thames
Chewing gum shouldn't be banned but don't spit it out on the floor.
Matthew, Newport
I think chewing gum should be banned because it sticks to the roads which makes them look dirty and unpleasant"
Safyan, Luton
"I think that this is pointless. I enjoy chewing gum and bubble gum. Chewing gum is especially good because I think it is good for your teeth. What they should do is make laws much stricter about spitting it on the floor, and place more bins on streets and paths."
Harry, St Albans
"Yes ban it, because in school there is loads of it under the desks and it's disgusting"
Nathan, Sunderland
"I think it is a silly idea because it's tasty and you can have some fun by blowing bubbles"
Michael. Epsom
"I think chewing gum should be banned because it is bad for the environment"
Rory, Harrogate
"I think chewing gum should be banned because it is a pointless food that gets stuck on roads"
Imogen, Suffolk
(CBBC)

90-year-old starts elementary school

A 90-year-old is now the world's oldest elementary school student. Priscilla Sitienei is from a small village in Kenya. She spent a long time working as a midwife. She helps to deliver babies. She wants to read and write to pass on her nursing skills and the medicines she uses. She also wants to read the Bible. She said she didn't go to school when she was younger. She wants to be a good example to the village children. She wants them to study.

 

The head teacher is very happy that Ms Sitienei is at school. He called her, a "blessing and a motivator" and he is proud of her. All the students love her. They want to learn and play with her. Sitienei is doing well for her age. She had a special message for the children of the world, especially girls. She said: "Education will be your wealth." She added: "With education, you can be whatever you want." (Breaking News English)

 

This is Halloween

Congratulations to all the people who made it possible!

Academy Awards are 'for white men'

People in the movie world are angry that the movie industry is run by "old white men". People complained after the Oscar nominations came out because all 20 of the actors who could win an Oscar are white. There are no women in the directing or writing categories. The Los Angeles Times carried out a survey on who the members of the Academy are. The members choose the men and women who are nominated for an Oscar. The survey found that the members of the academy were 94 per cent white, largely male, with an average age of 62. Critics say there is too little diversity in the Oscars.

Civil rights campaigner Al Sharpton criticised the Academy. He said: "The movie industry is like the Rocky Mountains - the higher you get, the whiter it gets." He added that: "The lack of diversity in [the] Oscar nominations is [terrible]." He pointed out that a movie nominated for this year's 'Best Picture' award, 'Selma,' was about racism, but no non-white actors were up for an award. The president of the Academy said the members do nominate the best people, regardless of their colour or gender. However, she hoped Hollywood would become more diverse. (Breaking News English)