Spain to replace USA as second most popular tourism location

Spain is set to replace the USA as the world's second most popular tourist destination. This is according to statistics from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The number of international tourists arriving in Spain grew by over 7 per cent in 2017. Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy corroborated the figures. He said the country had a record year in 2017, with more than 82 million international visitors. The growing number of international arrivals continues a growing trend. The figure for 2017 broke Spain's tourist arrival records for the fifth straight year. This is despite the terror attack on Barcelona in August, and demonstrations and unrest in Spain's Catalonia region for independence.

There was an 8 per cent increase in tourism to Europe in 2017. The UNWTO said: "Led by Mediterranean destinations, Europe recorded extraordinary results for such a large and rather mature region." Africa is increasingly becoming an established and attractive destination and tourism there also went up by 8 per cent. Asia and the Pacific saw growth of 6 per cent, the Middle East recorded 5 per cent, and tourism to the Americas grew by 3 per cent. The UNWTO added: "International travel continues to grow strongly, consolidating the tourism sector as a key driver in economic development." France retained its position as the world's top tourist destination. (Breaking News English)

Adolescence now lasts from 10 to 24

Scientists have changed their estimation of when adolescence ends and adulthood starts. Adolescence is that difficult time when children develop into adults. It was traditionally thought to coincide with our teenage years. However, scientists from the University of Melbourne have redefined this. They say it can start at the age of 10 and continue to the age of 24. Puberty used to occur around the age of 14, but because of improved health and nutrition, puberty can now start at the age of 10, especially in the developed world. Likewise, the upper age for when adolescence ends has been increased. This is because we stay in education longer, and delay responsibilities like marriage, parenthood and getting a job.

The scientists published their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent Health" journal. They say society needs to change laws to take into account the findings of the research. Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many adult legal privileges start at age 18, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later." The researchers say youth support services could be extended to the age of 25. However, this could be problematic in many countries around the globe. There is a big difference in the legal age at which nations recognize adulthood. Children legally become adults at the age of 15 in Indonesia, Myanmar and Yemen. In Singapore, Zambia and Honduras, the age is 21. (Breaking News English)

Why do children go to school?

What is school for? This may seem an easy question to answer, but a poll taken in the USA shows people have different opinions on why kids go to school. The poll is called the 'Public’s Attitudes Toward the Public Schools'. It is from a global association of education professionals called PDK International. PDK asked Americans to name the biggest purpose of school. Just 45 per cent of people who took part in the poll said the main goal of school was to prepare students to pass exams. Around a quarter of people said the main purpose was to get kids ready to join the workforce. Just over 26 per cent of Americans believed the biggest reason for school was to teach children about citizenship.

Joshua Starr, CEO of PDK, said the poll questioned whether today's schools were doing the right thing. He said: "One has to really question whether the direction we've been going is consistent with what the public wants." He quoted from author James Baldwin, who said in 1963 that the purpose of school is "to ask questions of the universe and learn to live with those questions." Students had different ideas about what school was for. Elena Brankov, 15, said school was to teach children to be creative, to share ideas with others and to use technology to make the world a better place. Lyndon Bailey, also 15, said school, "is just to make poor kids into robots who work and make rich people richer". (Breaking News English)

Madrid hairdressers offer free haircuts for the homeless

A group of Spanish hairdressers are using their Sundays to give free haircuts to the homeless along with a chance to tell their stories.

For a month, these three stylists have been giving up their Sunday morning lie-ins to head out onto the streets of Madrid offering free haircuts to the city’s homeless population.

Ana Cuenca, a trained hairdresser, was inspired to start the project with two friends, Cristina Medina and Jonatan Martín after seeing the work ofa similar social project in Australia. 

They got in touch with the man behind the project, Nasir Sobhani, to ask for advice and shortly after #UnCorteUnaHistoria (a cut and a story) was born.

"We saw what Nasir was doing in Australia and we wanted to reproduce it here in Spain," Ana tells The Local. 

"We got in touch with a hairdressing company here in Spain, Industrias Orial, and they donated all the equipment we needed," Cristina adds. "Everyone has been so supportive." 

The trio tend to set up their mobile hairdressers in some of the city's busiest areas, such as its main shopping street, the Gran Vía or one of its main squares, Plaza de España. (The Local es)

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)

 

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)

 

Pope attacks Europe's throwaway culture

 

Pope Francis criticised Europe in a speech at the European Parliament. He attacked Europe's 'throwaway culture,' which he said ignored the elderly, the seriously ill and unborn children. He said technology and economics seemed more important than people. He said people were now just "cogs in a machine" and that whenever someone is no longer useful, that machine throws them away. He said Europe suffers from uncontrolled consumerism.

 

The Pope warned that Europe's sense of community and great ideas were disappearing because of bureaucracy. He warned that this was "downright harmful" to people. The Pope also warned that Europe was not caring for its people. He said: "One of the most common diseases in Europe today is the loneliness typical of those who have no connection with others." He added that this was especially true of the elderly and the young. (Breaking News)



Independence for Catalonia ???

1.8 million people vote in favor of independence for Catalonia

Over a third of those eligible turned out to vote, according to census estimates

The Catalan government has released its results for participation in the unofficial poll on independence for the northeastern Spanish region that was held on Sunday. Deputy premier Joana Ortega announced that 2,305,290 people had come out to cast their vote, just over a third of those eligible.
She went on to say that 80.76% of the participants had voted yes to the two questions asked: “Do you want Catalonia to be a state?” was the first; in the case of a positive response, voters were asked: “Do you want Catalonia to be an independent state?”
The “yes-no” response obtained 10.07%; “no-no” 4.54%; and blank votes accounted for 0.56%.
The results were released with 100% of votes counted. (El País)

 

Web full of energy but also has 'dark side'

The Internet's founder, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has spoken about it 25 years after he created it. He said it is a force for good, but it has a negative side. He told the BBC: "Everywhere I look I see a mass of energy…and also in some places, they are using the web for organised protests." He was sad at the amount of trolling and negativity. He was shocked that normal people, "suddenly become very hateful instead of very loving".

Berners-Lee was at London's Science Museum for a new 'Information Age' exhibition. It has the server that hosted the first ever website, which still has a note on it that Berners-Lee wrote about not switching it off. Berners-Lee is a director of the World Wide Web Consortium, which looks after the Web's development. He hopes people will build more web-based tools that will help us collaborate for positive change, rather than fight. (Breaking News English)

Scotland decides: The independence referendum explained

In nine days time, people across Scotland will face a massive choice - whether or not to become an independent country, separate from the United Kingdom.

A referendum asks you to vote yes or no to a question or proposal.

The people of Scotland will be asked the simple question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"

Scotland has been part of the UK for more than 300 years, so the vote is a huge moment for the country. (CBBC Newsround)