Table of contents for 474 in The Week Junior

On 4 and 5 January, thousands of protesters gathered outside the home of Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul, South Korea’s capital. Yoon was the president of the country but was removed from power on 14 December. Some of the protesters showed support for him, while others demanded his arrest. Why was Yoon removed from power? On 3 December, Yoon announced that there would be martial law in the country (when control of a country is temporarily handed to the military). Parliament voted to block this plan and Yoon changed his mind. He claimed he had declared martial law to protect South Korea, particularly from its neighbour, North Korea. However, lots of people in South Korea say this was an excuse and he did it so he wouldn’t lose his grip on…

AN ANIMATED FILM On 5 January, a film about a cat surviving a flood won a Golden Globe (an important film award) for best animated film in Los Angeles, US. Flow, which was directed by Gints Zilbalodis, beat several other big animated films including Inside Out 2 and Moana 2. LUKE LITTLER On 3 January, darts player Luke Littler won the PDC World Championship in London. The 17-year-old from Warrington, England, beat Michael van Gerwen from the Netherlands 7–3 to become the youngest world champion in darts history. “I can’t believe it,” Littler said. “Everyone dreams of lifting this trophy.” ICELANDIC SHEEPDOGS From April, Icelandic sheepdogs will be officially recognised as a breed by the UK Kennel Club. The Kennel Club officially recognises a breed when it has studied it…

UK electricity is now the cleanest it has ever been. In 2024, renewable energy (from sources that do not run out or can be reused, such as solar, wind and water) produced 45% of the UK’s electricity. Fossil fuels (mostly gas) produced 29% of the UK’s electricity. Burning fossil fuels releases gases that cause climate change. In December, the UK Government set out plans to increase the UK’s energy usage from renewable sources to 95% by 2030.…

Ottawa, Canada Prime Minister Trudeau resigns On 6 January, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said he plans to resign. He has led the country since 2015, but has been under pressure from his party (the Liberal Party) and the public to step down. In December 2024, only 22% of Canadians said they approved of his leadership. He will stay on as leader until his party can find a replacement. The US Winter storm affects millions On 3 January, a winter storm began in the US. The country’s National Weather Service issued warnings to more than 60 million people and in some areas it was declared an emergency. Storm Blair brought the heaviest snowfall in 32 years to Kansas City, Missouri. Thousands of flights were cancelled and many roads were blocked.…

Zakir Hussain had a passion for making music from a young age. He was born in Mumbai, India, in 1951. His father, Alla Rakha, was a famous musician who played the tabla. The tabla is a pair of small hand drums with a long history in different parts of South Asia. Hussain’s father used to whisper tabla rhythms to him as a baby, and then taught him how to play when he was seven years old. Hussain picked it up quickly, and five years later he began touring to perform concerts. In 1972, he met a British guitarist called John McLaughlin. They formed a band called Shakti, which mixed Indian classical music and jazz. Shakti released several records in the 1970s and the band reunited more recently to release a…

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) T charity released a report in December revealing that its researchers identified 234 new species in one region over 2023. This included 173 plants, 26 reptiles and three new mammals across Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. New species included a rat-like relative of the common hedgehog, which has been named the vampire hedgehog because of its fang-like teeth. There was also a tiny bat with a leaf-shaped nose. Reptiles included the limestone eyelash pit viper snake, named after the scales around its eyes, and a bright orange-headed crocodile newt. Experts also found unusual plants, such as a species of ginger with a root that smells like mango fruit. A spokesperson for WWF said, “Each of these species is a critical piece of…

Great Britain bobsleigh team The four-man bobsleigh team of Brad Hall, Taylor Lawrence, Arran Gulliver and Greg Cackett won gold at the IBSF World Cup event in Winterberg, Germany. Alexander Isak Swedish striker Isak scored the winning goal as Newcastle United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the Premier League. US tennis team The US won the United Cup tennis tournament in Australia, an international team event where male and female players compete together. Harlequins Harlequins beat Trailfinders by 46 points to 39 in Premiership Women’s Rugby. It was their ninth win in a row in the competition.…

Anzu and the Realm of Darkness by Mai K. Nguyen (Piccadilly Press) In this captivating fantasy graphic novel, when Anzu chases after a stray dog she unexpectedly falls into the Shinto underworld. It’s known as Yomi, and she’s heard about it in her grandmother’s stories. There, she is plunged into an extraordinary adventure of magical creatures and curses. Wrong Tracks by Susan Brownrigg (UCLan Publishing) It’s 1829 and everyone is talking about the exciting new railways. Edward can’t believe his luck when he’s offered a job at the Stephensons’ Steam Locomotive Manufactory. The Stephensons are preparing for a big competition but Edward soon realises someone is out to sabotage them. This historical adventure is inspired by real-life events. The Zombie Project by Alice Nuttall (Chicken House) This unusual adventure turns…

Name: Simran North of Nowhere by Liz Kessler “Action-packed, tense, jaw-gripping. I like this book because in the middle there are twists and turns that keep you glued to the book!” YOUR TURN Please email your book review to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk. If it is printed in the magazine you will receive a Roving Reporter badge. Describe your chosen book in three words, tell us what you liked about it and why you would recommend it to others. Don’t forget to include your name and address.*…

What you need • 300g dry red lentils• 1 tbsp vegetable oil• 1 red onion, finely chopped• 2 garlic cloves, crushed• 1 tbsp tomato purée• 1 tsp turmeric• 1 tsp ground cumin• 1 tsp ground coriander• 1 tsp garam masala Pinch of dried chilli flakes• 1 tsp grated fresh ginger• 1 400g tin chopped tomatoes• Fresh coriander and lime (optional)• 2 saucepans with lids• Colander• Knife• Grater• Chopping board• Wooden spoon For lots of people in the UK, January is Veganuary – a month dedicated to veganism. A vegan diet contains only plant-based foods. This means no meat, fish or animal products, such as eggs or milk. Children and young people should eat a wide range of foods to make sure they get the right nourishment. For that reason, the…

Welcome to our new readers – and happy new year to everyone! We’re so excited to be back, bringing you the most interesting stories from all over the world. As we were preparing this issue the BBC reported it was asking Apple, which makes iPhones, to withdraw its AI (artificial intelligence) feature because it had produced stories that weren’t true. The AI gets reports from lots of sources and creates shorter versions – news alerts – which are sent to people’s phones. The trouble is, some of the alerts it had created were wrong. Apple says it will update the AI feature. At The Week Junior we take accuracy very seriously. Every story we create is checked against reliable sources, such as official reports, scientific papers and original surveys. The…

“We live in Australia. It’s really hot here as it’s summer and we have looked back through our old copies for fun things to do while we stayed cool inside.”June and Jacob “Every Sunday morning, I go with my family to the pool and then when I’m back home, I enjoy reading The Week Junior.”Filippo “This is our dog, Bodge, enjoying The Week Junior this weekend while pretending to do his music practice.”Molly…

We love hearing from you! It’s easy – just write a comment when you vote in our online Big Debate poll, or even record a voice note for The Week Junior Show. Before Christmas we asked if it’s ok to sing at the cinema… “No, some people have never seen the movie before and singing might ruin the experience for them.” “Yes, the cinema is a time to have fun.” “No, I pay to see movies, not hear amateurs sing.” “The sound in the cinema is really loud so it won’t matter if someone sings along a little bit.” Tell us what you think of this week’s issue and we’ll print some of the best comments here.…

On 6 January, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to cut waiting times for NHS appointments. What are the plans? The Government wants to make sure the maximum waiting time for NHS medical treatment is 18 weeks for most patients in England. The NHS hasn’t achieved this target since 2015. The Government hopes to do this by giving people more access to community diagnostic centres (CDCs), where patients can go for tests and scans without having to go to hospital. CDCs are set up in public places, such as shopping centres, football stadiums and universities. The NHS will also open more surgical hubs for common operations, such as hip replacements or tonsil removals. This should free up space in hospitals. The Government will also give more funding to private hospitals,…

A woman who had bowel cancer is cancer-free after a pioneering (first of its kind) liver transplant. Bianca Perea, from Manchester, England, was told in 2021 that she had incurable cancer (a disease caused by oddly behaving cells growing out of control) in her bowel (part of the digestive system), which had spread to her liver. However, after other treatments removed the cancer in her bowel, Perea had a liver transplant last summer and now has no signs of cancer. Perea said she has been given “a second chance at life”.…

Research has found that around half of the UK’s school pupils take a packed lunch to school from home. There are lots of foods that can be part of a packed lunch but one of the most popular has to be sandwiches. They’re easy to make and can include a variety of fillings. According to a survey, the average person in the UK eats more than 18,300 sandwiches during their lifetime. Although sandwiches are popular, others prefer something else. Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, recently said that she doesn’t like sandwiches because they’re not “real food”. She doesn’t like the idea of moist bread and prefers to eat something more filling for her lunch, like a steak. What do you think? Are sandwiches the best lunch? Yes…

A new study has found that older wild animals need to be protected because they have vital knowledge that helps the rest of their populations survive. The research looked at thousands of scientific papers on old animals, their effect on their environment and the risks they face. There are lots of ways that older animals help their environment. When older birds have chicks, they are better at providing food and finding a good place to live. This makes it more likely for the chicks to survive. Older female elephants are good at remembering which other animals are friendly and which ones aren’t. They are also better at keeping an eye out for possible dangers, such as lions. Grandmother orcas (killer whales) use their knowledge to help their families find food…

As the main ingredient in lots of delicious meals, the potato is already a special vegetable. Now, scientists have produced an even more extraordinary spud – one that could help people cope with the effects of global warming. As the Earth’s temperatures rise, growing crops in warmer conditions could be very important for feeding people around the world. Researchers from the University of Essex, in the UK, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in the US, have teamed up as part of RIPE, an international research project. Their aim was to genetically modify a type of potato plant called Desiree to make it grow better in hotter weather. Genetic modification of crops is when the chemical instructions that tell the plants how to grow are deliberately altered by scientists. Genes…

BIRD PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2024…

(Nosy Crow) This wonderful book celebrates some of the world’s most remarkable animals, bringing together 50 true stories that are funny, surprising, heart-warming and awe-inspiring. Turn the pages to meet a series of amazing animal heroes, helpers and adventurers, including Cher Ami, a First World War pigeon who won a medal for bravery; Hans, a horse that appeared able to do maths; and Moko the dolphin, who rescued two stranded whales. There’s lots of colourful artwork and a map showing where each of the animals comes from, as well as a glossary of useful words. Whether you love penguins or gorillas, koala bears or cats, you’re certain to find new favourites among these extraordinary history-making animals. WIN! We’re giving away five copies of WildLives to lucky readers. For a chance to win…

In the Loki: A Bad God’s Guide book series by Louie Stowell, Loki is a trickster god who is sent to live on Earth as an 11-year-old boy. To return to his home in Asgard, Loki has to prove that he’s good, which might be easier said than done. Actor Ben Willbond, who starred in Horrible Histories and Ghosts, narrates the audiobooks of the series. Last year, Loki: A Bad God’s Guide to Ruling the World won Children’s Audiobook of the Year at The Week Junior Book Awards. Willbond told The Week Junior that he was “so chuffed” about the award. There’s lots of work that goes into making an audiobook. Willbond makes sure to read each of the books several times before going to record them, so that he…

Crossword Read the clues carefully and write the answers into the grid. Across 1 Dutch shoe (4) 3 Counting frame (6) 8 Gloves (7) 9 Sheep’s noise (3) 10 Large keyboard instrument (5,5) 13 Expensive car (5-5) 17 Shin protector (3) 18 Dairy product deliverer (7) 19 Candy, bonbons (6) 20 Move quickly (4) Down 1 Hair-grooming tool (4) 2 Riverbank animal (5) 4 Public transport vehicle (3) 5 Snake with a hooded neck (5) 6 Darkness out of the sunlight (6) 7 Wimbledon game (6) 11 Curly-haired dog (6) 12 Small fruits sold in bunches (6) 14 Spoon for serving soup (5) 15 Punctuation mark (5) 16 Weave (4) 18 Small rug (3) Number tower Place a number in every circle to complete the tower. The value in each…

In December, Iona O’Donnell from Coventry, England, was chosen to feature on a special list. Every year, a charity called Cycling UK creates a “100 Women in Cycling” list, which highlights women and girls who encourage others to try cycling. Aged 10, Iona was the youngest person on the 2024 list. The Week Junior spoke to Iona, who is now 11, and her dad, Ian, who inspired her love of bike adventures. Two years ago, the pair did their first big cycle tour (a biking trip over several days). One of Iona’s favourite things about cycling is “seeing different surroundings”. She loved cycling in the Netherlands because, she explained, it’s flat and has lots of cycle lanes. Iona says that if people are nervous about cycling on roads, they should…

In January, the trees are bare and it’s a great time to spot tree-dwelling birds such as the treecreeper. This small, energetic bird is found over most of the UK. It has a long, thin beak that curves slightly downwards and can pick up insects such as earwigs and spiders hiding under tree bark. Treecreepers hunt for food by moving up and around a tree trunk, as if they are going up an invisible spiral staircase. They are about 12.5 centimetres long and are speckled brown on top with white underneath and a white stripe above their eye. If you spot one, stay quiet and still – if they are scared they will freeze to try to blend in with the tree. Treecreepers tend to have small territories and sometimes…

Everyone goes to the toilet but about 1.5 billion people don’t have access to a clean, safe one. This means they have to share dirty, unsafe public toilets or go to the loo out in the open. The charity WaterAid is running an appeal to get clean water to families around the world. It says that clean water and decent toilets keep children healthy and in school. A world of toilets There are 45 million toilets in UK homes and flushing them uses about 30% of the water people consume. However, they differ around the world. Some cultures have different attitudes to going to the toilet and some places don’t have access to water or a sewage system. Sewage is human waste (pee and poo). In lots of countries, toilet…

A team of astronomers (scientists A who study space) have found evidence of a “hiccuping” star. Stars have very long life cycles, ranging from a few million to trillions of years, and when stars that are much bigger than the Sun reach the end of their life, they explode in a burst of light called a supernova. Astronomers had previously suggested that some massive stars sometimes experience something called “pulsational pair instability” (PPI) before they explode. PPI happens when the middle of the star, known as the core, gets very hot and starts pulsing (rapidly getting bigger and smaller). These pulses are said to be like hiccups. Every time the core pulses, the star throws out material. Sometimes, these materials crash into each other, creating bright bursts of light. In…

'Expect the unexpected! It will be bigger and better and I’m super excited to be back!” That’s what Electro says as the popular Gladiators television show returns. Electro is one of the 16 gladiators taking part in the fun programme. In it, “contenders” (members of the public) tackle exciting physical tests and games, and the gladiators try to beat them or stop them as the crowd cheers them on. Electro’s sporting background makes her a tough opponent. “I realised I had a talent for running when I was about three years old,” she tells The Week Junior. “I got into sprinting by watching Usain Bolt at the 2008 Olympics. I went to a running track the next week and started training.” How does her speed help her in Gladiators? “There…

This summer, get ready to blast off on a journey to the stars with Pixar’s Elio. In the film, Elio, a boy who is fascinated by aliens, is beamed into space. There, he meets members of an intergalactic organisation called the Communiverse but they mistakenly think he’s the leader of Earth. The mix-up leaves Elio having to tackle a crisis that is truly out of this world. A familiar alien face, Stitch, will be causing trouble in another Disney film in 2025. Lilo & Stitch, which arrives in cinemas in May, is a live-action version of the popular 2002 film of the same name. Stitch isn’t the only blue creature who’ll be making mischief this year, either, as the Smurfs return during the summer for another adventure. The Smurfs Movie…

Jentry Chau vs the Underworld Available now on Netflix Teenager Jentry Chau has spent her life trying to hide her supernatural powers but now a demon king is after her. She has to battle lots of monsters from the underworld while trying to balance the challenges of high school at the same time. The Secret Lives of Animals Available now on Apple TV+ This documentary features 77 species in 24 countries. It looks at important moments during animals’ lives, such as leaving home and raising a family. It’s narrated by Hugh Bonneville, who plays Mr Brown in the Paddington films.…

What is your favourite animal story in this book? I’m fond of all of them but I particularly love the tale of Moko, a bottlenose dolphin who helped to rescue two stranded whales. Tell us about your favourite teacher at school. I had a brilliant history teacher called Mr Armour who always made lessons hugely exciting. Our affectionate nickname for him was Dillo, as in Armour-Dillo. What do you enjoy doing in nature? I’m a big fan of hiking, birdwatching, dog-walking and running. Perhaps most of all, though, I love finding somewhere special and sitting still. How many books do you think you have read in your life so far? What a fantastic question. At a very rough guess, I’d say around 1,500 – and I still own most of…

Whether you play on a console, computer or phone, 2025 has plenty of new games to try. Donkey Kong Country Returns HD is Nintendo’s latest remake of an old game for the Switch. The game is an action-packed platform adventure starring gaming’s most famous gorilla, Donkey Kong, that came out in 2010 on the Wii console. The new version looks much better and will have options to make it easier to play. Another remake is Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles, a game from 2000 getting a new version for all consoles. You’ll be jumping and fighting – yes, with a lightsaber – as a Jedi. It’s not all old games in 2025, though. Pokémon Legends: Z-A is a new game set in the Pokémon Universe. Cuisineer looks like…

Meals from a mega mushroom While on a family walk in Buckinghamshire, England, Alissimon Minnitt stumbled upon a giant mushroom in a field. The enormous fungus was a puffball mushroom and weighed a whopping five kilograms. Minnitt told the BBC, “It looks like something from another planet”. The puffball provided the family with meals for a whole week, including mushroom curry, mushroom “steaks”, and even mushroom pizza bases. Alissimon Minnitt’s family are expert mushroom hunters and so they knew it was safe to eat. This is important because many mushrooms you might find growing wild are poisonous. The delicious colour of 2025 Pantone, a company that organises colour shades for use in design and printing, has announced its colour of the year. For more than 25 years, Pantone has been…

Never Such Innocence – how can we prevent future wars? The charity Never Such Innocence is asking young people to take part in an annual competition. There are four categories (poetry, art, speech and song) and entrants are asked to answer a really big question: how can we prevent future wars? Entries can talk about what people can do as individuals, communities or nations – and those aged nine to 18 can enter. You can enter each category once – that’s four chances to win – and everyone will get a certificate of commendation. The competition is open until 28 February. Find out more at neversuchinnocence.com/2024-25-competition GET INVOLVED Email your news, views and pictures to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk Please include your full name and address so that we can send you a…

Teacher’s name: Mr Love School: St Helen’s School, Northwood, North London “Although he has only been teaching at St Helen’s for a short time, Mr Love has already made a big impact. His lessons are both entertaining and enjoyable because he is able to balance humour and seriousness. I am excited to go to school every day because of him, as he is always willing to assist and can always bring a smile to my face. Go, Mr Love. Do you. Be you. Don’t let anyone stop you.” Kiana If we pick your teacher as Teacher of the Week, we’ll send your school three free issues of The Week Junior. Send your nominations, along with a picture of your teacher and your school’s full name and address, to hello@theweekjunior.co.uk…

1 What types of food are traditionally eaten as part of Epiphany celebrations? ⬜ a) Cakes and breads ⬜ b) Meats and cheeses ⬜ c) Sweets and chocolates 2 True or false? The NHS was founded in 1948. ⬜ True ⬜ False 3 In which city has a new island called Bacan appeared? 4 How many sandwiches does the average person in the UK eat during their lifetime? ⬜ a) 1,830 ⬜ b) 18,300 ⬜ c) 18.3 million 5 True or false? When cycling through rain, Iona O’Donnell recommends using old bread bags as shoe covers. ⬜ True ⬜ False 6 What type of bird is Wisdom, the world’s oldest known wild bird? 7 What was the job title for the person who carried a portable toilet for King Henry…