Innehållsförteckning för Issue 172 från The Week Junior US

Former US official Henry Kissinger traveled to China on July 18 for two days of meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders. Political experts said the visit highlighted tensions between the US and China and was an example of China’s unusual approach to diplomacy (management of relationships between countries). Who is Henry Kissinger? Kissinger, age 100, is a former US secretary of state and national security advisor who does not currently have an official government role. He played a major part in shaping policy under Presidents Richard Nixon (1969–1974) and Gerald Ford (1974–1977). In July 1971, he became the first high-ranking US official to visit China in 22 years and helped repair a troubled relationship between the two countries. Since that meeting, Kissinger has traveled to China more…

ANTICIPATING AN ARRIVAL The World’s Largest Rubber Duck is set to visit Maryland in August. Mama Duck, as she’s also known, is 61 feet tall and weighs over 30,000 pounds. She travels the world bringing cheer and “makes people so happy,” said her creator. A CARING COMPANION Zebby the cat was named the National Cat of the Year by an animal-welfare group in the UK. Zebby helps his owner, Genevieve Moss, who is deaf, by tapping her when the phone or doorbell rings. He also brings her the mail or her slippers. “[I] can’t imagine life without Zebby,” Moss said. EATING PINK While the movie Barbie smashes box office records, Barbie-inspired treats are sweeping the globe. Fans can try Krispy Kreme’s Barbie donuts, Burger King’s Pink Burger with Ken’s Potatoes, and Barbie x Swoon Pink…

As a child, Davon Strickland loved watching shows about sharks. Today, he is a student at Florida International University (FIU) studying sharks and has made his first appearance on National Geographic’s SharkFest, an annual TV series that offers six weeks of programming about the lives of sharks. Strickland, age 23, grew up in Florida and loved going to the beach and aquariums. He attended a special high school with a marine science program where he also played football. At FIU, he was able to pursue both of those passions. He was captain of the football team and studied marine biology. Now he is at FIU studying for his doctorate degree in shark ecology. His opportunity to appear on SharkFest came about because he is part of a research team led…

Moths may be just as important as bees when it comes to helping plants reproduce, a new study has found. The research, from the University of Sheffield in the UK, showed that moths visit more types of plants and carry more of a substance called pollen than experts had thought. Flowering plants use a process called pollination to reproduce. This involves taking pollen from the male part of a flower (the stamen) and carrying it to the female part (the stigma). Some flowers have both a stigma and a stamen, so they can self-pollinate. However, others need help from pollinators, which are often bees or other insects, birds, or bats Pollinators typically eat substances that plants produce, such as pollen and nectar. When the creatures land on a flower, the…

This year marks the 230th anniversary of the Louvre. Long before the grand Paris landmark became a museum, it was a palace. A royal entrance In 1109, King Philip II of France built a defensive fortress to protect Paris. In 1546, King Francis I hired the architect Pierre Lescot to replace the fort with a majestic royal palace and called his new home the Louvre. Almost every French monarch (king or queen) who ruled after Francis further developed the Louvre. Francis was an art collector, and the palace collection continued to grow, especially under King Louis XIII and King Louis XIV. When Louis XIV moved to Versailles in 1682, the Louvre was no longer used as a royal residence. A museum for the people In the 18th century, many French…

A company that designs camping gear has created a pop-up tent that works in all weather conditions. The Hub V2, also called the Anywhere for Anyone Tent, is made by Freespirit Recreation. It measures 8 feet wide, 8 feet long, and more than 6 feet tall. The fiberglass tent is lightweight, portable, and quick and easy to set up on the ground or on a car. Pull tabs on each side pop it open, and a light strip keeps it bright inside. Three-layer walls let campers modify the tent to warm it up, let air flow in, or block rain and snow.…

This year marks a big moment in music as hip-hop, one of today’s most popular genres, turns 50 years old. It began in New York City as a youth culture movement in Black and Latino neighborhoods and has four main elements: deejaying, rapping, breakdancing, and graffiti painting. The most important date in hip-hop is August 11, 1973, which is when 18-year-old DJ Kool Herc introduced a new technique at a party in the Bronx, New York. Using vinyl records and two turntables (record players), he played rhythmic beats from one song and layered it over a different song. Another early pioneer was DJ Grandmaster Flash, who developed more sound innovations. In 1979, the first hip-hop record, “Rapper’s Delight” by the Sugarhill Gang, was released and became a hit. In the…

Inside Out PG (Disney+ or rent on demand) “This is a great movie about feelings. Joy, Disgust, Sadness, Anger, and Fear are the main characters, and they work inside the brain of a girl named Riley. My favorite character is Disgust because she is really sarcastic but also really funny. One day, Joy and Sadness get sucked up by a tube that collects Riley’s memories, and they have to find their way back to headquarters. Along the way, they meet a character named Bing Bong, which is my favorite part. Meanwhile, Anger, Disgust, and Fear try to keep Riley happy. I think the movie will make people of all ages laugh.” Mia, 9, Connecticut Do you have a film or TV show to recommend to other kids? Send your review to…

By Elaine Vickers (Peachtree) Drew and Mia were born on the same day and even shared a cradle at the hospital in Half Moon Bay, California. But their paths don’t cross again until the summer before they turn 13. Drew is upset that his best friend moved away and his parents seem to be hiding something. Mia and her family have been staying with her grandmother to save money while her dad is away. Drew and Mia start to become friends by running together. At first, they meet up to run because it’s fun. But when Mia realizes that a person who can help save the house her father was building is taking part in a half-marathon, she asks Drew if he’ll sign up with her. As they begin to…

Camp Famous By Jennifer Blecher (Greenwillow Books) Abby is bullied at school and just wants a best friend. Her parents send her to sleepaway camp, and it turns out that all the campers there are famous. To fit in with everyone, Abby lies about being a famous author. Find out what happens when the truth comes out. Ages 8–12 Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camp By Lamar Giles, illustrated by Morgan Bissant (Versify) In this first book in a new series, Wiki and Leen are twins at space camp. During the day, they have fun with the other campers. At night, the camp director has asked them if they can help solve a mystery. Can they figure out who has been interfering with a rocket launch? Ages 8–12 Sports Camp By Rich…

Word search Can you find all these words associated with an airplane trip in the grid? They are hidden horizontally, vertically, or diagonally and can be forward or backward. When you’re done, read the remaining letters to get a bonus message. AISLE BAGS BINS BOARDING CABIN CARRY-ON COACH CREW CRUISING ALTITUDE DELAY FLIGHT FREQUENT FLYERS GATE JET LAG LEGROOM MEAL PILOT RUNWAY SEAT TAIL TERMINAL TICKETS TRAY TRIP TURBULENCE WINDOW FILL IN THE BLANKS Fill in the blanks in each sentence with two words that are the same except for a different first letter, like GEAR and PEAR. The two words will not rhyme. 1. Now that Grandma has retired, she takes things at a —————— pace than she used to, spending a lot of time tending her —————— garden.…

“The day after the Fourth of July, my mom and I went to a public park and saw there was a lot of trash. So we started cleaning up everything there and putting it in the garbage. It took us about an hour and a half! We had more than two large bags full of trash! The thing I kept thinking about while picking stuff up was, ‘People should not create litter from fireworks and explosives. The litter could harm animals such as birds who think it is food.’ I really hope people will clean up after themselves next year when they light fireworks. And even if they don’t, we’ll keep cleaning up the park.” Have you done something interesting or raised money for a cause you care about? Whatever…

Teacher’s Name: Miss Michaela Oxar School: Grace Lutheran School “Miss Oxar is the best! She always makes every assignment a game. Sometimes, when we answer a question right, she gives us a Starburst or other candy! She has taught us American Sign Language, which is now my favorite subject. She is also our science, English, and math teacher. My class and I are going to miss her next year.” Hudson, 10, Florida Nominate your teacher for Teacher of the Week! Send your reason for the nomination, a photo of your teacher, and your school’s name and address to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

From July 20 to 22, thousands of senior doctors in the UK went on strike (when people stop working to protest pay or working conditions) for the first time in 50 years. The doctors with the National Health Service (NHS, the UK’s government-run healthcare program) rejected a pay increase offered by the government, saying it was not enough to match the current cost of living. The NHS provides free or low-cost medical care to more than 65 million people. During the strike, only emergency medical care was available. Thousands of people with appointments for regular care had to wait. NHS patients already face delays in getting care, with more than 7.4 million people on a waitlist for an appointment. The government said the pay increase was fair and doctors who…

Seven US technology companies that are leaders in the development of artificial intelligence (AI) said they will work together to manage risks posed by AI’s capabilities. The agreement was announced on July 21 at the White House, where executives from the companies met to discuss the topic with President Joe Biden. What is AI? AI is the ability of a computer to complete complex tasks that are typically done by humans. It is developed by analyzing patterns of the human brain and using this data to develop systems. These systems have resulted in innovations like self-driving cars, as well as chatbots, which are capable of creating text, photos, music, and video without human input. Although there are benefits to the technology, some people are concerned about risks. For example, AI…

Nova Scotia, Canada Heavy rainfall causes major floods Nova Scotia experienced severe flooding following the heaviest rainfall in the area in 50 years. A storm that began on July 21 dropped nearly 10 inches of rain in 24 hours—the same amount that usually falls in three months. Flooding damaged roads, bridges, buildings, and a vital rail track used to transport goods. At the storm’s peak, more than 80,000 people had no electricity. A state of emergency has been declared until August 5. Jerusalem, Israel New law limits Supreme Court’s power The Israeli parliament (branch of government that makes laws) passed a law to restrict the ability of the nation’s Supreme Court to overturn government decisions, such as who can be appointed to government roles. The controversial law is part of…

Inhabited by humans as long ago as 7000 BCE, this stunning desert landscape was sculpted over many years by wind and water and continues to evolve today. The park has three natural sandstone bridges, including Sipapu, the second-largest natural bridge in the country. At night, mountain lions and bobcats come out to hunt while as many as 15,000 stars dazzle from above at this International Dark Sky Park. During the day, chipmunks, antelope squirrels, rock wrens, sharp-shinned hawks, golden eagles, snakes, and lizards can be seen.…

Australian sea life The Australian government is expanding Macquarie Island Marine Park, an area of the ocean that is home to wildlife such as penguins, fish, and seals. The park will now be about the size of Germany and will protect millions of animals. Sharks The populations of five species of reef sharks have declined by more than 60% in about 50 years, according to a new study of coral reefs around the world. Sharks are the top predators at coral reefs and are at risk of dying out due to overfishing.…

Some of the world’s most well-known works of art are housed in the Louvre. These are three notable attractions in the museum’s collection. Mona Lisa The most famous painting in the world is a portrait created by Leonardo da Vinci in the early1500s. Visitors are fascinated by the subject’s mysterious smile and entrancing eyes. The work was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 but was later recovered. It now hangs in a large room behind thick glass. Venus de Milo This well-known statue was found in 1820 on the Greek island of Melos. A sculptor named Alexandros carved the figure from marble, probably to represent Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. The sculpture was discovered in pieces, and her arms were never found. Crown jewels The galley of…

The face of a teenage girl who died 1,300 years ago has been re-created by a forensic artist. These artists use scientific methods to study skulls and create an artistic impression of what a person would have looked like when they were alive. The girl’s skeleton was found in England in 2012 and dates back to the 600s. The artist, Hew Morrison, used measurements of her skull to determine the shape of her face. He could tell that her left eye was slightly lower than her right eye, but he had to guess the color of her eyes and hair. The skeleton was found in a wooden bed with a gold cross on her chest, which indicates that she was Christian at a time when the religion was spreading in…

On July 20, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 kicked off in Australia and New Zealand. The soccer tournament takes place every four years and is the most prestigious event in the sport. The US team won the past two World Cups and hope to become the first men’s or women’s team to win three in a row. For the first time, 32 countries are competing in the tournament, eight more than in the past. They are divided into eight groups of four. In the group stage, each of the four teams plays each other once and they earn points for wins and ties. The two teams with the most points in each group advance to the next round, which is the knockout stage. On the first day of the…

Coach’s Name: Gabriela Sofia Team: Long Island Aquatic Club (LIAC) “She inspires our team and helps us perfect our strokes. More important, she encourages us to do our best and respect and inspire each other. Some of us affectionately call her Big Gabby because she is a big believer in discipline and giving it your all in practices. She also teaches us what to eat to perform well, and she believes in us. My dream is to reach the Olympics one day, and coaches like her keep my swimming passion alive.” Luca, 11, New York To nominate a Coach of the Week, send your coach’s name, photo, sport, and team to hello@theweekjunior.com. Include your name, age, state, and a few reasons why your coach is great.…

Arts prize In 2018, Kendrick Lamar became the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for music, one of the most prestigious arts awards. Past recipients had been classical and jazz musicians. Grammy wins Solo artist Queen Latifah, who is often called the “Queen of Rap,” and the group Salt-N-Pepa made history in 1995 when they became the first female rappers to win Grammy Awards (a top music honor). Football event Super Bowl halftime shows feature major music acts. The 2022 performance was the first with hip-hop headliners. The artists were 50 Cent, Eminem, Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg (shown above), and Kendrick Lamar.…

Running Wild with Bear Grylls: The Challenge (National Geographic) Sundays at 9 pm ET Adventurer Bear Grylls brings celebrities on extreme outdoor adventures and tests their survival skills in season two of this reality series. In one episode, he travels across the Scottish Highlands with deaf actor Troy Kotsur (above). Miraculous: Ladybug & Cat Noir, The Movie (Netflix) This new animated film is based on the popular Miraculous TV series about an awkward teen in Paris, France, who becomes a superhero. In the movie, she teams up with fellow superpowered teen Cat Noir to protect the city from a villain. The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly (Disney+) Steamboat Willie was the first Mickey Mouse cartoon. In this new short, Mickey watches it and accidentally unleashes hundreds of versions…

What inspired this book? The core of the story came from training for a half marathon with my son. A friend who became a runner also inspired me. Growing up, did you want to be a writer? Yes, except when I wanted to be an architect, an artist, a pediatrician, a judge, or a famous actress! What do you enjoy most about running? I love the clarity that I get from taking a run. As I put one foot in front of the other, running helps me realize that I can do hard things. What’s your favorite summer activity? I love hiking all year round, but I especially enjoy hiking in the summer. Best advice for kids? Believe in yourself. Believe in your strong body, your sharp mind, and your…

Road trips are a great option for vacation because they allow you to see multiple places in one trip and can be customized to what your family wants to do and see. A successful road trip also takes some planning. Here are some steps to take before you hit the road. Pick a date First you and your family will want to figure out when you can take a road trip and for how long. You can have everyone sit down with a calendar and decide when you can take time off together. You may find you have a week at the end of the summer when you’re free to travel or a long weekend in the fall when you might have an extra day off from school. Once you’ve…

The flight of a true solo traveler When an early morning flight to North Carolina was delayed, Phil Stringer sat in the Oklahoma City airport to wait. Finally, 18 hours later, he was called to board the plane. But when he showed up at the gate, he didn’t see anyone else in line. The gate agent told him that every other passenger had given up and left. So the solo passenger and the crew spent the flight cracking jokes, playing games, and creating a video that went viral on social media. “We were like, look, we can either be negative…[or we can] at least just have fun,” Stringer said. The world’s slowest race “Ready, steady, slow!” cried the Snail Master, and the racers were off. It was the annual World…

1 Soccer star Lionel Messi recently played his first match for which Major League Soccer team? a) Los Angeles FC b) New York City FC c) Inter Miami CF a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 2 True or false? A wolverine was spotted in Colorado for the second time in 100 years. True ◻ False ◻ 3 An exhibit of samurai armor has opened at a museum in which US city? 4 Davon Strickland is a shark researcher who also played what sport in college? a) Baseball b) Football c) Tennis a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 5 One large cruise ship releases more greenhouse gases than how many cars? a) 120 b) 1,200 c) 12,000 a ◻ b ◻ c ◻ 6 True or false? Taylor Swift recently broke…

Singer-songwriter Taylor Swift has broken the record for the most number one albums by a woman on the Billboard 200 chart. Swift’s album Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), released on July 7, hit the top spot in less than a week, becoming her 12th number one album. Barbra Streisand previously held the record with 11 top albums, set in 2016. Swift is currently performing her Eras Tour, which is set to become the highest-grossing tour of all time.…

People say they’re being asked to tip at every turn these days, whether they’re ordering a four-course meal at an expensive restaurant or ringing themselves up at a self-serve register at a convenience store. There have been reports of requests for tips at dry cleaners, banks, and even online travel sites. Workers at these kinds of businesses have not traditionally received tips because they’re not doing “service” jobs. And the amount of an expected tip has risen too, often as high as 30% or more. Some people say it’s gone too far, with customers feeling the squeeze of the frequent requests for extra money. What do you think? Has tipping gotten out of control? Yes—it’s becoming a burden Tips are supposed to be for truly outstanding service, not for self-serve…

A study has found that some zoo animals enjoy human company more than others do. Some animals seem to particularly like having visitors. Animal behavior experts at two universities in England studied more than 250 species in zoos. The team noticed that elephants showed fewer signs of boredom during activities that involved visitors, like public feedings. At these times, social activity among the elephants increased. Cockatoos (a type of parrot), jaguars, penguins, and polar bears also became more sociable when people were around. On the other hand, some animals were negatively affected by humans, including hedgehogs, ostriches, and tuataras (a type of reptile). For most animals, having visitors nearby made little or no difference. Dr. Samantha Ward, an author of the study, said that although visits can cause stress, “some…

Hunter, 12, California Matthew Evans Assistant curator, Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute Toads typically have short, stumpy legs, drier and bumpier skin, and a heavier body. Frogs typically have smoother skin and longer hind legs. Most frogs live close to water and lay eggs in clumps. Toads can live far from water and lay eggs in long strings. Both animals’ eggs hatch in water and become tadpoles. Do you have a question for an animal expert? Send it to hello@theweekjunior.com. Find out more about the Smithsonian’s National Zoo at nationalzoo.si.edu.…

Scientists at NASA, the US space agency, hope to find a way for astronauts to enter a hibernation-like state during long trips into space. In the past, astronauts traveling to the Moon or the International Space Station have stayed awake for the trips, which take anywhere from a few hours to three days. But NASA plans to send people to Mars for the first time by the 2030s—a journey that would require about nine months of travel. They think astronauts flying to the red planet could go into a deep sleep and wake up once they get there. As a first step, the team has been investigating a state of being called torpor. This is when an animal stops moving and its body temperature and heart rate drop, which reduces…

This summer, an exhibit at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia, is giving visitors a look at incredible items from Japanese history. Samurai: Armor from the Collection of Ann and Gabriel Barbier-Mueller features more than 150 objects including masks and swords that belonged to samurai, members of Japan’s legendary elite warrior class that existed until the late 1800s. The items come from a span of nearly nine centuries. The exhibit has been touring for years, and this is the first time it has been in the southeastern US. The items in the show come from the Ann & Gabriel Barbier-Mueller Museum: The Samurai Collection in Dallas, Texas. It is the only museum outside Japan that is focused on samurai armor. One thing that makes samurai armor so special…

Disney Illusion Island is a new puzzle-adventure game. It is out now exclusively for the Nintendo Switch. In the game, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy travel to the mysterious island of Monoth. It is in danger of being destroyed by an ancient curse, and it’s up to the group to save the day. To prevent total destruction, they have to find the Tomes of Knowledge, three magical books that are somewhere on the island. Gamers can play as any of the characters, and there is a single-player mode and a four-person co-op mode. While animating the game, the creative team thought of each character as a toy. Mickey was a bouncy ball, Minnie was a paper airplane, Goofy was a slinky, and Donald was a slingshot. As…

A Taste of Magic By J. Elle “A Taste of Magic is a magical, humorous, and action-packed fantasy book. It’s about Kyana, and for her 12th birthday she learns the family secret—she’s a witch! But when her new magic school interferes with her best friend Nae’s birthday party, their friendship might come to a end. Will Kyana save the friendship and still keep her magic a secret? Read it to find out.” Sidonie, 11, North Carolina Do you have a book to recommend? Send your review to hello@theweekjunior.com.…

Carhenge Located along Highway 87 in Nebraska, this attraction features 38 old cars arranged in a circle and stacked to resemble the famous Stonehenge monument in England. Leaning Tower of Niles In Niles, Illinois, you can see a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a famous landmark in Italy. It’s exactly half its size. Big Blue Bug If you drive through Providence, Rhode Island, on interstate 95, keep an eye out for the world’s biggest bug. This steel-and-fiberglass termite statue is 928 times the size of an actual bug. World’s Largest Chest of Drawers The city of High Point, North Carolina, home to many furniture manufacturers, features the world’s largest dresser, complete with socks hanging out. It stands 38 feet tall.…

WEED WITHOUT CHEMICALS When a plant grows where it’s not supposed to, it’s considered a weed. Weeds could be non-native plants that pop up in your vegetable garden, for example, and take resources (like water) from other plants. Instead of getting rid of weeds with pesticides, which can be harmful to the environment and animals, ask your family to consider using a more natural solution. For example, you can mix 1 gallon of white vinegar, 1 cup of salt, and 1 tablespoon of dish soap in a watering can and pour it on areas where you’ve seen weeds grow. Or you might choose to leave some weeds alone. Dandelions, for example, provide nectar for pollinators, especially bees.…

This week, we’re delighted to bring you some very exciting news in sports. Our cover features Argentinian soccer star Lionel Messi, who has created quite a sensation in Florida, where he now plays for Inter Miami (p5). About 20,000 people attended his welcome ceremony, and ticket prices for his new team’s matches have surged. Welcome to the US, Messi! On our sports pages, we report on the start of the FIFA Women’s World Cup (p18) and the winner of this year’s Tour de France bicycle race (p19). Elsewhere, we highlight a teenager who swam 28.5 miles to raise money for cancer research (p5) and recall the day in 2012 when swimming legend Michael Phelps won his 19th Olympic medal—the most of any athlete in history at that time (p4). It…

“ND Stevenson is one of my favorite authors, and I’m super excited that Nimona is becoming a movie!”Abby, 12, South Carolina “I was excited to bring The Week Junior on our family trip to Italy earlier this year. I took it everywhere.”Maxwell, 10, California “I’m reading The Week Junior at Chincoteague, Virginia Beach! It’s excellent summer reading!”Sophia, 9, Pennsylvania…