Morocco’s King Mohammed VI pardoned three journalists, as well as an activist and a historian on Monday to mark his 25th anniversary as monarch. Rights groups criticised the journalists’ detentions as repressive tactics to silence critics. In total, 2,476 people were pardoned.
Author: catfish
Book Review of The Peacock TreeSponsored* | All opinions are our ownThe Children’s Book Review Written and Illustrated by Madeline Pearl Ages: 2+ | 34 Pages Publisher: Pegasus | ISBN-13: 183875766X What to Expect: Allegorical Tale, Interconnectedness, Intergenerational Knowledge, and Environmental Stewardship The Peacock Tree is a charming and thoughtful picture book that showcases the remarkable talent of 17-year-old author and illustrator Madeline Pearl. Set in the picturesque grounds of Woodcroft Castle in Etton, England, this enchanting tale weaves together history, nature, and wisdom. The story centers around a majestic tree, affectionately known as The Peacock Tree, which stands as a…
Racheal Kundananji was just 17 when she showed up to practice with her first-ever soccer team wearing track spikes.Until then, track and field was the only organized sport she had known in the Zambian copper-mining region where she grew up. Now she was sprinting around a bumpy patch of dirt that seemed more suitable for off-road biking than for soccer, displaying skills as rugged as the field itself.“She would run very fast,” said Risto Mupaka, a coach of the team, Konkola Queens. But, he added, “turning was a problem.”It didn’t take her long to figure out the game. After only…
Teenagers toyed with guns at a museum exhibit. Young men posed in front of posters of the country’s military leader. Over dinner in restaurants, families watched television monitors showing footage of drone strikes.The event was billed as a national cultural festival in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. But it often resembled a mobilization campaign in the all-out war against the Islamist terrorists who have gradually occupied the country in recent years.“The motherland or death,” Alaila Ilboudo, a spoken word artist, shouted onstage to the cheers of crowds at the festival, held in May in Bobo-Dioulasso, the country’s second…
You don’t need a licence to enjoy all the fun and excitement of go-karting at Tailem Bend’s Motorsport Park. Kids from age eight can experience the thrill, thanks to their new family, tandem karts. Review by Carla Caruso If you’ve ever wanted to experience what it’s like to be a race car driver, then The Bend Kartdrome is THE place to head! Maybe you know The Shell V-Power Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend – about an hour’s drive from the city – as a location for spectator sports, like car and motorbike racing. But did you know that you can…
Pigeon Forge, nestled in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, is a bustling town known for its vibrant entertainment scene. With over 10 million visitors annually, Pigeon Forge offers a variety of activities that can make your evenings as exciting as your days. If you’re looking for ways to fill your nights with fun and memorable experiences, this guide will provide you with the best evening activities in Pigeon Forge. Whether you’re seeking thrilling shows, serene natural beauty, or lively music, Pigeon Forge has something for everyone. Let’s explore some of the best ways to spend your evenings in this…
Toumani Diabaté, a virtuoso of the kora, a 21-stringed West African instrument, which he often put into dialogue with other musical traditions from around the globe, died on Friday in Bamako, Mali. He was 58.His death, in a hospital, was caused by kidney failure, said his manager, Saul Presa.Born in Mali to a line of griots, or traditional West African musician-historians, that he traced back more than 70 generations, Mr. Diabaté was devoted to celebrating the heritage of Mandé-speaking peoples throughout West Africa, and to sharing that history with the world.“If you think of West Africa as a body, then…
For the last three years, scientists in South Africa have been trying to unravel a grim marine mystery: What was happening to the Cape fur seals?The boisterous marine mammals, which are common along the nation’s shores, began washing up dead in enormous numbers. Pregnant females delivered dead premature pups. And some seals began displaying unusually aggressive behavior, attacking humans, dogs and each other.Some scientists suspected that a neurotoxin produced by algae might be to blame. In recent weeks, however, another specter has come into focus: rabies.So far, 17 seals have tested positive for the virus, said Tess Gridley, a founding…
Stanford researchers gave a popular A.I. chatbot a language test.They asked the bot in Vietnamese to write a traditional poem in the form known as “song thất lục bát” that follows a pattern of lines made up of seven, seven, six, then eight words. When the bot spit out an answer, it wrote a poem, but didn’t follow the format.The team tried a different prompt, asking what the proper Vietnamese word was for a mother’s younger brother, and it responded with the words for a father’s younger and older siblings.These flaws are not unique to Claude 3.5, the chatbot by…
Book Review of What Is Math Good For, Anyway?Sponsored* | All opinions are our ownThe Children’s Book Review Written by Nicole Frankel Illustrated by Firman Putra Ages 4+ | 31 Pages Publisher: Nicole Frankel Books (2024) | ISBN-13: 9798987604335 What to Expect: Education, math, practical knowledge, and problem-solving. Math can be one of the most challenging subjects to get young readers excited about, perhaps because it can feel very abstract. In this cheerful picture book, readers discover that math is a part of everyday life and can help them solve problems and get what they want. Bennie, like many of…