Tag: grade 8

News Politics

Conservative Majority Government, Stephen Harper Prime Minister, NDP Official Opposition

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The Conservatives were re-elected yesterday. They won a majority government. As the leader of the Conservatives, Stephen Harper will remain Canada’s Prime Minister.

For the first time in history, the NDP came in second and is the “official opposition.”

The Bloc Quebecois had historic losses, falling from 50 seats in Parliament to just 4. It was also an historic election for The Green Party, which won its first seat.

Across the country on Monday, Canadians voted for a Member of Parliament (MP) in their area, or riding. Having an MP in Parliament is known as having a “seat” in Parliament. The MPs who get elected work in the House of Commons in Ottawa to represent the people who live in their riding.

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Breaking News Politics

Osama Bin Laden Killed By US Forces

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The “most wanted” man in the world is dead.

Osama bin Laden was responsible for many terrorism attacks including three in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. That event is commonly referred to as 9/11 (pronounced “nine-eleven.”)

The US President says 9/11 was, “the worst attack on the American people in our history.”

The United States military has been looking for bin Laden for nearly 10 years. Last night, the US president, Barack Obama, went on television to announce that they had killed bin Laden where he was hiding in Pakistan.

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Breaking News Politics

Problems For The People Of Syria

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There is trouble in another country in the Middle East. Since January, people in Syria have been protesting against their president, Bashar al-Assad. They want him to step down. They want democracy and a better life for themselves.

The leader is fighting back. Last Monday al-Assad sent thousands of troops to a city called Daraa, in Syria, to stop the people from protesting. His army set up in the centre of the southern city and placed people with rifles, called snipers, on rooftops to shoot anyone they thought was against the president. al-Assad took this step after some politicians in the area quit their jobs to show they were not happy with the president’s leadership.

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Lighter News

Wacky (And Tacky) Royal Wedding Souvenirs

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There is lots of excitement building about the upcoming wedding between Prince William and the soon-to-be Princess Kate. They will be married on April 29 in London, England.

When there’s a big wedding—particularly if it involves the Royal family—people like to have a souvenir, or keepsake, to remind them of the big day. Lots of companies are churning out products with Kate’s and William’s picture on them. Some of them are nice but more often than not the products can be quite cheap and tacky and that’s part of the fun of it all.

One company created special PEZ dispensers with William’s and Kate’s faces on them. Kate is wearing the blue dress she wore during her engagement photos, and William is wearing a black suit and red tie. PEZ dispensers are meant to be filled with a special PEZ candy.

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Arts Politics

Canada Rocks 4 Japan

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Since the earthquake in Japan last month, people around the world have wanted to help. Many people have helped by donating money, clothing, or food.

Artists in Canada and the United States have come up with ways to raise money for Japan. There have been many music concerts in both countries. Recently in Toronto there were three: Canada Rocks 4 Japan, Hope Blossoms Benefit Concert, and Eternal Sunrise Japan Benefit.

A “benefit concert” means that the musicians perform for free, and most of the money made from ticket sales goes to Japanese families affected by the earthquake.

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Breaking News Politics

Gadhafi Allows Aid But Motives Questionable

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Two months ago, the people of Libya protested in the streets to demand that Moammar Gadhafi step down as leader because of his dishonest government and his poor treatment of the people. Instead of leaving, Gadhafi gathered Libyan-government troops and attacked protesters all over the country. Several United Nations countries brought troops and weapons of their own to help the protesters (the “rebels”) and now the fight has become very dangerous for everyone. It is likely to last a long time.

On Monday Gadhafi made a deal with the United Nations to let food and medicine into the Libyan city of Misrata.

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News Sports

Running On Top Of The World

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Twenty-seven runners from around the world recently ran a marathon on one of the most remote and icy places on earth — the North Pole. On April 8, competitors from around the world met at the North Pole and ran on the frozen ice for six hours, facing temperatures as low as -32° C.

Contestants flew to Norway from countries around the world. Then they all flew together from Norway to the North Pole.

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Sports

NBA Playoffs Begin This Weekend

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The basketball season is winding down. This weekend, the playoffs begin.

There are 16 teams in the playoffs. Eight are in the Eastern Conference and eight are in the Western Conference. The final four winning teams will play in the NBA Conference Finals.

The Toronto Raptors, the only Canadian team in the NBA (National Basketball Association) did not make the playoffs this year.

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News Politics

Libyan Rebels Reject “Roadmap To Peace”

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Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi has accepted a plan to end the war in his country, but the rebels who want him out of power say they will never accept such a plan.

Last Sunday, the president of South Africa and several other African leaders met with Gadhafi to talk to him about a “ceasefire” which would stop the fighting. They called the plan a “roadmap to peace.” They asked the countries that are helping the rebels to stop their attacks on Gadhafi’s targets in order to give the peace plan a chance to succeed.

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News Politics

Portugal Asks For Money To Help Pay Its Debts

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Last week, Portugal asked the European Union to help it pay its debts. They did it because they owe so much money – €80-billion, or more than $109-billion Canadian dollars. (€ is the symbol for euros, the money used in many countries in Europe.)

Portugal is the third country in Europe to ask for this kind of help recently. The first country was Greece and the second was Ireland.

All three country’s leaders have suffered for their decisions about their country’s money.

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