Each week, Ben Hopkinson looks back at a serious, crazy, and happy news story from the past week.
Serious News
Last weekend, the whole country was out in force celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee which is 70 years on the throne. Starting on Thursday being a bank holiday, as well as the Friday, hundreds of street parties were held, the Queen lit a beacon and the celebrations ended on Sunday with the finale as a procession went on in central London including military, celebrities, volunteers, and the Royal Standard was raised. Shortly after, the Queen was spotted on the balcony. There was also a massive concert held at Buckingham Place as thousands flocked the area to see speeches from Prince Charles and performances from the likes of Sigala and Ella Eyre.
Crazy News
Keeping on the subject of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, the village of Wellington in Hertfordshire have created 104 royal-themed scarecrows and placed them in the garden. Happening every year, the village has a fun week which of course this year will celebrate the Queen with quizzes, picnics, fireworks, and bingo. A judge from outside the village assessed the scarecrows but the winner is not yet known.
Co-organiser Phil Smith says: “The theme this year is kings, queens, princes, princesses, or anything with a royal connection. We’ve probably got a dozen or so Queens dotted around… and a few Purple Rain Princes”. Other creations include Princess Fiona from Shrek, Freddie Mercury and Princess Leia from Star Wars.
Happy News
After Ukraine was forced to abandon its football calendar in February when Russia invaded, there are plans to restart the sport in August. President Zelenskyy has approved the proposal, even while the country continues to be hit by shelling which just proves how Ukraine are staying strong amid all the damage happening.
The president of Ukraine’s football federation, Andriy Pavelko, outlined the details to Zelenskyy, as well as the heads of FIFA and UEFA on trying to find a safe way to play men and women’s matches on home soil.
Speaking to the Associated Press before Ukraine’s match against Wales, Pavelko says: “We took the decision with the president that we would resume the Ukrainian championship in August. In Ukraine we will play on every level. So, the Premier League, and the first and second professional divisions, and women’s championship. At all levels we will start in August. The decision was taken with the president of Ukraine.”
It is not known which parts of Ukraine will be used for matches.
