News around the
world
 No
Fluoride risk in drinking water
A group of leading scientists has found that fluoride in New Zealands
drinking water creates no health risks. The scientists were asked to
review the situation by the Prime Minister for a number of local
councils. The scientist actually found that the fluoride provides
protection against tooth decay.
A number of people had protested to local councils saying that the
fluoride in the water was bad for health. The scientists found that this
view was not supported by scientific evidence. About half of all
councils in New Zealand put fluoride in their water.
Internet
 Couple
says I do108 times
This couple has said ‘I Do’ many times more than usual married
couples – in fact, they’ve said it 108 times! Lauren and David Blair
were married for the first time in 1984 and have renewed their vows 107
times since.
Their first wedding actually consisted of three ceremonies – the
first in Los Angeles, the second the following day in Chicago (where
both sets of parents could be present) and the third in Las Vegas (with
a get married for free coupon) where they also spent their honeymoon.
With already three weddings in such a short time, the couple
researched the record for most marriage vow renewals (which was 58) and
soon beat it and decided to keep on going.
The couple can now celebrate an anniversary everyday as they have
been married on every day of the month.
The couple still insists that their first wedding will always be
their favourite and the most meaningful, but they still enjoy renewing
their vows of love which only makes them stronger.
- Internet
Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting over Gaza
Israelis and Palestinians have been fighting over Gaza on and off,
for decades. It’s part of the wider Arab Israeli conflict. After World
War II and the Holocaust in which six million Jewish people were killed,
more Jewish people wanted their own country.
 They
were given a large part of Palestine, which they considered their
traditional home but the Arabs who already lived there and in
neighbouring countries felt that was unfair and didn’t accept the new
country.
In 1948, the two sides went to war. When it ended, Gaza was
controlled by Egypt and another area, the West Bank, by Jordan. They
contained thousands of Palestinians who fled what was now the new Jewish
home, Israel. But then, in 1967, after another war, Israel occupied
these Palestinian areas and Israeli troops stayed there for years.
Israelis hoped they might exchange the land they won for Arab
countries recognising Israel’s right to exist and an end to the
fighting.
Israel finally left Gaza in 2005 but soon after, a group called Hamas
won elections and took control there. Much of the world calls Hamas a
terrorist organisation. It refuses to recognise Israel as a country and
wants Palestinians to be able to return to their old home – and will use
violence to achieve its aims.
Since then, Israel has held Gaza under a blockade, which means it
controls its borders and limits who can get in and out.
Life for the many of the 1.5 million Palestinians who live in the
Gaza Strip is difficult. Israel controls its coastline and all the entry
and exit crossings into Israel.
There is another crossing point into Egypt.
There is no working airport. Because access is so restricted, not
many goods get into or out of Gaza. Food is allowed in, but aid agencies
say families are not eating as much meat or fresh vegetables and fruit
as they used to. There are often power cuts.
- Internet |
