Compiled by Husna Inayathullah

Muhammad Ali dies at 74

Boxing legend Muhammad Ali has died at the age of 74. He was one of the most famous sportspeople in history. He won many awards for boxing including three Heavyweight Champion of the World titles. Ali was diagnosed with a disease called Parkinson’s which is a condition that affects the brain. Parts of the brain become damaged over many years causing problems including shaking and slow movement.

Mohammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay in 1942.

He changed his name after converting to the religion of Islam. He started boxing when he was 12 and went on to win light-heavyweight gold at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. He called himself “The Greatest”, and beat Sonny Liston in 1964 to win his first professional World Title.

The boxer became the first to win the World Heavyweight Title three times, winning his first at the age of 22.

He retired in 1981, after winning 56 of 61 fights.Clay’s first world title came in February 1964, when he took on world champion Sonny Liston. Liston predicted: “I think I’m gonna have to hurt that boy bad.”

The boxer wowed crowds with his personality, the way he boxed and his humour. Some of the most famous things Ali said are still used by many people today: “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee”, “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was” and “The man who has no imagination has no wings.”

Tree planting and shramadana campaigns

The World Environment Day which fell on June 5 was commemorated in all state and private institutions. Arrangements were made by the Ministry of Education to declare the Week from May 30 - June 5 as national Environment Week. Special environment protection programs were held during the National Environment Week. The Ministry of Education also activated parallel tree planting and shramadana campaigns in all schools.

Expressing Opinion:

Learn to write ‘Editorials’

Dear Teens,

Here’s an opportunity for you to express your opinions on a given topic. This is for the bigger guys, in the age group 12-16 yrs. We will give you a topic and you give your opinion on it as a short 'Editorial’ comment as in a newspaper. Your topic (for next week) is 'Protecting the Environment'.

Please write your opinion according to the following guidelines:

* What are the kinds of harmful effects in your environment - in your hometown and in the country?

* How do people damage the environment?

* List ways in which we can stop harmful effects on the environment.

* The best editorial of the week will be proudly published in the Junior Observer.

Certify your ‘Editorial’ by your teacher and send it with your name, school, grade and your photograph to: [email protected] or by post to “Junior Observer Editorial”, Lake House, No. 35, D. R. Wijewardene Mawatha, Colombo 10.