Articles curated and written by students of Sunmarke School and Regent International School | | | | |
Watch Out! China Has a Warning for Partners Trading with the US
If you have a business where you need both of the world’s largest economies, the US and China, then you will get caught in the middle of their ugly trade war. The effects are already being felt everywhere from aviation to grocery. But now the Asian tiger has taken a whole new aggressive route - warning its trading partners against what it calls ‘succumbing’ to US pressure. But what is China exactly worried about? Read here.
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How to Plan Your Money When the Going Gets Tough
As the world goes into a tailspin with the economic uncertainty and fragile markets (which is up one day, down the next), investors are naturally worried about their money. While there are plenty of tips to invest wisely and safely, there are some basic strategies you can follow to safeguard your portfolio. Here’s how to plan your money without getting into panic mode.
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Regent’s Primary Open Day
Block your calendars for RIS Primary Open day this April 30, 2025. Discover how Regent nurtures curious, confident learners through engaging, future-ready learning experiences in Key Stage 1 and 2. Meet the educators, explore classrooms and the best of all - fast track the admission process. Apply, tour, assess and receive a placement offer all on the same day! To know how to register, click below.
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Sunmarke Joins a Global Sustainability Movement
Another proud moment for Sunmarke School as it joins The Alliance of Sustainable Schools (TASS), a global network of schools dedicated to accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable future. Principal Mr Nicholas Rickford signed the Sustainable School Charter in the presence of the TASS Student Ambassadors and some Eco Committee leaders, highlighting Sunmarke’s commitment to creating the next generation of environmental changemakers. The TASS partnership will also play a huge role in advocating sustainability initiatives. Know more about this remarkable agreement by clicking below.
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The VIPKid and Fortes Podcast Drops This Friday
Have you tuned into The Playbook for Modern Learning? This is your go-to podcast for all things parenting and education brought to you by Fortes Education and VIPKid. Watch out for a weekly series that offers fresh, powerful conversations, expert insights, real stories and game-changing strategies to help kids thrive. The next episode drops this Friday 24 April. More details below.
| | | Special Feature: News You Must Not Miss | |
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The Weird Wind that Can Supercharge Heatwaves and Wildfire
Contributed by Fares
Year 9, Sunmarke School
The impact of the January windstorm named “Santa Ana” during which winds reaching up to 100mph (160 km/h) swept over Southern California, is still being felt. Described by the National Weather Service (NWS) as “life threatening”, the storm fanned flames that were spotted on the mountain sides to the west of Los Angeles turning into a fast-moving force that caused massive destruction and forced roughly 30,000 residents to evacuate. We have seen such episodes in the past even in very cool areas such as Antarctica in 2018. Named the “Föhn effect”, the winds back then were massively blamed for the forcing of a large volume of ice away from the coast of Greenland. Want to know more about it, click here
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Why is Trump’s Defense Secretary Under Scrutiny?
Would you tolerate a staff member who is careless with sensitive information? Probably not but Donald Trump seems to have no issues with Pete Hegseth, the controversial defence secretary and the central figure in Signalgate! It looks like Hegseth may have erred again as reports emerge of another Signal chat where he shared details of an attack. Will Hegseth be sacked after the second gaffe? Or will his boss be kind again?
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RIP Pope Francis. Who Could be the Next Pope?
The world lost an apostle of peace with the passing away of Pope Francis at the age of 88. The Pope was known as a remarkable reformer who spoke consistently for the marginalised. But now comes the big challenge - choosing a successor who could carry on his legacy. It’s a long-drawn process by the Catholic church that will be watched around the world but there are some possible candidates who could fill in his shoes. Click here to know who they are.
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The UAE Pioneers AI-Written Laws
The UAE continues to show the world the way when it comes to pioneering technologies and innovation. In a global first, the country has approved the use of advanced AI to write a legal framework that aligns with the vision and the development goals of the government. But how exactly will AI-approved laws reshape the legal system and bring people closer to the process? Experts give their view.
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How the Dubai Chocolate Caused a World Shortage of Pistachios
Can a bar of chocolate impact world agriculture? Well, if the product in question is the famous Dubai Chocolate, the answer is yes. Reports say, the popularity of the pistachio filled yummy confectionary has resulted in a shortage of pistachio kernels, a key ingredient mostly grown in the US or Iran. Prices have surged and demand has increased. What’s more, chefs are finding innovative ways to use the nut in sweets, drinks and coffee! Isn’t it great to see the exotic nut have its moment in the sun, thanks to Dubai?
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Why You Need Not Say ‘Thank You’ or ‘Please’ to ChatGPT
Turns out, those polite little “pleases” and “thank yous” you drop into AI chats aren’t just charming — they’re expensive. OpenAI boss Sam Altman recently confessed that good manners are costing him ‘tens of millions’ in electricity bills. Yep, your chatbot chitchat is literally lighting up data centers around the world. While AI etiquette supposedly makes bots nicer, it's also quietly wrecking the planet one overly polite prompt at a time. Curious how your kind words are draining the grid? Click here to find out!
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All You need to Know about Olo
In a sensational leap for science — and the colour wheel — a team of US researchers claim to have discovered a brand-new colour no human has ever seen before. Dubbed "Olo", this hyper-saturated blue-green hue was glimpsed during an experiment where scientists fired precise laser pulses into volunteers' eyes, selectively stimulating rare cone cells in the retina. Experts feel Olo might one day hold promise for advancing colour blindness research. But not everyone's convinced. Is this truly a 'new' colour or just a clever optical trick?. Click here to see what olo might look like — if your eyes can handle it!
| | | AI Recommendation of the Week | | AI Tools to make life easier | | |
GFP-GAN
Meet GFP-GAN, the AI wizard for photo restoration! This cutting-edge tool revives old, damaged, or low-quality photos in seconds — seamlessly filling in missing details with stunning realism. It’s fast, accurate, and perfect for preserving your favorite memories without the fuss.
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Notion
This one's for students. Notion is the ultimate all-in-one student workspace which basically rolls note-taking, to-do lists, project planning and class collaboration into one sleek, easy-to-use platform. Whether you’re jotting down lecture notes or managing group projects, Notion keeps everything organised and stress-free.
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Max Verstappen is Angry. But There is a Reason Why He is Silent
Max Verstappen was unhappy after a controversial five-second penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix cost him a potential win — but he refused to openly criticise the decision. The reigning world champion hinted that Formula 1's new crackdown on driver comments has left him no choice but to bite his tongue. The penalty, handed down for leaving the track and gaining an advantage over McLaren’s Oscar Piastri at Turn 1, stirred debate in the paddock. So now we know why Verstappen’s silence says it all.
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The Best TV Shows of the Year So Far
We are not even at the halfway mark of 2025 but TV (cable or OTT) has already given us some absolute gems. Going by the reviews and reach of each of these series, it can be safely said that this year is proving to be one of the best for TV (we’re sure the Emmys are going to have a tough time next year!). From Adolescence to The White Lotus, these shows have ratcheted up great numbers. How many have you watched from this list?
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How to Prepare an Emergency Mental Health Kit
Most of us have a first aid kit tucked away at home — ready for scrapes, cuts, and emergencies. But what about those moments when it’s our mind that needs tending to? Enter the mental health emergency kit — a personalised stash of tools, calming techniques, and resources to lean on when life feels overwhelming. Just like you wouldn’t wait to be injured to stock a first aid kit, having this ready before you need it means you’re prepared when tough moments hit. Curious what goes into one? Click to find out!
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