New-Born Sumatran Tiger Cub Dies at London Zoo

Officials at London Zoo were devastated when the new-born Sumatran tiger cub died after drowning in the enclosure’s pool.

The cub was born on 22^nd September after a six minute labour. The birth was caught on camera in the den for hundreds of thousands of people to witness and it was the first to be born at the zoo in seventeen years. The cub had not been named yet and they didn't know the sex of the cub as it was too early to determine.

Photo: Melati (The mother of the cub)

The keepers checked the enclosure on Saturday after the three week old cub couldn’t be located; later they found the cub at the bottom of the pool.  Post mortem tests were carried out and the zoo confirmed that the tiger cub died from drowning.

London Zoo's Malcolm Fitzpatrick said: "We're heartbroken by what's happened. To go from the excitement of the birth to this in three weeks is just devastating."

However it’s still unclear of how the tiger club actually died. It is thought that the cub’s mother carried it outside of the den early Saturday morning.

"We would do anything to turn back the clock and nobody could be more upset about what's happened than the keepers who work with the tigers every day.” Fitzpatrick commented.

 Kyra Balderstone, year 9

Not One, But Two New iPhones!

After months of rumours and seemingly endless speculation Apple have finally revealed what we have been anticipating to see, the iPhone 5S and the iPhone 5C.

The iPhone 5C is considered to be a ‘cheaper’, more affordable option compared to the previous iPhone’s. Having a body coated in colourful plastic Apple reassuringly state, ‘Colour. Yet another reason to love an iPhone’. Coming in five anything-but-shy colours, suitably labelling it as the most colourful iPhone yet. Demanding you to make a statement with their new iPhone 5C coming in colours such as, blue, green, pink, yellow and white. The ‘cheaper’ iPhone 5C ironically comes with a lavishly steep price tag being £469, still being twice as expensive as the Google Nexus 4- an Android smartphone with comparable features.

The iPhone 5S introduces the start of excitable futuristic technology with a fingerprint identity sensor that lets you unlock the phone without entering a password. “It simply makes more sense to teach iPhone how to take a great picture rather than teach people how to be expert photographers.” Apple daringly declares, as the world’s most popular camera gets even better. Ultra fast wireless is another thing Apple hasn’t hesitated to howl to the public, as the new Phone 5S supports more networks than ever before. So now, even more of us can experience fast download and upload speeds, that’s if you purchase one. As well as costing near enough £549 the iPhone 5S is available in three elegant expressions being gold, silver and space grey.

Apple hope that this ‘less expensive’ iPhone  5C could aid them in competing with other handset companies, such as, Samsung and Nokia, as more than half of all smartphones sold so far this year were Android handsets.

So do you think you’ll be investing in the new iPhones? 

Lolly Atherton, year 13
Columnist

The Fault in Our Stars

On Tuesday 8th October it was announced that the much anticipated film based on the New York Times #1 bestseller ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ by John Green will be released on June 6th 2014.

Along with ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, John Green also wrote ‘Looking for Alaska’, ‘Paper Towns’ and ‘Will Grayson, Will Grayson’. With a witty sense of humour, John Green cleverly structures his novels and craftily creates a whirlwind of events in each book which makes them in particularly so popular amongst the teenage audience.

Starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, the film will reflect the fluctuation of emotions presented throughout the book and the relationship between Hazel and Gus which readers have connected with and envisaged.

After meeting each other at a cancer support group, immediate sparks are released between Hazel and Augustus and the book gives a first person response of their relationship through the eyes of 17 year old Hazel. Suffering with terminal cancer, Hazel illustrates the pain and emotions which cancer survivors conjure with everyday as we follow her journey of fulfilling her life.

Many companions, along with Hazel’s accompanying oxygen tank, are introduced throughout the novel including Isaac, a friend from the support group. With a large following from internet fans, John Green’s readers may have concerns about the perception of the book when the film adaptation will be released however in one of the author’s Youtube vlogs on his channel ‘VlogBrothers’, Natt Wolf, who plays Isaac, reassured the viewers that the film is ‘realistic already’.

One of the heartfelt additions which the producers and team added to the film is a cast of some real teen cancer survivors which highlights a sense of reality within the book. Natt Wolf (Isaac) was asked about his experience of visiting them at a hospital and stated ‘It was overwhelming. You start off by asking them questions about their disease and how they cope with it and five minutes in you’re talking about movies and TV shows’. Likewise, despite suffering with cancer, Hazel is a normal teenage girl which intensifies the courage and normality of cancer survivors.

With having the idea of writing a book on the subject of cancer for ten years, it has undoubtedly been worth the wait for John Green. Following the success of the book, the movie is expected to be a huge hit and will capture the hearts of an even larger audience worldwide who will cry of both laughter and sorrow.

Jade Chadburn, year 13