Latest news with #Scratch
Irish Post
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Post
Irish bands pull out of Manchester's Radar Festival in solidarity with Bob Vylan
TWO Irish bands have pulled out of Radar Festival in Manchester in solidarity with Bob Vylan after the controversy over the latter's Glastonbury set. The Scratch and Hero in Error were both due to perform today at the festival at Victoria Warehouse in Trafford Park. However, while the bands have now backed out, both expressed their sympathy for the organisers of the festival and the situation they were placed in. Radar co-organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith revealed this week that she had received a death threat in the wake of Bob Vylan's Glastonbury set. The punk duo were criticised after singer Bobby Vylan chanted 'Death to the IDF' at the Worthy Farm festival last Saturday in solidarity with the tens of thousands of people killed in Gaza. The band were subsequently dropped from Radar Festival, as well as Kave Festival in France and from a venue in Germany where they were due to open for American band Gogol Bordello. They also had their US visas cancelled, with State Department Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau saying 'foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country'. 'Shadowy government influence' Following the decision to drop Bob Vylan from Radar's Saturday line-up, Dublin band The Scratch revealed they had pulled out of their Sunday slot at the event. "The censorship and deplatforming of artists speaking out against the ongoing genocide in Gaza is greasy, dangerous and must be challenged," the Choice Music Prize nominees said in a statement. "To be clear, this decision is not a criticism of Radar Festival. "We understand it was an incredibly difficult and complex situation. "This is about showing solidarity with Bob Vylan and any artists who may face similar treatment in the future. "Shadowy government influence and wealthy lobbying groups should not be allowed to dictate who is given a platform and what can he said on it. "This situation will only worsen unless we, as artists, support one another and take action. "Get Netanyahu to the ICJ. "Up Bob Vylan. Free Palestine." Bobby Vylan of Bob Vylan pictured yesterday at Finsbury Park in London, where Irish band Fontaines D.C. were being supported by Kneecap (Image: Tabatha Fireman / Dave Benett / Getty Images) Echoing those words, fellow Dublin band Hero In Error posted: "After speaking with Radar's organisers, it's clear they're facing the same pressures that many de-platformed artists are currently experiencing. "They are good people and it's evident they stand for progressive ideals. "Both they and the artists being targeted are caught in a wider effort to deflect attention from the reality of what's happening. "We respect the work Radar has done, but we believe that stepping back from this year's event in the right decision at this time." Brighton-based band GENN also pulled out of the festival for their 'safety and sanity'. "Pressure needs to be placed on those who are instigating the censorship of a genocide happening in real time," they added. 'We didn't want to pull them' Speaking to the 2 Promoters, 1 Pod podcast, Ms Jackson-Smith said she was told that if the organisers kept Bob Vylan on the bill, the three-day festival would not be permitted to go ahead on Saturday. She said she had to take into consideration that 41 other acts were due to play at the festival and both artists and fans had already spent significant money and travelled long distances to attend. "We didn't want to pull them, it was out of our hands," she said, adding: "I cannot express clearly enough that I wanted Bob Vylan to perform at our festival." Ms Jackson-Smith added that she and her co-organisers considered trying to draft in Kneecap to replace Bob Vylan, or another act that had previously expressed solidarity for the Belfast band. Speaking to the podcast, she said Radar Festival became the focus of attention after it emerged it was the next event Bob Vylan were due to play following Glastonbury. She said she had received a barrage of emails following last Saturday's events, as well as a threatening phone call, saying 'a bunch of absolutely vile things'. She added: "It finished with, 'We know who you are, we know what you look like, we know where you're going to be — do you feel safe? Watch your back.'"
Malay Mail
05-07-2025
- Science
- Malay Mail
Winners Announced at CoolThink@JC Competition 2025
Winning teams photo HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach Newswire - 5 July 2025 -The team from King's College Old Boys' Association Primary School No.2 emerged as the champion in the "App Inventor" category for, while the winner of the "Scratch" category was the team from St. Mary's Canossian by CoolThink@JC, a project initiated and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, this year's competition attracted more than 120 team entries, with 40 teams advancing to the finals. Among them, eight outstanding teams progressed to the grand final to compete for top honours. Today, the shortlisted teams set up booths to present their app designs and ideas to the public and a judging panel comprising professionals from the education, information technology and business awards at the grand final were Tony Wong, Commissioner for Digital Policy of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government; and Winnie Ying, Head of Charities (Youth Development & Poverty Alleviation; and Talent & Sector Development) of The Hong Kong Jockey at the grand final, Winnie Ying said it was a great honour to witness the innovative ideas presented at the ninth edition of the CoolThink@JC Competition, particularly seeing creativity and innovation in today's student work such as promoting fitness in sport, learning Chinese through oracle bone script, and creating AI comics to learn financial literacy. The event stands as a testament to the Club's collective efforts in fostering computational thinking and creativity among Hong Kong's upper primary school students, she added. Since its launch in 2016, CoolThink@JC has reached over 100,000 students and trained more than 2,000 teachers. The Education Bureau adopted and adapted CoolThink@JC materials, mainstreaming them into all publicly funded primary schools in 2023. It reflects the Trust's vision to bridge the digital divide, foster digital inclusiveness for all and nurture STEM talents. Together with other Trust-funded STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education projects such as the CUHK Jockey Club AI for the Future Project, the Club aims to equip students with essential skills required for a 21st-century workforce. It seeks to enhance digital competency among youngsters, aligning with the HKSAR Chief Executive's Policy Address to promote digital the competition, students will have the opportunity to participate in exchange activities with Mainland schools this summer through the project's sister school partnerships. This is aimed at fostering collaboration in computational thinking and artificial intelligence education between the Mainland and Hong Kong, promoting cultural understanding and innovative month, a Memorandum of Understanding titled "CoolThink@JC × Cambodia Sharing and Exchange Programme" was signed with Cambodia's Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, which plans to adopt and adapt the CoolThink@JC curriculum in Cambodian primary schools. This partnership aims to ensure equitable access to quality computational thinking education, nurturing future-ready talent in both Hong Kong and is created and funded by the Club's Charities Trust, co-created by The Education University of Hong Kong, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and City University of Hong Kong. Launched in 2016, the project aims to empower upper primary students with problem-solving and creative skills for the digital age, enabling them to become creators of technology. It has garnered three prestigious international accolades, including the Silver Award in the Engineering & Technology category and the Bronze Award in the Teaching & Learning category at the QS Reimagine Education Awards 2021, as well as an international accreditation from the International Society for Technology in Education—attesting to its significant impact and excellence. It has also reached all publicly-funded primary schools in Hong Kong in 2023, demonstrating the project's efforts to bridge the digital divide and ensure all students have equal access to essential digital literacy. The Education Bureau has adopted and adapted the project's learning materials for its curriculum modules on innovation and technology education. For more details, please visit: The Club's support for CoolThink@JC, like all its charity and community donations, is made possible by its unique integrated business model through which racing and responsible sports wagering generate substantial tax contributions, charity support and employment opportunities for Hong #CoolThink@JC The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. CoolThink@JC Competition supplementary information: The grand judging panel comprised esteemed leaders from the education, IT and business sectors, including Tony Wong, Commissioner for Digital Policy, Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government; Edith Tse, Principal Assistant Secretary (Curriculum Support), Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government; Professor Chetwyn Chan, Vice President (Research and Development), The Education University of Hong Kong; Professor Matthew Lee, Chair Professor, Information Systems & E-Commerce, City University of Hong Kong; and Ricky Choi, Director of Smart Living, Cyberport Hong Kong. Held at City University of Hong Kong, the finals and grand final were also streamed live online, offering greater accessibility to the event. The competition featured team presentations and booth exhibitions, providing participants and judges with opportunities to explore innovative applications of emerging technologies, including programming, artificial intelligence (AI), and STEM. This interactive platform fostered creative exchanges, showcasing how computational thinking and technological innovation can address real-life challenges.
North Wales Chronicle
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Young coders gather at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor for competition
The annual Code Club UK competition, hosted by the Dolgellau campus, saw budding programmers from Ysgol Bro Idris sites compete to develop the best original game. Ninety enthusiastic learners from Dolgellau, Dinas Mawddwy, Rhydymain, Friog, and Llanelltyd one of the winners of the Code Club UK competition, holding the tablet he won as a prize with staff from Ysgol Bro Idris and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor (Image: Supplied) The event celebrated the conclusion of a year-long effort by IT students, who ran Code Clubs at Ysgol Bro Idris, teaching basic programming skills. Throughout the academic year, Level 3 Information Technology students at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor taught 96 Year 5 and 6 pupils how to create their own games and activities. The competition allowed these children to put their newly acquired skills to the test by creating an original game using Scratch programmers focused on developing their own games (Image: Supplied) They had to think about backdrops, characters, sounds, how points would be awarded or deducted, and how the game could be won. Games were judged on creativity and originality, technical proficiency, gameplay, and user experience. The winners were Brandon and Ollie from the Dolgellau site, who took first place, followed by Prideaux and Macs from Llanelltyd in second, Celyn from Friog in third, and Isaac, also from Friog, in one of the winners of the Code Club UK competition, holding the tablet she won as a prize with staff from Ysgol Bro Idris and Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor (Image: Supplied) The winners were awarded tablets to help them continue to develop their coding skills. Sioned William, IT Level 2 and 3 course coordinator at Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor, said: "Code Clubs are an excellent opportunity to develop sought-after skills and to foster an interest in coding from a young age, which is high on the agenda for development at primary schools. "Also, they are a fantastic opportunity for our learners to use their skills and work with the local from across Dolgellau, Dinas Mawddwy, Rhydymain, Friog, and Llanelltyd showcased their skills (Image: Supplied) "Most of our learners are nervous to begin with, but once they have done the first session they thoroughly enjoy it and note it as one of their highlights of the course." Level 3 student Sam Stocks said: "I really enjoyed being a part of Code Club this year. "The experience taught me a lot about how I can help others, and how passionate children can be about things they enjoy."(Image: Supplied) Fellow student Pawel Lenort added: "It's been a great experience for me as it helped me be more confident in coding, and I enjoyed helping pupils with their games." Code Club is a nationwide initiative that promotes digital literacy and skills for future generations. They aim to empower young people to use computing technologies to shape the world.
News18
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Children Feeling Bored At Home? 5 Free Online Courses You Can Enrol Your Kids In
Last Updated: As everything has transitioned to digital platforms, let's explore some online courses for your child. Holidays can be challenging for parents as children might feel bored at home. However, in this digital age, online courses can enhance your child's productivity and alleviate their boredom. As everything has transitioned to digital platforms, let's explore some online courses for your child. Programming for Kids If your child is over eight, consider enroling them in basic programming courses, as this skill is vital nowadays. You can enrol your kids in Scratch, a platform developed by MIT. It uses colorful, easy-to-use drag-and-drop blocks to create stories, games, and animations. It covers key coding concepts like conditions, loops, variables, and more, while exploring Scratch features like motion, sensing, and clones. Children learn fundamental coding while creating fun projects, expressing their interests, and building creativity with Scratch. Drawing Classes Numerous online drawing courses are available for kids aged five and up. Udemy's The Complete Drawing Course for Kids covers drawing, painting, watercolor, and pastel skills for beginners. The course aims to teach kids to create paintings from basic to advanced techniques, including coloring and linear sketching. Foreign Language Classes Learning new languages boosts a child's confidence by improving cognitive, memory, and listening skills. Starting early can also lead to better educational and career opportunities. Duolingo ABC offers a variety of foreign language classes for kids, featuring interactive activities to enhance learning. The lessons are short, taking 5 minutes or less, keeping kids motivated. With 9 levels to choose from, kids can progress at their own pace. Kids can play and learn independently, no wifi needed. Chess For Children Whether your child is new to chess or highly skilled, they can find suitable opponents globally on this platform. Through entertaining, animated videos offered by Udemy's Free Chess Tutorial, children will learn chess tactics, including piece movements, checkmate patterns, and special moves. Ideal for kids aged 5-13, this course will equip them to play and win against most untrained players.
Daily Record
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Wishaw primary end school year by picking up Digital Schools Award
For Calderbridge Primary, it is the culmination of dedicated work by both staff and pupils to make technology a central part of the curriculum. Calderbridge Primary School in Coltness ended the school year on a high and celebrating a significant achievement after being awarded the prestigious Digital Schools Award. The award, part of a Scotland-wide initiative, acknowledges schools that have embedded digital tools into their learning and teaching in meaningful and innovative ways. For Calderbridge, it is the culmination of dedicated work by both staff and pupils to make technology a central part of the curriculum. The school's headteacher Diana Osborne praised the school community, saying she was 'immensely proud of the efforts of our Digital Team, led by Miss Cairney,' and gave a heartfelt 'shoutout to the whole team for their dedication in embedding digital learning and teaching across our school.' Digital learning is deeply woven into the fabric of school life at Calderbridge. Throughout the year, and especially during the school's dedicated Digital Week, children from nursery to primary seven engage in activities that teach them to use technology safely, responsibly and creatively. Workshops supported by Police Scotland, the NSPCC, and the 3Mobile Discovery Team help reinforce the importance of online safety and positive digital citizenship. Meanwhile, pupils enhance their computing skills through hands-on experiences with coding tools such as Scratch Jr, Scratch, Micro:bit, Sphero, and Microsoft's Hour of Code. In addition to programming, pupils explore a wide variety of creative and productivity apps, including Mark Up, Sketchmetademolab, GarageBand, Paint 3D, Book Creator, and more. This dynamic approach not only boosts digital literacy but makes learning fun and engaging. The award shines a spotlight on Calderbridge's forward-thinking ethos and its commitment to preparing pupils for the digital future. 'We're thrilled to be recognised at a national level,' said Mrs Osborne. 'This award reflects the passion, hard work and innovation that goes into making Calderbridge a digitally confident and inclusive school.'
