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News Roundup: Lebanon Protests, New Zealand Outbreak, & the Weddle Grab

Lebanon Protests After Blast: Government Steps Down

Lebanon’s government has stepped down as a result of protests following massive explosions 10 days ago. The blasts, which were caused by dangerous chemicals stored in an unsafe way, killed and injured many people. They also destroyed much of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital.

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Lebanon’s government has stepped down as a result of protests following massive explosions 10 days ago. The blasts, which were caused by dangerous chemicals stored in an unsafe way, killed and injured many people.

Even before the blasts and the coronavirus,  life in Lebanon was difficult. People have been protesting against the government since last year. Just last fall, protests forced Prime Minister Saad Hariri to resign.

Protests began again soon after the explosions. After days of clashes with police, protesters took over several important government buildings. It was clear how angry the protesters were about the government’s failure to protect the people.

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Protests began again soon after the explosions. After days of clashes with police, protesters took over several important government buildings. It was clear how angry the protesters were about the government’s failure to protect the people.

In less than a week, the entire cabinet, including Prime Minister Hassan Diab stepped down.

But getting rid of the government may not make the protesters happy for long. Parliament has declared a state of emergency. That worries some people, since it allows the country’s military to run the country without many of the rules that normally control a government. 

New Mystery Coronavirus Outbreak in New Zealand

New Zealand is working to find the source of a new coronavirus outbreak which has shaken the country after having no cases for 102 days. The outbreak was first detected among one family in Auckland, and has now led to 30 cases of the virus.

New Zealand, an island nation of about 5 million people, worked hard to control the coronavirus quickly. In early June, the country announced that the coronavirus had been contained.

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Health experts are trying to figure out how the recent outbreak began. So far, that’s a mystery. The outbreak isn’t linked to anyone coming into the country, and there have been no new cases inside the country for over three months.

Health experts are trying to figure out how the recent outbreak began. So far, that’s a mystery. The outbreak isn’t linked to anyone coming into the country, and there have been no new cases inside the country for over three months.

Auckland has now been partly locked down, and the rest of the country has moved to Level 2 on the country’s 4-level coronavirus safety system.

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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she believes the outbreak was caught early and that New Zealand will be able to isolate all the cases so that the country can return to a fairly normal way of life.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she believes the outbreak was caught early and that New Zealand will be able to isolate all the cases so that the country can return to a fairly normal way of life. 

Skateboard Move Renamed After 40 Years

Around 1981, a deaf skateboarder named Chris Weddle invented a trick that’s been popular with skateboarders ever since. In the trick, a skateboarder leans down and grabs the front of the board while they’re in the air. For nearly 40 years, that move has been known as the “mute grab”.

Brian Smith Mute Grab/Weddle Grab Quiksilver Euro Jam 2006
Around 1981, a deaf skateboarder named Chris Weddle invented a popular skateboarding trick where the skateboarder leans down and grabs the front of the board while they’re in the air. For nearly 40 years, that move has been known as the “mute grab” (above).
(Source: Warren R.M. Stuart, via Flickr.com.)

Pro skateboarder Tony Hawk says the move got its name because Mr. Weddle was a quiet person. “Mute” means unable to talk. But Mr. Weddle is deaf, not mute.

After talking with Mr. Weddle last year, Mr. Hawk realized that the “Weddle Grab” would be a much more appropriate name for the move.

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Mr. Hawk, who’s behind several skateboarding video games, took action. In the new version of his game, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, the move has now been renamed the “Weddle Grab”. Above, Mr. Hawk filming a show in February.

Mr. Hawk, who’s behind several skateboarding video games, took action. In the new version of his game, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, the move has now been renamed the “Weddle Grab”.

“It’s going to be challenging to break the habit of saying the old name,” says Mr. Hawk, “but I think Chris deserves the recognition.”

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