Family News

Family News
One of two black boxes found from crashed Chinese plane

Chinese searchers have found one of two black boxes from a China Eastern Airlines plane that crashed last week in forest-clad mountains with 132 people onboard, the aviation regulator said.

The device was severely damaged, and it was not immediately clear if it was the flight data recorder or the cockpit voice recorder, an official of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) told a media briefing.

Flight MU5735 was flying from the southwestern city of Kunming to Guangzhou on the coast on Monday when the Boeing 737-800 jet suddenly plunged from cruising altitude at about the time when it should have started its descent ahead of landing.

Most of the jet appears to have disintegrated upon impact and no survivors have been found.

The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, with aviation authorities warning that their investigation would be very difficult because of the severe damage to the aircraft.

 

Egypt unveils five ancient tombs in Saqqara necropolis

Egypt has unveiled five ancient Pharaonic tombs at the Saqqara archaeological site south of Cairo, the latest in a series of landmark discoveries in the area.

Saqqara is a vast necropolis of the ancient Egyptian capital Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to more than a dozen pyramids, animal burial sites and ancient Coptic Christian monasteries.

Egyptian archaeologists discovered the five tombs northeast of the pyramid of King Merenre I, who ruled Egypt around 2270 BC.

According to Mostafa Waziri, the head of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, the five tombs – all of which are in good condition – belonged to senior royal officials.

The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said one of the tombs belonged to a top official named Iry. A limestone sarcophagus and colourful decorations were found in the tomb.

The remaining tombs belonged to other members of the royal court, including a “steward of the royal house” and a priestess who was “responsible for the king’s beautification”.

 

Pupils encouraged to get creative in ‘everyday maths’ art competition

To get children in Ireland and across the UK thinking about ‘everyday maths’, edtech provider Renaissance Learning launched an exciting new drawing competition for primary schools.

Pupils across Ireland are being asked to think about how maths can be found in the everyday and create imaginative artwork showing their vision of where they can see and experience maths in the world around them.

The overall winning school will receive £2,000 (€2,400) towards a trip, whilst the individual winners from each of the three age categories will receive a Kindle Fire and a year’s subscription to Freckle and Star Maths for their class or school.

Details on how to enter can be found at www.renlearn.co.uk/sum-it-up alongside more information about Renaissance and Freckle.