Kid News This Week: Farewell to Pope Francis, prehistoric dive wolf brought back from extinction, AI models replace humans, helping hands bookstore move, Australia’s missing dog
In world news for kids… It’s the end of an era for the Catholic church as Pope Francis – known for his kindness that also caused some controversy – passes away. It’s the return of the prehistoric wolf puppies – three to be exact. Yes, the once extinct dive wolf returns thanks to the magic of science. We’ll tell you how.
In tech, or should I say, the world of fashion – AI models are replacing humans.
In the US a bookstore moves location, one book at a time, thanks to some helpful book lovers.
And – heard the one about the wiener dog stranded on an Australian island? Well, you gotta listen to the end to find out whether this story has an odd or a happy ending…
EPISODE – 196
LEELA: This episode Pope Francis passes prehistoric dire wolves come back from extinction AI models replace humans a bookstores human chain moves and the weirder dog that was baking hot
OPENING STING – LEELA: “Hey, hey, hey. Listen up. New, new, newsy – Newsy Pooloozi!”
THEME MUSIC
LEELA: Hello and welcome to Newsy Pooloozi – the news pool for curious kids and adults! I’m your host Leela Sivasankar Prickitt and, as ever, I’ve got my trusty sidekick here too…
MAMA: Hi, y’all. Lyndee here. The sidekick or well the producer or you could also say Leela’s mama
LEELA: And this is your one-stop shop for the most important and interesting news happening around the world.
MUSIC UP
LEELA: This week… end of an era for the Catholic Church as Pope Francis known for his kindness that also caused some controversy dies.
It's the return of the prehistoric wolf puppies three to be exact yes, the one's extinct dire wolf returns thanks to the magic of science we'll tell you how
And tech or should I say the world of fashion AI models are replacing humans
In the u.s a bookstore moves location one book at a time thanks to some helpful book lovers
And heard the one about the weirder dog stranded on an Australian island well you gotta listen to the end to find out whether this story has an odd or a happy ending
Okay, then let's dive on in First up it's the…
BIG NEWS STORY STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “The Big news story of the week!”
MAMA: the leader of the Roman Catholic Church the Pope has died
LEELA: I knew he was sick, wasn’t he?
MAMA: Yes. Pope Francis had been battling pneumonia for a few weeks and doctors had been saying the outlook was bleak.
LEELA: How old was he?
MAMA: 88, one of the oldest popes in history in fact!
LEELA: Wow! So, what happens now?
MAMA: Well, all the Catholic Church’s top leaders gather at the Vatican for a super-secret and highly political vote called a conclave. And then, well we wait for the smoke.
LEELA: The smoke?
MAMA: Yep. Standing by to tell us more is Ananya Kazmin in Rome.
LEELA: Well, Ananya – over to you!
ANANYA: Thanks, Leela:
Pope Francis has been the leader of the Catholic Church – also called the pontiff – for the last 12 years.
Did you know he was the first pope from South America?
He was known for being really kind and caring about people, especially those who were struggling, like the poor.
He also talked a lot about taking care of the planet and making sure we don’t harm nature.
The humble pontiff wasn’t into fancy clothes OR a big palace living.
And, get this, he often rode the bus instead of using fancy cars.
Sadly, though, I saw him on a bus here in Rome… though I did see him giving a blessing in St Peters’ Square.
Interestingly, his inclusive approach like his openness towards LGBTQ+ people and immigrants was also upset some conservatives, most notably US President Trump.
Pope Francis criticized Trump's plans for mass deportations, saying leaders who focus on building walls instead of building bridges are "not Christian."
It’ll be interesting to see if Trump however will be joins other world leaders to attend the pope’s funeral…
As for the next pope, well, it’s all in the smoke.
See, church leaders are now busy deciding who’ll be the next pope.
Every day they vote on a new pope by writing down the name of their candidate on a piece of paper.
If they fail to agree, they burn those little pieces in a chimney where the smoke can be seen by crowds gathering in St Petere’s Square.
If it’s black, NO pope has been chosen.
But if the smoke is white, it means a new head of the Catholic church has been elected.
So, watch this space or should I saw, watch the smoke!
In Rome, I’m Ananya Kazmin, reporting for Newsy Pooloozi!
LEELA: Thanks, Ananya!
MAMA: Yeah, thanks a lot! Nice to hear you from Rome again, though sorry it’s for this reason…
LEELA: Yeah, I guess we’ll all be waiting to see what color that smoke is in the next few days!
MAMA: You got it! And I guess we might be heading back to Ananya in Rome for an update…
NATURE STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “It’s the call of nature. The call of nature. It’s the call of nature. Get on your safari suite. Or squeeze into your scuba gear. Squeeze into your scuba gear. And get ready to hop into a jeep. Or submarine. Because Mother Nature is calling. Nature. Mother Nature is calling!”
MAMA: you know it's funny this news is about something we actually first talked about some two years ago. You could say we have a story that's been de extinct
LEELA: De-extinct? I know that extinct means when something disappears from the earth forever like what the dinosaurs and lots of other animals
MAMA: That is correct.
LEELA: So de-extinction means... bringing back animals... that have been extinct for like a gazillion years?
MAMA: Yes! Well, kind of. Today’s big news story is about Colossal, the genetic engineering company from the U.S., and de-extinctionwork they’re doing.
LEELA: Oh yes! I remember - the WOOLLY MAMMOTH!
MAMA: Yes! Back in January of 2023 in Episode 135 we told you about the company and their work on the de-extinction of the Woolly Mammoth.
LEELA: Yes, bringing those big, hairy, elephant-looking creatures back from the ice-age.
MAMA: Those are the ones! Remember Woolly Mammoths have 99.5 percent of the same genes as Asian Elephants.
LEELA: Yes, and if I remember correctly, scientists were trying to isolate the “woolliest” of those woolly mammoth genes to mix them with those of an Asian Elephant.
MAMA: Correct again. And it’s going better than expected… Back in 2023 Colossal thought it’d take years to de-extinct the Woolly Mammoth. Now they reckon they’ll be back in 2028!
LEELA: But bringing animals back from extinction… Isn't it a bit risky?
MAMA: Well, the goal, if you remember, is to use Woolly Mammoths to help turn Siberia back into a grassland.
LEELA: Errrr, are you gonna say how, exactly?
MAMA: Oh, that would be telling! I suggest that for the full details, our Newsies should have a listen to Episode 135.
LEELA: Fair enough because this story is about cute little wolves... not cute big Woolly Mammoths
MAMA: That’s right. Same company, different animal.
LEELA: But same controversy, or I should say debate, right? Some are who wowed by this scientific advancement and some are angered by it!
MAMA: And even some who are terrified by it. So, I think we need to head to our nature -meets-tech correspondent, Marcky Granena.
LEELA: Take it away, Marcky.
MARCKY: Thanks, you guys.
There are plenty of opinions about whether the company Colossal should be dabbling in this kind of science fiction.
On the one hand, the work is mind-blowing. Scientists extracted dire wolf DNA from tooth and skull fossils.
Then mixed it with gray wolf DNA to make wolves that are white, with long thick fur, and whose genes closely resemble the species that disappeared more than 12,000 years ago.
It sounds so Jurassic Park!
Then again, we all know how that ended.
Critics of Colossal say bringing back species that don’t exist is cruel to the animals because the earth is not the same place it once was, and they might have a hard time adapting.
Maybe, as Jeff GOLD BLOOM Goldblum said, “Life will find a way.” Meaning, if you start playing with around with Mother Nature, she’ll fight back.
Personally, as a proud I-V-F baby, I’m all for science. I wouldn’t suggest the de-extinction of a cave man though.
Way too hairy for this hot earth!
In Barcelona, this is Marcky Granena for Newsy Pooloozi!
LEELA: Wow, thanks, Marcky! Talk about the magic of science…
MAMA: Yeah, ain’t science amazing?!
[SOURCE: ] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/science/colossal-woolly-mammoth-DNA.html
https://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/
https://apnews.com/article/colossal-biosciences-woolly-mammoth-b381f6f48eeed0828535cf9604263140
WORLD WRAP STING – LEELA: “What’s that? I’ll tell you what. That’s the halftime bell! Which means… it’s time to hear what’s making news around the rest of the world. Hold on tight, it’s around the world in 80 seconds.”
MAMA: India is in mourning after at least 26 people were killed by a group of gunmen who opened fire on tourists in the northern state of Kashmir no one is yet to claim responsibility for the terror attack
The international monetary fund says the global economy is expected to slow this year due to the US government's extremely high import taxes and the uncertainty over when or if they'll be implemented
Is anybody out there? Scientists say they have the strongest evidence so far of alien life not an aerosol system, though the James web telescope has helped astronomers observe potential chemical signs of life on an exoplanet located 124 light years away
And environmentalists around the world are celebrating earth day 2025 hoping to inspire world leaders and local leaders as well as people around the earth to focus more on clean energy some even switched their lights off for a brief period of time to raise awareness, but critics say it's not enough
[SOURCE:] https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/22/asia/gunmen-open-fire-jammu-kashmir-intl/index.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/04/22/trump-tariffs-imf-global-economy/
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/imf-slashes-global-outlook-white-210431232.html
LEELA: Well, thank you so much for that – wait for it… that whippity-whappity-zippity-zappity wrap of what’s making headlines elsewhere in the world, Mama.
MAMA: Anytime, Leela. Now…
TECH STING – LEELA/MAMA: “It’s time for.... Technology News, technology news, tech news!”
MAMA:Everyday it seems we’re finding new ways to use artificial intelligence.
LEELA: Ah yes, The thing that powers ChatGPT and so many more AI apps and chats! Hey, that kind rhymes!!
MAMA: try saying that fast yeah. There are lots and lots of ways AI is being incorporated into society.
LEELA: Like, driverless cars?
MAMA: Yes. AI helps the car sense its surroundings and make decisions. That's one.
LEELA: And for marketing? Like commercials and ads?
MAMA: You got it. More and more companies are using AI to sell their products. And some brands are using AI-created avatars.
LEELA: Wait. You mean, as in not a real person.
MAMA: That’s right. An avatar in the modern, tech sense of the word is a digital representation of a person. They can be cartoony looking... or quite real.
LEELA: Ooh, like a twin!
MAMA: Exactly! In fact, the clothing company H&M are planning to make digital avatars of some of their models to sell their clothes.
LEELA: Hmm. So, a digital twin of a model wearing the clothes. And does the real model still get paid for their work? Or not… because, I mean, what work are they actually doing?
MAMA: that's a good question right on one hand AI models never get old and never need their hair or makeup done so it's cheaper for brands to use them
LEELA: Yes, but on the other hand what about the jobs for all those models not just them there's also the makeup artists and hairstyles who'll be out of jobs and of course how would the companies get inspiration for their AI twins
MAMA: Good point
LEELA: Are any other brand using AI avatars?
MAMA: Yes! Levi Strauss, the jeans company, and Mango, the clothing brand from Spain. And not just that. There are many brands who use virtual influencers to sell their products.
LEELA: Okay I’m sorry, As in, an influencer who is not a real person.
MAMA: Yep!
LEELA: Wild. It’s like, kinda cool in way… but… also so strange and a bit, I don’t know, frightening!
MAMA: I know i think that's how most of us feel about this brave new world my dear
https://www.virtualhumans.org/human/miquela-sousa]
KINDESS CORNER STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “Kindness corner. Cool. They did what? Seriously? What? How cool is that! No way! Cool.”
MAMA: Books and kindness! A winning combo that was on full display recently in the town of Chelsea Michigan
LEELA: Chelsea, that’s a small town in the midwestern state of Michigan in the U.S.A. In case anyone was wondering!
MAMA: Thank you for that! Well, one of the town’s beloved establishments...
LEEA: Serendipity Bookstore.
MAMA: Yes, indeed it to move locations. And you’ll never guess how they did it.
LEELA: Let’s see, this is a kindness corner feature, so… hmmmm…
MAMA: Well, while you ponder that, let’s head to our US-based book lover, correspondent Mira Power. Who's got the story
LEELA: OK, then, Mira – over to you!
MIRA: Yes, Serendipity Bookstore in Chelsea, Michigan was outgrowing its shop.
So, it found a new, larger space, which would serve the community better by expanding its offerings.
And it was only 350 feet away. So… well, it seemed silly to hire a moving truck for that short space.
At least it did to the owner and her dedicated patrons…
300 patrons, in fact, book-loving residents of Chelsea who helped formed a "book brigade" to pass 9,100 books HAND-TO-HAND to the new location.
People of all ages from six years old to 91 stood side-by-side, passing each book in a long chain until they were neatly stacked in alphabetical order, no less, on the shelves of the new store!
And guess what with all those hands-on decks, so to speak, it only took about two hours.
Never mind, it was a great ending to that chapter of bookstore’s history.
LEELA: Thank you so much Mira. I love that story, perfect display of kindness
MAMA: I love it too. It’s really sweet I’d like to see that happen in Delhi. Could you imagine the chaos that would cause
LEELA: And finally, let’s see what the lucky dip machine has for us this week.
[SOURCE: https://apnews.com/article/bookstore-book-brigade-chelsea-michigan-03c553623c91c16a272b8a8149e4c298
ODDBALL STING – VARIOUS VOICES: “Step right up, step right up… Have a go at the lucky dip machine… What’s it gonna be today, eh? An oddball, no doubt!”
LEELA: Well, we started this week’s podcast with the Dire Wolf- how they’re coming back into existence.
MAMA: Yessss
LEELA: and we're ending it with a story about another member of the canine family who's also fighting to stay alive so to speak
MAMA: And that animal would be?
LEELA: A Dachshund! AKA - a wiener dog.
MAMA: Oh, you must be talking about Valerie the wiener dog from Australia who has been through quite the ordeal!
LEELA: Indeed! Cue the dramatic music, Mama!
MUSIC
LEELA: Yes! It all started in November of 2023... When Valerie was camping with her owners on Kangaroo Island, off the coast of Southern Australia. Home to 5000 people and 65,000…
MAMA: Let me guess! Kangaroos?
LEELA: How did you guess?! Well, Kangaroo Island also has thousands of dangerous snakes and…
MAMA: I know this one too, also home to thousands of goannas also known as monitor lizards.
LEELA: Eww! Well, one day Valerie’s owners went fishing and left her in a playpen with toys and food.
MAMA: As you do.
LEELA: But… she escaped!
MAMA: Oh no!
LEELA: Oh yes! Under the car she ran! And when other campers tried to coax her out, she darted off into the woods… never to be seen again!
MAMA: Never?
LEELA: Well, Valerie’s owners looked for her for a week but finally left the island to go back home… without her… broken hearted.
MAMA: How sad!
LEELA: How happy, actually! Because this story the chance of a happy ending…
MAMA: OH, phew!
LEELA: Yes, after 500 days in the wild that l’il old, domesticated sausage dog used to having dinner served to her in a nice doggy dish was now trying to find her own food and fend for herself in the wild where things like snakes, goannas and other predators roam around.
MAMA: That could give new meaning to the term, “sausage dog.”
LEELA: Oh, yeah!
MAMA: And talk about no kibble or cozy bed for poor Valerie
LEELA: Right? The odds were stacked against her, but thanks to surveillance cameras set up at a wildlife reserve, officials have proof that she’s still alive.
MAMA: No way! How exciting!
LEELA: In fact, they’ve set up a trap for her inside a cage with food, water, and some of her favorite things from home. So, the next time she wanders back to the reserve, they’ll be ready with a big trap, or sheet, to capture her!
MAMA: Fingers crossed for a safe return home for you Valerie! I guess in the meantime, she’ll be sitting in the shade.
LEELA: Uhhhh, I guess… why?
MAMA: Well, she doesn’t want to become a hot dog, now does she.
FAB FACTS STING – LEELA: “And it’s time to wrap up the podcast with the top five fab facts heard today. Here goes…”
MAMA: FAB FACT NUMBER 1 – Colossal, a company from the U.S. is working on the de-extinction of several species. What does extinct mean?
When an animal or species disappears forever
LEELA: FAB FACT NUMBER 2 – And when did these dire wolves stop roaming the earth and go extinct?
More than 12,000 years ago
MAMA: FAB FACT NUMBER 3 – the clothing brand H&M is making waves in the fashion industry by introducing AI-generated digital avatars to model their clothes what's an avatar?
A digital representation of a person or animal
LEELA: FAB FACT NUMBER 4 – there is hope that Valerie the wiener dog who has been living in the wild on Australia's kangaroo island for more than 500 days might get rescued about how many kangaroos and habit kangaroo island
65,000 kangaroos
MAMA: FAB FACT NUMBER 5 – And wiener dog is the nickname for what kind of dog?
A Dachshund
And don’t forget, if you want to test yourself later on, then go to the Lucky Dip page of our website, newsypooloozi.com, that’s pool-o-o-z-i, and take this quiz online in your own time!
LEELA: And that almost brings us to the end of this episode of Newsy Pooloozi! But first…
MAMA: Thank you SO much to the Bookworm who gave us 5 stars
LEELA: And tons of heart emojis…!
MAMA: And said,
LEELA: “Please make more episodes! Love this pod! Love y’all.”
MAMA: Why thank you
LEELA: So, so, so…
BOTH: VERY MUCH!
MUSIC UP
MAMA: We would like to thank the lovely Jyoti Chauhan for her production help and Julie Noce for helping and write and edit this episode!
LEELA: Thank you, guys! And, you guys, we would like to kindly ask you to………. Share this podcast with a friend if you like hearing us! Go on! Alrighty then, see you next week in the happy, splashy giant Newsy Pooloozi!
-ends-