REGGIO EMILIA, Italy: The Princess of Wales’ visit to Italy has put the spotlight on an Italian early childhood educational model that helped revolutionize how toddlers learn in school.

The Reggio Approach, used in public daycare centers and preschools in the northern city of Reggio Emilia, values a child’s inherent curiosity and potential, with teachers acting as facilitators, not instructors, and parents and the surrounding community actively involved. And Princess Catherine, who has made early development her signature cause, is spending two days seeing it up close.

“I love that you put children and childhood at the heart of the community, and I’m really fascinated to learn more about it,” she said as she arrived at one of the town’s preschools on Wednesday.

Reggio partially grew out of the Montessori philosophy and both Italian approaches have spread around the world, standing as counterpoints to models in places like the US and Britain that emphasize standardization and testing for children so young they haven’t begun to read.

Reggio appeals to some Italian parents who themselves received education with rote learning — but only to a point, according to Kathryn Ramsay, a longtime early-childhood educator who runs a Reggio-inspired project north of Rome.

“When the children are 3 or 4, they’re totally fine with it,” Ramsay said. “And then when they hit 5, they (the parents) start getting a little twitchy because they’re thinking about Grade 1,” when children have to sit still for longer periods and learn to read and write.

A postwar approach to childcare

The Reggio Approach was born as Italy began to rebuild after World War II and a group of mothers in hard-hit Reggio Emilia, a center of anti-Fascist resistance, banded together.

“They sold the metal from a German tank for funds and they hand-carried stones from the river to reconstruct a place for the children to be cared for while the rest of the village went about the business of putting life back together,” said Margie Cooper of the North America Reggio Emilia Alliance.

An innovative pedagogical expert, Loris Malaguzzi, built on Montessori and other educational reform movements to help articulate Reggio’s child-centered approach, which covers children aged 0-6.

His poem exploring how young children communicate and make sense of their world through drawing, painting, dancing and singing served as something of a manifesto. Valuing the capacities and experiences of children was unheard of at the time.

“The child was only an adult in formation and didn’t have things to say or competencies already realized,” said Roberta Cardarello, senior professor of didactical and special pedagogy at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia.

The Reggio Approach spread to other towns, especially in the north’s left-leaning municipalities. But Italy’s central government in Rome — headed by conservative Christian Democrats until the 1990s — resisted promoting it widely, perhaps because of its association with Reggio Emilia’s communist history.

Today, that red scare is gone, but the model’s adoption often depends on whether cash-strapped local administrations invest in training or teachers have trained independently, according to Elisabetta Nigris, professor of didactic programs and evaluation at the University of Studies Milan-Bicocca.

How Reggio works and what are its outcomes

Reggio employs features common in high-quality programs, including a focus on adults and children in relationship that promotes social and emotional well-being, according to Sylvi Kuperman, senior researcher at the Center for the Economics of Human Development at the University of Chicago. Her 2017 study on Reggio in Italy found greater high school graduation and employment outcomes compared to kids who didn’t receive formal childcare.

Children typically spend multiple years with the same teacher, she said. They participate in meal preparation. Classrooms feature windows and natural materials, like wood. Gardens and artwork are a staple.

On Thursday, Catherine visited the “Salvatore Allende” daycare and preschool in Reggio Emilia, playing with children in the garden, using a magnifying glass to look in the grass and at one point letting a slimy newt crawl in her hand.

“In London, we have newts like this too,” she said.

Catherine’s visit is significant for Britain, since the Reggio Approach isn’t recognized in its national educational policy, and most early childhood programs are run by private organizations for profit, said Peter Moss, emeritus professor at the University College London’s Institute of Education.

But he stressed that Reggio developed in a very particular time and context that is hard to replicate.

“Reggio Emilia is a reaction to 20 years of authoritarian rule under Mussolini and, after that fell, of course a lot of places in Italy were asking the question ‘How do we make sure that never happens again?’”

A Reggio-inspired center called Wild Joy

At Ramsay’s Reggio-inspired, bilingual project north of Rome, there is a large grassy garden but no typical playground equipment or bright decorative posters lining the schoolhouse walls. Rather, the tiny log cabin with a covered porch is spare and neutral-toned. Most learning takes place outside: the “mud kitchen,” where kids play at a table with dishes, a digging pitch, a big rock to climb up and slide down in the dirt. Called “Wild Gioia” (Wild Joy), it currently has five children enrolled, aged 3-6.

Ramsay points to evidence suggesting that the best preparation for reading and writing is play, because it teaches children to concentrate.

“They don’t learn to concentrate by being told what to concentrate on,” she said. “They’re learning to concentrate by having the freedom to be able to follow their own interests.”

MOSCOW: Europe should not expect ​to act as a mediator in the Ukraine peace process given its current approach, ‌Russia’s ‌state-run ​RIA ‌news ⁠agency ​reported on Thursday, citing ⁠Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Peskov reiterated Moscow’s position that Europe ⁠is currently involved ‌in ‌the conflict ​on ‌Ukraine’s side.

No ‌peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have taken ‌place since February as the United ⁠States, ⁠which has been mediating between them, has been focused on the war in Iran.

Kylie Jenner surprised fans after opening up about her growing interest in the popular Nintendo game The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild during a recent podcast appearance.

While speaking on the Therapuss podcast with Jake Shane, the 28-year-old star shared that she has recently started exploring the fantasy gaming world and admitted she is “still kind of new” to the Zelda franchise.Even though Kylie is not fully familiar with all the characters and storylines yet, she explained that she has been enjoying the experience of playing the game.

The reality star, however, also laughed about accidentally confusing some character names while talking about the series, which many fans online found relatable and funny.

Clips from the conversation started spreading all over the social media, where people reacted to seeing a different side of Kylie outside fashion and beauty.

The Zelda franchise has remained one of Nintendo’s most famous gaming series for years. Breath of the Wild, which was released in 2017, became especially popular for its massive open world and freedom for players to explore.

Moreover, Kylie Jenner did not reveal which device she plays on or if she tried other Zelda games yet.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been dealing with serious emotional turmoil, but his loved ones move on with their lives.

As per the updated edition of Andrew Lownie’s book, Entitled, the former Duke of York has “left with just three members of staff.”Since his exit from Royal Lodge, now King Charles’ brother resides at Marsh Farm.

The author wrote, “Andrew now had to rely on just a housekeeper, a cook and a general aide, alongside a team of police protection officers.”

“His only other company were two corgis that had once belonged to the late Queen and several Norfolk terriers,” per express.co.uk, Mr Lownie said.

This comes after happiness returned to the York household with Princess Eugenie’s third pregnancy announcement.

Buckingham Palace released a statement to share the delightful news.

“Her Royal Highness Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their third child together, due this summer,” the message reads.

“August (aged 5) and Ernest (aged 2) are also very excited to have another sibling join the family. His Majesty The King has been informed and is delighted with the news.”

As Taylor Swift prepares for her highly anticipated wedding to Travis Kelce this summer, the Library of Congress has honored her 2014 album 1989 with induction into the National Recording Registry, cementing its legacy as one of America’s most influential pop records

It is being recognized as an “audio treasure worthy of preservation for all time.”The Registry’s 2026 class spans decades and genres, but Swift’s inclusion marks a milestone.

It is her first entry into the collection of recordings deemed culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant to America’s sound heritage.

The album was released in October 2014.1989 debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and went on to win Album of the Year at the Grammys.

Fueled by hits like Shake It Off, Blank Space, and Style, the record not only redefined Swift’s career but also helped shape the sound of mainstream pop in the mid 2010s.

Its synth driven production and sharp lyrical storytelling became a blueprint for a new generation of artists.

Swift joins fellow icons Beyoncé, whose 2008 anthem Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) was also selected, alongside classics from Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Vince Gill.

More than 3,000 recordings were nominated this year, with 25 ultimately chosen, bringing the Registry’s total to 700.

“The sweep and diversity of the National Recording Registry class of 2026 beautifully captures the scope of the American experience,” said Robbin Ahrold, chair of the National Recording Preservation Board.

“From icons of R&B to a holiday favorite en Español, from a legendary sports broadcast to this generation’s superstars, it is a thrilling reflection of America at its best.”

For Swift, 1989’s preservation reflects the album’s enduring impact. 

Labour’s Wes Streeting resigned as health minister on Thursday to call for a leadership contest to oust Keir Starmer, accusing the British prime minister of overseeing political drift and forcing others to take the blame for his government’s failings.

Disastrous results for the governing Labour Party in last week’s local elections have plunged Britain into its latest crisis, just under two years after Starmer won a large majority on a vow to bring stability and end a decade of political chaos.After days of calls by a growing number of Labour lawmakers for Starmer to either resign or set out a timetable for his departure, Streeting was the first senior minister to break cover, saying he was standing down because “it is now clear you will not lead the Labour Party into the next general election”.

But he did not trigger a formal contest.

“It is now clear … that Labour MPs (members of parliament) and Labour (trade) unions want the debate about what comes next to be a battle of ideas, not of personalities or petty factionalism,” he wrote in his resignation letter.

“It needs to be broad, and it needs the best possible field of candidates.”

His announcement fell short of forcing the launch of a formal leadership contest but piles the pressure on the British leader who has so far weathered a drip feed of demands for him to step down.

Streeting’s criticism was stinging.”Where we need vision, we have a vacuum. Where we need direction, we have drift,” Streeting said, criticising Starmer’s speech on Monday which the British leader had hoped would silence the resignation demands.

“Leaders take responsibility, but too often that has meant other people falling on their swords.”

A source close to Streeting said the former health minister had the numbers to mount a formal challenge to Starmer but had decided not to trigger an immediate contest because he felt setting out an orderly timetable was the right way forward.

Starmer has repeatedly said he would battle to keep his job, and sources close to the leader say he is determined to fight any contest, which could see him challenged by Streeting and also senior ministers on the left of the party.

Sterling edged lower after Streeting’s resignation.

“It moves us one step closer to a Labour leadership challenge. How many steps are between here and there that’s still uncertain,” said Nick Rees, head of macro research, Monex Europe, London.

Potential candidates

Earlier on Thursday, Starmer’s former deputy, Angela Rayner, announced she had been cleared of deliberate wrongdoing over her tax affairs, an impediment to any leadership contest, but she would not say whether she wanted to launch a formal bid.

Other potential candidates from the so-called “soft left” of the party — who favour more state involvement in key industries and are pro workers’ rights — include Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband, the minister for energy security and net zero.Burnham does not currently have the necessary seat in parliament to mount a challenge and even if a lawmaker agreed to stand down to make space for him, the process could take weeks, or maybe months, which could discount him from any race.

Another potential candidate is armed forces minister Al Carns, a relatively unknown ex-Royal Marine seen by some in Labour as a new face that could freshen up the party.

While potential candidates try to garner backers, Starmer is not without his supporters.

The 63-year-old former lawyer has adopted a “business as usual” approach and on Thursday his finance minister, Rachel Reeves, warned lawmakers against “plunging the country into chaos” at a time when Britain’s anaemic economy was turning a corner. The economy grew unexpectedly in March.

Boss says businesses being hit by turmoil

While the number of calls for him to resign ebbed on Wednesday, when his government turned to King Charles to set out its agenda for a new parliamentary term, Thursday was yet another day of peril for Starmer.

The prospect of another leadership race to choose what would be Britain’s seventh prime minister in around 10 years has angered business leaders who warn it will deter investment – something the Labour government has said must improve to turn around the nation’s fortunes.

The bout of political instability has pushed borrowing costs higher, with some investors nervous over the possible election of a more left-wing, tax-and-spend Labour prime minister.

A poll by Survation published this week of Labour members found that a left-wing candidate would most likely win any leadership contest if the prime minister resigned.

The boss of Aviva, one of Britain’s biggest financial companies, complained that businesses were being hurt by the turmoil.

“There have been too many changes of government strategy, leadership, just in my six years of being CEO,” CEO Amanda Blanc told Reuters. “And I think that is harmful to a major economy such as the UK and how we are perceived abroad.”