https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/level-3/ Audio versions of Breaking News English - Level 3 articles generated by Google TTS en https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/favicon.ico https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/level-3/ https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-23-260423-looksmaxxing/ A new trend among young men is causing doctors to worry. The trend is called "looksmaxxing". Men who follow it want to maximize their looks. They want to have a more physically attractive face and body. They do this through many different methods. Some of these are dangerous. One method is bone smashing. This involves putting pressure on bones in the face to make them change shape. Many men do this to try to get a "square" jaw. They want to look stronger by having a "power jaw". Another thing young men are doing is having cosmetic surgery and using fillers in their cheeks, under their eyes, and in their lips. These things can remove wrinkles and make men look younger. Many doctors are concerned that men who follow looksmaxxing are damaging their physical and mental health. Many things can go wrong with bone smashing and cosmetic surgery. Moreover, mental health experts warn that young men can develop anxiety if they constantly worry about their looks and body shape. Anda Solea, an expert on looksmaxxing, said problems start for men when looks become the only thing in their lives. Dr Stuart Murray, from the University of Southern California, warned that too many young men are falling "into the trap of dissatisfaction and low self-esteem". He hopes men will "focus on more sustainable ways to generate their self-esteem". Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-23-260423-looksmaxxing/ 133 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-16-260416-free-electricity/ People in the UK could get discounted or even free electricity this summer. This is because energy companies may have too much energy. They do not want to waste it. In summer, people use less electricity because they turn on lights less. There is also more energy coming from solar panels. Power companies say that on sunny days, "weather conditions result in excess supply". This means electricity companies could allow houses and businesses to use electricity for free on sunny weekends. Energy suppliers say households could use appliances like washing machines or dishwashers and charge electric vehicles at no cost during periods of excess supply. The idea for discounted or free power came from the National Energy System Operator (NESO). Its website says it is "responsible for planning and delivering the energy of today and the future". The operator also says it will "deliver what is needed to reach a zero-carbon future". A NESO spokeswoman explained the benefits of the new idea. She said it would "not only reward consumers and businesses for flexible electricity use," but also make Great Britain's electricity network stronger and more efficient. A spokesman from National Gas believes there could be free summer power even with the war in the Middle East. He said: "The market has the capacity to deliver sufficient supply." Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-16-260416-free-electricity/ 133 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-09-260409-hedgehogs-and-lawn-mowers/ Animals face many dangers in their daily lives. These include climate change, habitat loss, and pollution. Mayors in Germany have highlighted a new danger — robot lawn mowers. These are the small machines that automatically go up and down people's gardens to cut the grass. German mayors say the devices are killing hedgehogs and other small animals, especially at night. The cities of Munich and Cologne have started a night-time ban on the use of the lawn mowers. However, officials want a nationwide ban. Hedgehogs are particularly at risk. They curl up into a ball when they sense danger. This makes it more difficult for a robot mower's sensors to detect a curled-up hedgehog. Hedgehogs are protected under German law. People who injure, trap, or kill them could get a fine of up to €65,000 ($75,000). The animals have been on the "near threatened" list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature since 2024. This is because their numbers dropped by over 30 per cent in the previous decade. Mayor Claudia Kalisch has asked lawn mower makers to do more to protect hedgehogs. She said: "We are calling on manufacturers to find solutions to ensure that small animals are no longer endangered by robot lawn mowers." She added: "This is a key step towards protecting animals and enriching the quality of life in the city through biodiversity." Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-09-260409-hedgehogs-and-lawn-mowers/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-02-260402-kimchi-nanoplastics/ Scientists have written extensively about the prevalence of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment and in our bodies. Microplastics are larger than a micrometre (1 millionth of a metre), while nanoplastics are smaller than a micrometre. A new study has found that bacteria from the fermented Korean dish kimchi can help to expel nanoplastics from the body. Researchers at the World Institute of Kimchi in South Korea have discovered a microbe that can attach itself to nanoplastics in the gut. The foreign body is then safely expelled in our bodily waste. The plastic does not pass through the intestinal lining and accumulate in organs like the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver. Nanoplastics are of increasing concern to the medical community. There are many unknown side effects of these tiny particles being in our organs. Current estimates suggest people take in up to 120,000 microscopic fragments every year. Newspapers often print stories about our body containing 7 grams of plastic, which is about the mass of a credit card. The Korean scientists believe their research might alleviate the accumulation of plastic in our bodies. Lead researcher Dr Se-hee Lee said: "Microorganisms derived from traditional fermented foods could represent a new biological approach to address this emerging challenge. We will continue to expand the scientific value of kimchi." Thu, 02 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-04-02-260402-kimchi-nanoplastics/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-26-260326-germany-labour-shortage/ Germany needs lots of workers. It is struggling to find enough skilled people to work in many areas. This is because many older workers are retiring and the birth rate is falling. There are not enough young people to fill hundreds of thousands of job vacancies. It needs to attract 288,000 foreign workers per year. A recent report from the BBC said Germany wants to fix this problem by asking workers from India to fill many vacancies. India has 600 million people below the age of 25. In particular, Germany needs people to work in engineering, healthcare, and manufacturing. The country needs thousands of nurses and caregivers. It also needs thousands of IT professionals. Germany is Europe's largest economy. It is famous for manufacturing, especially for cars. Companies like Volkswagen, Mercedes, Porsche, and BMW make some of the most famous cars in the world. Germany is also a leader in renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, and financial services. The government has made it easier for people to get visas to work in Germany. It has increased the number of visas available to Indians from 20,000 per year to 90,000. However, many business owners say more workers are needed. Indian employment expert Aditi Banerjee said: "There's a huge labour surplus in India." She is helping many young Indian workers to find work in Germany. Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-26-260326-germany-labour-shortage/ 132 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-19-260319-british-banknotes/ Some people in the UK are angry that pictures on British banknotes will change. Their anger has been caused by the Bank of England replacing famous historical figures with wildlife. The process to make this change was democratic. More than 26,000 people voted after a public discussion. The theme of nature was the most popular choice. This means national heroes like WWII leader Sir Winston Churchill, writer Jane Austen, and artist JMW Turner will be replaced by animals and birds. Sustainability expert Ali Fisher said: "This is a powerful reminder of how deeply people feel connected to and value British wildlife." She added: "It's a beautiful opportunity to put biodiversity in all our hands." The Bank explained that images of wildlife would make faking banknotes more difficult. It said nature was a great choice when looking at the security of banknotes. Despite this, many leading politicians are very unhappy about removing the historical figures. The head of the Conservative Party said: "Removing Churchill from banknotes is erasing our history. Changing the pictures to put wild animals on them is a silly thing to do. I absolutely do not support it." The Liberal Democrat Party leader said: "I can't think of a worse time to do this with a war waging in Europe." However, Churchill's granddaughter had no problem with an animal replacing her grandfather. Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-19-260319-british-banknotes/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-12-260312-netflix-the-dinosaurs/ A new series has scored 100 per cent on the review site Rotten Tomatoes and is at number one on Netflix. The mini-series is a four-episode Netflix documentary. It is called The Dinosaurs. It has powerful figures from Hollywood behind it. Superstar actor Morgan Freeman narrated it. Legendary director Steven Spielberg is the executive producer. He also directed the blockbuster movie Jurassic Park. Mr Spielberg used 50 experts on prehistory to help make the show. They recreated what life on Earth looked like between 235 million and 66 million years ago. The four episodes document how the earliest dinosaurs developed, survived for millions of years, and became extinct. The producers used CGI to create the landscapes and dinosaurs. CGI designers recreated the ancient supercontinent of Pangea. This was a single land mass that slowly broke apart over tens of millions of years to form the continents of today. The designers also made volcanic eruptions, sand storms, floods, million-year-old forests, and (of course) the dinosaurs. The series starts with the birth of tiny dinosaurs. It ends with the enormous T. rex and triceratops, which Freeman says are "the most iconic dinosaurs of all time". It also shows us the asteroid impact event that killed off the dinosaurs. The Guardian newspaper reviewed the series. It said, "the geology and meteorology are powerfully rendered". Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-12-260312-netflix-the-dinosaurs/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-05-260305-racism-red-card/ FIFA, the organization that controls world football (or soccer), wants to make a new rule to stop racism. It wants referees to give a red card to players who cover their mouths when they say things to other players. If a player is shown a red card, they are sent off and must leave the football pitch. Recently, there have been several cases of players being racist. Last month, Brazilian international Vinicius Junior, 25, was playing for Real Madrid against Benfica in the Champions League. The match was suspended for ten minutes after Vinicius Junior claimed that a Benfica player had racially insulted him. Vinicius has faced 20 cases of racial abuse since joining Madrid in 2018. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino wants footballers who cover their mouths during arguments to be sent off. Any player receiving a red card for discrimination can face a 10-match ban. Mr Infantino spoke to reporters at Sky News. He said if a player covered their mouth and said something, the comment could be racist, so that player has to be sent off. He added that players who cover their mouths must have said something they shouldn't have, otherwise they wouldn't have had to cover their mouth. Real Madrid is happy that FIFA is thinking about a new red-card rule. It said it would also "continue working, in collaboration with all institutions, to get rid of racism, violence, and hate in sport and society". Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-03-05-260305-racism-red-card/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-26-260226-birdwatching/ Birds are fascinating and beautiful creatures. Looking at them in the wild could be good for us. That is what researchers in Toronto, Canada say. The scientists found that birdwatching could protect our brains against age-related diseases. Lead researcher Dr Erik Wing said: "Skills from birding could be beneficial for intelligence and thinking as people age." Dr Wing and his colleagues compared scans of the brain activity of 29 veteran birdwatchers and 29 newbies. The brains of the veteran birders were a lot more active. Dr Wing said the veterans had a longer attention span and a better memory than those new to the hobby. He added that the veterans could also process information more quickly. The scientists believe birdwatching benefits the brain like learning a musical instrument. This is because the brain learns new skills, which add new pathways and connections. Dr Wing said birdwatching combines the ability to search for and identify things with a sensitivity to movement and pattern detection. Other scientists recommend the hobby. They say it is good for our mental health and can reduce stress. It is also good for our physical health because we are outside in the fresh air and sunlight. Other benefits include connecting with nature and becoming aware of the environment. Birdwatchers say their hobby is good for their social life because they meet many like-minded people. Thu, 26 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-26-260226-birdwatching/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-19-260219-figure-skating/ Japan has scooped its first-ever Olympic gold medal for pairs figure skating. Ice skater Riku Miura and her partner Ryuichi Kihara dazzled a highly appreciative crowd on their way to placing first in the pairs free skate competition. Their outstanding and dynamic performance also set a world record. After the first round, the pair were a fair way down the field of contenders for gold. They knew they would have to pull out all the stops to have any chance of getting a medal. And they did that with aplomb. Their routine was a stunning display of athleticism, daring, speed, and technique. The spectators at the Milano Ice Skating Arena gave the duo a standing ovation to thunderous applause. The couple seemed shell-shocked after leaving the ice to speak to waiting reporters. An out-of-breath Mr Kihara exclaimed: "We were determined to nail it." He added: "It's still unbelievable. I never thought we could win gold today, so it feels incredibly good." The couple first teamed up in 2019. Ms Miura said: "We have had so many experiences over the past seven years and we have grown a lot, so I think that is the reason why we managed to triumph and win the gold medal." Their coach, Bruno Marcotte, showered them with praise. He said: "I think today they were able to create magic. They skated with their heart. Their connection really came through, and it was just pure magic." Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-19-260219-figure-skating/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-12-260212-first-date-text/ First dates can be romantic and the start of a beautiful relationship. However, many people wonder when the best time is to contact their partner after that first meeting. Scientists studied the best time to send a text after a first date. Researchers at Leuphana University in Germany asked 500 people about this matter and published their findings in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. The researchers found the best time to text is the morning after the date. This shows the other person you are happy and are interested in a second date. They said waiting too long could be a mistake because it sends the wrong message that you are not interested. The study involved asking the test participants to imagine having an enjoyable first date at a nice Italian restaurant. They then had to rate how much they wanted a second meeting, depending on when they received a text from their date. They had to decide whether being texted the next morning or two days later made them feel happiest. The researchers said a follow-up text the morning after the date made people want to take the relationship further. The Psychology Today website agreed and wrote: "A next-morning text shows you're interested and had a good time." The study looked at texting — the more modern method of communication. It did not look into traditional phone calls. Thu, 12 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-12-260212-first-date-text/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-05-260205-fela-kuti/ The legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti has been awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys. He becomes the first African to be given the award. It is presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognise outstanding achievements in music. Kuti died in 1997, but he left behind an amazing legacy. Kuti's daughter, Yeni, told Al Jazeera that the award was "better late than never". She said "we still have a way to go" to recognise musicians from Africa. She added her father didn't care about awards. She said: "He played music because he loved music. It was to be acknowledged by his people – by human beings, by fellow artists - that made him happy." Fela Kuti, born in 1938, was a visionary. He was a singer, musician, and bandleader. He revolutionized African music and global protest culture. He pioneered the Afrobeat music genre. This mixed traditional Yoruba rhythms, jazz, and funk to make a powerful, hypnotic sound. He was an amazing live performer. He toured the world in the 1960s to 1980s. His concerts were a celebration of rhythm, African identity, freedom, and resistance. Fela fought against corruption, military dictatorship, and colonial influence in Nigeria. Because of this, he was arrested, beaten, and imprisoned. However, his influence on African and international music is still alive today, especially through modern Afrobeat. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-02-05-260205-fela-kuti/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-29-260129-bamboo-superfood/ Health websites are full of information about superfoods. These are packed with nutrients and are particularly good for our health. The latest superfood being discussed is bamboo shoots. Scientists have looked at many studies to find out just how good they are for us. Researchers say the shoots can be beneficial to our well-being. They are low in calories and high in fibre, which helps with digestion and weight control. They are also a good source of vitamins and minerals. Bamboo contains iron, magnesium, and potassium, which are important for sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle function. However, raw bamboo shoots contain toxins and must be cooked before eating. The scientists are from Anglia Ruskin University in the UK. Lead author Professor Lee Smith said: "Our review shows bamboo's clear promise as a possible superfood." He added: "Bamboo is already commonly eaten in parts of Asia, and it has huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable addition to diets worldwide, but it must be prepared correctly." Most of us know what bamboo looks like. It is the world's tallest grass and can grow up to 90 cm a day. There are around 1,400 species of bamboo worldwide. However, people may not know that bamboo shoots are harvested as they emerge from the ground, while they are still soft. We do not eat the hard, woody stalks. These are popular with pandas. Thu, 29 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-29-260129-bamboo-superfood/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-22-260122-bags-of-chips/ Visitors to a UK beach saw an unusual sight earlier this week. The shoreline was covered in French fries ("chips" in British English). Thousands of bags of chips washed up on a beach in the county of Sussex. The bags were in shipping containers that fell off cargo ships in the English Channel. Bad weather caused three of the containers to fall into the sea. Currents and tides carried one of the containers and the chips to the shore. Joel Bonnici, a local man, was the first to find the chips. He said: "From a distance, it looked like the golden sand of a Caribbean beach, but on closer inspection, we saw not just the chips, but chip bags." He added: "In some areas, the chips were 75 cm deep." Volunteers are helping to clean up the beach. Many people came to the beach to help the clean-up. Mr Bonnici said the chips were an environmental hazard. He said: "Removing the plastic bags is a priority." He is worried about a colony of seals that live near the beach. Bonnici said: "If the seals see the bags, they will play with them or try to eat them." A local official warned people to be careful if they go to the beach. She said: "Please keep dogs on leads as some of the food items washing on to the shoreline may be harmful to them." She asked people to "report any new debris". The chip spill is the second such event in Sussex recently. Last month, thousands of bananas washed ashore. Thu, 22 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-22-260122-bags-of-chips/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-15-260115-risky-behaviour/ Teenagers are well known for doing crazy things. It seems that once a child becomes a teen, they take a lot more risks. Some of these are dangerous and lead to injury, or worse. A new study of young chimpanzees may explain risky behaviour in children. The study is from researchers at the University of Michigan in the USA. They studied over 100 wild chimpanzees in a national park in Uganda. The chimps ranged in age from 2 to 65 years. The researchers looked at how the animals swung through trees. The youngest chimps seemed to do more dangerous things, like letting go of branches and letting themselves fall. Older chimps took fewer risks and made sure they gripped branches firmly. Lead researcher and anthropologist Laura MacLatchy suggested why children and young chimpanzees take more risks. She believes it is because they are at an age when parents supervise them less. Parents and carers often stop very young children from doing things that might cause injuries. However, young teens have more freedom and want to try new and risky things. Professor MacLatchy said the risk-taking was the same for male and female chimps and humans. The website ScienceAlert said that "some anthropologists argue for increasing children's access to thrill-seeking play, including the old-fashioned monkey bars, as a way to help them develop motor skills and skeletal strength". Thu, 15 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-15-260115-risky-behaviour/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-08-260108-moss-and-forensics/ The police have many different ways to find criminals. The most well-known are fingerprints, CCTV, and DNA. A new study shows that moss is used to solve crimes. Moss grows everywhere. Scientists say these tiny plants can be big clues in police investigations. The scientists' research is in the latest edition of the journal Forensic Sciences Research. The scientists looked at all the cases in which moss was used to help solve crimes. Lead author Dr Matt von Konrat said: "We wanted to highlight the significance of botanical evidence because…investigators may be overlooking it." He added: "We're hoping that our study helps show how important these tiny plants can be." The earliest reported case of police using moss to help in an investigation was in 1929. The amount of moss on a skeleton helped police know when the person had died. In 2013, scientists analyzed tiny bits of moss on a man's shoes. This helped to find where the man's baby daughter was buried. Dr von Konrat led a team that found the girl's body. He said: "Based on the bits of moss, we knew what sort of micro-habitat we were looking for." The father was convicted of murder. Study author and forensic scientist Jenna Merkel said: "Through this paper, we aim to raise awareness of forensic botany." She wants the police to better understand how moss can help during investigations. Thu, 08 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-08-260108-moss-and-forensics/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-01-260101-holiday-waste/ There are many holidays around the end of the year. These involve parties, family get-togethers, and the giving of gifts. However, celebrations for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and the New Year can create a lot of trash. The USA's Environmental Protection Agency estimates that household waste increases by 25 per cent over the holiday period. Miriam Holsinger, co-president of Eureka Recycling, urges us to carefully separate what we throw away. She said: "It really does make a difference if you just take a little extra time to put those boxes and those bottles and cans in the blue bin." Engineering professor Dan Hoornweg said we should avoid producing waste as much as possible in the first place. Various experts have reported on how best to deal with holiday waste. Professor Hoornweg advised people to be aware of and follow the recycling policies in their town. He said different places have different rules. Ms Holsinger asked people to be careful when they throw away things like electronics, toys, and Christmas lights. Other experts also offered great advice. One said it was good to think ahead to reduce waste. She said one idea was to buy "experiences over stuff". This means buying someone a ticket to see a play or concert, instead of buying a present that comes in lots of packaging and a cardboard box. She also recommended giving people digital cards and gift cards. Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2026-01-01-260101-holiday-waste/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-25-251225-santa-claus-reindeer/ Reindeer in the region of Lapland, Finland, are famous worldwide. They are also very busy at this time of year. That's because they are helping Santa Claus to deliver presents to children all over the world. However, the animals are facing a great danger. Reindeer herders report that an increasing number of reindeer are being killed by wolves. The Reindeer Herders' Association in Finland says wolves have killed around 1,950 reindeer this year. That is a 70 per cent increase from last year. Juha Kujala, a Lapland herder, is worried about the future of his animals. He said there has been a sudden increase in the number of wolves in Finland. This has upset the natural balance between reindeer and wolves. Mr Kujala joked to reporters about his animals, even though he is worried about them. He said: "These are Santa's reindeer. But we are really lucky because Santa needs them for only one day of the year, so we can fly them for the other 364 days." Many herders believe the Ukraine War is the reason why there are suddenly more wolves in Finland. They say that men who used to hunt wolves in Russia have gone to fight in Ukraine. This means many wolves are crossing the 1,340-km border between Russia and Finland. Kujala said: "It's worse since the Ukraine War started. The wolves are coming from the Russian side. There's nobody left hunting the wolves." Thu, 25 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-25-251225-santa-claus-reindeer/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-18-251218-blinking-and-listening/ Blinking is something we do automatically, without thinking. We blink 15–20 times a minute. There are several reasons why we blink. One is to stop our eyes from becoming dry. This helps our vision. Another reason is to protect our eyes from dust or sudden insect attacks. Scientists in Canada think they have found another function of blinking. The researchers are from Concordia University in Montreal. They found that we blink less when we are listening to someone speak. This happens more when there is background noise. Lead researcher Penelope Coupal said blinking less means our brain has a little more energy. This allows us to focus on what another person is saying. The research team conducted two experiments on 49 participants. All of the test participants listened to sentences being read aloud. In one experiment, there was no background noise. In the other test, there was background noise, which made it harder for the people to hear the sentences. The scientists said that people in the test with background noise blinked a lot less. When the background noise increased, blink rates dropped even further. Study co-author Dr Mickael Deroche said we automatically blink less "when important information is coming". Ms Coupal agreed. She said: "We don't just blink randomly. In fact, we blink systematically less when important information is presented." Thu, 18 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-18-251218-blinking-and-listening/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-11-251211-social-media-ban/ A big change has happened in the social media world. Australia has banned children under the age of 16 from joining many social networks. New laws say the under-16s cannot open accounts with sites like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, and YouTube. It is now the responsibility of these social media sites to make sure all of their users are aged 16 or above. Australia's government said it would fine the companies if they allowed children to access their sites. The fines could be as much as $32.9 million. The companies said they would use different methods to check the age of their users. New users will have to upload identification and scan their faces. Australia's Prime Minister said he introduced the ban because social media was harming young minds. He said a study showed that 70 per cent of children aged 10-15 who used social media looked at harmful content. This included information about misogyny, violence, eating disorders, and suicide. He advised children to do different things instead, like starting a new sport or learning to play a musical instrument. His message to children was: "Spend quality time with your friends and your family, face to face." Many children said they would now be lonelier without social media. Two 15-year-olds are suing Australia's government. They say their "right to free communication" has been taken away. Thu, 11 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-11-251211-social-media-ban/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-04-251204-retiring-in-greece/ More and more people are choosing to spend their retirement overseas. The magazine International Living looked at the countries people most wanted to retire to. The researchers said Greece is the best place for 2026. The magazine has released its Annual Global Retirement Index. This looked at the things that were important for older people who wanted to live in another country in their golden years. These included climate, the cost of living, healthcare, and housing. It is the first time Greece has been the number-one choice for retirees. Spain and Portugal were usually the most popular choices. Panama, Costa Rica, and Thailand were also in the top-ten list for 2026. Jennifer Stevens, executive editor of International Living, said Greece had what many people were looking for. She said the country was "beautiful, welcoming, and affordable". She added that it offered "a lifestyle that feels rich in every sense". The Greek Reporter website found many expats choose Greece because of its beauty. It reported that retirees can benefit from thousands of kilometres of spectacular coastline, endless sunshine, diverse countryside, picturesque islands, and dramatic mountains. One retiree, Leena Horner, left the USA four years ago to live in Greece. She loves the Greek attitude of taking life slowly and the "daily connection with nature". Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-12-04-251204-retiring-in-greece/ 133 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-27-251127-music-therapy-anaesthesia/ A new study shows that music played during surgery can help patients recover. The study was conducted by doctors at India's Maulana Azad Medical College. They played flute music to a female patient while she was having her gallbladder removed. Before the operation, doctors gave the woman anaesthetic drugs to put her to sleep. Anaesthetics block pain signals and totally relax a patient's muscles while they are asleep. However, even when anaesthetics make us sleep, the part of the brain that helps us listen stays partly active. Doctors say patients can still hear music. This means patients need fewer painkilling drugs, wake up faster, and are more alert after surgery. The lead researcher, Dr Tanvi Goel, explained why music is so helpful to patients having surgery. She said her research shows "that this is more than just simple background music". She said music was important because it helped patients feel less pain and need fewer painkillers. Co-researcher Dr Farah Husain agreed. Dr Husain is a senior specialist in anaesthesia. She is also a music therapist. She believes music has an important part to play in the operating theatre. She said: "Our aim is early discharge after surgery. Patients need to wake up clear-headed, alert… and ideally pain-free." She said music helps pain management and reduces patients' stress after they wake up. Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-27-251127-music-therapy-anaesthesia/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-20-251120-tom-cruise-oscar/ Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise has finally won an Oscar. The 63-year-old actor was given a special award on Saturday. Mr Cruise was nominated for an Oscar four times at the Academy Awards, but he never won. Academy president Janet Yang explained why Cruise got his Oscar. She said he is one of the most famous and biggest money-earning actors of all time. She added that Cruise's "incredible commitment to filmmaking, to the theatrical experience, and to the stunts community has inspired us all". Cruise is famous for doing all of his own stunts. Many of them are very dangerous. Hollywood actor Ethan Hawke predicted Cruise would get four more Oscars in the next 20 years. Tom Cruise was very happy to get an Oscar. In his acceptance speech, he said he felt very lucky to be a part of movies and cinema. He said: "Making films is not what I do, it is who I am." He added: "My love for cinema began at a very early age — as early as I can remember. I was just a little kid in a darkened theatre, and I remember that beam of light just cut across the room… Suddenly, the world was so much larger than the one that I knew." He said: "Cinema takes me around the world. No matter where we come from, in the [movie] theatre, we laugh together, we feel together, we hope together. And that is the power of this art form." Cruise is most famous for the Mission: Impossible and Top Gun films. Thu, 20 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-20-251120-tom-cruise-oscar/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-13-251113-lucifer-bee/ A scientist has discovered a new species of bee in Australia. The bee has tiny horns on its head. The scientist is bee ecologist Dr Kit Prendergast. She gave the bee the Latin name Megachile lucifer. "Lucifer" is another name for the Devil. Dr Prendergast found the bee while she was doing a survey of an endangered wildflower in the city of Perth, Western Australia. She told the "Perth Now" news agency that she gave the bee its name because of its horns. She said: "These horns are very distinct and devilish. I wanted to call it a devil-like name and so I decided on Lucifer." She added: "Lucifer means 'light bringer' in Latin. I want to bring light to issues around the lack of conservation of native bees." Australia is home to more than 2,000 species of native bees. Bee experts say that hundreds of them have yet to be named.. Dr Prendergast said: "[There are] many native bees that have evolved in Australia. We don't even know the names of them. They haven't been described. We don't know their distribution or where they nest." The Lucifer bee is "the first new member of this bee group to be described in more than 20 years". She added that there is a lot of "life we still have to discover". Prendergast is worried that the endangered wildflower and the new bee "could be at risk from habitat disturbance and other threatening processes like climate change". Thu, 13 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-13-251113-lucifer-bee/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-06-251106-food-and-body-smell/ What we eat and drink can affect how our body smells. Various studies at universities around the world have shown that what we put into our bodies changes our bodily smells. Researchers say that each of us has a unique pattern of bodily odours. This is similar to the uniqueness of a fingerprint. Lina Begdache, an assistant professor of health and wellness at the State University of New York, said the odours our body gives off come from two areas. One is the stomach, which is full of bacteria. When these bacteria break down food, gases and chemicals are released through our breath. Some of these gases can give us bad breath. The second area is the skin. Food can change the smell of bacteria on our skin when we sweat. Researchers say the foods that give off the strongest smells contain sulphur. This chemical often creates a "bad-egg smell". Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower contain a lot of sulphur. Another food that affects how smelly we are is garlic. This is well known for making our breath smell. However, researchers say it can make our armpit sweat smell nicer. Scientists also say drinks affect body odours. Alcohol can lead to stronger, unattractive bodily smells and bad breath. Caffeine in coffee and tea creates chemicals that produce sweat in areas like our armpits and groin. If we want to smell a little sweeter, we should eat oranges, apples, parsley, and yoghurt, and drink water and green tea. Thu, 06 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-11-06-251106-food-and-body-smell/ 143 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-30-251030-sushi-chef-jiro-ono/ A famous sushi chef in Japan has decided to continue working, even though he just turned 100. His name is Jiro Ono. He celebrated his 100th birthday on the 27th of October. He is one of around 4,380 people in Tokyo who have reached or will reach the age of 100 this year. Just before his birthday, Mr Ono spoke to Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike. She asked him about his secret to living a long and healthy life. He replied, "To work." He said: "I can no longer go to my restaurant every day…but even at 100 years old, I'll try to work if possible. I believe the best medicine is to work." Ono-san said he has no plans to retire from his job. He told Ms Koike: "I plan to keep going for about five more years." Jiro Ono was born in 1925. He started working in a restaurant at the age of seven. Eighteen years later, when he was 25, he moved to Tokyo and worked in a sushi bar. He qualified as a sushi chef in 1951. Fifteen years later, in 1965, Ono opened his own restaurant, called Sukiyabashi Jiro. It was a tiny 10-seat place in an upmarket area of Tokyo called Ginza. He worked for decades trying to make the perfect sushi. In 2007, his efforts were rewarded when he received three stars in the Michelin Guide. In 2011, a documentary about him was released, called "Jiro Dreams of Sushi". In the film, he said: "I haven't reached perfection yet. I'll continue to climb and try to reach the top, but nobody knows where the top is." Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-30-251030-sushi-chef-jiro-ono/ 142 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-23-251023-sanae-takaichi/ Japan has its first ever female prime minister. Her name is Sanae Takaichi. She was elected as the country's 104th prime minister on Tuesday. She won 237 votes in the lower house of Japan's Diet (parliament). Her opponent, Yoshihiko Noda, won 149 votes. Ms Takaichi takes over from former leader Shigeru Ishiba. He was in power for just one year. Takaichi is head of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). To get enough votes to win the election, she had to make an alliance with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party. She has a tough job ahead of her. Japanese people are unhappy about rising prices, job security, a falling birth rate, and how to care for the increasing number of old people. Sanae Takaichi, 64, has led an interesting life. At university, she played drums in a heavy metal rock band. She likes sport and supports the Gamba Osaka soccer team and the Hanshin Tigers baseball team. She was interested in motorcycles and had a powerful Kawasaki Z400 motorbike. In 1987, Takaichi moved to the USA and wrote books about American politics. In 1989, she worked as a TV anchor on a variety show. Women in Japan hope Takaichi's background means she will support gender equality and diversity. However, she opposes same-sex marriage and allowing separate surnames for married couples. In addition, she does not agree that a woman should become emperor ahead of a man. Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-23-251023-sanae-takaichi/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-16-251016-drug-resistant-superbugs/ The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned about the spread of superbugs that are resistant to drugs. The WHO said researchers tested many bugs in laboratories. The researchers said 1 in 6 (around 17 per cent) of the bugs they tested was drug-resistant. The antibiotics did not kill the bacteria. Many of the drugs have been life-saving for many years. This could bring new risks to our health. Cuts and common infections could be deadly in the future because the antibiotics will no longer kill bacteria. The WHO said: "These findings are deeply concerning." It added: "As antibiotic resistance continues to rise…we're putting lives at risk." The WHO conducted a large study on superbugs. It looked at data from over 100 countries. Drug resistance is highest in Southeast Asian and Eastern Mediterranean countries. There, 1 in 3 reported infections was resistant. In Africa, 1 in 5 infections was resistant. The study found that bugs were becoming drug-resistant faster than researchers could create new drugs. More and more bugs are becoming resistant to modern medicines. The WHO said between 2018 and 2023, drug resistance increased in over 40 per cent of the bacteria it tested. An additional worry is that there is not enough testing being done to create new, effective drugs. The WHO said this will be a big "future threat". Thu, 16 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-16-251016-drug-resistant-superbugs/ 132 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-09-251009-spelling-mistake/ Everyone makes spelling mistakes, even with "easier" words. Earlier this week, the opposition political party in the UK misspelled a word. The Conservative Party made a mistake with the name of its own country. The error was on the slogan on the wrapper of a chocolate bar. The word "Britain" was spelt "Britian" on the bar. The message was signed by the party's leader. The Conservatives were holding their annual conference. Each person who attended the event received the bar of chocolate. Organisers of the conference blamed the mistake on a "printing error". After they spotted the mistake, they immediately stopped handing out the chocolate. Many people on social media made fun of the mistake. Journalist Natasha Clarke wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that the Conservative Party wants to run Britain, but "can't spell it". A member of the UK's ruling Labour Party also commented on the spelling mistake. She said the Conservatives "can't proofread five words on a bar of chocolate". However, it is not the first time that political parties in the UK have had a spelling mishap. Earlier this year, Scottish Labour misspelt the word "Scottish" on its election leaflets. The handout said "Your Scotish Labour candidate," missing a "t". In 2024, the politician Lee Anderson's surname was incorrectly written as "Andersin" on his election leaflets. Thu, 09 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-09-251009-spelling-mistake/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-02-251002-heart-attacks-and-strokes/ Doctors say people can take steps to avoid cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes. These are the leading causes of death around the world. A study from doctors at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and Yonsei University in South Korea said that more than 99 per cent of people who had a heart attack or stroke had at least one warning sign. The doctors said there were several major signs: high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity, high blood sugar, and smoking and drinking. All of these things can be reduced if people change their lifestyles. The most effective changes are to eat a healthier diet, exercise, and quit smoking and drinking. In the study, doctors analyzed 10 years of health records of nine million people in South Korea and 7,000 people in the USA. Nearly all of the patients could have avoided heart attacks and strokes. Lead researcher Dr Philip Greenland said: "We have known for many years that there is a small number of modifiable risk factors for heart disease, and at least one, but often more than one, is present in the background leading up to heart attacks, heart failure, or strokes." He added: "Efforts need to be made to treat that factor to prevent heart attack, stroke, or heart failure." Dr Greenland said: "The goal now is to work harder on finding ways to control these modifiable risk factors." Thu, 02 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-3/2025-10-02-251002-heart-attacks-and-strokes/ 137