https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/level-5/ Audio versions of Breaking News English - Level 5 articles generated by Google TTS en https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/favicon.ico https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/level-5/ https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-04-20-260420-harshly-hot-days-5/ Climate change is having consequences on language — the creation of new words. Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) has introduced a new word into the Japanese dictionary. The word is "kokushobi," which literally means "cruelly hot day" or "harshly hot day". It will be used when describing or forecasting days when temperatures are 40ºC or above. There was an online poll of weather-based terminology. The questionnaire was because of the recent scorching weather. Website visitors selected their preferred word. There were 478,000 responses. The word kokushobi got nearly 203,000 votes. There has been record-breaking heat in Japan. There have been days of 40ºC or above every year since 2018. In August 2025, a town in Gunma Prefecture recorded the highest temperature ever in Japan. The mercury rose to 41.8ºC. There were nine more days of 40ºC temperatures. More records were broken in 2025. This was the hottest year since records began in 1898. The Mainichi newspaper wrote: "Tokyo recorded 25 days over 35ºC, compared with an annual average of just 4.5 days. Kyoto logged 52 days above that, compared with an average of 18.5 days." Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-04-20-260420-harshly-hot-days-5/ 113 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-04-13-260413-air-traffic-controller-gaming-5/ The USA's Federal Aviation Administration has launched a campaign aimed at gamers. The FAA wants gamers to become air traffic controllers. There is a lack of controllers, so the government hopes skilled gamers could fill the 3,000 or so vacancies. The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said: "Our union welcomes innovative approaches to expanding the candidate pool, including outreach to individuals with high-level skills, such as gamers." He added they must "maintain the rigorous standards required of this safety-critical profession". The recruitment video has an Xbox logo on it. The tag line is aimed at gamers. It says: "You've been training for this… Become an air traffic controller. It's not a game. It's a career." The promo also includes the enticing salary of $155,000 a year. The US Transportation Secretary said the country needs "a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller". Many controllers have said gaming was a useful skill. They said it had "an influence on their ability to think quickly, stay focused, and manage complexity". Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-04-13-260413-air-traffic-controller-gaming-5/ 113 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-04-06-260406-artemis-ii-microsoft-outlook-5/ A history-making space mission is under way. NASA's Artemis II spacecraft is travelling to the far side of the Moon. Artemis launched to great fanfare last week. The 10-day odyssey will take its astronauts farther away from Earth than humans have been before. Despite the technical demands of the mission, the crew has had email problems. One astronaut relayed the problems to Mission Control in Texas. He said: "I have two Microsoft Outlooks and neither one of those is working. Reboot it and check our software." NASA reloaded Outlook's files to correct a configuration issue. Artemis II is the first crewed mission to go beyond low Earth orbit since 1972. It will travel a record-breaking 406,773 km from Earth. It is the beginning of NASA's aim to return humans to the Moon. It wants to establish a long-term presence there. The astronauts are preparing for future Moon landings. They will test life support systems, communications, and navigation. Hopefully, the Outlook problem is a one-off blip. NASA hopes the current mission will pave the way for Artemis IV to land on the Moon. The USA hopes a landing will take place in 2028. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-04-06-260406-artemis-ii-microsoft-outlook-5/ 112 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-30-260330-fertilizer-shortages-5/ The war in Iran has increased fertilizer prices. It has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's near shutdown of the Strait is because of attacks by the U.S. and Israel. The Persian Gulf region is a key supplier of fertilizer ingredients. Gulf nations are among the world's top exporters. The recent fighting has resulted in around 35 per cent of the world's fertilizer trade being disrupted. Farmers are having to pay up to 35 per cent more for fertilizer. Experts predict farmers will be planting less corn, rice, and wheat. This will lead to smaller harvests and higher food prices. The United Nations said the crisis will cause a global food shortage. The World Food Programme outlined two scenarios, saying: "In the worst case, this means lower yields and crop failures next season. In the best case, higher input costs will be included in food prices next year." An economist at the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said: "It is a systemic shock affecting agrifood systems globally." It added: "Farmers are facing a dual cost shock. They have more expensive fertilizers alongside rising fuel costs, affecting the entire agricultural value chain." Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-30-260330-fertilizer-shortages-5/ 117 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-23-260323-negative-people-5/ From good friends to toxic co-workers, our relations can affect our stress more than our jobs, finances, or even our diet. A new study suggests that who is around us can negatively affect our longevity. Scientists in the USA conducted a study on how the people around us can impact our stress. The researchers focused on the effect that people called "hasslers" had on us. A hassler is someone annoying who hassles us. Professor Brea Perry said, "having more hasslers is associated with accelerated biological aging…and how much wear and tear [people] have on their body". Researchers questioned people about the hasslers in their lives. Dr Perry said around one third of the participants knew at least one hassler. She said about 10 per cent had at least two hasslers. Each additional hassler was linked with a 1.5 per cent faster pace of aging. Perry added: "It can actually take days for that stress response to drop and for your body to go back to normal." She highlighted the negative effects of accumulated stress from hasslers, saying: "When you experience that chronically, over and over again, it has this long-term effect on the body." Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-23-260323-negative-people-5/ 113 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-16-260316-english-language-music-5/ Since the start of rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, songs from the USA and UK have dominated music charts. Both countries benefited a lot from hit songs with English lyrics. However, the dominance of English-language songs is under threat from non-English songs. This is according to the music streaming giant Spotify. The company said English-language music was losing its stranglehold. There has been a huge demand for songs sung in Spanish, Korean, Arabic, and other languages. The number of non-English songs in the charts more than doubled in the past five years. A prime example of the rise in non-English songs is the popularity of Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny. He sings only in Spanish. He was Spotify's most streamed artist in 2025. Meanwhile, Spanish artist Rosalia created an award-winning album on which she sings in 13 different languages. Spotify said three music genres have seen their chart presence rise by 30 per cent or more in the past five years. These are Brazilian Funk, K-pop, and Trap Latino. The music website NME said: "The trend is likely to continue growing further into 2026." Mon, 16 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-16-260316-english-language-music-5/ 110 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-09-260309-chocolate-shoplifting-5/ Shops in the UK are going to extreme lengths to stop shoplifters from stealing chocolate. Stores are locking chocolate bars in plastic security boxes. Customers must ask a member of staff to unlock the box if they want to buy one. One leading supermarket said it has begun using "boxes on products which are regularly targeted" by thieves. Another popular store, the Co-op, said chocolate theft was a "massive issue". It said: "In a particular shop, one individual could cost us thousands of pounds in a week." It added that some shoplifters "literally swipe the whole shelf" of chocolate. Chocolate is the latest target of criminal gangs. A convenience store association said chocolate is being stolen by "prolific offenders" and then sold on the black market. A spokesman said only alcohol was stolen more often in 2025. Another association said: "Chocolate is now a target, deemed to be 'high value,' so retailers have installed anti-theft devices." There were more than 5.5 million reported incidents of shoplifting in the UK last year. In London, only five per cent of these ended up in the courts. Sadly, there are 1,600 violent attacks against shop workers every day. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-09-260309-chocolate-shoplifting-5/ 117 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-02-260302-middle-east-turmoil-5/ The Middle East is in turmoil after the attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran. Several Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, were bombarded with missiles as the US attempted to obliterate Iran's nuclear capabilities. US President Trump wrote on social media: "We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground." Trump called for Iranians to rise up and for government forces to surrender. He wrote: "This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country." The strikes on Tehran killed Iran's leader Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran immediately retaliated by launching missiles and drones on its neighbours. Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they had struck Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East. They warned: "This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated." There are fears this escalation will create turmoil across the globe. Much of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas travels through the Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran could close. This would cause sky-high oil prices and inflation. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis. Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-03-02-260302-middle-east-turmoil-5/ 116 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-23-260223-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-5/ The British monarchy is facing its biggest crisis for almost a century. The former Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. This offence carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment. On Thursday, he was held in custody at a police station. There are allegations that Andrew gave confidential trade information to Jeffrey Epstein. The British government is now thinking about removing him from the line of succession to the throne. Andrew is currently eighth in line to be monarch. This can only be changed with a new law. In 1936, King Edward VIII abdicated. The UK government passed a law to recognize the fact that he was no longer king. A similar law could affect Andrew. He has been involved in many scandals because of his association with Epstein. Last year, King Charles III formally stripped Andrew of his title of prince. Andrew can no longer be called "Prince Andrew", nor can he use his other royal titles. He is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has yet to comment on the allegations of misconduct, but has always denied doing anything wrong regarding Epstein. Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-23-260223-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-5/ 111 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-16-260216-elephant-whiskers-5/ Zoologists have uncovered a previously unknown sense ability in elephants. It explains why the elephant trunk is so dexterous. The scientists found that the whiskers at the end of the trunk are sensitive enough to feel very small and delicate objects. The scientists are from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. They say the incredible sensitivity of the whiskers makes up for the elephant's poor eyesight. The whiskers are essential for navigating, finding food, and communicating. The researchers say the whiskers are "smart" and give elephants an added sense of intelligence. Scientists believe their research will help advance robotics and neuroscience. A study co-author said: "Each whisker on elephants' trunks acts as a tactile sensory organ." This means elephants can pick up a delicate potato chip without breaking it. The research could help increase dexterity in robots. Another researcher is excited about how her research could advance neuroscience. She said her findings could increase our understanding of "tactile perception". She says the study will help us to understand how the brain's neurons process information to think, feel, and act. Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-16-260216-elephant-whiskers-5/ 116 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-09-260209-hero-swimmer-5/ A boy was hailed a hero after an epic swim to save his family. Austin Appelbee, 13, and his family were on holiday in Australia. They were kayaking and paddleboarding in shallow water when the wind pushed them offshore. They ended up four kilometres away from land. The daylight was fading. Austin decided to kayak to shore to get help. However, the waves had damaged his kayak and it flipped over. He said he then lost an oar and knew he was in trouble. He said he had no alternative but to swim to land to raise the alarm. He swam through shark-frequented waters. Austin got to the beach and phoned for help. This sparked a rescue operation. Coastguards found the boy's mother and two younger sisters. The boy said: "I hit the bottom of the beach and I just collapsed, and then, after that, I had to sprint two kilometres to get to the phone." Rescuers called him "superhuman". One rescuer said Austin's actions could not "be praised highly enough". He said Austin's "determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings". Austin's mother Joanne, 47, said the experience was "an absolute nightmare". Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-09-260209-hero-swimmer-5/ 112 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-02-260202-white-teeth-powder-5/ White teeth are widely sought after. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have made ultra-white teeth a must-have, and an obsession. People have long-used peroxide-based whiteners to try to get perfectly white teeth. However, these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums. Help is now near for those who have stained or off-white teeth. Researchers have tested a teeth-whitening ceramic powder. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a safe, at-home teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel repair…for long-term oral health". The researchers described how their powder works. It is activated by electric toothbrush vibrations, which create small electric fields over the teeth. These break down stain-causing molecules. The researchers said their laboratory trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were discoloured with tea and coffee. After four hours of brushing, there was visible whitening. After 12 hours of cleaning, the teeth were 50 per cent whiter than those brushed normally. The researchers said the next step is to add the powder to toothpaste. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-02-02-260202-white-teeth-powder-5/ 107 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-26-260126-having-children-and-lifespan-5/ A study suggests the number of children a woman has might affect her rate of ageing. Research from Finland found that women who had five children or more, or no children, aged faster than those who had few kids. A researcher said: "From an evolutionary biology perspective, organisms have limited resources, such as time and energy. When a large amount of energy is invested in reproduction, it is taken away from bodily maintenance and repair mechanisms, which could reduce lifespan." She was surprised about the shorter lifespans of women who never gave birth. The researchers analysed health data on 14,836 women. Researchers examined DNA data and blood, then modelled the effects of reproduction on women's rates of longevity. A researcher found that having fewer pregnancies could have positive effects on a mother's health. One benefit is a possible lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, the "wear and tear" from multiple childbirths could reverse this lowered risk. Another factor that could increase longevity is the social support a mother receives for having children. Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-26-260126-having-children-and-lifespan-5/ 108 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-19-260119-greenland-5/ President Donald Trump is increasing his efforts to acquire Greenland. He has announced 10 per cent tariffs on several European countries if they do not "go along with Greenland". These countries recently sent officials to Greenland. The tariffs will start next month. The levy could increase to 25 per cent in June. The tariffs will be "due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland". The UK prime minister said: "Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO is completely wrong." Acquiring Greenland has been a high priority for President Trump. He stressed that "the national security of the United States and the world at large is at stake". He added: "It is imperative that, in order to protect global peace and security, strong measures be taken so that this potentially perilous situation ends quickly." President Trump said Greenland was important for the USA's Golden Dome missile defence system. Thousands of people in Greenland have protested against Trump's plans. In the capital city of Nuuk, people held signs that read "Greenland is not for sale". Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-19-260119-greenland-5/ 113 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-12-260112-hyundai-humanoid-robots-5/ The car maker Hyundai has plans to introduce 30,000 humanoid robots into its car plants. This will take place over the next decade. The humanoids are called Atlas. They are being made by Hyundai's subsidiary Boston Dynamics. Atlas was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show. Hyundai stated that Atlas would advance human-robot collaboration and would assist in "evolving hardware-driven robotics…designed to amplify human potential". Hyundai's vice-chairperson acknowledged that people could lose their jobs because of Atlas. He added that people would be needed to train it. A life-sized Atlas was put through its paces in Las Vegas. It wowed people with a flawless display of its skills. Its movements were very human-like as it turned, swung its arms, marched around, and demonstrated great balance. Hyundai said the humanoids would work with human staff. The robots will learn movements and improve through AI software. Boston Dynamics said: "The convergence of robotics and AI represents more than a technological advancement. It is a transformative innovation that will make human life safer and more enriching." Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-12-260112-hyundai-humanoid-robots-5/ 111 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-05-260105-worlds-richest-people-5/ The world's richest people's wealth skyrocketed in 2025. The investment bank UBS said the 500 richest people on Earth made an extra $2.2 trillion last year. This increased their collective net worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight billionaires topped the mega-rich list. They accounted for a quarter of the gains in earnings. These included Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos. The Guardian newspaper said the gains were "bolstered" by Donald Trump's 2024 election victory, "and booming markets in cryptocurrencies, equities and metals". Many organizations were alarmed at there being so much wealth in so few hands. The charity Oxfam highlighted the growing disparity in wealth. It said: "Inequality is a deliberate policy choice. Despite record wealth at the top, public wealth is stagnating, even declining....Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." A climate scientist warned that "if the economic system that is tearing our planet...and its people apart isn't brought to its knees, then humanity will be". Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2026-01-05-260105-worlds-richest-people-5/ 113 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-29-251229-mood-food-5/ A study suggests a diet rich in ultra-processed foods and refined carbohydrates increases the risk of depression and other mental health conditions. The research is in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. A nutritional psychologist and dietitian said there is "a tremendous amount of high-quality data linking food to…worsening mental health outcomes". She advised people to cut the amount of sugary and low-fibre food they eat to lessen the chances of getting mood disorders. She said people should limit sugar, refined grains, ultra-processed foods, and alcohol. The study urged people to increase their intake of high-fibre and fermented foods. It said a plant-based diet was effective in reducing depression. Such a diet includes "omega-3 fatty acids, colourful plants like berries, extra virgin olive oil, leafy greens, and lean sources of protein". These diets are well known to help with depression and anxiety. Related research from a university in Australia corroborated the dietitian's findings. A researcher said fermented, probiotic foods may influence brain-related biology and lead to more positive moods and enhance learning. Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-29-251229-mood-food-5/ 115 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-22-251222-trevi-fountain-fee-5/ Authorities in Rome have decided to charge a fee to get close to the world-famous Trevi Fountain. From February, visitors will have to pay two euros to get close up to it. One reason for the charge is to deal with the growing numbers of sightseers who are flocking to the sight. Like other tourist hotspots, the famous fountain is suffering from the effects of overtourism. There is a lot of congestion in the peak summer months. Large crowds and people taking selfies have damaged the ambiance of the fountain. Visitors have also damaged the stonework surrounding it. Rome's mayor said the "Trevi levy" could raise 6.5 million euros ($7.6 million) a year. He said that around 30,000 people visited the attraction every day this year. That is over ten million visitors. However, city residents will be exempt from paying the fee. The mayor said: "We believe that culture is a fundamental right of citizenship." He added: "The citizens of Rome can enjoy our museums free of charge." The fountain was completed in 1762. It depicts Oceanus, the god of all water, and symbolizes the untamed force of the world's seas and rivers. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-22-251222-trevi-fountain-fee-5/ 112 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-15-251215-architects-of-ai-5/ TIME magazine has announced its 2025 Person of the Year. It goes to a group of people: the "architects of AI". The award is given to "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year". Some of the architects appear on TIME's cover. They include the CEOs of the world's top tech companies. TIME said the CEOs brought about "one of the biggest physical infrastructure projects of all time." It described 2025 as the year that AI "roared into view," showing its potential to change the world. TIME's editor commented on giving the prize to the AI architects. He wrote that it was hard to watch anything without seeing or hearing news about the "rapid advancement of a technology and the people driving it". He said there have been "a million debates about how disruptive AI would be". He added that no business leader, student, or parent "could talk about the future without invoking the impact of this technological revolution". However, he also noted the negatives of AI. These include vast energy requirements, job losses, misinformation, and cyberattacks. Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-15-251215-architects-of-ai-5/ 112 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-08-251208-tiny-kei-cars-5/ Huge change may be coming to American roads after a visit to Japan by President Donald Trump. America's much-loved SUVs may soon be rivalled by a four-seater, 660 cc car that is very popular in Japan — the "kei car". President Trump has developed a fondness for this small automobile. He wants kei cars to be manufactured in the USA. He wrote on his Truth Social website: "I have just approved tiny cars to be built in America…just like they are so successfully built in other countries." He added that the cars were "inexpensive, safe, fuel efficient, and quite simply, amazing". In Japan, kei cars account for around a third of cars on the roads. They are ideally suited to the narrow streets of Japan's densely populated cities. However, laws must be passed to make the cars legal in the US. The website Quartz reported that: "There are lingering concerns that [kei cars] are too small and slow to be driven safely…on highways." US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy will remove all barriers to their production. He said: "If Toyota or any other company wants to make smaller, more affordable and fuel-efficient cars, we have cleared the deck." Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-08-251208-tiny-kei-cars-5/ 115 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-01-251201-ozempic-weight-loss-pill-5/ A new generation of game-changing weight-loss drugs could be launched next year. One treatment is being dubbed "Ozempic 2.0". This is a pill version of the widely-used Ozempic. Novo Nordisk, which is developing the new tablet, said its clinical trials showed that Ozempic 2.0 "lowered weight by an average of 10.5 per cent". Rival company Eli Lilly also has a new pill. Its spokesman, Kenneth Custer, said: "We are moving with urgency toward global regulatory submissions to potentially meet the needs of patients." The drugs are currently awaiting approval from the FDA in the USA. The new medicines could make life easier for those hoping to lose weight, and for people with diabetes. Eli Lilly said: "For the majority of patients, this could be the main medicine that they need to control their type 2 diabetes as well as their obesity." Currently, the drug is in the form of a once-weekly injection. The drug has to be refrigerated. The company said: "If approved, we are ready to offer a convenient, once-daily pill that can be scaled globally, removing barriers and redefining how obesity is treated around the world." It is also likely that the new drugs will be cheaper. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-12-01-251201-ozempic-weight-loss-pill-5/ 117 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-24-251124-superman-comic-5/ A perfect copy of the first self-titled Superman comic has been sold for a world record $9.12 million. The rare publication was sold by Heritage Auctions. Its vice-president called the record-breaking edition the "pinnacle of comic collecting". He said: "Superman No. 1 is a milestone in pop culture history." He added that the copy is "in unprecedented condition". He was happy that the price reflected that. He was also honoured that his company was entrusted to auction the comic. Superman No. 1 first appeared on bookshelves in June 1939. It started a whole gamut of superhero comics. The record-breaking copy of Superman No. 1 had been gathering dust in a house for 86 years. Three brothers discovered it covered in cobwebs in their late mother's house. The brothers said their mother was an avid comic collector, and that she had "rare comics somewhere". Half a million copies of Superman No. 1 were initially printed. Mint condition copies are very rare because many people cut off the front cover to use as a poster. Superman No. 1 became the blueprint for today's modern superheroes. The character was a symbol of hope and "doing the right thing". Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-24-251124-superman-comic-5/ 115 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-17-251117-japanese-bear-attacks-5/ Japan has created emergency measures to address record bear attacks. The government said bears have killed 13 people and injured more than 100 since April. The death toll is the highest since records began. Wildlife experts have created a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of deaths, injuries, and encounters with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been seen. Another feature is region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up buffer zones to separate bear habitats from human residential areas. There are two species of bear in Japan. Their numbers have surged in the past decade. Estimates suggest the black bear population has tripled since 2012 — rising from 15,000 to 44,000. The larger and more dangerous brown bears, native to Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are several reasons why bear populations are increasing. One is a shortage of beech nuts. Another reason is a declining number of hunters, who are largely responsible for bear culls. Finally, depopulation in rural areas means bears are wandering into towns and villages. Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-17-251117-japanese-bear-attacks-5/ 111 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-10-251110-trillionaire-elon-musk-5/ Elon Musk is the world's wealthiest person. He is set to become even richer and become the very first dollar trillionaire. He was awarded a new remuneration package by Tesla shareholders at the company's annual general meeting (AGM) last week. Seventy-five per cent of shareholder votes backed a stratospheric pay deal of $1 trillion. It consists of up to 423.7 million shares of Tesla stock over the next 10 years. This would increase Mr Musk's stake in Tesla from about 13 per cent to almost 29 per cent. It depends on Musk increasing Tesla's market value to $8.5 trillion. Shareholders were encouraged to back the deal to stop Mr Musk from potentially leaving Tesla. The Tesla board warned of a "possibility that he may pursue other interests should [the deal] be denied". It said Musk was needed "to achieve goals that others will perceive as impossible, but that we know are possible for Tesla". An industry analyst agreed. He wrote: "Tesla needs Musk to take it into the autonomous driving, robotic future." Mr Musk hopes to change Tesla's focus to selling self-driving cars, "Cybercab" robotaxis, and "Optimus" humanoid bi-pedal autonomous robots. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-10-251110-trillionaire-elon-musk-5/ 115 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-03-251103-grand-egyptian-museum-5/ A stunning museum has opened in Egypt's capital, Cairo. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) held an inauguration ceremony on Saturday. A host of dignitaries attended it. Egypt's president said GEM "is set to become an international cultural and scientific hub, contributing to enhancing tourism…in Egypt". Authorities hailed the $1.2 billion museum as "Egypt's gift to the world". A local tour guide hopes it will "usher in a new golden age of Egyptology". The location of GEM will attract visitors. It is in Giza and offers panoramic vistas of the Sphinx and the Pyramids. The museum is the world's largest archaeological site dedicated to an ancient civilisation. It has over 50,000 exhibits. These have been relocated from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo and from across Egypt. A giant 3,200-year-old, 11-metre-tall statue of the pharaoh Ramesses the Great dominates the entrance. GEM also houses the whole Tutankhamun collection. This was unearthed in 1922 in the southern city of Luxor. Officials hope GEM will encourage the return of Egyptian antiquities held in other countries, especially the Rosetta Stone, which is currently in the British Museum. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-11-03-251103-grand-egyptian-museum-5/ 115 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-27-251027-snake-pee-crystals-5/ The natural world contains a huge number of untapped remedies. The latest discovery is from researchers in the USA. They believe their research into how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human illnesses. The scientists analysed tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine to get rid of waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid. This is a by-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. It can be harmful. Too much nitrogen can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush uric acid waste away when we pass water. The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined waste elimination processes of over 20 reptile species. The team focused its attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised. A researcher said the team's findings could help us understand and treat uric acid-related problems like kidney stones. She said the research was to understand how reptiles deal with nitrogen, which might lead to new approaches to disease prevention and treatment. Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-27-251027-snake-pee-crystals-5/ 113 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-20-251020-gen-z-protests-5/ Young people worldwide are taking to the streets in protest against their governments. From Madagascar to Peru, Generation Z is rising to express discontent with their leaders. Gen Z consists of people born between 1996 and 2010. They share a common concern about increasing inequality, corruption, nepotism, and corporate greed. They are worried about their bleak career prospects. This week in Madagascar, a group of protesters helped oust the country's president. In Morocco, people marched to call for better healthcare and education. Protesters have two things in common. One is an exasperation about the state of the world; the other is a flag from a Japanese manga. The flag has a skull and crossed bones. In the manga, pirates fly the flag and fight against oppression and injustice. The flag has been on protesters' banners and seen in graffiti. Al Jazeera reported that in protests in Nepal, the flag was painted on murals, hung from cars, and displayed in place of national flags. It added that the flag is used in satire. Protesters are using the flag to represent what they view as "failures of governance". Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-20-251020-gen-z-protests-5/ 111 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-13-251013-gaza-ceasefire-5/ Half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City following the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truce was because of extensive negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Arab nations. It was orchestrated by Donald Trump. He hopes to bring peace to the region. Stage one of the peace deal involves the Israeli military leaving a large section of Gaza, and for Hamas to release 48 hostages. The ending of military action has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to go to Gaza City, most of which is in ruins after two years of the conflict. Emotions have been running high in recent days. Alongside the release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be freed. The brother-in-law of a hostage told the New York Post: "I have yet to process it all. I am naturally happy that this nightmare may soon be over." Gaza City residents are relieved, despite the destruction, almost no infrastructure, no electricity, and no running water. One resident said: "I pray that God relieves our sorrow and distress." Another man was more cautious after having moved 20 times in the past two years. Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-13-251013-gaza-ceasefire-5/ 113 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-06-251006-real-time-translation-5/ New technology could transform language learning and communication. Apple says its AirPods Pro 3 earbuds can translate foreign languages in real time. In addition, conversations will automatically appear on the screens of users' devices. This could have major consequences for the language teaching industry. Instant translation could stop people from spending time and money on learning other languages. The technology is another example of how AI is changing jobs. Many teachers are worried about how real-time translation might affect their future. Apple said its earbuds would help people communicate "seamlessly". It added the buds would overcome language barriers. The Live Translation feature will help us "across select languages when messaging or speaking". This is an example of science fiction becoming science fact. For decades, writers have written about real-time language translation tools. In the novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" there was a fictional "Babel fish". This was put in the ear to translate languages. The Japanese manga character Doraemon used a special jelly to translate any language. Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-10-06-251006-real-time-translation-5/ 112 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-09-29-250929-huajiang-grand-canyon-bridge-5/ A record-breaking bridge opened on Sunday in China. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou Province is the world's tallest bridge. It stands at a height of 625 metres above the Beipan River. The 2,890-metre-long bridge also has the longest span of any bridge ever constructed in mountainous terrain. Its main span stretches 1,420 metres. The bridge will have a significant impact on the regional economy and revitalize rural areas. It will also slash the travel time between the two sides of the Beipan River from two hours to just two minutes. China has an amazing prowess in bridge-building. The 18 tallest bridges in the world are in China. The top three are in Guizhou, which also has a further 32,000 spans. Nearly half of the 100 highest bridges in the world are located there. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is full of cutting-edge engineering. It has a wind-resistant design and is built for high-altitude. A spokesperson said the bridge would become a sightseeing spot. It could attract more than a million visitors a year. It has a cafe, a geological museum, and a bungee-jumping centre. Mon, 29 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-5/2025-09-29-250929-huajiang-grand-canyon-bridge-5/ 110