https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/level-6/ Audio versions of Breaking News English - Level 6 articles generated by Google TTS en https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/favicon.ico https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/level-6/ https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-04-20-260420-harshly-hot-days/ Climate change is having an unforeseen consequence on language — the creation of new words. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has introduced a new item of vocabulary into the Japanese lexicon. The neologism is the word "kokushobi," which literally means "cruelly hot day" or "harshly hot day". The JMA will use it when describing or forecasting days when temperatures are 40ºC or above. The JMA conducted an online poll of weather-based terminology. The questionnaire was prompted by the scorching weather experienced in Japan in recent years. Website visitors selected their most preferred word. There were 478,000 responses. The word kokushobi garnered nearly 203,000 votes. There has been record-breaking heat in Japan in the past decade. The JMA reported days of 40ºC or above every year since 2018. In August 2025, the town of Isesaki, Gunma Prefecture, recorded the highest temperature ever observed in Japan. The mercury rose to 41.8ºC. There were a further nine days when temperatures were 40ºC. More records were broken in 2025. This was the hottest year since records began in 1898. Temperatures were 2.36ºC above average. 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 temperature, compared with an average of 18.5 days." Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-04-20-260420-harshly-hot-days/ 133 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-04-13-260413-air-traffic-controller-gaming/ The USA's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched a recruitment campaign aimed at gamers. The FAA wants them to consider becoming air traffic controllers. There is a shortage of workers in the sector, so the government hopes people skilled at gaming could fill the growing number of vacancies. The US currently needs at least 3,000 controllers. Nick Daniels, 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, so long as all pathways maintain the rigorous standards required of this safety-critical profession." The recruitment drive has a video with an Xbox logo on it. The tag line is explicitly 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 adds: "You'll keep millions of people safe every year. And make a lot of money." The enticing salary is $155,000 a year. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the country needs to tempt "a growing demographic of young adults who have many of the hard skills it takes to be a successful controller". Some current controllers have said gaming could be 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-6/2026-04-13-260413-air-traffic-controller-gaming/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-04-06-260406-artemis-ii-microsoft-outlook/ A history-making space mission is well under way with NASA's Artemis II spacecraft venturing towards the far side of the Moon. Artemis launched to great fanfare on Wednesday. The 10-day odyssey will take its four astronauts farther away from Earth than humans have ever been. Despite the enormous technical demands of the mission, the crew has also been dogged by email problems. Astronaut Reid Wiseman relayed the problem 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 and those two Outlooks." NASA reloaded Outlook's files to correct a configuration issue. Artemis II is the first crewed mission to go beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 17 in December 1972. It will travel a record-breaking 406,773 km from Earth and 7,600 km beyond the Moon. It is the beginning of NASA's aim to return humans to the Moon and eventually establish a long-term presence there. The astronauts are engaged in a full-scale test for future Moon landings. The crew will test life support systems, communications, navigation, and deep-space operations. Hopefully, the Outlook problem will be a one-off blip. NASA hopes the current mission will pave the way for Artemis IV to land on the lunar surface. The USA hopes a moon landing will take place in 2028. Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-04-06-260406-artemis-ii-microsoft-outlook/ 132 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-30-260330-fertilizer-shortages/ The war in Iran has sharply increased fertilizer prices because it has disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. Iran's near shutdown of the Strait is in retaliation for attacks by the U.S. and Israel. The Persian Gulf region is a critical supplier of fertilizer ingredients. Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Oman are among the world's top exporters. The ongoing hostilities have resulted in around 30 to 40 per cent of the world's fertilizer trade being significantly disrupted. Farmers worldwide are having to pay up to 35 per cent more for fertilizer. Experts predict farmers will be planting fewer crops like corn, rice, and wheat, which will lead to lower yields and higher food prices. The United Nations has stated that the crisis will cause a global food shortage. Carl Skau of the World Food Programme spoke about the impact the conflict might have. He 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." Maximo Torero, Chief Economist of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, said: "It is a systemic shock affecting agrifood systems globally." He added: "Farmers are facing a dual cost shock. They have more expensive fertilizers alongside rising fuel costs, affecting the entire agricultural value chain, including irrigation and transport." Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-30-260330-fertilizer-shortages/ 140 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-23-260323-negative-people/ From supportive friendships to toxic colleagues, our relationships can shape our stress levels more than our jobs, finances, or even our diet and health habits. A new study suggests that who we surround ourselves with can negatively affect our longevity. Scientists at Indiana University in the USA conducted a study on how the people around us can impact the stress in our lives. The researchers focused on the effect people called "hasslers" had on us. A hassler is an annoying individual who regularly hassles us. Lead researcher Professor Brea Perry said, "having more hasslers is associated with accelerated biological aging…and how much wear and tear [people] have on their body". The study is published in the journal PNAS. Researchers questioned participants about the difficult relationships in their lives to identify hasslers. Dr Perry found around one third of the participants had at least one hassler in their social network. She said about 10 per cent had at least two hasslers. She suggested that each additional hassler was associated 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 adverse 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-6/2026-03-23-260323-negative-people/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-16-260316-english-language-music/ Since the advent of rock 'n' roll in the 1950s, music from the USA and UK has dominated global music charts. Both countries have benefited considerably from the "soft power" of hit songs with English lyrics. However, the English-language dominance of the music industry is under threat from songs from non-English-speaking countries. This is according to the music streaming giant Spotify. The company said English-language music was losing its long-time stranglehold. There has been a surge in demand for songs sung in Spanish, Korean, Arabic, and other languages. Spotify said the number of non-English songs in the charts more than doubled between 2020 and 2025. A prime example of how English is losing its hegemony is the worldwide popularity of the Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny. He sings exclusively in Spanish and was Spotify's most streamed artist globally in 2025. Meanwhile, Spanish artist Rosalia astounded the music world with her award-winning album "Lux," 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. Their streams increased by 36 per cent, 31 per cent, and 30 per cent respectively. 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-6/2026-03-16-260316-english-language-music/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-09-260309-chocolate-shoplifting/ Shopkeepers in the UK are having to go to extreme lengths to stop shoplifters from stealing chocolate. The candy is being locked in plastic security boxes. Customers wishing to purchase a chocolate bar must ask a member of staff to unlock the box. One leading supermarket chain said it has begun using "boxes on products which are regularly targeted" by thieves. A spokesperson for another popular store, the Co-op, told the BBC that chocolate theft was a "massive issue". He said: "In a particular shop, one individual could cost us thousands of pounds in a week." He added that some people would visit a store and "literally swipe the whole shelf" of chocolate. Chocolate is the latest target of criminal gangs. The UK's Association of Convenience Stores said the candy is being stolen by "prolific offenders" and then sold on the black market. The Co-op spokesman said chocolate was the product most often stolen from its stores in 2024, and was only second to alcohol in 2025. Another retail association said: "Chocolate is now a target, deemed to be 'high value,' so retailers have installed anti-theft devices to prevent it from being stolen." There were 5.5 million reported incidents of shop theft in the UK last year. In London, only five per cent of these ended up in the courts. Disturbingly, there are 1,600 daily incidents of violence against shop workers. Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-09-260309-chocolate-shoplifting/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-02-260302-middle-east-turmoil/ The Middle East is in turmoil after coordinated attacks by Israel and the USA on Iran on Saturday. Several Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran, were bombarded with precision-guided missiles as Washington and Jerusalem attempted once and for all to obliterate Iran's nuclear capabilities. US President Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: "We're going to destroy their missiles and raze their missile industry to the ground." Trump called for the Iranian people 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 Ali Khamenei and key figures in Iran's military. Iran immediately retaliated by launching missiles and drones on its neighbours, including the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck Israeli and US military targets in the Middle East. It warned: "This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated." There are fears this escalation will create turmoil across the globe. A quarter of the world's oil and a third of its liquefied natural gas travel through the strategic Strait of Hormuz waterway, which Iran could close. This would cause sky-high oil prices and inflation worldwide. Experts warn there could be a major refugee crisis if the conflict spirals out of control. Mon, 02 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-03-02-260302-middle-east-turmoil/ 142 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-02-23-260223-andrew-mountbatten-windsor/ The biggest constitutional crisis for almost a century is enveloping the British monarchy. The former Prince Andrew was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, an offence that can carry a sentence of life imprisonment. On Thursday, he was held in custody for nearly 11 hours. UK police are investigating allegations that Andrew shared confidential trade information with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew was a UK trade envoy between 2001 and 2011. The British government is now considering removing him from the line of succession to the throne. Andrew is currently eighth in line to be the monarch. This can only be changed with new legislation. In 1936, the former King Edward VIII abdicated. The UK government passed a law to recognize the abdication and to declare that Edward had ceased to be king. A similar law could affect Andrew, who has been mired in controversy regarding his association with Epstein. Subsequent scandals resulted in Andrew being formally stripped of his title of prince last year by his brother King Charles III. This meant Andrew can no longer be called "Prince Andrew", nor can he use his other royal titles. He is now known simply as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. He has yet to comment on the allegations of misconduct, but has consistently denied any wrongdoing in his connection with Epstein. Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-02-23-260223-andrew-mountbatten-windsor/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-02-16-260216-elephant-whiskers/ Zoologists in Germany have uncovered a previously unknown sensory faculty in elephants. It explains why the giant beasts' trunks are so dexterous. The scientists found that the whiskers at the tip of the trunk are sensitive enough to detect the smallest, most delicate objects. The scientists are from the Haptic Intelligence Department at the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems. They say the incredible sensitivity of the whiskers compensates for the elephant's poor eyesight. The whiskers are essential for navigating, locating food, and social communication. The researchers say the whiskers are "smart" and give the elephant an added sense of intelligence. Scientists believe the insights from their research will assist in advancing robotics and neuroscience. Study co-author Dr Andrew Schulz said: "Each whisker on elephants' trunks acts as a tactile sensory organ." This allows an elephant to pick up something as delicate as a potato chip without breaking it. The research could help increase dexterity in robots. Dr Lena Kaufmann is excited about how the research could advance neuroscience. She said her findings "contribute to our understanding of the tactile perception of these fascinating animals". She says the study will increase our understanding of "neuronal computation" — 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-6/2026-02-16-260216-elephant-whiskers/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-02-09-260209-hero-swimmer/ A 13-year-old Australian boy has been hailed a hero after an epic swim that saved his family. The boy, Austin Appelbee, and his family were on a beach holiday in Western Australia. They were kayaking and paddleboarding in shallow water when strong winds pushed them farther offshore. They ended up over four kilometres away from land, and the daylight was fading. Austin decided to kayak to shore to get help. However, the waves had damaged his kayak, which had taken in water and flipped over. He said he then lost an oar and knew he was in trouble. He decided he had no alternative but to swim back to land. He swam through shark-frequented waters to raise the alarm. Austin made it to the beach and phoned for help. This sparked a huge rescue operation, which resulted in coastguards finding the teenager'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 his efforts "superhuman". One rescuer said Austin's actions could not "be praised highly enough". He added that the teenager's "determination and courage ultimately saved the lives of his mother and siblings". Austin's mother Joanne, 47, told reporters: "The wind picked up. We lost oars, and we drifted out further. It was an absolute nightmare." Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-02-09-260209-hero-swimmer/ 133 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-02-02-260202-white-teeth-powder/ White teeth are widely revered in many countries. Hollywood, advertising, and social media have helped to make ultra-white teeth a must-have, and even an obsession. For decades, people have used peroxide-based chemical whiteners in an attempt to get a perfect set of "pearly whites". However, these chemicals can damage the teeth and gums. Help is now at hand for those of us who have stained or off-white teeth. Researchers in China say they have created an effective teeth-whitening ceramic powder. Researcher Min Xing said it is "a safe, at-home teeth-whitening strategy integrating whitening, enamel repair, and microbiome balance for long-term oral health". The researchers wrote about how their new powder works. It is activated by electric toothbrush vibrations, which create a small electric field over the teeth. This causes a reaction known as "reactive oxygen species". These are compounds that break down stain-causing molecules. The researchers said their laboratory trials were very promising. They tested human teeth that were artificially 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 with saline. The researchers said the next step is to incorporate the powder into a toothpaste formula. Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-02-02-260202-white-teeth-powder/ 132 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-01-26-260126-having-children-and-lifespan/ A new study suggests that the number of children a woman has might affect her rate of ageing and her lifespan. Research from the University of Helsinki in Finland found that women who had five children or more, or no children, aged faster than those who had a small number of kids. Researcher Mikaela Hukkanen 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 added that the finding of shorter lifespans of women who never gave birth was "surprising". The researchers used historical data in their analysis of parenthood and ageing. They analysed the health data on 14,836 women. Researchers examined DNA data and blood samples, then modelled the effects of reproduction on women's rates of ageing and longevity. Ms Hukkanen postulated that having a smaller number of pregnancies could have favourable effects on a mother's health. One benefit is a possible lower risk of breast and ovarian cancer. However, the "wear and tear" and physical demands of multiple childbirths can negate this lowered risk. Another factor that could increase longevity is the increased social support a mother receives from the state for having children. Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-01-26-260126-having-children-and-lifespan/ 133 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-01-19-260119-greenland/ President Donald Trump is increasing his efforts to acquire Greenland. On Saturday, he announced he would impose 10 per cent tariffs on Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the UK and other countries if they did not "go along with Greenland". These countries recently sent officials to Greenland. The tariffs will start on the first of February. President Trump suggested the levy would increase to 25 per cent in June, "due and payable until such time as a deal is reached for the complete and total purchase of Greenland". UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded to Trump's plans. He said: "Applying tariffs on allies for pursuing the collective security of NATO is completely wrong." The acquisition of Greenland has been a high priority for President Trump since he took office again last year. He stressed that "the national security of the United States and the world at large is at stake" because "China and Russia want Greenland". 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 a key component of 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, protesters held signs reading "Greenland is not for sale". Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-01-19-260119-greenland/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-01-12-260112-hyundai-humanoid-robots/ The South Korean car maker Hyundai has announced plans to introduce 30,000 humanoid robots into its car plants. This will gradually take place over the next decade. The humanoids (called Atlas) are being manufactured by Hyundai's subsidiary Boston Dynamics. Atlas was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Hyundai stated on its website that Atlas would advance human-robot collaboration. It added that the robot would assist in "evolving hardware-driven robotics into adaptive, artificial intelligence-driven robots designed to amplify human potential". Hyundai's vice-chairperson acknowledged that people could lose their jobs to Atlas, but some people would be needed to train it. A life-sized Atlas was put through its paces on stage in Las Vegas. It wowed the audience with a flawless display of its dexterity. Its movements were incredibly human-like as it swivelled, swung its arms, marched around like a human, and demonstrated remarkable balance. Hyundai expects the humanoid robots to work side by side with human staff. The robots will collect data, learn movements, and improve through artificial intelligence software. A Boston Dynamics spokesperson 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-6/2026-01-12-260112-hyundai-humanoid-robots/ 135 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2026-01-05-260105-worlds-richest-people/ The world's richest people saw their wealth skyrocket in 2025. According to the investment bank UBS, the 500 richest people on Earth amassed an additional $2.2 trillion last year. Their stratospheric earnings increased their collective net worth to $11.9 trillion. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index reports that eight multi-billionaires topped the mega-rich list and accounted for a quarter of the gains. These included Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison, and Larry Page. 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 less than impressed at the accumulation of the world's wealth in so few hands. The international 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, and debt distress is growing. Inequality rips away life opportunities and rights from the majority of citizens, sparking poverty, hunger, resentment, distrust, and instability." British climate scientist Bill McGuire warned that "if the monstrous political-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-6/2026-01-05-260105-worlds-richest-people/ 131 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-29-251229-mood-food/ A new study indicates that a diet rich in ultra-processed foods and refined carbohydrates may increase the risk of depression and other mental health conditions. The research has been published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Kristin Kirkpatrick, a nutritional psychologist and registered dietitian, said there is "a tremendous amount of high-quality data linking food to beneficial (or worsening) mental health outcomes". Ms Kirkpatrick advised people to reduce the amount of sugary and low-fibre food they eat to lessen the chances of developing mood disorders. She wrote: "Limits should be made on sugar, refined grains, ultra-processed foods, and alcohol." Ms Kirkpatrick also advised people to increase their intake of high-fibre and fermented foods. She said the plant-based Mediterranean diet has been shown to be effective in reducing depression. She said the diet included "omega-3 fatty acids, colourful plants like berries, extra virgin olive oil, leafy greens, and lean sources of protein". She added that the diet "has been shown to assist with both depression and anxiety". Related research from Professor Felice Jacka at Deakin University in Australia corroborated Ms Kirkpatrick's findings. Dr Jacka said fermented, probiotic foods may influence brain-related biology and lead to more positive moods and enhanced learning. Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-29-251229-mood-food/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-22-251222-trevi-fountain-fee/ Authorities in Italy's capital city, Rome, have decided to charge tourists a fee to get close to the city's world-famous Trevi Fountain. From the first of February, visitors will have to pay two euros to experience the landmark close up. One reason for the new measure is to address the burgeoning numbers of sightseers who are flocking to the sight. Similar to many other tourist hotspots around the world, the famed fountain is suffering from the effects of overtourism. There has been serious congestion in the peak months of summer. Large crowds and people vying for selfies have diminished the ambiance of the historic fountain. Visitors have also damaged the stonework surrounding it. Rome's mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, said the "Trevi levy" was expected to raise 6.5 million euros ($7.6 million) a year. Gualtieri said that on average, around 30,000 people visited the attraction every day this year. That amounts to over ten million visitors. However, city residents will be exempt from paying the tourist tax. The mayor said: "We believe that culture is a fundamental right of citizenship." He added: "We think it's correct and positive that the citizens of Rome can enjoy our museums free of charge." The fountain was initially commissioned in 1640 and was completed in 1762. It depicts Oceanus, the god of all water, and symbolizes the vast, untamed force of the world's seas and rivers. Mon, 22 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-22-251222-trevi-fountain-fee/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-15-251215-architects-of-ai/ TIME magazine has announced its 2025 Person of the Year. The annual award goes to a group of people: the "architects of AI". The accolade is bestowed on "the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year, for better or for worse". Some of these architects appear on TIME's two cover photos. They include the CEOs of Google DeepMind, Meta, Nvidia, OpenAI, and Tesla. TIME said the technology magnates 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 world-changing potential. TIME's editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs, commented on the decision to recognize the AI architects. He wrote: "It was hard to read or watch anything without being confronted with news about the rapid advancement of a technology and the people driving it. Those stories unleashed a million debates about how disruptive AI would be for our lives. No business leader could talk about the future without invoking the impact of this technological revolution. No parent or teacher could ignore how their teenager or student was using it." He also noted the "trade-offs" associated with AI. These included vast energy requirements, job losses, the proliferation of misinformation, and cyberattacks. Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-15-251215-architects-of-ai/ 133 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-08-251208-tiny-kei-cars/ A momentous change might be coming to American roads following a visit to Japan by U.S. President Donald Trump. America's ubiquitous, muscular SUVs may soon be usurped by a four-seater, 660 cc car that is hugely popular in Japan — the "kei car". President Trump seems to have developed a particular fondness for this miniature automobile. He wants to pave the way for 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. Manufacturers have long wanted to do this, 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 all new vehicle sales. They are ideally suited to the narrow streets of Japan's bustling, densely populated cities. However, legislation needs to be passed to make the cars road-legal in the USA. The website Quartz reported that: "Most kei cars don't clear federal rules, and there are lingering concerns that the vehicles are too small and slow to be driven safely…on highways." Trump has directed his Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, to remove all barriers to their production. Mr Duffy said: "If Toyota or any other company wants to make smaller, more affordable and fuel-efficient cars, we have cleared the deck so they can…sell them in America." Mon, 08 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-08-251208-tiny-kei-cars/ 140 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-01-251201-ozempic-weight-loss-pill/ The next generation of weight-loss drugs could be launched next year, and they could be game-changing. The treatment, being dubbed "Ozempic 2.0," is a pill version of the already widely-used Ozempic. Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company developing the new tablet form, said its initial clinical trials revealed that Ozempic 2.0 "lowered weight by an average of 10.5 per cent". Rival company Eli Lilly is also working on a pill. Its executive vice president, 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 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA. The game-changing medicines could make life much easier for those hoping to shed weight, and for people with diabetes. Eli Lilly Chief Scientific Officer Dan Skovronsky 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 administered in the form of a once-weekly injection via an injectable pen. The pen has to be refrigerated. Mr Custer told reporters: "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 treatment will be cheaper. Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-12-01-251201-ozempic-weight-loss-pill/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-24-251124-superman-comic/ A pristine copy of the very first self-titled Superman comic has been sold at auction for $9.12 million. This is a world record for a comic book. The rare publication was sold by Texas-based Heritage Auctions. Its vice-president, Lon Allen, called the record-breaking edition the "pinnacle of comic collecting". He said: "Superman No. 1 is a milestone in pop culture history, and this copy is not only in unprecedented condition, it also has a movie-worthy story behind it. I was glad to see the price reflect that, and I'm honoured that Heritage was entrusted with this iconic book." Superman No. 1 first appeared on bookshelves in June 1939. It paved the way for a whole gamut of superhero comics. Prior to its sale, the record-breaking 86-year-old copy of Superman No. 1 had been gathering dust in the attic of a house in California. Three brothers discovered it amid the cobwebs while cleaning out their late mother's house. The brothers said their mother was an avid comic collector, and that she had told them she had "rare comics somewhere". Half a million copies of Superman No. 1 were initially printed. One copy cost 10 cents. Mint condition copies are now extremely rare because the comic invited readers to cut off the front cover to use as a poster. Superman No. 1 became the blueprint for the modern superhero. The character was a symbol of hope, justice, and "doing the right thing". Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-24-251124-superman-comic/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-17-251117-japanese-bear-attacks/ Japan's government has created emergency measures to address record numbers of bear attacks. The Ministry of Environment reported that 13 people have been killed, and more than 100 have been injured by bears since April. The death toll is the highest since records began in 2006. Wildlife management experts have devised a plan to reduce the increasing numbers of fatalities, injuries, and encounters with bears. Part of this plan is to reduce bear populations in areas where the animals have been sighted. Another feature is the establishment of region-specific capture targets. Authorities will also set up a buffer zone in many areas to try to separate bear habitats from human residential areas. There are two species of bear in Japan and their numbers have surged in the past decade. Estimates suggest the Asian black bear population has roughly tripled since 2012 — rising from about 15,000 to around 44,000. The larger and more dangerous Ussuri brown bears, native to the northern island of Hokkaido, have doubled in number. There are several reasons for the growth in bear populations. One is the shortage of beech nuts, which scientists attribute to climate change. Another reason is a declining number of licensed hunters, who were largely responsible for bear culls. Finally, a depopulation of rural areas means bears are venturing into towns and villages. Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-17-251117-japanese-bear-attacks/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-10-251110-trillionaire-elon-musk/ Elon Musk, already the world's wealthiest person, is set to become even wealthier. He is on course to become the planet's first dollar trillionaire. This is because of a new remuneration package approved by Tesla shareholders at the company's annual general meeting (AGM) on Thursday. Seventy-five per cent of shareholder votes endorsed a stratospheric pay deal of around $1 trillion. A trillion is a thousand billion. The compensation consists of up to 423.7 million shares of Tesla stock over the next 10 years. This would mean that Mr Musk's stake in Tesla increases from about 13 per cent to almost 29 per cent. This depends on Musk boosting Tesla's market value to $8.5 trillion. Tesla shareholders were encouraged to back the deal to stop Mr Musk from potentially walking away from Tesla. The Tesla board warned of a "possibility that he may pursue other interests should [the deal] be denied". It added that Musk was needed "to achieve goals that others will perceive as impossible, but that we know are possible for Tesla". Industry analyst Dan Ives concurred. He wrote: "Tesla needs Musk to take it into the autonomous driving, robotic future." Mr Musk hopes to propel the company forward by shifting focus from electric vehicles. He plans to shift to selling self-driving cars, a fleet of "Cybercab" robotaxis, and a legion of "Optimus" humanoid bi-pedal autonomous robots. Mon, 10 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-10-251110-trillionaire-elon-musk/ 137 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-03-251103-grand-egyptian-museum/ A stunning new museum has opened in Egypt's capital city, Cairo. The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) held an inauguration ceremony on Saturday attended by a host of dignitaries including kings and heads of state. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said GEM "is set to become an international cultural and scientific hub, contributing to enhancing tourism promotion in Egypt". Authorities hailed the museum, which cost more than $1.2 billion to build, 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 is also likely to attract visitors as it is situated in Giza and offers panoramic vistas of the Sphinx and the Pyramids. The museum has been billed as the world's largest archaeological site dedicated to an ancient civilisation. It houses over 50,000 exhibits that have been relocated from the Egyptian Museum in central Cairo and from sites across Egypt. Dominating the entrance is a towering 3,200-year-old, 11-metre-tall granite statue of Ramesses the Great, one of Egypt's most celebrated pharaohs. GEM also houses the entire Tutankhamun collection in one place for the first time since 1922, when it was unearthed 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 on display at the British Museum. Mon, 03 Nov 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-11-03-251103-grand-egyptian-museum/ 140 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-27-251027-snake-pee-crystals/ The natural world contains a yet-to-be-discovered, untapped bounty of remedies to help doctors. The latest discovery comes from researchers from Georgetown University and other research institutions in the USA. They believe their exploration of how reptiles excrete waste could help treat human ailments. The scientists analysed the tiny "pee crystals" that reptiles use in place of urine to excrete waste. The crystals are a solid form of uric acid, which is a potentially harmful by-product created when the body breaks down nitrogen in food. Too much nitrogen in our bodies can lead to health problems like gout and kidney stones. Our bodies flush most of the uric acid waste away when we pass water. The study is published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. A team of organic chemists and herpetologists (scientists who study reptiles and amphibians) examined the excreta and waste elimination processes of more than 20 reptile species. They focused their attention on the excess nitrogen that crystallised into tiny microcrystals. Researcher Dr Jennifer Swift believes the team's findings could help us better understand and treat uric acid-related problems like gout and kidney stones. She said: "This research was really inspired by a desire to understand the ways reptiles are able to excrete this material safely, in the hope it might inspire new approaches to disease prevention and treatment." Mon, 27 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-27-251027-snake-pee-crystals/ 141 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-20-251020-gen-z-protests/ Young people across the globe are taking to the streets in protest against their governments. From Madagascar, to Peru, to Indonesia, Generation Z is rising to express their growing discontent with their leaders. Gen Z consists of people born roughly between 1996 and 2010. They share a common perception of a world of increasing inequality, corruption, nepotism, corporate greed, and a bleak outlook regarding career prospects. This week in Madagascar, a group of protesters dubbed "Gen Z Madagascar" helped oust the country's president. Young Indonesians took part in deadly demonstrations over lawmakers' pay. In Morocco, people marched to call for better healthcare and education. The protesters have two things in common. One is a growing exasperation about the state of the world; the other is the use of a flag from a Japanese manga called "One Piece". The flag depicts a skull with a straw hat and crossed bones. In the manga, a group of pirates fly the flag and fight against oppressive governments and injustice. In real life, the flag has appeared on banners and social media, and seen in graffiti worldwide. Al Jazeera reported that in protests in Nepal, the flag was painted on murals, hung from vehicles, and was displayed in place of national flags. It added: "It is used partly in satire, partly as a statement: rejecting the status quo, calling out what protesters see as failures of governance." Mon, 20 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-20-251020-gen-z-protests/ 140 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-13-251013-gaza-ceasefire/ Around half a million Palestinians are returning to Gaza City following the start of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. The truce followed extensive efforts and negotiations between Israel, Hamas, the USA, and Arab nations. The deal was orchestrated by US President Donald Trump, who hopes to bring peace to the region. The first phase of his peace deal involved the withdrawal of Israeli military from a large section of Gaza, and for Hamas to release the 48 hostages remaining in captivity. The laying down of arms has allowed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to head north to Gaza City, most of which is in ruins after two years of being bombarded and reduced to rubble. Emotions have been running high in recent days among Israelis and Palestinians. Alongside the release of the Israeli hostages, nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are expected to be freed. The brother-in-law of hostage Omri Miran 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 to be able to return home, despite the widespread destruction, almost no infrastructure, no electricity, and no running water. One resident said: "I pray that God relieves our sorrow and distress, and that people return to their homes." Another man was more cautious after being displaced 20 times in the past two years. Mon, 13 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-13-251013-gaza-ceasefire/ 138 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-06-251006-real-time-translation/ New technology from Apple could transform language learning and global communication. The tech giant says its new AirPods Pro 3 earbuds can translate foreign languages in people's ears in real time. In addition, transcripts of conversations will automatically appear on the screens of users' devices. This could have major repercussions for the language teaching industry. Instant translation could deter people from investing the time and financial outlay required to learn another language. The technology is another example of the impact AI could have on jobs. Many teachers will be concerned about how real-time translation might affect their industry and their future. Apple wrote on its website that its AirPods Pro 3 would help people communicate "seamlessly" in other languages. It added: "For those moments when a language barrier gets in the way, Live Translation can help users communicate across select languages when messaging or speaking." The technology is another example of science fiction becoming science fact. For the past century, people have foretold novel ways to translate languages in real time. The 1979 novel "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" envisaged a fictional "Babel fish" that is put in one's ear to understand foreign tongues. The Japanese manga and anime character Doraemon used a special jelly to magically translate any language. Mon, 06 Oct 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-10-06-251006-real-time-translation/ 136 https://breakingnewsenglish.pages.dev/articles/level-6/2025-09-29-250929-huajiang-grand-canyon-bridge/ A record-breaking bridge opened to traffic on Sunday in China. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in mountainous Guizhou Province is now the world's tallest bridge. It stands at a lofty height of 625 metres above the Beipan River. The feat of engineering also has the longest span of any bridge that has been constructed in rugged terrain. The bridge is 2,890 metres long, with the main span stretching 1,420 metres. The crossing will have a significant impact on the economy, logistics, and travel times in the region. It will slash the travel time between the two sides of the Beipan River from two hours to just two minutes. A spokesperson said it would revitalize rural areas. China is displaying an impressive level of prowess in bridge-building. The website highestbridges.com lists the 18 tallest bridges in the world, all of which have been constructed or are under construction in China. The top three are in Guizhou, which also boasts a further 32,000 spans. Nearly half of the 100 highest bridges in the world are located there. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is also full of cutting-edge engineering features in its wind-resistant design and high-altitude construction. The spokesperson expects the bridge will become a sightseeing spot and 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-6/2025-09-29-250929-huajiang-grand-canyon-bridge/ 135