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If you're looking for an intermediate English podcast, LanguaTalk is ideal for listening to news in slow English. It'll be perfect for you if you have a lower-intermediate level (B1), but can also help A2 and B2 learners. The podcast is free and you can find interactive transcripts on our cutting-edge software, Langua. We've created this podcast using AI.
Welcome to LanguaTalk news. Our first story comes from Ukraine, where soldiers fighting in the East insist they have no choice but to continue until the war concludes. Despite the government in Kyiv's efforts to mobilize more troops, draft legislation designed to replenish the weary armed forces remains stuck in parliament. One suggested change is to allow soldiers who have served for three years to be discharged. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has revealed plans to mobilize between four hundred and fifty to five hundred thousand more Ukrainians. However, some soldiers, like a fifty-one-year-old drone pilot known as "Mac", believe that demobilization is unrealistic while the war continues. The battalion's commander, Yurii Fedorenko, also expressed doubts about the proposed three-year discharge term. He fears there would be no one left to fight if experienced soldiers were allowed to leave.In cyber crime news, United States authorities have halted the operations of a large illegal cryptocurrency operation. This operation was allegedly aiding cybercriminals in moving illegal money globally. The Justice Department has arrested a Russian and a Latvian, charging them with running the operation. The suspects were reportedly part of a group that helped criminals transfer at least three hundred million dollars over a decade. The operation used Bitcoin to make the illegal transactions hard to trace. This move is the latest effort by the United States to combat the escalating issue of cybercrime.Moving onto weather news, a deadly storm, known as a "Pineapple Express" weather system, has recently hit the west coast of the United States. It brought heavy rain, causing floods and mudslides in Southern California. The National Weather Service reported that more than ten inches of rain fell in the Los Angeles area since Sunday, with more expected throughout the week. This storm is one of the wettest to impact Los Angeles since the eighteen seventies. President Joe Biden has pledged federal aid to the most affected areas. Despite the damage, meteorologists have said that catastrophic impacts are unlikely. However, high-risk neighborhoods are still under evacuation orders due to the threat of flash floods and mudslides.In Southeast Asian news, the Thai government is leading a new humanitarian initiative to open dialogue between the conflicting groups in military-ruled Myanmar. Thailand plans to establish a safe zone at its border with Myanmar to deliver food and medical supplies to local communities and approximately twenty thousand displaced people. This effort is intended to support the peace process efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN. The ultimate goal is to control the conflict and start meaningful dialogue. Myanmar has been in turmoil for the past three years, following a military coup. This has displaced about two point six million people and left over eighteen million in need of help. Thailand's new plan could lead to talks involving the military junta, ethnic armed groups, and a pro-democracy group called the National Unity Government.In African politics, Senegal's parliament has voted to postpone the presidential election to December fifteenth. This decision follows President Macky Sall's announcement to delay the election, leading to public tension and threatening the country's reputation for democratic stability. Violent protests erupted as lawmakers discussed the bill to reschedule the vote. The proposal was amended to propose a later election date, which is likely to trigger further backlash. Three of the twenty presidential candidates have challenged the delay, leading to protests and accusations of dictatorship against President Sall. The African Union and the United States have called for a new election date to be set as soon as possible. Ratings agency Moody's warns that any prolonged delay could impact the country's fiscal consolidation plans.In economic news from the United States, famous fast-food chain, McDonald's, is introducing more plant-based options to its menu. The company is launching a plant-based burger called the "McPlant" following a successful test-run in Canada. The McPlant, created in partnership with Beyond Meat, is expected to taste just like a regular McDonald's burger. McDonald's hopes this move will attract more vegetarian or vegan customers. Testing for the McPlant in several markets will begin next year.Thanks for listening to LanguaTalk news!