"Global Solidarity, Bee Attraction, Composting Corpses, and Screen Time Sleep: Diverse Discoveries and Developments in Today's World"

What is LanguaTalk Slow English News?

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 today comes from Ukraine. Antony Blinken, the United States Secretary of State, has made a visit to Ukraine. This visit is seen as a show of solidarity amid the country's struggle with Russian bombardment on its northeastern border. This marks the first visit by a high-ranking US official since the US Congress passed a sixty-one billion dollar military aid package for Ukraine. Blinken arrived in Kyiv with the aim of sending a strong signal of reassurance to Ukraine. He discussed how the US's assistance will help to strengthen their defenses. Ukrainian officials have been assured of continued US support. Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor, stated that Washington is trying to speed up weapon deliveries to Ukraine. Ukraine's ongoing economic and political reforms are seen as paving the way for eventual membership in the European Union and NATO. Talks about a US-Ukraine agreement are nearing their conclusion. These talks are expected to finish before the July NATO summit in Washington.Moving onto our next story, it's all about the bees. In the United States, a new study has found that bees are attracted to the color blue more than other colors. Scientists believe this could have significant implications for how we grow our food. They suggest that farmers could use blue colors to attract bees and increase crop pollination. Bees play a crucial role in pollinating many of the fruits, vegetables, and nuts we eat. However, bee populations are declining worldwide, which threatens food production. Researchers hope their findings could help protect bees and secure our food supply. So, next time you wear something blue, you might just become a bee's best friend.In other news from the United States, a new law is set to change the lives of many Californians. The state of California has passed a new law that will allow citizens to compost their dead bodies. The process works by breaking down the human body into soil. This law is due to go into effect from the first of January, twenty twenty two. This is seen as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional burials and cremations. The composting process takes about thirty days and the resulting soil can be used in gardens. However, it is still not clear how many Californians will choose this method for their final journey.Over in Indonesia, flash floods and mud slides in West Sumatra have claimed the lives of fifty-two people. This disaster was caused by heavy rains which led to flash floods, landslides, and the cold lava flow from Mount Marapi, one of Sumatra's most active volcanoes. As of Tuesday, over three thousand people have been evacuated. Seventeen people are still missing. The floods have since receded but they damaged nearly two hundred and fifty houses and most of the main roads in the affected districts. Despite the challenges posed by the damaged roads, the national disaster and management agency has been distributing essential supplies like tents, blankets, food, and water purifiers. There are forecasts for continued heavy rains until next week. This raises concerns about potential flash floods and landslides. Meanwhile, citizens are advised to stay away from hillsides that are prone to landslides.Our final story today is about screen time and sleep. A new study from the United States has found that children who use screens before going to sleep may have less sleep and poorer quality sleep. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder found that children who use screens before bedtime take longer to fall asleep. They also have less overall sleep and poorer quality sleep than children who do not use screens before bed. The researchers suggest that the light from screens can interfere with the natural sleep-wake cycle. They recommend that children should stop using screens at least one hour before going to bed. This study comes as many children use screens for school and for fun, especially during the pandemic. Thanks for listening to LanguaTalk news!