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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 Russia, where the country's air defense systems have reportedly destroyed or intercepted twenty-one drones. These devices were launched by Ukraine over the Crimean Peninsula and various Russian regions, according to Russia's defense ministry. The systems managed to bring down eleven drones over Crimea. This is a region Russia took from Ukraine in two thousand fourteen, a move that was criticized by Western allies as an illegal land grab. Mikhail Razvozhayev, the governor of Sevastopol in Crimea, stated that the city suffered no damage from the drone attack. Drones were also brought down over the Russian regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kaluga, and Tula. Although drone debris did fall onto a building on the outskirts of Kaluga, no major damage or injuries were reported. Ukraine has yet to comment on these events.In France, farmers are staging protests against the government by blocking highways with their tractors. They are voicing their anger about inflation, cheap imports, and the struggle to make a living. Geraldine Grillon, a farmer, blamed President Emmanuel Macron and the European Union for these problems. In response, the government has promised to ease environmental regulations and to stop reducing subsidies on agricultural diesel. Further measures have also been promised. Despite these responses, farmers say they will continue to block roads until more is done. Macron has said he will push for more pro-farming policies at the European Union summit later this week. Meanwhile, farmers in Belgium have started similar protests.Moving on to cyber security news, in recent months, the United States government has been fighting against a Chinese hacking operation. This operation has compromised thousands of devices connected to the internet. The Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have received permission to remotely disable parts of the Chinese hacking campaign. The hacking group, known as Volt Typhoon, has raised concern as it forms part of a larger effort to compromise Western infrastructure. This includes naval ports and utilities. The US government and the technology industry have held meetings to discuss this issue. National security experts warn that these breaches could allow China to disrupt important facilities in the Indo-Pacific region. Despite these allegations, the Chinese foreign ministry has denied any involvement in hacking activities. In economic news from Japan, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has stated that his government will do everything possible to increase real income. He emphasized that reviving the economy and raising wages is an urgent matter. While no new policies were announced, he stressed the importance of regaining public trust in politics. Sustainable wage growth and stable inflation have been the focus of this year's spring wage talks. These discussions could lead to the Bank of Japan changing its monetary stimulus. Last year, many big companies in Japan offered the highest wage increase in thirty years, and economists predict that wage increases in twenty twenty four could be even higher. However, smaller firms, which employ most workers, have not offered such generous wage increases. Kishida has said his administration has raised minimum wages and tried to increase pay for public sector workers. He also mentioned that tax cuts will be available from June, which will increase disposable income. Turning to South Africa, the ruling African National Congress, or ANC, has suspended the membership of former president Jacob Zuma. The decision follows Zuma's announcement that he would vote for a different party, the uMkhonto we Sizwe, or MK, in the upcoming general election. Zuma's time as president was marked by corruption scandals and slow economic growth. This suspension highlights the deep divisions within the ANC, a party which has been in power since the end of apartheid. There are concerns that the ANC could lose its parliamentary majority in this year's election for the first time since nineteen ninety-four. The ANC says the suspension of Zuma is necessary to protect the party's reputation. Zuma has not yet commented on his suspension.Our final story today is from Hong Kong, where the city's leader, John Lee, has confirmed plans to introduce stricter national security laws. These laws would build on legislation that Beijing imposed in twenty twenty. Lee states that the city "cannot afford to wait" and intends to pass the laws "as soon as possible". Known as Article 23, these laws are being closely monitored as they could have a significant impact on the global financial hub. They target espionage, state secrets, and foreign influence. The laws will be presented to the city's legislature, but there's no exact timeline for when they'll be approved. Lee assures that the laws will protect freedoms and meet international standards. The legislation is seen as necessary for the city's constitutional responsibility and to protect against potential sabotage.Thanks for listening to LanguaTalk news!