Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
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 President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is preparing to visit Germany and France. His hope is to secure military assistance and sign security agreements as the conflict with Russia approaches its third year. Currently, troops from Kyiv are struggling to hold back Russian forces in the east. They are facing a shortage of manpower and ammunition. This will be Zelenskiy's first foreign trip since he reshuffled his military command. Both Germany and France are anticipated to be the next allies to sign security deals with Ukraine. The details of these deals are not yet known. However, Ukraine wants to follow the framework of the deal it signed with Britain in January. That British agreement includes a commitment to provide swift security assistance if Russia launches an armed attack on Ukraine. Zelenskiy is also expected to speak at the Munich security conference on Saturday.In related news, Ukraine is withdrawing troops from some parts of the eastern town of Avdiivka. This move comes after many months of intense fighting. The country has said the aim of this withdrawal is to shift to stronger positions. Russia, which has been trying to surround and take over Avdiivka for almost two years, sees the town as a vital part of their goal to gain full control over two provinces in the industrial Donbas region. The Ukrainian military has mentioned that supplies to Avdiivka and evacuations from the town are challenging. To help with the situation, they have activated a reserve logistics artery. The Third Assault Brigade, a notable fighting unit in Ukraine, has been sent to reinforce the troops in Avdiivka. The situation in the town is described as extremely critical, with the brigade facing a much fiercer battle than in previous conflicts.Moving onto the United States, a disagreement among several individuals led to a shooting spree in Kansas City, Missouri. This resulted in the death of a woman and twenty-two others being injured. This incident occurred after a celebration of the city's National Football League Super Bowl victory. Police confirmed on Thursday that there's no link to any form of extremism. Three individuals, including two minors, were taken into custody for questioning. Authorities are currently working with juvenile prosecutors to review evidence and determine applicable charges against the two teenagers still in custody. Several firearms were found at the scene of the shooting. The identities of the suspects have not been disclosed yet, but the police plan to press charges. The authorities are also investigating if there were others involved in the shooting. The sole fatality was Lisa Lopez-Galvan, a popular local radio personality. All the children who were shot are expected to recover.In Australia, authorities have discovered asbestos, a toxic material, in several parks in Sydney. The initial discovery was made in a playground last January. Further testing revealed it in recycled mulch in various locations. Since then, about twenty sites including a school, a supermarket, and a hospital have been confirmed to be contaminated. Sydney City Council is now set to inspect thirty-three parks where the contaminated mulch might have been used. Approximately seven hundred students at a public school will have to be relocated for a few weeks as a result of the discovery. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Fair Day, a popular event, has also been cancelled due to asbestos found at the venue. A task force has been set up by the New South Wales state government to aid the Environment Protection Authority with the situation.In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa is planning to sign a National Health Insurance bill into law. This law aims to provide all South Africans with health coverage. The bill, which will cost billions of dollars and be implemented in stages, was passed by lawmakers last year. It is now awaiting the President's approval. This new law is designed to provide health care to millions of poorer citizens. It aims to transform a two-tier system that still shows racial and social inequalities. However, business groups are against it. They fear it will lead to less investment in the health sector and harm the country's fragile economy. Despite their objections, the bill is popular among voters. However, even after it's signed, actual changes may not happen soon. Analysts predict legal challenges.Our final story today is from China, where a cold snap is expected to affect many regions from this weekend. The national observatory has predicted that temperatures will drop by up to twenty degrees Celsius. This comes as millions of Chinese people are returning from their Lunar New Year trips. Regions such as Shaanxi, Shanxi, Henan, and Shandong provinces are set to experience heavy snowfall from the seventeenth to the twenty-second of February. Southern parts of the country will also see temperatures drop to zero degrees Celsius next week. This sudden change in weather could hinder road, rail, and air transport. In separate news, the weather bureau in the northwestern Xinjiang region is warning of potential avalanches in the Altay area, with significant snowfall expected.Thanks for listening to LanguaTalk news!