Plain English

Egan Bernal is Tour de France's first winner from Latin America | Learn English phrase 'to make a push'

19 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Colombian Egan Bernal became the first cyclist from Latin America, and the youngest in over 110 years, to win the Tour de France. He took the lead i...

Hong Kong protests intensify in 10th week | Learn English phrasal verb 'let up'

15 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Protests in Hong Kong continue to escalate as they enter their tenth week. What started as a protest against an extradition bill has expanded into a...

The complicated relationship between money and happiness | Learn English phrase 'better off'

12 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Research has shown that having more money equals more happiness, but with some major exceptions. First, more money means more happiness with incomes...

Can happiness be measured? | Learn English phrase 'give away'

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Is it possible to measure happiness? Scientists have tried various methods, but the most reliable way to measure a person's happiness is simply to a...

Searching for missing girl, Vatican finds thousands of human bones | Learn English phrase 'dogged by'

05 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" A decades-old mystery of a missing girl took a surprising turn after thousands of unidentified bones were discovered in a cemetery beneath the Vatic...

João Gilberto, master of bossa nova music, dies at 88 | Learn English phrase 'keep to yourself'

01 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" João Gilberto, the Brazilian singer who created the ""bossa nova"" musical style in the 1950s, died at age 88. Over a 60-year musical career, the s...

How much vacation time do people get around the world?

29 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Surf's up and people around the Northern Hemisphere are thinking of taking some time off for vacation. On today's episode, we talk about how paid va...

New life for rare species in Honduras | Learn English phrase 'at the behest of'

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Scientists have discovered hundreds of species of butterflies, frogs, fish, and other animals deep in the rainforest in Honduras. The government sen...

Mumbai is India's beating heart | Learn English phrasal verb 'clear out'

22 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" In the third in our series of destinations, we visit Mumbai, India's largest city and its cultural and financial capital. It's home to majestic buil...

Scent is the next frontier in branding | Learn English phrase 'latch onto'

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Call it the next frontier of marketing: big companies, including hotels, are using scents to build brand loyalty. The companies want to use scents t...

Cheers, telescopes, and yoga: watching the solar eclipse | Learn English expression 'put to use'

15 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

"An eclipse of the sun crossed Chile and Argentina on July 2, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists. The eclipse zone crossed Chile's desert areas...

Istanbul election backfires on Turkey's president | Learn English expression 'bow to pressure'

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Ekrem Imamoglu won a convincing victory in a re-run of last spring's mayoral election in Istanbul. Imamoglu won the first vote by 0.2%, but the vote w...

'Lost wallet' experiment: how honest are people around the world? | Learn English expression 'get your hopes up'

08 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" A group of behavioral economists studied how people around the world react to finding a ""lost"" wallet. 17,000 wallets later, they discovered wheth...

What is killing American tourists in the Dominican Republic? | Learn how to use 'can't help but...'

04 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Nine American tourists have died so far this year while vacationing in the Dominican Republic, including several people who got sick and died after ...

Facebook looks to shake up finance with new currency | Learn English phrasal verb 'hold up'

01 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Facebook announced a new cryptocurrency, the Libra, which will be governed by a nonprofit in Switzerland. The currency, which will be available in 2...

How 5G will transform the mobile internet | Learn English phrasal verb 'roll out'

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" The newest generation of mobile technology--called 5G--will transform the mobile internet as much as 4G did. The fast speed, high capacity, and low ...

Earliest use of marijuana was 2,500 years ago | Learn English phrasal verb "pin down"

24 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Archaeologists have discovered the earliest-ever evidence of cannabis use for its psychoactive properties. Scientists believe that cannabis with hig...

Meet the 24 Democrats running against Trump | Learn English phrase "to scratch your head"

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Twenty-four candidates are all vying to be the Democratic nominee for president, each hoping for the chance to go head-to-head against Donald Trump ...

I.M. Pei, designer of Louvre pyramid, dies at 102 | Learn English phrase "to cause a stir"

17 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" I.M. Pei, the Chinese-American architect who designed the Louvre museum's iconic glass pyramid and whose work spanned museums, skyscrapers, hotels, ...

China battling a deadly pig virus | Learn English phrasal verb "to spell out"

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" The African Swine Fever, a deadly virus that affects pigs but is harmless to humans, is sweeping through China's pig population. The virus is diffic...

Would you see a 'hologram' concert? | Learn English phrasal verb 'turn down'

10 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" The estate of Whitney Houston, the pop singer who died in 2012, announced a hologram tour. Holograms reproduce the singer's image in what looks like...

Hiking Mt. Everest? Get in line | Learn English phrase 'think straight'

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" A combination of weather, overcrowding and inexperienced climbers led to chaotic conditions atop the world's tallest mountain, Mt. Everest, as the 2...

Nothing to wear? Rent something from Urban Outfitters | Learn English phrase, 'to have your work cut out for you'

03 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Urban Outfitters announced a new clothing-rental service, Nuuly. For $88 per month, you can rent up to four items and return them when you're done. ...

Google cuts ties with Huawei amid US, China tensions | Learn English phrasal verb 'to flare up'

30 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" US President Donald Trump signed an executive order placing Huawei, the Chinese cell phone manufacturer, on a trade blacklist. The move comes as par...

What ridesharing is like around the world | Learn English idiom 'talk someone's ear off'

27 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Do you think ridesharing is just for cars? Then you might be surprised to know you can ride on the back of a motorcycle, or even ride in a speedboat...

How to follow a zero-waste lifestyle | Learn phrasal verb 'brush off'

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" What does it take to follow a zero-waste lifestyle? Some enthusiasts have cut their family trash to just a single bag (or less) per year by followin...

Kentucky Derby 'winner' dropped to 17th place | Learn English phrase 'long shot'

20 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" For the first time in the Kentucky Derby's 145-year history, the horse that crossed the finish line first was not the winner. Although Maximum Secur...

Latest effort to topple Maduro falls short | Learn English phrase 'in the works'

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" Juan Guaidó, the recognized interim president of Venezuela, attempted to wrest control of the Venezuelan government from strongman Nicolás Maduro,...

How Paris firefighters saved Notre-Dame relics | Learn English phrase 'short on'

13 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

" In the crucial first moments of the Notre-Dame blaze, the Paris fire department, led by its chaplain Father Jean-Marc Fournier, carried out a well-r...

‘Avengers’ is Disney’s hero at the box office | Learn English phrase ‘on a tear’

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A brief summary of this episodeMentioned in this episode:Ready to improve your listening?Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast ve...

Cash is not king at new shops that take cards only | Learn English phrase ‘point to’

06 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Many stores are going cashless—meaning, they only accept cards and mobile payments. Retailers say it lowers costs, improves speed at the counter, an...

Coca-Cola, seeking a boost, adds a shot of coffee | Learn English phrase ‘bread and butter’

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Coca-Cola will be releasing a new flavor in 25 countries this year: Coca-Cola Plus Coffee. The new concoction has been tested in select markets and wi...

Tiger Woods shows that a comeback from anything is possible | Learn English phrase ‘reap the rewards’

29 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The legendary golfer, who was once one of the biggest superstars in all of sports before an epic personal and professional downfall, won the Master’...

A stunned France vows to rebuild Notre-Dame cathedral | Learn English phrase ‘recipe for disaster’

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After seeing the haunting images of the 850-year-old cathedral ablaze in central Paris, many feared that France would lose its greatest national symbo...

India’s poll workers brave swamps and mountains to reach voters | Learn English phrase ‘to get into gear’

22 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Over 900 million people are eligible to vote in India’s general election this month, the world’s biggest exercise in democracy. To reach all those...

First images of a black hole offer a glimpse of the invisible | Learn English phrase ‘to come into focus’

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For the first time ever, a black hole, one of the greatest mysteries of the universe, has been captured in an image. Scientists released the image of ...

Japan welcomes a new emperor and ‘Reiwa’ era | Plus, learn ‘to date back to’

15 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

When the calendar flips to May 1, Japan will have a new emperor and it will begin a new official era. Eras in Japan are long periods of time during wh...

‘Game of Thrones’ fans: your wait is almost over | Learn English phrase ‘tight-lipped’

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

HBO’s hit drama “Game of Thrones,” which has a cult following around the world, will conclude with six episodes in its eighth and final season. ...

Fish on the menu and on view at new underwater restaurant | Learn English phrase ‘weighed down’

08 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A new restaurant on the southern coast of Norway has a unique location: it’s underwater. Appropriately named “Under,” the restaurant will serve ...

Britain still unable to decide what kind of Brexit it wants | Learn English phrase ‘wear thin’

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Although March 29 was originally supposed to be the date on which Britain left the European Union, the country is still part of the EU and still canno...

How millennials are changing the workplace | Learn English phrase ‘turn something on its head’

01 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The millennial generation—those born between 1982 and the early 2000s—are making their mark on the world of work. They want to have purpose in the...

Alex Trebek is America’s longtime dinnertime companion | Learn English phrase ‘in command’

28 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Alex Trebek, who has hosted over 7,000 episodes of the quiz show Jeopardy!, announced in a video that he has stage-four pancreatic cancer. Since the s...

Cheating scandal rocks university-admissions world | Learn English expression ‘raise eyebrows’

25 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The world of elite university admissions was rocked when American federal prosecutors charged over 50 people involved in an illegal cheating and bribe...

Boeing jets grounded after two recent crashes | Learn English phrase ‘double-edged sword’

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A problem with the automation software on Boeing’s 737-MAX, the newest version of its popular jet, has caused two fatal crashes in just five months,...

The Virgin Islands are a sun-kissed paradise | Plus, learn English phrase ‘take the edge off’

18 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Pack your sunscreen and your swimsuit! In the second episode in our occasional series on destinations, we explore the US and British Virgin Islands. W...

HIV eliminated in a second patient, but a cure is a long way off | Learn English phrasal verb ‘fight off’

14 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

For just the second time since the global AIDS epidemic began almost 40 years ago, HIV has been eliminated from a patient’s body. But scientists are...

Finding joy in everyday objects with Marie Kondo | Learn English phrase ‘have a knack for’

11 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Who knew organizing your home could be this much fun? Marie Kondo is bestselling author and has her own Netflix show; the Japanese organizing consulta...

Quest to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch | Learn English phrase ‘take something in stride’

07 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a large area in the ocean between California and Hawaii where almost 2 trillion tiny pieces of discarded plastic ha...

Breakdancing could be a new Olympic ‘sport’ in 2024 | Learn English expression ‘to the untrained eye’

04 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Organizers of the Paris Olympics in 2024 want breakdancing to be among the sports featured in the City of Lights. If selected, it would join skateboar...

Stranded plane returns after 70-day ordeal in Iran | Learn English phrase ‘by the day’

28 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The trouble was just beginning for Norwegian Air when one of its planes had to make an emergency landing in Iran. The low-cost airline had no personne...

Chapo convicted, but drug trade still thrives | Plus, learn how to use ‘a slew of’

25 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín Guzmán, better known as El Chapo, was convicted in an American court and will spend the rest of his life in jail, witho...

New emojis are all about individuality (and a little frivolity) | Learn English phrase ‘hop on’

21 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fifty-nine new emojis were approved in 2019 and the main theme is individuality. Emojis that allow you to express a disability include a hearing aid, ...

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is a Singapore showcase with a great soundtrack

18 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Last summer’s blockbuster movie “Crazy Rich Asians” has the outlines of a fairly typical Hollywood romantic comedy—but don’t despair, becaus...

Modern mating: How the internet has changed the search for love | Plus, learn English phrase ‘lend itself’

14 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In just twenty years, the internet has revolutionized the search for a romantic partner. One third of marriages in the US begin online in some fashion...

Blast of Arctic air brings Midwest cities to a standstill | Learn English phrase ‘Good Samaritan’

11 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A blast of Arctic air clobbered the Midwest of the United States at the end of January, bringing life in the major cities and the farms and fields to ...

Dam collapse buries Brazilian town under river of mud | Plus, learn to say that events ‘unfold’

07 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A dam in Brazil collapsed, burying the town of Brumadinho under a deadly river of mud. The dam was meant to contain the byproducts of mining operation...

Separating art from artist in the Me-Too era | Learn English phrase ‘sit well’

04 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

After several years in which big-name entertainers have been found to have mistreated others, viewers are left with a thorny question: can you still e...

Venezuela opposition leader gaining support from abroad | Learn English phrase ‘get traction’

31 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Juan Guaidó, recently elected leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly, declared himself the legitimate president of his country, in one of the stro...

Delicious diversity in Toronto, Canada’s largest city | Learn English phrase ‘spoiled for choice’

28 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of an occasional series on destinations in the English-speaking world, we explore Toronto, Canada’s largest city and its financial cent...

Drone deliveries are getting closer | Learn English phrase ‘inch closer’

24 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Drone delivery is already a reality in some parts of the world, but challenges remain before it can expand. For one thing, drones need to be able to a...

Think twice before trusting ‘Dr. Google’ | Learn English phrase ‘down a rabbit hole’

21 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We’ve all done it: instead of asking a real doctor about our symptoms when feeling sick, we pull out our smartphones and ask “Dr. Google.” While...

Should ‘birth tourism’ be allowed in Canada? | Learn ‘test someone’s patience’

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Each year, thousands of mothers travel to Canada just to have a baby. They leave a month later, with a passport for their newborn. Some companies in C...

‘Roma’ is a powerful tribute to director Cuarón’s childhood caregiver | Plus learn ‘kneel down’

14 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The new Netflix film “Roma,” directed by Alfonso Cuarón, is an intimate black-and-white portrait of an upper-middle-class family in Mexico City i...

China sends rover to moon’s far side | Learn English phrase ‘at any given time’

10 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The far side of the moon, which has until now only been observed via photographs, is now being explored by a rover from China, scientists announced. T...

Mystery disease strikes diplomats in Cuba | Learn English phrase ‘come down with’

07 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A mystery disease that causes hearing loss, vision loss, loss of balance, and brain damage has been affecting American and Canadian government workers...

Making New Year’s resolutions stick | Learn English phrase ‘fall short’

03 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

A New Year’s resolution is a promise you make to yourself to improve for the coming year. Many people say they will lose weight, sleep more, get a n...

NBA in Mexico; NFL in London: American sports push their brands abroad | Learn English phrase ‘a matter of time’

31 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Basketball in Mexico; American baseball in Japan; football in London: the American professional sports leagues are making a push to play a few showcas...

Crying is serious business in Japan | Learn English phrase ‘latch onto’

27 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Japanese entrepreneurs have started crying clubs, where men and women get together to watch sad movies and listen to sad songs. The purpose is to indu...

Trouble for Huawei after executive is arrested in Canada | Learn English phrase ‘dry up’

24 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Huawei is one the world’s largest manufacturers of cell phones and the equipment that powers cell phone service around the world. However, some peop...

Britain should vote again on Brexit | Learn English phrase ‘bite the bullet’

20 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The deal British Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated for her country’s exit from the European Union did not find the support it needed to pass the...

George H. W. Bush, America’s 41st president, dies at 94 | Learn English phrase ‘keep a low profile’

17 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

George Herbert Walker Bush, who served as a Navy pilot in World War II and later as a Congressman, CIA director, vice president, and president, died a...

Yellow vest protests expand to France’s Champs-Elysée | Learn English phrase ‘finger on the pulse’

13 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

A spontaneous protest movement has broken out in France, disrupting daily traffic and shaking the government’s plans for additional fuel taxes. A gr...

First gene-edited baby is born in China, scientist says | Learn English phrase ‘slippery slope’

10 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Chinese scientist Hu Jinakui says that he edited the genes of an embryo during in vitro fertilization and that the embryo grew to be a girl who was bo...

Cuba pulls 8,000 doctors from Brazil after spat with Bolsonaro | Plus, learn English phrasal verb ‘make up for’

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Cuba has ordered all 8,000 of its doctors working in Brazil to come home after a spat between Brazilian president-elect Jair Bolsonaro and the Cuban g...

Pisa’s famous tower is leaning a bit less | Learn English phrase ‘straighten out’

03 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is leaning a little less. Scientists recently confirmed that the famous tower has straightened out by about four centimeters...

Migrant caravan arrives at the US border: now what? | Learn English phrase ‘bear a burden’

30 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Thousands of migrants from Central America have passed through Mexico and have arrived at Tijuana, the last city before the US border. But they must g...

Scientists have re-defined the kilogram | Learn English phrase ‘seal someone’s fate’

26 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

For over a hundred years, the official definition of a kilogram was a metal cylinder held under three locks in France. But scientists have voted to ch...

Brexit deal leaves few happy in UK | Learn English phrase ‘strike a deal’

22 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Negotiators for Britain and the EU have reached a draft deal on the UK’s exit. The deal has left few people happy in the UK, as both those who wante...

Lady Gaga was amazing in ‘A Star Is Born’ | Learn English phrase ‘down to earth’

19 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Lady Gaga, the pop star better known for provocative lyrics and outlandish outfits, turned in a transformative performance as Ally, a waitress-turned-...

Partial rebuke for Trump in US midterm elections | Learn English phrase ‘when the dust settles’

15 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

In the first national elections since the controversial developer-turned-TV star took office, US voters gave President Donald Trump only a partial reb...

Top European football teams in talks to create a ‘Super League’ | Learn English phrase ‘at the expense of.’

12 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Some of Europe’s top football clubs, including Manchester United and Bayern Munich, are in talks to create a “Super League” that would feature m...

Mexico will cancel partially-built new airport after strange vote | Learn English phrase ‘bursting at the seams’

08 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

After holding an unofficial vote before he took office, president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced he would cancel the $15 billion Mexico C...

Brazil elects Bolsonaro, riding global wave of discontent | Learn English phrase ‘run the gamut’

05 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brazil overwhelmingly elected former army captain and congressman Jair Bolsonaro president, giving him 55% of its vote and signaling its discontent wi...

Popular destinations struggle with ‘over-tourism’ | Learn English phrase ‘wear and tear’

01 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

As global tourism has increased in recent years, some popular tourist destinations like Amsterdam, Venice and Peru’s Machuu Pichuu have struggled wi...

Marijuana is now legal in Canada | Learn phrasal verb ‘ramp up’

29 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Canadians can now buy recreational marijuana and grow four plants at home. As the first large country to legalize marijuana, Canada is beginning a nat...

Mystery surrounds death of Saudi journalist | Learn how to use ‘to paint a picture’

25 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by a team of assasins in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, according to allegations made by the Turkish governm...

Should Japan have an army? | Learn the English phrasal verb "take effect"

22 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Shinzō Abe, Japan’s prime minister, is considering major revisions to the country’s constitution—specifically Article 9, which prevents the wor...

New route is world’s longest flight: 18 hours, Singapore to New York | Learn phrasal verb ‘pay off’

18 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Singapore Airlines has re-introduced the world’s longest flight, a 10,300-mile journey from Singapore to Newark, New Jersey, near New York City. The...

Chile wins battle over sea access for landlocked Bolivia | Learn English phrase ‘sigh of relief’

15 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Bolivia’s dream of regaining sovereign access to the Pacific Ocean suffered a setback after a UN court sided with Chile, saying that Chile was not r...

French gangster recaptured after escaping jail in a helicopter | Learn English phrase ‘in reality’

11 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Redoine Faid, a notorious French criminal who escaped from jail twice, most recently in a dramatic helicopter escape, has been recaptured and is in ja...

New look for London phone booths: digital ads and touch screens | Learn English phrase ‘to put it mildly’

08 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Classic-red phone booths are giving way to a new type of touch-screen kiosk on the streets of London. But the new kiosks are covered in digital ads an...

Genetic change in mosquitoes may be key to eliminating malaria | Learn ‘upside’ and ‘downside’

04 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Malaria infects millions of people each year, killing between 400,000 and 700,000 people—most of them children in sub-Saharan Africa. Now, scientist...

Social media (reluctantly) decides who to disconnect | Plus learn English phrase ‘come to a head’

01 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Social media companies like Facebook, Twitter, Apple and even Spotify are now in the uncomfortable position of policing content and determining which ...

VW retires the Beetle, revives the Bus | Learn about ‘hippies’ and the counter-culture

27 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most recognizable cars on the road, but the Germany carmaker plans to retire the model for good, citing declining ...

Spain to remove Franco from Valley of the Fallen | Learn English phrase ‘take for granted’

24 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The Spanish parliament voted to remove the remains of the military dictator Francisco Franco from the Valley of the Fallen monument. Though there was ...

How bad is the storm? Check the Waffle House Index | Learn English phrase ‘in the wake of’

20 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Hurricane Florence was the first big storm of the 2018 hurricane season, and US government officials are using a light-hearted way of determining how ...

Focus on security, digitization after museum fire | Learn English expression ‘come to grips’

17 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The fire that destroyed Brazil’s National Museum was a preventable tragedy. Museums around the world are developing safety and security plans to gua...

Sadness and anger after Museu Nacional fire | Learn English word ‘exempt’

13 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brazil’s National Museum and most of its 20 million artefacts were destroyed by a devastating fire this month. The collection held priceless artifac...

Europe may abolish Daylight Saving Time | Learn English phrase ‘follow suit’

10 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The tradition of changing clocks forward in the spring and backward in the fall to preserve daylight hours in summer dates back to the early 20th Cent...

Lula ineligible to repeat as Brazil’s president | Learn English expression ‘in a bind’

06 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Brazil’s embattled ex-president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is currently serving a jail sentence for corruption, is not allowed to run for pres...