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(기록내용: 레벨, 제목, 링크)
Lv. 5
EU warns X over Israel-Hamas disinformation   (16th October 2023)

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Social media is awash with information and graphics about the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza. There are concerns about how much of the content posted online is fake. The European Union has just opened an investigation into the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The EU says there is an alarming volume of posts containing false information on X. EU officials have expressed concern that X was, "being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation". X has until the end of next week to answer a series of EU questions about this content. Failure to satisfactorily address these issues could lead the EU to impose a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's daily global turnover.

The EU probe into X comes under the bloc's Digital Services Act. This was established to monitor how large tech companies deal with the hate speech posted on their platforms, and how they police the Internet. An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce, "proportionate and effective mitigation measures" to identify and delete disinformation. He added: "We have, from qualified sources, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on X, despite flags from relevant authorities." Hundreds of bogus accounts have been flooding the Internet with harmful and inflammatory content. The CEO of X said the site had removed hundreds of these accounts. A social media expert lamented this was, "a drop in the ocean".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Online Disinformation - Level 4 or Online Disinformation - Level 5

Sources

https://www.ft.com/content/a4ab23c7-977a-46b1-8d00-33923ceaee89

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/musks-hundreds-hamas-linked-accounts-ceo-103916288

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/telegram-fueling-israel-hamas-war-misinformation-1234854300/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

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EU warns X over Israel-Hamas disinformation

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Online Disinformation - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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(기사제목, 링크)
EU asks Musk's X for information on hate speech and 'illegal content' related to Israel-Hamas war

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LONDON -- The European Commission on Thursday made a formal, legally binding request for information from Elon Musk's social media platform X over its handling of hate speech, misinformation and violent terrorist content related to the Israel-Hamas war.

It is the first step in what could become the EU's inaugural investigation under the Digital Services Act, in this case to determine if the site formerly known as Twitter is in compliance with the tough new rules meant to keep users safe online and stop the spread of harmful content.

San Francisco-based X has until Wednesday to respond to questions related to how its crisis response protocol is functioning. Responses to other questions must be received by Oct. 31. The commission said its next steps, which could include the opening of formal proceedings and penalties, would be determined by X's replies.

Representatives for X did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. The company's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, said earlier that the site has removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and taken down or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of content since the militant group's attack on Israel. One social media expert called the actions "a drop in the bucket."

Yaccarino on Thursday outlined steps taken by X to combat illegal content flourishing on the platform. She was responding to an earlier letter from a top European Union official for information on how X is complying with the EU's new digital rules during the Israel-Hamas war. That letter, which essentially served as a warning, was not legally binding - the latest one, however, is.

"X is proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis," Yaccarino said in a letter to European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the 27-nation bloc's digital enforcer.

But some say the efforts are not nearly enough to tackle the problem.

"While these actions are better than nothing, it is not enough to curtail the misinformation problem on X," said Kolina Koltai, a researcher at the investigative collective Bellingcat who previously worked at Twitter on Community Notes.

"There is an overwhelming amount of misinformation on the platform," Koltai said. "From what we have seen, the moderation efforts from X are only addressing a drop in the bucket."

Since the war erupted, photos and videos have flooded social media of the carnage, including haunting footage of Hamas fighters taking terrified Israelis hostage, alongside posts from users pushing false claims and misrepresenting videos from other events.

The conflict is one of the first major tests for the EU's groundbreaking digital rules, which took effect in August. Breton fired off a similar letter Thursday to TikTok, telling CEO Shou Zi Chew that he has a "particular obligation" to protect child and teen users from "violent content depicting hostage taking and other graphic videos" reportedly making the rounds on the video sharing app.

For X, changes that Musk has made to the platform since he bought it last year mean accounts that subscribe to X's blue-check service can get paid if their posts go viral, creating a financial incentive to post whatever gets the most reaction. Plus, X's workforce - including its content moderation team - has been gutted.

Those changes are running up against the EU's Digital Services Act, which forces social media companies to step up policing of their platforms for illegal content, such as terrorist material or illegal hate speech, under threat of hefty fines.

"There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts," Yaccarino wrote in the letter posted to X.

X has taken action to "remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content," Yaccarino said, pointing out that there are 700 unique Community Notes - a feature that allows users to add their own fact-checks to posts - "related to the attacks and unfolding events."

The platform has been "responding promptly" and in a "diligent and objective manner" to takedown requests from law enforcement agencies from around the world, including more than 80 from EU member states, Yaccarino said.

Koltai, the researcher and former Twitter employee, said Community Notes are not an "end-all solution to curtailing misinfo" and that there are gaps that the feature just can't fill yet.

"There are still many videos and photos on X that don't have notes that are unmoderated, and continue to spread misleading claims," she said.

Since Musk acquired Twitter and renamed it, social-media watchers say the platform has become not just unreliable but actively promotes falsehoods, while a study commissioned by the EU found that it's the worst-performing platform for online disinformation.

Rivals such as TikTok, YouTube and Facebook also are coping with a flood of unsubstantiated rumors and falsehoods about the Middle Eastern conflict, playing the typical whack-a-mole that erupts each time a news event captures world attention.

Breton, the EU official, urged TikTok's leader to step up its efforts at tackling disinformation and illegal content and respond within 24 hours. The company did not reply immediately to an email seeking comment.

Breton's warning letters have also gone to Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook and Instagram parent Meta.

-

AP Technology Writer Barbara Ortutay in Oakland, California, contributed to this report.

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EU asks Musk's X for information on hate speech and 'illegal content' related to Israel-Hamas war

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The European Commission has made a formal, legally binding request for information from Elon Musk's social media platform X over its handling of hate speech, misinformation and violent terrorist content related to the Israel-Hamas war

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Lv.3
Title) UN says extreme heat is the new normol

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The United Nations weather agency has warned that extreme temperatures are "the new normal". Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves longer, hotter and more frequent. Many countries have been experiencing record hot weather in the past week. In parts of the USA and China, the mercury went over 50ºC (122ºF). In Death Valley, California, it was 53.9ºC; and in Xinjiang, China, it got up to 52.2ºC. In Spain and Italy, the temperature rose to 46ºC. Many European countries and Japan have issued heat alerts. They advised people to stay in the shade and drink plenty of water. The U.N. weather agency has warned Europe's heatwave could continue for another month.

A spokesperson for the United Nations warned of the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions. He said: "Extreme weather is increasing in frequency in our warming climate. It is having a major impact on human health...and water supplies." He added: "We have to step up efforts to help society adapt to what is unfortunately becoming the new normal." The European Travel Commission said the extreme heat is making holidaymakers change their travel plans. People who used to holiday in Spain, Italy and Greece are choosing to go to cooler countries instead. A woman who wanted to "escape the heat" by going to Rome complained that the Italian capital was hotter than her hometown in Texas.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66229057

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heat-wave-europe-italy-expects-record-temperature-greece-wildfire/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12309835/Fewer-tourists-plan-visit-Europe-temperatures-soar-heatwave-abandoning-holidays.html

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Heatwaves - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Level 3
South Koreans to become a year or two younger

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A new law in South Korea means South Koreans will be a year or two younger. The law was passed last Thursday. Before it was passed, there were three different ways that people could tell their age. South Koreans could have three ages. One was an "international age". This is the same as how most people in the world calculate their age. A baby is zero at birth and becomes one year old a year after it is born. The second was a "Korean age". Under this system, babies are considered a year old on the day they are born, and then a year is added every January the 1st. The third method was a "calendar age". This makes babies zero years old at birth, and a year is added to their age every January the 1st.

The new law simplifies age in South Korea. Lawmakers hope it will end confusion about how old people are. From June 2023, all official documents must use the standard international age. It will be used for the legal ages for drinking, getting married, smoking, and military service. It should help to end legal and social problems caused by the old system. However, many people will continue to use the Korean age in informal situations. A Korean Twitter user was relieved there is a new law to make things simpler. She tweeted: "I'll become two years younger. I'm so happy. I turned two years old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in December. Finally, I'm about to get my real age back."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sources

https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/12/113_341243.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/09/asia/south-korea-international-age-law-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/09/all-south-koreans-to-become-younger-as-traditional-age-system-scrapped

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South Koreans to become a year or two younger

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English News Lesson on Being Younger: South Koreans to become a year or two younger - FREE worksheets, online activities, listening in 7 Levels...

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Level 3
Store staff get body cameras to protect themselves.

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Workers in supermarkets in the U.K. can now wear body cameras to protect themselves from attacks by customers. More and more staff are being punched or threatened with knives by angry people. Many sales assistants and checkout staff are afraid to go to work. They are stressed, and they are worried about their safety. The UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco is offering its staff body cameras. A spokesperson said the number of physical assaults on its workers has risen by a third in a year. He added that 200 Tesco employees are victims of serious physical assaults each month. Thousands more are shouted at and verbally abused every day. He asked the UK government to "put an end to this".

Many people say attacks on supermarket staff are a sign that Britain is "broken". There has been a huge rise in anti-social behaviour on Britain's streets. A survey published in the Daily Mail newspaper showed that 72 per cent of voters think Britain is broken. Tesco's CEO Ken Murphy said his company has spent £44 million ($55 million) on trying to keep staff safe. Despite this, there has also been a big rise in shoplifting. These two problems have led to higher prices. Mr Murphy wants stricter laws for people who verbally or physically attack staff. He said: "Crime is a scourge on society, and an insult to shoppers and [shop] workers." He said attacks on staff were "unacceptable" and "heart-breaking".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sources

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tesco-staff-body-cameras-violence-b2403998.html

https://www.nationalworld.com/news/tesco-workers-to-be-offered-body-cameras-after-huge-increase-in-violent-attacks-on-staff-4279396

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12474103/Tesco-workers-offered-body-cameras-following-shocking-increase-number-violent-attacks-employees-200-staff-fall-victim-physical-assaults-month.html

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

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Store staff get body cameras to protect themselves

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Supermarket Workers - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Listening - Elon Musk to remove blocking feature on X - Level 4

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Elon Musk will remove the blocking feature from X, formerly known as Twitter. He said users will no longer be able to block comments from anyone. X users will be unable to stop people contacting or following them or from seeing their posts. People will be able to block direct messages. Musk said blocking comments "makes no sense". The change is the latest in Musk's redesign of X. Others include a name and logo change.

Many X users are angry. They believe blocking helps to keep people safe from hateful comments. The CEO of a crypto-currency company said Musk should focus on making X safer and easier to use. He said: "X should really solve the bots and spam problems before removing blocks." Another critic said no blocking could discourage the free speech of users who are the targets of bullies. Another critic said people must be able to block abuse.

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elon musk to remove blocking feature on x

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Elon Musk to remove blocking feature on X - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2307/230727-barbie-2.html

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'Barbie' the movie breaks box office records

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Barbie - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Grapes are good for our eyesight
Level 3

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Grapes and Eyesight - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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본문
Parliamentary subcommittee passes bills on scrapping 'Korean age'

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Parliamentary subcommittee passes bills on scrapping 'Korean age'

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A parliamentary subcommittee on Tuesday passed a set of bills requiring the use of the international age counting system in all judicial and administrative areas, rather than the unique

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TikTok videos mean there are not enough laxative drugs in the USA. These drugs are for people who have problems on the toilet because of hard "poo". Teenagers watch the videos, then think they can lose weight, and then buy laxatives. This means that people who need the medicine cannot get it.

Doctors are worried about this trend. The videos are wrong because laxatives are not for losing weight. They only make the body lose water. The water weight is put back on after having a drink. Laxatives can cause headaches, tiredness, and dizziness. Eating fruit and vegetables, and exercising are better for losing weight.

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TikTok trend causes laxative shortage in USA

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Laxatives - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Lv.6
AI gaming jobs

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AI could create thousands of jobs in gaming

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - AI gaming jobs - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Lv.5
Company makes booth for vertical napping

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If you ever want to sleep while standing, the Koyoju company in Japan has something for you. Koyoju has unveiled the "Giraffenap" booth. This ingenious cubicle lets the user nap in a vertical position. It will allow office workers to catch forty winks without a bed. The designers say a 20-minute nap improves mental performance and productivity by reducing fatigue. It also boosts concentration and memory retention. The Giraffenap pods come in two designs and will go on sale in December. They are expected to cost around $20,000.

The Giraffenap website says we often work non-stop without an opportunity to recover from stress, resulting in unwanted sleepiness during the day. It added: "Now it's time to break the stereotype that nodding off on the job is a sign of boredom or laziness." The site says naps allow for "more efficient and fulfilling work". Napping reduces drowsiness and improves ingenuity and creativeness. The designers offered some napping advice. Just 15 to 20 minutes is best, and naps should end before 3 p.m. In addition, you should not lie down as this leads to deep sleep.

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Company makes booth for vertical napping

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Vertical Napping - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Japan realeses Fukushima water into the ocean
Level.3

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Japan has started releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. The plant was hit by a huge earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. After the power plant was damaged, the power company stored radioactive water in 1,000 giant tanks. The water has been treated to reduce its radioactivity. It is now being slowly released into the Pacific Ocean through a long sea tunnel. Japan stated that the water is safe and would not harm the environment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the water meets with international safety standards. It said there would be a "negligible radiological impact on people and the environment".

Many people in Japan, as well as countries near Japan, are angry that radioactive water is going into the Pacific. Local fishermen are worried they will not be able to sell their fish. China has already banned seafood from Fukushima and the capital city, Tokyo. China's foreign ministry called the release of the water a "wrongful decision" and asked Japan to stop. A spokesperson said: "Japan is putting its own self-interest over the long-term well-being of all humankind". Hong Kong is also worried about food safety. It said it would "immediately" stop importing some Japanese food products. South Korean activists have also protested, although Seoul understood that the water meets international standards.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sources

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/21/asia/japan-fukushima-wastewater-release-decision-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-release-fukushima-water-into-ocean-starting-aug-24-2023-08-22/

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230822/p2g/00m/0na/033000c

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Japan releases Fukushima water into the ocean

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Fukushima - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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France may have to increase price of baguettes.
Lv. 5

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France is synonymous with baguettes and croissants. The baguette is currently facing a problem. Soaring energy costs are forcing bakers to close their bakeries or raise baguette prices. Wheat supply issues caused by the Ukraine War are also reducing profits for many in the baguette-making industry. One baker expressed fears for his livelihood. He may have to raise his baguette prices from one to four euros. He said: "I cannot pay an electricity bill of 12,000 euros with a turnover of 20,000 euros." He is worried because supermarkets can sell baguettes for less than a euro.

The baguette is on the UN List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. France's President Macron is worried about the baguette. He recently described it as being "250 grams of magic and perfection". France's Ministry for the Economy introduced an "electricity damper" to limit how much bakers' electricity bills can rise by. The ministry said: "Aid for bakers has been reinforced and eligible bakeries can benefit from it." Consumers are also facing tough choices. One said she didn't want to pay higher prices, but she may have to "because there is no equivalent to a baguette".

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France may have to increase price of baguettes

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Baguette Prices - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Lv3.
27th july 2023
Barbie the movie breaks boxoffice records

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The new movie "Barbie" is the biggest film of the year in the USA. It has broken several box office records. One of these is for making the most money for a non-superhero movie. Movie-goers in the USA paid a total of $162 million in the movie's opening weekend. Ticket sales worldwide were over $356 million. The film also made the most money for a movie made by a female director. "Barbie" was directed by Greta Gerwig, who also worked on the indie films "Lady Bird" and "Little Women". Gerwig also co-wrote "Barbie". It is likely that there will be sequels to the movie, so fans should get ready for "Barbie 2" and "Barbie 3". There may also be a spin-off that focuses on Barbie's friend Ken.

Ms Gerwig's movie is about the Barbie fashion doll, made by the American toy company Mattel. The toy was created by American businesswoman Ruth Handler and launched in 1959. It has become one of the best-selling toys ever made. Over a billion Barbie dolls have been made worldwide. Since the 1980s, Barbie has been the star of video games, animated movies and TV series. In Gerwig's film, Barbie unexpectedly leaves her near-perfect animated world of Barbieland to live in the human world. Movie experts say it is refreshing that "Barbie" is such an original movie. People may be getting tired of superhero films. A critic said "Barbie" was a funny, entertaining and feminist movie.

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Sources

https://www.axios.com/2023/07/23/barbie-box-office-opening-sales

https://apnews.com/article/barbie-box-office-greta-gerwig-record-0e0cbd8116aff87798575c8af691d8b3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie

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'Barbie' the movie breaks box office records

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Barbie - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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AI gaming jobs
Level 4

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Artificial intelligence is worrying workers. The bank Goldman Sachs reported that AI could replace 300 million jobs worldwide. Hollywood actors are on strike demanding safeguards against AI. One sector that could benefit from AI is gaming. AI would mean more games. A gaming expert said AI makes games easier and faster to create. He said: "Lower development costs means more game studios, and therefore more jobs."

Gaming has greatly advanced because of AI. A UK games body said gaming is always at "the cutting edge of technology". Gaming uses AI to develop characters and stories, and to create even more engaging experiences. The games body said: AI promises lots of "exciting opportunities for our sector". However, sceptics believe that it will not be too long before the bots will take over many gaming jobs.

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AI could create thousands of jobs in gaming

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - AI gaming jobs - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Level 5
ChatGPT and Google Bard in A.I. chatbot race

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The next online revolution has started. It is gathering pace at breakneck speed. It began on November the 30th when the tech company OpenAI released its ChatGPT chatbot. This is a search box you can have a conversation with. It can provide the answer to pretty much any request you make, in perfect grammar. Should you require a 300-word text about a movie star written in the style of Shakespeare, you will get it. ChatGPT has spread like wildfire across social media. Analysts have dubbed it a game changer. Hot on the heels of ChatGPT comes Google's Bard chatbot. This was launched on February the 6th. A Google-Microsoft battle for supremacy over the future of online search is now unfolding.

There are countless questions regarding how chatbots will shake up the Internet and our world. Educators are worrying about "the end of homework" as bots can instantly provide convincing essays and answers to a grade-A standard. Workers are concerned the bots are a genuine threat to all manner of jobs. On the day Microsoft added ChatGPT to its Bing search engine, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated: "It's a new day in search." Google allayed people's fears about the emergence and possible threats of chatbots. It said: "AI can deepen our understanding of information and turn it into useful knowledge more efficiently - making it easier for people to get to the heart of what they're looking for and get things done."

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Sources

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-64538604

https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/7/23587454/microsoft-bing-edge-chatgpt-ai

https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-chatbots-chatgpt-google-bard-microsoft-bing-break-internet-search-2023-2

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ChatGPT and Google Bard in A.I. chatbot race

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - ChatGPT - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Grapes and Eyesight - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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level3

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Grapes and Eyesight - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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https://nypost.com/2023/10/13/grapes-are-the-new-carrots-when-it-comes-to-good-vision-new-eye-health-research/

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A few grapes a day could keep the optometrist away, a new study suggests.

This is great news for those who don't like carrots - the other eye-healthy produce: Researchers in Singapore have found evidence that eating grapes comes with big perks for your peepers.

At the center of their research was the question of whether consuming antioxidant-rich foods has a direct impact on the overall health of the eye - which they measured by signs of oxidative stress, particularly high levels of ocular advanced glycation end products (AGEs), harmful compounds that have been linked to various eye diseases.

"Our study is the first to show that grape consumption beneficially impacts eye health in humans which is very exciting, especially with a growing aging population," said study author Dr. Jung Eun Kim in a statement.

This is great news for those who don't like carrots: Researchers have found new evidence that eating grapes comes with big perks for your peepers.

Getty Images/iStockphoto

Kim's report, published in Food & Function, discussed an experiment involving 34 adults who ate either one-and-a-half cups of grapes per day or a placebo snack for 16 weeks consecutively. In the double-blind, randomized study, neither participants nor researchers knew if they were eating the placebo or the target food.

The team from the National University of Singapore found that participants who ate grapes had clearly benefited from improved antioxidant abilities as well as macular pigment in the retina, which protects your eyes from damaging blue light.

Meanwhile, those who ate the placebo saw a "significant increase" in AGEs.

Kim concluded that enjoying just a "normal amount" of grapes - about 2-3 handfuls - every single day could be a healthy habit that preserves your vision longer: "Grapes are an easy, accessible fruit that studies have shown can have a beneficial impact."

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Grapes are the new carrots when it comes to good vision: new eye health research

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This is great news for those who don't like carrots: Researchers have found new evidence that eating grapes comes with big perks for your peepers.

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https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66229057

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The extreme temperatures sweeping the globe this week are the new normal in a world warmed by climate change, the UN weather agency says.

Temperatures went over 50C (122F) in parts of the US and China on Sunday.

The World Meteorological Organization warned the heatwave in Europe could continue into August.

Millions around the world are under heat advisories as officials warn of danger to life from the hot temperatures.

Night-time in Europe and the US is not expected to bring widespread relief as temperatures stay above 30C in places including Arizona or southern Spain.

Large areas of the world saw up close again on Monday what life is like under extreme temperatures:

Death Valley in California hit 53.9C (128F ) on Sunday. The hottest-ever temperature reliably recorded on Earth was 56.7C (134F)

China provisionally broke its record for all-time highest temperature on Sunday when it recorded 52.2C (126F) in its western Xinjiang region, according to the UK Met Office

Temperatures in southern Spain on Monday peaked at 46C (115F). The heat is expected to intensify in Italy where 46C (115F) is forecast in Sardinia. Eastern Europe is also predicted to get hotter.

Scientists say climate change is making heatwaves longer, more intense and more frequent.

"The extreme weather - an increasingly frequent occurrence in our warming climate - is having a major impact on human health, ecosystems, economies, agriculture, energy and water supplies," said World Meterological Organization MO Secretary-General Prof Petteri Taalas.

"We have to step up efforts to help society adapt to what is unfortunately becoming the new normal," he added.

It underscores the urgency of cutting greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and as deeply as possible, he suggested.

'We are not in a stable climate'

Leading UK scientist Dr Frederieke Otto, from Imperial College London, told the BBC that "what we are seeing at the moment is exactly what we expect in a world where we are still burning fossil fuels".

Humans are "100% behind" the upward trend in global temperatures, she explains.

The world has already warmed by 1.1C since the Industrial Revolution when humans started burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Dr Otto says we have no idea what the new normal will look like because "we are not in a stable climate".

We will only find out what the new climate looks like once the world stops burning fossil fuels and switches to green energy, she suggests.

The International Energy Agency has said that there can be no new oil, gas or coal projects if governments are serious about tackling climate change.

Scientists say that Europe in particular is warming faster than many climate models predicted. Using very powerful computers, models can compare a world affected by climate change to one without the impacts of global warming.

"There is a feeling that it's going out of control. We have a lot of work to do to pin down exactly what's happening," Prof Cloke explains.

Countries remain unprepared for the reality of excessive heat, explains Julie Arrighi, interim director of the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre.

"If we are not ready for the heat of today, we are definitely not ready for the heat of tomorrow. The risk is only increasing," she says.

In Greece, 1,200 children were evacuated from holiday camps as wildfires broke out. Flames destroyed homes on the Spanish island La Palma over the weekend.

In Phoenix, Arizona temperatures above 43C (110F) have persisted for 18 days. The city has been giving out water and cooling towels, as well as opening respite centres to help residents cope.

"These heatwaves are frightening.... We know this will be really deadly," Prof Hannah Cloke at the University of Reading, UK, told the BBC.

She said more than 61,000 people were estimated to have died from heat in Europe last year, and this year would be similar.

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Heatwaves are new normal as 50C hits US and China - UN

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The European heatwave may last into August, the World Meteorological Organization warns.

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Teens on TikTok believe laxatives can be used to lose weight as Ozempic can

But weight lost from laxatives is only water weight and is short-term

READ MORE: US suffering a laxative shortage blamed on working from home

A wave of American teens are using laxatives as a 'budget Ozempic' to feel skinnier, which is contributing to a shortage of the stool-loosening drugs.

Demand is beginning to outstrip supply for polyethylene glycol 3350, the generic name for laxatives like Miralax and Glycolax.

The teens descending on the laxatives may mean that people who actually need them to treat genuine constipation cannot access the drug, such as those with Crohn's disease.

Laxatives may give the impression of short-term weight loss, but only water weight is lost and is put back on when someone drinks again.

An aging population in America, as well as a general lack of fiber in diets, is also causing the laxative shortage.

Eating disorder specialist Dr Jenna DiLossi told the Wall Street Journal she had seen a sharp rise in teenage patients abusing laxatives over the past two years, with some viewing it as an over-the-counter form of Ozempic.

Laxatives are drugs that loosen stools and increase bowel movements and are used to treat and prevent constipation. They work by drawing in water or physically stimulating the colon to contract.

Some people might think that laxatives will help them poop out what they have eaten before the body absorbs the calories, meaning they will lose weight.

But this is false. The food we eat goes through many processes before it reaches your bowel and becomes stool.

The body absorbs the calories, fat, and the majority of nutrients before they reach the large intestine.

What is left is mainly water and some minerals which your body does not need. Some of it is absorbed by the body in the large intestine.

If someone takes laxatives and loses weight, they are only losing water. As soon as they drink something, they will regain the weight back.

Prior to the pandemic, Dr DiLossi said new clients rarely responded 'yes' to laxative use in intake surveys.

The clinical psychologist from Pennsylvania said that now, at least three of the five new teens she typically sees a week admit to having tried a laxative for weight loss.

'When people have an excessive bowel movement and they feel completely empty inside, that gets wrapped up in thinness and health,' she said.

Dr DiLossi said teens told her they got the idea to try laxatives from TikTok, where the hashtag #GutTok has garnered 1.1 billion views.

She said that even the videos that do not directly promote laxatives for weight loss still endorse the idea that going to the bathroom more often is better for you.

According to analytics company Pattern, searches for laxative pills on Amazon have more than tripled over the past year.

Meanwhile, the companies manufacturing the fiber supplements Metamucil and Benefiber have reported huge sales growth in recent years.

Dow Chemical, which makes pharmaceutical ingredients for drug companies, is building new factories which employees said is partly to produce more polyethylene glycol - the laxative that has been hard to get since the pandemic. Polyethylene glycol is also used in cleaning products and moisturizers.

Surprisingly, growing numbers of younger customers are using fiber supplements, suppliers say.

Haleon, the manufacturer of Benefiber, a popular plant-based fiber supplement, said that 18-42-year-olds are copping the supplement quicker than ever.

Jissan Cherian, who is head of marketing at Haleon and notes that its messaging has not altered, said: 'The demand has changed.'

He thinks the move is due to millennials becoming more focused on wellness and an increasing awareness of the relationship between gut bacteria and depression.

Earlier this year, Haleon launched a gummy version of its product to appeal specifically to young adults.

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America's laxatives shortage caused by 'budget Ozempic' TikTok trend

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Demand is beginning to outstrip supply for polyethylene glycol 3350, the generic name for laxatives in the US like Miralax and Glycolax. Laxatives may give the impression of weight-loss.

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https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2310/231016-online-disinformation-4.html

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/musks-hundreds-hamas-linked-accounts-ceo-103916288

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Social media is full of information about Israel and Gaza. There are concerns about how much of it is fake. The EU opened an investigation into the website X. The EU says there is an alarming amount of false information on the site. The EU is worried X is, "being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation". It gave X until the end of next week to answer questions about this content. The EU could fine X five per cent of the company's daily turnover.

The EU probe is looking at how tech companies deal with hate speech. The EU advised X to introduce, "proportionate and effective mitigation measures" to identify and delete disinformation. It added: "We have...reports about potentially illegal content circulating on X." Hundreds of bogus accounts are flooding the Internet with harmful content. X has removed hundreds of these. A social media expert called this, "a drop in the ocean".

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EU warns X over Israel-Hamas disinformation

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Online Disinformation - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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"Barbie" is officially the biggest movie of the year, after bringing in a staggering $162 million in its opening weekend, according to numbers from Comscore.

Why it matters: The film's success proves movies with a strong female lead can pull their weight at the box office, especially amid superhero fatigue.

Not only did "Barbie" post the biggest domestic opening ever for a non-superhero film or sequel, but it was also the biggest opening in history for a female director.

"It shows how important it is to have people have different points of view sitting in the director's chair," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, referring to "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig. Gerwig previously directed indie films such as "Lady Bird" and "Little Women."

Details: "Barbie" saw the biggest opening day of the year on Friday, bringing in $70.8 million, per Comscore.

Strong weekend showings on Saturday and Sunday led it to a $162 million gross open for the weekend.

Overall, "Barbie" earned $356.3 million for its opening debut, including international sales, according to numbers from Warner Bros. Discovery, which distributed the film.

Christopher Nolan's biographical thriller "Oppenheimer" came in a distant second, with a still-impressive $82 million domestic weekend haul, per Comscore.

The film brought in roughly $180 million in total this weekend, including international sales, which will put it well ahead of industry estimates.

Between the lines: The two combined hits already have made this past weekend one of the most successful domestic box office weekends of all time, per data from Comscore.

The North American weekend box office hasn't seen that level of momentum since the debut of "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019.

Yes, but: The "Barbie"-"Oppenheimer" double-header is likely to be the last major weekend opener at the box office for some time.

The ongoing Hollywood writers and actors strikes make it unlikely any film in the near term will be able to market itself to the same extent ahead of a film's release.

The big picture: This weekend's movie mania brought some much-needed momentum back to the box office, which is still struggling to return to its pre-pandemic state.

Even with the massive ticket sales for "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer", the domestic box office is still down 20% from pre-pandemic levels.

"It's so important for the industry, but the headwinds and the uncertainty is looming out there," Dergarabedian said of this weekend's crowds. "Right now, we're on a sugar high, and that's fantastic. But at some point, everyone's going to have to face the implications of these strikes."

What to watch: The "Barbie"-"Oppenheimer" momentum "will be key heading into August" with several wide releases expected, including "Blue Beetle," and "The Equalizer 3," Dergarabedian said.

August, he said, "is a land of opportunity for films that might not necessarily plugin perfectly in the heart of the summer movie season."
Editor's note: This article has been updated with the latest details on box office takings.

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"Barbie" makes history with $162 million blockbuster weekend debut

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The film's success proves movies with a strong female lead can pull their weight at the box office, especially amid superhero fatigue.

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https://nypost.com/2023/10/13/grapes-are-the-new-carrots-when-it-comes-to-good-vision-new-eye-health-research/

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Protests by women, school girls and university students are gaining in momentum in Iran. The uprisings began following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini on the 16th of September at the hands of Iran's morality police. She became an instant martyr after she took off her headscarf and showed her hair in public. Her death ignited a whole series of demonstrations throughout Iran. Hundreds of thousands of women have replicated Ms Amini's actions to openly send a message to Iran's leaders. They took off their headscarves en masse in the streets, on buses and in schools. Many burnt their hair coverings and cut their hair in public. They have marched in the streets chanting their rallying cry of "women, life, freedom".

The latest uprising in Iran is the result of decades of pent-up fury at Iran's regime. Women are tired of being forced to cover their hair. It became obligatory in April 1983 for them to do so. Punishments for violating this law range from financial penalties to imprisonment. The death of 16-year-old Nika Shakarami last week has further fuelled the intensity of the protests. Hundreds more have died in the past month at the hands of the authorities. An Iranian professor said hair coverings were the tip of the iceberg. She said: "There's a lot of compulsion in Iranian culture, and so the demand is freedom. The current protests... are engaging students... who are ready to live life freely. They're done with death and grief and mourning."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/07/iran-protests-angry-trauma-uprising-struggle-freedom

https://abcnews.go.com/International/iranian-teenage-protesters-death-sparks-global-outcry-alleged/story

https://time.com/6220554/students-iran-protests/

Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

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Women, girls and students protesting in Iran

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Women, Life, Freedom - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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'Google killer' ChatGPT sparks AI chatbot race

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It has been two months since the public launch of AI chatbot ChatGPT by the firm OpenAI - and it did not take long for people to start noticing what a game-changer this really is.

Whether you have asked it to write you a song in the style of your favourite musician, sneaked in a homework question (500 words on the end of World War Two? no problem), tasked it to write copy for your company website, write a speech or even churn out specific program code, ChatGPT has proved that it can deliver - and in a convincing way.

There has been acres of reporting about its potential threat to a wide range of jobs, and indeed to our entire model of education if students can get their coursework done and university applications written instantly via ChatGPT or its rivals.

That said - this tech is still, comparatively, in its infancy. It is text only, restricted to content from the internet as it was in 2021, and does not update. It presents its answers as fact, when as we know the net is full of misinformation, some of it more dangerous than others.

We tried to get it to write an article for the BBC website, and the journalist who worked on it said it needed lots of prompting and revisions before there was something even close to being of a quality we might publish. In the end it still was not good enough, so we didn't.

Our journalist said although it churned out copy quickly, the process itself became very time-consuming because he had to keep going back to it and specifically asking it to explain more about one thing, or focus less on another.

But the creators of ChatGPT have a far more lucrative goal in mind than simply taking my job. The bigger picture is the multi-billion dollar sector that is internet search. And that is why it has been dubbed the Google killer.

Google's parent company Alphabet made $104bn (£86bn) in revenue in 2020 alone, just from search. Taking even a tiny fraction of that market would be a huge prize - and it is no coincidence that Microsoft, which owns the search engine Bing, has announced a multi-billion dollar partnership with OpenAI.

The internet is full of supposedly leaked pictures of a ChatGPT-powered Bing. Imagine going to a search engine, typing in your query and back comes one definitive answer, rather than pages and pages of links (and ads) to wade through?

My contacts at Microsoft are staying tight-lipped, but we do know it is due to announce some news this week.

Google has just announced the launch of its own rival - an AI chatbot called Bard. It is understood to have brought the announcement forward following all the speculation about Microsoft and ChatGPT.

Bard is based on Google's language learning model Lamda, which is said to be so human-like in its responses that one engineer who worked on it said he believed it was sentient (he was fired, and Google has always denied the claim). The tech giant has also just announced a $300m investment in a firm called Anthropic, which is developing a rival to ChatGPT.

Meta, which owns Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, launched its own AI chatbot Blenderbot in the US last summer, and in China, the tech giant Baidu says an advanced version of its chatbot Ernie (also known as Wenxin Yiyan) will roll out in March 2023.

Are we about to see a battle of the chatbots?

ChatGPT itself said, rather diplomatically, that "it is not a matter of one being 'better' than the other" when I asked it which was best.

"I do not have the capability or intention to harm any company, including Google," it added.

But with investment dollars pouring into AI chat, it may well be that ChatGPT has to toughen up on that particular viewpoint. Not that it has one, of course. Yet.

You can follow Zoe Kleinman on Twitter @zsk.

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'Google killer' ChatGPT sparks AI chatbot race

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It has been two months since the public launch of AI chatbot ChatGPT by the firm OpenAI - and it did not take long for people to start noticing what a game-changer this really is.

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Why Students Are Central to Iran's Protest Movement

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Since the early days of the Islamic Republic, Iran's student movements have been a spark for broader protests.

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"Barbie" makes history with $162 million blockbuster weekend debu

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"Barbie" is officially the biggest movie of the year, after bringing in a staggering $162 million in its opening weekend, according to numbers from Comscore.

Why it matters: The film's success proves movies with a strong female lead can pull their weight at the box office, especially amid superhero fatigue.

Not only did "Barbie" post the biggest domestic opening ever for a non-superhero film or sequel, but it was also the biggest opening in history for a female director.

"It shows how important it is to have people have different points of view sitting in the director's chair," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Comscore, referring to "Barbie" director Greta Gerwig. Gerwig previously directed indie films such as "Lady Bird" and "Little Women."

Details: "Barbie" saw the biggest opening day of the year on Friday, bringing in $70.8 million, per Comscore.

Strong weekend showings on Saturday and Sunday led it to a $162 million gross open for the weekend.

Overall, "Barbie" earned $356.3 million for its opening debut, including international sales, according to numbers from Warner Bros. Discovery, which distributed the film.

Christopher Nolan's biographical thriller "Oppenheimer" came in a distant second, with a still-impressive $82 million domestic weekend haul, per Comscore.

The film brought in roughly $180 million in total this weekend, including international sales, which will put it well ahead of industry estimates.

Between the lines: The two combined hits already have made this past weekend one of the most successful domestic box office weekends of all time, per data from Comscore.

The North American weekend box office hasn't seen that level of momentum since the debut of "Avengers: Endgame" in 2019.

Yes, but: The "Barbie"-"Oppenheimer" double-header is likely to be the last major weekend opener at the box office for some time.

The ongoing Hollywood writers and actors strikes make it unlikely any film in the near term will be able to market itself to the same extent ahead of a film's release.

The big picture: This weekend's movie mania brought some much-needed momentum back to the box office, which is still struggling to return to its pre-pandemic state.

Even with the massive ticket sales for "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer", the domestic box office is still down 20% from pre-pandemic levels.

"It's so important for the industry, but the headwinds and the uncertainty is looming out there," Dergarabedian said of this weekend's crowds. "Right now, we're on a sugar high, and that's fantastic. But at some point, everyone's going to have to face the implications of these strikes."

What to watch: The "Barbie"-"Oppenheimer" momentum "will be key heading into August" with several wide releases expected, including "Blue Beetle," and "The Equalizer 3," Dergarabedian said.

August, he said, "is a land of opportunity for films that might not necessarily plugin perfectly in the heart of the summer movie season."
Editor's note: This article has been updated with the latest details on box office takings.

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"Barbie" makes history with $162 million blockbuster weekend debut

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The film's success proves movies with a strong female lead can pull their weight at the box office, especially amid superhero fatigue.

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Fears for French baguettes as power prices burn bakers

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PARIS

Recently described as "250 grams of magic and perfection" by President Emmanuel Macron, the French baguette is at risk from surging energy prices, with some bakers warning they can no longer afford to fire up their ovens.

Already struggling with sharp hikes in the price of butter, flour and sugar over the last year and a half, the prized industry is now alarmed by astronomical electricity bills looming in 2023.

"It was absolutely inconceivable to me that a power bill could make me close my shop and stop my life here," Julien Bernard-Regnard, a distraught baker in the village of Bourgaltroff in eastern France, told AFP by phone.

He is still coming to terms with closing his doors for the final time in early December having decided that continuing his business, built up over the last five years, was impossible given the cost of electricity.

"I had to renew my contract at the beginning of September and it increased by three and half times," he said.

His monthly power costs rose from around 400 euros ($420) a month to nearly 1,500, while shopping around for an alternative supplier brought no relief. "I'm in lots of online groups with other bakers and on social media. There are bakeries closing every day. Some have bills that are multiplied by 10 or 12.

There's someone else 40 kilometers from me who's just shut down," he added. In a country where the availability of crusty daily bread is a political issue fraught with danger for any government, Macron's cabinet is keen to show it is doing everything possible to safeguard the nation's 35,000 bread and croissant makers.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced Tuesday that bakers with a cashflow problem could ask to delay the payment of their taxes and social charges, while Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire welcomed the national bakers' federation for talks at his offices.

Le Maire acknowledged that the nation's bread makers were "worried" and some were "in complete despair" just a month after the sector was honored with UNESCO world heritage status.

"At the moment when the French baguette has been given world heritage status by UNESCO, there would be a real paradox in not giving everything possible to support our bakers who are struggling with the price of electricity and energy in general," he told reporters.

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Fears for French baguettes as power prices burn bakers

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PARIS Recently described as "250 grams of magic and perfection" by President Emmanuel Macron, the French baguette is at risk from surging energy prices, with some bakers warning they can no longer afford to fire up their ovens.

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Shrinkflation

level.5

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The phenomenon of "shrinkflation" is spreading worldwide. Companies are reducing the size of their products or range of services while maintaining prices. The prices of raw materials are rising. Another example is to place smaller numbers of items in larger boxes, so shoppers think they are getting more for their money. Shrinking the size of products is a cost-cutting strategy. Manufacturers know that consumers are more sensitive to price than quantity or quality. Most people will make a regular purchase, even if it has shrunk, as long as the price is the same.

A chocolate bar maker has shrunk the size of its flagship product by 10 per cent to maintain its bottom line. The company said: "We look to absorb costs...in this difficult environment [so] we've had to...slightly reduce the weight of [chocolate] bars for the first time since 2012, so that we can keep them competitive." The service industry is trying to avoid price rises. Hotels have made daily housekeeping services "opt in". This means that guests must now ask to get their room cleaned. Many other free services we have taken for granted are disappearing or being shrunk.

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'Shrinkflation' now widespread in goods and services

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Shrinkflation - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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Do consumers notice when their everyday products get smaller? Often they don't and companies are taking advantage by reducing the amount of product they sell while keeping prices the same. Shrinking product sizes to pad profits is not a new tactic but it grows in popularity during periods of shortages and inflation. Some consumers are noticing and documenting their shrinking groceries on the shrinkflation subreddit.

Even with today's release of US inflation figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showing prices increased 7.9% in the last 12 months, consumers may not realize they're paying more for some of their regular purchases because companies are reducing sizes while keeping prices the same.

What is the meaning of shrinkflation

Downsizing a product while keeping its price the same is sometimes called "shrinkflation"-a combination of the words shrink and inflation. Companies face higher prices for their supplies and may try to pass that onto the consumer. Downsizing a product reduces costs for manufacturers.

Shoppers tend to be price-sensitive but they may not notice subtle changes in packaging, or read the fine print on the size or weight of a product. The result is that consumers are less likely to notice getting less if the price is the same.

"Downsizing comes in waves, and it tends to happen during times of increased inflation," said Edgar Dworsky, a consumer rights lawyer that keeps track of downsized products on consumerworld.org. "Bottom lines are being pinched and there's three basic options: raise the price directly, take a little bit out of the product, or reformulate the product with cheaper ingredients."

Companies usually want to keep their customers happy without direct increases in a product's price. They also want to keep their prices competitive with companies selling similar products. Not all size changes are born from profit seeking. New regulations that limit calories or the amount of sugar in a product can cause a product's size to change. Companies use a PPP model, or Price Pack Purchase model, to determine how to target products in specific channels for the right prices.

Examples of shrinkflation

Frito-Lay confirmed Doritos shrunk their bags due to pandemic pressures. "Inflation is hitting everyone...we took just a little bit out of the bag so we can give you the same price and you can keep enjoying your chips," said a representative. Representatives at Proctor & Gamble which makes Crest toothpaste, and at Mondelez-which makes Nabisco Wheat Thins, confirmed reductions in their products' volumes but did not disclose the reasons why. While Crest 3D White does now sell a 5 oz tube, its 4.1 oz tube shrunk to 3.8 oz. Bounty, according to a representative at Proctor & Gamble, got better as it got smaller since the paper towels are more absorbent than they used to be.

Gatorade-the sports drink brand of PepsiCo-recently replaced its 32 oz size with a 28 oz bottle for the same price. That's the equivalent of a 14% price increase.

"Basically we redesigned the bottle, it's more aerodynamic and it's easier to grab," said a company representative. "The redesign generates a new cost and the bottles are a little bit more expensive...this is only a matter of design."

Gatorade did not respond to questions about whether its customers preferred the aerodynamic bottle or the difference in manufacturing costs.

"I am very confident that the difference in cost between a 28 oz plastic bottle compared to a 32 oz plastic bottle for the type of plastic used in water bottles is probably less than 2 cents." Larry Chiagouris, a professor of marketing at Pace University told Quartz.

One of the most puzzling reductions is "Family Size" boxes of products. The average size of a US family has been increasing (pdf) according to data from the US Census Bureau. Yet, a box of original Wheat Thins used to be sold in Family Size 16 oz boxes and is now packaged as 14 oz at the same price. That's a 14% price increase. The reduced fat version of Family Size followed, going from 14.5 oz to 12.5 oz-a 16% price increase.

Just as companies can shrink sizes and advertise them as new and improved, they can also make sizes bigger and sell them as bonus or value sizes, which may just be the size they were previously.

When downsizing crosses the line into slack fill

Quietly downsizing products is legal in the US until the empty space in a company's packaging no longer serves a purpose. In a bag of chips, the air serves shipping and handling purposes so that the chips don't break. A bottle of aspirin needs space for machinery to insert and fill the bottle. Downsizing isn't necessarily easy, and needs to be worth the effort. Jamie Stone a packaging design expert at PA Consulting, told Quartz that shoppers have become more aware of the harm of wasted packaging. "You need to get rid of the oxygen or redesign the packaging. " But creating new packaging requires purchasing the machines to make it. "How many millions do you need to spend on the capital, the design, the supply chain, to make a package slightly smaller? If the commodity price is reversed and everything goes back, you may have wasted your money."

Of course, companies can generally set and change prices and packaging however they wish. There is no obligation for most companies to keep their products the same size or quantity just as there is generally no obligation for shoppers to buy the product.

Communication with consumers is key. "The most important thing is if you've made a change in your product, you need to tell people you've done that," said Chiagouris. "It depends on how they describe the product and if they're not describing it fairly and accurately for what it is today, then that's deceptive."

Selling less of a product in the same packaging, or not communicating changes can lead to business disasters. In 2021, McCormick ended up paying $2.5 million to resolve claims made by customers when they sold less black pepper in the same-sized tin cans. Mondelez famously faced legal action in 2017 over putting more space between the peaks of Toblerone candy bars, and ended up reverting back to their previous shape.

Considering more than price

Even if a company is clear about marketing a new, smaller product, does that make downsizing a product ethical? "They're not forced to do this. It's still knowingly choosing an option that will be less obvious to the public," said Dworsky. "There's even more incentive now with consumers being so sensitive to price increases."

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How companies are hiding inflation without charging you more

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Shrinkflation is causing consumers to pay the same or more for less.

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It is a nap box “giraffenap” that allows you to sleep while standing. Instead of putting up with drowsiness and fatigue and actively taking naps, you can work with high performance.

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Tesco workers offered body cameras as violent attacks against employees soar.

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Charisma.ai is one company that is exploring how AI can be used in storytelling, these characters are part of a demo on how it works

Artificial Intelligence will lead to more jobs in the video game industry, one of the bodies representing games developers has told the BBC.

Dr Richard Wilson, boss of TIGA, says AI will "reduce the cost of making games and speed up the process".

Video games have been using forms of artificial intelligence for decades.

But use of the latest technology in games creation is concerning some who worry that it could cost jobs and create legal issues for studios.

UKIE, another organisation that looks after games companies in the UK, said it recognises there are concerns, but added the developments in this field were an "exciting opportunity" for the industry.

Even in the 1980s when players would put their coins into an arcade machine to help Pacman (or Ms Pacman) collect white dots on the screen, it was a type of AI that told the ghosts how to hunt the player down.

"This is a much simpler form of AI compared with what we're talking about today, but fundamentally the core principles are the same," says Dr Tommy Thompson, an AI in games expert.

"It's helping make intelligent decisions by looking at a snapshot of a game and from that characters can make intelligent judgements on what to do."

Pac-Man was first released in 1980 and used a more basic form of AI to operate the non-player-characters

But while AI has been used to influence what happens on screen for years, it could now influence the process of getting games onto screens in the first place.

Being able to quickly create hundreds of pages worth of scripts, voice background characters or draw thousands of pieces of art could be a game changer for the industry according to some senior figures.

"It should allow games studios to make routine aspects of game development automated, and then use that space to be more creative and focus on other areas," Dr Wilson says.

"Reducing the overall cost of development will mean more games studios which should, therefore, mean more jobs."

Guy Gadney, one of the co-founders of Charisma.ai, a technology platform that allows generative AI techniques to be used in games, thinks it will give makers a new way of telling stories.

It all comes down to how computer-controlled characters can interact with the player.

Instead of a handful of pre-prepared lines that are regurgitated to players at random, AI can allow for characters like these to 'think' and respond more intelligently depending on the story that has been written for them and the behaviour of the player.

The Kraken Wakes is an example of a Charimsa.ai game that uses AI to control non-playable-characters

He explains: "In games, players are often running through the three-dimensional environment, we want people to stop and engage more.

"We want players to have deep dives in moments, where they sit and have natural conversations with characters. Previously this happened by giving you four conversation choices on screen, which is very limiting, it's only an illusion of choice. We want more than that."

For Guy Gadney unlocking the potential of non-playable-characters will change how games tell stories, by allowing players to interact with what's in front of them differently to how they do it now. Charisma.ai is also working with companies like Warner, Dreamworks and Sky about how this technology might also work in other forms of storytelling.

This week BBC News is focussing on AI, how the technology affects our lives and what impacts it may have in the near future.

Dr Tommy Thompson, who also has a dedicated YouTube channel for AI in gaming, is excited about the potential of the technology. But he also warns that the industry needs to be cautious.

He says using widely available, open access AI tools in their current form in games "is not practical" for studios.

"Who owns the copyright? With image generation for example, there's several ongoing lawsuits where people are asking if their art was used as the basis for image creation, and was appropriate consent given?

"If you're generating assets for your game using some AI platforms then you don't own any of that copyright on a legal basis. If you were to ship that game anyone could use those assets and put them in another game and there'd be zero legal basis to stop them. The law will say, 'well, actually you didn't own copyright.'"

Some games studios are creating their own AI platforms to get around these issues, but that is time-consuming and expensive. For small games companies who might be drawn to open source AI tools, the risks outweigh the benefits at the moment, according to Dr Thompson.

"I think it is important that we step back and look at the larger implications of this," he says.

"It is not something that's going to get solved overnight. That isn't to say that generative AI tools aren't being used internally in studios in new and really interesting ways, but I don't think it's going to be the Nirvana that people are imagining."

In a statement to the BBC, Daniel Wood, UKIE co-CEO, said: "The video games industry is always at the cutting edge of technology so we are already using AI in many areas including production, art, interaction with in-game characters and community management to create even more exciting and engaging experiences for our players.

"Whilst UKIE and the wider industry will continue to look at topics such as copyright and the fast-changing skills needs of games businesses, the future possibilities of AI promise a lot of exciting opportunities for our sector."

For more gaming stories listen to Press X to Continue on BBC Sounds.

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AI will 'lead to more games being made and more jobs'

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Games have been using forms of AI for years, but what does the industry think of the latest tech?

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Many of us think slavery is a thing of the past. It isn't. A new report from the United Nations says there are about 50 million people in modern-day slavery. This includes being trapped in forced labour or in forced marriages. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is an agency of the UN. It created the report. The ILO said around one in 150 people in the world is enslaved in some way. This figure has increased by 20 per cent in the past few years. It is still growing. This is because of the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, and the cost of living crisis. These things have made many people poor or forced them into debt. The only way they can survive is to work in terrible conditions or be forced into unwanted marriages.

The UN hoped to end modern slavery by 2030. However, since creating this aim in 2016, the number of people in forced labour or forced marriage shot up by 10 million. The ILO said modern slavery happens when people "cannot refuse or cannot leave because of threats, violence, deception, abuse of power or other forms of [force]". The ILO said this problem existed in rich countries as well as poor nations. An ILO spokesperson said: "It would be a mistake to believe that forced labour is solely the problem of poor countries." He added that more than half of cases of forced labour and a quarter of forced marriages are in "upper-middle-income or high-income countries". Women and children are at the most risk.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sources

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/9/12/modern-slavery-swells-to-50-million-on-any-given-day-un

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/12/asia/modern-slavery-forced-marriage-climate-health-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/modern-slavery-rise-crises-fuel-poverty-un-report-2022-09-12/

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UN says 50 million are in 'modern slavery'

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Many of us think slavery is a thing of the past. It isn't. A new report from the United Nations says there are about 50 million people in modern-day slavery. This includes being trapped in forced labour or in forced marriages. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is an agency of the UN.

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The number of people trapped in forced labour or forced marriage has swelled to about 50 million on any given day, the International Labour Organization says [File: Seyllou/AFP]

The number of people trapped in forced labour or forced marriage and other crises has swelled by a fifth in recent years to about 50 million on any given day, the United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Monday.

The study by the UN agencies for labour and migration along with the Walk Free Foundation found that at the end of last year, more than half of those had been forced to work against their will and the rest forced into marriage, the ILO said.

That means nearly one out of every 150 people in the world are caught up in modern forms of slavery, the report said.

Both came under its definition of modern slavery as they involved people who "cannot refuse or cannot leave because of threats, violence, deception, abuse of power or other forms of coercion", it added.

The UN had set a goal to eradicate all forms of modern slavery by 2030, but the number of people caught up in forced labour or forced marriage ballooned by 10 million between 2016 and 2021, according to a new report.

The situation had been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which worsened conditions and swelled debt levels for many workers, as well as armed conflicts and climate change, leaving people in extreme poverty and forcing more to migrate, the agency said.

"I think, by and large, that we simply relaxed our efforts. We've taken our eye off the ball when it comes to forced labour," ILO Director General Guy Ryder told the Reuters news agency, calling for improvements in recruitment practices and labour inspections.

He said trade measures, such as a ban on products and imports made with forced labour currently under review by the European Union, could also help.

Modern slavery is present in basically every country, with more than half of cases of forced labour and a quarter of forced marriages in upper-middle-income or high-income countries.

"It would be a mistake to believe that forced labour is solely the problem of poor countries," Ryder told the AFP news agency.

Migrant workers are more than three times as likely as locals to be affected, the ILO said.

The ILO also said women and children are by far the most vulnerable. Children account for one out of five people in forced labour, with more than half of them stuck in commercial sexual exploitation, the report explained.

But the report also said 14 percent of those in forced labour were doing jobs imposed by state authorities, voicing concern about the abuse of compulsory prison labour in many countries, including the United States.

It also pointed to grave concerns raised by the UN rights office about "credible accounts of forced labour under exceptionally harsh conditions" in North Korea.

And it highlighted the situation in China, pointing to concern about accusations of forced labour in parts of the country.

It referred to a report released by the UN's rights office on August 31 that said "serious human rights violations" had been committed in China and that the detention of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang may constitute crimes against humanity.

China has vigorously denied the accusations and last month ratified two conventions against forced labour.

This means "they will start to report on the situation of the Uighurs, and that will give us new opportunities to have access and to go deeper into the situation in that regard", Ryder told AFP.

He acknowledged that the discussion about labour rights in Xinjiang was "not an easy conversation ... but obviously, it's a very important one".

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About 50 million people trapped in 'modern slavery', says UN

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The number of people trapped in forced labour or forced marriage and other crises has swelled by a fifth in recent years to about 50 million on any given day, the United Nations' International Labour Organization (ILO) said on Monday.

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Could you survive for a few days without your smartphone or without being connected to the Internet? How about living in a cave with no mod cons for 40 days? Fifteen people did just that. They took part in a project called Deep Time to see how they would react to and cope with being totally disconnected from the modern world. Scientists from the Human Adaption Institute led the $1.9-million project. They wanted to understand how people would adapt to drastic changes in living conditions. They put the volunteers in a cave for nearly six weeks. There was no sunlight and the cave dwellers had no contact with the outside world. They had to rely on their body clock to know when to wake up, go to sleep and eat.

Most of the volunteers said they enjoyed the experience of total isolation. Two-thirds expressed a desire to remain underground a while longer in order to finish projects they had started. Deep Time's director Christian Clot said the experience would, "test humans' ability to adapt to the loss of their frame of reference for time and space". He said: "Our future as humans on this planet will evolve. We must learn to better understand how our brains are capable of finding new solutions, whatever the situation." One striking observation is that participants lost their sense of time. Mr Clot said: "In our heads, we had walked into the cave 30 days ago". One team member estimated the time underground to be 23 days.

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Volunteers experience 40 days of isolation in a cave

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English News Lesson on Isolation: Volunteers experience 40 days of isolation in a cave - FREE worksheets, online activities, listening in 7 Levels...

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Ever wonder what it would feel like to unplug from a hyperconnected world and hide away in a dark cave for 40 days?

The Cave dwellers had no updates on the pandemic nor any communication with friends and family

They relied on their biological clocks to know when to wake up, go to sleep and eat

Two-thirds of the participants expressed a desire to stay in the cave longer

Fifteen people in France did just that, emerging from the scientific experiment to say time seemed to pass more slowly in their cavernous underground abode in south-west France, where they were deprived of clocks and light.

With big smiles on their pale faces, eight men and seven women left their voluntary isolation in the Lombrives cave to a round of applause and basked in the light while wearing special glasses to protect their eyes after so long in the dark.

"It was like pressing pause," said 33-year-old Marina Lancon, one of the seven female members in the experiment, adding she did not feel there was a rush to do anything.

Although she wished she could have stayed in the cave a few days longer, she said she was happy to feel the wind blowing on her face again and hear the birds sing in the trees of the French Pyrenees.

And she does not plan to open her smartphone for a few more days, hoping to avoid a "too brutal" return to real life.

The Deep Time project

For 40 days and 40 nights, the group lived in and explored the cave as part of the Deep Time project.

There was no sunlight inside, the temperature was 10 degrees Celsius and the relative humidity stood at 100 per cent. The cave dwellers had no contact with the outside world, no updates on the pandemic nor any communication with friends or family.

Scientists at the Human Adaption Institute leading the 1.2 million-euro ($1.9 million) Deep Time project said the experiment would help them better understand how people adapted to drastic changes in living conditions and environments.

As expected, those in the cave lost their sense of time.

"And here we are! We just left after 40 days ... For us it was a real surprise," said project director Christian Clot, adding for most participants, "in our heads, we had walked into the cave 30 days ago".

At least one team member estimated the time underground at 23 days.

Johan Francois, 37, a maths teacher and sailing instructor, ran 10-kilometre circles in the cave to stay fit. He sometimes had "visceral urges" to leave.

With no daily obligations and no children around, the challenge was "to profit from the present moment without ever thinking about what will happen in one hour, in two hours," he said.

In partnership with labs in France and Switzerland, scientists monitored the 15 members' sleep patterns, social interactions and behavioural reactions via sensors.

One sensor was a tiny thermometer inside a capsule that participants swallowed like a pill. It measured body temperatures and transmitted data to a computer until it was expelled naturally.

The team members followed their biological clocks to know when to wake up, go to sleep and eat. They counted their days not in hours but in sleep cycles.

'Our future as humans on this planet will evolve'

On Friday, scientists monitoring the participants entered the cave to let the research subjects know they would be coming out soon.

"It's really interesting to observe how this group synchronises themselves," Mr Clot said earlier in a recording from inside the cave.

Working together on projects and organising tasks without being able to set a time to meet was especially challenging, he said.

Although the participants looked visibly tired upon exiting the cave, two-thirds expressed a desire to remain underground a bit longer in order to finish group projects started during the expedition, said Benoit Mauvieux, a chronobiologist involved in the research.

"Our future as humans on this planet will evolve," Mr Clot said after emerging.

"We must learn to better understand how our brains are capable of finding new solutions, whatever the situation."
AP

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These people spent 40 days underground with no clock and erased all notion of time

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Participants in an experiment requiring them to spend 40 days in a dark cave without any contact with the outside world have described feeling time move more slowly, with two-thirds of them expressing a desire to stay underground longer.

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Carrots are good for our eyes. A new study from the National University of Singapore says grapes are also good. It says eating a few grapes a day can help our vision. A researcher said: "Grape consumption beneficially impacts eye health in humans." She said this was good as more people are getting older. She added that we can easily buy grapes. This research is good news for people who don't like carrots.

Thirty-four adults took part in the testing. Half of them ate grapes every day; the other half ate a placebo snack. None of them knew if the tests were on the grapes or the snack. This gave better test results. The people who ate the grapes had better muscle strength around the retina. The retina sends information about light to the brain. It protects the eyes from blue light, which damages the eye. A lot of blue light comes from computer screens.

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Grapes and Eyesight - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.

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TOKYO, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Japan said on Tuesday it will start releasing into the sea more than 1 million metric tons of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Aug. 24, going ahead with a plan heavily criticised by China.

The plan, approved two years ago by the Japanese government as crucial to decommissioning the plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) (9501.T), has also faced criticism from local fishing groups fearing reputational damage.

"I expect the water release to start on August 24, weather conditions permitting," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said.

The announcement comes a day after the government said it had won "a degree of understanding" from the fishing industry over the release of the water into the Pacific Ocean, even as fishing groups said they still feared the reputational damage would ruin their livelihood.

The water will initially be released in smaller portions and with extra checks, with the first discharge totalling 7,800 cubic metres over about 17 days starting Thursday, Tepco said.

That water will contain about 190 becquerels of tritium per litre, below the World Health Organisation drinking water limit of 10,000 becquerels per litre, according to Tepco. A becquerel is a unit of radioactivity.

Japan has said that the water release is safe. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog, greenlighted the plan in July, saying that it met international standards and that the impact it would have on people and the environment was "negligible".

About 56% of respondents to a survey conducted by Japanese broadcaster FNN over the weekend said they supported the release, while 37% opposed.

"The IAEA and many other countries have said it's safe, so I believe it is. But fishermen are facing so many problems so the Japanese government needs to do something to convince them," said 77-year-old NGO worker Hiroko Hashimoto.

SCEPTICISM ABROAD

Despite assurances, some neighbouring countries have also expressed scepticism over the safety of the plan, with Beijing the biggest critic.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin called the move "extremely selfish". He said China was deeply concerned about the decision and had lodged a formal complaint.

Wang said China "will take all necessary measures to protect the marine environment, food safety, and public health," but did not mention any specific measures.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee called the discharge "irresponsible" and said the city would "immediately activate" import controls on Japanese seafood from regions including capital Tokyo and Fukushima starting Thursday.

The ban, which will also be implemented by Macau, would cover live, frozen, refrigerated, dried seafood, as well as sea salt and seaweed.

South Korea said in a statement released Tuesday that it sees no problem with the scientific or technical aspects of the plan, but did not necessarily agree with or support it.

The matter has required President Yoon Suk Yeol to strike a balance as he seeks better relations with Japan while risking consumer backlash at home.

Despite the unease abroad, Kishida said he believed an "accurate understanding" of the matter was spreading in the international community.

Japan says it will remove most radioactive elements from the water except for tritium, a hydrogen isotope that must be diluted because it is difficult to filter.

"Nuclear power plants worldwide have routinely discharged water containing tritium for over 60 years without harm to people or the environment, most at higher levels than the 22 TBq per year planned for Fukushima," Tony Irwin, an honorary associate professor at the Australian National University, said in a note.

A Japanese official said the first test results of the seawater after the discharge may be available at the start of September. Japan will also test fish in the waters near the plant, and make the test results available on the agriculture ministry's website.

(This story has been refiled to correct the spelling of 'tons' in paragraph 1)

Reporting by Sakura Murakami, Tim Kelly, and Tom Bateman in Tokyo; Martin Pollard in Beijing; Farah Master and Twinnie Siu in Hong Kong; Hyonhee Shin and Ju-min Park in Seoul; David Stanway in Singapore; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim, Gerry Doyle and Giles Elgood

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Japan to release Fukushima water into ocean from Aug. 24

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Japan said on Tuesday it will start releasing into the sea more than 1 million metric tons of treated radioactive water from the wrecked Fukushima nuclear power plant on Aug. 24, going ahead with a plan heavily criticised by China.

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Japan has started releasing radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. The plant was hit by a huge earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. After the power plant was damaged, the power company stored radioactive water in 1,000 giant tanks. The water has been treated to reduce its radioactivity. It is now being slowly released into the Pacific Ocean through a long sea tunnel. Japan stated that the water is safe and would not harm the environment. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said the water meets with international safety standards. It said there would be a "negligible radiological impact on people and the environment".

Many people in Japan, as well as countries near Japan, are angry that radioactive water is going into the Pacific. Local fishermen are worried they will not be able to sell their fish. China has already banned seafood from Fukushima and the capital city, Tokyo. China's foreign ministry called the release of the water a "wrongful decision" and asked Japan to stop. A spokesperson said: "Japan is putting its own self-interest over the long-term well-being of all humankind". Hong Kong is also worried about food safety. It said it would "immediately" stop importing some Japanese food products. South Korean activists have also protested, although Seoul understood that the water meets international standards.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

Sources

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/21/asia/japan-fukushima-wastewater-release-decision-intl-hnk/index.html

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/japan-release-fukushima-water-into-ocean-starting-aug-24-2023-08-22/

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230822/p2g/00m/0na/033000c

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Japan releases Fukushima water into the ocean

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English News Lessons: Free 27-Page lesson plan / 2-page mini-lesson - Fukushima - Handouts, online activities, speed reading, dictation, mp3... current events.