Babbel News - English Only - podcast cover

Babbel News - English Only

Babbel News – English Only helps you improve your English with weekly news sourced from Reuters.
Helpful tips and guidance from Babbel language experts ensure that you’ll learn something new every week!

Got any feedback or suggestions? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at podcasting@babbel.com. Remember to mention “Babbel News - English Only” in the subject line.
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Episodes

S2E18 - Crowded Prisons & Chocolates over Toys

Senegal tries to solve prison overcrowding, and British shoppers spend less on gifts. In Senegal, the use of electronic bracelets allows prisoners to be watched at home, and in the UK, the high cost of living is changing holiday shopping habits. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https...

Dec 27, 20238 min

S2E17 - COP28 in Dubai Under Criticism

Climate activists protest the strong presence of oil and gas companies at COP28. The COP28 climate conference faces criticism for inviting representatives from the oil and gas industry, whose motivation to find a solution for climate change is being called into question. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for...

Dec 20, 20236 min

S2E16 - Climate Change Affects Christmas Trees

Climate change puts Hungarian pine forests at risk, causing harm to local businesses. A village in Hungary which provides the country with Christmas trees suffers losses, as climate change is causing harm to its pine forests and the people depending on them. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode...

Dec 13, 20236 min

S2E14 - Migrant Children Classed as Adults

Police at the border of the Canary Islands falsely register young migrants as adults. Migrant children and teenagers in the Canaries are mistakenly sent to relocation centers for adults. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/3uCch5R We’d love to know what you think of the se...

Nov 29, 20237 min

S2E13 - Cybercrime and Meat Exports

A Chinese bank is hit by hackers, and Chad aims to compete on the global meat market. The computer systems of the ICBC, the world’s biggest bank, are targeted by a cyberattack, while Chad works to develop its meat industry to boost its economy. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https:/...

Nov 22, 202310 min

S2E12 - Blood Donation in Switzerland

Swiss laws on blood donation are updated to allow gay men to give blood more easily. The blood donation process in Switzerland becomes more inclusive towards homosexual men. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/46cowTB We’d love to know what you think of the series. Take ou...

Nov 15, 20236 min

S2E11 - Kenyan Breakdancers & Russian Comedians

Kenyan breakdancers dream of the Olympics, while Russians reflect on wartime comedy. The Paris Olympics inspire high hopes for the future of breakdancing in Kenya, while Russian comedians consider what it means to make jokes during wartime. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bi...

Nov 08, 202311 min

S2E9 - Historic Vote on Indigenous Rights

A referendum to give a “Voice” to Indigenous people in Australia faces challenges. Indigenous communities in Australia are divided over an upcoming referendum that aims to give them more rights and official recognition. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/3rRQHcq We’d love...

Oct 18, 20237 min

S2E8 - Breaking Media Taboos & Sea Life at Risk

An all-female newsroom in Somalia breaks media taboos around women’s issues, while Thailand faces changes in ocean ecosystems due to climate change Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/3PECfMT We’d love to know what you think of the series. Take our short survey here: http...

Oct 04, 202310 min

S2E7 - Record High Inflation in Argentina

Argentinians find themselves struggling during the worsening economic situation. Record level inflation rates have left citizens unable to afford basic necessities in the South American country. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/3t5v2hn We’d love to know what you think o...

Sep 27, 20235 min

S2E6 - LGBTQ Rights in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, legal recognition for same-sex partnerships may become a possibility. A court decision in Hong Kong has put forward a demand to the government to create an official legal status for same-sex couples that could give them rights similar to marriage. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this epis...

Sep 20, 20236 min

S2E5 - Clothing Ban and Plastic Pollution

France bans Muslim dress in schools, and a Swiss lake is polluted with microplastics. A French ban on Muslim women’s clothing in schools divides public opinion, while in Switzerland, a worrying amount of microplastic is found in one of Europe’s largest lakes. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episo...

Sep 13, 20239 min

S2E4 - Professional Livestreamers in China

Despite high unemployment in China, livestreaming provides a new career opportunity. In China, more and more young people are finding jobs in the livestreaming industry, working as online sales hosts and redefining the relationship between customers and companies. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this e...

Aug 30, 20236 min

S2E3 - Sign Language and Long-awaited Answers

South Africa makes signing official, a Spanish discovery holds long-lost answers. Sign language is declared the 12th official language in South Africa, and in Spain, people hope for answers as the missing bodies of people killed during Franco’s rule in 1939 are finally discovered. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the tra...

Aug 23, 20238 min

S2E2 - Holiday in Ukraine Puts Nature at Risk

Ukrainian holiday goers take a break from the war, putting riverside nature at risk. Unable to go to the beach because of the war, crowds of Ukrainian vacationers are turning a river into a new holiday spot - causing unintended damage to nature. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https:...

Aug 16, 20235 min

S2E1 – Yeezy Sneakers and Crowdfunded Wells

Yeezys still popular despite bad press, and crowdfunding builds wells in Senegal. Yeezy sneakers designed by Kanye West remain popular despite hateful comments ending his partnership with Adidas, and online crowdfunding provides a solution to the water crisis in Senegal. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript fo...

Aug 09, 20237 min

S2E0 - Trailer

Keep up with the news and improve your English listening skills at the same time. In each episode, you’ll hear the news in English, sourced from Reuters. Useful tips and guidance along the way will help you focus on improving your English while you learn what’s happening around the world!

Aug 02, 20231 min

S1E12 - Remembering the Life of Harry Belafonte

Actor, singer, songwriter, and activist Harry Belafonte has died at 96 years of age. Belafonte became famous in show business before getting involved in causes such as the American Civil Rights Movement and the fight against apartheid in South Africa. Hear about this recent event in English with a news clip sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: ...

May 10, 20235 min

S1E11 - The End of Nuclear Energy in Germany

Germany shuts down its nuclear power plants as it moves to other sources of energy. Germany promised to end its nuclear energy program after the Fukushima disaster in 2011, and that promise is now a reality. Hear about this recent event in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/3LW5f29...

May 03, 20236 min

S1E10 - The Battle of the Books in Texas

Texas is the center of a debate over removing certain books from public libraries. Some local officials and residents want books about LGBTQ issues and racism removed from public libraries, while others see the move as undemocratic. Hear about this recent event in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/3N2rR...

Apr 26, 20237 min

S1E9 - Activists in Vienna and a German Strike

African activists join a climate protest in Vienna, and Germans strike for fair pay. Zimbabwean activists with the group “Don’t Gas Africa” protest at the European Gas Conference, and Germans organize the largest strike in decades to push their employers for a pay raise. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript fo...

Apr 19, 20237 min

S1E7 - Senegalese Protests and Heavy Rain

Thousands of people protest in Senegal and heavy rains cause problems in California. Senegal’s capital sees large protests against a possible third term for President Macky Sall, and unusually heavy rain creates a dangerous situation in California after nearly twenty years of dry weather. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find...

Mar 29, 20239 min

S1E6 - Princess Petition and Plastic from Rice

An advocate hopes for a Disney princess with disabilities, and rice becomes plastic. A young Australian woman is working to convince Disney to create a new princess with disabilities, and in Japan, rice grown near Fukushima is being used to make low-carbon plastic. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this...

Mar 22, 202311 min

S1E4 - Charcoal in Benin and Artifacts in Miami

A new kind of charcoal helps protect forests, and archeologists dig under Miami. An entrepreneur in Benin, Africa, has found a way to make charcoal without destroying forests, and community members in Miami work to preserve prehistoric artifacts. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: http...

Mar 08, 202310 min

S1E3 - A Peace Festival and Concerns about AI

Musicians sing for peace in the DRC, and lawmakers in the US have concerns about AI. A music festival in the Democratic Republic of Congo spreads a message of peace, and US lawmakers are worried about problems that could be caused by artificial intelligence. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episod...

Mar 01, 20239 min

S1E2 - Sea Turtles and Street Tennis

Fishermen protect sea turtles in the Philippines, and Rwandans play street tennis. In La Union, the fishermen who used to catch sea turtles are now working hard to protect this marine animal, and in the capital of Rwanda, a new game is taking over the streets. Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this epis...

Feb 22, 20239 min

S1E1 - A Protest and a 3D-printed House

Thousands gather for a protest in Germany, and a giant 3D-printer makes a house. Greta Thunberg joins thousands of people to protest against a coal mine in Germany, and in Houston, Texas, a 3D-printer prints a whole house! Hear about these recent events in English with news clips sourced from Reuters, including guidance to help you expand your vocabulary and improve your listening skills. If you’d like to read along, you can find the transcript for this episode here: https://bit.ly/3E2f9eb...

Feb 15, 20239 min

S1E0 - Trailer

Keep up with the news and improve your English listening skills at the same time. In each episode, you’ll hear the news in English, sourced from Reuters. Useful tips and guidance will help you focus on improving your English while you learn what’s happening around the world along the way!

Feb 15, 20231 min
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