English News Weekly

This week’s ENW podcast reports on an unusual story from China where a movie that was originally released in 2001 has become incredibly popular – 18 years later! The Oscar Winning animated movie Spirited Away from the Japanese Studio Ghibli was banned in China due to ongoing disputes between the two Asia-Pacific neighbours. So why has Spirited Away finally been released? What changed to allow the movie’s release? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on what is either an extraordinary example of human stamina or something that is mind-bogglingly crazy. Depending on your viewpoint that it is! This week’s podcast details that start of the longest continuous road- race in the world – the 3,100-mile race held in Queens, New York City every year. Why do runners take part? How many participants are there? What is the purpose of such an incredibly long race? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Image credit: John Gillespie via Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 2.0. Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on reptilian tale from Timor Leste, where a huge increase in crocodile attacks on humans is being blamed on an unusual culprit. The small maritime Asian nation of Timor Leste, or East Timor in English, is a country that worships crocodiles, so important are the reptiles that it is illegal to kill them – even if being attacked! So a huge increase in deaths caused by crocodiles has concerned Timor Leste so much they are undertaking research to try and find the reason for the increase in attacks. What happened? Did they find out? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on how a massively popular TV series has inspired a sharp increase in tourism to one of the world’s most dangerous places. Chernobyl, a joint US-UK TV series that examines the aftermath of the world’s worst nuclear disaster in northern Ukraine in 1986 has become so popular that local authorities have reported a huge increase in the number of visitors to the disaster zone. Why are people visiting Chernobyl? Is there any fall-out? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on a protest movement from Japan which is attempting to make women’s lives in the workforce both more equal and more comfortable! One activist has decided that the tradition in Japanese offices of women being required to wear heeled shoes has gone on for far too long. Not only is the practice sexist but wearing heels all day is also very uncomfortable! How is the protest being undertaken? Is it successful? What happens next? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

In this special edition podcast, ENW travels back nearly 2,000 years in history to the remarkable, ancient ruined town of Pompeii! (PDF) Image credit: Mentnafunangann via Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 3.0. Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on a fascinating news story that has emerged from western Canada about a movie filmed in a language that is one of the least-spoken in the world! The movie is called The Edge of the Knife and tells a supernatural story of death, family and culture set in the 19th Century among the Haida People. But what is more extraordinary is the language used in the film, Haida, can only be spoken by fewer than 25 people. So why was the movie made? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on attempts to regulate an art that almost everyone who watches movies regularly will have encountered – subtitles. Concerns have grown that with the growing popularity of streaming services such as Netflix and Hula there has been an increase in poorly translated subtitled movies and TV programmes. Translation organisations in the E.U. have decided that enough is enough and are trying to stop subtitles that are misspelt, contain grammar errors or are just plain crazy! What will happen next? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on concerning news for anyone who uses online passwords...which is probably nearly everyone around the world! A list of the easiest passwords to hack has been released by the UKs National Cyber Security Centre. The list contains what would seem to be some fairly dumb password choices – such as PASSWORD! Yet, the truth is millions of accounts still use this and other easy to break passwords. What should we all do..? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on a devastating fire that has destroyed much of the ancient Christian cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. The fire caused massive damage to the nearly 900 old church with most of the roof burnt away. The fire was so severe that Notre Dame was only 30 minutes away from complete destruction. What caused the fire? Will the cathedral be rebuilt? What has been the reaction in Paris, France and around the world? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Image credit: GodefroyParis via Wikipédia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reports on a decision by the Norwegian government to begin to end the country’s drilling for off-shore oil. The announcement, by Europe’s largest producer of petroleum, is simply because the centre-left opposition wants to reduce the ecological damage created by oil production. The decision will cost the northern European nation billions of Euros in oil revenue. What is the reaction in Norway? Is this idea universally popular? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast focuses on a developing story from Eastern Europe, where Ukraine is voting to choose a new president. This seems run-of-the-mill, no? If one looked around the world, then most months of the year would find one country holding an election of some sort. So why is Ukraine different? Well that is because the man leading the votes is a 41-year-old professional comedian. And what is more interesting is that he is famous in Ukraine for starring in a popular comedic TV show where is plays the president! Will he actually win? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Image credit: Stefan Kahlhammer via Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 3.0. Download MP3

In this special edition podcast, ENW goes to one of the most historic cities in Spain - the charming walled city of Toledo! (PDF) Download MP3

In this special edition podcast, ENW returns to the vibrant and bustling Spanish capital city - Madrid - for the first time in two years! (PDF) Image credit: Sbharris via Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 4.0. Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast ponders whether museum sponsorship is a necessary evil or an unethical act that destroys reputations? This question comes on the back of growing protests at how some of the world’s most popular and widely-respected museums and galleries are taking money from companies to help with their annual budgets. What is the latest development? Should it be OK for companies to sponsor museums? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast reflects on the death of one of the world’s most iconic and influential people – the fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. Mr. Lagerfeld sadly passed away from pancreatic cancer aged 85 in Paris this week, but his impact on fashion over the last 40 years is massive. As creactive designer of Chanel he helped rescue the French Fashion House. Although, in recent years his cat became almost as famous as Mr. Lagerfeld. Who was Mr. Lagerfeld? What was his impact on fashion and culture? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Image credit: Stefan Kahlhammer via Wikimedia. CC BY-SA 3.0. Download MP3

Last week’s ENW podcast focused on the damage that plastic is doing to the world’s seas and oceans and examined some initiatives that are attempting to reduce waste. This week’s podcast is keeping with the recycling theme by reporting on plans by the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games to use recycled materials for all medals won at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. What materials will be used? What other recycled materials will be included? Will this be the Greenest Olympics ever? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast focuses on one of the most important battles facing our world in the 21st Century – the damage plastic causes our environment. With this in mind, one of Japan’s leading family restaurant chains – Mos Burger has announced that it will no longer use plastic for customers who take-out food. The Japanese hamburger chain is the latest company to restrict its reliance on plastic. Who else is joining the fight? What damage does plastic do to the Earth? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast focuses on one of the more unusual battles raging across the world – which moose statue is the highest? Two towns, one in Canada and one in Norway are in dispute over which giant moose statue is the tallest in the world. The previous holder of the world’s tallest moose statue was located in Moose Jaw Canada, which is a pretty good location for such a monument. After being dethroned as home to the tallest moose statue in the world, the mayor has promised to regain the world title. How will they do this? What happens next? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3

This week’s ENW podcast, the second in January 2019, examines a decree by one North African president who is demanding that his country adopt a unified colour scheme for all its buildings. The idea is simple – to make the country’s homes, offices, schools and factories look more ascetically pleasing. Like many countries around the world Egypt’s buildings have been built in different decades, styles and materials. This has resulted, according to President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, in an uncivilised vista. What colours will the buildings be painted? How will it work? ENGLISH NEWS WEEKLY will try and explain all! (PDF) Download MP3