French climber banned from scaling UK buildings
30th October - "Harder"
A French stuntman who specializes in scaling skyscrapers has been banned from climbing any building in the UK.
Canada doctors using art to treat patients
28th October - "Easier"
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts in Canada has teamed up with a group of doctors to help sick people.
Huge migrant caravan heads to USA
26th October - "Harder"
A caravan of more than 7,000 migrants are embarking on a thousand-kilometre journey through Mexico to the USA.
Longest sea bridge links Hong Kong to China
24th October - "Easier"
The world's longest sea bridge has opened. It links Hong Kong and Macau to mainland China.
Sagrada Familia gets building permit 136 years late
22nd October - "Harder"
Barcelona's world-famous La Sagrada Familia basilica has finally been given a building permit 136 years late.
'Mansize' tissues renamed for being sexist
20th October - "Easier"
The tissue company Kimberly-Clark is putting an end to its "Mansize" brand of tissues after people said the name was sexist.
Mystery deepens over Khashoggi disappearance
18th October - "Harder"
The disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is descending into greater mystery.
Nicer people are poorer, says study
16th October - "Easier"
New research shows that nicer people are likely to be poorer than people who are not so nice.
Malaysia to abolish the death penalty
14th October - "Harder"
The Malaysian government has stated it intends to abolish the death penalty in a move that has been welcomed by human rights campaigners.
France wants its prisons blurred on Internet maps
12th October - "Easier"
France's government has asked Google to blur all images of French prisons on the Internet.
Anger over horse race ad on Sydney Opera House
10th October - "Harder"
There is public outcry in Australia over controversial plans to use the Sydney Opera House as a "billboard" to advertise a horse race.
World-famous Tsukiji fish market closes
8th October - "Easier"
Tokyo's world-famous Tsukiji fish market has closed after 83 years of trading. It shut permanently at noon on Saturday.
University to replace clapping with hand-waving
6th October - "Harder"
A university in the UK has voted to replace hand clapping with 'jazz-hand waving'.
Restaurants forced to give all tips to staff
4th October - "Easier"
Restaurants in the UK will soon have to give all tips to their staff.
Baghdad University gets into world rankings
2nd October - "Harder"
The University of Baghdad has made it onto the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
French fries will be 3cm shorter
28th September - "Easier"
A poor potato harvest in Europe this summer could mean French fries are up to three centimeters shorter than usual.
Rugby players to hide tattoos in Japan
24th September - "Harder"
Rugby players with tattoos are being asked to cover them up during next year's World Cup in Japan.
Restaurant bans customer for eating too much
20th September - "Easier"
A sushi restaurant in Germany has banned a customer for eating too much food.
Tanzania's president advises against birth control
16th September - "Harder"
Tanzania's President John Magufuli has advised women in his country to stop taking birth control pills.
U.S. to spend $2 billion on artificial intelligence weapons
12th September - "Easier"
The USA is going to spend up to $2 billion on artificial intelligence weapons.
Nike uses NFL protest player in ad campaign
8th September - "Harder"
The sportswear maker Nike has announced it will use American football player Colin Kaepernick in its advertising campaign.
Astronauts plug space station hole with finger
4th September - "Easier"
Astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station have fixed a hole in the shell of the International Space Station.
Air pollution damages intelligence, says study
1st September - "Harder"
Scientists have revealed that air pollution may be responsible for a significant reduction in intelligence.
Honey better for coughs than antibiotics
28th August - "Easier"
Doctors in the United Kingdom have some new advice for people with coughs.
Australian Muslims pray for rain during Eid
25th August - "Harder"
Tens of thousands of Muslims in Australia have gathered to pray for rain for Australia's drought-afflicted farmers.
New Pakistan prime minister makes many promises
22nd August - "Easier"
The new prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has made many promises to change his country.
Are countries trying to end US dollar's power?
19th August - "Harder"
Russia's Foreign Minister suggested the U.S. dollar could be losing its status as the world's most important currency.
Tonga prime minister challenges leaders to lose weight
16th August - "Easier"
The prime minister of Tonga has challenged leaders of other Pacific nations to lose weight.
French theme park uses crows to pick up litter
13th August - "Harder"
A theme park in France has established a novel and environmentally-friendly way of keeping its grounds free of litter.
UK politician says burka is 'bank robber' clothing
10th August - "Easier"
The United Kingdom's former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of racism.
People get surgery to look like Snapchat filters
8th August - "Harder"
More people are seeking and having facial procedures to look like their Snapchat selfies.
Scientists solve mystery of Stonehenge
6th August - "Easier"
Scientists say they have uncovered details about who built the 5,000-year-old prehistoric monument Stonehenge.
France bans smartphones in schools
4th August - "Harder"
France has voted to ban smartphones and personal tablets from schools.
Most British people take tea bags on holiday
2nd August - "Easier"
Over half of British people take tea bags with them when they leave Britain to go on holiday or go on a business trip.
Sleeping with a fan could be bad for us
31st July - "Harder"
Many people cannot sleep without using a fan, but scientists say this could be bad for us.
Scientists record the sounds of the Sun
29th July - "Easier"
What does the Sun sound like? Perhaps you have never thought about what kinds of sounds the Sun makes, but scientists have found out.
Doctors warn over application of suntan lotion
27th July - "Harder"
Doctors are warning people to use suntan lotion correctly or risk serious burns or skin damage.
University ends use of Mr, Ms and Mrs
25th July - "Easier"
A university in South Africa has decided to no longer use titles such as Mr‚ Ms or Mrs.
Moon landing items to be auctioned
23rd July - "Harder"
Space enthusiasts will soon have the chance to purchase a piece of space exploration history.
World's oldest bread recipe found
21st July - "Easier"
Researchers have found the world's oldest example of bread in Jordan.
New Mexico President takes 60% pay cut
19th July - "Harder"
Mexico's president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is leading by example in his country's austerity drive.
France win 2018 FIFA World Cup final
17th July - "Easier"
France beat Croatia 4-2 in the final of the FIFA World Cup in Moscow on Sunday night.
Flying 'car' could be on sale next year
15th July - "Harder"
Humanity is set to enter a new era of transport as a flying car could go on sale next year.
Bright pink is the world's oldest colour
13th July - "Easier"
Scientists have found out that bright pink is the oldest known colour.
Newly-discovered Amazon wasp has giant stinger
11th July - "Harder"
Scientists in the Amazon rainforest have come across a new wasp that could encourage Hollywood to make a horror movie.
Philippines president to resign if someone proves God exists
9th July - "Easier"
The president of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has made people angry. He said he would resign if anyone can prove that God exists.
Internet fury at woman who killed giraffe
7th July - "Harder"
Images of an American trophy hunter posing for a photo next to a black giraffe that she had shot and killed in South Africa have caused outrage online.
Thai soccer boys cave rescue planned
5th July - "Easier"
There is good news about the twelve boys and their football coach who are trapped in a Thai cave.
TV razor ad shows real body hair for first time
3rd July - "Harder"
A simple TV advertisement for a razor has created great debate online. The ad simply shows women shaving real body hair
China limits pay for movie stars
1st July - "Easier"
The Chinese government is putting a limit on how much pay its movie stars get.
See the links below for earlier lessons.
Lessons were produced every day between Nov 2004 and Dec 2005.
Lessons were produced at "easier" and "harder" levels between Apr 2005 and Aug 2006.
Podcasts started in Apr 2005.
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