The three activists, Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma, and Mohammed Adel were at the forefront of the revolution in 2011. They were founding members of the April 6th Youth Movement which led the revolt against Hosni Mubarak.
The jailing of these leading pro-democracy campaigners will deepen concerns about a growing crackdown on dissent here.
Initially, Islamists were the main target for the authorities – thousands have been detained. But recently dozens of liberal activists have been rounded up for breaching the draconian new law on public protests.
The military installed government maintains that it is on a path to democracy. But to many here that's not how it looks.
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at the forefront of
leading
founding members
the people who were part of a group or organisation when it first started
crackdown
control of illegal behaviour in a very severe way
dissent
expression of opinions which are different from the officially accepted ones
rounded up
gathered; collected
breaching
breaking; violating
draconian
very severe
military installed government
government chosen and kept in place by the armed forces
During Vladimir Putin's time as Russia's leader, RIA Novosti has tried hard to produce balanced coverage for Russian and international audiences. Although state-owned, it has reflected the views of the opposition, and covered difficult topics for the Kremlin.
Now, without warning, and with a stroke of President Putin's pen, it has been abolished. It's not clear yet what it was that sealed the agency's fate.
The decree abolishing RIA Novosti also gets rid of the state-owned Voice of Russia radio station. It creates a new news agency under the "Rossia Segodnya" or "Russia Today" brand. Until now Russia Today has broadcast Kremlin-friendly news in several languages on TV and its website.
The new Russia Today International News Agency will be headed by Dmitry Kiselev, a journalist who has been an ardent supporter of Vladimir Putin and who recently said that gay people should be banned from giving blood. He said their hearts should be burned rather than used in transplants.
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coverage
news reporting
abolished
officially ended
sealed the agency's fate
decided that something bad would definitely happen to the agency
decree
official statement that something must happen
gets rid of
removes (something unwanted)
...-friendly
-friendly can be used after a noun (usually with a hyphen) to mean 'not harmful' or 'helpful' towards the noun before it
ardent
showing strong emotions, especially in support of something
transplants
medical operations putting new organs into people's bodies
Nelson Mandela's death may, in the short term, unite South Africa in ways that have never been seen before.
The sentiments expressed by well-wishers of all races and backgrounds outside the hospital in Pretoria as he lay critically ill for nearly three months - the wall of deeply personal messages, the paintings, the choirs who came from across the country to sing for Mr Mandela - were a reminder of his unifying influence. We can clearly expect so much more in the coming days in this country where the emotional charge is so powerful.
This unity may coalesce around a determination to push South Africa further down the road of non-racialism, of equality of opportunity and the eradication of poverty, all of them among Nelson Mandela's most cherished ambitions for the country.
But South Africa is only months away from a general election, 20 years after the historic one of 1994. And Nelson Mandela's ANC has been facing unprecedented levels of criticism, with new parties surfacing to challenge its hold on power since the days of apartheid.
Will the Mandela legacy help the ANC fend off the challenges, or will his passing - in the longer if not the shorter term - lead to significant change within the ANC itself. 2014 could point the way towards his political legacy.
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well-wishers
people who express their desire for happiness and success for other people
reminder
something that makes you remember
coalesce
join and grow together
eradication
elimination
cherished
loved and cared for
unprecedented
never happened before
surfacing
appearing
legacy
past achievements that continue to have effects into the future
fend off
defend (itself) against an attack
passing
death
In public, a key step along the path to the deal was the dialogue opened up at this year's UN General Assembly between President Rouhani and Western nations, after years of the relationship being dominated by whether Iran is, or is not, seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
And - more than 30 years after the US embassy siege in Tehran - September's fifteen-minute phone conversation between President Obama and Mr Rouhani gave further hope of potential progress towards resolving the nuclear dispute.
But, behind the scenes, it has now been revealed, the US and Iran have been engaged in secret face-to-face talks for months, in Oman and elsewhere. The Associated Press news agency says they were kept hidden even from America's allies and negotiating partners until two months ago.
It was a high-stakes diplomatic gamble. While Israel argues that the deal reached in Geneva is dangerously skewed in favour of Iran, most of Iran's Arab neighbours are clearly uneasy too.
But the public and private diplomacy from here on will clearly need to be just as intense - and is likely to face many more severe tests - if a more comprehensive nuclear agreement is to be achieved, and Iran's relationships in its volatile region and with the rest of the world are to return to normal.
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seeking
pursuing; wanting to do something
siege
military operation in which soldiers or police surround a place to stop food and supplies entering, so that the people inside stop fighting and come out
engaged in
involved in
high-stakes
high-risk
gamble
action which may be very successful but with a risk of failing very badly
skewed
unfair; unbalanced
uneasy
uncomfortable; worried
comprehensive
including many details; covering many aspects
Government proposals to formalise rights for same-sex couples prompted the petition. Around three-quarters of a million people signed it - out of a total population of just over 4 million. The Catholic Church is a key part of Croat identity - and many people are socially conservative.
The referendum is an enormous embarrassment for Croatia's government. It tried - and failed - to block the vote through the courts.
Success is a relative concept. Croatia appeared to be moving in a different direction to other western Balkan countries when it joined the EU in July. Now, like its neighbours, Serbia and Montenegro, it has a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
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formalise
make official
petition
a document signed by many people that asks someone in authority to do something
key part
(here) very important part
socially conservative
(here) people who are traditional and who do not like change
embarrassment
feeling of being ashamed by what it (the government) has done or what has happened to it
to block
to stop
a relative concept
an idea that can mean different things to different people
a constitutional ban
a law which people of a country must follow that officially says they cannot do something
Drones have already raised questions about 21st century warfare – but while they have no pilots, they are controlled by humans on the ground. Lethal autonomous weapons, or 'killer robots', are programmed in advance; on the battlefield it could be the robot, not the human, which decides who to kill.
The United States, Britain and Israel are all developing lethal autonomous weapons, although all three countries say they don’t plan to take humans out of the decision-making loop.
Supporters of the new technology say it could save lives, by reducing the number of soldiers on the battlefield, but human rights groups question the ethics of allowing machines to take decisions over life and death.
Now the 50 countries which have ratified the convention on conventional weapons – the countries which have already approved a ban on blinding laser weapons – will consider whether to begin talks on banning killer robots.
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drones
aircraft which are controlled by people on the ground
warfare
the activity of fighting a war
lethal
causing death
autonomous
independent, able to make its own decisions
out of the decision-making loop
not part of the process of making decisions
ethics
set of beliefs or principles that tell people what is right and wrong
ratified
made (an agreement become) official
blinding
causing blindness (not able to see)
Tacloban has been flattened. Driving down the main high street, hardly a single building is left standing. People say this town was hit by a wall of water when the typhoon struck on Friday.
There's the stench of rotting corpses. Driving in from the airport we saw scores of bodies lying by the roadside. For three days they have been there – nobody to bury them. People are desperate for food, clean water and shelter. At the badly battered airport, a makeshift hospital has been set up. We saw two young women giving birth, laid out among the debris.
Aid is getting in, but slowly and this is just one town in one province. Nobody knows the full extent of the devastation elsewhere.
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flattened
completely destroyed
struck
hit
stench
very bad smell, especially of decay
scores
many / measured in sets of twenty
shelter
temporary place where someone can live
battered
hit or badly damaged
makeshift
made quickly using whatever materials are available
debris
the broken pieces of something larger that has been destroyed
Lines of police blocked roads in the grimy eastern city of Xinyu as the three activists were brought to court. Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua were unknown outside their hometown before now.
But their trial is being seen as highly significant. Their crime: to gather a dozen, mostly elderly, people in the courtyard of their apartment block last April, and unfurl a banner, calling on President Xi Jinping to make Chinese officials publicly disclose their wealth. They're charged with illegal assembly.
Since he took over the leadership of the Communist Party a year ago, President Xi's government has launched its own anti-corruption drive. But Mr Xi has also overseen the broadest crackdown China has seen in recent years. Dozens of campaigners and lawyers have been detained, many linked to a loose group called the New Citizens' Movement that's been calling for greater civil and political rights for ordinary Chinese.
President Xi appears to be taking a tougher line even than his predecessors on any who publicly challenge the authority of the Communist Party.
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grimy
dirty
unfurl
unroll, spread out
disclose
reveal
illegal assembly
the organisation of a meeting without official permission
drive
initiative
overseen
supervised
crackdown
supression
taking a tougher line
being stricter
This study helps to explain how one person's face can look so different from another's. Scientists have identified thousands of sequences in our DNA that influence our appearance as we develop in the womb.
By looking at mice, they found that removing some of this genetic material subtly altered the rodent's appearance. In some, the modified DNA led to a longer or shorter skull, while others had wider or narrower faces. The researchers say that although the work was carried out on animals, the human face is likely to develop in the same way.
Dr Axel Visel, from the Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory in California led the study.
"We are trying to find out how the instructions for building the human face are embedded in the human DNA, so somewhere in there, there must be that blueprint that defines what our face looks like."
The researchers say understanding this complex process could also help to reveal how facial birth defects - such as cleft lips and palates - arise.
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identified
recognised
subtly altered
made very small changes to
carried out
performed, did
embedded
combined with, made part of
blueprint
full and detailed plan
birth defects
abnormalities that people are born with
Here amid the smokey haze of the bush, the heat hits the senses. Temperatures are back in the mid-30s making the work of firefighters increasingly difficult. Helicopters whirr overhead dumping water on the nearby fire fronts. They’re trying to stop several fires from merging into one huge blaze spanning hundreds of kilometres.
In several communities, people are being warned not to try and stay put to defend their homes. With hundreds of houses already destroyed, disaster welfare centres have been set up where families can start the planning needed to rebuild their lives. Most of the firefighters are volunteers. Many look exhausted; some have even lost their own homes.
The fires follow unseasonably hot weather; conditions are expected to worsen throughout the week with dangerously strong winds forecast on Wednesday and little let-up in the temperature.
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haze
heat or smoke in the air
hits the senses
immediately makes you see, hear, smell, taste and feel it
merging
mixing together
spanning
spreading over an area
stay put
not move
defend
protect (from the fire)
welfare
care and help for people in need
volunteers
people who help to do something without being paid
unseasonably
weather that is not normal for that time of year
little let-up
not much drop or reduction
This is the latest twist in the saga of Iran's showdown with the West over its nuclear programme, which has received new impetus after signs that Tehran might be softening its stance.
The country's atomic energy chief told a security conference that the alleged saboteurs had been under surveillance for some time. He said they were caught red-handed and are now in the process of being interrogated. He gave no further details.
There've long been rumours that Israel, which sees Iran's potential development of a nuclear weapon as an existential threat, has sent spies into Iran to disrupt its programme, with some even accusing its agents of killing Iranian nuclear scientists. Israel has warned the US and the West not to be fooled by the recent charm offensive by the new, more moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who had a historic, icebreaking phone call with President Obama a few days ago.
The Israelis announced their own arrest of an alleged Iranian-born spy in the midst of the new optimism that a genuine resolution of a nuclear standoff could now be on the cards. This latest announcement from Iran shows that underneath the newly hopeful surface, the complex three-dimensional chess game over Iran's nuclear ambitions continues undiminished.
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saga
long series of related events
impetus
force that gives a particular activity more energy or makes it more effective
stance
clearly stated view about an issue
saboteurs
people who deliberately damage or destroy something
caught red-handed
(arrested) while doing something wrong
existential threat
something that could cause harm to human existence
charm offensive
actions intended to get people to like and trust you so that you can influence them
icebreaking
something you do to get people who don't know each other well to talk and improve relations
on the cards
likely to happen
undiminished
not reduced in importance
The Silk Road is a website that exists in a hidden part of the internet known as Tor, which allows people anonymous access by hiding their computer's identity and location.
For two and a half years the site has featured thousands of adverts for illegal drugs, services to hack into people's computers, counterfeiters and even hitmen for hire. Buyers pay using Bitcoin, an online currency not tied to any government, rather than credit cards, to protect their identity and make transactions untraceable.
The FBI has closed the site down and arrested the owner, named as Ross William Ulbricht, who is 29 and also known as Dread Pirate Roberts, in San Francsco.
The FBI said undercover officers used the Silk Road to buy illegal narcotics and services, and have charged Ulbricht with conspiracy to traffic drugs and conspiracy to hack and to launder money. More than $3.5m of Bitcoin currency was also seized.
The criminal papers, issued in New York, described the Silk Road as the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet today.
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anonymous
without revealing their name
counterfeiters
people who make fake money and other items
hitmen for hire
people who offer to kill others in exchange for money
untraceable
impossible to find where or who it comes from
undercover officers
agents of the law who use a disguise
conspiracy
secretly planning to do something bad or illegal
to launder money
to move money through banks and legitimate businesses to disguise the fact it was obtained illegally
sophisticated
made complicated in a clever way
Dressed in cream-coloured, shoulderless, pleated dresses, 21 high priestesses perform an elaborate dance routine. The actresses were surrounded by the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia - the site of the ancient Olympics.
As they moved in carefully choreographed routines, the torch for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was lit.
Tall construction cranes still hang over Sochi's Olympic stadium. There are concerns over whether the venues will be ready for February. Despite recent backing from a leading IOC official, locals are split.
By the time the Olympic flame arrives at Sochi's opening ceremony, it will have taken its first ever trip to space and visited nearly 3,000 different places in Russia. But questions remain as to whether it can truly inspire equality for all.
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cream-coloured
a white/ yellow colour
shoulderless
without shoulders
pleated
piece of cloth folded and sewed together
high priestesses (plural)
senior female priests
elaborate
very complex
routine
a series of movements that form part of a performance
Temple of Hera
an ancient Greek temple at Olympia, Greece
choreographed
designed dance movements
cranes (plural)
tall machines with a long arm to lift and move heavy things
venues (plural)
places where events take place
backing
support which someone gives to a plan
locals (plural)
people that live in the area you are talking about
split
divided by different opinions
equality
the right of all people to have a similar social position and receive same treatment
It's become common for Venezuelans to go to different supermarkets in order to buy all the items on their shopping list. Central bank figures show that out of 100 basic products, 20 are not available.
With Christmas coming, the Venezuelan authorities are worried shortages may increase. The vice-president, Jorge Arreaza, said the government was going to ensure that citizens have access to food, toys and artificial trees in order to celebrate during their holidays.
The government accuses businessmen of holding back basic products in order to force customers to buy more expensive alternatives. President Nicolas Maduro has set up a telephone hotline, 0-800-SABOTAGE, for Venezuelans to report on such illegal activities.
But analysts say cutting red tape to facilitate imports is too little, too late. They blame shortages on the government's currency controls and inadequate domestic production of staples.
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in order to
so that (something can happen)
to ensure
to make sure something happens
citizens
people who are legally members of a particular country
artificial
man-made; a copy of something natural
holding back
(here) not giving
sabotage
intentionally to stop something happening
red tape
rules, processes and documents that seem to cause unnecessary delay
staples
basic products that people eat or use regularly
The streets of Hong Kong, one of the world's most densely packed cities, are eerily quiet. Residents had been preparing for days for a super typhoon, the worst in decades.
But the storm weakened on its way to south China. Though there has been damage caused, it has been far less than originally anticipated.
About a dozen people here have sought treatment in hospital. There has been some flooding, and of course, hundreds of flights have been cancelled.
With the wind and rain abating, the city is likely to return to business as usual by mid-morning.
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densely
(adv) a lot of things or people very close together
eerily
(adv) strangely scary
residents
people who live or have their homes in a place
typhoon
a violent storm
weakened
became less strong, less powerful
anticipated
expected, imagined
sought treatment
tried to get drugs or a cure for injuries
abating
In a sign of how pervasive online social networks have become in Saudi Arabia, the new campaign has been started on Twitter. It's the idea of the activist, Eman al Nafjan, who's set things in motion with a simple message saying that Saudi women will express their feelings about driving on October the 26th.
She's told the BBC the hope is that women will come out en masse to drive on that day. She says the campaign's meant to be a grassroots movement open to all Saudis - men as well as women - to show their support. Hundreds of messages backing the campaign have already been posted. Well-known Saudis are due to give their public backing, while videos of women driving will be posted when they emerge.
Women activists say the issue of being allowed to drive is key to their gaining other rights, such as freedom from what many see as oppressive male guardianship. They argue that there's an irony in the ban on driving as it means that women must rely on male drivers, thereby spending large amounts of time with a man outside their family. In other circumstances, this would be condemned as a serious transgression of the country's deeply conservative interpretation of Islam.
Those who oppose women driving do so on the grounds that it would violate that deeply traditional code. In public, there've been some signs that Saudi officials may be softening their line on women driving. That's a change from several years ago when women were arrested or lost their jobs for taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns. But Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that the ban might be lifted soon are so far nothing more than that.
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pervasive
noticeable everywhere; becoming widespread
activist
person who takes part in activities that hope to achieve political or social change
set things in motion
started
en masse
together as a group
grassroots
ordinary people in a group or country, not its leaders
backing
support
oppressive
unfair or cruel
guardianship
legal control and responsibility
irony
opposite situation to what you normally expect
transgression
breaking of the law or moral rules
violate
break or go against (a law or tradition)
taking to the wheel
driving a car
The reactor in Ohi is one of only two in Japan that's been operational since July 2012. Reactor No 3 at the site was taken offline nearly a fortnight ago, and now the operators of Reactor No 4 have begun shutting it down too.
The plant's owners are amongst four companies who want to restart their reactors in the future, observing new safety guidelines. But the memories of the accidents at Fukushima in 2011 have left most Japanese people opposed to nuclear power.
The country's Prime Minister, though, wants to bring nuclear energy in from the cold. Shinzo Abe says that Japan can't carry on paying the high costs of importing gas and oil, in order to keep the country's lights on.
Some household electricity bills are now 30% higher than before the Fukushima accident, and analysts think the rises are set to continue. And the price of importing more energy from abroad has helped to inflate Japan's trade deficit.
Yet even if every nuclear reactor was brought back online many of them are reaching the end of their 40-year lives, which means a decision will have to be made about whether to replace them.
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reactor
energy-producing machine in which atoms are divided or joined
taken offline
disconnected from the main system (usually applied to computers but in this case used about a nuclear power station)
plant
building in which machines operate
safety guidelines
rules that should be followed to prevent accidents
bring (nuclear energy) in from the cold
make (nuclear energy) acceptable again
to inflate
to increase
trade deficit
a situation when the value of goods a country imports is greater than what it exports
to replace
here: to use something new after something old has become broken or damaged
The wills and letters that accompanied them give a picture of the lives and loves of the some of the millions of soldiers who served in the First World War.
They tell of the family and friends that the men at the front had left behind.
The following are extracts from those written by Privates Harry Lewis Lincoln and Joseph Witchburn:
Private Harry Lewis Lincoln:
My dearest Clara, I have been expecting a letter from you. I expect you thought I might not get it. But you can always write to the last address. It will always find me, dear Clara.
Private Joseph Witchburn:
If I get killed in active service there will be a medal for me somewhere, and I hope you will try to get it and keep it for the boy to wear when he grows up.
Historian Peter Simkins described his emotion on locating, through the archive, the will of his great-uncle Frank Hill, who went missing on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey in 1918.
Peter Simkins:
I was staggered that this, not only at the speed at which it was located and sent to me but also by the fact that here was something I thought I'd never see.
The British troops kept their wills tucked in their uniforms inside their pocket service books.
Once the men died the wills were collected by the military authorities.
Now, the first batch of some 230,000 of the surviving documents have been digitised and put online.
Among other wills that have been made available are those of a professional footballer and the grandfather of the musician Mick Fleetwood.
The wills, which belong to the British state, are being digitised in time for next year's centenary of the start of World War I.
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wills
documents which say what a person wants to happen to their money and property after they die
the front
places where armies face each other and fight
extracts
short sections taken from longer writing
in active service
while fighting in a war (for an army)
locating
finding
peninsula
a long piece of land that sticks out into a lake or sea
staggered
very shocked and surprised
tucked
stored safely in a small place
batch
group (of similar things)
digitised
changed into a digital form so it can be stored on a computer
centenary
(day or year) 100 years after an event
Bradley Manning showed little emotion when his sentence was read out, as some of his supporters in the room burst into tears. The former intelligence analyst was convicted last month of 20 counts including espionage, computer fraud and theft, after leaking more than 700,000 classified government documents, military battle plans and diplomatic cables to the Wikileaks website.
Bradley Manning's lawyer David Coombs said his client was a whistleblower who was exposing truths about US foreign policy, and called on President Obama to pardon him. He said Bradley Manning could be eligible for parole in as little as seven years.
The sentence will be a disappointment for military prosecutors acting on behalf of the US government, who argued the leaks threatened national security and pushed for a minimum sentence of 60 years to act as a deterrent to others.
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burst into tears
suddenly started to cry
counts
particular crimes a person is accused of
whistleblower
person who works in an organisation and informs an authority about illegal or dishonest activity
pardon
official forgiveness and end to punishment for a crime
eligible for parole
allowed to be considered for early release from prison, depending on good behaviour
prosecutors
lawyers who are responsible for proving in court that someone is guilty
deterrent
discouragement
This deadly virus first emerged in the Middle East last year. So far, it's infected nearly 100 people, killing about half of them - and scientists have been striving to understand how it spreads.
Now tests have revealed that dromedary camels in Oman and the Canary Islands have signs of the virus in their blood. Scientists have found antibodies that show that the animals were once infected with the Mers virus, or one that's very similar.
This, though, doesn't offer definitive proof that camels are reservoirs for the disease. For that, scientists need to look at animals from the country where the virus is most prevalent - Saudi Arabia - to see if they carry the infection. Researchers say confirming the source of the virus is a priority and will be crucial for halting its spread.
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striving
making a great effort
spreads
goes from one person to another
antibodies
substances which are a part of blood and which help to protect against diseases
reservoirs
sources
prevalent
widespread, frequent
priority
most important consideration, task to be dealt with first
crucial
very important
halting
stopping
Researchers from two American universities looked at data recorded from all around the world - and found the same pattern emerge. Their examples include an increase in domestic violence in India during recent droughts, and a spike in assaults, rapes and murders during heatwaves in the US.
The report also suggests rising temperatures correlated with large conflicts - including ethnic clashes in Europe and civil wars in Africa.
The researchers say the link is substantial - and they're now trying to understand why. They believe changing conditions put pressure on resources, such as water and crops - driving some to take up arms.
Other studies show that heat causes a biological response, making people prone to aggression.
The scientists warn that a two-degree-centigrade rise in global temperatures could see personal violence increase by 15%, and group conflicts rise by more than 50% in some regions.
But other research suggests there are more complex factors at play behind most conflicts.
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data
information, numbers or facts collected by researchers
domestic violence
violence that happens at home, between family members
droughts
periods of very dry weather with little or no rain
a spike in
a sudden rise in
heatwaves
periods when weather is much hotter than normal
correlated with
were directly connected with
to take up arms
to begin fighting with weapons
prone to
likely to behave or respond in a particular way
at play
involved, having an effect
The cholera epidemic in Haiti has put the United Nations in an unprecedented legal and moral crisis. Ever since the outbreak began, in late 2010, all the circumstantial evidence has pointed to the source of the disease being a military camp for UN peacekeepers from Nepal, where cholera is common. Sewage from the UN camp leaked into a nearby river and was dumped in an open pit. The cholera then spread down the river and into Haiti's towns and cities.
The United Nations, under massive pressure from the victims, convened a panel of top scientists in 2011. But they concluded in an official UN report that no group or individual was to blame. Now, the very same group of scientists has looked at new microbiological evidence. And it has concluded that the Nepalese camp was the most likely source of the outbreak.
The families of people who died in the epidemic are planning to sue the UN for compensation totalling many billions of dollars. The UN says it has legal immunity from any prosecution. But the victims say they're bringing their case anyway, in a US court. This new evidence will almost certainly bolster their claim.
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epidemic
a widespread outbreak of a disease
unprecedented
never having happened before
moral
what's accepted as the right and wrong way to behave
circumstantial evidence
facts that make something seem likely that it happened but do not prove it
source
place where it started
convened
organised an official meeting (of)
microbiological
study of very small living things
to sue
to make a legal claim against someone (here, the UN)
legal immunity
a situation where the law does not affect someone because of their position
bolster
make stronger
It was a pregnancy in the public eye. There was no hiding away from the cameras. And royal duties continued for the Duchess of Cambridge until the final weeks. Wherever she went, the gifts, the questions, the chat, had been of the baby. She gave little away.
With his great-grandmother in her 61st year on the throne, and his grandfather and father ahead of him in the line of succession, it will be some time before the Duke and Duchess's son is King.
Suzannah Lipscomb, Historian:
It is in the nature of these next few years, in his upbringing, in his childhood, in the character and values that are instilled in him at this stage, that will determine how the British people view their monarch.
In the past, there was a formality to the royal birth announcements. Much has changed. After Prince William was born at St. Mary's hospital, his father spoke to the media.
Reporter: How is Lady Di?
Prince Charles: She's very well, marvellous.
Reporter: Was it a very painful experience?
Prince Charles: Have you ever had a baby?
Reporter: No I haven't.
Prince Charles: I should wait and see!
And from the moment the new Prince appeared on the hospital steps, it was clear his upbringing would be different, less formal. William will now be fiercely protective of his wife and child, but controlling the level of interest from the public and the media is increasingly problematic.
The Duchess of Cambridge's childhood memories are of a strong family unit in rural Berkshire. Royal life appears not to have diminished that bond. And there is speculation that after the birth the Duchess will return home to mum for a few weeks.
William's childhood broke with tradition. By royal standards there was greater freedom. It was more normal, there was less restraint. He is likely to want the same for his son, a little boy who one day will be King.
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in the public eye
well known by many people
gave little away
did not tell anyone any information
succession
process in which someone automatically takes their position after someone else
upbringing
how a child is treated and educated by its parents
monarch
head of state such as king or queen
problematic
causing problems
diminished
reduced
speculation
guessing what might happen without any certain information
broke with tradition
did something different from what is normally done
restraint
control in showing emotions or behaving in a certain way
Sprawling across the heart of Africa, the Congo Basin rainforest is second only to the Amazon in size. And this latest study reveals that it's in far better health than expected.
Using images taken from satellites, researchers tracked how the dense swathes of foliage changed over time. They found that during the 1990s, nearly 3,000 sq km of forest were being felled each year.
But in the decade to 2010 the rate of deforestation slowed. Fewer than 2,000 sq km were lost - an overall decrease of a third.
The scientists believe this is partly down to improved conservation measures. But they also note that the region's economic priorities have changed.
Elsewhere around the world, rainforests are being cleared to make way for agriculture, but in central Africa, a focus on mining and oil has left the Congo Basin more intact.
The scientists say that the Congo Basin plays a key role in storing carbon - and losing areas of it would have a large impact on climate change.
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sprawling
spreading out in a disorganised way
swathes
very large areas
foliage
leaves of different sizes
priorities
most important things
cleared
removed
mining
searching for valuable materials in the ground
intact
undamaged; in its original condition
a key role
an important function
storing carbon
keeping carbon out of the atmosphere
climate change
variation over time in the world's temperatures and weather patterns
He's been stuck in the transit zone of Moscow airport for nearly three weeks - unable to enter Russia or to fly out. Now it appears that Edward Snowden has called a meeting at the airport to discuss his predicament.
Among those he has reportedly emailed invitations to are representatives of human rights organisations and prominent Russian lawyers. In one email, allegedly from Mr Snowden, which has been made public by the group Human Rights Watch, the 30-year-old American complained that the US government was waging an "unlawful campaign" to prevent him from securing asylum.
The head of the press office at Sheremetevo airport confirmed a meeting would take place in the transit area. It's scheduled for 5 o'clock this afternoon Moscow time.
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transit zone
part of an international airport where passengers wait for their flight to another country
predicament
difficult situation
representatives
people who speak or make decisions for an organisation
human rights organisations
groups of people who fight for basic rights and freedom of speech for everyone
prominent
important and well known
waging
starting and continuing a fight
unlawful
illegal; against the law
asylum
the right to live in another country in order to live safely
the press office
the department in an organisation that deals with journalists
scheduled
planned to happen at a fixed time
As the clock struck midnight, the anthem of the European Union rang out across Zagreb's main square and at last Croatia completed its journey from combat zone of the former Yugoslavia to member of Europe's biggest club.
But this was not entirely an ode to joy. Zagreb's main square was hardly packed for most of the coming-out party. And that reflects the ambivalence many people here now feel about membership. After the prolonged economic crisis, the EU no longer looks like the promised land Croatia applied to join a decade ago.
Likewise, the new member's own economic troubles have caused concern among the other 27 states. Visiting foreign ministers stressed the EU's role as a builder of peace rather than prosperity. A good point, bearing in mind Croatia's recent past. But also, perhaps, a diplomatic fig-leaf.
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anthem
official song of a particular country or organisation
combat zone
battleground during war
an ode to joy
a song about happiness (also, the title of the European Union anthem)
ambivalence
having positive and negative feelings at the same time
prolonged
continuing for a long time
the promised land
a place where people expect to find complete happiness
prosperity
financial success / having lots of money
a diplomatic fig-leaf
a political idea or action that covers up an embarrassing issue
The jailing of these leading pro-democracy campaigners will deepen concerns about a growing crackdown on dissent here.
Initially, Islamists were the main target for the authorities – thousands have been detained. But recently dozens of liberal activists have been rounded up for breaching the draconian new law on public protests.
The military installed government maintains that it is on a path to democracy. But to many here that's not how it looks.
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at the forefront of
leading
founding members
the people who were part of a group or organisation when it first started
crackdown
control of illegal behaviour in a very severe way
dissent
expression of opinions which are different from the officially accepted ones
rounded up
gathered; collected
breaching
breaking; violating
draconian
very severe
military installed government
government chosen and kept in place by the armed forces
During Vladimir Putin's time as Russia's leader, RIA Novosti has tried hard to produce balanced coverage for Russian and international audiences. Although state-owned, it has reflected the views of the opposition, and covered difficult topics for the Kremlin.
Now, without warning, and with a stroke of President Putin's pen, it has been abolished. It's not clear yet what it was that sealed the agency's fate.
The decree abolishing RIA Novosti also gets rid of the state-owned Voice of Russia radio station. It creates a new news agency under the "Rossia Segodnya" or "Russia Today" brand. Until now Russia Today has broadcast Kremlin-friendly news in several languages on TV and its website.
The new Russia Today International News Agency will be headed by Dmitry Kiselev, a journalist who has been an ardent supporter of Vladimir Putin and who recently said that gay people should be banned from giving blood. He said their hearts should be burned rather than used in transplants.
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coverage
news reporting
abolished
officially ended
sealed the agency's fate
decided that something bad would definitely happen to the agency
decree
official statement that something must happen
gets rid of
removes (something unwanted)
...-friendly
-friendly can be used after a noun (usually with a hyphen) to mean 'not harmful' or 'helpful' towards the noun before it
ardent
showing strong emotions, especially in support of something
transplants
medical operations putting new organs into people's bodies
Nelson Mandela's death may, in the short term, unite South Africa in ways that have never been seen before.
The sentiments expressed by well-wishers of all races and backgrounds outside the hospital in Pretoria as he lay critically ill for nearly three months - the wall of deeply personal messages, the paintings, the choirs who came from across the country to sing for Mr Mandela - were a reminder of his unifying influence. We can clearly expect so much more in the coming days in this country where the emotional charge is so powerful.
This unity may coalesce around a determination to push South Africa further down the road of non-racialism, of equality of opportunity and the eradication of poverty, all of them among Nelson Mandela's most cherished ambitions for the country.
But South Africa is only months away from a general election, 20 years after the historic one of 1994. And Nelson Mandela's ANC has been facing unprecedented levels of criticism, with new parties surfacing to challenge its hold on power since the days of apartheid.
Will the Mandela legacy help the ANC fend off the challenges, or will his passing - in the longer if not the shorter term - lead to significant change within the ANC itself. 2014 could point the way towards his political legacy.
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well-wishers
people who express their desire for happiness and success for other people
reminder
something that makes you remember
coalesce
join and grow together
eradication
elimination
cherished
loved and cared for
unprecedented
never happened before
surfacing
appearing
legacy
past achievements that continue to have effects into the future
fend off
defend (itself) against an attack
passing
death
In public, a key step along the path to the deal was the dialogue opened up at this year's UN General Assembly between President Rouhani and Western nations, after years of the relationship being dominated by whether Iran is, or is not, seeking to develop nuclear weapons.
And - more than 30 years after the US embassy siege in Tehran - September's fifteen-minute phone conversation between President Obama and Mr Rouhani gave further hope of potential progress towards resolving the nuclear dispute.
But, behind the scenes, it has now been revealed, the US and Iran have been engaged in secret face-to-face talks for months, in Oman and elsewhere. The Associated Press news agency says they were kept hidden even from America's allies and negotiating partners until two months ago.
It was a high-stakes diplomatic gamble. While Israel argues that the deal reached in Geneva is dangerously skewed in favour of Iran, most of Iran's Arab neighbours are clearly uneasy too.
But the public and private diplomacy from here on will clearly need to be just as intense - and is likely to face many more severe tests - if a more comprehensive nuclear agreement is to be achieved, and Iran's relationships in its volatile region and with the rest of the world are to return to normal.
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seeking
pursuing; wanting to do something
siege
military operation in which soldiers or police surround a place to stop food and supplies entering, so that the people inside stop fighting and come out
engaged in
involved in
high-stakes
high-risk
gamble
action which may be very successful but with a risk of failing very badly
skewed
unfair; unbalanced
uneasy
uncomfortable; worried
comprehensive
including many details; covering many aspects
Government proposals to formalise rights for same-sex couples prompted the petition. Around three-quarters of a million people signed it - out of a total population of just over 4 million. The Catholic Church is a key part of Croat identity - and many people are socially conservative.
The referendum is an enormous embarrassment for Croatia's government. It tried - and failed - to block the vote through the courts.
Success is a relative concept. Croatia appeared to be moving in a different direction to other western Balkan countries when it joined the EU in July. Now, like its neighbours, Serbia and Montenegro, it has a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
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formalise
make official
petition
a document signed by many people that asks someone in authority to do something
key part
(here) very important part
socially conservative
(here) people who are traditional and who do not like change
embarrassment
feeling of being ashamed by what it (the government) has done or what has happened to it
to block
to stop
a relative concept
an idea that can mean different things to different people
a constitutional ban
a law which people of a country must follow that officially says they cannot do something
Drones have already raised questions about 21st century warfare – but while they have no pilots, they are controlled by humans on the ground. Lethal autonomous weapons, or 'killer robots', are programmed in advance; on the battlefield it could be the robot, not the human, which decides who to kill.
The United States, Britain and Israel are all developing lethal autonomous weapons, although all three countries say they don’t plan to take humans out of the decision-making loop.
Supporters of the new technology say it could save lives, by reducing the number of soldiers on the battlefield, but human rights groups question the ethics of allowing machines to take decisions over life and death.
Now the 50 countries which have ratified the convention on conventional weapons – the countries which have already approved a ban on blinding laser weapons – will consider whether to begin talks on banning killer robots.
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drones
aircraft which are controlled by people on the ground
warfare
the activity of fighting a war
lethal
causing death
autonomous
independent, able to make its own decisions
out of the decision-making loop
not part of the process of making decisions
ethics
set of beliefs or principles that tell people what is right and wrong
ratified
made (an agreement become) official
blinding
causing blindness (not able to see)
Tacloban has been flattened. Driving down the main high street, hardly a single building is left standing. People say this town was hit by a wall of water when the typhoon struck on Friday.
There's the stench of rotting corpses. Driving in from the airport we saw scores of bodies lying by the roadside. For three days they have been there – nobody to bury them. People are desperate for food, clean water and shelter. At the badly battered airport, a makeshift hospital has been set up. We saw two young women giving birth, laid out among the debris.
Aid is getting in, but slowly and this is just one town in one province. Nobody knows the full extent of the devastation elsewhere.
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flattened
completely destroyed
struck
hit
stench
very bad smell, especially of decay
scores
many / measured in sets of twenty
shelter
temporary place where someone can live
battered
hit or badly damaged
makeshift
made quickly using whatever materials are available
debris
the broken pieces of something larger that has been destroyed
Lines of police blocked roads in the grimy eastern city of Xinyu as the three activists were brought to court. Liu Ping, Wei Zhongping and Li Sihua were unknown outside their hometown before now.
But their trial is being seen as highly significant. Their crime: to gather a dozen, mostly elderly, people in the courtyard of their apartment block last April, and unfurl a banner, calling on President Xi Jinping to make Chinese officials publicly disclose their wealth. They're charged with illegal assembly.
Since he took over the leadership of the Communist Party a year ago, President Xi's government has launched its own anti-corruption drive. But Mr Xi has also overseen the broadest crackdown China has seen in recent years. Dozens of campaigners and lawyers have been detained, many linked to a loose group called the New Citizens' Movement that's been calling for greater civil and political rights for ordinary Chinese.
President Xi appears to be taking a tougher line even than his predecessors on any who publicly challenge the authority of the Communist Party.
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grimy
dirty
unfurl
unroll, spread out
disclose
reveal
illegal assembly
the organisation of a meeting without official permission
drive
initiative
overseen
supervised
crackdown
supression
taking a tougher line
being stricter
This study helps to explain how one person's face can look so different from another's. Scientists have identified thousands of sequences in our DNA that influence our appearance as we develop in the womb.
By looking at mice, they found that removing some of this genetic material subtly altered the rodent's appearance. In some, the modified DNA led to a longer or shorter skull, while others had wider or narrower faces. The researchers say that although the work was carried out on animals, the human face is likely to develop in the same way.
Dr Axel Visel, from the Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory in California led the study.
"We are trying to find out how the instructions for building the human face are embedded in the human DNA, so somewhere in there, there must be that blueprint that defines what our face looks like."
The researchers say understanding this complex process could also help to reveal how facial birth defects - such as cleft lips and palates - arise.
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identified
recognised
subtly altered
made very small changes to
carried out
performed, did
embedded
combined with, made part of
blueprint
full and detailed plan
birth defects
abnormalities that people are born with
Here amid the smokey haze of the bush, the heat hits the senses. Temperatures are back in the mid-30s making the work of firefighters increasingly difficult. Helicopters whirr overhead dumping water on the nearby fire fronts. They’re trying to stop several fires from merging into one huge blaze spanning hundreds of kilometres.
In several communities, people are being warned not to try and stay put to defend their homes. With hundreds of houses already destroyed, disaster welfare centres have been set up where families can start the planning needed to rebuild their lives. Most of the firefighters are volunteers. Many look exhausted; some have even lost their own homes.
The fires follow unseasonably hot weather; conditions are expected to worsen throughout the week with dangerously strong winds forecast on Wednesday and little let-up in the temperature.
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haze
heat or smoke in the air
hits the senses
immediately makes you see, hear, smell, taste and feel it
merging
mixing together
spanning
spreading over an area
stay put
not move
defend
protect (from the fire)
welfare
care and help for people in need
volunteers
people who help to do something without being paid
unseasonably
weather that is not normal for that time of year
little let-up
not much drop or reduction
This is the latest twist in the saga of Iran's showdown with the West over its nuclear programme, which has received new impetus after signs that Tehran might be softening its stance.
The country's atomic energy chief told a security conference that the alleged saboteurs had been under surveillance for some time. He said they were caught red-handed and are now in the process of being interrogated. He gave no further details.
There've long been rumours that Israel, which sees Iran's potential development of a nuclear weapon as an existential threat, has sent spies into Iran to disrupt its programme, with some even accusing its agents of killing Iranian nuclear scientists. Israel has warned the US and the West not to be fooled by the recent charm offensive by the new, more moderate Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who had a historic, icebreaking phone call with President Obama a few days ago.
The Israelis announced their own arrest of an alleged Iranian-born spy in the midst of the new optimism that a genuine resolution of a nuclear standoff could now be on the cards. This latest announcement from Iran shows that underneath the newly hopeful surface, the complex three-dimensional chess game over Iran's nuclear ambitions continues undiminished.
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saga
long series of related events
impetus
force that gives a particular activity more energy or makes it more effective
stance
clearly stated view about an issue
saboteurs
people who deliberately damage or destroy something
caught red-handed
(arrested) while doing something wrong
existential threat
something that could cause harm to human existence
charm offensive
actions intended to get people to like and trust you so that you can influence them
icebreaking
something you do to get people who don't know each other well to talk and improve relations
on the cards
likely to happen
undiminished
not reduced in importance
The Silk Road is a website that exists in a hidden part of the internet known as Tor, which allows people anonymous access by hiding their computer's identity and location.
For two and a half years the site has featured thousands of adverts for illegal drugs, services to hack into people's computers, counterfeiters and even hitmen for hire. Buyers pay using Bitcoin, an online currency not tied to any government, rather than credit cards, to protect their identity and make transactions untraceable.
The FBI has closed the site down and arrested the owner, named as Ross William Ulbricht, who is 29 and also known as Dread Pirate Roberts, in San Francsco.
The FBI said undercover officers used the Silk Road to buy illegal narcotics and services, and have charged Ulbricht with conspiracy to traffic drugs and conspiracy to hack and to launder money. More than $3.5m of Bitcoin currency was also seized.
The criminal papers, issued in New York, described the Silk Road as the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet today.
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anonymous
without revealing their name
counterfeiters
people who make fake money and other items
hitmen for hire
people who offer to kill others in exchange for money
untraceable
impossible to find where or who it comes from
undercover officers
agents of the law who use a disguise
conspiracy
secretly planning to do something bad or illegal
to launder money
to move money through banks and legitimate businesses to disguise the fact it was obtained illegally
sophisticated
made complicated in a clever way
Dressed in cream-coloured, shoulderless, pleated dresses, 21 high priestesses perform an elaborate dance routine. The actresses were surrounded by the ruins of the Temple of Hera in Olympia - the site of the ancient Olympics.
As they moved in carefully choreographed routines, the torch for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi was lit.
Tall construction cranes still hang over Sochi's Olympic stadium. There are concerns over whether the venues will be ready for February. Despite recent backing from a leading IOC official, locals are split.
By the time the Olympic flame arrives at Sochi's opening ceremony, it will have taken its first ever trip to space and visited nearly 3,000 different places in Russia. But questions remain as to whether it can truly inspire equality for all.
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cream-coloured
a white/ yellow colour
shoulderless
without shoulders
pleated
piece of cloth folded and sewed together
high priestesses (plural)
senior female priests
elaborate
very complex
routine
a series of movements that form part of a performance
Temple of Hera
an ancient Greek temple at Olympia, Greece
choreographed
designed dance movements
cranes (plural)
tall machines with a long arm to lift and move heavy things
venues (plural)
places where events take place
backing
support which someone gives to a plan
locals (plural)
people that live in the area you are talking about
split
divided by different opinions
equality
the right of all people to have a similar social position and receive same treatment
It's become common for Venezuelans to go to different supermarkets in order to buy all the items on their shopping list. Central bank figures show that out of 100 basic products, 20 are not available.
With Christmas coming, the Venezuelan authorities are worried shortages may increase. The vice-president, Jorge Arreaza, said the government was going to ensure that citizens have access to food, toys and artificial trees in order to celebrate during their holidays.
The government accuses businessmen of holding back basic products in order to force customers to buy more expensive alternatives. President Nicolas Maduro has set up a telephone hotline, 0-800-SABOTAGE, for Venezuelans to report on such illegal activities.
But analysts say cutting red tape to facilitate imports is too little, too late. They blame shortages on the government's currency controls and inadequate domestic production of staples.
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in order to
so that (something can happen)
to ensure
to make sure something happens
citizens
people who are legally members of a particular country
artificial
man-made; a copy of something natural
holding back
(here) not giving
sabotage
intentionally to stop something happening
red tape
rules, processes and documents that seem to cause unnecessary delay
staples
basic products that people eat or use regularly
The streets of Hong Kong, one of the world's most densely packed cities, are eerily quiet. Residents had been preparing for days for a super typhoon, the worst in decades.
But the storm weakened on its way to south China. Though there has been damage caused, it has been far less than originally anticipated.
About a dozen people here have sought treatment in hospital. There has been some flooding, and of course, hundreds of flights have been cancelled.
With the wind and rain abating, the city is likely to return to business as usual by mid-morning.
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densely
(adv) a lot of things or people very close together
eerily
(adv) strangely scary
residents
people who live or have their homes in a place
typhoon
a violent storm
weakened
became less strong, less powerful
anticipated
expected, imagined
sought treatment
tried to get drugs or a cure for injuries
abating
In a sign of how pervasive online social networks have become in Saudi Arabia, the new campaign has been started on Twitter. It's the idea of the activist, Eman al Nafjan, who's set things in motion with a simple message saying that Saudi women will express their feelings about driving on October the 26th.
She's told the BBC the hope is that women will come out en masse to drive on that day. She says the campaign's meant to be a grassroots movement open to all Saudis - men as well as women - to show their support. Hundreds of messages backing the campaign have already been posted. Well-known Saudis are due to give their public backing, while videos of women driving will be posted when they emerge.
Women activists say the issue of being allowed to drive is key to their gaining other rights, such as freedom from what many see as oppressive male guardianship. They argue that there's an irony in the ban on driving as it means that women must rely on male drivers, thereby spending large amounts of time with a man outside their family. In other circumstances, this would be condemned as a serious transgression of the country's deeply conservative interpretation of Islam.
Those who oppose women driving do so on the grounds that it would violate that deeply traditional code. In public, there've been some signs that Saudi officials may be softening their line on women driving. That's a change from several years ago when women were arrested or lost their jobs for taking to the wheel as part of similar campaigns. But Eman al Nafjan says persistent rumours that the ban might be lifted soon are so far nothing more than that.
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pervasive
noticeable everywhere; becoming widespread
activist
person who takes part in activities that hope to achieve political or social change
set things in motion
started
en masse
together as a group
grassroots
ordinary people in a group or country, not its leaders
backing
support
oppressive
unfair or cruel
guardianship
legal control and responsibility
irony
opposite situation to what you normally expect
transgression
breaking of the law or moral rules
violate
break or go against (a law or tradition)
taking to the wheel
driving a car
The reactor in Ohi is one of only two in Japan that's been operational since July 2012. Reactor No 3 at the site was taken offline nearly a fortnight ago, and now the operators of Reactor No 4 have begun shutting it down too.
The plant's owners are amongst four companies who want to restart their reactors in the future, observing new safety guidelines. But the memories of the accidents at Fukushima in 2011 have left most Japanese people opposed to nuclear power.
The country's Prime Minister, though, wants to bring nuclear energy in from the cold. Shinzo Abe says that Japan can't carry on paying the high costs of importing gas and oil, in order to keep the country's lights on.
Some household electricity bills are now 30% higher than before the Fukushima accident, and analysts think the rises are set to continue. And the price of importing more energy from abroad has helped to inflate Japan's trade deficit.
Yet even if every nuclear reactor was brought back online many of them are reaching the end of their 40-year lives, which means a decision will have to be made about whether to replace them.
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reactor
energy-producing machine in which atoms are divided or joined
taken offline
disconnected from the main system (usually applied to computers but in this case used about a nuclear power station)
plant
building in which machines operate
safety guidelines
rules that should be followed to prevent accidents
bring (nuclear energy) in from the cold
make (nuclear energy) acceptable again
to inflate
to increase
trade deficit
a situation when the value of goods a country imports is greater than what it exports
to replace
here: to use something new after something old has become broken or damaged
The wills and letters that accompanied them give a picture of the lives and loves of the some of the millions of soldiers who served in the First World War.
They tell of the family and friends that the men at the front had left behind.
The following are extracts from those written by Privates Harry Lewis Lincoln and Joseph Witchburn:
Private Harry Lewis Lincoln:
My dearest Clara, I have been expecting a letter from you. I expect you thought I might not get it. But you can always write to the last address. It will always find me, dear Clara.
Private Joseph Witchburn:
If I get killed in active service there will be a medal for me somewhere, and I hope you will try to get it and keep it for the boy to wear when he grows up.
Historian Peter Simkins described his emotion on locating, through the archive, the will of his great-uncle Frank Hill, who went missing on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey in 1918.
Peter Simkins:
I was staggered that this, not only at the speed at which it was located and sent to me but also by the fact that here was something I thought I'd never see.
The British troops kept their wills tucked in their uniforms inside their pocket service books.
Once the men died the wills were collected by the military authorities.
Now, the first batch of some 230,000 of the surviving documents have been digitised and put online.
Among other wills that have been made available are those of a professional footballer and the grandfather of the musician Mick Fleetwood.
The wills, which belong to the British state, are being digitised in time for next year's centenary of the start of World War I.
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wills
documents which say what a person wants to happen to their money and property after they die
the front
places where armies face each other and fight
extracts
short sections taken from longer writing
in active service
while fighting in a war (for an army)
locating
finding
peninsula
a long piece of land that sticks out into a lake or sea
staggered
very shocked and surprised
tucked
stored safely in a small place
batch
group (of similar things)
digitised
changed into a digital form so it can be stored on a computer
centenary
(day or year) 100 years after an event
Bradley Manning showed little emotion when his sentence was read out, as some of his supporters in the room burst into tears. The former intelligence analyst was convicted last month of 20 counts including espionage, computer fraud and theft, after leaking more than 700,000 classified government documents, military battle plans and diplomatic cables to the Wikileaks website.
Bradley Manning's lawyer David Coombs said his client was a whistleblower who was exposing truths about US foreign policy, and called on President Obama to pardon him. He said Bradley Manning could be eligible for parole in as little as seven years.
The sentence will be a disappointment for military prosecutors acting on behalf of the US government, who argued the leaks threatened national security and pushed for a minimum sentence of 60 years to act as a deterrent to others.
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burst into tears
suddenly started to cry
counts
particular crimes a person is accused of
whistleblower
person who works in an organisation and informs an authority about illegal or dishonest activity
pardon
official forgiveness and end to punishment for a crime
eligible for parole
allowed to be considered for early release from prison, depending on good behaviour
prosecutors
lawyers who are responsible for proving in court that someone is guilty
deterrent
discouragement
This deadly virus first emerged in the Middle East last year. So far, it's infected nearly 100 people, killing about half of them - and scientists have been striving to understand how it spreads.
Now tests have revealed that dromedary camels in Oman and the Canary Islands have signs of the virus in their blood. Scientists have found antibodies that show that the animals were once infected with the Mers virus, or one that's very similar.
This, though, doesn't offer definitive proof that camels are reservoirs for the disease. For that, scientists need to look at animals from the country where the virus is most prevalent - Saudi Arabia - to see if they carry the infection. Researchers say confirming the source of the virus is a priority and will be crucial for halting its spread.
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striving
making a great effort
spreads
goes from one person to another
antibodies
substances which are a part of blood and which help to protect against diseases
reservoirs
sources
prevalent
widespread, frequent
priority
most important consideration, task to be dealt with first
crucial
very important
halting
stopping
Researchers from two American universities looked at data recorded from all around the world - and found the same pattern emerge. Their examples include an increase in domestic violence in India during recent droughts, and a spike in assaults, rapes and murders during heatwaves in the US.
The report also suggests rising temperatures correlated with large conflicts - including ethnic clashes in Europe and civil wars in Africa.
The researchers say the link is substantial - and they're now trying to understand why. They believe changing conditions put pressure on resources, such as water and crops - driving some to take up arms.
Other studies show that heat causes a biological response, making people prone to aggression.
The scientists warn that a two-degree-centigrade rise in global temperatures could see personal violence increase by 15%, and group conflicts rise by more than 50% in some regions.
But other research suggests there are more complex factors at play behind most conflicts.
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data
information, numbers or facts collected by researchers
domestic violence
violence that happens at home, between family members
droughts
periods of very dry weather with little or no rain
a spike in
a sudden rise in
heatwaves
periods when weather is much hotter than normal
correlated with
were directly connected with
to take up arms
to begin fighting with weapons
prone to
likely to behave or respond in a particular way
at play
involved, having an effect
The cholera epidemic in Haiti has put the United Nations in an unprecedented legal and moral crisis. Ever since the outbreak began, in late 2010, all the circumstantial evidence has pointed to the source of the disease being a military camp for UN peacekeepers from Nepal, where cholera is common. Sewage from the UN camp leaked into a nearby river and was dumped in an open pit. The cholera then spread down the river and into Haiti's towns and cities.
The United Nations, under massive pressure from the victims, convened a panel of top scientists in 2011. But they concluded in an official UN report that no group or individual was to blame. Now, the very same group of scientists has looked at new microbiological evidence. And it has concluded that the Nepalese camp was the most likely source of the outbreak.
The families of people who died in the epidemic are planning to sue the UN for compensation totalling many billions of dollars. The UN says it has legal immunity from any prosecution. But the victims say they're bringing their case anyway, in a US court. This new evidence will almost certainly bolster their claim.
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epidemic
a widespread outbreak of a disease
unprecedented
never having happened before
moral
what's accepted as the right and wrong way to behave
circumstantial evidence
facts that make something seem likely that it happened but do not prove it
source
place where it started
convened
organised an official meeting (of)
microbiological
study of very small living things
to sue
to make a legal claim against someone (here, the UN)
legal immunity
a situation where the law does not affect someone because of their position
bolster
make stronger
It was a pregnancy in the public eye. There was no hiding away from the cameras. And royal duties continued for the Duchess of Cambridge until the final weeks. Wherever she went, the gifts, the questions, the chat, had been of the baby. She gave little away.
With his great-grandmother in her 61st year on the throne, and his grandfather and father ahead of him in the line of succession, it will be some time before the Duke and Duchess's son is King.
Suzannah Lipscomb, Historian:
It is in the nature of these next few years, in his upbringing, in his childhood, in the character and values that are instilled in him at this stage, that will determine how the British people view their monarch.
In the past, there was a formality to the royal birth announcements. Much has changed. After Prince William was born at St. Mary's hospital, his father spoke to the media.
Reporter: How is Lady Di?
Prince Charles: She's very well, marvellous.
Reporter: Was it a very painful experience?
Prince Charles: Have you ever had a baby?
Reporter: No I haven't.
Prince Charles: I should wait and see!
And from the moment the new Prince appeared on the hospital steps, it was clear his upbringing would be different, less formal. William will now be fiercely protective of his wife and child, but controlling the level of interest from the public and the media is increasingly problematic.
The Duchess of Cambridge's childhood memories are of a strong family unit in rural Berkshire. Royal life appears not to have diminished that bond. And there is speculation that after the birth the Duchess will return home to mum for a few weeks.
William's childhood broke with tradition. By royal standards there was greater freedom. It was more normal, there was less restraint. He is likely to want the same for his son, a little boy who one day will be King.
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in the public eye
well known by many people
gave little away
did not tell anyone any information
succession
process in which someone automatically takes their position after someone else
upbringing
how a child is treated and educated by its parents
monarch
head of state such as king or queen
problematic
causing problems
diminished
reduced
speculation
guessing what might happen without any certain information
broke with tradition
did something different from what is normally done
restraint
control in showing emotions or behaving in a certain way
Sprawling across the heart of Africa, the Congo Basin rainforest is second only to the Amazon in size. And this latest study reveals that it's in far better health than expected.
Using images taken from satellites, researchers tracked how the dense swathes of foliage changed over time. They found that during the 1990s, nearly 3,000 sq km of forest were being felled each year.
But in the decade to 2010 the rate of deforestation slowed. Fewer than 2,000 sq km were lost - an overall decrease of a third.
The scientists believe this is partly down to improved conservation measures. But they also note that the region's economic priorities have changed.
Elsewhere around the world, rainforests are being cleared to make way for agriculture, but in central Africa, a focus on mining and oil has left the Congo Basin more intact.
The scientists say that the Congo Basin plays a key role in storing carbon - and losing areas of it would have a large impact on climate change.
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sprawling
spreading out in a disorganised way
swathes
very large areas
foliage
leaves of different sizes
priorities
most important things
cleared
removed
mining
searching for valuable materials in the ground
intact
undamaged; in its original condition
a key role
an important function
storing carbon
keeping carbon out of the atmosphere
climate change
variation over time in the world's temperatures and weather patterns
He's been stuck in the transit zone of Moscow airport for nearly three weeks - unable to enter Russia or to fly out. Now it appears that Edward Snowden has called a meeting at the airport to discuss his predicament.
Among those he has reportedly emailed invitations to are representatives of human rights organisations and prominent Russian lawyers. In one email, allegedly from Mr Snowden, which has been made public by the group Human Rights Watch, the 30-year-old American complained that the US government was waging an "unlawful campaign" to prevent him from securing asylum.
The head of the press office at Sheremetevo airport confirmed a meeting would take place in the transit area. It's scheduled for 5 o'clock this afternoon Moscow time.
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transit zone
part of an international airport where passengers wait for their flight to another country
predicament
difficult situation
representatives
people who speak or make decisions for an organisation
human rights organisations
groups of people who fight for basic rights and freedom of speech for everyone
prominent
important and well known
waging
starting and continuing a fight
unlawful
illegal; against the law
asylum
the right to live in another country in order to live safely
the press office
the department in an organisation that deals with journalists
scheduled
planned to happen at a fixed time
As the clock struck midnight, the anthem of the European Union rang out across Zagreb's main square and at last Croatia completed its journey from combat zone of the former Yugoslavia to member of Europe's biggest club.
But this was not entirely an ode to joy. Zagreb's main square was hardly packed for most of the coming-out party. And that reflects the ambivalence many people here now feel about membership. After the prolonged economic crisis, the EU no longer looks like the promised land Croatia applied to join a decade ago.
Likewise, the new member's own economic troubles have caused concern among the other 27 states. Visiting foreign ministers stressed the EU's role as a builder of peace rather than prosperity. A good point, bearing in mind Croatia's recent past. But also, perhaps, a diplomatic fig-leaf.
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anthem
official song of a particular country or organisation
combat zone
battleground during war
an ode to joy
a song about happiness (also, the title of the European Union anthem)
ambivalence
having positive and negative feelings at the same time
prolonged
continuing for a long time
the promised land
a place where people expect to find complete happiness
prosperity
financial success / having lots of money
a diplomatic fig-leaf
a political idea or action that covers up an embarrassing issue