The police launched the raids in the early hours of the morning, clearing away chairs and tables that the pupils had used to barricade themselves inside. The students took over the schools earlier this month as part of their two-year campaign for education reform.
But on Sunday, they'll be used as polling stations. Chileans are due to elect candidates for November's presidential election. Many of those arrested in the pre-dawn raids are children and are unlikely to be charged.
The police action followed a day and night of violence in Santiago, centred around a student march. More than 100 people were arrested when the march ended in clashes between youths throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, and police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon. Ten police officers were injured.
The clashes continued overnight. Protesters set fire to a bus, gutting it completely. The violence was among the worst in Chile in two years of protests against the centre-right government of President Sebastian Piñera.
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raids
sudden and unexpected entries into a building by police in order to arrest people
barricade
block (using a temporary structure)
education reform
changes to how and what students are taught students are taught
polling stations
places where people go to vote
pre-dawn
before sunrise
clashes
fights
Molotov cocktails
a simple type of bomb made with a bottle filled with petrol
gutting it
destroying the inside
Kaesong is one of the few historical sites open to tourists that's not specifically linked to the Kim family that has ruled North Korea since independence. The city is held up in the North as a symbol of national reunification as it was the capital of the 10th Century Koryo dynasty that united the entire peninsula.
North Korean officials attending the UNESCO ceremony stood and clapped the decision to give the sites World Heritage status. The North has always used its interpretation of history to boost its case in the struggle for national sovereignty against South Korea.
The South maintains that an earlier southern-based dynasty was the first to unify the country. But even the legacy of Kaesong is a sensitive one for the North's historians. The dynasty marked a high water mark for Buddhism on the peninsula - a culture that was all but eradicated, along with other religions, after independence.
The city was initially in South Korea after the division of the peninsula in 1945 but was conquered by northern forces during the Korean War. It later came to be seen as a symbol of reconciliation - being near the site of a joint industrial zone established by the two sides after the year 2000. But the southern-owned factories currently lie idle - closed by the North Koreans during a recent bout of tension over its rocket and nuclear tests.
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held up
put in a high and important position
reunification
joining together parts of the country that were divided
dynasty
rulers who came from the same family
united
brought together
interpretation
understanding or explanation
a high water mark
the most important time
eradicated
got rid of or destroyed
a symbol of reconciliation
something that shows (the possibility that) two groups with different ideas can agree
lie idle
not working or not being used
bout
short period
Singapore says its citizens should remain indoors if they can - cautioning that the thick smog that has blanketed the island could go on until the dry season ends in Sumatra in September.
The smog has strained diplomatic ties between Singapore and Indonesia - two countries that usually share good relations. Singapore says it is up to Indonesia to stop the fires, while Indonesia says it is doing all it can and its own citizens are suffering too.
The haze is an annual problem for this part of the world, caused by smouldering forest fires in Sumatra. Strong winds carry the smoke from the fires to neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.
This year though, the levels of air pollution are particularly hazardous. The last time this region was so badly affected was in 1997 when the South East Asian haze lasted for months, and reportedly made 20 million people ill.
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citizens
people who have the right to live in a country
smog
air pollution made of smoke and fog
blanketed
covered
strained
made difficult
diplomatic ties
official relationships between countries
haze
air pollution or weather conditions that make it difficult to see
smouldering
smoking
hazardous
dangerous
The scandal reads like the script of a European television thriller, melding politics with human drama.
The pressure had been growing on the prime minister since Friday when his chief of staff, Jana Nagyova, was charged with corruption and abuse of power. Detectives said she was suspected of bribing MPs with jobs in state-owned companies.
Last week, police raided government offices and seized $8m worth of cash and gold. The chief of staff is also accused of ordering spying on Prime Minister Necas' wife.
Intriguingly, he said in his resignation speech that what he called the "twists and turns of his personal life" were a weight on the political situation in the country.
It is not clear if the president of the country will rule that there should be a new general election, or whether some form of the existing coalition government will continue with a different prime minister.
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scandal
a story about dishonest or immoral behaviour that shocks people
thriller
a book, film or play with an exciting story, usually about crime or mystery
melding
joining together
bribing
giving money or presents to someone so they will do something for you, often something illegal
raided
(here referring to police) entered, in order to search for criminals or evidence of crime
intriguingly
interestingly, because of being strange or mysterious
twists and turns
unexpected changes and difficulties
rule
(here referring to a new law) decide officially
As the world's media gathered in Pretoria, where Nelson Mandela is being treated for a recurrent lung infection, there's been no fresh information about his health status.
Whilst the absence of any official updates did little to help the speculation, many took heart from a visit by Nelson Mandela's daughter Zindzi, who said that her father was well and a fighter.
Although Mr Mandela has rallied in the face of past health scares, there is an increasing acceptance among many South Africans that the former president is frail and not immortal.
Commentators are now daring to talk of a time without Mandela, urging South Africans to cherish his enduring achievements: an end to racist white rule and a constitution that is the envy of the world, as much as the man himself.
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recurrent
repeating
status
condition
speculation
ideas and discussion about what is happening
took heart
felt comforted (about something)
rallied in the face of
improved, despite difficulties
immortal
living forever
cherish
remember kindly
enduring
long lasting
constitution
set of laws that says how a country is ruled and particularly about the rights of the people who live there
The Queen first visited Broadcasting House in 1939. Back then she was a young princess, accompanying her father King George VI and her mother, Queen Elizabeth. Fourteen years later she was crowned.
In her six decades as Queen, the BBC's headquarters have seen many changes and challenges. During the Second World War the iconic art deco facade was damaged in the Blitz. Producers and announcers regularly took cover in a special air raid bunker. Since then, some of the building's wood panelled offices have been made famous by those who worked in them. Room 101 gave George Orwell inspiration for his novel 1984.
In recent years, Broadcasting House has had a one-and-a-half billion dollar revamp. The Queen will see the state-of-the-art glass fronted extension and inspect the BBC's multi-media newsroom.
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crowned
made king or queen at a special ceremony
iconic
well known and representing an idea
facade
front of the building
bunker
underground shelter with strong walls to protect the people inside it from bullets or bombs
inspiration
the idea (for doing something)
revamp
change or improvement
state-of-the-art
modern, using the latest technology
multi-media
using different types of media, such at television, radio and computers
The demonstrations overnight in Istanbul were the most dramatic so far. Protesters in the Dolmabahce neighbourhoods built barricades and tried to reach the prime minister's office.
Witnesses say they got hold of a digger and drove it at police lines. Demonstrators also tried to march on the prime minister's office in the capital Ankara. They were met by the police who fired tear gas and water cannon.
The government has reacted angrily to the continuing protests. The prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has dismissed accusations that he acts in an authoritarian manner.
Erdogan has insisted that a controversial plan to redevelop Gezi Park in Istanbul, the issue which sparked the initial protests on Friday, will still go ahead.
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demonstrations
public protests
dramatic
powerful in appearance or effect
barricades
structures which stop movement through an area or a road
digger
a vehicle that digs earth
tear gas
gas that makes eyes uncomfortable and people cry; often used by police in riots to control crowds
authoritarian
describes a government where individual freedom is second to the power or authority of the state
controversial
causing argument or disagreement
redevelop
to improve a building or area, which may include bringing parts of it back to their original condition
sparked
started; caused to start
It wasn't the opening which the organisers planned. Feminist protesters said the Barbie doll turned women into objects. A semi-naked member of the Femen protest group, had "Life in plastic is not fantastic" written on her bare chest. She set fire to a Barbie doll.
In what the organisers call the Barbie Dreamhouse Experience, a hundred gallons of pink paint were used to decorate the exhibition. The colour provoked a protest from a group called Pink Stinks whose members said there was too much emphasis on becoming more beautiful and on being pretty, and that put an awful lot of pressure on girls.
The other Barbie Dreamhouse, in America, has not been the target of protest. The Berlin version continues until August and then tours Europe. There will be more opportunity for protest - and also for visits by Barbie's countless fans.
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feminist
someone who wants equal rights and opportunities for women
objects
things you can see and touch, but are not living
provoked
caused a negative reaction (here: that led to a protest)
emphasis
attention / importance
pressure
trying to force, influence or persuade someone to do something (here: to look prettier)
target
focus / the central point
tours
travels around
countless
very many; too many to count
It's taken more than six centuries for the Catholic Church to officially recognise the heroism of hundreds of citizens of Otranto, a small town in the south of Italy who were executed by an invading Turkish army when they refused to convert to Islam.
But there was no hint of any anti-Islamic sentiment in the homily that Pope Francis delivered before tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peters Square. Martyrs, he said, inspire Christians who are still suffering violence in many parts of the world, to respond to evil with good. He refrained from naming any single country, although the Catholic Church is deeply concerned about attacks on Christian communities in the Middle East and in East and West Africa.
Later this month an Italian priest murdered by the Sicilian mafia twenty years ago will be beatified - the last step before he too is declared a saint. Pope Francis, following the example of his immediate predecessors, is continuing the process of honouring a new generation of modern as well as historic martyrs. He wants to remind the world that thousands of Christians are still being persecuted for their faith and sometimes being killed in circumstances related to their religion.
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heroism
actions that show great bravery
to convert
(here) to change your religious belief
sentiment
feeling or attitude
homily
short speech on a moral or religious subject
martyrs
people who suffer or are killed because of their religious beliefs
refrained from
stopped himself from (doing or saying something)
beatified
(after someone's death) said by officials in the Catholic Church to be an especially good or holy person
honouring
publicly showing respect
persecuted
treated very badly or unfairly for a long time
The cholera epidemic began in Haiti near a camp for UN soldiers where there were leaking sewage pipes. Some human waste was also dumped outside the camp near a river. One of the UN's own experts on cholera, Danielle Lantagne, told the BBC it was "most likely" the disease originated in the UN camp. It housed UN soldiers from Nepal, where cholera is endemic.
The UN rejected an earlier call for compensation in this unprecedented case against the world body, saying it was immune from such claims. But the victims' lawyers say the UN is breaking international law. If mediation talks don't begin within 60 days, the lawyers say, they'll open legal proceedings in New York with claims totalling many billions of dollars.
The lawyers say they'll file claims for $100,000 for the families of those who have lost a loved one and $50,000 for every one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have fallen sick. The UN has said very little on the matter, apart from to insist it is immune from legal proceedings. At the same time, it may also be true that the United Nations simply doesn't know what to do in the face of what could have been a series of catastrophic and deadly errors. In private, UN officials say they're facing a moral crisis. Now they may be about to confront a very public legal battle as well.
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cholera
a serious disease, caused by drinking infected water
epidemic
when a disease spreads without control
sewage
human waste
originated
started
endemic
present in a particular area
unprecedented
something which has never happened before
immune
not able to be affected by something bad; protected
mediation talks
conversations to help reach an agreement
to insist
to say something with force
catastrophic
extremely harmful
Switzerland's high salaries, low unemployment, and stable currency are a magnet to Eurozone countries. Since the Swiss agreed to free movement of people, immigration from EU members has risen sharply, especially from Spain and Portugal, where unemployment is at crisis levels.
In Switzerland, there is tension. The right wing People's Party claims Swiss jobseekers are losing out; the Green Party says immigration is putting too much pressure on housing and public transport. Now the Swiss government has called a halt: being outside the EU means Switzerland has some flexibility, and from next month permanent work permits for EU citizens will be strictly limited.
Brussels has reacted angrily: EU officials have always told Switzerland it cannot cherry pick only those parts of European policy it likes best. Now, it's possible other deals the Swiss really need with Europe, on trade perhaps, could be in danger. Meanwhile, sceptical members of the European Union, like Britain, where many would like a less rigid relationship with the EU, will be watching Switzerland's move with interest.
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stable
steady, not likely to change
magnet
great attraction
Eurozone countries
sixteen nations which use the Euro as their currency
immigration
the permanent movement of non-native people into a country
at crisis levels
at a point where big problems could happen
called a halt
put a stop to it
work permits
written certificates allowing someone to work in a country
cherry pick
here: choose only the things that it likes
sceptical (US: skeptical)
lacking trust or confidence in something
rigid
fixed, not flexible
Rescue teams had already reached the remote villages in mountainous Baoxing County on foot, but landslides were blocking access to aid trucks and preventing some of the casualties from being brought out.
Now state media is reporting that a path has been cleared, although, in heavy fog, and with regular aftershocks, the going is slow.
Even in the more accessible areas of neighbouring Lushan county the aid effort has been hampered by congestion on the single road in, and some of those who've been made homeless are complaining that they've not yet received food or water.
Although on the same fault line, this earthquake was much less powerful than the one that struck Sichuan Province in 2008, and the death toll is not expected to rise significantly.
Once again though it is the poor who have borne the brunt of the disaster, with the biggest killer not the earthquake itself, but poorly constructed houses.
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mountainous
having a lot of mountains
on foot
by walking (without using transport or vehicles)
landslides
falls of rocks and earth down a mountain or slope
casualties
people who have been injured or killed in an accident or war
state media
media organisations controlled by the government
aftershocks
small earthquakes that follow a bigger one
the going is slow
progress is difficult or slow
hampered
made difficult
fault line
a long, deep crack in the Earth's surface
death toll
the number of people who died because of an event
borne the brunt of
suffered the main effects of
With the search and rescue operation now winding down, the authorities in West are focussing on ensuring there are no hazardous chemicals remaining on the site, which could be a threat to the public.
They are also trying to establish exactly what caused the fire and the explosion that followed it. There is little left of the factory or dozens of houses that bore the brunt of the blast.
Police are expected to start allowing residents back into the restricted area in the next 24 hours so people can see what's left of their homes and possessions.
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search and rescue operation
procedure to find and save people from a disaster
winding down
slowly stopping
ensuring
making sure
hazardous chemicals
dangerous materials
threat
possible or likely danger
to establish
to find and prove
dozens
groups of 12 (used here to mean lots)
bore the brunt
felt the most force
blast
explosion
restricted
limited
The former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has died at the age of 87 following a stroke.
Her spokesman Lord Bell said: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning."
Baroness Thatcher, who was was the leader of the British Conservative Party, served as prime minister from 1979 to 1990.
She was the first woman to hold the post.
Baroness Thatcher, who was born Margaret Roberts, became the Conservative MP for Finchley in north London in 1959. She retired from the House of Commons in 1992.
She won general elections in 1979, 1983 and 1987.
Baroness Thatcher's government privatised several state-owned industries. She was also in power when the UK went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982.
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Baroness
here: the title given to Margaret Thatcher by the Queen, as a reward for her work
stroke
a sudden change in blood supply to the brain, often causing the loss of ability to speak or move
to hold the post
to have the job or position
MP
short for Member of Parliament
retired
stopped working because of old age
House of Commons
the part of Parliament in the UK where politicians are chosen by the people to represent different parts of the country
general elections
occasions when people in a country vote to choose their political representatives
privatised
sold industries from government into private ownership
The president's advisors call the BRAIN project ambitious, even audacious. It aims to produce dynamic pictures of the brain that show, in the words of a White House statement, how individual cells and complex neural circuits interact at the speed of thought. Announcing the programme, Barack Obama said humans could identify distant galaxies and study subatomic particles, but still had a limited understanding of the brain.
Barack Obama:
"There's this enormous mystery waiting to be unlocked. The BRAIN Initiative will change that by giving scientists the tools they need to get a dynamic picture of the brain in action and better understand how we think and how we learn and how we remember."
That knowledge, he said, would be transformative: families no longer helpless at the onset of Parkinson's, and war veterans able to reverse the effects of traumatic brain injury. The administration reckons it costs around $500bn a year to treat the various conditions this project hopes to address. It believes that technological advances, in data processing and revolutionary new techniques like optogenetics mean that, for the first time, this hugely ambitious research is actually possible.
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audacious
showing extreme confidence and willingness to take risks and offend people
neural circuits
a system of connected neurons: cells that send and receive messages to and from the brain
subatomic particles
extremely small pieces of matter that are smaller than atoms or forming part of atoms
initiative
a project designed to achieve something or solve a problem
transformative
causing significant changes or improvement in a situation
onset
the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant or bad
war veterans
people who fought in the armed forces during a war
traumatic
causing severe shock, upset, or emotional distress
address
deal with
optogenetics
the use of optics (the study of light) and genetics (the study of how features and behaviour of living things are passed on through genes) to control things that happen in cells
With more than half a billion Chinese online, and many of them avid microbloggers, the speed of censorship uncovered on Sina Weibo is astonishing. The researchers mined data on microblog comments removed by administrators, and found that nearly a third of the deleted posts were taken down in the first 30 minutes.
Unsurprisingly, criticism of the government, local scandals and complaints about China's one-child policy were blocked most quickly. But the team worked out that if none of the process was automated, Sina Weibo would need to employ more than 4,000 speed-reading censors a day, just to keep up.
The researchers uncovered a range of devices aimed at bringing bloggers into line. They included: hiding posts from other users, flagging repeat offenders for closer scrutiny, and tracking backwards to delete sensitive topics everywhere they arose.
With China's media so strictly controlled, the study has raised questions about why microblogs allow people to post before censorship at all. One of the researchers, Professor Dan Wallach, told the BBC that Sina Weibo had to satisfy government censorship requirements without seeming heavy-handed to its bloggers. He said it had to walk a fine line.
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avid
extremely keen, enthusiastic and interested
censorship
deleting parts of books, films, newspapers, etc. that are believed to be unsuitable
mined
found by searching carefully for a long time
scandals
situations in which important people behave in a dishonest or immoral way that shocks a lot of people
bringing bloggers into line
forcing bloggers to follow the rules
flagging
making a note of; highlighting something for more attention
scrutiny
detailed and very close attention or examination
to satisfy
to please someone by giving them what they want or need
heavy-handed
using too much force
to walk a fine line
to be very careful in finding the right balance
No matter how baffling it may seem to outsiders, the allure of a dead socialist leader can't be underestimated. In Moscow, Beijing and Hanoi, the corpses of Lenin, Mao and Ho Chi Minh are displayed under subdued lighting for equally subdued lines of people to file past, paying silent respects.
In North Korea, Kim Il-sung's public resting place was recently renovated to accommodate the embalmed remains of his son Kim Jong-il.
In Beijing, visitors to Mao Zedong are encouraged to buy flowers for him, though they must leave them outside.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's revolutionary leader, wanted to be cremated but was preserved nonetheless. Outside his mausoleum Vietnamese queue in their hundreds for entry: schoolchildren, grizzled old men; women dressed in traditional ao dai.
The pull of the embalming fluid becomes still more puzzling when a country has politically moved on. Lenin has so far survived several attempts to evict him from Red Square, though the Soviet Union is long gone.
In China, Mao lingers at the heart of a capital which also plays host nowadays to Starbucks and McDonald's. But so far, China's politicians can still quote the sayings of Mao while pursuing policies widely at variance with his legacy.
It's a balancing act that critics of the embalming of Venezuela's president will now be anxiously watching.
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baffling
puzzling, confusing, difficult to understand
allure
an attractive, interesting or exciting quality
subdued
(of colour) not bright; (of sound) not loud
to file past
to move past (something) one by one
embalmed
preserved using chemicals to stop it decaying (of a dead person's body)
cremated
burned as part of a funeral ceremony (of a dead person's body)
grizzled
having grey hair and looking old
evict
force someone to leave somewhere
lingers
stays longer than is necessary
at variance with
different to
We now have a first-hand account of what compelled Bradley Manning to carry out the biggest leak of government secrets in American history.
He told the military court he'd been appalled by the "bloodlust" of a helicopter mission in Iraq - video of which he passed on to Wikileaks. He said that while serving in Iraq, he'd become depressed at what he called America's "obsession" with capturing and killing human targets. And that the American people should know the "true costs of war".
As for the leaked State Department cables, Private Manning said they "documented backdoor deals and criminality" unbecoming of a superpower, and insisted his conscience was clear.
The military judge accepted the defendant's plea of guilty to 10 of the 22 counts. But Bradley Manning denies the most serious charge of aiding America's enemies - a charge which potentially carries a life sentence. Prosecutors have indicated that they plan to push ahead with a full court martial in the summer.
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first-hand account
a written or spoken report about something given by somebody who was involved
compelled
forced, caused
leak
release and deliberate sharing of secret information with the public
bloodlust
the enjoyment of and desire to see violence
cables
messages sent by cable (a length of wire, often covered with plastic)
backdoor
secretive and often dishonest or illegal
unbecoming
inappropriate or unacceptable (of behaviour)
plea
statement given in court in response to being accused of a crime
life sentence
punishment of being put in jail for a long time or until death, depending on the laws of the country
push ahead with
continue doing something difficult or unpleasant
court martial
(a trial in) a military court which examines accusations against members of the armed forces
The hotel suites are cheaper than apartments in Hong Kong. Hundreds of people lined up for hours to buy a unit at the Apex Horizon Hotel this week. It's not clear whether investors can legally live in the suites but buyers are still eager.
Voice of Hong Kong man:
The developer had lawyers look at it thoroughly so I'm not worried.
Voice of Hong Kong woman:
At these prices the hotel suites are cheaper to buy than public housing.
The hotel was able to sell all 360 of its suites in two days - a sign there is a demand for affordable housing. Hong Kong's low interest rate has attracted hordes of mainland Chinese investors.
It pushed home prices to record highs last year. Flats cost an average of US$14,000 per square metre in central locations. Many residents feel they can no longer afford to buy apartments.
Hong Kong people cope by renting makeshift homes on rooftops, while others move into so-called cage homes - hutches made from wire-mesh, stacked on top of each other in a tiny room. The government's efforts to cool down property prices have not worked. So Hong Kong residents have to be creative in finding space to live.
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lined up
queued up in a row
eager
very keen, enthusiastic
affordable
something ordinary people have the money to pay for
hordes
a large group or crowd
cope
deal with the issue
makeshift
poor quality, made of whatever material is available
hutches
small structures, used for keeping small animals in, especially rabbits
cool down
slow down the increase in
In a terse statement, the spokesman for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the damages claim was 'not receivable', under a convention that grants the United Nations immunity for its actions.
Families of the victims are demanding millions of dollars in compensation, accusing the UN of introducing the disease to Haiti. The UN has never admitted responsibility, despite mounting evidence that the epidemic was caused by poor sanitation at a peacekeeping camp.
A lawyer for the cholera victims told the BBC that UN immunity could not mean impunity, and said the case would now be pursued in a national court. The lawyer, Brian Concannon, said the victims' legal team would challenge the UN's right to immunity from Haitian courts, on the grounds that it hadn't established an alternative mechanism for dealing with accountability issues, as stipulated in its agreement with the government.
He also said lifting immunity would not challenge UN policy, which is protected by the convention, but its practice, such as how to test troops for disease and properly dispose of sewage.
There's evidence that infected Nepalese peacekeepers caused the epidemic by dumping untreated waste into a key river system, but the UN insists it's impossible to pinpoint blame definitively. Late last year it launched an initiative to eliminate cholera in Haiti by investing in clean drinking water and sanitation systems, a move Mr Concannon said he considered an unofficial response to the victims' claims.
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terse
short and angry
convention
acceptable and agreed way to do something
immunity
protection from legal action
compensation
payment for the problems that they have faced
mounting
increasing
sanitation
facilities for providing clean water and disposing of human waste
impunity
protection from punishment
mechanism
acceptable and effective procedure
stipulated
specified as important and necessary
to pinpoint
to precisely/exactly locate
Not only at the grounds where thousands of Sinhalese gathered, but throughout the surrounding streets too, the hardline nationalistic speeches resounded.
The Buddhist Strength Force, founded nine months ago, used explicitly racial rhetoric. One monk, its leader, told the crowd that "only monks can save this race", meaning the Sinhalese, who are about three-quarters of Sri Lanka's population.
A poster depicted a lion, symbol of the Sinhalese, telling its cub: "This land belongs to you and its soil is red with the blood of your people".
The group denies being anti-minority. But its youth activists wore T-shirts denouncing the halal system whereby the Muslim minority certifies which goods are acceptable to consume.
Referring to Muslim clerics in derogatory language, the monk said what he called Christian and Muslim extremists were threatening Buddhists. He said there were 400 such Christian organisations and a hostile army of 12,000 Muslims allegedly trained in the Middle East.
But hundreds of monks were ready to fight: "Our country is a Sinhalese one and we are its unofficial police", he added. Both Muslims and Christians deny promoting extremism in Sri Lanka.
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hardline
very strict and extreme
explicitly
clearly and exactly
rhetoric
language which is intended to influence people's emotions and behaviour
depicted
showed
anti-minority
opposed to smaller ethnic or religious groups
denouncing
criticising strongly and in public
halal
(of an animal or its meat) killed and prepared in a way which is demanded by Islamic law
derogatory
offensive and not showing respect
hostile
unfriendly and trying to create conflict
promoting extremism
encouraging very strong beliefs which most people think are unacceptable
Eyewitnesses describe seeing a fireball curving through the clear sky, and an extremely intense light as it passed overhead.
It seems to have been a meteor, and left a white condensation trail behind it. A couple of minutes later there was a loud bang.
The shock wave from the blast blew out windows across the region round Chelyabinsk in the Ural mountains.
People who'd rushed to look out and see what was happening were injured by flying glass.
Everyone went outside to check their neighbours were OK, and the mobile phone network collapsed, briefly overwhelmed by the volume of calls.
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Eyewitnesses
people who have seen something then talked about it to the authorities or media
curving
bending, not moving in a straight line
intense
very bright and strong
condensation trail
a line in the sky formed of water vapour which can be seen following an object
shock wave
invisible force of pressure caused by an explosion
blew out
broke, smashed
collapsed
failed
overwhelmed by
unable to deal with
the volume of
the large number of
Even by the standards of Church ritual, the confirmation of an Archbishop of Canterbury's election is an extraordinary event. Senior bishops will sit in St Paul's Cathedral as a court of law, using elaborate language and flowery titles to certify Justin Welby in his new post.
The ceremony, little changed over centuries, was originally intended to prevent false claimants being appointed to what were lucrative posts as bishop. Bishop Welby's enthronement, amid colourful ritual and soaring music, is next month in Canterbury Cathedral, and the event has usually eclipsed this legal ceremony.
However, Justin Welby requested that today's event be set in a full church service - including hymns and a sermon - to reflect the essentially religious nature of his new post. As the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, reads and signs a 'final proclamation', Bishop Welby will become archbishop, and spiritual leader of some 80 million Anglicans across the world.
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ritual
solemn formal ceremony
court of law
place where judges hear cases and make decisions based on the rules of the country
flowery
(of language) elaborate or complicated
lucrative posts
positions that are well paid
enthronement
ceremony where a person with authority or influence, such as monarch or archbishop, starts their new role
amid
amongst
eclipsed
overshadowed or dominated
essentially
mostly or primarily
proclamation
public or official announcement
Anglicans
members of the Church of England
In President Obama's second term there are two longer-term developments that will affect the relationship with Europe. The first is the US budget deficit, the second the so-called "pivot" - or the rebalancing of focus towards Asia.
America's finances will mean, now even more than in the first term, the US will be what some have called a "frugal superpower" - leading from behind as they did in Libya, and as they look to be doing in Mali.
But then that frugal nature is not altogether bad news. The US remains by far the biggest customer for European exporters.
Generally the Europeans are content with the status quo. The last thing they need at a time when Europe is so embroiled in its own internal debates, is the external distraction of a change in guard across the pond.
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budget deficit
the amount of money a government needs to clear its debt
frugal
careful with spending
leading from behind
playing an important part without being seen to be making all the decisions
look to be
seem to be
altogether
completely
by far
by a great amount
status quo
the current situation
embroiled in
involved with something difficult or complicated
change in guard
change in leadership
across the pond
on the other side of the Atlantic (used by the UK and US to refer to each other)
The world has limited resources and a growing population. By the end of this century there could be three billion extra mouths to feed. So wasting food, this new report says, is a tragedy that should not continue. The study says changing the way consumers in the rich world reject less-than-perfect-looking vegetables in the shops, and eat large quantities of meat - which requires a lot of resources to bring to market - could have an impact.
But the engineers who wrote this report also recommend better use of scarce land and water around the whole world. They say that putting more land to agriculture will be difficult without damaging the environment, so improving the efficiency of farming is vital. The report says better irrigation is the key here, because water used in agriculture is often sourced badly: from aquifers which are poorly managed. In some cases, the engineers say, governments and aid agencies have exacerbated this problem by sinking boreholes in the wrong places.
The report also says that irrigating crops through spraying or flooding fields is wasteful because so much of the water evaporates. It says that drip or trickle methods of irrigation, while more expensive to install, can be as much as a third more efficient.
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a growing population
an increasing number of people living in a particular area or place
tragedy
a serious situation or disaster
consumers
people who buy things
agriculture
farming; growing and producing food
irrigation
supplying land with water by artificial means to help crops to grow
aquifers
rocks which contain groundwater
exacerbated
made worse
boreholes
spaces drilled into the ground in order to extract water, gas or minerals
evaporates
loses moisture into the air
trickle
tiny flow of liquid
Tobacco companies and retailers that try to circumvent Australia's plain-packaging laws could face prosecution, according to health authorities.
They're investigating whether to take action against cardboard covers and stickers that hide graphic anti-smoking warnings.
One firm that produces labels says that sales have soared because consumers can't stand the sight of the packets they buy.
Just over a month ago, Australia banned all tobacco company logos and colours from packaging, which now has disturbing colour pictures of smokers suffering from tongue and lung cancer.
The president of the Australian Medical Association, Steve Hambleton, is confident that those who attempt to skirt the legislation will be shut down.
President of the Australian Medical Association, Steve Hambleton:
If you're trying to circumvent it, it's not right, and I know that the government will actually either fix the problem by changing the law or enforcing the law. But the second thing I thought was, this is obviously working. If companies are going out of their way to hide the warnings and to hide the labels, they know it's having an impact and that's reassuring for us.
Tobacco companies had argued that Australia's plain packaging measures would deprive them of copyright without proper compensation. But in August their case was dismissed by the High Courts.
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to circumvent
to find a way to avoid obeying a rule or law
plain-packaging laws
laws which state that cigarettes cannot be sold in branded and attractive boxes
face prosecution
have legal charges brought against them
graphic
explicit, showing unpleasant images
soared
risen very quickly
can't stand the sight of
hate to look at
disturbing
unpleasant
to skirt
to avoid
going out of their way to (do something)
doing things they wouldn't normally do
compensation
money received to make up for a financial loss caused by someone else
The poignant fruits of a prison courtyard.
On South Africa's Robben Island, famous for its jail, volunteers are harvesting vines planted in a garden once tended by its most famous inmate, Nelson Mandela.
Over the years many people have been accused of trying to cash in on the Mandela brand but the participants in this scheme see it as a way of cherishing his memory.
poignant
causing a strong emotional feeling
tended by
looked after by
inmate
prisoner
to cash in on
to take advantage of a connection or association with a person or event, often for financial gain
cherishing
affectionately protecting
But on Sunday, they'll be used as polling stations. Chileans are due to elect candidates for November's presidential election. Many of those arrested in the pre-dawn raids are children and are unlikely to be charged.
The police action followed a day and night of violence in Santiago, centred around a student march. More than 100 people were arrested when the march ended in clashes between youths throwing stones and Molotov cocktails, and police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon. Ten police officers were injured.
The clashes continued overnight. Protesters set fire to a bus, gutting it completely. The violence was among the worst in Chile in two years of protests against the centre-right government of President Sebastian Piñera.
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raids
sudden and unexpected entries into a building by police in order to arrest people
barricade
block (using a temporary structure)
education reform
changes to how and what students are taught students are taught
polling stations
places where people go to vote
pre-dawn
before sunrise
clashes
fights
Molotov cocktails
a simple type of bomb made with a bottle filled with petrol
gutting it
destroying the inside
Kaesong is one of the few historical sites open to tourists that's not specifically linked to the Kim family that has ruled North Korea since independence. The city is held up in the North as a symbol of national reunification as it was the capital of the 10th Century Koryo dynasty that united the entire peninsula.
North Korean officials attending the UNESCO ceremony stood and clapped the decision to give the sites World Heritage status. The North has always used its interpretation of history to boost its case in the struggle for national sovereignty against South Korea.
The South maintains that an earlier southern-based dynasty was the first to unify the country. But even the legacy of Kaesong is a sensitive one for the North's historians. The dynasty marked a high water mark for Buddhism on the peninsula - a culture that was all but eradicated, along with other religions, after independence.
The city was initially in South Korea after the division of the peninsula in 1945 but was conquered by northern forces during the Korean War. It later came to be seen as a symbol of reconciliation - being near the site of a joint industrial zone established by the two sides after the year 2000. But the southern-owned factories currently lie idle - closed by the North Koreans during a recent bout of tension over its rocket and nuclear tests.
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held up
put in a high and important position
reunification
joining together parts of the country that were divided
dynasty
rulers who came from the same family
united
brought together
interpretation
understanding or explanation
a high water mark
the most important time
eradicated
got rid of or destroyed
a symbol of reconciliation
something that shows (the possibility that) two groups with different ideas can agree
lie idle
not working or not being used
bout
short period
Singapore says its citizens should remain indoors if they can - cautioning that the thick smog that has blanketed the island could go on until the dry season ends in Sumatra in September.
The smog has strained diplomatic ties between Singapore and Indonesia - two countries that usually share good relations. Singapore says it is up to Indonesia to stop the fires, while Indonesia says it is doing all it can and its own citizens are suffering too.
The haze is an annual problem for this part of the world, caused by smouldering forest fires in Sumatra. Strong winds carry the smoke from the fires to neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia.
This year though, the levels of air pollution are particularly hazardous. The last time this region was so badly affected was in 1997 when the South East Asian haze lasted for months, and reportedly made 20 million people ill.
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citizens
people who have the right to live in a country
smog
air pollution made of smoke and fog
blanketed
covered
strained
made difficult
diplomatic ties
official relationships between countries
haze
air pollution or weather conditions that make it difficult to see
smouldering
smoking
hazardous
dangerous
The scandal reads like the script of a European television thriller, melding politics with human drama.
The pressure had been growing on the prime minister since Friday when his chief of staff, Jana Nagyova, was charged with corruption and abuse of power. Detectives said she was suspected of bribing MPs with jobs in state-owned companies.
Last week, police raided government offices and seized $8m worth of cash and gold. The chief of staff is also accused of ordering spying on Prime Minister Necas' wife.
Intriguingly, he said in his resignation speech that what he called the "twists and turns of his personal life" were a weight on the political situation in the country.
It is not clear if the president of the country will rule that there should be a new general election, or whether some form of the existing coalition government will continue with a different prime minister.
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scandal
a story about dishonest or immoral behaviour that shocks people
thriller
a book, film or play with an exciting story, usually about crime or mystery
melding
joining together
bribing
giving money or presents to someone so they will do something for you, often something illegal
raided
(here referring to police) entered, in order to search for criminals or evidence of crime
intriguingly
interestingly, because of being strange or mysterious
twists and turns
unexpected changes and difficulties
rule
(here referring to a new law) decide officially
As the world's media gathered in Pretoria, where Nelson Mandela is being treated for a recurrent lung infection, there's been no fresh information about his health status.
Whilst the absence of any official updates did little to help the speculation, many took heart from a visit by Nelson Mandela's daughter Zindzi, who said that her father was well and a fighter.
Although Mr Mandela has rallied in the face of past health scares, there is an increasing acceptance among many South Africans that the former president is frail and not immortal.
Commentators are now daring to talk of a time without Mandela, urging South Africans to cherish his enduring achievements: an end to racist white rule and a constitution that is the envy of the world, as much as the man himself.
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recurrent
repeating
status
condition
speculation
ideas and discussion about what is happening
took heart
felt comforted (about something)
rallied in the face of
improved, despite difficulties
immortal
living forever
cherish
remember kindly
enduring
long lasting
constitution
set of laws that says how a country is ruled and particularly about the rights of the people who live there
The Queen first visited Broadcasting House in 1939. Back then she was a young princess, accompanying her father King George VI and her mother, Queen Elizabeth. Fourteen years later she was crowned.
In her six decades as Queen, the BBC's headquarters have seen many changes and challenges. During the Second World War the iconic art deco facade was damaged in the Blitz. Producers and announcers regularly took cover in a special air raid bunker. Since then, some of the building's wood panelled offices have been made famous by those who worked in them. Room 101 gave George Orwell inspiration for his novel 1984.
In recent years, Broadcasting House has had a one-and-a-half billion dollar revamp. The Queen will see the state-of-the-art glass fronted extension and inspect the BBC's multi-media newsroom.
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crowned
made king or queen at a special ceremony
iconic
well known and representing an idea
facade
front of the building
bunker
underground shelter with strong walls to protect the people inside it from bullets or bombs
inspiration
the idea (for doing something)
revamp
change or improvement
state-of-the-art
modern, using the latest technology
multi-media
using different types of media, such at television, radio and computers
The demonstrations overnight in Istanbul were the most dramatic so far. Protesters in the Dolmabahce neighbourhoods built barricades and tried to reach the prime minister's office.
Witnesses say they got hold of a digger and drove it at police lines. Demonstrators also tried to march on the prime minister's office in the capital Ankara. They were met by the police who fired tear gas and water cannon.
The government has reacted angrily to the continuing protests. The prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has dismissed accusations that he acts in an authoritarian manner.
Erdogan has insisted that a controversial plan to redevelop Gezi Park in Istanbul, the issue which sparked the initial protests on Friday, will still go ahead.
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demonstrations
public protests
dramatic
powerful in appearance or effect
barricades
structures which stop movement through an area or a road
digger
a vehicle that digs earth
tear gas
gas that makes eyes uncomfortable and people cry; often used by police in riots to control crowds
authoritarian
describes a government where individual freedom is second to the power or authority of the state
controversial
causing argument or disagreement
redevelop
to improve a building or area, which may include bringing parts of it back to their original condition
sparked
started; caused to start
It wasn't the opening which the organisers planned. Feminist protesters said the Barbie doll turned women into objects. A semi-naked member of the Femen protest group, had "Life in plastic is not fantastic" written on her bare chest. She set fire to a Barbie doll.
In what the organisers call the Barbie Dreamhouse Experience, a hundred gallons of pink paint were used to decorate the exhibition. The colour provoked a protest from a group called Pink Stinks whose members said there was too much emphasis on becoming more beautiful and on being pretty, and that put an awful lot of pressure on girls.
The other Barbie Dreamhouse, in America, has not been the target of protest. The Berlin version continues until August and then tours Europe. There will be more opportunity for protest - and also for visits by Barbie's countless fans.
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feminist
someone who wants equal rights and opportunities for women
objects
things you can see and touch, but are not living
provoked
caused a negative reaction (here: that led to a protest)
emphasis
attention / importance
pressure
trying to force, influence or persuade someone to do something (here: to look prettier)
target
focus / the central point
tours
travels around
countless
very many; too many to count
It's taken more than six centuries for the Catholic Church to officially recognise the heroism of hundreds of citizens of Otranto, a small town in the south of Italy who were executed by an invading Turkish army when they refused to convert to Islam.
But there was no hint of any anti-Islamic sentiment in the homily that Pope Francis delivered before tens of thousands of worshippers gathered in St Peters Square. Martyrs, he said, inspire Christians who are still suffering violence in many parts of the world, to respond to evil with good. He refrained from naming any single country, although the Catholic Church is deeply concerned about attacks on Christian communities in the Middle East and in East and West Africa.
Later this month an Italian priest murdered by the Sicilian mafia twenty years ago will be beatified - the last step before he too is declared a saint. Pope Francis, following the example of his immediate predecessors, is continuing the process of honouring a new generation of modern as well as historic martyrs. He wants to remind the world that thousands of Christians are still being persecuted for their faith and sometimes being killed in circumstances related to their religion.
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heroism
actions that show great bravery
to convert
(here) to change your religious belief
sentiment
feeling or attitude
homily
short speech on a moral or religious subject
martyrs
people who suffer or are killed because of their religious beliefs
refrained from
stopped himself from (doing or saying something)
beatified
(after someone's death) said by officials in the Catholic Church to be an especially good or holy person
honouring
publicly showing respect
persecuted
treated very badly or unfairly for a long time
The cholera epidemic began in Haiti near a camp for UN soldiers where there were leaking sewage pipes. Some human waste was also dumped outside the camp near a river. One of the UN's own experts on cholera, Danielle Lantagne, told the BBC it was "most likely" the disease originated in the UN camp. It housed UN soldiers from Nepal, where cholera is endemic.
The UN rejected an earlier call for compensation in this unprecedented case against the world body, saying it was immune from such claims. But the victims' lawyers say the UN is breaking international law. If mediation talks don't begin within 60 days, the lawyers say, they'll open legal proceedings in New York with claims totalling many billions of dollars.
The lawyers say they'll file claims for $100,000 for the families of those who have lost a loved one and $50,000 for every one of the hundreds of thousands of people who have fallen sick. The UN has said very little on the matter, apart from to insist it is immune from legal proceedings. At the same time, it may also be true that the United Nations simply doesn't know what to do in the face of what could have been a series of catastrophic and deadly errors. In private, UN officials say they're facing a moral crisis. Now they may be about to confront a very public legal battle as well.
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cholera
a serious disease, caused by drinking infected water
epidemic
when a disease spreads without control
sewage
human waste
originated
started
endemic
present in a particular area
unprecedented
something which has never happened before
immune
not able to be affected by something bad; protected
mediation talks
conversations to help reach an agreement
to insist
to say something with force
catastrophic
extremely harmful
Switzerland's high salaries, low unemployment, and stable currency are a magnet to Eurozone countries. Since the Swiss agreed to free movement of people, immigration from EU members has risen sharply, especially from Spain and Portugal, where unemployment is at crisis levels.
In Switzerland, there is tension. The right wing People's Party claims Swiss jobseekers are losing out; the Green Party says immigration is putting too much pressure on housing and public transport. Now the Swiss government has called a halt: being outside the EU means Switzerland has some flexibility, and from next month permanent work permits for EU citizens will be strictly limited.
Brussels has reacted angrily: EU officials have always told Switzerland it cannot cherry pick only those parts of European policy it likes best. Now, it's possible other deals the Swiss really need with Europe, on trade perhaps, could be in danger. Meanwhile, sceptical members of the European Union, like Britain, where many would like a less rigid relationship with the EU, will be watching Switzerland's move with interest.
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stable
steady, not likely to change
magnet
great attraction
Eurozone countries
sixteen nations which use the Euro as their currency
immigration
the permanent movement of non-native people into a country
at crisis levels
at a point where big problems could happen
called a halt
put a stop to it
work permits
written certificates allowing someone to work in a country
cherry pick
here: choose only the things that it likes
sceptical (US: skeptical)
lacking trust or confidence in something
rigid
fixed, not flexible
Rescue teams had already reached the remote villages in mountainous Baoxing County on foot, but landslides were blocking access to aid trucks and preventing some of the casualties from being brought out.
Now state media is reporting that a path has been cleared, although, in heavy fog, and with regular aftershocks, the going is slow.
Even in the more accessible areas of neighbouring Lushan county the aid effort has been hampered by congestion on the single road in, and some of those who've been made homeless are complaining that they've not yet received food or water.
Although on the same fault line, this earthquake was much less powerful than the one that struck Sichuan Province in 2008, and the death toll is not expected to rise significantly.
Once again though it is the poor who have borne the brunt of the disaster, with the biggest killer not the earthquake itself, but poorly constructed houses.
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mountainous
having a lot of mountains
on foot
by walking (without using transport or vehicles)
landslides
falls of rocks and earth down a mountain or slope
casualties
people who have been injured or killed in an accident or war
state media
media organisations controlled by the government
aftershocks
small earthquakes that follow a bigger one
the going is slow
progress is difficult or slow
hampered
made difficult
fault line
a long, deep crack in the Earth's surface
death toll
the number of people who died because of an event
borne the brunt of
suffered the main effects of
With the search and rescue operation now winding down, the authorities in West are focussing on ensuring there are no hazardous chemicals remaining on the site, which could be a threat to the public.
They are also trying to establish exactly what caused the fire and the explosion that followed it. There is little left of the factory or dozens of houses that bore the brunt of the blast.
Police are expected to start allowing residents back into the restricted area in the next 24 hours so people can see what's left of their homes and possessions.
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search and rescue operation
procedure to find and save people from a disaster
winding down
slowly stopping
ensuring
making sure
hazardous chemicals
dangerous materials
threat
possible or likely danger
to establish
to find and prove
dozens
groups of 12 (used here to mean lots)
bore the brunt
felt the most force
blast
explosion
restricted
limited
The former British Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher has died at the age of 87 following a stroke.
Her spokesman Lord Bell said: "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning."
Baroness Thatcher, who was was the leader of the British Conservative Party, served as prime minister from 1979 to 1990.
She was the first woman to hold the post.
Baroness Thatcher, who was born Margaret Roberts, became the Conservative MP for Finchley in north London in 1959. She retired from the House of Commons in 1992.
She won general elections in 1979, 1983 and 1987.
Baroness Thatcher's government privatised several state-owned industries. She was also in power when the UK went to war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands in 1982.
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Baroness
here: the title given to Margaret Thatcher by the Queen, as a reward for her work
stroke
a sudden change in blood supply to the brain, often causing the loss of ability to speak or move
to hold the post
to have the job or position
MP
short for Member of Parliament
retired
stopped working because of old age
House of Commons
the part of Parliament in the UK where politicians are chosen by the people to represent different parts of the country
general elections
occasions when people in a country vote to choose their political representatives
privatised
sold industries from government into private ownership
The president's advisors call the BRAIN project ambitious, even audacious. It aims to produce dynamic pictures of the brain that show, in the words of a White House statement, how individual cells and complex neural circuits interact at the speed of thought. Announcing the programme, Barack Obama said humans could identify distant galaxies and study subatomic particles, but still had a limited understanding of the brain.
Barack Obama:
"There's this enormous mystery waiting to be unlocked. The BRAIN Initiative will change that by giving scientists the tools they need to get a dynamic picture of the brain in action and better understand how we think and how we learn and how we remember."
That knowledge, he said, would be transformative: families no longer helpless at the onset of Parkinson's, and war veterans able to reverse the effects of traumatic brain injury. The administration reckons it costs around $500bn a year to treat the various conditions this project hopes to address. It believes that technological advances, in data processing and revolutionary new techniques like optogenetics mean that, for the first time, this hugely ambitious research is actually possible.
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audacious
showing extreme confidence and willingness to take risks and offend people
neural circuits
a system of connected neurons: cells that send and receive messages to and from the brain
subatomic particles
extremely small pieces of matter that are smaller than atoms or forming part of atoms
initiative
a project designed to achieve something or solve a problem
transformative
causing significant changes or improvement in a situation
onset
the beginning of something, especially something unpleasant or bad
war veterans
people who fought in the armed forces during a war
traumatic
causing severe shock, upset, or emotional distress
address
deal with
optogenetics
the use of optics (the study of light) and genetics (the study of how features and behaviour of living things are passed on through genes) to control things that happen in cells
With more than half a billion Chinese online, and many of them avid microbloggers, the speed of censorship uncovered on Sina Weibo is astonishing. The researchers mined data on microblog comments removed by administrators, and found that nearly a third of the deleted posts were taken down in the first 30 minutes.
Unsurprisingly, criticism of the government, local scandals and complaints about China's one-child policy were blocked most quickly. But the team worked out that if none of the process was automated, Sina Weibo would need to employ more than 4,000 speed-reading censors a day, just to keep up.
The researchers uncovered a range of devices aimed at bringing bloggers into line. They included: hiding posts from other users, flagging repeat offenders for closer scrutiny, and tracking backwards to delete sensitive topics everywhere they arose.
With China's media so strictly controlled, the study has raised questions about why microblogs allow people to post before censorship at all. One of the researchers, Professor Dan Wallach, told the BBC that Sina Weibo had to satisfy government censorship requirements without seeming heavy-handed to its bloggers. He said it had to walk a fine line.
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avid
extremely keen, enthusiastic and interested
censorship
deleting parts of books, films, newspapers, etc. that are believed to be unsuitable
mined
found by searching carefully for a long time
scandals
situations in which important people behave in a dishonest or immoral way that shocks a lot of people
bringing bloggers into line
forcing bloggers to follow the rules
flagging
making a note of; highlighting something for more attention
scrutiny
detailed and very close attention or examination
to satisfy
to please someone by giving them what they want or need
heavy-handed
using too much force
to walk a fine line
to be very careful in finding the right balance
No matter how baffling it may seem to outsiders, the allure of a dead socialist leader can't be underestimated. In Moscow, Beijing and Hanoi, the corpses of Lenin, Mao and Ho Chi Minh are displayed under subdued lighting for equally subdued lines of people to file past, paying silent respects.
In North Korea, Kim Il-sung's public resting place was recently renovated to accommodate the embalmed remains of his son Kim Jong-il.
In Beijing, visitors to Mao Zedong are encouraged to buy flowers for him, though they must leave them outside.
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's revolutionary leader, wanted to be cremated but was preserved nonetheless. Outside his mausoleum Vietnamese queue in their hundreds for entry: schoolchildren, grizzled old men; women dressed in traditional ao dai.
The pull of the embalming fluid becomes still more puzzling when a country has politically moved on. Lenin has so far survived several attempts to evict him from Red Square, though the Soviet Union is long gone.
In China, Mao lingers at the heart of a capital which also plays host nowadays to Starbucks and McDonald's. But so far, China's politicians can still quote the sayings of Mao while pursuing policies widely at variance with his legacy.
It's a balancing act that critics of the embalming of Venezuela's president will now be anxiously watching.
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baffling
puzzling, confusing, difficult to understand
allure
an attractive, interesting or exciting quality
subdued
(of colour) not bright; (of sound) not loud
to file past
to move past (something) one by one
embalmed
preserved using chemicals to stop it decaying (of a dead person's body)
cremated
burned as part of a funeral ceremony (of a dead person's body)
grizzled
having grey hair and looking old
evict
force someone to leave somewhere
lingers
stays longer than is necessary
at variance with
different to
We now have a first-hand account of what compelled Bradley Manning to carry out the biggest leak of government secrets in American history.
He told the military court he'd been appalled by the "bloodlust" of a helicopter mission in Iraq - video of which he passed on to Wikileaks. He said that while serving in Iraq, he'd become depressed at what he called America's "obsession" with capturing and killing human targets. And that the American people should know the "true costs of war".
As for the leaked State Department cables, Private Manning said they "documented backdoor deals and criminality" unbecoming of a superpower, and insisted his conscience was clear.
The military judge accepted the defendant's plea of guilty to 10 of the 22 counts. But Bradley Manning denies the most serious charge of aiding America's enemies - a charge which potentially carries a life sentence. Prosecutors have indicated that they plan to push ahead with a full court martial in the summer.
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first-hand account
a written or spoken report about something given by somebody who was involved
compelled
forced, caused
leak
release and deliberate sharing of secret information with the public
bloodlust
the enjoyment of and desire to see violence
cables
messages sent by cable (a length of wire, often covered with plastic)
backdoor
secretive and often dishonest or illegal
unbecoming
inappropriate or unacceptable (of behaviour)
plea
statement given in court in response to being accused of a crime
life sentence
punishment of being put in jail for a long time or until death, depending on the laws of the country
push ahead with
continue doing something difficult or unpleasant
court martial
(a trial in) a military court which examines accusations against members of the armed forces
The hotel suites are cheaper than apartments in Hong Kong. Hundreds of people lined up for hours to buy a unit at the Apex Horizon Hotel this week. It's not clear whether investors can legally live in the suites but buyers are still eager.
Voice of Hong Kong man:
The developer had lawyers look at it thoroughly so I'm not worried.
Voice of Hong Kong woman:
At these prices the hotel suites are cheaper to buy than public housing.
The hotel was able to sell all 360 of its suites in two days - a sign there is a demand for affordable housing. Hong Kong's low interest rate has attracted hordes of mainland Chinese investors.
It pushed home prices to record highs last year. Flats cost an average of US$14,000 per square metre in central locations. Many residents feel they can no longer afford to buy apartments.
Hong Kong people cope by renting makeshift homes on rooftops, while others move into so-called cage homes - hutches made from wire-mesh, stacked on top of each other in a tiny room. The government's efforts to cool down property prices have not worked. So Hong Kong residents have to be creative in finding space to live.
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lined up
queued up in a row
eager
very keen, enthusiastic
affordable
something ordinary people have the money to pay for
hordes
a large group or crowd
cope
deal with the issue
makeshift
poor quality, made of whatever material is available
hutches
small structures, used for keeping small animals in, especially rabbits
cool down
slow down the increase in
In a terse statement, the spokesman for the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said the damages claim was 'not receivable', under a convention that grants the United Nations immunity for its actions.
Families of the victims are demanding millions of dollars in compensation, accusing the UN of introducing the disease to Haiti. The UN has never admitted responsibility, despite mounting evidence that the epidemic was caused by poor sanitation at a peacekeeping camp.
A lawyer for the cholera victims told the BBC that UN immunity could not mean impunity, and said the case would now be pursued in a national court. The lawyer, Brian Concannon, said the victims' legal team would challenge the UN's right to immunity from Haitian courts, on the grounds that it hadn't established an alternative mechanism for dealing with accountability issues, as stipulated in its agreement with the government.
He also said lifting immunity would not challenge UN policy, which is protected by the convention, but its practice, such as how to test troops for disease and properly dispose of sewage.
There's evidence that infected Nepalese peacekeepers caused the epidemic by dumping untreated waste into a key river system, but the UN insists it's impossible to pinpoint blame definitively. Late last year it launched an initiative to eliminate cholera in Haiti by investing in clean drinking water and sanitation systems, a move Mr Concannon said he considered an unofficial response to the victims' claims.
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terse
short and angry
convention
acceptable and agreed way to do something
immunity
protection from legal action
compensation
payment for the problems that they have faced
mounting
increasing
sanitation
facilities for providing clean water and disposing of human waste
impunity
protection from punishment
mechanism
acceptable and effective procedure
stipulated
specified as important and necessary
to pinpoint
to precisely/exactly locate
Not only at the grounds where thousands of Sinhalese gathered, but throughout the surrounding streets too, the hardline nationalistic speeches resounded.
The Buddhist Strength Force, founded nine months ago, used explicitly racial rhetoric. One monk, its leader, told the crowd that "only monks can save this race", meaning the Sinhalese, who are about three-quarters of Sri Lanka's population.
A poster depicted a lion, symbol of the Sinhalese, telling its cub: "This land belongs to you and its soil is red with the blood of your people".
The group denies being anti-minority. But its youth activists wore T-shirts denouncing the halal system whereby the Muslim minority certifies which goods are acceptable to consume.
Referring to Muslim clerics in derogatory language, the monk said what he called Christian and Muslim extremists were threatening Buddhists. He said there were 400 such Christian organisations and a hostile army of 12,000 Muslims allegedly trained in the Middle East.
But hundreds of monks were ready to fight: "Our country is a Sinhalese one and we are its unofficial police", he added. Both Muslims and Christians deny promoting extremism in Sri Lanka.
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hardline
very strict and extreme
explicitly
clearly and exactly
rhetoric
language which is intended to influence people's emotions and behaviour
depicted
showed
anti-minority
opposed to smaller ethnic or religious groups
denouncing
criticising strongly and in public
halal
(of an animal or its meat) killed and prepared in a way which is demanded by Islamic law
derogatory
offensive and not showing respect
hostile
unfriendly and trying to create conflict
promoting extremism
encouraging very strong beliefs which most people think are unacceptable
Eyewitnesses describe seeing a fireball curving through the clear sky, and an extremely intense light as it passed overhead.
It seems to have been a meteor, and left a white condensation trail behind it. A couple of minutes later there was a loud bang.
The shock wave from the blast blew out windows across the region round Chelyabinsk in the Ural mountains.
People who'd rushed to look out and see what was happening were injured by flying glass.
Everyone went outside to check their neighbours were OK, and the mobile phone network collapsed, briefly overwhelmed by the volume of calls.
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Eyewitnesses
people who have seen something then talked about it to the authorities or media
curving
bending, not moving in a straight line
intense
very bright and strong
condensation trail
a line in the sky formed of water vapour which can be seen following an object
shock wave
invisible force of pressure caused by an explosion
blew out
broke, smashed
collapsed
failed
overwhelmed by
unable to deal with
the volume of
the large number of
Even by the standards of Church ritual, the confirmation of an Archbishop of Canterbury's election is an extraordinary event. Senior bishops will sit in St Paul's Cathedral as a court of law, using elaborate language and flowery titles to certify Justin Welby in his new post.
The ceremony, little changed over centuries, was originally intended to prevent false claimants being appointed to what were lucrative posts as bishop. Bishop Welby's enthronement, amid colourful ritual and soaring music, is next month in Canterbury Cathedral, and the event has usually eclipsed this legal ceremony.
However, Justin Welby requested that today's event be set in a full church service - including hymns and a sermon - to reflect the essentially religious nature of his new post. As the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, reads and signs a 'final proclamation', Bishop Welby will become archbishop, and spiritual leader of some 80 million Anglicans across the world.
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ritual
solemn formal ceremony
court of law
place where judges hear cases and make decisions based on the rules of the country
flowery
(of language) elaborate or complicated
lucrative posts
positions that are well paid
enthronement
ceremony where a person with authority or influence, such as monarch or archbishop, starts their new role
amid
amongst
eclipsed
overshadowed or dominated
essentially
mostly or primarily
proclamation
public or official announcement
Anglicans
members of the Church of England
In President Obama's second term there are two longer-term developments that will affect the relationship with Europe. The first is the US budget deficit, the second the so-called "pivot" - or the rebalancing of focus towards Asia.
America's finances will mean, now even more than in the first term, the US will be what some have called a "frugal superpower" - leading from behind as they did in Libya, and as they look to be doing in Mali.
But then that frugal nature is not altogether bad news. The US remains by far the biggest customer for European exporters.
Generally the Europeans are content with the status quo. The last thing they need at a time when Europe is so embroiled in its own internal debates, is the external distraction of a change in guard across the pond.
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budget deficit
the amount of money a government needs to clear its debt
frugal
careful with spending
leading from behind
playing an important part without being seen to be making all the decisions
look to be
seem to be
altogether
completely
by far
by a great amount
status quo
the current situation
embroiled in
involved with something difficult or complicated
change in guard
change in leadership
across the pond
on the other side of the Atlantic (used by the UK and US to refer to each other)
The world has limited resources and a growing population. By the end of this century there could be three billion extra mouths to feed. So wasting food, this new report says, is a tragedy that should not continue. The study says changing the way consumers in the rich world reject less-than-perfect-looking vegetables in the shops, and eat large quantities of meat - which requires a lot of resources to bring to market - could have an impact.
But the engineers who wrote this report also recommend better use of scarce land and water around the whole world. They say that putting more land to agriculture will be difficult without damaging the environment, so improving the efficiency of farming is vital. The report says better irrigation is the key here, because water used in agriculture is often sourced badly: from aquifers which are poorly managed. In some cases, the engineers say, governments and aid agencies have exacerbated this problem by sinking boreholes in the wrong places.
The report also says that irrigating crops through spraying or flooding fields is wasteful because so much of the water evaporates. It says that drip or trickle methods of irrigation, while more expensive to install, can be as much as a third more efficient.
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a growing population
an increasing number of people living in a particular area or place
tragedy
a serious situation or disaster
consumers
people who buy things
agriculture
farming; growing and producing food
irrigation
supplying land with water by artificial means to help crops to grow
aquifers
rocks which contain groundwater
exacerbated
made worse
boreholes
spaces drilled into the ground in order to extract water, gas or minerals
evaporates
loses moisture into the air
trickle
tiny flow of liquid
Tobacco companies and retailers that try to circumvent Australia's plain-packaging laws could face prosecution, according to health authorities.
They're investigating whether to take action against cardboard covers and stickers that hide graphic anti-smoking warnings.
One firm that produces labels says that sales have soared because consumers can't stand the sight of the packets they buy.
Just over a month ago, Australia banned all tobacco company logos and colours from packaging, which now has disturbing colour pictures of smokers suffering from tongue and lung cancer.
The president of the Australian Medical Association, Steve Hambleton, is confident that those who attempt to skirt the legislation will be shut down.
President of the Australian Medical Association, Steve Hambleton:
If you're trying to circumvent it, it's not right, and I know that the government will actually either fix the problem by changing the law or enforcing the law. But the second thing I thought was, this is obviously working. If companies are going out of their way to hide the warnings and to hide the labels, they know it's having an impact and that's reassuring for us.
Tobacco companies had argued that Australia's plain packaging measures would deprive them of copyright without proper compensation. But in August their case was dismissed by the High Courts.
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to circumvent
to find a way to avoid obeying a rule or law
plain-packaging laws
laws which state that cigarettes cannot be sold in branded and attractive boxes
face prosecution
have legal charges brought against them
graphic
explicit, showing unpleasant images
soared
risen very quickly
can't stand the sight of
hate to look at
disturbing
unpleasant
to skirt
to avoid
going out of their way to (do something)
doing things they wouldn't normally do
compensation
money received to make up for a financial loss caused by someone else
The poignant fruits of a prison courtyard.
On South Africa's Robben Island, famous for its jail, volunteers are harvesting vines planted in a garden once tended by its most famous inmate, Nelson Mandela.
Over the years many people have been accused of trying to cash in on the Mandela brand but the participants in this scheme see it as a way of cherishing his memory.
poignant
causing a strong emotional feeling
tended by
looked after by
inmate
prisoner
to cash in on
to take advantage of a connection or association with a person or event, often for financial gain
cherishing
affectionately protecting