Pronunciation ChallengeCNN10: India Suffocating / Genocide / New Tech

Transcript

COVID-19 Suffocates India

The South Asian country, India, is our first story today. The country is experiencing a new wave of coronavirus infections and this time, it's a big one. India is the second most populated nation on the planet. It's almost one-third the size of the United States, but four times the people (1.3 billion). Health experts say the country's first wave of coronavirus infections peaked last September and October, during that time India was reporting about 100,000 positive tests per day. The numbers dropped during the winter of 2020, but this month they skyrocketed. India has recorded more than 300,000 new cases each day since mid-April, 2021.

In India’s capital city, New Delhi, there is both a lockdown and a shortage of oxygen supplies, which is used to help people who are critically sick and having trouble breathing. Since New Delhi doesn't produce its own oxygen supplies, a single oxygen tank that was sold at 6000 rupees before the pandemic is now 50,000 rupees. So the country has been desperately asking for help from other countries. Despite India's spike in coronavirus cases, the country's medical officials are telling people not to panic. A large percentage of those who were tested positive for COVID-19 have no symptoms. But if people with mild cases rushed to hospitals, which some of them already have, it puts pressure on medical centers and makes it harder for them to focus on those who are at higher risk from severe cases; that’s why experts urged for people who have mild or no symptoms at all to treat themselves at home.


Biden says Armenian Mass Killing was Genocide

And now moving onto our second news of the day. Taking you on a short trip of history. The Ottoman Empire was home to about two million Armenians more than 100 years ago, an ancient group of people who lived in the region. By 1922, the number of Armenians and what had become Turkey had fallen to 400,000. What happened to them? Armenians said it was genocide. During World War I, the Ottoman Empire either murdered or forced hundreds of thousands of Armenians to flee. Although, there is photographic evidence that large numbers of Armenians were killed. The Turkish Government, on the other hand, strongly opposes the use of the word “genocide”. They said Turkish and Armenian lives were both lost during World War I. The term “genocide” has divided Turkey and Armenia. It's also a word that American leaders have hesitated to use. But this month, President Joe Biden officially recognized the Armenian genocide at the hands of the Ottoman Empire. Check out today’s CNN10 video for more detailed information, also be sure to witness the successful passenger experience of Hyperloop, a transportation technology that claims to be able to travel at 1080 km/h, pretty unbelievable!

And now here’s our sentence of the day:

Despite India's spike in coronavirus cases, the country's medical officials are telling people not to panic.


Vocabulary:

1. spike
to rise to a higher amount or level

Ex: The unemployment rate in October spiked to a new record high.

2. officials
People who have position of responsibility in an organization

Ex: Government officials declared a state of emergency due to water contamination

3. panic
a sudden strong feeling of fear that prevents reasonable thought and action

Ex: Everyone in the bank panicked upon hearing the gunfire.


Epilogue
That’s all the time we have for today.
Can you believe it? An oxygen tank for 50,000 rupees.
That’s almost NT$20,000…
I feel so grateful and lucky to be in Taiwan, where the pandemic is controlled and prevented.
Dear listeners, no matter where you are in this world.
We’re all in this together. Stay safe and keep the faith. We shall overcome.
This is Ken Miao and I will see you guys again next week.
Peace.