Plain English

Many stores are going cashless—meaning, they only accept cards and mobile payments. Retailers say it lowers costs, improves speed at the counter, and helps with employee safety. But others say it discriminates against those who don’t have access to credit. In Sweden, the world’s most cashless society, even the banks don’t take cash. Plus, learn the phrase “point to” when describing an argument. Re...

Coca-Cola will be releasing a new flavor in 25 countries this year: Coca-Cola Plus Coffee. The new concoction has been tested in select markets and will be rolled out to a wider market this year. Reviewers say the recipe tastes like classic Coke at first, followed by coffee. The company says it will have more caffeine than a normal serving of cola, but less sugar. They are hoping to capture the af...

The legendary golfer, who was once one of the biggest superstars in all of sports before an epic personal and professional downfall, won the Master’s Tournament, the crowning achievement in a career resurgence that few thought possible. Tiger Woods went from being the best golfer in the world to being ranked 1,199th at his worst point. His comeback, years in the making, was complete with a dramati...

After seeing the haunting images of the 850-year-old cathedral ablaze in central Paris, many feared that France would lose its greatest national symbol. But while the cathedral’s spire fell and its 13th-Century roof collapsed, the main structure, including the famed limestone towers, remained intact. France's president, Emmanuel Macron, has vowed to rebuild the cathedral within five years and Pari...

Over 900 million people are eligible to vote in India’s general election this month, the world’s biggest exercise in democracy. To reach all those voters, poll workers have to canoe through crocodile-infested waters, hike over mountains, and traverse punishing deserts. After a monthlong process of gathering votes, the votes will be counted in a few hours, and a new parliament will be elected. Plus...

For the first time ever, a black hole, one of the greatest mysteries of the universe, has been captured in an image. Scientists released the image of radio waves surrounding a black hole in the constellation Virgo after years of analyzing data collected from eight telescopes around the world. The image confirms many aspects of Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity. Plus, learn the English phrase...

When the calendar flips to May 1, Japan will have a new emperor and it will begin a new official era. Eras in Japan are long periods of time during which a single emperor serves, and each era has an official name that is supposed to describe that time period in Japan. After some deliberation, a group of scholars and experts announced the name of the new era, “Reiwa,” which means fortunate, peace,...

HBO’s hit drama “Game of Thrones,” which has a cult following around the world, will conclude with six episodes in its eighth and final season. Each episode cost $15 million to make, on average. The cast spent over 55 days filming just one battle scene. The final four episodes will all be about 80 minutes each. Ever since details of season 7 emerged on Reddit last year, HBO has been extremely care...

A new restaurant on the southern coast of Norway has a unique location: it’s underwater. Appropriately named “Under,” the restaurant will serve a multi-course tasting menu of seafood and local ingredients. It will also study the surrounding marine life. From their tables, diners will be able to see seals, lobster, sea urchins, and even tiny sharks. Plus, learn what it means to be “weighed down.” R...

Although March 29 was originally supposed to be the date on which Britain left the European Union, the country is still part of the EU and still cannot decide how it wants to leave. The government’s proposed agreement to leave the union was rejected for a third time. Almost three years after its vote to leave the EU, Britain is no closer to finding a consensus on what kind of Brexit they want. Plu...

The millennial generation—those born between 1982 and the early 2000s—are making their mark on the world of work. They want to have purpose in their careers, value learning and development, demand frequent feedback from their managers, and are willing to switch jobs frequently if they’re not happy at work. Plus, learn the English phrase “turn something on its head.” Read the full transcript of thi...

Alex Trebek, who has hosted over 7,000 episodes of the quiz show Jeopardy!, announced in a video that he has stage-four pancreatic cancer. Since the show debuted in 1984, Trebek and the show Jeopardy! have become fixtures of dinnertime in America. He is impeccably dressed, well-prepared, always generous toward contestants, and he keeps the focus on the clues and the contestants—not on himself. He...

The world of elite university admissions was rocked when American federal prosecutors charged over 50 people involved in an illegal cheating and bribery scheme to help undeserving kids get into top schools. Over 33 parents—including Hollywood actresses, business executives, and prominent doctors—were charged with paying bribes, cheating on tests, and lying in applications, all in an effort to get...

A problem with the automation software on Boeing’s 737-MAX, the newest version of its popular jet, has caused two fatal crashes in just five months, investigators think. The latest crash, of an Ethiopian Air jet just last week, killed 157 people after it went down six minutes after taking off. The problem was a new stabilization system, which is also believed to be behind a crash in Indonesia in O...

Pack your sunscreen and your swimsuit! In the second episode in our occasional series on destinations, we explore the US and British Virgin Islands. Whether you like relaxing vacations on the beach or you need to stay active, you can find the right vacation speed here. The Islands are the perfect place to snorkel around coral reefs, explore a shipwreck, or just sip some Ting as you enjoy the sunse...

For just the second time since the global AIDS epidemic began almost 40 years ago, HIV has been eliminated from a patient’s body. But scientists are not calling the breakthrough a “cure,” since the procedure is not applicable to most people with HIV. Scientists have discovered a genetic mutation that is resistant to HIV, and they have given that mutation to another patient. Unfortunately, that req...

Who knew organizing your home could be this much fun? Marie Kondo is bestselling author and has her own Netflix show; the Japanese organizing consultant was even spotted at the Oscars this year. Her message is simple: you should organize your possessions by category and only keep the things that spark joy in your life. If you don’t want to take something into your future, you should thank that obj...

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a large area in the ocean between California and Hawaii where almost 2 trillion tiny pieces of discarded plastic have accumulated and have not escaped, thanks to ocean currents and winds. A young Dutch entrepreneur invented a contraption to clean up the garbage, but the first tests of the device were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, other scientists wonder if the attempt...

Organizers of the Paris Olympics in 2024 want breakdancing to be among the sports featured in the City of Lights. If selected, it would join skateboarding, climbing, and surfing among the newer Olympic “sports” aimed at appealing to a younger generation. Breakdancing is the most popular type of hip-hop dance and originated in the United States in the 1960s and 1970s. Plus, learn the English expres...

The trouble was just beginning for Norwegian Air when one of its planes had to make an emergency landing in Iran. The low-cost airline had no personnel in Iran, and American sanctions made it difficult to import the parts it needed to get its plane out of the country. The plane was stranded for over 70 days before Norwegian finally fixed it and brought it home. Plus, learn the English phrase “by t...

Mexican drug kingpin Joaquín Guzmán, better known as El Chapo, was convicted in an American court and will spend the rest of his life in jail, without possibility of parole. But the Sinaloa Cartel he co-founded and led for decades still thrives, as do other drug cartels in Mexico. Will El Chapo’s conviction slow the drug trade, or will it be business as usual? Plus, learn the English phrase “a sle...

Fifty-nine new emojis were approved in 2019 and the main theme is individuality. Emojis that allow you to express a disability include a hearing aid, a person with a guide dog, and a prosthetic leg. You can also show people holding hands (in a variety of skin tones and genders). Eastern culture is represented with a Hindu temple, a sari, and even an auto-rickshaw. And what would we do without the...

Last summer’s blockbuster movie “Crazy Rich Asians” has the outlines of a fairly typical Hollywood romantic comedy—but don’t despair, because it’s stunning scenery, extravagant parties, and excellent soundtrack are more than enough to keep you entertained. The all-Asian cast is just a bonus. Plus, learn the English phrase “measure up.” Read the full transcript of this episode at http://www.plainen...

In just twenty years, the internet has revolutionized the search for a romantic partner. One third of marriages in the US begin online in some fashion and studies say such couples stay together longer, and are happier, than those that begin offline. Seniors, people in rural areas, religious minorities, and same-sex couples all benefit from the new dating dynamic. But there are some drawbacks, incl...

A blast of Arctic air clobbered the Midwest of the United States at the end of January, bringing life in the major cities and the farms and fields to a halt. Businesses told workers to stay home, airlines canceled flights, and the infrastructure of life strained under the frigid temperatures, which reached minus-25 degrees Fahrenheit. Your host managed to disappear during the cold temps. Plus, lea...