Today's News 03/07/20 - UK offers help to Hongkongers / 4th July celebrations will be different

Just Talking English

Hello, this is the World News Podcast from Just Talking English, listen to the most important news, while learning and training English. I'm Edward Jr and for today, these are our main stories. “Welcome to Just Talking English News. Let's start today talking about Hong Kong again.” HONG KONG – Things are getting more complicated in Hong Kong. The protest against the new law imposed by China caused thousands, I said, thousands of people to take the streets on Wednesday. So far or until the moment, more than 370 people have been arrested. It is sad, but that is what is happening there. The international community does not agree with China's new law, especially UK (United Kingdom). Hong Kong was a British colony and they have a strong and special relationship because of that. And get ready for this! UK now offers citizenship to all Hongkongers who wish to move to the United Kingdom. Needless to say or I dont need to say that it made China extremely furious or angry and strongly condemn the offer, and even declaring or saying that the decision to offer Hongkongers citizenship will have negative consequences for the British country. Well, UK is right to do something to help. If you can help and are willing to help, then take a deep breath and start taking actions in this direction. This is what they are doing. You can find this news on The Guardian website. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/02/britains-citizenship-offer-to-hong-kong-how-china-could-respond INDEPENDENCE DAY – Now changing the topic to United States. For millions of Americans, celebrating the 4th of July is some kind of ritual and tradition. Some of the most popular ways in which Americans remember Britain's Independence Day, which happened in 1776, is by having parades; parades is a public celebration, you know, when a large number of people walking on the street, all going in the same direction. They also have public fireworks and large family reunions. But this year things will look a little different. Why? Well, first of all, parades or public celebrations were canceled and needless to say why, there is no need to say the reason. Coronavirus continues to increase or grow in the US. Fireworks are almost the same as Independence Day, but the case is: have you ever heard about secret fireworks? Yeah, the problem is that, a large number of people or crowds, gathering to watch or coming together to watch or joining to watch the fireworks. They solved the problem with the idea of not telling people where it is going to happen, until it happens for just five minutes, and they are encouraging people to watch the fireworks from home on TV. Bars, restaurants and even beaches will be closed over the weekend or during the weekend, and I read on BBC News that there are plans for Black Lives Matter protest on 4th of July in Washington DC. The year 2020 is being very strange, weird or unusual. Maybe this is a time to rethink. You can find this news on BBC website. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-53254889 And that was all for us for now, you can read the transcript of this podcast on the Just Talking English website. I'm Edward Jr, until next time, goodbye.