BBC Global News 7

Titanium Stresser
A teenage hacker will be sentenced next week for creating  a computer programme called "Titanium Stresser". The software was in fact a cyber weapon used for about 2 million cyber attacks. The hacker was selling it to criminals and earned over half a million dollars. The programme attacked for example Cambridge University, Sony Playstation and Xbox. The hacker first used his software to attack his own school.
I think it's good that information like that is published in the news because it might warn all of us of the possible cyber crime that we may experience in the internet.

- cyber attack
If you use the internet you need to be prepared for a possible cyber attack you might experience.

-to be sentenced 
It's possible that the hacker will be sentenced for a few years in prison

- a hearing
The hearing of the teenage hacker will take place in London this week.

BBC Global News 6

Why music intros are now shorter?

 In mid 80s average intros to songs were about 20 seconds long and now they're usually not longer that 5 seconds . Research showed that it happened because of the online streaming of music which is so popular now. The musicans and producers are so desperate to grab the attention of listeners because it's so easy to switch to another song. That's why the vocals appear so quickly, they are supposed to interest the listener. 

 I remember that when I was little, long intros always annoyed me very much, but now I've started to appreciate them more and more, because they help you to get into a certain theme or melody. It's a pity that now intros are so short but on the other hand I understand the problem that music producers struggle with... people might be very fussy sometimes.

-diminishing when something becomes lower

Nowadays music intros are diminishing drastically.

-down to sth

Songs intros are now usually down to 5 seconds.

 

-to grab sb's attention to get somebody's attention, to interest somebody with something

Quickly appearing vocals in the songs are supposed to grab our attention and interest us.

BBC Global News 5

Saving the elephants

Late last year, in December the chinese government decided to close most of the ivory shops and factories. On Friday half of them were supposed to be oficially closed down by the end of the day. And the rest of the shops and factories should be closed by the end of this year. The chinese government, and the representatives from Africa hope this action will help to minimise illegal poaching in Africa and to bring the elephants from the brink of exintction.

I was so happy to hear that news because I think it is the issue that should have been solved ages ago. In my opinion industries shouldn't use animals in such a cruel way, especially if there is a danger that these species are in danger of extinction.

ivory - elephant's bone

The ivory trade was very popular for a long time.

poaching - the illegal hunt of animals

There are many activist that fight with the poaching.

to close down 

The factories that were producing things made of ivory are now closing down.