English Listening Practice — August 20, 2026

⚔️ At least 15 killed in Kyiv as Ukraine grapples with air defence shortages

Overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv have claimed at least 15 lives.

The barrage inflicted widespread destruction across the capital, damaging apartment blocks, warehouses, a school, and a children’s hospital.

Surveying the wreckage in the Solomianskyi district, Mayor Vitali Klitschko issued an urgent appeal to international partners.

He warned that Ukraine desperately requires fresh replenishments of ammunition and anti-missile systems.

President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed this stance.

He underscored that the fatal toll stems directly from an acute deficit of Western-supplied air defense missiles.

🇨🇳 Taiwan proposes record US$35b defence budget for 2027 as PLA’s pressure grows

Taiwan has proposed an unprecedented defense budget of thirty-five billion U.S. dollars for 2027.

This record fiscal allocation marks a decisive strategic buildup.

The move comes amid escalating geopolitical pressure and intensified posturing from China's People's Liberation Army.

Taiwanese authorities intend to strengthen their military deterrence and modernize combat capabilities across the island.

The ambitious spending plan signals a major push to reinforce territorial sovereignty.

It reflects growing regional urgency while bolstering defense readiness against sustained cross-strait tensions.

🏛️ Bangladesh lawmakers elect BNP's Alamgir as president

Bangladeshi lawmakers have elected 78-year-old BNP nominee Alamgir to the nation's largely ceremonial presidency.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s ruling party leveraged its commanding two-thirds parliamentary majority to clinch the victory.

Alamgir defeated opposition challenger Oli Ahmed, a retired army officer-turned-politician representing a Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the newly elected president expressed profound gratitude to his party leadership.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to stand beside the people and serve them throughout his tenure.

🇨🇳 Founder of collapsed Chinese property giant Evergrande sentenced to life in prison

Hui Ka Yan, founder of the collapsed Chinese property giant Evergrande, has received a life sentence in prison.

The Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court also ordered the total confiscation of his personal estate.

Hui previously pleaded guilty to several charges, including asset embezzlement and corporate bribery.

Furthermore, the court levied 15.82 billion yuan—about 2.35 billion dollars—in corporate fines against his former businesses.

Other executives, including Hui's two sons, Xu Zhijian and Xu Tenghe, received prison terms ranging from 22 months to 18 years.

📰 US national debt passes $40tn after doubling in a decade

The US national debt has eclipsed the forty trillion dollar threshold.

As of August eighteenth, total borrowing reached forty point zero five trillion dollars.

That figure has doubled since 2016, when debt stood just under twenty trillion.

Years of heavy spending across both the Trump and Biden administrations drove this surge.

Higher interest payments have further accelerated the climb.

Consequently, the nation is quickly approaching its forty-one point one trillion dollar debt ceiling.

The Congressional Budget Office now projects overall debt will swell to approximately sixty-four trillion dollars by 2036.

📰 Samsung Electronics poised for $72bn shareholder return program

South Korean semiconductor powerhouse Samsung Electronics is poised to unveil a massive shareholder return program.

The capital allocation initiative is valued at a total of 100 trillion won, or roughly 72 billion dollars.

Samsung leadership is expected to convene a decisive board meeting on August 21.

During this session, board members are anticipated to formally greenlight and sanction the extensive framework.

The forthcoming approval will establish a substantial payout strategy for the global tech giant.

⚖️ mRNA cancer vaccine succeeded in Phase 3 melanoma trial, Moderna and Merck say

Moderna and Merck announced positive interim results from a Phase 3 trial evaluating their tailored mRNA cancer vaccine, intismeran.

The double-blind study enrolled 1,137 patients with surgically removed stage IIB to IV melanoma.

Participants received either Merck’s Keytruda alone or a combination regimen pairing Keytruda with the mRNA vaccine.

Both cohorts underwent treatment for approximately one year.

According to the drugmakers, the combination therapy yielded statistically significant and clinically meaningful gains in both recurrence-free survival and distant metastasis-free survival.

Detailed data remain undisclosed.

🇨🇳 The floodgates are open after another Chinese company lands a reusable rocket

China's aerospace sector is rapidly accelerating its push into reusable rocketry.

Both state-backed entities and private firms are developing reusable launch vehicles.

Last December, these companies initiated their first recovery attempts.

LandSpace made the maiden flight of its Zhuque-3 rocket.

While the booster reached orbit, it missed its targeted touchdown.

Weeks later, the state-owned Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology flew its Long March 12A.

That mission yielded similar results.

These milestones reflect a growing field of Chinese competitors vying to master propulsive landings.

🤖 It used to be our imperfect bodies that made us insecure. With AI, it’s our minds as well

In 1970, Japanese robotics professor Masahiro Mori identified the “uncanny valley” phenomenon.

He discovered that robots engineered to closely mirror humans often provoke profound discomfort rather than trust.

Although humanoid technology aims to foster rapport, near-human likenesses consistently trigger instinctive unease.

This psychological friction arises when observers encounter an entity they cannot definitively categorize as human or non-human.

Ultimately, we perceive an innate threat when confronted with subjects that hover ambiguously between authentic humanity and synthetic approximation.

🏎️ Verstappen extends Red Bull deal to 2030

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has committed his long-term future to Red Bull.

The 28-year-old Dutch driver inked a contract extension that anchors him through 2030.

The move effectively quashes persistent speculation linking him with rival outfits Mercedes and McLaren.

His previous agreement ran until 2028, but harbored exit clauses permitting an early departure.

Calling Red Bull a second family, Verstappen reiterated his resolve to return the team to the pinnacle of the sport.

⚽ Minority investment or takeover - what does Bezos' Liverpool deal mean?

Fenway Sports Group has sold an approximate 38 percent minority stake in Liverpool to 1892 Holdings, a consortium backed by Jeff Bezos.

The revised figure sparked confusion after earlier guidance pegged the transaction closer to one-third.

FSG generally refrains from disclosing precise ownership allocations.

However, the Boston-based conglomerate offered approximate parameters to address rampant media speculation.

FSG denied deliberately downplaying the magnitude of the investment.

Instead, executives maintained they merely sought to provide a sense of scale amid mounting inquiries.

🎬 Angélique Kidjo makes history for Africa with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Five-time Grammy winner Angélique Kidjo has made history on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The 66-year-old Beninese artist is the first African musician to receive the honor.

The milestone ceremony celebrated an illustrious four-decade career blending native sounds with jazz, funk, and pop.

Prominent guests, including Hollywood actors Willem Dafoe and Djimon Hounsou, attended the unveiling in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

Kidjo highlighted Africa's indispensable contributions to world music as her legacy was formally immortalized.