English Studying from BBC Learning English

Samoa to change its time zone

Summary

13 May 2011

The Pacific island of Samoa is planning to move forward to a different time zone to help boost business. Samoa is currently 21 hours behind Australia, which is one of its biggest trading partners. The change in time zone is due to happen later in 2011.

Reporter:
Mike Wooldridge

Samoa markets itself as the last place on earth to see each day's sunset

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When Samoa put itself on the east side of the international dateline back in 1892, it was apparently to do same-day businesswith Californian traders across the Pacific. Now the main trading partners are nearby New Zealand and Australia and countries in East Asia.

But on Sunday when Samoans are in church, cities such as Sydney and Brisbane are already into Monday and the new working week. And while Samoans are still doing business on Friday, Australians and New Zealanders have already begun their weekend.

There will be a price to pay: Samoa markets itself as the last place on earth to witness each day's sunset. But to compensate, the prime minister has another proposition for those who enjoy travel curiosities. By making a flight of less than an hour from the US territory of American Samoa, which isn't moving across the dateline, it will be possible to celebrate the same day twice - and on the same date, have two birthdays, two anniversaries or even two weddings.

Mike Wooldridge, BBC News

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Vocabulary

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the international dateline

the imaginary line which runs from north to south across the Pacific Ocean, marking the final place where one day ends and the first where a new one begins

same-day business

trading between people or companies which happens on one day

traders

here, people who buy and sell fruit and other crops

in church

attending a church

into Monday

living in Monday (while it is still Sunday in Samoa)

a price to pay

a negative result or consequence

to compensate

to make up for it

proposition

serious suggestion or suggested course of action

travel curiosities

surprising or interesting journeys or experiences

anniversaries

here, the day each year when a couple celebrate the date they got married or when their relationship started

English Studying from BBC Learning English

Microsoft is buying Skype

Summary

11 May 2011

Microsoft has confirmed it will buy the internet phone service Skype. The $8.5 billion deal will connect Microsoft with the 663 million people around the world who use Skype. It is the most money Microsoft has spent to buy another company.

Reporter:
Rory Cellan-Jones

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (left) and Skype boss Tony Bates

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One is the giant business, whose software powers more than 90% of the world's computers. The other is the firm, which hasrevolutionised the way many communicate. Now Skype is beingswallowed up by Microsoft.

It's just eight years since Skype started helping people to make callsover the internet for nothing, and this is the third time it's been bought and sold.

Microsoft has been struggling to prove it can compete with the likes of Google and Apple. Now as it tries to make an impact on the mobile-phone world, it wants Skype to help it become a bigger force.

Skype is now used by 170 million people around the world, not just on their computers, but on the move - on their mobile phones and even on their tablet devices.

Microsoft wants to tap in to this connected community, but it's paying a huge price for a business that isn't even profitable.

Rory Cellan-Jones, BBC News

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powers

here, runs, or allows the computer to operate effectively

revolutionised

introduced very big changes or new ideas to

swallowed up

here, bought and taken over by a larger company

over the internet

using a computer connected to the internet

the likes of

here, companies such as

to make an impact on

to be successful and have a strong effect on

a bigger force

here, a larger organisation with more influence

on the move

while travelling

to tap in to

to become involved in or to make use of

connected community

group of people who are linked or in contact with each other