News Challenge | Greek Ring Mission Offers Reward for Monk Seal Murderer, Biden Restores Fuel Consumption Standards to Fight Climate Change

Reward offered after beloved monk seal found killed in Greece

A reward has been announced by a Greek environmental group intent on finding “all those responsible” for the brutal death of a celebrated monk seal discovered harpooned in waters off the island of Alonissos.

be intent on

brutal (adj.) brutal

celebrated (adj.) famous

harpoon (v.) with a whaling fork

Alonissos (n.) Alonissos Island, Greece

 A famous slain monk seal has been found off the coast of Alonissos. Conservation groups are offering bonuses to find the killer of monk seals with whaling harpoons.

Fewer than 750 Mediterranean monk seals remain , making them among the world's most endangered species. The vast majority inhabit Greek waters, with most located in a marine park near Alonissos in the Northern Sporades. What is left of the population elsewhere can be found mostly off the Atlantic coast of Mauritania in north-west Africa.

Mediterranean (adj.)

inhabit (v.)

marine park (n.) marine park

Atlantic coast (n.)

Mauritania (n.) Mauritania, West African country

 The Mediterranean monk seal, with fewer than 750 remaining, is one of the world's endangered species, mainly in Greek waters, mostly in marine parks, and the rest on the Atlantic coast of Mauritania.

EXCLUSIVE: Biden mileage rule to exceed Obama climate goal

In a major step against climate change, President Joe Biden is proposing a return to aggressive Obama-era vehicle mileage standards over five years, according to industry and government officials briefed on the plan. He’s then aiming for even tougher anti-pollution rules after that to forcefully reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nudge 40% of US drivers into electric vehicles by decade's end.

mileage (n.)

exceed (v.) exceed

nudge (v.) close

 As a big step in the fight against climate change, Biden proposes a return to Obama-era fuel consumption standards. He will propose stricter anti-pollution policies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions within a decade and reach a goal of nearly 40 percent of drivers switching to electric vehicles.