Switzerland has a problem, and it needs your help.

Between 1918 and 1964, lots of military ammunition was thrown into lakes around the country. At the time, it was believed to be a safe way to dispose of it.

And it wasn't a small amount, either. According to a government press release, about 8,000 metric tons of ammunition lies underwater, mostly in three lakes: Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and parts of Lake Lucerne.

Some of the ammunition lies as deep as 220 meters, and some is just a few meters deep.

Now, the country needs help getting it out, and it's offering a prize of about $58,000 for the best ideas.

Getting the ammunition out won't be easy — although it has been underwater for a long time, the risk of explosion is still high. Some of it weighs up to 50 kilograms, and the water visibility is poor in many parts of the lakes.

Some of the ammunition has components that can pollute the water and soil if moved, so the government is also looking for ideas that are environmentally friendly.

The competition to find the best idea is open now, and will run until February 2025. The three best ideas will be announced in April next year, and the winners will share the $58,000 prize.

The government said this doesn't mean the ideas will be implemented immediately, but said they could help with future research on the issue of underwater ammunition.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Switzerland Offers Prize to Get Ammunition out of Lakes

One of the common goals for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s is to "get on the property ladder."

The idea is that when you buy your first home you're taking your first step on that ladder. In time, you may be able to climb higher by selling your property and buying a bigger or better one.

But taking that first step can be difficult — and scary. So what do you need to know before you go from renting or living with family to becoming a homeowner?

Writing for CNBC, real estate reporter Celia Fernandez shared a number of things she wished she'd done before buying her first home.

One thing she mentioned was making sure she had all the necessary paperwork in one place so she could easily show it to banks or lenders. This is good advice for anyone buying a property — you'll probably need to share things like your payslips, bank records and tax returns several times!

Fernandez also advises people to look for "free money." Your country or region may have grants or other programs to help home buyers. Look out for things like tax breaks for first-time home buyers, or grants for refurbishing older homes.

She also suggests asking for financial help from family members. "My biggest regret is not talking to our loved ones right at the beginning of our search," she said.

Of course, not everyone will have this option. But some parents may want to give money to their children during their lives rather than waiting to pass it on as an inheritance, for example.

Finally, Fernandez says it's important to take into account the costs of closing a sale. That might include taxes, legal fees, inspection fees or fees for a real estate agent — and don't forget that you may also have initial refurbishment costs.

You don't want an expensive surprise just as you get your first home!

Tips for Preparing for Your First Property Purchase

The Democratic vice president Kamala Harris began the first — and possibly last — TV debate before the US presidential election with a power move, walking across the stage to shake Donald Trump's hand.

The two candidates had never met before the September 10 debate in Philadelphia, aired by ABC News.

"Let's have a good debate," Harris said.

"Nice to see you. Have fun," the former Republican president responded.

The exchange set the tone for the 90-minute debate to come: Harris controlled the conversation at times, tackling Trump on economic policy, crime, abortion rights, his refusal to concede his 2020 election loss and even his performance at his rallies.

Trump was measured at the start but grew more annoyed as the night went on.

Harris took the fight to Trump in a way that Joe Biden could not.

"You did in fact lose that election," Harris said of the 2020 race that Trump lost to Biden but still insists he won. "Donald Trump was fired by 81 million people," she said, referring to Biden's winning vote total.

A smiling Harris frequently shifted her message from Trump back to the American people.

"You will not hear him talk about your needs, your dreams and your needs and your desires," Harris said. "And I'll tell you, I believe you deserve a president who actually puts you first."

Trump was often on the defense, but he did push the main message of his campaign: inflation and immigration are causing Americans to suffer.

As he often does in his rallies and on social media, he made several false or unproven claims about migrants — including a debunked rumor that Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio, are hunting and eating pets. Officials in Springfield say they have no evidence of this happening.

"Talk about extreme," Harris said after Trump talked about dogs and cats being eaten.

Trump also tied Harris to Biden, falsely claiming the Biden-Harris administration caused the "worst inflation" the country has had.

Trump and Harris Face Off in Presidential Debate

With both a European and Asian side, Istanbul really is where East and West meet. Here are some of the city's top tourist attractions.

Sultanahmet
Many of Istanbul's most famous buildings are in Sultanahmet on the European side. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful Blue Mosque, built by Sultan Ahmet I in the 17th century. Or they can take a trip to the city's past in the Hagia Sophia — which has been both a Christian church and a mosque before being made into a museum.


Collage of two images showing the Hagia Sophia and the area around it.
Spice Bazaar
While the Grand Bazaar is the most famous Istanbul market, the Spice Bazaar offers a more fun and colorful shopping experience. Almost any spice can be found in the Spice Bazaar, as well as Turkish candies — and the shops will let you try a little bit of everything!



Kadiköy
The Kadiköy neighborhood on Istanbul's Asian side is popular with young people for its pubs, cafes and music venues. Chat with artists and writers in the tea garden of the Nâzım Hikmet Cultural Center, which celebrates the life of one of Turkey's most famous poets. After that, shop for antiques on Tellalzade Street.



The Bosphorus
The Bosphorus is between Istanbul's two sides. There are many Bosphorus boat tours to choose from, including ones with meals and entertainment. For the best price, take one of the city's public boats — tickets cost less than $1, and they offer the same sights.



Food
Istanbul is famous for its food. Enjoy some meze — many small plates of food — with fish and the local spirit, raki. Or buy a simit — a round bread covered in seeds — from the street sellers. Don't forget to try a cup of Turkish coffee or a glass of black tea with lots of sugar.




East Meets West: Istanbul's Top Attractions

You just got into bed after a long day, and you're exhausted. You plan to spend a few minutes on your phone — maybe scrolling Instagram or TikTok — and then sleep.

But when you try to sleep, it's not as easy as you thought it would be. You were so tired — what happened?

According to a new study, your phone may be the problem.

The study, done by researchers at New Zealand's University of Otago, involved 85 kids aged 11 to 14. They each spent a week wearing a body camera on their chest starting from three hours before they got into bed.

A second camera was also placed in their bedrooms to monitor their phone use once they were in bed. They also wore a device that tracked their sleep.

The researchers found that 99% of the participants used their phones in the two hours before bed. More than half used their phones while they were in bed, and about a third used their phones after trying to go to sleep.

The results showed that screen time in bed affected participants' sleep — it stopped them from going to sleep for about half an hour, and also reduced the amount of sleep they got.

The impact was larger when participants had a more interactive experience — such as playing a game — or if they used more than one screen. For every additional 10 minutes of this type of screen time, sleep time was reduced by the same amount.

Interestingly, phone use in the two hours before bed had little impact on sleep.

According to lead researcher Bradley Brosnan, the results suggest that, while current guidelines recommend no screen time in the hour or two before bed, keeping phones out of the bedroom might be enough for a better night's sleep.

Keep Screens Out of Bed for Better Sleep


You just got into bed after a long day, and you're exhausted. You plan to spend a few minutes on your phone — maybe scrolling Instagram or TikTok — and then sleep.

But when you try to sleep, it's not as easy as you thought it would be. You were so tired — what happened?

According to a new study, your phone may be the problem.

The study, done by researchers at New Zealand's University of Otago, involved 85 kids aged 11 to 14. They each spent a week wearing a body camera on their chest starting from three hours before they got into bed.

A second camera was also placed in their bedrooms to monitor their phone use once they were in bed. They also wore a device that tracked their sleep.

The researchers found that 99% of the participants used their phones in the two hours before bed. More than half used their phones while they were in bed, and about a third used their phones after trying to go to sleep.

The results showed that screen time in bed affected participants' sleep — it stopped them from going to sleep for about half an hour, and also reduced the amount of sleep they got.

The impact was larger when participants had a more interactive experience — such as playing a game — or if they used more than one screen. For every additional 10 minutes of this type of screen time, sleep time was reduced by the same amount.

Interestingly, phone use in the two hours before bed had little impact on sleep.

According to lead researcher Bradley Brosnan, the results suggest that, while current guidelines recommend no screen time in the hour or two before bed, keeping phones out of the bedroom might be enough for a better night's sleep.