9. How to: explain and clarify a situation

J- Hi, Carla. How was your afternoon?
C- Not bad, thanks. Why do you ask?
J- Because you told me that you were staying at your friend's house, but I heared that you were at the city.  
C- Who told you that?
J- Laura said that she'd seen you. How come you didn't tell me about it?
C- Because I was only there for three hours.Then I went to the town because I needed a book from the library. 
J- Are you telling me the truth, Carla?
C- Honestly, it's true! If you don't belive me, you can ask Laura. 
J- Ok, Ok. I belive you. Sorry, Carla. 
C- That's OK.  

Cheese!

These dogs don't have big teeth - they have balls in their mouths! You can put food in the ball, which encourages your dog to go and get it... and bring it back to you with a big smile!

Strange food

Customers at a restaurant in Tokio can eat a new cuisine with an original ingredient: soil!
The soil is cooked and filtered, and then mixed with gelatine to make mud. Apparently, female customers love it!

Live The Story: Laura Trevelyan on reporting a hurricane

Laura Trevelyan describes what it was like to report on Hurricane Sandy.

"Reporting a hurricane is an alarming experience, it starts when you're on the highway on the way to the story and you see the big signs overhead that say "State of Emergency Evacuation Ordered" and you're actually going against the traffic.

Everyone's leaving town and you're heading into the heart of a hurricane, it doesn't feel like the most sensible thing you should be doing, but that's where the story is so that's where you go.

And then when you get to the water's edge, there are roadblocks everywhere, the police are telling you that everyone has gone, but you have a press pass, so you can cross the police lines. Then you see the water, the waves are 20 feet high, they were when I was in New Jersey, when Atlantic City was evacuated, and again everybody is going in the opposite direction to you.

People are rain sodden, they are carrying all their possessions, their animals, they're all leaving town and you're going further into the heart of the hurricane. And just before the hurricane makes land fall and you're outside and the trees are blowing backwards, your hair is blowing in your face, the water is horizontal, driving into your eyes you can't even see.

Then, you see that all of the birds have gone, everything is gone you seem to be the last thing left. You take refuge in the news truck and it begins to rock as the winds reach 60 or even 80 miles per hour and you wonder, is this safe, is this sensible, is this what my family think that I should be doing. But at the same time it's of such importance to report on the progress of this storm that you stay put, and you do your job and you live the story. "

Lionel Messi edges Barcelona towards Spanish title

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score twice in quick succession and help Barcelona get back to winning ways with a 4-2 victory over Real Betis at the Nou Camp.

The Argentine has now scored 60 goals this season, including 46 in the league, and the Catalan club need only one more win - or any dropped points from second-placed Real Madrid - to regain the La Liga title from their arch rivals.

It was the perfect response for Barca aftertheir humiliating Champions League exit to Bayern Munich.

Barcelona were forced to work hard for their win against an adventurous Betis side, who took an early lead when poor defending allowed Colombian striker Dorlan Pabon to run unchallenged into the penalty area and convert with a low finish.

The home fans were starting to get jittery in the early stages of the second period, but Villa calmed the nerves by finally scoring as he met Dani Alves's right-wing cross with a far-post header.

And then it was time for Messi. The Argentine star, who did not start due to an ongoing niggling hamstring injury, replaced Villa before play even resumed following the latter's equaliser, and wasted no time making his mark as he stepped up to score with a delicious free-kick from the right corner of the penalty area.

8. how to: console and encourage

J- Hey, you look a bit down. What's teh matter?
C- Oh, I've just heard that my sister has got a job in Australia and she's moving away. 
J- Oh, right. Sorry about it. It isn't the end of the world though.
C- I know, but I'm really sad and I'm going to miss him a lot.
J- Don't take it too badly - at least you can visit her whenever you want. Australia is a really cool city.
C- That's true, I suppose.
J- Look at it this way - if she hadn't got that job, she'd have been really disappointed.
C- Yeah, maybe you're right.
J- Cheer up! Come on - let's go to the park or something.
C- OK. Thankds, Júlia. I feel a bit better now. 

7. How to: apologize for a misunderstanging

C- Excuse me. Can I have a word with you?
J- Yes. Is there a problem?
C- I' mafraid so. Did you know that this is private property?
J- No, I didn't.
C- Didn't you see the sign?
J- No... I'm sorry.
C- Have you been here before?
J- Yes, three or four times. 
C- Well, if I were you, I'd look for a different place.
J- OK. Sorry about that. I didn't realize.
C- That's OK. Remember for next time and pay atention to the signs.