VOA · What's Trending Today?
Intermediate · B1–B2learner speed3:092019-04-16public domain
What's Trending Today? covers viral stories and social media moments in short, punchy reports. The episodes are brief and topical — perfect for a quick daily dictation session.
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01This is What's Trending Today.
02A dog found swimming more than 220 kilometers off the coast of Thailand has been returned safely to land.
03Late last week, workers on an oil rig noticed the animal all alone in the water.
04It began swimming toward the side of the structure.
05The dog was able to get itself onto a solid area.
06He appeared cold, tired, and fearful.
07The workers lowered a rope and secured it around the dog.
08Then they worked together to pull the animal up to safety.
09The crew that found the dog quickly gave their new friend a name.
10Punrod.
11The name means something similar to survivor in the Thai language.
12One of those workers was Vitisak Payalau.
13He has been providing updates on Punrod on his Facebook page.
14He said it was lucky that the crew noticed the dog in the water.
15If there had been waves, he said, the animal likely would not have been seen.
16No one knows how Punrod ended up all alone at sea or how long he had been out there.
17But Vitisak and others have suggested the animal might have fallen off a fishing boat.
18On Monday, Punrod arrived on dry land.
19A team of animal doctors was waiting for him in the southern Thai province of Songkhla.
20Workers at the Songkhla port also welcomed the dog with neck rubs and a special welcome necklace made of yellow flowers.
21Many people took pictures with Punrod.
22Vitisak wrote on Facebook, Today, a vessel transporting the dog arrived on shore at around 10 a.m.
23His overall condition has improved.
24He is getting stronger and can't smile.
25The dog is now in the care of an animal doctor in Songkhla.
26The animal protection group Watchdog Thailand said he is in good condition and getting stronger.
27On Tuesday, the group published pictures of Punrod getting washed and getting plenty of love and attention.
28Vitisak says that if no one claims Punrod as their pet, he will take him with him to his home in northeast Thailand.
29And that's what's trending today.
30I'm Jonathan Evans.
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