Learn English Free - How to improve your English skills

How to improve your English skills

• Learning Skills


• Grammar


• Vocabulary
  


• Listening


• Speaking


• Reading
  


• Writing


• Other tips
  

My most important piece of advice is: "Do something (anything). If you don't do anything, you won't get anywhere. Make it your hobby, not a chore, but above all have fun!"
Don't be in too much of a hurry. You're setting off on a long journey and there'll be delays and frustrations along the way. Sometimes you'll be in the fast lane and other times you'll be stuck in traffic, but there will also be lots of interesting things and interesting people along the way. Take your time to really enjoy the experience.
There are many ways to improve your level of English, but only you can find the right way for you. Here are a few tips that might help:-

Improve your Learning Skills

Learning is a skill and it can be improved.
Your path to learning effectively is through knowing

• yourself


• your capacity to learn


• processes you have successfully used in the past


• your interest, and knowledge of what you wish to learn

Motivate yourself
If you are not motivated to learn English you will become frustrated and give up. Ask yourself the following questions, and be honest:-

• Why do you need to learn/improve English?


• Where will you need to use English?


• What skills do you need to learn/improve? (Reading/Writing/Listening/Speaking)


• How soon do you need to see results?


• How much time can you afford to devote to learning English.


• How much money can you afford to devote to learning English.


• Do you have a plan or learning strategy?

Set yourself achievable goals
You know how much time you can dedicate to learning English, but a short time each day will produce better, longer-term results than a full day on the weekend and then nothing for two weeks.
Joining a short intensive course could produce better results than joining a course that takes place once a week for six months.
Here are some goals you could set yourself:-

• Join an English course (and attend regularly).


• Do your homework.


• Read a book a month.


• Learn a new word every day.


• Visit an English speaking forum every day.


• Read a news article on the net every day.


• Do 10 minutes listening practice every day.


• Watch an English film at least once a month.


• Follow a soap, comedy or radio or TV drama.

A good way to meet your goals is to establish a system of rewards and punishments.
Decide on a reward you will give yourself for fulfilling your goals for a month.

• A bottle of your favourite drink


• A meal out / or a nice meal at home


• A new outfit


• A manicure or massage

The visual learner

Do you need to see your teacher during lessons in order to fully understand the content of a lesson?

Do you prefer to sit at the front of the classroom to avoid visual obstructions (e.g. people's heads)?

Do you think in pictures and learn best from visual displays including: diagrams, illustrated text books, overhead transparencies, videos, flipcharts and hand-outs?

During a lecture or classroom discussion, do you prefer to take detailed notes to absorb the information?

!Learning Tip - you may benefit from taking part in traditional English lessons, but maybe private lessons would be better.

The auditory learner

Do you learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through and listening to what others have to say?

Do you interpret the underlying meanings of speech through listening to tone of voice, pitch, speed and other nuances?

Does written information have little meaning until you hear it?

!Learning Tip - you may benefit from listening to the radio or listening to text as you read it. You could try reading text aloud and using a tape recorder to play it back to yourself.

The Tactile/Kinesthetic learner

Do you learn best through a hands-on approach, actively exploring the physical world around you?

Do you find it hard to sit still for long periods?

Do you become distracted easily?

!Learning Tip - you may benefit from taking an active part in role plays or drama activities.

Other English Learning Tips

Travel to an English speaking country:-

• England is only a few hours flight away.


• Specialist holidays are available to improve your English.


• Take an English speaking tour or activity holiday.

Spend your time on things that interest you. If you like cooking then buy an English-language cookbook or find recipes on the net and practice following the recipes. You'll soon know if you have made a mistake!

Keep something English on you (book, newspaper or magazine, cd or cassette, set of flashcards) all day and every day, you never know when you might have 5 spare minutes.

If you are too tired to actively practice just relax and listen to an English pop song or talk radio station.

Improve Your English Grammar

Use self-study grammar books.
Practice forming meaningful sentences. Make positive statements negative, turn statements into questions, make active statements passive. Turn past tense sentences into present tense sentences etc. etc.
Learn the different tenses. Learn by heart a simple example sentence using each tense.
Do online exercises. Keep a note of how you did and go back in a few weeks to see how you have improved.
!On this site:- Use the grammar pages to learn new grammar and then test yourself.
Most importantly, try to develop a feeling for English.

Improve Your English Listening Skills

Make sure you have the right software to take advantage of what is available on the www. You can download players and find links to online radio stations at real.com , windowsmedia.com and winamp.com . You can try some of the English radio stations I recommend on my broadcasts page. You can subscribe to podcasts and radio stations on iTunes too.
Films in English are an excellent language resource. Follow my tips on how to use films to improve your English. If you're not sure what films to watch, look at my recommended films pages.
Listening whilst reading is a good idea, there are lots of audio books on the market, I mention some on my recommended books pages, there are also some fun podcasts on the Have Fun with English site and two weekly podcasts on the Interesting Facts site.

Keep up to date with current events and watch an English-language news station, such as BBC World. Watch news reports on events you are already aware of.
Find out how to switch languages on your TV. If you have digital or satellite TV there are several channels that broadcast in multiple languages. Eurosport is one and Euronews is another, you should be able to set these to the English language.
!On this site:- Use the vocabulary pages to listen to simple vocabulary.
!On this site:- Use the dictation pages to test your understanding.
!On the Network:- Every Wednesday I run a listening session on iVisit. There are no more excuses.
!On the Network:- Little and often is a good idea, so try my Interesting Facts pages. Every week I write some interesting facts and there are accompanying sound files for the most interesting facts.
!On the Network:- Use my English magazine Ezine pages to find some interesting articles, poems or stories to listen to.
!On the Network:- Listen to the poem of the month or joke of the month.
!On the Network:- A bit of light-hearted fun on the Have Fun with English page. There are new videos or listening files every month.
! On the forum:- Join the forum and ask me to read a short piece of text out loud.
! On the web:- Go to some TTS (text to speech) web sites and use their free services. Some of the results are surprisingly good. I particularly like Acapela TV for their talking fluffy bunnies.

Improve Your Reading Skills

Make a habit of reading regularly. Read as many English books, newspapers and magazines as you can get your hands on.
Reading should be fun, so make sure the texts you choose are not too too difficult for you. If the book or article you are reading is a chore, then find something easier. Try reading graded books written especially for ESL learners. I've written a guide on how to choose a book here.
Find an author you like and read all their books. By doing this you will get used to the style of a particular author and the typical vocabulary and grammar they use. As you read more of his/her books you will find it easier and easier.
If you have a local library find out if they stock English books or if they have bilingual editions of English classics. Or ask them to stock English translations of books you are already familiar with.
Try reading things more than once. Read something and then read it again a few weeks/months later. You should find your understanding has improved.
Try to discuss a book you've enjoyed with other people. You can even discuss books with me on the forum, or there are lots of online book clubs and you can even write reviews on book selling sites.
Don't try to read "the classics". Save them for later, start with contemporary short stories. And don't forget, there are loads of excellent comics out there too. I actually started learning German by reading Winnie the Pooh!
!Learning Tip - don't try to understand every word. Try to understand the overall meaning of a sentence or passage.
!Learning Tip - don't translate - only use a dictionary if a word keeps appearing in a text and you still don't understand it.
!Learning Tip - don't just read a book and then forget about it - try to analyse it. You can use this reading log to help you.
!On this site:- Use the English Magazine to find some interesting articles, poems and jokes to read. If there's a word you don't understand double click it with your mouse and the definition will pop up. There are no more excuses.
!On this site:- Check out my recommended books.
!On this site:- Try some Speed Reading tips to increase your reading speed.
!On this site:- Every Monday I run a reading session on iVisit. There are no more excuses.

Improve Your English Speaking

and English Pronunciation Skills

The first rule of speaking English is to speak clearly, concisely and use simple vocabulary. KISS - keep it short and simple.
Remember you probably won't just speak to native speakers. There are roughly 380 million native speakers, but as many as a billion people speak it as a second language. So it's a good idea to avoid idioms and slang (I always say learn it, but don't use it). It might sound clever to say "You're barking up the wrong tree," but if you misuse it or if the other person doesn't understand you, you'll only look silly when you try to explain what you meant to say, or what it actually means.
There's also a saying in English "Have you swallowed a dictionary?" It is applicable to anyone who uses long, complicated words when a shorter word will do. Short sentences are just as good (if not better) than long explanations. The value in what you have to say is what you say, not how clever you look or sound when you say it.

English speaking tips

Get over any fear you might have of making mistakes. You will make mistakes.
Be patient with yourself. Learning any language can be frustrating, but frustration won't help you, so let it go.
Grasp every opportunity you have to speak with people in English.
Talk to friends who are also learning English. Go out together for coffee and only speak English to each other!
Read short stories out loud and try to see, say and hear the words to reinforce your memory. Record yourself and play it back later, how does it sound?

Find native English speaking friends:-

• You might not be able to find any friendly native speakers where you live, butYou can find English speaking people on the Internet! If you can't find anyone who'll actually help you, don't worry, you'll still be able to figure out if they can understand you.


• Look for people with the same interests as you. It's no good asking everyone you meet to help you with your English, rather develop natural friendships based on your hobbies etc. Eventually you will make friends and they will be much more likely to give you correction / guidance.


• Join an English club or conversation group. Around the world there are many English speaking clubs, these clubs aren't just for expats but for people interested in the English way of life. They can be friendly and fun. For a list of English clubs click here. Check magazines as well as your phone book, your local newspaper and your local university. Or if there isn't one in your area - start one! Place an advertisement in your newspaper for people interested in starting a group or go to Meetup.


• Visit an Irish/English/Australian theme pub or British food shop, you can usually find one in the larger cities. Often, the waiters and waitresses come from English-speaking countries, the menu is often in English too!


• Once your English is good enough, go shopping in some tourist areas. You'll find lots of shop assistants speak very good English.


• If you can travel to an English speaking country, do it.


• There are several internet based voice chat programmes out there: iVisit | Pal Talk | MSN Web Messenger | Yahoo! Messenger | Google Talk | Skype and lots more.

Singing

Try singing along to English songs. With friends or in the privacy of your own bathroom. Lots of the major games consoles have karaoke games nowadays, like Sing Star on the Playstation.

!On the internet :- You can speak to me on iVisit (see the forum calendar for times and dates) - you can also listen to or chat with other learners and native speakers there. There are no more excuses.
!On the network:- Use the pronunciation pages to improve your understanding.

!On this site:- You can find some karaoke resources and ideas on the learn English through songs page.

!On the Network: You can find the words to some popular songs on the English magazine.

Pronunciation skills

Don't get too hung up on trying to sound like a native speaker. Would you start learning the piano in an attempt to sound like Mozart? Probably not. Accents don't matter, as long as people can understand you, but pronunciation is important.

Learn the phonetic alphabet.

List words that have the same sound add to the lists as you learn more words.
For example words that rhyme with me:-

Work on one problem sound at a time. Read slowly concentrating on the pronunciation of particular words. Record yourself, keep the tape and record yourself later, have you improved? Don't be shy - ask a friend to listen to the tape too.
Don't worry about sounding like a native, it is more important to speak clearly and pleasantly than it is to sound like the Queen of England.
The most important thing to think about is can people understand you? If you have a problem being understood then find someone who speaks English clearly and try to copy the way they speak. Pay particular attention to speed and diction.

Improve Your English Vocabulary

Use self-study vocabulary books, these should include a good dictionary, and a thesaurus.
Expose yourself to as much English as possible by reading, watching the TV, films or the news and listening to the radio or music.
Read an English magazine. If you can afford it take out a subscription to a magazine or newspaper.
Do online exercises. Keep a note of how you did and go back in a few weeks to see how you have improved.
Use stick it notes and label things around your home.
Try to memorize whole sentences, not just individual words.
Create or play word games. Scrabble, Crossword Puzzles, Hangman, and Dingbats are all great was to play with words.

Notebooks

Keep a notebook to help you remember what you've learnt.
Here's a guide to keeping an English notebook.

Vocabulary webs

Build a vocabulary web to organise your vocabulary about certain subjects.
For example your personal life:-

and then extend it:-

and then extend it further...

Try this little gadget too.

Vocabulary Grapher Thesaurus
	Gadgets powered by Google

Flash cards

Start a flash cards box.

Buy or cut out some cards all the same size.

Draw or cut out some pictures.

Paste the pictures onto one side of the card and write the correct word on the other side.

Put new words in the front of the box.

Test yourself using either the pictures, the words or both.

If you have forgotten a word bring it to the front of the box.

!On this site:- Use the vocabulary pages to learn new vocabulary thematically and in context.

!On this site:- You can use my on-line flash cards to practise your vocabulary.

Singing

Try learning the words to English songs, and even sing along with them. With friends or in the privacy of your own bathroom.

!On this site:- You can find some karaoke resources and ideas on the learn English through songs page.

!On the Network: You can find the words to some popular songs on the English magazine.

Improve Your Written English

Write frequently, in a wide range of formal and informal situations.
Get the most out of your dictionary by understanding how to use it correctly . You can use a good English dictionary to find words, for meaning, for pronunciation, to check your spelling and to understand explanations.
Copy out short passages of English text from newspapers, magazines or books.
Try dictation exercises. You can do this online or get friends to read out text for you to write and then check your writing - concentrate on spelling and punctuation.
There are many forums on the net, find one about your interests or hobbies. Observe the niceties of forum use , and apologise if you think you have made any mistakes.
Use a blog to create a diary about your life. Write it in English and if you have a thick skin, ask for feedback. Remember blogs are not private, so do not write anything there which you do not want the whole world to read. I recommend http://www.blogger.com , it is free and very easy to use.
Be careful about using abbreviations when writing on forums and in chatrooms, they are fun and quick, but can cause bad habits to form.
If you are using a computer, use an English spell checker (but don't rely on it). There are spell checkers built in for Google and Firefox browsers.
Check what you've written. Even better, get someone else to proofread what you've written. Check for spelling, capitalisation and punctuation.
Try to find English speaking pen friends and write to them or, use a messenger service like MSN, Yahoo, Google or find a chatroom. If you can't get in touch with native speakers then contact other learners:-

• You can find ePals on the Internet!

!On the Network :- Use the Learn English Network Forum pages to practise your writing.
! Note - If you are going to use forums and chat services, it's as well to brush up on the niceties - otherwise known as Netiquette.

Waqt News

Former Israeli PM Olmert charged - BBC News

Former Israeli PM Olmert charged

Mr Olmert quit as prime minister in September 2008

The former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has been indicted in three corruption cases, the attorney general's office says.

Mr Olmert has been embroiled in a number of corruption scandals but denies any wrongdoing in all the cases.

The former head of the Kadima party was replaced as prime minister by Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu following general elections in February.

The series of probes was a key factor in Mr Olmert's resignation last year.

The charges relate to the periods when Mr Olmert was mayor of Jerusalem and a cabinet minister, but before he became prime minister in 2006.

On Sunday he issued a statement through a spokesman that said: "Olmert is convinced that in the court he will be able to prove his innocence once and for all."

Talansky case

The office of Attorney General Menahem Mazuz confirmed in a statement he had decided to press charges and that the charge sheet had been presented on Sunday in Jerusalem district court.

ANALYSIS Tim Franks, BBC News, Jerusalem Ehud Olmert became prime minister in 2006. That year, he took Israel to war against the Islamist Hezbollah movement in Lebanon - and largely as a result of the way in which that war was waged, his popularity in Israel nosedived. He won back some support in the wake of the three-week war in Gaza this year. He also spent a good deal of his time in office in negotiations with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, at the end of which there was no visible progress. Israelis are split over what this episode tells them about their politicians. Many believe that the political class is the lousiest in Israel's short history. But some insist the very fact a prime minister can be pushed to resign over allegations of corruption shows a robust democracy.

The 61-page charge sheet lays out accusations of "fraud, breach of trust, registering false corporate documents and concealing fraudulent earnings".

Mr Olmert is the first former prime minister in Israeli history to face criminal charges, the office said.

Mr Olmert's personal secretary, Shula Zaken, has also been charged with corruption.

One of the charges against Mr Olmert is that he accepted cash envelopes from US businessman Morris Talansky with sums amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Mr Olmert admits taking money, but insists the funds were legal donations to help his campaigns for re-election as mayor of Jerusalem and for the leadership of the Likud, his former party.

In the second case, Mr Olmert is accused of duplicating funding for his trips abroad.

Police have said they suspect the "considerable sums" that remained after the travel expenses were paid for were transferred by Mr Olmert to a special account his travel agency administered for him.

EHUD OLMERT'S POLITICAL LIFE 1993: Begins 10-year stint as mayor of Jerusalem 2005: Leaves right-wing Likud party with former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon to form Kadima 2006: Takes over as leader when Ariel Sharon suffers a stroke 2007: Helps re-launch Israeli-Palestinian peace talks after seven-year hiatus 2008: Announces plans to resign March 2009: Replaced as PM by Benjamin Netanyahu Profile: Ehud Olmert

The third case involves alleged conflict of interest. Officials have alleged Mr Olmert arranged investment opportunities for a friend, Uri Messner, while he was industry minister.

This summer, the attorney-general closed a number of other corruption cases against Mr Olmert, citing lack of evidence.

Israel's justice ministry has refused to confirm the length of sentence Mr Olmert could face if found guilty.

However, the BBC's Tim Franks in Jerusalem says two former cabinet ministers were recently sentenced to several years in jail for bribery and embezzlement, so Mr Olmert could face years in prison if convicted.

Mr Olmert became prime minister in May 2006 after serving for several months as acting PM when Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke and entered a coma.

Justice Dept. again fielding charges of politics - Yahoo News

Justice Dept. again fielding charges of politics

AFP/Getty Images/File – A man walks across the the lobby of the CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia. The US Justice Department's …

• Play Video Terrorism Video:Drill Helps Police Train For Real-Life Threats CBS4 Miami
• Play Video Terrorism Video:Evidence in terrorism case needs to be declassified WRAL Raleigh
• Play Video Terrorism Video:Political Motivation? FOX News

By LARA JAKES, Associated Press Writer Lara Jakes, Associated Press Writer – Sun Aug 30, 4:06 pm ET

WASHINGTON – Besieged during the Bush administration for bending to the White House's will, the Justice Department is again accused of playing politics with cases — this time in investigating whether CIA interrogators illegally abused terror suspects.

The new charges were led Sunday by former Vice President Dick Cheney, who called the preliminary probe ordered last week by Attorney General Eric Holder an "outrageous political act that will do great damage, long term."

"I just think it's an outrageous precedent to set, to have this kind of, I think, intensely partisan, politicized look back at the prior administration," Cheney said in an interview aired on "Fox News Sunday."

Cheney lashed out at Holder for what he called a reversal of an earlier pledge by President Barack Obama not to pursue criminal charges against CIA interrogators who sought information from terror suspects about threats against the United States.

Among the interrogation methods allowed under the Bush administration was waterboarding, which critics call a form of torture that has since been banned.

Cheney said the harsh tactics were used to save Americans' lives in the wake of Sept. 11 attacks.

"Now they get a little heat from the left wing of the Democratic Party, and they're reversing course on that," Cheney said. Since leaving office in January, Cheney has become the Democrats' top critic on national security policies.

It was an instance of rhetorical justice for the former vice president, who helped lead a White House that was widely lambasted for improper political meddling at the nation's top law enforcement agency. Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales — the one-time private attorney to George W. Bush — resigned in 2007 amid charges that prosecutorial and personnel decisions at the Justice Department were driven by politics.

Holder is a career prosecutor with political ties: He served as deputy attorney general during the Clinton administration and led the Obama campaign's selection process for a vice president. Before taking the helm at Justice this year, he said he wanted to restore the department's image and pride as a fiercely independent agency.

Justice spokesman Matt Miller declined Sunday to respond to Cheney's comments, pointing instead to earlier remarks Holder made in announcing the investigation.

At the heart of the new CIA probe is whether interrogators overstepped even the wide latitude allowed in questioning terror suspects under guidelines approved by the Bush-era Justice Department and, ultimately, the Bush White House.

Holder said he will not focus on interrogators who followed the approved guidelines. Even so, he said, "given all of the information currently available, it is clear to me that this review is the only responsible course of action for me to take."

Cheney, in the interview aired Sunday, said he was comfortable defending cases where interrogators went beyond what they were specifically authorized to do. He said they were "directly responsible for the fact that for eight years, we had no further mass casualty attacks against the United States."

The CIA report found they included cases of interrogators threatening a detainee with a handgun and an electric drill. Neither weapon was directly used on a detainee, Cheney said.

"I'm very proud of what we did in terms of defending the nation for the last eight years successfully," he said.

Paul F. Rothstein, a legal ethics professor at Georgetown Law School, said the investigation highlights Holder's independence from the White House since Obama said he did not want one. Having said that, Rothstein added, investigating the actions of a past presidential administration sets an uneasy legal precedent.

"There is a significant segment of the population that believes that something illegal may have happened, and I think Eric Holder is sort of duty-bound to look into it," Rothstein said. "A solid person will be reasonably independent of the Obama administration — although not entirely. When you get this far in your career, you do know who the bosses are."

Whether Holder is acting independently or politically may, in fact, be decided along partisan lines. Republicans also said the investigation could have a chilling effect on interrogators who are seeking information to protect the United States.

"I really question whether the attorney general is doing what is right," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said Sunday. "What they're doing is crippling the CIA where they're going to be unwilling to really take the risks that have to be taken during really crucial times."

Democrats who have criticized the Bush interrogation policies for years said the probe, at a minimum, indicates that Holder is not merely an arm of the White House.

"I think there is a little bit of a tension between the White House itself and the lawyers in the Justice Department as they see the law and as what their obligation is," said Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. "That's appropriate, because it shows that we have an attorney general who is not pursuing a political agenda, but who is doing what he believes the law requires him to do."

Not all Democrats, however, are happy with the investigation. Senate Intelligence Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein said it might get in the way of a review that her own committee is already undertaking.

Otherwise calling herself "horrified" at the CIA report's conclusions, Feinstein, D-Calif., said, "We are not going to be deterred from completing this study and candidly, I wish that the attorney general had waited."

Hatch and Kerry spoke on ABC's "This Week," and Feinstein spoke on CBS's "Face the Nation."

California fire 'out of control' - BBC News

California fire 'out of control'

Advertisement

Aerial footage of the wildfire raging north of Los Angeles

A wildfire in the mountains above Los Angeles is threatening 12,000 buildings and continuing to spread, officials in California say.

The fire has been fuelled by record temperatures over the past four days.

Evacuation orders cover about 10,000 homes and state governor Arnold Schwarzenegger described the fire as "still totally out of control".

About 2,000 firefighters are trying to contain the blaze, which has burnt more than 55 sq miles (142 sq km) of forest.

The fires rained ash on cars and homes as far away as central Los Angeles on Sunday.

Wildfires were burning out of control in all directions, officials said, but emergency crews were concentrating their efforts on the fast-moving northern edge of the inferno.

In pictures: California's wildfires

Firefighters were also trying to stop the flames from spreading up Mount Wilson, in the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles, where many broadcast and communications antennas and a historic observatory are located.

On Sunday the fires were within two miles (3km) of the antennas, fire officials said.

Mr Schwarzenegger, who declared a state of emergency last week, urged people to obey evacuation orders, after three people were badly burned.

"There were people that did not listen and there were three people that got burned and got critically injured because they did not listen," he said.

Two of those injured had been trying to shelter from the fires in a backyard hot tub.

Sheriff's spokesman Steve Whitmore said the pair, in Big Tujunga Canyon, "completely underestimated the fire" and the hot tub provided "no protection whatsoever".

'Perfect storm'

About 1,000 homes have been evacuated and a handful in Big Tujunga Canyon have been destroyed by the flames.

Officials said the blaze was only 5% contained, with the area's steep, rugged hills making efforts to fight the fire more difficult.

Mandatory evacuation orders covering about 10,000 homes and 2,500 other buildings are in place.

Parts of Altadena, Glendale, Pasadena, La Crescenta are also affected.

Evacuation centres have been set up at local schools.

With forecasts of continuing hot weather, there has been speculation that it could take firefighters a week to bring the blaze under control, says the BBC's David Willis in Los Angeles.

Wildfires are a feature of the Californian summer, but it is unusual for them to break so close to major population centres.

A number of other fires are also burning in southern and central California.

Colombian president comes down with the swine flu - Yahoo News

Colombian president comes down with the swine flu

AP – In this Aug. 28, 2009, file photo, Colombia's President Alvaro Uribe talks to reporters before the UNASUR …

• Slideshow:Swine Flu

By VIVIAN SEQUERA, Associated Press Writer Vivian Sequera, Associated Press Writer – 5 mins ago

BOGOTA – Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has the swine flu and officials have advised other South American leaders who met with him at a summit of the infection, authorities said Sunday.

The 57-year-old Uribe began feeling symptoms Friday, the same day as a meeting of South American presidents in Bariloche, Argentina, and he was confirmed to have swine flu after returning home, Social Protection Minister Diego Palacio said.

"This isn't something that has us scared," Palacio said at a news conference. Uribe, a key U.S. ally in Latin America, is not considered a high-risk patient and will continue working from his computer, officials said.

Public health director Gilberto Alvarez said in a telephone interview that there was no need to put the president in isolation and that his condition would monitored for three days to a week.

During a Union of South American Nations summit of the region's presidents Friday, Uribe spent hours defending his plan to give U.S. troops more access to Colombian bases as part of his government's fight against drug traffickers and leftist rebels. Many of his colleagues have voiced concerns about the idea.

Palacio said Colombia's foreign ministry was informing governments whose leaders may have come in contact with Uribe.

No governments immediately reported cases of sick officials.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who attended the summit, said he felt fine and had been tested for swine flu after returning from another UNASUR summit in Ecuador earlier in August. He said he didn't see any need to be tested again.

"At this moment, no, because I do not have anything," Chavez said. "I am so well that last night I pitched" in a game of softball.

Chavez, a socialist who has strained relations with the conservative Uribe, wished the Colombian leader good health.

"I regret this and hope there are no repercussions for the president's health and that nobody else has caught the disease," Chavez said.

Dr. Alberto Cortez, an infectious disease specialist at Colombia's Universidad Nacional, said it is possible the disease could have been passed to other leaders at the summit. But he added it needs to be established when Uribe became sick to determine whether he picked up the virus in Argentina — where there are many cases — or if he arrived there with the illness.

Uribe is the second Latin American leader to come down with the swine flu.

On Aug. 11, Costa Rican President Oscar Arias announced he had swine flu and was being quarantined at his home. The 69-year-old leader, who won the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending Central America's civil wars, has recovered.

Colombia's presidential office released a brief statement Sunday saying the country's National Health Institute confirmed that Uribe had swine flu. It said his case was "developing satisfactorily."

The health institute's director, Juan Gonzalo Lopez, said Uribe's case was confirmed Sunday and the president he had complained of body pains and general discomfort.

Cesar Mauricio Velasquez, spokesman for Uribe, said Uribe planned to handle his duties while recovering.

"The president will continue doing his work by computer," Velasquez said.

Colombia has reported 621 confirmed cases of swine flu, including Uribe's. There have been 34 deaths from the illness, the government says.

Japan victor hails 'revolution' - BBC News

Japan victor hails 'revolution'

Yukio Hatoyama: "The nation has voted for regime change"

Japan's opposition leader Yukio Hatoyama has hailed an election "revolution", with exit polls suggesting a massive win for his party.

The Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) won 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house, ending 50 years of almost unbroken rule by the LDP, NHK TV predicted.

Mr Hatoyama, 62, said people were "fed up" with the governing party.

Prime Minister Taro Aso said that he took responsibility for the defeat and would resign as head of the LDP.

Japan is suffering record unemployment and its economy is struggling to emerge from a bruising recession.

The DPJ has said it will shift the focus of government from supporting corporations to helping consumers and workers.

The White House has already said it hopes to forge a "strong alliance" with the incoming government.

'Close partnership'

Mr Hatoyama, who is almost certain to lead the next government, is the wealthy grandson of the founder of Bridgestone tyres. His other grandfather was a former LDP prime minister.

EXIT POLL PROJECTIONS National broadcaster NHK: DPJ 298-329 seats; LDP 84-131 Private network TV Asahi: DPJ 315 seats Tokyo Broadcasting System: DPJ 321 seats Nippon Television: DPJ 324 Outgoing 480-seat lower house of parliament: LDP 303; DPJ 112 Profile: Yukio Hatoyama Profile: Taro Aso Send us your views In pictures: Japanese election

He said after polls closed: "We will not be arrogant and we will listen to the people.

"The people are angry with politics now and the ruling coalition. We felt a great sense of people wanting change."

Mr Hatoyama, who is expected to announce a transition team on Monday, has promised to boost welfare and reform the bureaucracy.

He also vowed on Sunday to strive to resolve a long-standing territorial feud with Russia.

The White House called the election "historic", adding: "We are confident that the strong US-Japan alliance and the close partnership between our two countries will continue to flourish."

ANALYSIS Alastair Leithead, BBC News, Tokyo It's a massive swing. What the opposition can do now they are coming into power, and untested, is deal with the serious problem revolving around the economy and the recession. Unemployment is at the highest level it ever has been and by the end of next year Japan will no longer be the second biggest economy in the world - that will be China. Almost a third of the people here will be pensioners and therefore there will be fewer taxes coming in, more money going out. It's a very difficult position that Japan is in. People have voted out a party that was in power almost without break for 50 years. They are now looking to a new and inexperienced government to try and deal with some difficult challenges.

However, Mr Hatoyama has indicated he wants Japan to distance itself from US diplomatic policies and be more independent.

The BBC's Roland Buerk in Tokyo says Mr Hatoyama will have little time to savour his victory.

Elections to the less powerful upper house are due next year, he says, and the DPJ will want to retain the control it gained there in 2007 to push through its agenda.

Sunday's exit polls suggested a stunning reversal of fortune for Japan's political parties, reducing the LDP to a rump in parliament, correspondents say.

Mr Aso's party has governed Japan for all but 11 months since 1955.
Official results are expected early on Monday, but Mr Aso conceded the LDP was heading for a big defeat.

"These results are very severe," he said at party headquarters. "There has been a deep dissatisfaction with our party."

The LDP's Kotaro Tamura said: "We made too many mistakes. Very crucial mistakes... we changed prime minister three times without holding an election."

Taro Aso said the results were "very severe"

Turnout in Sunday's election was reportedly just under 50%, slightly down from 2005 when elections saw the charismatic Junichiro Koizumi's LDP elected with a significant majority.

Officials said the turnout held up despite a combination of typhoon-triggered rainfall around Tokyo and a government warning that a swine flu epidemic was under way.

Japanese broadcaster NHK announced its exit polls moments after voting ended at 2000 (1100 GMT), saying they showed a major power shift in Japan.

The LDP had 303 seats in the outgoing parliament, compared to the DPJ's 112.

The projections were based on exit polls of roughly 400,000 voters.