You're not under.

Welcome to Learning English, a daily 30 minute program from the Voice of America.

I'm Ashley Thompson.

And I'm Mario Ritter Jr.

This program is designed for English learners, so we speak a little slower and we use words and

phrases especially written for people learning English.

Today you will hear stories from Onimeteo and John Russell. Later, we hear an everyday grammar lesson all about conditionals.

Finally, Ashley and Katie Weaver

finished their national parks journey with a visit to the Great Smoky Mountains.

But first,

Miners in Botswana recently unearthed what officials say is the second largest diamond in mining history.

The country's president, Mogwetzi Masisi, presented the large stone to the public at a ceremony last week.

The 2,490-92-Caret gem is the biggest diamond to be discovered since 1905.

The diamond weighs around a half kilogram.

Masisi was one of the first people to get to hold it.

He expressed surprise at the Diamond's heaviness and told the

gathering I am lucky to have seen it in my time.

Lucara Diamond, a Canadian mining company, found the stone.

Company officials said it was too early to value the gem or decide how it would be sold.

A smaller uncut diamond from the same mine in Botswana

sold for a record $63 million in 2016.

Nesim Lahri is a director with Lucara's Botswana team.

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