Revisiting the Gun Debate in America

  An average of one school shooting happens every week in America, says a recent report from Everytown for Gun Safety. The advocacy group seeks to reduce gun violence. The report lists 150 school shootings that have happened since the end of 2012. That December, 20 young children and six staff members were murdered in a shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It was the second-deadliest mass shooting in United States history. The latest mass school shooting happened on October 1 in the state of Oregon. Nine people died and nine others were wounded at Umpqua Community College. That marked the 45th school shooting in America in 2015. Keeping schools safe School officials across the country do all they can to protect students. But for one elementary school in northern Virginia, the opening of a nearby gun store has led to fear, protests and anger. Franklin Sherman Elementary is in the small community of McLean, Virginia. The school keeps all doors locked during the day. It has security cameras at the front entrance. Teachers and students practice monthly lockdown drills to prepare for what to do if an active shooter enters the building. In early October, NOVA Firearms opened in McLean, less than 20 meters from Franklin Sherman. Jane Strauss is a longtime school board member at Fairfax County Public Schools, which oversees Franklin Sherman. “The gun store itself sits…its property directly abuts Franklin Sherman Elementary School. And it isn’t as though there’s some big playing field or football field between the gun store and the school. The back property line is about 50 feet from the cafeteria and the classroom windows. You can see the elementary school clearly from the gun store.” Hundreds of parents protested on the store’s opening day. They argued that it is too close to the school. Some said they did not feel safe enough to send their children to Franklin Sherman.  The manager of NOVA Firearms, Rachel Dresser, says her store has done nothing wrong. The state of Virginia permits firearms to be sold in any area that is commercially zoned. “The community response, which was extremely unexpected. I did expect some people to maybe not be as excited. But I did not expect this level of resistance and animosity.” A country divided What happened in McLean represents one of the most divisive issues in America: gun rights. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution says: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Each state has its own gun laws. For example, some states offer licenses that permit a person to carry a gun, either openly or as a concealed weapon. Eight states and the District of Columbia require background checks before a person can buy a gun. After the shooting at Sandy Hook, a Gallup poll found that 58 percent of Americans questioned feel that laws on gun sales should be stricter. ​In the most recent Gallup poll, taken after the shooting in Oregon, 55 percent of Americans felt the same way. And 43 percent said they own a gun. The Gallup poll also found that 58 percent of Americans have a favorable opinion of the National Rifle Association, or NRA. The NRA is a nationwide organization that advocates for the rights to own guns. ‘Meaningful action’ hard to achieve On the day of the Sandy Hook shootings, an emotional President Barack Obama addressed the nation. In his speech, Obama demanded “meaningful action.”    “As a country we have been through this too many times, whether it’s an elementary school in Newtown, or a shopping mall in Oregon, or a temple in Wisconsin, or a movie theater in Aurora, or a street corner in Chicago. These neighborhoods are our neighborhoods. And these children are our children. And we’re going to have to come together and take meaningful action to prevent more tragedies like this, regardless of the politics.” A month after the shooting at Sandy Hook, Obama announced several new measures to help keep student safe. Among other policies, he urged Congress to restore a ban on military-style firearms. But the NRA directed resources, including money, to fight the firearms ban, and won. The group regularly works to defeat politicians who speak out in favor of stricter gun laws. Revisiting the debate The issue of gun laws took center stage earlier this month in the first debate between Democratic presidential candidates. Candidate Hillary Clinton criticized opponent Bernie Sanders for his position on gun control. In her words, he is “not at all” strict enough. “I think that we have to look at the fact that we lose 90 people a day from gun violence. This has gone on too long and it's time the entire country stood up against the NRA. The majority of our country supports background checks, and even the majority of gun owners do,” Clinton said. Shortly after the school shooting in Oregon, President Obama said he was considering an executive order on gun access. The president’s order would require dealers who sell a high number of guns to have a license from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It would also require dealers to perform background checks on their buyers. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has called the president’s executive order a move to “take your guns away.” More debate means more gun sales Back in McLean, Virginia, Rachel Dresser of NOVA Firearms says business is better than ever. After the protests and media attention, she says more people know about the business. “They wanted to be on the news and get their point across, but at the same rate, they put us on the news and got our name out there. It brought awareness to us on both sides.” Dresser also says sales go up after school shootings and other gun tragedies, especially after politicians speak about the need for stronger gun laws. “Mostly we see an increase in sales because of an increase in rhetoric regarding gun restrictions...And so people want to make sure they exercise their right to purchase while it’s still there.” For Jane Strauss and parents of students at nearby Franklin Sherman Elementary, that does little to ease their fears. “You think of Sandy Hook, and then we just had this other loss of life in Oregon. How to we protect ourselves against people that randomly want to harm our children?" I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m Jonathan Evans. Ashley Thompson wrote this article for Learning English, with additional reporting from Caty Weaver. Hai Do was the editor. Is gun ownership common where you live? What gun laws exist in your country? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section and on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   mass - adj. involving, affecting, or designed for many people abut – v. to touch along an edge commercially – adv. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services divisive – adj. causing a lot of disagreement between people and causing them to separate into different groups infringed – v. to wrongly limit or restrict (something, such as another person's rights) concealed – adj. hidden from sight executive order – n. an order that comes from the U.S. president or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law rhetoric - n. language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable

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Myanmar Corruption Plagues Highways, Jade Trade

Corruption continues to cut into the government treasury in Myanmar. The southeast Asian nation – also known as Burma – has endured six decades of civil war. Some Burmese military officials profit from the secret jade trade to finance the conflict. Others use fraud and deception for financial gain along a new highway. Myanmar’s jade industry is a tool of corruption. The precious green stone trade is worth more than $30 billion a year. That total is nearly half of the country’s gross domestic product, states a report from the London-based group, Global Witness. The Global Witness report alleges the majority of the jade trade profits are linked to a select few. Ex-juntas – like former military ruler General Than Shwe - earn money from the trade. Other military figures and drug lords also make large profits. Profits from jade mining and trading collected by the military funds the war against the rebels. Global Witness spokesperson Juman Kubba says little money ends up in the government’s hands.    Jade is also a main source of income for the rebels. The Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) gets revenue from timber, gold and jade. The KIO – like many in the country - also uses highway tolls to make money. In the Karen state of Myanmar, a newly completed highway cuts travel times. The tolls make it expensive. The road is paved. It replaces a dangerous mountain trail. Some residents are less than happy with the road. Landowners near the road say they have been cheated. One man claimed government officials and surveyors reduced the number of hectares he owned. He was then paid less for his land. One man protested the deal. The government told him to accept the transaction. They said he could not post any type of information on the Internet. The construction surprised merchants in Tha Ya Gon. Shop owners said signs appeared stating property now belonged to the government. Today, the highway building pushes forward. Peace is fragile in the highway’s region. Territory is controlled by factions of the ethnic Karen army. But residents and businessmen hope for peace. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   endure – v. to continue to exist in the same state or condition toll – n. an amount of money that you are required to pay for the use of a road or bridge hectare – n. a unit of area in the metric system that is equal to 10,000 square meters or 2.47 acres We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.  ​

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International Tourists Drawn to Route 66

  Shamrock, Texas is a small town 30 kilometers from the Oklahoma-Texas border. The nearest major international airport is some 140 kilometers away. Some might say it is “in the middle of nowhere.” And yet, every year, Shamrock welcomes nearly 15,000 international visitors. What draws so many to this Texas town of 2,000 people? Route 66, the Main Street of America. Most roads are used to get from point A to point B. But Route 66 is different. Many decades ago, Route 66 travelers who passed through Shamrock were on their way west, seeking more opportunity and a better life. For today’s travelers who make the long drive from Chicago to Los Angeles, the road itself is the attraction. Route 66, often called the Mother Road, is known worldwide. And every year, thousands of international visitors come to see what makes it so special. You see them traveling in large groups on motorcycles or buses. You see them traveling in small groups, at a slower pace, in a car or recreational vehicle. Diane Clonts works at the U-Drop Inn in Shamrock. The Art Deco-style inn began hosting travelers in the 1930s. Today, it is a friendly visitor’s center and a place for travelers to talk and enjoy some coffee before hitting the road again.   The center displays photographs from Route 66’s early period, and vintage clothing for visitors to try on. On its wall hangs a world map with hundreds of pushpins. Each one represents an overseas visitor. “They're from all over. We have many Europeans, we have people from Russia. We have a lot of Australians...The appeal for many, they tell me, is that when you've lived in a country where there are borders, and you can not freely go from state to state, country to country, like we can, the appeal is the amazing openness of getting on Route 66 and going from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. They love the beauty as well as the freedom.” The freedom of the open road is what draws the large motorcycle groups from countries as far as Switzerland, Germany and Brazil. Certainly, they could go faster on the newer interstate highways. But this journey is not about speed. From Illinois to Texas to California, and all of the places in between, international visitors who travel the Mother Road get a taste of small-town America. They experience a way of life far removed from the bright lights of New York and Miami, the two most popular destinations for foreign visitors to the U.S. In Joliet, Illinois, about an hour outside of Chicago, a Swiss motorcycle group was at the very beginning of its Route 66 adventure. The bikers stopped to enjoy an ice cream cone at Rich and Creamy. It is a kitschy roadside sweet shop, with a large green and pink sign that reads “Joliet: Kicks on 66.” The 30 bikers in the motorcycle tour group had flown to Chicago from Europe. They rented Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Chicago, and planned to take three weeks to travel to LA, the end of Route 66. One of the bikers said that, for them, taking a motorcycle along Route 66 is just “something you hear about and want to do.” After some ice cream and a few stops at other roadside attractions, the group fueled up at Nelly’s Diner in nearby Wilmington, Illinois. In recent years, the diner has become a favorite lunch place for international visitors. Flags from around the world hang in the cozy restaurant, which mostly offers hamburgers and other sandwiches. People from all over have written their names and  messages in dozens of languages on Nelly's walls. Though it is a little stressful, the cooks and servers have become experts at quickly feeding big groups of hungry bikers all at once. These days, foreign tourists far outnumber American tourists along Route 66. Melba Rigg sees that every year, at her souvenir shop in Galena, Kansas. For the six months of the year that Cars on the Route is open, Melba meets and greets some 5,000 overseas visitors. In that same period, about 1,000 U.S. visitors stop at the store. Melba and others along Route 66 say the appeal of the road is only growing. Fran Houser runs a business at the geographical midpoint of the Mother Road, in Adrian, Texas. While most of her visitors are from Europe, she says more tourists from Asia, Australia, and South America are coming each year. “We are seeing this year tons of people from China, which we had not seen a few years ago. We see them from Japan, New Zealand…it’s all over the world. And it is wonderfully gratifying.” International visitors along Route 66 leave their mark – literally! Not far from the road’s midpoint in Texas is Cadillac Ranch. It is one of the most famous – and visible – roadside attractions of them all. Ten old Cadillac cars rise, half-buried, from the ground. Their classic tailfins point to the wide Texas sky. The art installation is meant to represent the golden age of cars – a period of history when Route 66 thrived. The site attracts plenty of tourists, many of whom come with a can of spray paint. Visitors are permitted to paint the cars. Susana was visiting Cadillac Ranch from Spain. She rented a car in Los Angeles and was on her way to Chicago via Route 66. At Cadillac Ranch, she wrote her name on one of the old cars before continuing her travels. “Well, we actually love it. We saw it on pictures, on Internet before, so we said, like, ‘we have to stop here.’ It's really nice.” The Route 66 journey is one that many people around the world have long dreamed of. Ednilson Gablak was at the end of that journey. He and 15 other bikers from Brazil enjoyed the final moments of their Route 66 experience at the Santa Monica Pier, where the Mother Road meets the Pacific Ocean. "We just finish(ed) our dream trip. We start(ed), like 15 days ago. Well, it's kind of a dream. We saw movies; we saw on the television, magazines, saw photos. Today, we can see (on) the Internet so many videos. So I think everybody knows something about Route 66, right?" I’m Caty Weaver. And I’m Ashley Thompson. Tune in again next week for our report on America’s westward expansion and the role Route 66 played. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   recreational vehicle - n. a large vehicle that often has a bathroom, kitchen, and beds for use during travel and camping kitschy - adj. describing things (such as movies or works of art) that are of low quality and that many people find amusing and enjoyable diner - n. a small, informal, and inexpensive restaurant cozy - adj. small, comfortable, and warm fuel up - phrasal verb/idiomatic. (in this usage) to eat souvenir - n. something that is kept as a reminder of a place you have visited, an event you have been to, etc.

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Evil Expressions

Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. In an earlier program, we talked a lot about the Devil. In many religions, the Devil is the most powerful spirit of evil. Religious leaders teach that hell is where the Devil lives. They also say hell is the place where bad people go after they die. You can hear many Americans using the words “Devil” and “hell” in everyday expressions. But the list of expressions is just too long for one show. So, get ready for the sequel -- what we’re calling “Part 2: Hell, the Devil’s Hangout!” Many people think of hell as a hot place full of fire. So, a snowball would not have much of a chance there. And that is where this expression comes from: a snowball’s chance in hell. Let’s say you applied for a promotion at work. But so did your boss’s daughter. You do not have a snowball’s chance in hell. Your boss is not going to hire you over his daughter. It will be a cold day in hell and when hell freezes over also mean the same thing: there is no chance that something will happen. For example, if you have a fight with a friend and never want to talk to him again, you could say, “It will be a cold day in hell before I ever call him again. Our friendship is over!” Or “Sure, I’ll call him … when hell freezes over!” But be careful. These expressions are very informal and very strong. You would only use them with your close friends and peers. So if your boss asks if your work will be done before you go home, you would never say, “It’ll be a cold day in hell when that happens...” unless you want to lose your job.  Sometime, we just use the expression “hell” like this: She’s a hell of a dancer. He’s a hell of a writer. That was a hell of good time. “Hell of a” runs together as if it’s one word – hell-of-a. Again, this is very slang and very informal. Hell is reported to be not only hot, but miserable. So, if something is going to hell in a hand basket, it is becoming very bad very quickly. If you have been to hell and back, you have been through a very difficult period and lived to tell about it. Here is an example: A: I’m glad to see that Julie is back to her old self. B: Me, too. She’s been through so much this past month. Her mom died, her son got really sick and then she was in that terrible car accident. A: Wow, she has really been to hell and back. "Excuse, but how do you get to hell?" But if you do want to visit hell, there is a road you can take: the road of good intentions. Let me explain. When we say “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” we mean that positive intentions may have negative outcomes. “Paved” here means to line a street. So, the road to hell is lined with well-intended ideas that went terribly wrong. You do not have to have good intentions to be hell on wheels. People who are hell on wheels are aggressive, tough, mean or just difficult to deal with. For example, “Watch out for the new woman in sales. She’s good. But she is hell on wheels! Stay out of her way!” Being hell on wheels is different than raising hell. People who are hell on wheels might actually be doing a good job. But if you are raising hell, you are simply behaving badly. Let’s listen to this dialogue. B: “When she was a teenager, she really raised hell.” A: “Tell me about it. She skipped school, got into trouble every weekend … what a hell raiser!” B: “Her poor parents!” If you raised too much hell in one place, you might find you need to leave that place like a bat out of hell -- in other words -- crazy-fast!                       I’m Anna Matteo.    Anna Matteo wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow and Kelly Jean Kelly edited the story.

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China, Syria, Iran Worst on Internet Freedom

A new report says the government in China is the worst abuser of Internet freedoms. That is the opinion of Freedom House, an independent, non-profit group based in Washington, D.C. The group works in support of democracy and freedom of expression worldwide. The Freedom House report, called “Freedom on the Net 2015,” noted that online restrictions have increased in each of the past five years. It said the World Wide Web has become more restricted for millions of people. The group reported that Internet freedoms have decreased in 32 of the 65 nations it studied. China was rated as the worst country in denying Internet rights. Syria was rated second, with Iran in third place. “Internet freedom on a global scale is continuing to decline,” said Laura Reed, a researcher for the Freedom on the Net project. “The most surprising shift (in suppression) was from blocking to the removal of content.”   The governments of Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Zimbabwe were rated among the least free for their suppression of free speech. Other countries high on the Internet-unfriendly list included Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Egypt. In China, the government watched online activities and blocked private networks, according to the report. It also noted that, in Ukraine, some web users were physically threatened by pro-Russia militias. Of the nations surveyed, 40 of 65 countries imprisoned Internet users for expressing political or social comments online. Only two nations arrested Internet activists last year. But the report noted some improvements in 15 of the 65 nations studied. Cuba improved its rating. The island nation earned higher marks for lowering Internet costs. The Cuban government also showed greater Internet tolerance in 2015.  I’m Jonathan Evans. VOA’s Doug Bernard reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   online – adv. done over the Internet breach – n. a failure to do what is required by a law tolerance – n. willingness to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own Do you have freedom on the Internet? Which government do you think is Internet unfriendly? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page.  ​

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‘Better Make Room’ for College Kids, Obama Says

First Lady Michelle Obama launched a media campaign last week designed to help more young people go to college. A new social media website called Better Make Room is at the center of the campaign. Better Make Room targets young people aged 14 to 19. Obama calls this group “Generation Z.”  The goal is to get the site’s audience to share pictures, stories and short videos about their experiences applying to college. The website will also supply information about college entrance exams, financial aid and visiting campuses. “I believe that education is the single-most important civil rights issue that we face today,” said Obama at a White House event in February. “Because in the end, if we really want to solve … the kinds of challenges that shocked so many of us over the past year… we cannot [let] even one more young person... fall through the cracks.” She hopes young people who use the site will feel supported by their shared experiences. She also wants people who seek education to receive the same support and respect as those who seek fame. Several famous people are showing their support for the campaign. Singer Ciara put a picture of herself at the White House on Twitter with the hashtag #BetterMakeRoom.  Basketball player Lebron James joined the First Lady at an event at the University of Akron last Wednesday. The event focused on the importance of education. "We don't come from places where families had a lot of money or a lot of resources," Obama told the crowd. "If we can be here, we know you can be here, too." Many organizations around the U.S. are also helping support the Better Make Room campaign. Websites such as Vine, Mashable, CollegeHumor and Funny or Die are some of Obama’s partners in the campaign. The television networks NBC Universal, The CW and A&E are partners as well. The campaign is part of Obama’s Reach Higher program. This program is the First Lady’s effort to get every student in the US to complete more education past high school. The effort includes sharing information about educational options, financial aid and academic planning. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, is an international economic organization of 34 countries. The OECD collects information from its members to study and fight the causes of poverty. Every year the organization releases a list of the college graduation rates of some member countries. In 2014, the graduation rate of the U.S. was lower than 18 of the 28 countries examined. In 1995, the U.S. had the highest college graduation rate of all OECD members. Bringing the U.S. graduation rate back to the highest in the world by 2020 was one of President Barack Obama’s earliest goals. He named this his “North Star” goal. The President has taken several actions to reach this goal during his time in office. In 2009 he created the American Opportunity Tax Credit. This decreased the taxes of families paying for college. In 2010 he called for all states to help make the first two years of community college free. Also, in 2013 he signed the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act. This keeps the interest on student loans at a lower rate. The Obamas’ older daughter, Malia, will complete high school next year. Malia is still deciding which college she wants to attend. I’m Pete Musto. Pete Musto reported and wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   website - n. a place on the World Wide Web that contains information about a person, place, thing or action campus(es) – n. the area and buildings around a university, college or school hashtag – n. a word or phrase beginning with hash or pound sign (#) and used to identify messages on a specific topic graduation – n. the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school, college, or university Now it’s your turn. How does your government support education in your country? Do most people go to college? Let us know in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page.

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English in a Minute: Up In The Air

Are your future plans "up in the air?" Find out how to use this expression in this week's English in a Minute!

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VOA English Newscast: 1800 UTC October 30, 2015

  From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Michael Lipin reporting. A small team of American ground troops is ordered to northern Syria to help opposition groups in the fight against Islamic State militants. The White House said Friday that President Obama has authorized fewer than 50 U.S. special operations forces to coordinate between Syrian rebel fighters and U.S.-led coalition operations. It is the first time Washington has disclosed a deployment of U.S. ground forces to Syria for an open-ended mission rather than for a specific raid. White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters the U.S. troops will provide "some training, advice and assistance" to rebels fighting IS militants. “The president does expect that they can have an impact in intensifying our strategy for building the capacity of local forces inside of Syria to taking the fight on the ground to ISIL in their own country." Somalia's president says authorities are investigating a recent crash of a plane whose survivors apparently have been taken captive by militant group al-Shabab. Speaking to VOA's Somali Service on Friday, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said the plane fell into the hands of "bandits or militiamen," who kidnapped the passengers. The small plane was carrying between nine and 11 people, who have yet to be identified. Tanzanian authorities have confirmed ruling party candidate John Magufuli as the victor in the country's presidential election. Officials handed a victory certificate on Friday to Magufuli, who represents Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi party, or CCM. The main opposition candidate Edward Lowassa came in second, and has called for a recount of Sunday's vote.   This is VOA. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast   authorize – v. to approve or give permission to coordinate – v. to organize or cause two or more things not to conflict with each other disclose – v. to make public or confirm mission – n. a job or project that someone is given rather – adv. instead specific – adj. exactly and clearly presented impact – n. a major effect or influence strategy – n. a careful plan of action capacity – n. ability plane – n. short for airplane bandits – n. criminals who attack and steal from travelers certificate – n. a document that shows proof of something   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section.

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October 30, 2015

A look at the best news photos from around the world.

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Slow and Gassy Balloon is Social Media Fave

  Who knew a huge blimp – basically a 73-meter-long balloon – could become the social media star of the week? When the blimp broke free of its tether Wednesday, it quickly captured the attention of the American public. With no pilot or crew, it floated over to Pennsylvania, and the Twittersphere went crazy. Some of the most clever tweets were from people who pretended to be the blimp.  But that’s not all social media was talking about this week. A pop star used Twitter to promote her newest video, preparations for the Halloween holiday began, and cats took over Twitter as something called “National Cat Day” let loose a stream of fur. Those are the top trending stories for the week ending Oct. 30, 2015. Blimp Escape The blimp called JLENS is supposed to stay tethered to the ground at a military base in Maryland. But somehow it broke free and floated 160 miles to neighboring Pennsylvania. The blimp does not have a pilot. So, fighter jets took off to make sure it didn’t cause too much damage. They later deflated it and brought it to the ground by shooting it. The blimp made news around 2 p.m. Wednesday while most Americans were at work. It was a good time for people to take a break and share jokes on Twitter, Facebook and other social media. One of the funniest commentators was known as @AberdeenBlimp, named for the Maryland town where the blimp was based. As jets tracked its progress through Pennsylvania, jokes started flying. There were over 17,000 tweets with the hashtag #blimp in the first two hours. One commentator made the connection between the idea of “grounding” the blimp by shooting it down, and the idea of “grounding” as a traditional punishment for misbehaving teenagers.   Goodyear, a company that makes car tires, is well-known for a blimp it owns that often flies high above sporting events with a camera. It joked that “airships” are always better with a pilot.  ​Ariana Grande video The pop singer Ariana Grande left hints Thursday that the video for her new song, “Focus,” would be released shortly. By Thursday afternoon, #focustonight was trending on Twitter. That night, Grande released the video and switched her hashtag to #buyfocusonitunes, which was used 243,000 times by Friday morning. ​Halloween Arrives The American holiday of Halloween is a mash-up of traditions. Some say it is about the end of the harvest season. Others say it is connected to remembering and celebrating the dead. It is celebrated every October 31. But these days in the United States, it is a chance for most people to dress up in fun costumes and knock on the doors of their neighbors asking for candy. By early Friday morning, there were almost 2.5-million tweets about Halloween. It is a chance to dress up our pets, too. On social media, people shared photos of their pets in costumes starting a week ago. On Facebook, one page is only for photos of pets in Halloween garb. Celebrities got in on the act, too.   Many costumes refer to pop culture from the past year. One costume comes from a photo of a dress that “went viral.” That means the photo was shared thousands of times on social media. In this case, the platform was Tumblr. One website – Buzzfeed – posted a poll asking readers to vote on the color combination of the dress. It received over 3 million votes. And the hashtag #TheDress became one of the most viral topics of 2015. Some are dressing up in half white and gold costume. Others are wearing a half black and blue dress for Halloween.   Processed Meats People enjoy being scared around Halloween. Ghosts and goblins are traditional costumes. People get to tease death by laughing at it. Visiting a “haunted house” is a popular activity. But really “scary” news came out that a beloved food – bacon -- causes cancer. The World Health Organization announced Monday that processed meats like bacon, hot dogs and salami can raise a person’s risk for cancer.  Someone would have to eat a lot of those foods to be harmed, but social media lit up with the news.  Search terms related to “bacon” and “cancer” and “processed meat” were in Google’s top five Monday. National Cat Day Posting photos of cats on the Internet is very popular. So when National Cat Day was celebrated Thursday, people took advantage. Over 50,000 tweets were sent in the first few hours. Even President Obama sent along his wishes with an assist from Internet celebrity “Grumpy Cat.” President Obama’s message was retweeted over 2,000 times.   That is what caught people’s attention in the U.S. this week. I’m Anna Matteo. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What are people talking about in your country this week? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blimp – n. a large aircraft without wings that floats because it is filled with gas anchor– n. a heavy device that is attached to a boat or ship by a rope or chain and that is thrown into the water to hold the boat or ship in place costume – n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing candy – n. a sweet food made with sugar or chocolate cute – adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance garb – n. a particular style or type of clothing giant – n. much larger or more powerful than normal ghost – n. the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people grumpy – n. easily annoyed or angered : having a bad temper or complaining often lit up – v. to cause excitement; All of the lights on the display suddenly lit up. mooring – n. a place where a boat or ship can be anchored or moored tether – v. to use a rope or chain to tie (an animal) to something in order to keep it in a particular area tease – v. to laugh at and criticize (someone) in a way that is either friendly and playful or cruel and unkind went rogue – v. used to describe something or someone that is different from others in usually a dangerous or harmful way  

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American Halloween Goes to the Dogs

Halloween costumes for pets are very popular in America. Whatever costume you can imagine is available. But they're also gaining popularity globally.

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Everyday Grammar: Make Your Writing Smoother with Transitions

For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we are going to talk about important transition words in English. We will focus on how to use transition words to link ideas together. Some common transition words are and, furthermore, in addition to, not to mention, and in the same way. Transition words are especially important in writing. They help you give more information with fewer words. When used skillfully, transition words can make your writing clearer and more concise. Adding information Here’s an example. Listen to these three short sentences: Twenty minutes passed. We were standing. We were at the bus stop. As separate sentences, they could be related or unrelated ideas. Let’s combine them into one sentence using the transition word and and the adverb still. Twenty minutes passed, and we were still standing at the bus stop. Notice how and clarifies the relationship among the three ideas. It shows that these three ideas belong together. And belongs to a group of transition words called coordinators. Coordinators combine ideas of equal value, or weight. Here are some more examples. Cellular phones help us stay connected and allow us to find information easily. The politician said he would raise taxes, and he promised to reveal the details of his plan. In addition, moreover, furthermore In addition, moreover, and furthermore are good alternatives to and. Here are some examples. My new phone runs apps quickly; in addition, it takes great pictures. Our new teacher is highly qualified. Moreover, she is friendly and down-to-earth. The restaurant had slow service; furthermore, it was very expensive. In fact Sometimes you want to add and emphasize information. In fact is a good coordinator for stressing a detail. For example: Children perform better in positive environments; in fact, most people react similarly. Notice that the first sentence is about children, while the second is about people in general. In fact helps the writer move from specific to general information. You can also use in fact to move from general to specific information, as in this example. Schools are moving toward project-based learning; in fact, my son’s school just adopted a new project-based program. In this second example, the writer begins talking about schools in general and then gives an example. You can use as a matter of fact and indeed in the same way. Using the semicolon (;) Did you notice the punctuation mark that looks like a mix between a colon and a comma? This is called the semicolon. You have the option of using a semicolon when you have two complete sentences that are closely related. Semicolons often confuse native speakers. They are not required; you can also just use a period. In addition to In addition and in addition to are used to add information. But they have different sentence structures. In addition to is a subordinator. Subordinators show that one idea is more important than another. For example: Cellular phones help us stay connected in addition to allowing us to find information easily. In this example, the main clause of the sentence -- “Cellular phones help us stay connected” -- is more important than the subordinate clause of the sentence, “in addition to allowing us to find information easily.” The subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence. In addition to can be followed by a gerund or a noun phrase. Here are two more examples: In addition to providing medicine and food, volunteers handed out clothes. A gerund is when the “-ing” form of a verb acts like a noun. The gerund phrase in this sentence is providing medicine and food. In addition to medicine and food, volunteers handed out clothes. In this sentence, the noun phrase is medicine and food. In the same way, not to mention Other useful subordinators include in the same way and not to mention. Both have a similar meaning to also. They introduce subordinate clauses. For example: Egyptian youth demonstrated against their government in the same way that young people in Brazil have demonstrated. For a more conversational tone, you can use not to mention to add information. For example: Congress did not get any bills passed today, not to mention that many representatives did not even show up. Proceed with caution This is only an introduction to transition words and phrases. We will cover more of these in a future episode of Everyday Grammar. Transition words can be a great way to express ideas in a concise and sophisticated way, especially in writing. Next time you read a news article or a textbook in English, look for some of these transition words and think about how they are used. English learners sometimes force too many transition words into their writing. Start off slowly with simple transition words that you really understand. Not every paragraph requires a transition. With years of practice, you will start to use them in a more natural way. I’m John Russell. I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm Adam Brock.   Now it's your turn. Write a sentence with one of the transition words. We'll give you feedback in the Comments Section or our Facebook page. And be sure you try the video quiz to the left on the web or below on mobile. Fabio de Oliveira Coelho wrote this article as a guest writer for VOA Learning English. Adam Brock was the editor. ​Fabio de Oliveira Coelho is a linguist and bilingual educator. He has worked on education and development projects in Brazil, the United States, Nicaragua, Indonesia, and Guinea-Bissau. He was born in Brazil and is a U.S. citizen. Fabio is an English Language Fellow with the US Department of State in Semarang, Indonesia. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story coordinator – n. a part of speech that connects words, sentences, phrases, or clauses subordinator – n. a word that introduces a surordinate clause, a group of words that cannot stand alone as a sentence. semicolon – n. a punctuation mark (;) indicating a pause, typically between two main clauses, that is more pronounced than that indicated by a comma gerund – n. the –ing form of a vern that functions like a noun sophisticated – adj. having or showing a lot of experience and knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc.

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Bank Scandals Fuel Interest in Islamic Finance

Recent bank scandals have fueled interest in Islamic banking because it forbids interest or fees on loans. Questions about ethics in global finance could benefit the Islamic banking sector, experts say. Supporters claim that Islamic finance is more ethical than traditional finance. Islamic finance follows Sharia law and does not allow interest or fees for loans of money. Banks and businesses must be cleared to make sure they comply with Sharia law. Raja Mohamad is secretary of the Gulf Asia Sharia Compliant Investment Association.  “We have a very sweet spot, when conventional banking at the moment is suffering from scandals,” he said. He spoke at a conference on Islamic finance in Singapore. “We’re not selling Islam here. We’re selling accountability -- transparent, real economic activity,” he said. Another factor driving Islamic finance globally is the rise of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. ASEAN is a trading group of 10 nations in Southeast Asia with 635 million people. Forty percent of these people are Muslim, said Awang Adek Hussin, Malaysian Ambassador to the U.S. He spoke at a conference in Washington, DC. Malaysia is chair of ASEAN this year.  ASEAN is the seventh largest economy in the world, generating $2.53 trillion in 2014, said Ambassador Hussin. By 2050, the OECD predicts it will be the fourth largest economy in the world. The OECD is the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. It helps governments deal with economic and social issues in a global economy.    “Demand and growth for Islamic finance in ASEAN countries can only be on the increase,” said Ambassador Hussin. This year, ASEAN is integrating the economies of its member countries to spur trade and investment. That will also help spread Islamic finance, he added. Islamic finance has its critics. Clement Henry is visiting research professor at National University of Singapore. He said Islamic finance has “unfortunate connotations” that might be associated with “political Islam, possibly terrorism.” Henry said his research, however, has found that people working in Islamic finance are not driven by politics. The biggest challenge for Islamic finance is the ban on investors collecting interest on loans. So Islamic banks have devised alternative structures. This could include financing a business or one of its projects, and then sharing the profit or loss. Such techniques could improve financial ethics, say experts. Businesses must open their books so Islamic banks can verify their performance. This provides transparency. Businesses cannot downplay profits and give banks a smaller cut. In addition, Islamic finance is viewed as being more realistic about making money. Sharia financing is tied to real economic activity. Other financing is based on abstract financial models. Suhaimi Zainul-Abidin is founding member of the Gulf Asia Sharia Compliant Investments Association. He spoke at the conference in Singapore. "You can't make money without economic activity, something that you're going to do that creates that justification for profit," he said.   “That’s a really good safeguard for [the] financial industry because you’re not creating money out of thin air, right?,” he said. “There’s always going to be a real link, and that really, really helps.” Ghiyath Nakshbendi is an international business professor at American University in Washington, DC. Islamic finance provides equal treatment for men and women under Sharia law, he said.  For example, when a man and a woman get married, Sharia law allows her to own property. Sharia law says she can make her own income and keep her salary, he said.  But observers warn that Islamic finance is headed in a dangerous direction. Bankers are coming up with increasingly complex financial products. “Really, most of these products are looking to mirror conventional finance,” said Habib Ullah, a partner for banking and finance in the Middle East at the law firm Taylor Wessing. Islamic banks may go too far in copying conventional finance, warn experts. They may take the same risks and be Islamic in name only.      This is Mary Gotschall.   Lien Hoang reported on this story for VOANews.com. Mary Gotschall added additional reporting and adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.   What do you think about Sharia law and finance? Let us know in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scandals – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong ethics – n. rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad accountability- n.  required to be responsible for something transparent – adj. honest and open : not secretive integrating – v. to make (something) a part of another larger thing  spur – v.  to cause (something) to happen or to happen more quickly connotations – n. an idea or quality that a word makes you think about in addition to its meaning   ​

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China Looks to Curb Tourism Kickbacks

China is cracking down against discounted trips that come with a catch: In exchange for the discounts, tourists are expected to make costly purchases from selected merchants.

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Rain Helps Ease Smoke from Indonesian Fires

  Forest fires continue to burn in several parts of Indonesia. A brief rain storm helped break up smoke from some of the fires on Wednesday. The governor of Riau province said 90-minutes of rainfall cleared away much of the smoke in northern Sumatra. He said the haze was reduced to a level where commercial airline companies could operate again. But another official told reporters that much more rain is needed to help put out the fires. Luhut Panjaitan is Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law and Security. He said, “This week we have rain. If we have intensive rain for four straight days and our water bombings continue, I hope we would be back to normal next week. That’s our hope, but again it all depends on how much rain we have,” he said. The official added that he has asked government agencies to consider the possibility of creating artificial rain. Indonesia has come under heavy pressure from neighboring countries and environmental groups to put out the fires. Every year, some companies set forest fires on purpose. They do this to clear land and make way for palm oil plantations. Thousands of people have developed breathing problems because of the smoke. Some non-governmental organizations plan to take legal action against the government. They say Indonesian officials have ignored the well-being of communities affected by the smoke. The government has deployed more than 22,000 police officers and armed forces members to fight the forest fires. There are more than 1,600 fires burning in at least six provinces. I’m George Grow. Fathyah Wardah reported on this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   haze – n. smoke or dust clouds in the air straight – adj. following one after the other artificial – adj. man-made; not happening or existing naturally plantations - n. a large area of land or farm, especially one where crops are grown  

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US Orders Special Advisor Troops to Syria

  President Barack Obama has approved sending 50 American “military advisors” to northern Syria. These forces will coordinate local ground forces. They will also help the coalition of nations trying counter the terrorist Islamic State group. Those nations include Great Britain, France, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and others. This is the first time the U.S. government is officially sending ground forces to Syria for more than a raid or a specific mission. In addition, government officials told reporters at the White House that Obama approved meetings with Iraqi leaders. The goal of the meetings is to create a special-operations force to weaken and defeat IS leaders and networks. And, Obama has ordered more A-10 and F-15 warplanes to NATO's airbase in Turkey. A senior official said the Obama administration is "intensifying" the counter-IS campaign. The administration made the decision after considering studies about the effectiveness of previous anti-IS tactics. The U.S. has made "good progress" in Iraq and Syria when it has worked closely with effective partners on the ground, the White House said. Officials stressed that diplomats are still trying to reach a political solution in Syria. In Vienna, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is meeting with diplomats from Iran and Russia. Those countries are the two main allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. John Featherly reported on this story for VOANews.com. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think about the U.S. sending advisors to Syria? Please let us know in the Comments or on our Facebook page.

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Refugees Lead Alabama Shrimp Industry

  Forty years ago, many Southeast Asians fled war in their home countries and chose to come to the United States. Some got on ships that sailed to U.S. territory. The refugees knew they were escaping wars in Vietnam and Cambodia, but had no real idea of where they were going. Now, some of these people live in an American town that seems like an unlikely place for refugees to settle: Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Bayou La Batre is considered the seafood capital of Alabama. Shrimp is the town’s biggest export. Dung Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American shrimper. He remembers leaving Vietnam with his family. He says they first stayed in the Western Pacific island of Guam. "We didn't know we were coming to the United States until they got everybody off of the ship in Guam,” he says. "They had a camp there. We stayed in the camp for about two [or] three months, and then we had a sponsor to go to Panama City, (Florida)." A sponsor is someone who helps an immigrant transition to a new life in the United States. Sponsors can provide assistance with housing, completing government documents and other concerns. But Dung Nguyen says it did not actually happen that way. He says he worked for his sponsor in Panama City for three months. But, he was never paid for his work. Eventually, he brought his family to Bayou La Batre. There he found a familiar work environment, working on the water, doing what he had done in Vietnam. Dung Nguyen and other refugees were not always welcomed by people in Alabama. But some locals say it is hard to imagine the seafood industry without them. I’m Jonathan Evans. VOA’s Arash Arabasadi reported this story from Bayou La Batre. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sponsor – n. a person or organization that pays for the cost of an activity or event transition – n. a change from one state or condition to another

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International Players to Watch in the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is arguably the best basketball league in the world. Some of the most famous teams are the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls. There was a time when almost all the players were American. But in the 1980s, that began to change. The sport grew popular around the world. Basketball scouts - the people who look for talented, new players – discovered prospects in other countries. The NBA began taking players from outside the United States seriously in the 1980s. Some were discovered in Europe and Africa and then attended a university in the U.S. Once they proved themselves against other Americans, the players became good candidates for the NBA. Hakeem Olajuwon, from Nigeria, was one of the players. He played for the University of Houston and then the Houston Rockets. He is considered one of the best players in NBA history. In the 1990s, Toni Kukoc of Croatia went to the NBA after playing professional basketball in Europe. He won three NBA titles playing with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. One of the best teams in the last 20 years is the San Antonio Spurs. The team won multiple championships with several players born outside the U.S. Manu Ginobli from Argentina and Tony Parker from France each have four NBA titles playing together on the Spurs. As the new NBA season “tips off” this week, VOA Learning English looks at some of the league’s most interesting international players and their outlook for the upcoming season. Dirk Nowitzki of the Dallas Mavericks German teeanger Dirk Nowitzki arrived in 1998. He played for a small German club team before coming to the NBA. Nowitzki turned into one of the best players in NBA history. He won a championship in 2011 with the Dallas Mavericks. He was also the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2007. Nowitzki is now 37 and may only have one or two seasons left before he retires. He’s already played for 17 years. Rob Mahoney is a writer for Sports Illustrated based in Dallas, Texas. He knows the Mavericks so well, he wrote a book about their championship in 2011. He thinks Nowitzki can still be a good player in the NBA despite his age. “It’s ultimately going to be up to him in terms of how long he decides to ride out his career. He’s still a very productive player, still very good in the NBA even on those terms. Still very good in the NBA, even on those terms. But every year is going to get a little bit harder.” Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls After Nowitzki, the international player with the best record might be Paul Gasol. He won three NBA championships playing for the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant. He is now the center for the Chicago Bulls. Gasol is one of the most consistent players in the league. He led the NBA last year with 54 “double-doubles.” A “double-double” is when a player has at least 10 points and at least 10 rebounds in the same game. The Bulls are a strong team, but Mahoney says much of their success will depend on Gasol. "Whether that team ultimately goes as far as it hopes to in a lot of ways depends on how healthy they are, because they have a lot of talent and that begins with Pau for sure."   Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks One of the most interesting players in the NBA is Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks. His parents are from Nigeria, but he was born in Greece. Antetokounmpo is over two meters tall but he is fast for men of his height. Highlights from the last two NBA seasons show him running, dribbling and flying through the air like a much smaller player. Mahoney says Antetokounmpo should have an outstanding career in the NBA but he still needs to improve his game. As a 20-year-old, he has time. "He’s an interesting player just because he’s already been good but you can certainly see that potential in him to be one of the great international players to come to the NBA. To be an All-Star-type talent. To be a guy a team would conceivably build around. And that’s certainly what the Milwaukee Bucks are hoping for, that he turns out to be that kind of player." Kristaps Porzingis of the New York Knicks Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia stands well over two meters tall. He is known for blocking shots. It means he can stop the ball in the air and prevent opponents from scoring points. His game is considered “raw” by most scouts. That means he still has a lot of room for improvement. Last June, Porzingis was the third pick in the NBA draft by the New York Knicks. He is also only 20 years old. Mahoney and other observers are curious to see how he will adjust to both the NBA and living in New York. "How all that stuff plays into how he performs on the court is definitely something that a lot of people in the NBA are watching this year. Because he has so many physical tools to perform in the NBA. A lot of people project him to be something similar to Dirk Nowitzki in terms of a 7-footer who can shoot really well, who can put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. Who can really leverage his skill set in interesting ways." Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz Mahoney says one player to watch this year is Rudy Gobert. He is a French player in his early 20s. Until this season he was a secondary player on the Utah Jazz. This year, the team expects him to be an important member. "This is going to be his first season of high exposure, of attention from opposing coaches and players who now know who he is and know what he’s capable of. I’m interested to see if he can block as many shots. If he can have as much of an impact now that he’s a little bit more of a known quantity." It’s difficult to find an NBA team without at least one or two key players born outside of the U.S. Thanks to so many trailblazers, the league is more international than ever. I’m Dan Friedell And I’m Jonathan Evans Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Who is your favorite NBA player born outside of the United States? We want to hear from you. Vote in our poll, write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   league – n. a group of sports teams that play against each other prospects– n. a group of sports teams that play against each other consistent– adj. of the same quality rebound– n. basketball : the act of catching the ball after a shot has missed going in the basket highlight– n. something (such as an event or a detail) that is very interesting, exciting, or important : the best part of something dribble– v. to move a ball or puck forward by tapping, bouncing, or kicking it potential– n. a quality that something has that can be developed to make it better leverage – n. influence or power used to achieve a desired result opponent– n. a person, team, group, etc., that is competing against another in a contest trailblazer– n. a person who makes, does, or discovers something new and makes it acceptable or popular scout– n. a person whose job is to search for talented performers, athletes, etc. ​

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Guess Who Games More: Women or Men?

Women have claimed a majority in the electronic revolution. Separate studies show that women make up more than half of the world’s video game players. Females are more likely to grab a smart phone or a tablet for a casual game. Competitive online gaming is still a male-dominated sport. But that is changing. Only three years ago, women were 49 percent of “gamers,” says the Internet Advertising Bureau. Now, women are 52 percent of gamers, the bureau says. Women are embracing the gaming industry as professionals, too. Some employ coaches and staffs. Some exceptional players -- like South Korea’s ToSsGirl, or Scarlett of Canada – use gamer nicknames. They earn professional endorsement deals. Matches and tournaments happen weekly. Female teams have formed worldwide. Women travel to compete for world championships. The stereotype of the teenage gaming addict is becoming a myth.  A study by Pixwoo.com – a social network for gamers – says the average player is 35 years old. The typical player is a parent with one child and works 32 hour a week. In all, 1.2 billion people play video games, says the 2013 State of Online Gaming Report. It mentioned “the rising power of women and mothers within the online gaming sector.” One report statistic noted that 73 percent of Turkish women aged 35 to 44 play online games. The report said women prefer puzzle, quiz and word games. Men like racing, sports and action games. International gaming expositions and shows are planned throughout Europe and Australia. Paris is hosting a games week that began October 28. I'm Anne Ball. Michael O’Sullivan reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Hey, are you a gamer? Write to us in the Comments section and on our Facebook page.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story gamer – n. a video game player tournament – n. a competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days addict – n. a person who likes or enjoys something very much and spends a large amount of time doing it myth – n. an idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true   ​

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China Ends One–Child Policy

The government in China plans to end its one-child per family policy and instead let families have two children. The plan was announced Thursday after high-level political meetings in Beijing. The official Xinhua news agency says the country’s top legislature must approve the proposal before it becomes law. A Chinese Communist Party statement gave a number of reasons for the change in policy. The statement said the change is meant to balance population development. It said the move also attempts to stop a declining birth rate and strengthen the country’s work force.  China - the world’s most populous country - launched the one-child policy in 1980. But the government permitted only a small number of couples to have two children. For example, some rural families were given approval to have two children. A total of 19 rural provinces have a partial two-child policy. That policy states if the first-born is a girl, a second child is permitted. In 2013, the Chinese government gave other couples a chance to have two children. Families could have two if one parent was an only child. A teacher and population expert, Jiang Quanbao, explained how Chinese families will react to the policy. “Too many young people in the cities are probably no longer interested in having a second child,” he said. “People in rural farming villages may be more interested. But again, some of them are already allowed to have two children.” At the end of 2014, China had a population of 1.37 billion people. A total of 800 million of them are employed. But that job market population is expected to drop by 2050. With the two-child policy, an increase in births will ease the labor shortage, starting in 20 years. I’m Anna Matteo.   Joyce Huang reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   boost – v. to increase the force, power or amount of something populous – adj. having a large population province – n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into   What do you think about the child policy reversal in China? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Cambodian Parliament Members Beaten

  Two opposition party Cambodian lawmakers were seriously injured Monday after they were beaten by protestors outside the parliament building in Phnom Penh. The injured lawmakers are Nhoy Chamreoun and Kong Sakphea, members of Cambodia’s National Rescue Party (CNRP). The protesters demanded the removal of CNRP President Kem Sokha. Most of the demonstrators left after delivering a petition to the Cambodian Assembly on Monday, according to reports from the Cambodian capital. But a small group remained, waiting for lawmakers to leave the building after a morning session. Nhoy Chamreoun and Kong Sakphea were kicked in the head by some of the protestors. It left them bloodied and dazed. Both required hospital treatment. Chamreoun required surgery. “I will have a surgery on my right hand shortly and will have a surgery on my right eye tomorrow morning,” Nhoy Chamreoun posted on Facebook Tuesday.  On Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen expressed strong regrets for the attack. "Regardless of who they are - whether they are supporters of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP), the royal government, the opposition party, whoever committed this cheap act must be punished,” he said. Rescue Party spokesman Yim Sovann said such attacks should never happen again. “I believe serious action should be taken,” the spokesman said. Opposition politicians in Cambodia have faced arrests during government crackdowns against protests. But this is the first direct physical attack against members of parliament in the last several years. I'm Jonathan Evans. Neou Vannarin and Sok Khemara reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Now it's your turn. Please comment in the section below or on our Facebook page.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story crackdown – n. serious attempt to punish people for doing something that is not allowed We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. .

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The Boy on Graves-End Road by Caty Weaver

Editor's Note: This is a weekly multimedia series of American short stories for English language learners. Each story has video, audio, quizzes, and a lesson plan for teachers. Hope you enjoy reading and listening to this story! Please leave your questions and comments below. October 31 is Halloween. In the spirit of this ancient holiday, we present a story written by our own reporter and producer Caty Weaver. It's called "The Boy on Graves-End Road." Kelly Ryan was making dinner. Her 10-year-old son Benjamin was watching television in the living room. Or at least she thought he was. KELLY: "Benny-boy, do you want black beans or red beans?" BEN: "Red beans, Mama." Kelly: "Ah! Don't do that, Ben. You scared me half to death! You're going to get it now ... " Ben had come up quietly right behind her. KELLY: "I'll get back to you, stinker!" Kelly goes to the phone, but as soon as she lays her hand on it, the ringing stops. KELLY: "How strange. Oh, the beans!" Kelly turns her attention back to cooking. As soon as she does, the phone rings again. KELLY: "Honey, can you get that?" BEN: "Hello? Oh, hi. Yes, I remember. Sure, it sounds fun. Let me ask my mom. Can you hold? She might wanna talk to your mom. Oh, um, OK. See you tomorrow." KELLY: "Ben, your rice and beans are on the table. Let's eat." KELLY: "So, what was that call about?" BEN: "That was Wallace Gray. You know him, from class. He wants to play tomorrow. Can I go home with him after school? Please, Mom? I get bored around here waiting for you after work." KELLY: "But, I don't even know his parents. Maybe I should talk to them." BEN: "You can't, Mom. He was with his babysitter. He said his parents wouldn't be home until late tonight and they would leave before he went to school in the morning. Please Mom, Wallace lives right over on Graves-End Road. It's a five-minute walk from here. PLEASE,?” KELLY: "Well, OK. What's so great about this guy, anyway? You've got a ton of friends to play with." BEN: "I know. But Wallace is just different. He's got a lot of imagination.” The school week passes, and Ben starts to go home almost every day with Wallace. Kelly notices a change in her son. He seems tired and withdrawn. His eyes do not seem to really look at her. They seem ... lifeless. On Friday night she decides they need to have a talk. KELLY: "Sweetie, what's going on with you? You seem so tired and far away. Is something wrong? Did you and your new friend have a fight?" BEN:"No, Mom. We've been having a great time. There's nothing wrong with us. Why don't you like Wallace? You don't even know him, but you don't trust him." KELLY: "Benjamin, what are you talking about? I don't dislike Wallace. You're right, I don't know him. You just don't seem like yourself. You've been very quiet the past few nights." BEN: "I'm sorry, Mom. I guess I'm just tired. I have a great time with Wallace. We play games like cops and robbers, but they seem so real that half of the time I feel like I'm in another world. It's hard to explain. It's like,  it’s like ... " KELLY: "I think the word you're looking for is intense." BEN: "Yeah, that's it -- it's intense." KELLY: "Well, tell me about today. What kind of game did you play?" BEN: "We were train robbers. Or Wallace was. I was a station manager. Wallace was running through a long train, from car to car. He had stolen a lot of money and gold from the passengers. I was chasing right behind him, moving as fast as I could. Finally he jumps out of the train into the station to make his escape. But I block his path. He grabs a woman on the station platform. She screams 'No, no!' But he yells 'Let me through, or she dies.' So I let him go." KELLY: "What happened then?" BEN: "Well, that's what was weird and, like you said, intense. Wallace threw the lady onto the tracks. And laughed. He said that's what evil characters do in the games. They always do the worst." Later, after Ben went to bed, Kelly turned on the eleven o'clock news. She was only half-listening as she prepared a list of things to do the next day, on Halloween. KELLY: “OK, let's see, grocery shopping, Halloween decorating, the dog’s gotta go to the groomer,  I gotta go to the  hardware store, clean up the garden ... [TV in background] NEWS ANNOUNCER: "Reports say it appears she was pushed off the station platform into the path of the oncoming train. It happened during rush hour today. Some witnesses reported seeing two boys running and playing near the woman. But police say they did not see any images like that on security cameras at the station. KELLY: "No! It can't be. The station is an hour away. They couldn't have gotten there. How could they? It's just a coincidence." The wind blew low and lonely that night. Kelly slept little. She dreamed she was waiting for Ben at a train station. Then, she saw him on the other side, running with another little boy. It must be Wallace she thought. The little boy went in and out of view. Then, all of a sudden, he stopped and looked across the tracks -- directly at her. He had no face. Saturday morning was bright and sunny, a cool October day. Kelly made Ben eggs and toast and watched him eat happily. KELLY: "You know, Benny-boy, a woman DID get hurt at the train station yesterday. She actually got hit by a train. Isn't that strange?" She looked at Ben. BEN: "What do you mean, Mom?" KELLY: "Well, you and Wallace were playing that game yesterday. About being at a train station. You said he threw a woman off the platform, and she was killed by a train." Kelly felt like a fool even saying the words. She was speaking to a ten-year-old who had been playing an imaginary game with another ten-year-old. What was she thinking? BEN: "I said we played that yesterday? I did? Hmmm. No, we played that a few days ago, I think. It was just a really good game, really intense. Yesterday we played pirates. I got to be Captain Frank on the pirate ship, the Argh. "Wallace was Davey, the first mate. But he tried to rebel and take over the ship so I made him walk the plank. Davey walked off into the sea and drowned. Wallace told me I had to order him to walk the plank. He said that's what evil pirates do." KELLY: "I guess he's right. I don't know any pirates, but I do hear they're pretty evil!" BEN: "So can I play with Wallace today when you are doing your errands? Please, Mom? I don't want to go shopping and putting up Halloween decorations." KELLY: "Oh, whatever. I guess so. I'll pick you up at Wallace's house at about five-thirty, so you can get ready for trick or treating. Where does he live again? BEN: "Graves-End Road. I don't know the street number but there are only two houses on each side. His is the second one on the left." KELLY: "OK. I can find that easy enough. Do you still want me to pick up a ghost costume for you?" BEN: "Yep. Oh, and guess what, Mom: Wallace says he's a ghost, too! I suppose we'll haunt the neighborhood together." Everywhere Kelly went that day was crowded. She spent an hour and a half just at the market. When she got home, decorating the house for Halloween was difficult. But finally she had it all the way she wanted. KELLY: "Oh, gosh, five already. I don't even have Ben's costume." She jumped into her car and drove to Wilson Boulevard. The party store was just a few blocks away. Kelly soon found the ghost costume that Ben wanted. She bought it and walked out of the store. EILEEN: "Hey, Kelly! Long time no see. How's Benjamin doing?" KELLY: "Eileen! Wow, it’s great to see you. How's Matt? We've been so busy since the school year started, we haven't seen anyone!" EILEEN: "Matt's good. Well, he broke his arm last month so no sports for him. It is driving him crazy, but at least he's got a lot of time for school now!" KELLY: That's good, yeah. EILEEN: "Anyway, Matt was wondering why Benny-boy never comes by anymore. We saw him running around the neighborhood after school last week. It looks like he’s having fun, but he's always alone. We don't need to set up a play date. Ben should know that. You just tell him to come by anymore. We took him running around the neighborhood after school  last week. It looks like he’s having fun, but he’s always alone. We don’t need to set up a play date. Ben should know that. You just tell him to come by.   KELLY: "Wait, wait a  minute. Alone? What do mean alone? He started playing with a new friend, Wallace somebody, after school, like everyday this past week. Ben hasn't been alone. Wallace Gray, that's it. Do you know him? Does Matt?" EILEEN: "Oh, Kell. Kelly, I'm sure he's a fine kid. I don't know him but don't worry, Ben's got great taste in friends, we know that! I'm sure he wasn't really alone, he was probably just playing hide and seek or something. I didn't mean to worry you. I guess everybody's on edge because of what happened to the Godwin boy this morning." Kelly suddenly felt cold and scared. What Godwin boy? And what happened to him? She was not sure she wanted to know, but she had to ask. EILEEN: "Frank Godwin's youngest boy, Davey, the five-year-old. You know Frank, we call him Captain. He used to be a ship captain. Well, this morning the rescue squad found Davey in Blackhart Lake. They also found a little toy boat that his dad made for him. Davey and his dad named it the Argh. Davey must have been trying to sail it. It’s so sad." KELLY: "Wait, he's dead? EILEEN: "Yes. Davey drowned." KELLY: "Where's Blackhart Lake?" EILEEN: "It's right off Graves-End Road, right behind that little cemetery. That's why they call it Graves-End. Kelly, where are you going?" Kelly: "I've got to get Benjamin." Kelly raced down Main Street. She had not idea who Wallace Gray was or how he was involved in any of this. But she did not trust him and she knew her child was in danger.   Finally she was at Graves-End Road. BEN: "Only two houses on each side." She remembered what Ben had told her. EILEEN: "Right behind that little cemetery." And what Eileen had told her. Kelly got out of the car and walked down the street. She looked around. BEN: "It’s the second one on the left." She could see the lake. Some fog was coming up as the sky darkened on this Halloween night. But there was no second house. Instead, what lay before her was grass and large white stones. The cemetery. Kelly walked through the gate into the yard of graves. KELLY: "Ben?" No answer. She kept walking. KELLY: "Ben? Answer me. I know you're here." Again no answer. But the wind blew and some leaves began to dance around a headstone. Kelly walked slowly toward the grave. Suddenly the sky blackened -- so dark, she could not see anything. She felt a force pushing at her. It tried to push her away from the grave. But she knew she had to stay. KELLY: "Benjamin Owen Orr, this is your mother. Come out this second!" No one answered, except for the sound of the blowing wind. The darkness lifted. Silvery moonlight shone down directly onto the old gravestone in front of her. But Kelly already knew whose name she would see. KELLY: "'Wallace Gray. October 31, 1900, to October 31, 1910. Some are best when laid to rest.'" Kelly took a deep breath. Then ... KELLY: "Wallace Gray this play date is OVER! Give me back my son. Wallace, you are in TIME-OUT." Suddenly, the ground shoots upward like a small volcano. Soil, sticks and worms fly over Kelly's head and rain down again -- followed by her son, who lands beside her. BEN: (COUGHING, CHOKING) KELLY: "Ben! Ben!" BEN: (COUGHING, CHOKING) "Mom, Mom! Are you there? I can't see. All this dirt in my eyes." KELLY: "Ben, I'm here, I’m here baby, right here. Oh, sweet Benny-boy. Can you breathe? Are you really ok? What happened? How long were you in there?" BEN: "I don't know, Mom. But I didn't like it. I didn't like where Wallace lives. I want to go home." KELLY: "Oh, me too, Sweetie. C’mon, Ben, put your arm around me. C’mon. BEN: "And Mom, one more thing ... " KELLY: "What is it, Ben?" BEN: "I don't want to be a ghost for Halloween." _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scare - v. to cause (someone) to become afraid cemetery - n. a place where dead people are buried : graveyard intense - adj. of a person : very serious platform - n. a flat area next to railroad tracks where people wait for a train or subway headstone - n. a stone that marks the place where a dead person is buried and that usually has the person's name and birth and death dates on it weird - adj. unusual or strange ghost - n. the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people worm - n. a long, thin animal that has a soft body with no legs or bones and that often lives in the ground choke - v. to become unable to breathe usually because something gets stuck in your throat or because the air is not good for breathing Now it’s your turn to use these Words in this Story. In the Comments section, write a sentence using one of these words and we will provide feedback on your use of vocabulary and grammar. Or post it on our Facebook page.  ​

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Japan-South Korea-China Meet Over Disputes

  China, Japan and South Korea will hold their first trilateral meeting since 2012 this weekend. It will be in Seoul starting at the end of October. The meeting comes as the East Asian nations deal with territorial and historical disputes, as well as economic ties. Premier Li Keqiang will represent China at the summit. No explanation was offered for why the heads of state from Japan and South Korea will meet with Premier Li and not with Chinese head of state, President Xi Jinping. Also, officials in Seoul say South Korean President Park Geun-hye will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on November 2. The two have met before at international events, but have not formally met since taking office. Abe will be in Seoul November 1 and 2 for the trilateral meeting. One Japanese newspaper suggested that Japan and South Korea are still negotiating over how to handle the highly disputed “comfort women” issue. Park, who took office in 2013, had refused to hold a formal meeting with Abe. She had demanded that he offer a “sincere apology” and compensation to the thousands of Asian “comfort women” forced into sexual slavery by Japan’s military during World War II. In August, Park said she would focus instead on Abe’s promise to uphold past Japanese apologies, including the 1993 Kono Statement. The statement offered apologies and remorse to comfort women. Sides take part in first trilateral meeting since 2012 In 2008, the three major Northeast Asian leaders began to meet yearly, but after 2012 the summits were suspended because of territorial disputes. China and Japan hold conflicting claims to uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. The islands are called the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. Japan and South Korea have their own continuing dispute over two islets, called Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea. The United States has been urging its two major military allies in Asia to reconcile to improve regional security coordination.  Japan strongly supports U.S. efforts to protect freedom of navigation in the Pacific and to counter China’s aggressive claims on the South China Sea.  South Korea has urged all sides to resolve their differences peacefully. Kim Heung-kyu is the director of the China Policy Institute at South Korea’s Ajou University. Kim says South Korea will likely avoid disputed issues during the meeting. “In the conflict between the United States and China, South Korea prefers to play a role as a negotiator or proposer for stability, peace and cooperation rather than boosting the conflict by standing on one side,” Kim said. North Korea expected to be discussed North Korea is also expected to be an issue for discussion. South Korea and Japan both support the United States’ position that North Korea should halt its nuclear development program. The U.S. says halting the program should take place before new international talks to ease sanctions or increased economic assistance can begin. However, China may support a more positive approach because of North Korea’s restraint in holding off on missile and nuclear tests. South Korea and China have also voiced concerns over Japan’s recent security legislation. The legislation permits the military to protect Japanese interests and assist the U.S. in times of crisis. South Korea wants clarification that Japan still needs its permission to enter Korean territory.  Leaders will also likely discuss the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP agreement. Japan is one of the 12 member countries of the Pacific area free trade agreement.  South Korea has expressed interest in joining the TPP.  China is not part of the group. The TPP is seen by some as a way to counter China's growing economic power. I’m Mario Ritter. Brian Padden reported this story from Seoul. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trilateral – adj. involving three groups or countries sincere – adj. having or showing true feelings that are expressed in an honest way uninhabited – adj. not lived in by people

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Clues Sought in Whale Watch Boat Sinking

It remains unclear what caused a whale-watch boat to sink last weekend, killing five Britons off the west coast of Canada. UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond confirmed all five who died were British, Reuters reported. The boat sank Sunday near Tofino, British Columbia, with 27 people on board. The accident sparked a rescue effort by the Canadian military, Coast Guard, and local fishermen. The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre said 21 people were rescued and one Australian was missing. Most of those rescued were taken to hospitals. A spokeswoman for Island Health said one person was in serious condition, but stable. The boat, or cruiser, was called Leviathan II. It was 65 feet long and had three decks. It was owned by Jamie’s Whaling Station and Adventure Centres. Its website says the company takes tourists on boats for several hours around Vancouver Island to see Pacific Gray whales and humpback whales. These whale-watching trips usually last two to three hours.  Corene Inouye is the company's spokesperson. She told the Guardian newspaper that the Leviathan II had been operating normally on a route it had followed for the past 20 years.    She could not say what caused the boat to sink. It happened so fast that the crew members were unable to radio for help, she said.   In 1998, a boat operated by the same company sank near Tofino, Reuters said. The ship’s captain and a German tourist died in that accident.  The company owner, Jamie Bray, said he is cooperating with investigators to figure out what happened. After the Leviathan II sank, survivors and bodies were brought ashore to Tofino. It is a Canadian town of about 2,000 people. Tourists from around the world visit the town, hoping to see humpback and Pacific Gray whales.      I’m Anne Ball. Do you have an opinion about this story? Let us know what you think in the Comments Section below, or on our Facebook page.               This article was reported by VOANews.com. Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   whale - n. an often very large mammal that lives in the ocean on board – expression. carried on a vehicle or on a boat, in this case sparked – v.  to cause to start or happen fishermen – n.  men who catch fish spokeswoman – n. a woman who speaks for or represents someone or something cruiser – n. a boat that has room to live on and that is used for pleasure tourists – n. people who travel to a place for pleasure  

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VOA English Newscast: 1600 UTC October 29, 2015

  From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Ira Mellman. China approves a major revision to its “one child” policy. China has ended its long-standing one child policy and will now allow all couples to have two children. The plan was unveiled Thursday following high-level closed-door political meetings this week in Beijing. Analysts said a two-child policy, while a welcome move, will do little to help lift the country's declining birth rate or shrinking workforce. VOA's Bill Ide in Beijing says the two-child policy is a further relaxation, after China, in late 2013, allowed couples, one of whom has no siblings, to have a second child. "China has been inching toward this for quite some time now. In rural areas, families are allowed to have two children, and just a few years ago, in 2013, the government also allowed couples, who if one of the couples was a single child, that they could have a second child. So China has gradually been easing this policy, but it is a big change, overall.” The restrictions have led to an imbalanced sex ratio because of a traditional preference for boys. Studies say there are 117 boys for every 100 girls in China. China's Defense Ministry said it will voice its "solemn position" to the United States when top navy officials from both countries hold an hour-long video teleconference Thursday to discuss tensions in the South China Sea and naval ties. Earlier this week, Washington took its biggest step to date to challenge China's claims in the South China Sea, sailing a U.S. navy warship within a 12 nautical mile zone of one of the man-made islands. This is VOA. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast   revision – n. change long-standing – adj. lasting or existing for a long time allow – v. to permit or let couples – n. two people who are married or have a serious relationship unveiled – v. to release, declare or announce closed-door – adj. done in secret or in private analysts – n. observers or experts further – adv. additional or greater relaxation – n. easing siblings – n. brothers or sisters inching – v. moving slowly imbalanced – n. a condition when different things are not represented in equal amounts ratio – n. the relationship the exists between the size or number of things preference – n. a feeling of liking one person or thing more than another solemn – adv. very serious or sad teleconference – n. the use of telephones and video equipment to have a meeting with people who are in different places challenge – v. to test or question   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section.      

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TALK2US: Spooky Halloween & Carving Pumpkins

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