At Least 20 Dead in Indian Bridge Collapse

At least 20 people died and hundreds were injured in a bridge collapse in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata Thursday. Witnesses said many people and vehicles, including two buses carrying more than 100 passengers, were under the bridge when it fell. They also said construction workers had set up camps near the bridge site where they would sleep and cook.Before rescue teams arrived, local residents and firefighters used their bare hands to try to rescue people trapped under the debris. The collapsed bridge is in a busy commercial area of Kolkata. Its location has made it difficult for rescue operations. Access to the area is blocked on both sides by buildings, and the streets are blocked with heavy traffic. Reuters reports that the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, rushed to the scene of the collapse. She said that rescuing those trapped is her “top priority.” Banerjee said those responsible for the disaster will be punished. Yet she faces questions about the safety of the construction project. The Telegraph newspaper reported last November that Banerjee wanted the bridge - already five years overdue - to be completed by February. Project engineers said they were concerned over whether this would be possible, the newspaper said at the time. Construction workers had been on a strict schedule to complete the bridge. The disaster could affect the West Bengal election next month. AN Indian company, IVRCL, was building the 2-kilometer bridge, its website said. IVRCL's director of operations said the company was not sure of the cause of the disaster. I'm Anne Ball.    Ashley Thompson adapted this story from VOANews.com and Reuters reports. Kathleen Struck was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story debris - n. the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed rush - v. to move or do something very quickly or in a way that shows you are in a hurry operations - n. an activity of a business or organization — usually plural    

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Security Summit Focuses on N. Korea, Terror Threat

U.S. President Barack Obama opened his final nuclear security summit in Washington on Thursday, expressing concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons development and the possibility of dirty bombs from terrorists. Ahead of the summit, Obama met with South Korean President Park Geun-hye and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to discuss the North Korean nuclear threat in the region. He said, "One of the topics now most on our minds is the issue of North Korea and we are united in our efforts to deter and defend against North Korean provocations" North Korea nuclear threat On Thursday, The Washington Post published an opinion article from President Obama. He wrote, “The international community must remain united in the face of North Korea’s continued provocations, including its recent nuclear test and missile launches. The additional sanctions recently imposed on Pyongyang by the United Nations Security Council show that violations have consequences.” The U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution earlier this month to impose tough new sanctions on North Korea. The sanctions are meant to punish North Korea for its recent nuclear and long-range missile tests. The resolution will need China’s cooperation since 90 percent of North Korean trade goes through China. The U.S. has been asking China to use its influence to limit North Korea’s nuclear activities. Rose Gottemoeller is an Under-Secretary of State. She said on Wednesday that the cooperation between the U.S. and China has been "very, very good." "China joins with us in a very strong and intense focus on ensuring good, solid implementation of the U.N. Security Council resolution, which, as many of you know, places strong constraints on North Korea's ability to continue to conduct commerce across its borders, whether by sea, air or land," said Gottemoeller. The U.S. and South Korea have also been discussing the deployment of a missile defense system, called THAAD. It stands for Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense. The missile system is to protect South Korea from the North’s nuclear threat. China has opposed the deployment since it would also give the U.S. radar coverage over Chinese territory. U.S.-China relations U.S.-China relations, however, are complicated with maritime disputes in the South China Sea. China has launched major construction projects in the South China Sea for the past two years. It has claimed sovereignty over a large part of the sea. China has built new artificial islands, airport runways and buildings, ignoring claims from Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. Recently, China has deployed a radar system and an advanced surface-to-air missile system on Woody Island. The island is part of the Paracel Islands, also claimed by Taiwan and Vietnam. While the U.S. does not claim any territory in the South China Sea, it has been sending warships through the disputed water near the Spratly and Paracel islands. China has called U.S. operations in the South China Sea “provocative behavior.” But both countries have avoided any escalation of tensions. Terror threat Leaders at the summit are especially concerned about the security of nuclear materials and facilities in countries such as Pakistan. On Easter Sunday, a terrorist attack in Lahore killed more than 70 people. The Brussels terrorist attacks on March 22 showed how dangerous terrorist groups like the Islamic State have become. After the attacks, Belgium has put armed guards at its nuclear facilities. Sharon Squassoni is an expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She said while progress has been made to secure nuclear materials, “there is still material out there and the material that we’re talking about is highly enriched uranium.” The U.S. says the world has 2,000 metric tons of highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium in civilian and military programs. Ben Rhodes is the White House Deputy National Security Adviser. He said, “We know that terrorist organizations have the desire to get access to these raw materials and their desire to have a nuclear device.”   Ken Bredemeier and Mary Alice Salinas reported on this story for VOANews.com. Hai Do adapted their reports for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   provocation - n. an action or occurrence that causes someone to become angry or to do something consequence - n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or condition implementation - n. the action of beginning to do or use something

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Some New Words for VOA's Word Book

Some big news today here at VOA Learning English. We are adding new words to our 1,500-word Word Book. The first edition of the Word Book came out in 1962. Every now and then, we update it. Some words are added and some are taken away. We only decided to add these words after careful thought. We think they will be useful as your English improves. Here are the Word Book’s new words. Dadgum Running latte Hangry Have you ever used these words or heard them before? In case you have not, here is what they are and how to use them. Dadgum is a word used to express dissatisfaction or anger. For example, if you are hanging a picture on the wall and hit yourself with the hammer, you could yell: “dadgum it!” Sometimes coffee drinkers are said to be running latte. A latte is a coffee drink made with hot milk. The delicious drink is spelled l-a-t-t-e. Sometimes, you might have to stop for one on your way to work. When the coffee stop delays your arrival you can say “I ran latte.” Hangry is used to describe a person who is hungry and angry because of it. Hangry people are sometimes hard to be around until they get something to eat. You will be hearing these words in our news and feature programs. We urge you to use them also in your expanding English vocabulary. Caty, wait, there’s a new expression to add to the word book. What is it, Dan? It’s APRIL FOOLS! Ugh! Today is April Fools’ Day. It is a day when people in many countries play fun tricks on each other. Some historians think the day goes back thousands of years to ancient Rome. These words we just mentioned, they’re real. But they are informal. They are not yet in the Learning English Word Book. But you can find hangry in the Oxford Dictionaries’ website. We hope you enjoyed our little joke. And that you have a great April Fools’ Day. I’m Dan Friedell. And I’m Caty Weaver.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Did you play a prank or a joke on someone today? Tell us about it in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   informal– adj.  having a friendly and relaxed quality delicious– adj.  a very pleasant taste  

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Instagram Launches 60-Second Videos

  This is What’s Trending Today… The media-sharing application Instagram will soon have 60-second videos. Instagram announced its plan to have longer videos earlier this week. Currently, Instagram has a 15-second video time limit. The company said that the time people have spent watching videos on the application increased by more than 40 percent in six months. It also said that the longer video feature will be available to some users immediately. The feature will be available to everyone in the coming months. ​ Instagram again will permit iPhone users to join together clips from different videos on their phones. The feature is similar to Vine videos or Snapchat’s Stories. Snapchat announced a new video-chatting feature on the same day that Instagram announced its plan for longer videos. Experts say that video is the next big step in social media. Instagram’s parent company, Facebook, says its users worldwide watch more than 100 million hours of video each day. Longer Instagram videos will help the company better compete with sites like YouTube. And that’s What’s Trending Today. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   chat - v. to talk over the Internet by sending messages back and forth in a chat room parent company - n. a company that owns or controls another company

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Palmyra May Be in Better Condition Than Expected

When the Islamic State militants blew up the Temple of Bel in the ancient city of Palmyra in August 2015, experts feared they would destroy many important artifacts from the first century. UNESCO considered the 2,000-year-old temple one of the most important buildings of the World Heritage ancient city. The UN called the destruction of the ancient temples and tombs in Palmyra a war crime. Syrian forces, backed by Russian airstrikes, took back control of Palmyra. Now that the city is open, experts say the artifacts are in better shape than many predicted. They say up to 80 percent of the ancient ruins in Palmyra have survived. Maamoun Abdulkarim is the Syrian antiquities director. He was able to investigate the 2,000-year-old ruins for the first time after Syrian forces recaptured the city in late March. The Islamic State militants held the ancient city for about 10 months He said many artifacts, columns, arches and statues have survived. But there is damage to surrounding streets, baths and fences. The faces of some statues were chiseled away. Abdulkarim and a group of experts are looking to restore the ancient structures. He said to Al-Jazeera, "We know the area centimeter-by-centimeter - all we need is the help of the international community." Looking for international help In Italy, a former culture minister, Francesco Rutelli, said the artifacts could be restored using three-dimensional, or 3-D, printing. The technology can help re-create damaged structures. Roger Michel is an American expert from the Institute for Digital Archaeology in Great Britain. Michel promised that he would show a Temple of Bel arch recreated from a 3-D printing in April. ​Michel said to The Guardian, “my intention is to show Islamic State that anything they can blow up we can rebuild exactly as it was before, and rebuild it again and again.” Michel explained that 3-D printing can use the same combination of materials – sand, water and sodium bicarbonate – that ancient builders used to build the temple. It can even use dust left over from buildings destroyed by IS. One problem the experts will face is the lack of detailed source material like 3-D images. But they say some of the information can come from two-dimensional photographs. There is already some video shot by drones and photographs made by satellites. But many of the sites are not yet accessible because of land mines and traps left by IS fighters. Amr Al Azm is a Middle East History and anthropology professor in Ohio and used to work for the antiquities department in Syria. He sees a difficult task ahead. “The Arch of the Triumph — may be repairable because there is more of it left, lying around close by. The Temple of Bel is going to be far more challenging,” he said. I’m Dan Friedell.   This story was first reported by VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted the story for Learning English. Additional information came from The Guardian and The New York Times. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think experts will be able to restore Palmyra? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   temple – n. a place for prayer tomb – n. a burial place restoration – n. the act or process of returning something to its original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc. drone – n. an aircraft without a pilot on board dimension – n. the length, width, height, or depth of something : a measurement in one direction (such as the distance from the ceiling to the floor in a room) chisel – v. to cut or shape (something) with a chisel

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New Drones Could Improve Weather Predictions

Scientists are developing unmanned planes -- called drones -- that can gather weather information from the atmosphere. The drones could help weather experts improve their predictions. Meteorologists say their weather forecasts would be more accurate if they had information from many parts of the atmosphere. They already place satellites, drones and balloons at different altitudes. And they use radar and gather information from devices on towers. But that information only helps experts predict weather conditions for the next few days. It does not help predict changes in the next few hours. This is very important where sudden, violent storms happen. So scientists at Oklahoma State University are developing new drones to gather information from more parts of the Earth’s atmosphere. This will help forecasters improve predictions about local weather conditions. Jamey Jacob is an aerospace engineer and a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at Oklahoma State University. He leads the university’s Unmanned Systems Research Institute. He and other scientists at the university are developing small drones that do not cost a lot of money but can fly for hours, gathering information from many atmospheric levels. He spoke to VOA on Skype. “Oklahoma is a really good, good example, because even though we're already a very weather-dynamic state, Oklahoma only has two balloon launches a day -- one at dawn and one at dusk -- from a single location in the state, and that's where all the weather forecasting information comes from. So that data is really sparse, and it’s difficult for meteorologists that are developing these forecasting models to get a very good idea about how that weather is changing from these very limited number of data points.” Phillip Chilson is a professor of meteorology at Oklahoma State University. He says the drone program should give researchers a low-cost way of understanding storms better, and improve computer-based forecasting. The scientists have developed a round drone that can fly, hover, roll on the ground and then take off again. These abilities are needed for a drone to fly in storms. Professor Chilson says the drone can measure atmospheric conditions, send live video to forecasters, and help search for people hurt in storms. He spoke to VOA on Skype. “Our real goal is to try to develop systems that really, I don't want to say replace but there may be that possibility of replacing weather balloons, but currently augmenting them -- so, increasing the capabilities.” Researchers say they still have a lot of work to do before the drones are ready. That includes making sure the drones know how to stay away from other planes. They say it could be two years until a drone can safely examine Earth’s lower atmosphere.  I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA's Science and Technology Correspondent George Putic reported on this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drone – n. a plane or other vehicle that flies and does not have a pilot in it meteorologist – n. a scientist who studies the atmosphere and weather forecast – n. a statement about what you think is going to happen in the future accurate – adj. free from mistakes or error altitude – n. the height of something (such as an airplane) above the level of the sea dynamic – adj. always active or changing dawn – n. the time of day when sunlight first begins to appear dusk – n. the time when day changes into night and the sky begins to get darker sparse – adj. present only in small amounts; less than necessary or normal data point – n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze or plan something (usage note: data is plural in form but is used with both plural and singular verbs) hover – v. to float in the air without moving in any direction scope – n. the area that is included in or dealt with by something capability – n. the ability to do something augment – v. to add something to (something) in order to improve or complete it

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English @ the Movies: 'Pick A Fight'

"Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" is about two action super-heroes. Batman and Superman end up in a fight. Our English @ the Movies phrase we are talking about is "pick a fight." What do you think that means? Listen and find out.

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Changing Prepositions With 'Provide'

English learners know that prepositions can be difficult to master. There are 94 one-word prepositions in English, and about 56 prepositions with two or more words, called “complex prepositions.” This adds up to 150 chances to make mistakes. We cannot, of course, explain the small differences between all 150 prepositions here. We can, however, provide you with a few explanations of different prepositions that use one particular verb: provide. Provide (someone) with: When provide is followed by an indirect object, English speakers use the preposition “with.” Providing (someone) with something means to give something wanted or needed. Here is an example sentence, written by U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama: “Room to Read provides girls with scholarships that cover the cost of housing, food, and books.” In this sentence, “girls” is the indirect object and “scholarships” is the direct object. Provide for:   Another preposition with the same verb is “provide for.” “Provide for,” in general, means to make whatever is necessary for someone available to him or her. We often use this expression when we talk about parents providing for their family.  In a VOA Learning English story about a Cambodian-American filmmaker, we used the preposition in this way: “She says changes such as migration away from rural areas are allowing more women to find work and provide for their families.” This preposition can also be used in other ways. “Provide for” can mean to make it possible for something to happen in the future. For example, in our story about water shortage in California, we wrote, “They say it [California] needs to find a way to provide for the growing need for water.” Provide (something) to/for:   When “provide” is followed by a direct object, English speakers can use the prepositions “to” or “for.” Provide (something) to/for (someone) means that you deliver or give something to someone. For example, “The company provides health insurance to all of its employees.” “Health insurance” is the direct object and “employees” is the indirect object. In this example, we also could have said “The company provides health insurance for all of its employees.”   Both of these sentences are correct, but it is more common to use “provide (something) for” than “provide (something to)” someone. The expression using “to” is rather new to American English, according to the Internet application Google Ngrams. Google Ngrams is an app that shows general changes in English usage by searching all the words in Google’s digital books. The graph on Ngram for “provide (something) to” shows it was hardly ever used before 1960. Compare that to the Ngram graph for “provide (something for).” The expressions appear more often. The expressions also appeared much earlier, around 1920. They were used then almost as often as they are used now. Understanding English prepositions can be difficult, even for native speakers! But we hope that we have been able to provide assistance to all of our listeners and readers. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prepositions - n. a word or group of words that is used with a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase to show direction, location, or time, or to introduce an object direct object - n. a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase which indicates the person or thing that receives the action of a verb indirect object - n. a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that occurs in addition to a direct object after some verbs and indicates the person or thing that receives what is being given or done      

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Pakistan Detains More than 200 Suspected Militants

  Police and security forces have arrested more than 200 suspected Islamist militants after a suicide bombing in Lahore on Sunday. The attack took place at a crowded public park in the capital of Punjab, the most populous province of the country. At least 72 people, many of them Christians celebrating Easter, were killed. Twenty-nine children were among the dead. More than 300 people were wounded. Tuesday, the provincial law minister told reporters that more than 5,000 people were detained. He said they later released all but 216 people. Police and special counter-terrorism units have taken part in many raids across Punjab. Pakistani officials said intelligence agencies and troops also carried out raids against suspected “sleeper cells” and “terrorist hideouts” in several cities of Punjab. Jammaatul Ahrar, a group that once was part of the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the bombing. It said the suicide attacker targeted Christians. A spokesman promised that the group would carry out more attacks in Punjab. The threat caused officials to temporarily close all of the public parks in the province. The spokesman also threatened to attack local media. “Everyone will get their turn in this war, especially the slave Pakistani media. We are just waiting for the appropriate time,” the spokesman said on the social networking site Twitter. The Easter Sunday bombing was the deadliest attack in Pakistan since a raid by militants on a school in Peshawar in December 2014. Almost 150 people were killed, most of them children. The Pakistani Taliban and groups linked to it have attacked the government for more than 10 years. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the attacks. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Reporter Ayaz Gul in Islamabad wrote this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   park - n. a large area of public land Easter - n. religious holiday when Christians celebrate the return of Jesus after his execution unit - n. group appropriate - adj. right for some purpose or situation  

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News Words: Tears of Joy

This news word is not something you speak. It is an emoji.

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Terrorism Threat Is Focus of Nuclear Summit

Terrorists getting nuclear material to make bombs will be discussed among world leaders at this week’s Nuclear Security Summit in Washington, D.C. It isn’t just the deadly March 22 terrorist attack in the Belgium capital. It is also reports from Belgium officials that two brothers who carried out suicide attacks at the Brussels airport tried to get nuclear materials. The two – Khalid and Ibrahim el-Bakraoui -- placed a camera near the home of a nuclear researcher in Belgium. Officials suspect they were monitoring the man to obtain material that makes a more powerful bomb. Jane Harman is director of the Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. She said leaders from 53 nations who will attend the summit should focus on three major issues. “The threats aren’t one size fits all,” Harman said during a nuclear summit preview this week. “We have to keep our eyes on great powers like Russia. We have to watch regional pariahs like Iran and North Korea, and ensure that terror groups never get their hands on nuclear materials as (the Islamic State), so we read, hoped to in Belgium.” Harman said the concern is that Islamic State, or other terrorist groups, could set off a “dirty bomb.” A dirty bomb uses conventional explosives, such as dynamite, mixed with radioactive materials. The Washington nuclear summit runs Thursday and Friday, March 31 and April 1. The White House released a brief Tuesday, saying that a terrorist attack using nuclear material would “create political, economic social and psychological havoc.” Ben Rhoades is Obama’s deputy national security adviser. “We have seen ample proof that terrorist organizations like (Islamic State) have no regard for innocent human life or international norms, and that only redoubles the need for us to have effective international nuclear security approaches,” he said Wednesday. One nation that will not be represented at the summit is Iran. Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association told VOA that Iran’s participation would have provided a chance to build on last year’s nuclear deal. The deal required Iran to remove enriched uranium and take down nuclear-making equipment. But Davenport said Iran “is not providing adequate assurances that its nuclear activities are protected against acts of nuclear terrorism.” Previous nuclear summits have worked to reduce the number of nations with nuclear arms. The White House says 14 countries and Taiwan have eliminated all nuclear materials from their countries since 2010. That includes Ukraine and Japan. More countries with nuclear weapons would create an “arms race,” said Daniel Pinkston, a lecturer in international relations with Troy University in Seoul. “It would be extremely damaging and plays right into the hands of the hardliners,” such as North Korea. I'm Bruce Alpert.   Brian Padden and Barbara Slavin reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted their reports for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story regional – adj. an accent that occurs in a particular place pariah – adj. a nation that is hated and rejected by people dynamite – n. a powerful explosive that is often used in the form of a stick radioactive – adj. having or producing a powerful and dangerous form of energy, called radiation ample – adj. having or providing enough or more than enough of what is needed proof – n. something which shows that something is true or correct approach – n. a way of dealing with something participation – n. to take part in an activity or event with others hardliner – n. someone who takes a rigid, uncompromising position.

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March 30, 2016

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

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Yazidis Exchanged for IS Prisoners

  More than 50 Yazidi women and children were exchanged last week for Islamic State prisoners held by Kurdish forces in Syria. Two IS commanders were exchanged for the women and children. Kurds holding the two were part of the armed wing of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party, known as the YPG. The women and children were returned home to Sinjar in northern Iraq. Sinjar is the main city for Yazidis in Iraq. It was liberated from IS last year by Kurdish Peshmerga forces. Those fighters are supported by the U.S.-led coalition. The Yazidis were taken from the same town 19 months ago, according to a Kurdish news agency. “I have talked to some of them yesterday,” said Dawud Sheik Kalo, a Yazidi fighter. He said the women and children are safe. A former prisoner told the Kurdish news agency she spent nine months in Iraq and 11 months in Syria. A teenage Yazidi girl said her family was taken by IS. “After we got to Syria, they separated the men from us,” she said. Media reports made no mention of Yazidi men being a part of the exchange.  Thousands of Yazidis were abducted or killed by IS in northern Iraq beginning in 2014. Women and girls were forced into sexual slavery by IS members, human rights groups say. I’m Mario Ritter.   Sirwan Kajjo wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English and VOANews.com. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   liberate – v. to free someone or something from being controlled by another person or group​ abduct – v. to take someone away from a place by force

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Fan Gets Close-Up of Ronaldo Penalty Kick

This is What’s Trending Today. Sarah Arcand is from the Canadian province of Ontario. She works as a teacher in York, a community near the city of Toronto. She and her family went to Madrid, Spain earlier this month for a spring vacation. While there, she attended a soccer match between Real Madrid and Sevilla. During the match, a famous Real Madrid player attempted a penalty kick. The ball went over the goal and hit the teacher in the face. She was recording the penalty kick with her phone. She posted the video to YouTube with the headline “Welcome to Bernabeu.” She chose those words because of the name of the sports center at which Real Madrid plays its games. The stadium is called Santiago Bernabeu. The 17-second video is taken from great seats behind the goal. It shows Sevilla’s goalie getting ready for Cristiano Ronaldo to kick the ball. He runs toward the ball and makes a strong kick, but it goes over the crossbar. And right into the face of Arcand. She says the ball left her with a black eye. She wrote on her YouTube posting: “Not sure Cristiano Rinaldo (sic) meant to welcome me with a black eye, but this Canadian football fan will take the penalty kick to the face as an excellent memory from one of the best.” Her video has over 500,000 views in the past week. A sports blog in Canada talked with Arcand. She told the writer it was a trip she and her family planned for three years. They also went to see Spain’s other famous team, Barcelona, play earlier on their visit. She said she got her telephone back after it was knocked two rows away. Her bruised face lasted for the rest of the vacation. “It’s almost better now, it’s getting there,” she said in the story published on March 28.  Here’s a look at Arcand’s video. And here is how the missed penalty kick looked on the television broadcast. You do not see Arcand getting hit by the ball. Arcand says she was not permitted to keep the ball as a souvenir. And That’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you ever caught a ball at a sporting event? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bruise – n. a dark and painful area on your skin that is caused by an injury souvenir – n. something that is kept as a reminder of a place you have visited, an event you have been to, etc. vacation – n. a period of time that a person spends away from home, school, or business usually in order to relax or travel stadium – n.  a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events, concerts, etc. crossbar – n. a bar that joins the goalposts in soccer or hockey

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North Korea Fires Another Short-Range Missile

South Korea says North Korea fired a short-range missile off its east coast late Tuesday near the North Korean port city of Wonsan. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile flew about 200 kilometers before hitting a target on land. The missile launch is the latest reaction by North Korea to new international economic restrictions and to joint U.S.-South Korean military operations. On March 21, North Korea fired five short-range missiles into the East Sea from the eastern city of Hamhung. The week before, it fired medium-range missiles into the sea. Those launches came after the United Nations placed sanctions on North Korea after its fourth nuclear test, which took place in January. A month later, North Korea tested a long-range rocket. North Korea has been threatening for weeks to launch nuclear strikes against Washington and Seoul to protest the joint military operations. The country says it believes they are preparing a military invasion. I’m Jonathan Evans.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   short-range - adj. a missile with the ability to travel a distance of up to 500 kilometers in the air sanction – n. threatened action for disobeying a rule or law    

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Fidel Castro Rejects Obama’s Advice

Former Cuban dictator Fidel Castro has rejected President Barack Obama’s efforts to improve relations between the two countries. Castro wrote a column in state-run media, saying, “We do not need the empire to give us any presents.” Castro is 89 years old. He turned over control of the communist island nation to his brother Raul in 2008. Raul is now 84. Fidel Castro was not seen during Obama’s recent three-day visit to Cuba. It was the first visit to that island nation by an American president still in office in almost 90 years. In Havana, Obama said more than 50 years of hostility between the countries had ended. He said “it is time now for us to leave the past behind.” But earlier this week, in a column called “Brother Obama,” Castro wrote: “I imagine that any one of us ran the risk of having a heart attack on hearing these words from the president of the United States.” Castro wrote about exiled Cubans, or those who fled the island when Castro took power in 1959. A group of those exiles were trained by the U.S., returned to Cuba in 1961, and attempted to overthrow Castro. But the overthrow attempt – called the Bay of Pigs operation -- failed, deeply embarrassing President John F. Kennedy. Cuba is 145 kilometers south of the United States. There is a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Terrorists suspected of acting against the U.S. are held there. The two countries have reopened embassies in Washington and Havana, but a U.S. trade embargo remains in place. Obama has improved economic relations between the two countries. More than 50 years ago, Castro seized American businesses on the island. By the end of this year, U.S. airlines will begin up to 110 flights to Cuba every day. And some American businesses are beginning to operate in Cuba. Fidel Castro seemed angry about the renewed business relations. He wrote: “No one should pretend that the people of this noble and selfless country will renounce its glory and its rights. We are capable of producing the food and material wealth that we need with work and intelligence of our people.” Castro suggested that Obama not try "to develop theories about Cuban politics.” Presidential spokesman Josh Earnest said, “The fact that the former president felt compelled to respond so forcefully to the president's visit, I think, is an indication of the significant impact of President Obama's visit to Cuba.” I’m Jonathan Evans.   VOA's Ken Bredemeier wrote this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   column - n. a commentary or opinion piece in a newspaper pretend - v. to act if something is true when it is untrue compelled - v. forced to do something respond - v. to say or write something in answer to something else indication - n. a sign or evidence of something  

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Asian Children Face Hunger and Obesity

Asian children are becoming increasingly under-nourished or obese, a new report says. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) joint report was released Monday. The two agencies call for better regulation of junk food and a limit on sugary drinks for children.  They also call for action against malnutrition. A lack of food has stunted children — or hurt their development – who live in poverty. The report says the costs of child malnutrition and obesity in Southeast Asia are great. These problems are seen in the middle-income countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. In Indonesia, the report says, child malnutrition hurts child development and leads to diseases that cost $248 billion a year. Dorothy Foote is a UNICEF regional nutritional specialist. She said the problems are a “burgeoning crisis”— or one that is growing. It covers both child nutrition and the general population, she said. “At UNICEF we are particularly concerned about children, but in general, we do have a crisis. That’s going to affect not only families and communities but also governments and societies, that the costs of the ‘double burden’ are tremendous,” Foote told VOA. The report found that in most countries, there are equal amounts of overweight and under-nourished children. For example, in Indonesia, 12 percent of children are overweight, the same number as those who are malnourished. In Thailand, it says numbers are increasing with 7 percent of children malnourished and 11 percent overweight. Foote said there is still a “tremendous burden,” with lack of nutrition, “both chronic and acute.” That means the problem is ongoing, and severe. The levels of stunting are very serious. Laos has the highest number of stunted children, with 44 percent. High rates are also reported in Cambodia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Indonesia. The report says most of them — 12 million of the 17 million stunted children in Southeast Asia -- live in Indonesia and the Philippines. Foote said the lack of food affects children’s height and development inside their bodies. But at the same time, the area is facing “skyrocketing” levels of overweight children. The main reason for the food problems, the report says, is there is more “junk” food available, food that does not provide nutrition. Another problem is drinks with high sugar or high trans-fat, but low nutritional value. Lack of physical activity is also part of the problem, the report says. The agencies say these problems exist despite years of economic development. Southeast Asia is seen as a key economic driver for the world economy. But the gap, or distance, between rich and poor has grown. Foote said this is seen in nutrition across the area. She said people lack knowledge about what is needed and normal for healthy child development. The economic growth in the area has brought “unhealthy products” to rural areas. Poor and middle-class families buy them and do not make “the right choices to use healthier foods instead.” Poor feeding practices, especially for children younger than two, mean ongoing high levels of malnutrition. The report says governments need to regulate the marketing of junk food and sugary drinks to children. It also calls for better feeding practices for infants and young children, and treatment for severely malnourished children. And it says countries should work to reduce poverty and make sure that girls stay in school. I’m Anne Ball.   Ron Corben reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball 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 find us on Facebook. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   malnutrition –n. unhealthy condition due to lack of proper food, nutrition, not eating enough of the right foods stunted –v. someone or something stopped from growing or developing burden –n. something or someone very difficult to accept, do or deal with skyrocketing –idiom. moving up quickly, like a rocket climbs into the sky

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Want to Choose Better Words?

Our words matter. Our words have always mattered, but they matter more now that the Internet gives us the power to make our words permanently public. Words might help or hurt someone. Our words may have more power than we believe them to have when we use them. Yet how many people truly think about every word they write? Two new extensions for the Chrome browser can help you choose your words. One extension, called reword, highlights words that have the power to hurt others. The other, called Just Not Sorry, will show you when your words take away your power. Both extensions are free and work only with the Chrome browser. reword Reword is an extension that helps show what words can be harmful. When users type a word, phrase or sentence that seems insulting, abusive, or hurtful, a red line will cross the word or words. The extension is similar to a spell checker. Reword does not block words. It simple alerts users to language that might offend. An Australian team developed reword to combat cyberbullying. The developers realized that people, especially children, may not understand which words might deeply affect others. The developers' testing showed that 79 percent of children changed their words when prompted to by reword. Chris Tanti is a developer of reword. He praised how it can, in his words, “change online behavior by stopping insults in the moment before they are posted.” A video on YouTube shows the thinking behind reword.   The reword website permits users to add words they think should be included in the extension. The reword extension is free. It can be found at the Google Chrome store. Just Not Sorry Just Not Sorry is a Chrome extension that is, in many ways, the opposite of reword. Reword is meant to soften language. Just Not Sorry is designed to empower language. Developers at the company Cyrus Innovation created Just Not Sorry. They said some people weaken their messages by using apologetic words. So they invented a tool that highlights such words in a writing. Just Not Sorry works only in Gmail, as a Chrome extension. It works like this: When a message is created in Gmail, Just Not Sorry will highlight the words that weaken the message. A dotted orange line will appear below the weak words. Examples of such words include "sorry," "just," "I think," and "I'm no expert." An explanation of why the words were highlighted will also appear. Users can then choose to change the words or not. The words will not be highlighted in the copy sent. Just Not Sorry is also available at no cost from the Google Chrome store. I'm Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Do you think these highlights would be helpful to change the language people use? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   extension - n. a small software program that can be added on to a browser browser -  n. a computer program that is used to find and look at information on the Internet spell checker -  n.  a computer program that finds and corrects misspelled words in documents, e-mail, etc. cyberbully - v. the use of electronic communication to bully a person, typically by sending messages of an intimidating or threatening nature. prompt - v. to cause (someone) to do something  

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Justice Department Unlocks Shooter's iPhone

The United States Justice Department says it has found a way to get information from an iPhone used by a shooter in last year’s mass shooting in San Bernardino, California. The Justice Department also said it no longer needs help from the iPhone’s manufacturer, Apple. The company had refused earlier demands by federal investigators for help in recovering data from the device. The government sought to require Apple to write new software programs to help investigators get the data without knowing the iPhone’s password. The government believed the information would help it in its investigation of the San Bernardino shooting, in which 14 people were killed. Last month, a judge ordered Apple to help the government. But the Justice Department announced this week it has been able to collect data from the phone. It asked the judge to cancel her order. She did so on Monday. Last week, the government delayed another court hearing in the case. Officials said they needed time to test a method that could help them gain access to the iPhone without Apple’s assistance. That method was developed without the help of federal agents or Apple. Lawyers for Apple have said that the company wants to know how the device was unlocked. But the withdrawal of the court process could take away Apple’s ability to legally request details on the method the government used. It also is likely to raise questions among users of Apple products and the technology industry about the strength of Apple’s security on its devices. I’m Caty Weaver.   VOANews.com reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   data – n. information such as texts, audio recordings, video recordings and pictures password – n. a secret series of numbers or letters that allows you to use a computer system or device gain access – expression to enter a place or the storage area of an electronic device unlock – v. to make (something) available for use

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VOA English Newscast: 1400 UTC March 30, 2016

  From Washington, this is VOA News.      I’m Frances Alonzo reporting. Htin Kyaw, a trusted friend of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, took over as Myanmar's president Wednesday after decades of military rule. In a day full of ceremony and symbolism, Htin Kyaw was sworn-in, along with his two vice presidents and an 18-member Cabinet.  The new president spoke after the ceremony.  He says "The new government will implement our democratic constitution, and our constitution will promote national reconciliation and internal peace, adding that it will support the creation of a democratic federal union, and bring better lives to the people." You could hear more details on that ceremony at voanews.com. UN chief Ban Ki-moon Wednesday called for greater global efforts to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis, as he opened a conference on securing resettlement places for nearly half a million of those displaced by the five-year conflict. “We are facing the biggest refugee displacement crisis of our time. The world must rise to the challenge. Providing hope means providing pathways for a better future.” Ban also told journalists after his speech that "attempts to demonize people fleeing conflict are not only demeaning, offensive and counter-productive, and are factually wrong," Meanwhile, Syrian security forces are clearing mines and disarming other explosives left scattered around by the Islamic State group in Palmyra. This Syrian soldier says the roads have been set to cause great damage. He says "The terrorist organization has booby-trapped the entire area with wires and a power circuit in order to blow those up and to destroy the town with its residents."   This is VOA News. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast   laureate – n. someone who has won a major prize or work in an art or science took over – v. take control decade – n. a period of 10 years symbolism – n. the use of images or signs to express or represent ideas or qualities implement – v. carry out promote – v. to begin to do or use something reconciliation – n. the act of making two people or groups become friendly again after a disagreement global – adj. involving the whole world tackle – v. deal with challenge – n. a difficult problem or issue journalist – n. a news media worker or reporter demonize – v. to describe someone as evil or threatening demeaning – adj. causing someone to lose their respect of others counter-productive – adj. having the opposite of the desired effect meanwhile – adv. at the same time scattered – v. moving in different directions booby-trapped – v. to set up like a bomb that explodes when the object connected to it is touched or moved circuit – n. the path on which an electric current travels resident – n. a person who lives in a set place   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Trending Today: #BirdieSanders

This is What’s Trending Today... Last Friday, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders held a rally in the state of Oregon. During the event, an unexpected guest joined the Vermont senator on stage: a bird.  The tiny bird flew around Sanders. Then, it landed on the podium where Sanders was speaking. Sanders and the bird, a house finch, stared at one another for several moments. Smiling, Sanders told the crowd he believed the bird’s presence was symbolic. "I know it doesn't look like it, but that bird is really a dove asking us for world peace."   The crowd went wild. And so did the Internet. The play-on-words hashtag #BirdieSanders soon trended. Five days later, the hashtag is still a trending topic on social media. People quickly called it, the most “heartwarming moment” of the 2016 presidential election. Indeed, in an election season dominated by insults and negative campaigning, the sweet moment between Sanders and the tiny bird was a welcome change. Social media users enjoyed artwork and graphics inspired by the event. Some graphics even showed Sanders as a bird himself. ​ Senator Sanders tweeted a drawing of him and the bird looking at one another, with the word “together.” The Late Show host Stephen Colbert joked about the viral event on his show Monday night. Colbert suggested the Birdie Sanders moment helped the senator win caucusus in three states over the weekend: Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska. Then he joked, “"What are the odds that a bird would be attracted to an old man who looks like he has bread in his pockets?" And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   podium - n.  a stand with a slanted surface that holds a book, notes, etc., for someone who is reading, speaking, or teaching heartwarming - adj. causing pleasant feelings of happiness odds - n. the possibility that something will happen attracted - v. to cause (someone) to like or be interested in something pocket - n.  a usually small cloth bag that is sewn into a piece of clothing, and that is open at the top or side so that you can put things into it ​

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Drug Traffickers Dig Tunnel Into US

The United States and Mexico announced they discovered a long tunnel used to smuggle drugs into the U.S. They said the tunnel began in a restaurant in Mexicali, Mexico and ended about 365 meters away in a new, three-bedroom home in Calexico, California. Calexico is a small city about 193 kilometers east of San Diego. About 40,000 people live there. American officials say drug traffickers bought land in Calexico for $240,000 in April 2015. They spent $86,000 to build the house, which was completed in December. The announcement about the tunnel was made after police arrested four people in the U.S. and two in Mexico. Two women were arrested in Arizona, including a person who reportedly bought the property in Calexico.  Police seized 1,350 pounds of marijuana in West Covina, near Los Angeles. Officials say the traffickers began smuggling illegal drugs through the tunnel February 28. Officials say they began watching the criminals when they started using the tunnel. Laura Duffy is the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California. She said “this house and this tunnel were constructed under the watchful eye of law enforcement. For the builders, the financiers and the operators of these passageways, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. We will seize your drugs and your tunnel before you even have a chance to use it.” Officials say this is the first time they have discovered a completed tunnel in Calexico in 10 years. They say drug gangs usually do not build tunnels into the city because the soil is hard.  Officials say the drug gangs prefer to dig tunnels near San Diego. The clay-like soil there is easier to dig. And the area is near the Mexico border and has many large storage buildings where drug gangs can store drugs. More than 75 tunnels have been found in the past five years, mostly in California and Arizona. Many of them were not complete. The tunnel between Mexicali and Calexico was the 12th completed tunnel that American anti-drug agents have found along California’s border with Mexico since 2006.  Officials say the Sinaloa drug group in Mexico has for many years controlled drug trafficking along the border of California’s Imperial Valley. Long, well-built roads, called interstate freeways, let the traffickers easily transport drugs from the Valley to Los Angeles, California and Phoenix, Arizona. The drug group has been led by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. He escaped from a prison in Mexico through a tunnel in July. He was recaptured in January. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted this story in VOA Learning English from reports by the Associated Press and Reuters news agencies. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tunnel - n. an underground passageway smuggle - v. to illegally transport drugs or people drug traffickers - n. criminals who transport illegal drugs financier - n. a person or group that provides money for projects light at the end of the tunnel - expression ​hope of success, happiness or help after a long period of difficulty; sign of improvement in a situation that has been bad for a long time prefer - v. to like (someone or something) better than someone or something else clay - n. heavy, sticky dirt or earth   

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March 29, 2016

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

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Widow of Russian Spy Fights for Justice

  The widow of a murdered Russian spy continues to try to bring her husband’s killers to justice. Marina Litvinenko is the widow of Alexander Litvinenko. She spoke at the VOA offices this month. Ms. Litvinenko displayed a thick document showing that a British court said the death of her husband was murder. The court said the murder was probably ordered by Russia’s top leaders. Alexander Litvinenko was an intelligence agent of the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB. He was granted asylum in Britain in 2000. He became a well-known critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was said to have started working with British intelligence officials, providing details of Russia’s organized crime networks and of President Putin himself. On November 1, 2006, Litvinenko had tea at a London hotel with two men from the FSB, Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitri Kovtun. Litvinenko’s cup of tea contained Polonium 210, a radioactive element that can only be made in a nuclear reactor. Litvinenko died 23 days later. Shortly before he died, Litvinenko accused President Putin of killing him.   In the nearly 10 years since his death, his widow, Marina, has worked to prove that the Kremlin killed her husband. She said she considers the recent ruling by the British court a step in uncovering the mysterious deaths of other Russian dissidents. “But this one now is a proof. We have this in a verdict about Russian State involvement ...”   The British court’s verdict came in January. Investigator Robert Owen led the British Court of Inquiry. The court issued a report that connected Lugovoy, Kovtun and, by extension, Vladimir Putin with Litinenko's assassination. Robert Owen concluded that all the evidence suggests Livinenko’s murder was an FSB operation. The operation was approved at the highest level of the Kremlin. “I have further concluded that the FSB operation to kill Mr. Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr. Patrushev, then head of the FSB, and also by President Putin.” Marina Litvinenko said she is pleased with the verdict. But she is not giving up her effort to bring her husband’s killers to justice. She came to Washington this month to meet with government officials, foreign policy experts and journalists. During her visit to VOA, she said she was outraged that those who killed her husband for political reasons have escaped punishment. Instead, they have been protected and rewarded, she said.  “These people committed a very serious crime. And Lugovoy was not even punished for this crime. He was granted. He is a member of Russian parliament. He became a politician straight after.” Russian officials have strongly denied any state involvement in the assassination. Russia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Alexander Yakovenko, read a statement to reporters, rejecting the charges. “We view it as an attempt to put additional pressure on Russia in connection with existing differences over a number of international issues. For us, it’s absolutely unacceptable that the report concludes that the Russian state was in any way involved in the death of Mr. Litvinenko on the British soil.”  Marina Litvinenko said she doubts that those named by the British Court of Inquiry will be prosecuted for her husband’s death anytime soon. But she promised to continue her protest. She said she hopes her efforts highlight what she says is the continuing operation of Kremlin-sponsored killing groups in foreign cities. She discussed at VOA the mysterious death of Litvinenko’s mentor, Boris Berezovsky, who was found hanged in his bathroom in 2014. He strongly opposed Putin. She also mentioned the death of financier Mikhail Lesin, who was beaten to death last November while in Washington. “Of course, when very high profile people as Lesin and Boris Berezovsky died, it is difficult to believe it was just natural causes...” Litvinenko also said she believes the work done by Owen and the British court on her husband’s death will help in the investigation of the deaths of Berezovsky, Lesin and other Russian dissidents abroad. I’m Ashley Thompson.    Pete Heinlein wrote this report for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    widow - n. a woman whose husband has died display - v. to put (something) where people can see it Kremlin - n. the government of Russia and the former Soviet Union verdict - n. the decision made by a jury in a trial outraged - v. to be extremely angry highlight - v. to make or try to make people notice or be aware of (someone or something)​ sponsor - v. to provide money or support for a project or activity  

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Women More Religious Than Men

Women are more religious than men. That is the finding of a new report by the Pew Research Center. Worldwide, 83 percent of women say they identify with a religion, compared to 79 percent of men, according to Pew. Pew found the biggest gender gap in daily prayer. Pew found 61 percent of women say they pray daily, compared to 51 percent of men. David Voas is head of the Department of Social Science at University College London, United Kingdom. He said prayer is often done in private, making it a good measure of how important religion is to people. “The frequency of prayer may be the purest sign of religious commitment, which means that, arguably, it’s the best yardstick to use in comparing men and women,’’ he told Pew. Pew completed its study of religious differences between men and women by exploring research in 84 nations. The research was done between 2008 and 2015. Pew said the stronger religious beliefs by women stand out – given history’s most important religious leaders are mostly men. That includes Jesus, Muhammad, Abraham, Moses, Siddhartha and Gautama. And in some religions, such as for Roman Catholics and Orthodox Jews, only men are allowed to hold clergy positions. Among Christians, women attend services more often than men. But that is not the case with Muslims and Orthodox Jews, Pew said. Among those religions, men are more likely to attend services. Pew said this is because Muslims and Orthodox Jews give more weight to men’s participation in worship services. Some Muslim mosques and Orthodox synagogues separate men and women. In some cases, women are limited to the back or a balcony area. There is general acceptance by both women and men about some religious beliefs. For example, 91 percent of women and 89 percent of men said they believe in heaven. Seventy-eight percent of women and 76 percent of men said they believe in hell, Pew said. Pew found that women who work outside the home are less likely to be religious than women who work at home. Voas of University College in London said researchers disagree on whether women who work outside the home are less religious. If it is true, he offers two possible reasons. “Maybe paid employment crowds out time for religious involvement, or perhaps being exposed to different values and world views tends to undermine religious commitment,” he said. Not only do women tend to be more religious than men, but Pew found men are also more likely to be atheists. An atheist does not believe God exists. In Uruguay, the United States, Germany and Spain, more than 60 percent of people who describe themselves as atheists are men, Pew said. An exception is France. A slightly higher percentage of people who say they are atheists are women – 51 percent vs. 49 percent. I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. How do you feel about belief and religion? Men and women and religion? Write to us in the Comments section or share your views on our Facebook Page.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gender gap – n. differences in views between men and women frequency – n. happening often yardstick – n. measurement of something prioritize – v. to organize things so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first heaven – n. the place where God lives and where good people go after they die according to some religions hell – n. the place where the devil lives and where evil people go after they die according to some religions involvement – n. having a connection to something or someone exposed – v. to be informed of something undermine – v. to make someone or something weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way  

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EgyptAir Plane Hijacked to Cyprus

[This is a breaking news story. Audio will follow later. Thank you for your patience.] An EgyptAir plane was hijacked, or held by terrorists, Tuesday morning and forced to land in Cyprus, said Egyptian officials. The plane was set for the short flight from Alexandria to Cairo, about 180 kilometers away. It landed instead at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, about 540 kilometers northeast.  The man or men who held the plane and crew, or hijackers, said they would blow the plane up, officials said. It was unclear how many passengers were aboard, or on EgyptAir flight 181. EgyptAir said that in Cyprus, the hijackers released all but four passengers and the crew. The four were described as not Egyptian. The New York Times said video showed passengers walking down the plane stairs to a bus on the tarmac at Larnaca International Airport. Cyprus public television reported that the hijacker was a 27-year-old Egyptian. He asked for political asylum, the newspaper said. EgyptAir, released information on its Twitter account. The pilot said a passenger wearing a belt of explosives forced him to land in Larnaca, Reuters reported. It was not known if other hijackers on board. In October 2015, a Russian airplane crashed after leaving Sharm el Sheikh, a beach resort on the Red Sea. All 224 onboard died. A terrorist bomb was suspected, officials said.    VOA News, the New York Times and the Associated Press reported this story. Kathleen Struck adapted it for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   hijack -- n. to take, hold or seize something without permission explosives -- n. materials that create a release of energy with great force

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March 28, 2016

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

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VOA English Newscast: 2100 UTC March 28, 2016

  From Washington, this is VOA news… I’m Dave DeForest reporting Pakistan searches for bombers Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed to intensify counter-terrorism operations in the wake of Sunday's suicide bombing in Lahore. At least 72 people were killed and 300 were wounded in the Easter Sunday blast, which targeted Christians at a crowded park. A military spokesman said Monday security agencies have conducted several operations based on initial leads and have arrested a number of suspects. A man widely reported to be a main suspect in last week's Brussels terrorist attacks has been released due to a lack of evidence. Belgium's federal prosecutor said Monday authorities had no justification to hold the man, identified only as Faycal C.  Syria's army says the recapture of Palmyra will be a launching point for expanded operations against the Islamic State group.  Backed by Russian airstrikes, pro-government forces reclaimed control of Palmyra after a 10-month Islamic State occupation.   The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the offensive left 400 militants dead along with more than 180 pro-government fighters.  President Bashar al-Assad hailed it as an "important achievement.” An Angolan court Monday sentenced 17 young activists to from two to eight years in jail for rebelling against the government of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. One of those sentenced is a well-known rap singer. The sentence followed a lengthy trial seen by Angola's political opposition as an example of government repression of dissent. The activists were arrested in June after a public reading of a book described as a "blueprint for non-violent resistance."  This is VOA News. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast Wake –n. the after effect, what remains after something has happened Prosecutor –n. a lawyer who represents the government’s case against a defendant Achievement –n. something that is done, or a goal that is reached through effort and work

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Are Teenagers Mature Enough to Vote?

In Ohio’s presidential primary recently, 17-year-olds were permitted to vote. That’s unusual because the voting age in the United States is 18. But during this election campaign, some people want to change the voting rules. In Ohio, a judge ruled that 17-year-olds who turn 18 before the November 8 general election can vote.    Several groups, including Generation Citizen, want local governments to permit all 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. Generation Citizen argues that lowering the voting age will increase interest in government and politics. “A lower voting age would involve parents, teachers, and community members in the process of learning to vote, and ultimately voting themselves, raising adult voter turnout,” said Oliver York, age 16. He is a junior at a San Francisco high school and working with Generation Citizen’s “Vote 16 USA Campaign.” Arguments against lowering the voting age include: 16- and 17-year-olds are not mature enough and would vote the way their parents do. Here is what one person wrote on the website debate.org: “It’s simply the fact that people at 16-17-years-old don't have the emotional or mental maturity of someone 20-years-old. Their minds are still crazed with the chemicals of being a teenager.” Professor Daniel Hart of Rutgers University has studied the arguments on both sides of the voting-age issue. He found knowledge of 16- or 17-year-olds about government is about the same as for 18- and 19-year olds. There is fall off for 15-year-olds, he said. A University of Edinburgh study found many 16- and 17-year-olds do not vote like their parents. The study reported that 40 percent of these younger voters did not vote the same way as mom and dad in Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum. One reason for a lower voting age is that 18 is the worst age for people to begin voting, according to Scott Warren. He is executive director of Generation Citizen. That is because at age 18 many teens leave home for the first time, either for college or a job, he said. They find themselves in a community they do not know very well. And that makes it harder for them to learn about their new community’s voting rules and issues, Warren said. Some countries already permit teens younger than 18 to vote. Some examples from a recent survey by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency: Austria lowered the voting age from 18 to 16 in 2008. Argentina has allowed 16-year-olds to vote since 2012. In Brazil, 16- and 17-year olds and those older than 70 have the option to vote. People aged 18-69 are required to vote. Hungary allows 16- and 17-year-olds to vote if they are married. Serbia allows 16-year-olds to vote if they are employed. Abigail Koerner, age 16, is a junior at a Washington, D.C., high school. She is disappointed she cannot vote for her Democratic presidential candidate -- Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Said Abigail: “I don't know enough about politics quite yet to make a distinction as to which party I affiliate with. But everything Bernie says about healthcare and education would benefit my life and the lives of people around me.” Warren said teens who start voting at 16 or 17 will continue to vote when they reach 18, 19 and 20 -- ages when turnout is now very low. “The United States now ranks 143rd in voter turnout, and we think we should be doing all we can to increase turnout,” Warren said. In 2012, 53.6 percent of the voting-age population voted in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. That compares to 87.2 percent in Belgium, 86.4 percent in Turkey and 82.6 percent in Sweden.  Belgium and Turkey require people to vote.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   primary – n. an election in which members of the same political party run against each other for the chance to be in a larger and more important election process – n. a series of actions that produce something or that lead to a particular result ultimately – adv. at the end of a process, period of time disappoint – v. to make a person unhappy because they cannot do something that they want affiliate – v. to closely connect (something or yourself) with or to something benefit – v. to be useful or helpful

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China Critic Says His Family is Missing

An Internet activist living in New York says Chinese officials have detained three members of his family in southern China. Chinese officials are reportedly searching for the author of an open letter calling for the resignation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Activist Wen Yunchao said his parents and younger brother have been missing since Tuesday. He says the government harassed his family. Wen has been a vocal critic of China’s government. However, he denied involvement in the letter. He said he shared the letter on his Twitter account after it was published in China. Wujie news posted the letter March 4. That was the first day of annual meetings of top Chinese Communist Party officials, known as the National Party Congress. In the letter, Xi is blamed for "unprecedented problems" in China, and it calls for him to step down. A second Chinese reporter is said to have disappeared Tuesday from the Beijing airport as he tried to board a flight to Hong Kong. He has been identified as writer Jia Jia. His lawyer told Western news agencies that police "took away" the writer after he warned other reporters against re-publishing the letter.  Two top editors and two other technicians from that website are also reportedly being held.   Experts say the widening police probe suggests that investigators do not know who wrote the letter and are under pressure to find out. The letter was signed by "Loyal Communist Party Members" and has spread widely by email. Experts say Wujie was designed to report on Xi's economic plan to increase Chinese investment and trade in Asia and Europe. It began operations in September 2015.   President Xi has increased control of Internet coverage in China and removed opinions that differ from Communist Party leaders.  The crackdown has brought harsher punishment for writers and editors whom the government says have spread rumors. I'm Mario Ritter.  Lou Lorscheider reported this story for VOA. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think happened to the critic's family? Please leave us a comment below and post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   harass –v. to mistreat or bother in a constant, repeated way vocal –adj. loud or outspoken unprecedented –adj. not seen before probe –n. an investigation, an effort to find out something

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US Warns Against Fines on Poor People

The U.S. Justice Department says that issuing large fines and putting poor people in prison for not paying them is illegal. The law enforcement agency said putting people in jail or prison for not paying fines is unconstitutional. It damages trust in communities and local governments, it said. The Justice Department warning came after a conference in Washington in December. It revealed that some communities relied on fines as a source of revenue. The government found that fines and jailing happened frequently in Ferguson, Missouri. The small community near St. Louis was the center of attention in 2014. That year, street protests occurred after a policeman shot a black teenager to death.   It was reported by multiple media sources that Ferguson’s court fines account for 20 percent of the city’s revenue. Fines were enforced for minor crimes like littering and speeding. Fines would reach over $500. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the U.S.’s top law enforcement official, said local courts should not fine the poor to pay for the government, and then arrest people who cannot pay the fines. “The consequences of poverty are not only harmful, they are far-reaching,” Lynch said. She continued to say the poor deserve the ability to support their families. I’m George Grow.   Ken Bredemeier wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted his report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page.   ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   relied - v. to depend on someone or something revenue- n. money that is collected for public use by a government account - v. to think of as consequence - n. something that happens as a result of something else teenager – n. someone who is between 13 and 19 years old littering – v. to throw or leave wastes on the ground in a public place warrants – n. court-approved documents that give police the power to do something

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Pakistanis Bury Children Killed in Terror Attack

Parents Monday began burying the children who were killed in a suicide bombing Sunday at a crowded park in Lahore, Pakistan. Officials put the death toll at 72, including 29 children. The number of injured reached at least 300, Pakistan officials said. Pakistan’s government said it would start a military crackdown on the Taliban group that claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters reported. The bombing targeted Christians gathered for Easter at a Lahore park popular with families. Pope Francis denounced the attack. So did Malala Yousafzai, the young Nobel Peace Prize-winner who survived a Taliban shooting in Pakistan. “My heart goes out to the victims and their families and friends,” she said. “Every life is precious and must be respected and protected.” A military spokesman said Monday that security forces have arrested some suspects and those who may have helped. The group that claimed responsibility was once part of the Pakistani Taliban. The group is considered to be independent now. The group said the attacker targeted Christians. Mohammad Arshad saw the attack. He criticized security officials for not limiting who could enter or leave the park. The attack has been criticized by national and international leaders. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif went to Lahore Monday morning. He led a meeting of top civilian and security officials. He said the attack would not slow the country’s efforts to end terrorism in Pakistan. Officials have increased the number of security forces in parks and other public areas throughout Pakistan in answer to the attack. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Correspondent Ayaz Gul reported this story from Islamabad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   crackdown – n. a serious attempt to punish people for doing something that is not allowed heart – n. the organ in your chest that pumps blood through your veins and arteries

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Mummies Contain Clues to Colon Cancer

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle report. Colon cancer is linked with obesity, lack of exercise, and a poor diet high in processed foods. However, scientists also have identified genetic mutations connected to the disease. Researchers at Tel Aviv University are studying the evolutionary history of colon cancer. Microbiologist Rina Arbesfeld is with the university. She wanted to answer this genetic question: Where do these mutations come from? Our lifestyle? The environment? Our diet? Or did these mutations also exist a long time ago? In other words, is the increase in the number of cancer cases today the result of natural evolution alone? To answer this question, Arbesfeld turned to an unusual source: Hungarian mummies that were discovered in 1994 in a church. These preserved bodies rested in a cool, dry climate for more than two and half centuries. They give a rare opportunities to research biologists. An embalmer is a person who prepares a body for burial.  Hungarian embalmers used different techniques than Egyptian embalmers. In ancient Egypt, embalmers removed fluids and internal organs. This made mummification of the bodies happen quickly, over a period of two or three months. Hungarians embalmers mummified more slowly. They left the fluids and organs intact. This means the mummies have retained tissue that could be better analyzed for evidence of disease.   Arbesfeld and her team isolated DNA samples from 22 mummies. They then sequenced the genetic material in the hunt for mutations. This was not easy. Arbesfeld says that after many tries, her team found one specific mutation in a gene called APC. This gene is important. The APC gene is known to be involved in the development of cancer. Arbesfeld explains that the APC gene is what she calls the “gatekeeper” for the development of cancer. This information lead Arbesfeld to this hypothesis: If our ancestors with the genetic mutation for colon cancer lived long enough, they would have developed the disease, just like us. Arbesfeld says her next step is to sequence samples from other sources for a larger follow-up study. She says understanding our genetic past can better explain the present. And understanding a disease’s genetic past can help to handle the disease’s future. Cancer of the color kills about 700,000 people a year worldwide. However, it is highly treatable when found early. This study was published in the journal PloS ONE. I’m Anna Matteo.   Let us know what you think of this story or practice using the words “mummy” and “embalm” in the Comments Section. Rosanne Skirble wrote this story for VOA News in Washington. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   mummy – n. a body treated for burial with chemical preservatives, as was done in ancient Egypt mummified – v. to help protect (a dead body) by treating it with oils and covering it in strips of cloth evolution – n. a theory that the differences in living things resulted from natural changes over a very long time embalm – v. to treat (a dead body) with special chemicals to keep it from breaking down; embalmer – n. one who embalms genetic mutations – n. A gene mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene genome sequencing – n. Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism's DNA. The human genome is made up of over 3 billion of these genetic letters hypothesis – n. an idea or theory that is not proven but that leads to further study or discussion

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Parents Crack Up Connecticut Easter Egg Hunt

This is What's Trending Today: In America, one big Easter tradition sends children hunting for hidden Easter eggs. Children carry baskets and collect eggs made of chocolate or candy. They search in the house, their yards or a park.   But one egg hunt on Saturday went wrong in the northeastern state of Connecticut. A candy company hosted an egg hunt for children. The company is called PEZ, and it hid more than 9,000 eggs on its property in Connecticut. But way more people showed up than the candy maker expected. The egg hunt was set up on three separate fields, and children would be assigned to hunt for eggs based on their ages. But Monday morning, stories reported parents going out of control at the hunt and made PEZ one of the top trending topics on Facebook. It turns out the parents rushed on to the fields where the eggs were hidden. They said they were trying to get eggs for their children. But instead, they left behind a lot of hurt feelings. One 4-year-old boy told a local television station someone pushed him over and took his eggs. The boy’s bucket for collecting eggs also broke. One employee said the display of parents rushing onto the fields reminded him of locusts. “We did our best,” he said. “Unfortunately, it fell a little short.” Two PEZ pages on Facebook had comments from people saying the event was not organized well, while others said the parents overwhelmed an event designed for kids. The company tried to make up for the chaos by giving people more candy as they were leaving the event, and passing out coupons for future purchases. But in Washington, D.C., at the White House, the picture was very different. On Monday afternoon, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted their Easter egg roll. It was the last before Obama leaves office after eight years.   The event featured thousands of people outside the White House who came to see the President and first lady read books to children, enjoy the grounds, play games and also roll eggs with long spoons. It is a tradition going back to the late 1800s. And That’s What’s trending Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What are some Easter traditions in your country? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   locusts –n. a type of grasshopper that travels in very large groups and that can cause great destruction by eating crops chaos –n. confusion and disorder

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Rare Flower Blooms at US Botanic Garden

  A rare plant at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C. is now in flower.  The blue-green colored climbing plant is called the Jade vine. In the 20 years that it has been on display, the Jade Vine, also known as the Emerald Creeper, has only bloomed once before. Devin Dotson is the Garden's public affairs and exhibit specialist. He says, “its blooms are going to just grow and grow and grow." "The vines will go all the way down to the ground, so visitors even down below — in another few weeks — are going to be able to see this magnificent color." The rare bloom is housed in the hot and humid "Jungle Room" of the Botanic Garden. The flowers grow high up in the canopy near the top of the room and then bloom lower and lower on the plant. This beautiful plant originally comes from the tropical forests of the Philippines.  It is closely related to legumes, such as kidney beans and runner beans. The blue-green shade of the flower cluster may look false, but it is very real. The flower is pollinated by bats and produces a sweet-tasting nectar.  The flower is officially known as Strongylodon Macrobotrys.  It is only blooming for a short time at the U.S. Botanic Garden.    I’m Marsha James. Julie Taboh reported on this story. Marsha James adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rare – adj. not often done display – n. an event at which something is shown to impress or entertain people bloom – n. a flower; a time period a plant has many open flowers canopy – n. something that hangs or spreads out over an area vine – n. a plant that has very long stems and grows along the round or up and around something magnificent – adj. very beautiful or impressive cluster – n. a group of things that are close together pollinate – v. to give (a plant) pollen from another plant of the same kind so that seed will be produced nectar – n. a sweet liquid produced by plants We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Scientists Closer to Solving Plain of Jars Mystery

A new group of human remains has been uncovered on the Plain of Jars in Laos. They are believed to date back to the Iron Age, some 2,500 years ago. The Plain of Jars is in the central Lao province of Xieng Khouang. The area covers hundreds of kilometers in which can be found thousands of ancient stone jars. They are grouped together at about 100 sites. The Plain of Jars has been a puzzle to archaeologists—scientists who study prehistoric people and their culture. A joint research team from Australia and Laos found the remains. Dougald O’Reilly teaches archaeology at Australian National University. He led the field work in Laos. “This is one of the great enigmas of the Jars’ sites,” he said. “These massive stone jars – some of them weighing up to 10 metric tons, that have been dragged eight to 10 kilometers from a quarry site and set up in groups.” Little is known about the people who made the jars. What did the jars hold? How and why did people place them where they did? O’Reilly said a central question that needs to be answered is who created the stone jars. There are no known sites offering answers to the ethnicity and identity of the people who made them. The latest field work uncovered an ancient burial ground in an area known as Site 1, in Xieng Khouang Province. It has more than 300 stone jars, stone discs and markers. The scientists uncovered different burial methods. They include burial of whole bodies, the burying of bones grouped together, and bones placed inside ceramic vessels and then buried. Louise Shewan of Monash University in Australia led one of the teams involved in the field work. Archaeologist Thonglith Luangkhoth, of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, also led a research team. Thonglith told Lao media the newly uncovered remains were found about eight kilometers from the center of Phonsavanh district. “This discovery marks a significant milestone since archaeological excavations began in the area in the 1930s in collaboration with a French archaeologist,” he said. Dougald O’Reilly said the researchers hope to get really good information from the find. “With our research, because we’ve been able to uncover a fair amount of human bone – we’ve got seven burials and four probable burials with ceramic jars – so a total of 11 mortuary contexts.” He said they are excited to have the opportunity to work at one of South East Asia’s more important—and probably least understood archaeological sites. Scientists will do isotopic and chemical tests on the remains. They may provide information on the ethnicity of the people connected to the sites. O’Reilly said it is possible that the Lao sites may be linked to similar jar sites in India. The Australian Research Council is paying for the project. It will continue over five years with field work in Laos and some in northeastern India as well. The effort may soon provide answers to one of Southeast Asia’s greatest cultural mysteries. I’m Anne Ball.   Ron Corben reported this story for VOA from Bangkok. Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on Facebook. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story jar -n. a vessel to hold something inside mortuary –adj. of or relating to burial or death quarry – n. place where large amounts of stone are dug out of the ground ethnicity –n. a particular race or group of people who have a culture different from the main culture of a country disc –n. a flat, thin, round object burial –n. the act or ceremony of burying a dead person in a grave. significant –adj. very important isotope –n. any one of different forms in which the atoms of a chemical element can occur

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Suspected Bomber May Be Kidnapped Chibok Schoolgirl

A girl who may have been planning a suicide bombing in Cameroon said she is one of the Chibok girls kidnapped in 2014. Cameroon officials received intelligence reports of three suicide bombers, all young women, crossing the Nigerian border into northern Cameroon. They arrested one of the girls before she could blow herself up. A second girl surrendered and the third ran back to Nigeria. The girl who surrendered said she was one of the Chibok girls. The 15-year-old girl looked tired and in need of food. She could not tell them more about her time in captivity or how she and the other girls were treated. In 2014, the terror group Boko Haram kidnapped 270 girls from a Nigerian school in Chibok. Experts believe they were taken to the Sambisa forest, an area the group controls. People around the world protested the kidnapping. An international campaign called “Bring Back Our Girls” was launched. About 50 of the girls later escaped. Nigerian officials still do not know where the remaining Chibok girls are. Midjiyawa Bakari is the governor of the northern part of Cameroon. He asked investigators to find out if what the girls said is true. Bakari said the terrorist group has changed the way it operates. The group has been using teenaged girls to carry out suicide bombings in Cameroon and in Nigeria. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Correspondent Ayaz Gul reported this story from Islamabad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   captivity – n. the state of being kept in a place (such as a prison or a cage) and not being able to leave or be free; the state or condition of being captive

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Everyday Grammar: For & Since

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At Least 50 Dead in Pakistan Suicide Bombing

Pakistani officials said a suicide bomber attacked a crowded public park in Lahore Sunday night, killing more than 50 people and wounding another 300. A government official of Punjab province said most of the victims were women and children. He said some of those brought to the hospital were seriously wounded. The Reuters news agency reported the bomb exploded in a parking area close to the children’s playground. Witnesses said Christian families celebrating the Easter holiday were in the park when the attack took place. But it is not clear if the bomber targeted the Christians, who are a minority in Pakistan. Protest in Islamabad Separately, in Islamabad, thousands of Pakistanis gathered to protest the execution last month of a man who had been charged with killing a provincial governor. Most of the protestors are activist members of Islamic parties. In 2011, Mumtaz Qadri shot and killed Punjab’s governor Salman Taseer. The governor had called for the country’s Islamic law against blasphemy to be changed. Police fired tear gas to try to end the gathering. But the protest continued. The protesters were reported to be trying to reach the parliament building. Witnesses said police had little tear gas left to use on the protestors. Some of the demonstrators set fires near a public bus service center that links Islamabad with neighboring Rawalpindi. An Army spokesman said the government had told the military to help control the protestors and protect the area of Islamabad where parliament, the supreme court and other important government buildings and embassies are located. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Correspondent Ayaz Gul reported this story from Islamabad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blasphemy – n. great disrespect shown to God or to something holy tear gas – n. a gas that makes people unable to see by causing their eyes to be filled with tears and that is used especially by the police or military to separate large groups of people

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Iranians Buying Up Land in War-Torn Syria

  Iran’s government wants its builders to buy up property in Shi-ite majority neighborhoods of Syria’s capital, Damascus. It is also asking construction workers to go to Syria. This information comes from construction industry officials in Tehran and Iranian experts. Iranian analyst Fariborz Saremi said owning real estate gives Iran more control over Syria and other parts of the Middle East. Rich and conservative Iranian business people with ties to the government are buying expensive homes in Damascus, according to news reports. This is influencing price increases in Syria’s real estate markets. “Five million houses have been destroyed in the civil war,” said Syrian economist Khorshid Alika told Voice of America. “The increased Iranian demand to buy land and properties has naturally led to more inflation in the market.” Iran’s interest in Syrian real estate is not new. But it increased after the rebel uprising began in 2011. Government-run media have been reporting recently about how Iran joined Russia to support Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Assad’s government has been fighting against rebels and the Islamic State terror group. Iran is not only asking people to buy homes and property in Syria. The country is also asking construction workers and contractors to take jobs there. One contractor said a fellow contractor with close ties to the Iranian government told him he had a chance to make money in Damascus. “When we asked about the security, he said that the zone is even more secure than Tehran,” Iranian contractor Amir Maghsoudloo told VOA. Iran is home to about 3 million people from Afghanistan. Many fled the war-torn country. Most earn low wages in Iran. They are being offered better paying construction jobs in Syria. Some Damascus construction projects are run by Afghan nationals from Iran, said Tahi Esmali. He is an Afghan national who works as a bricklayer. He had worked in Iran before moving to Syria in 2015. Iranian interests are not limited to Damascus. Iranian business people and companies are looking to invest in projects in the central Syrian city of Homs. The Syrian military and its Lebanese Hezbollah allies recaptured Homs in late 2015. The Iranian government has supported Syrian President Assad. Recent reports in state-run media say that Iran increased the size of its Revolutionary Guard Corps in Syria. I’m Mario Ritter.   Sirwan Kajjo reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   construction – adj. the act or process of building something analyst – n. a person who studies or analyzes something real estate – n. property consisting of buildings and land contractor – n. a person who is hired to perform work or to provide goods at a certain price or within a certain time nationals – n. of or relating to people from a country

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