Businessman Moise Set to Win Haiti's Presidential Election

  Haitian officials say businessman Jovenel Moise has won the country's second presidential election in two years. Moise easily defeated 26 other candidates in the November 20 election. Haiti’s election council announced the unofficial results on Monday. It said he received 55.6 percent of the votes. Just 21 percent of Haitians with a right to vote marked ballots. The voting took place a year after Haitian officials cancelled the results of the earlier presidential election. Jovenel Moise was the candidate of the ruling PHTK, the party of former President Michel Martelly. Moise is a banana exporter and new to politics. He used the nickname “the banana man” during the election campaign to avoid being mistaken for another candidate whose name also included “Moise.” There were 27 presidential candidates in this election. With so many other candidates, it is unusual to reach a 35 percent lead over the second-place candidate. Moise’s lead gave him a clear majority. That means the country will not need a runoff, or follow-up, election. The second-place finisher, Jude Celestin of the Lapeh party, had 19.5 percent of the vote. The Associated Press reported that he and two other candidates plan to reject the preliminary results and take their case to the electoral court. Haiti’s electoral court confirms the final vote count. The court will announce the winner on December 29. Until then, political parties can dispute the results. At long last After a long wait for this election, the voting process was relatively problem-free, said Uder Antoine, the director of Haiti’s election council. There were two major delays leading up to the election of Jovenel Moise. The first came in October of 2015, when presidential election results were cancelled because of reported cheating. A commission that examined that election said the main issue was a lack of skill by election workers, not political fraud. Moise had also received the most votes in the 2015 election. The second problem was Hurricane Matthew. The storm hit the country in October and caused severe damage to some areas.   Destruction from Hurricane Matthew and an earthquake in 2010 are still barriers to voting for many Haitians who live far from major cities, noted Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera. Another problem was the lack of voting stations in these areas. Jocelerme Privert, Haiti’s current president, was chosen in February to rule temporarily until the new president is confirmed. Privert has remained in power since Martelly’s term ended in February 2016.   An uncertain future Haitians are hoping that their new leader will end a year of struggles and insecurity, while uniting the country and creating jobs. Violent protests affected parliamentary elections earlier last year. Election results were canceled in about a fourth of the voting districts. This time, more than 13,000 police officers and United Nations peacekeeping troops were on guard to protect voting stations. Haiti has long been known as the poorest nation in the Americas. Thousands of people who lost their homes in the 2010 earthquake are still living in shelters, and the population of Haiti's tent cities has grown since the hurricane last month. A cholera epidemic that took place after the earthquake has remained, and the number of infections rose sharply in recent weeks. Earlier this month, Haiti began a campaign to vaccinate more than 800,000 people against cholera. The disease spreads quickly in places where water supplies are unsafe and clean conditions are lacking. Cholera had not been a problem in Haiti until it was accidentally brought there by U.N. peacekeepers. The U.N. force was deployed to help with earthquake security and repairs after the quake. I’m Alice Bryant. Alice Bryant adapted this story from several VOA news reports for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story preliminary - adj. coming before the main part of something fraud - n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person cholera - n. a serious disease that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea and that often results in death epidemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people

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Islamic State Calls Ohio Attack Suspect 'Soldier of Caliphate'

  The Islamic State terror group has called a man who attacked people with a car and a knife at Ohio State University a "soldier of the caliphate.”   The group made the statement on the Amaq news agency website, which is linked to Islamic State, or IS. Police say Abdul Razak Ali Artan carried out the attack, which injured eleven people, at the university in Columbus, Ohio Monday. Police then shot and killed him. Artan was a refugee born in Somalia. He was a legal permanent resident of the United States studying business at Ohio State University. He posted a statement on the social media network Facebook shortly before the attack.  In it, he blamed America for killing Muslims in other countries. He also praised al-Qaida cleric Anwar al-Awlaki as a hero, law enforcement officials told U.S. media. Officials are still investigating why Artan carried out the attack. But, in his statement, he said he was willing to kill, those he called, “infidels” to stop America from "interfering with other countries." Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said terrorism is a possibility in the attack. Artan drove a car into a group of people near the street. He then got out of the car and began stabbing people with a knife. Jacobs said, because Artan drove onto the sidewalk, police believe the attack may have been planned.  Leaders of the Muslim and Somali communities in Columbus condemned the attack. They said they were "heartbroken" by it. Hassan Ali Omar, Chairman of the Somali Community Association of Ohio, told VOA the Somalis he spoke to were distressed to learn Artan was a Somali refugee. "Some women told me they felt sick, they were heartbroken, they were shocked because they feel they have had enough troubles already," he said. Omar was one of the community elders who visited Artan’s family. He said he met his mother and siblings and they told him they are feeling, "at a loss and a lot of pain." "They said he was (a) hard-working person who loved education. They said their son had good culture and that they were not expecting that he would do this kind of act," he said. There are nearly 60,000 students at Ohio State University’s main campus. The people injured in the attack include both employees and students. Police Chief Jacobs noted a previous terrorism case linked to Columbus. Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud was arrested in 2015 after returning from Syria. Mohamud, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Somalia, was charged with providing material support to terrorists. Columbus has one of the largest Somali communities in the United States. I’m Mario Ritter. Alice Bryant adapted this report from VOA news. VOA Somali service's Harun Maruf and VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Mario Ritter was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story caliphate – n. an area that is supervised by an Islamic leader cleric – n. a member of the clergy in any religion infidel – n. a person who does not believe in a religion that someone considers the true religion campus – n. the area of and around a university, college, school heartbroken – adj.to be very sad elders – n. a person who is older We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Seven Hidden Google Games

Google has some secret fun with at least seven hidden games you can play when you need a break from life. These games are free and can be a great way to escape from stress. You may even learn as you play. Some of these games bring back memories of classic arcade games. One game tests your knowledge of the world. Another game helps you learn how to fly a plane. An infographic shows you what the games are, how to find them, and how addictive they are.                                                               Google Maps and Earth Games Lovers of flight and geography will enjoy these games hidden in Google Maps and Google Earth. Flight Simulator Flight Simulator is a hidden game in Google Earth that lets you fly a virtual jet across the sky. Go to Google Earth and download the Google Earth software to your computer to become a virtual pilot. Click on Tools, then Enter Flight Simulator to begin playing the game. Choose the kind of airplane you want to fly. Then, decide on a departure airport. Maybe you would enjoy a takeoff from the Katmandu airport. You could cyber-soar above the Himalaya mountains. Users can operate the plane with the keyboard or a joystick. Follow the Flight Simulator guidelines to learn how to do it. A video from Google Earth shows you how to fly using Flight Simulator.   Smarty Pins Test your knowledge of geography and more with Smarty Pins. The game provides questions about places around the world. You answer by placing a marker on Google Maps.   smartypins.withgoogle.com Once you are on the website the first step is to choose a subject . These include Arts and Culture, Science and Geography, Entertainment and more. You will be asked five questions. The answer could be a country, city or building. Place your marker on Google Maps where you think the answer should be. Click the plus + button to zoom in and place your marker on a location. Smarty Pins gives you 1000 miles or kilometers to use. If your answers are correct, and you place your marker on the exact place, you keep all your miles. If you miss by a certain distance you lose that number of miles. You can play until all your miles or kilometers are gone. After answering five questions, you may get an award. But, do not expect any prize money! Google Search Games Use Google search to find hidden games you can play on your computer, phone or tablet. Atari Breakout Google lets you play the classic arcade game Atari Breakout without needing to drop coins into a machine. Type "Atari Breakout" into Google Image Search. The game will appear and you can start playing immediately.   Move the bar at the bottom of the screen to bounce the ball and hit the colored squares. When you have hit all the squares you are done. You can then use the pause button to get a link for sharing your Breakout score with others. Learn more about the game at the Atari Breakout website. Zerg Rush Zerg Rush is based on the game Starcraft. Zerg Rush will attack and destroy your Google search results. Go to the Google search page and type in "zerg rush". Zeros will start dropping from the top of your screen, erasing your search results. Click on the zeros to erase them and protect your results. A video on YouTube shows how Zerg Rush works.   Pac-Man This classic arcade game was re-created as a Google Doodle on May 21, 2010 to celebrate Pac-Man's 30th birthday. You can play it by typing "Pac-Man Google Doodle" in Google search. Click the Pac-Man Google Doodle result to play. You move the Pac-Man so it can eat the dots, just like in the famous arcade game. Watch out for the destructive ghosts! Android Device Games If you have an Android phone or tablet, Google has some surprises for you. Check out these hidden games for new ways of having fun. Flappy Droid Flappy Droid is Google's version of the game Flappy Bird. This game is hidden on devices running Android versions 5 and 6, also known as Lollipop and Marshmallow. To find Flappy Droid go to Settings => About Phone => Android version. You will see the version of Android your phone is running. Tap the Android version text several times and a new screen will open showing the letter “M.” Press and hold the “M” to see a lollipop or a marshmallow.   Tap either image to begin playing the game. Move your Droid through barriers. Be quick! The game moves very fast. T-Rex But what about when you do not have Internet? T-Rex is a game for offline play. Open Chrome on your Android device and search for "t-rex." If you are not connected to the Internet, you can begin playing the T-Rex game. Tap on the screen to have your T-Rex hop over barriers. You can remain playfully occupied as you wait for reconnection to the Internet! I’m Caty Weaver and I'm Kaveh Rezaei Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Did you know about these hidden Google games? Do you know about any other hidden Google games? Which of these games have you tried? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. * Infographic courtesy of eurooffice.co.uk Words in This Story infographic - n. a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information or data geography - n. an area of study that deals with the location of countries, cities, rivers, mountains, lakes, etc.​ virtual - adj. existing or occurring on computers or on the Internet departure - v. the act of leaving a place especially to start a journey joystick - n. a lever used to control the movement of images on the screen in a computer or video game bounce - v. to cause (a ball, rock, etc.) to hit against a surface and quickly move in a different and usually opposite direction  

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Report: Vietnam Expands Military Runway in South China Sea

  Vietnam is extending a military runway on a small island in the South China Sea, according to an American-based research group. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says the Vietnamese government is developing one of the Spratly Islands. It said the runway was once 762 meters long, but now stretches 1,005 meters from end to end. The center published satellite images to support its findings. The CSIS says the longer runway will make it easier for Vietnamese surveillance aircraft to operate in the South China Sea. Vietnam is also building airplane hangars there, the group said. The Spratly Islands are made up of many small islands, known as islets, coral reefs, and other land formations in the sea. China, Taiwan and Vietnam each have claimed much of the area and its natural resources. Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei also claim parts of the waterway. Vietnam is extending the runway because of Chinese efforts to develop military bases in the Spratly Islands, CSIS said. China’s activities in the area have increased tensions with its neighbors. They also have raised concerns in Japan and the United States. The Chinese government has reclaimed land on several disputed reefs by dredging, and also built airfields and ports. Vietnam has already completed landfill work on 27 small islets in the South China Sea - more than any other claimant. It has also bought submarines and spent a lot of money on other military equipment over the past eight years, observers say. Adam McCarty is an economist at Mekong Economics in Hanoi. He says Vietnam needs to be careful about how it reacts to Chinese moves in the sea. “They don’t really want to provoke China, but they also can’t just let China do whatever it wants to do.” The South China Sea is an important waterway through which more than $5 trillion worth in trade passes each year. The area is filled with rich fishing grounds and believed to hold oil and natural gas. McCarty adds that as China keeps developing disputed islands, Vietnam’s claims will likely be harder to defend. Last week, the Philippines announced plans to build a seaport in the South China Sea next year. Officials said the port would greatly improve access for people living on the island of Thitu. About 200 fishermen live on the island, as do about 50 Philippine military troops. In addition, the proposed port will also provide better access to the other eight Philippine-claimed areas in the Spratly Islands. Lawmaker Johnny Pimentel said the Philippine government has set aside about $9 million for work on the island. He said the port will make it easier for more people to settle there. The Philippines has occupied Thitu Island since 1970. It is the second largest island in the Spratlys. Plans for building a seaport there began in 2012. But the project was halted after the Philippines asked an international court to consider Chinese claims in the South China Sea. In July, the court ruled against China, rejecting the government’s historical claims to large areas of the sea. China has disputed the ruling.​ Since the ruling was announced, Pimentel has urged the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to restart oil and gas exploration in the South China Sea.   But analysts say additional moves to expand economically or militarily in the South China Sea are likely to lead to reactions from other claimants, especially China. I’m Bryan Lynn. Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story surveillance –adj. intelligence-gathering hangar – n. a large building where aircraft are kept dredging - v. to dig out and clear material from a body of water provoke - v. to do something that angers others or causes them to take action  

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AIDS Vaccine Testing Taking Place in South Africa

  Thursday is World AIDS Day. For almost 30 years, the United Nations has marked World AIDS Day on December 1. People often note the number of deaths from AIDS, short for acquired immune deficiency syndrome. The virus has killed tens of millions of people since it was first identified in the 1980s. But on this World AIDS Day, there is more hope than ever before that researchers are getting close to finding a vaccine to protect against infection. Much has happened since the first World AIDS Day observance in 1988. Countries where people did not talk about the virus now test people and treat those who are infected. Mothers with HIV -- the virus that causes AIDS -- can give birth to healthy babies and live to raise them. Drugs can keep the virus from spreading. And now, scientists are discussing the possibility that a vaccine and cure may be developed. On Monday, researchers in South Africa began injecting thousands of volunteers with a possible vaccine. Other researchers are examining whether the body’s own defenses against disease can help fight the virus. An American study shows this may be possible. One of the researchers was Pablo Tebas of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Tebas spoke to VOA on Skype. “We infuse antibodies into the patients, the participants in the study, and we want to see if those antibodies will control the HIV virus -- will keep it quiet, and prevent the virus from coming back when we stop antiretroviral therapy.” The research in controlling HIV with antibodies is similar to that being done in the fight against cancer. Proteins are used to attack cancer cells. Like cancer, HIV hides in cells. If a person stops taking anti-AIDS drugs, the virus returns. “You want to eliminate the cells that harbor the virus and by making the immune system more active, in finding and eliminating those cells.” The researchers discovered that the antibodies suppressed HIV for 21 days. The goal is to find a combination of antibodies that can suppress the virus for six months to a year. Then, those infected will no longer have to take medicine every day for the rest of their lives. A new test using two antibodies should begin in the next few months. I’m Anne Ball.  VOA’s Carol Pearson reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report 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 infuse – v. to cause (something, such as a quality) to be added or introduced into a person or thing antibody – n. a substance produced by the body to fight disease participant – n. a person who is involved in an activity or event; a person who participates in an activity or event  (often + in) antiretroviral therapy - n. medicines used to control and suppress HIV, the virus that causes AIDS harbor – v. to hold or contain (something)

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Pirelli Calendar Features Women Without Makeup

  This is What’s Trending Today. Pirelli is known for making high-performance tires used on racing cars. The Italy-based, Chinese-owned company is also known for producing calendars at the end of the year. In years past, Pirelli calendars had photographs of models wearing very little clothing or nothing at all. But this year, the company decided to publish photos of Hollywood movie stars. In many ways, all calendars are the same. They list the days of the year in exactly the same order. But people do not buy calendars just to know what day it is. Over the years, calendars have become popular gifts because many are filled with beautiful pictures. Pirelli’s 2017 calendar has photos of 14 women who won Academy Awards. They include actors Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Helen Mirren. This week, the company released some of the images to the media. All of the pictures are in black-and-white. None of the women are wearing makeup. Some look different from the way they do in movies. A story on the Facebook page of the magazine Harper’s Bazaar listed comments both for and against the photos.   Some people said the pictures are a sign of progress for the “no makeup movement.” That is a movement where well-known women are trying to look more natural. Some performers say going out without putting on beauty products makes them feel more at ease in public. One of the performers is the American singer Alicia Keys. Keys wrote that since people know what she looks like without wearing makeup, she feels more relaxed when she goes out in public. She appears in a television program with her “natural” look.  Other personalities have been taking selfies without makeup and posting the pictures on social media sites. Until last year, the Pirelli calendar’s photos had subjects in provocative poses. This year, the photographer was Germany’s Peter Lindbergh. While his photos do not show women as the Pirelli calendar has in the past, they do show the women without another kind of covering: beauty products. Lindbergh said he wanted his photos to show “a different beauty, more real and truthful and not manipulated…” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Jill Robbins. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the images from the Pirelli calendar? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________   Words in This Story manipulate – v. to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way provocative –adj. causing sexual feelings or excitement selfie –n. a picture that you take of yourself especially by using the camera on your smartphone trend – n. a way of behaving, proceeding, etc., that is developing and becoming more common relax – v. to become or to cause (something) to become less tense, tight, or stiff  

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Obamas Prepare for Their Final White House Christmas

  This is What’s Trending Today… President Barack Obama and his family will celebrate their eighth and final Christmas in the White House next month. On Tuesday, White House staff and first lady Michelle Obama revealed this year’s holiday decorations. They include nearly 70,000 ornaments, 63 Christmas trees, 56 gingerbread houses, and two very large statues of the Obama family’s dogs, Sunny and Bo. An estimated 68,000 people will visit the White House during the holiday season. There is no cost to enter. But, the very first people to see this year’s decorations were military members and their families. Michelle Obama welcomed them to the White House Tuesday. The first lady said the gold ornaments on the official White House Christmas tree honor military heroes. The Christmas tree is almost six meters tall and stands in the Blue Room. This year’s theme is “The Gift of the Holidays.” Many of the decorations represent important gifts in America, including the “gift of a great education,” Michelle Obama said. In the White House Library, another Christmas tree is decorated with ornaments that honor girls. The word “Girls” is printed in a different language on each ornament. A program called Let Girls Learn has been a major effort of Michelle Obama’s. It aims to help girls and young women around the world get a quality education. Another “gift” is the gift of good health. A tree in the White House Green Room is hung with fruit grown in the White House Garden. Healthful eating and exercise have also been important issues during Obama’s eight years as first lady. Most of the ornaments and other decorations were reused, the White House said. Just 10 percent were new. More than 90 volunteers worked on the decorations. On Tuesday, the first lady thanked the volunteer decorators. “We can’t wait to start welcoming people into their White House this holiday season. To everyone who created these stunning displays…. I want to once again say thank you. You all did a phenomenal job of turning this house into a magical place.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. Ashley Thompson adapted this report from the Associated Press, with additional materials from WhiteHouse.gov. Caty Weaver was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   staff - n. a group of people who work for an organization or business​ reveal - v. to show (something) plainly or clearly​ decorations  - n. ​things that are added to something else to make it more attractive ornaments  - n. ​small balls, figures, etc., that are hung on a Christmas tree for decoration​ gingerbread  - n. ​a cake or cookie made with molasses and ginger​ theme  - n. ​ the main subject that is being discussed or described in a piece of writing, a movie, etc.​ stunning - adj. very beautiful or pleasing​ phenomenal ​- adj. ​very good or great​  

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Thailand’s Parliament Officially Invites Prince to Be King

  Thailand’s parliament has officially invited Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn to become the country’s next king. The parliament acted after Thailand’s cabinet named the prince to be the new king. The president of the National Assembly, Pornpetch Wichitcholchai, officially nominated the prince. He urged legislators to “give their blessings” to the new king. Parliament members then stood up and replied, “Long live the king.” Thailand’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej died last month at the age of 88. He was the world’s longest serving monarch and served as king for 70 years. The process for choosing a new king is described in a 1924 Thai law. The law gives the king power to choose who should succeed him. In 1972, Bhumibol chose Vajiralongkorn – his second child and only son - to be his successor.  ​ The last step is for the prince to meet with leaders of the National Assembly before being formally named king. Government officials said that meeting is expected to happen soon. The 64-year-old prince spends much of his time outside Thailand. He is often in Germany, where he owns property. The prince has yet to gain the same respect in Thailand as his father. King Bhumibol was greatly beloved across Thailand, a mainly Buddhist country. He was known as a humble leader who directed many social and economic development projects. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said shortly after Bhumibol's death, the prince told him he did not want to immediately become king. He said he needed more time to mourn his father. The government declared a full year of mourning for all public offices after the king’s death. Many Thais have dressed in black or white since then to honor him. The king's remains have been on display at the Grand Palace in Bangkok so Thai people can pay their respects. His body will be cremated in a special ceremony likely to take place a year or more after his death. The official coronation of Vajiralongkorn will happen after the cremation. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blessing – n. approval that allows something to go forward monarch – n. a king or queen humble – adj. not proud or believing you are important cremate – v. to burn a dead body coronation – n. a ceremony to officially crown a king or queen  

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Trump Wants Flag Burners to Face Prison or Loss of Citizenship

President-elect Donald Trump says people who burn the American flag should be punished. He suggested that punishment could be up to a year in prison or a loss of citizenship.   ​ But it will not be easy for Trump to carry out his proposal. Supreme Court says burning flag is permitted form of protest In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that flag burning is protected under the First Amendment of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech. Changing a Supreme Court decision requires either amending the amendment or a new opinion by the High Court. Neither is easy to get done. The Supreme Court case involved a man named Gregory Lee Johnson. He was arrested in 1984 for burning an American flag at the Republican Party’s national convention in Texas. Johnson said he set the flag on fire to protest the nomination of Ronald Reagan for a second term as U.S. president. A lower court had ruled against Johnson. But the high court overturned the decision. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that a lot of Americans are offended by the burning of the American flag. But he noted that in the Texas case, Johnson burned the flag as an act of protest. As an act of protest, he said, flag burning is protected under free speech. “The hard fact is that sometimes we must make decisions we do not like,” Kennedy wrote. “We make them because they are right, right in the sense that the law and the Constitution, as we see them, compel the result.” Four Supreme Court justices agreed with Kennedy. Four others disagreed. Writing for the minority judges, Justice William Rehnquist noted that burning a flag is not really free speech. He said it is more like a person grunting, making sounds like an animal. Trump has not said why he is raising the flag burning issue now. Flag protests at Massachusetts college But his comments on Twitter came after a group of U.S. military veterans protested at a small Massachusetts college last weekend.  The veterans objected to the removal of an American flag at Hampshire College, a private school in the town of Amherst. The removal came after some students lowered the flag to half-staff on November 9th. That was the day after the U.S. presidential election, of which Trump has been declared the winner. Flags are flown at half-staff to recognize deaths of important people or to recognize sad events. Some Hampshire College students and teachers said they are fearful of what will happen under Trump’s presidency. The flag continued to be flown at half-staff until November 10th, when it was burned. The college says it does not know who burned the flag. A new flag was ordered flown at half-staff. But later, College President Jonathan Lash ordered the flag removed, saying some had seen it flying at half-staff as a comment on the presidential election. It was not, Lash said. He said it was part of an effort by the college to deal with divisions over the flag among members of the college community. “We’ve heard from members of our campus community that, for them and for many in our country, the flag is a powerful symbol of fear they’ve felt all their lives because they grew up in marginalized communities, never feeling safe,” Lash said. “For others, the flag is a symbol of their highest aspirations for the country.” On CNN television Tuesday, Trump spokesman Jason Miller said that the country’s next president believes flag burning should be illegal. “The president-elect is a very strong supporter of the First Amendment, but there’s a big difference between that and burning the American flag,” Miller said. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   compel - v. to force someone to do something grunting – v. top make a sound like a pig symbol - n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality marginalized - adj. putting someone in a powerless or unimportant position within a society or group aspiration - n. something that a person wants very much to achieve  

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What Is a Charter School?

  Last week, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump nominated Betsy DeVos to be the Secretary of Education in his administration. DeVos is an education activist. She supports school choice -- a term for policies that let students and their families choose between attending private or public schools. Devos has been a leading supporter of charter schools. So, what are charter schools? How are they different from traditional public schools in the United States? In today's Education report, we explore the charter school movement. What are charter schools? The American state of Minnesota passed the country’s first charter school law in the early 1990s. Since then, charter schools have spread from coast to coast. There are currently more than 6,700 charter schools, educating nearly 3 million students nationwide. Those numbers come from the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, a non-profit organization. Charter schools are a kind of public school that receives a special charter, or written rules, from a state government. A charter is a document, or series of documents, that gives rights to a person or group of individuals. Charter schools cannot require students to pay tuition for their education. The schools also cannot set admissions requirements. If too many young people asked to be admitted, the school must choose its students through a lottery system. Charter schools are different from public schools in many ways. They often have flexibility in the kinds of classes and programs that they can offer. They often do not have to follow the rules public schools do. Jon Valant is an education expert at the Brookings Institution, a public policy group. He says the charter school movement grew out of unhappiness with public schools.  Over time, different groups began supporting the charter cause. Civil rights groups wanted schools that broke down barriers based on race or wealth. Parents wanted greater ability to choose where their children went to school. Some Americans said that competition between schools could improve the quality of education. The main idea was that increased flexibility in an education program would let charter schools better serve their students. Why do Americans debate charter schools? Not all Americans like charter schools. For over 20 years, critics have argued that charter schools take money away from public schools, and may not serve students with special needs. Some civil rights groups have opposed charter schools. The NAACP and Black Lives Matter movement, for example, have released statements criticizing charter schools. They say that charter schools have exacerbated segregation, increasing racial barriers. The groups have also criticized the use of suspension as a punishment in charter schools. They point to studies that suggest that charter schools are more likely to suspend minority students. Some labor and union organizers disagree about whether charter schools are actually public schools. The National Labor Relations Board, for example, recently ruled in two cases teachers at charter schools operate under rules that govern private sector employees.* Traditionally, public school teachers are subject to laws for public employees. What does the evidence about charter schools say? In the United States, tests are often used to measure educational success. When opponents and supporters of charter schools talk about a school’s performance, they are often talking about state test results. Whether current state tests are the best way to measure success is a subject of debate. Valant, at Brookings, explains what the evidence shows about state tests and charter schools: "The best evidence we have now is that if you look across the country, kids in charter schools perform similarly on state tests to kids who are in similar schools. So it doesn't look like there are very large effects across the board on test scores." Valant goes on to explain that charter schools are not all the same. Some charter schools do a better job than others do. "Having said that, the effects on test scores are more positive in urban areas, which is where there is a lot of energy behind charter schools, so that's where you do tend to see charters outperforming some of the local traditional public schools on state tests." Another point, Valant adds, is that one of the hopes of charter school founders was to de-segregate American schools. This reality was one that the charter school movement hoped, but has not been able to change. Another hope of the founders is that charter schools would increase competition with public schools. The idea was that competition would lead all schools to improve. To date, there is no proof that the competition has improved public school quality. "That evidence just isn't there," Valant says. What does the debate over charter schools show you about America? Michael Hansen is an education expert at the Brookings Institution. He says he thinks the debates over charter schools show that some Americans are suspicious of the idea of public money going to private interests. The idea that charter schools have ties to private organizations, such as religious groups, is one common misconception. Valant, also at Brookings, adds that the charter movement has appealed to Americans with different beliefs. This appeal, which has not been true of other education reform ideas, helps to explain some of the growth of charter schools. Charter schools have not unified both political parties, Valant explains, but these schools have found enough support in the country’s two leading parties. "I think that support" he adds, "has been important in the sustained development of what is a pretty fundamental restructuring of the way that schools are governed." I'm John Russell. And I'm Phil Dierking. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. *These cases involved unionization efforts at two charter schools. Read the Washington Post's story for more information.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   charter – n. a document issued by a government that gives rights to a person or group tuition – n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there flexibility – n. able to change or to do different things across the board  -- phrase adj. affecting everyone or everything in a group misconception – n. a wrong or mistaken idea exacerbate – v. to make more violent or severe lottery – n. a game or event in which the final result is decided by chance

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Withdrawals from International Criminal Court Raise Questions

  Recent withdrawals from the International Criminal Court have raised questions about the court’s future. Russia announced its withdrawal in the middle of November. Earlier, three African nations said they planned to leave. Observers expect difficult times for the court in the weeks to come. More nations will likely be leaving. Alex Whiting is a law professor at Harvard University in Massachusetts. He once supervised investigations and legal action against suspects for the International Criminal Court. He expects the court to survive. “I think there will be some difficulties, but that the court is not going to collapse,” Whiting told VOA. He said one reason is the court’s special power to bring action against the world’s worst kinds of crimes. The Court of Last Resort The International Criminal Court was founded in 2002. It is based in The Netherlands. It is considered the court of last resort – the place where criminal charges are brought after all other legal efforts have failed. Its aim is to bring to justice people responsible for horrible crimes when their own countries are unwilling or unable to take action. The court investigates and tries cases of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The most important criminal case yet is against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. He is accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. He remains in office. The Sudanese leader has visited other countries in violation of an international ban on his travel. He was able to avoid arrest during visits to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. The court is currently trying Laurent Gbagbo, the former president of the Ivory Coast. He faces charges related to thousands of murders and rapes while he was in power. Guilty of War Crimes Among those jailed by the court was former Congolese vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba. He was found guilty of war crimes. In another case, the court ruled against Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, an Islamist rebel, for his part in the 2012 violence in Mali. He admitted guilt to destroying Muslim holy places in the historic city of Timbuktu. Darryl Robinson is an expert on international law at Queens University Law School in Kingston, Canada. He said the court has done a lot in its short 14-year history. But there are many serious problems in the world, Robinson said. As a result, the court faces demands to do more. “On one hand, the International Criminal Court has been active in far more situations than I think anyone would have predicted in its short history,” Robinson said. “But on the other hand, there are so many situations in the world that are clamoring for attention.” Russia, like the United States, has not accepted the treaty setting up the court’s right to exercise power. Therefore, neither country falls under its authority. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his country’s withdrawal from the court earlier this month. His announcement came after the court’s chief prosecutor said that Russia’s takeover of Crimea amounted to an “ongoing state of occupation.” There have also been calls for the court to investigate suspected war crimes by Russian forces protecting the government in Syria. Russia’s foreign ministry said the court is not living up to its responsibility to be even-handed. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has said he might follow Russia out of the International Criminal Court. His comment came after the court warned Duterte over reports of the killing of thousands of people as part of his war on illegal drugs. Three African Nations Withdraw Before Russia announced its withdrawal, three African countries -- Burundi, South Africa and Gambia -- announced plans to withdraw from the court. Officials from the three countries said the court unfairly targets African leaders. All those convicted by the court have been Africans. South Africa says it was pressured to arrest and surrender the Sudanese president to the court when he visited the country last year. Whiting of Harvard University said it is regrettable a large percentage of the court’s cases relate to African countries. But he said court officials argue that they are targeting the world’s most serious cases of government-led abuse. The court’s chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said she is disappointed at “any act that may undermine” the court’s authority to hold people responsible for horrible crimes. She called for more discussions with leaders of Burundi, South Africa and Gambia. Bensouda also said the court would put more importance on crimes against children. “It is unforgivable that children are assaulted, violated, murdered,” she said. Such crimes should trouble all good people, she said. I'm Dorothy Gundy.  And I'm John Russell.  Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story clamor - v. a loud or strong demand for something authority - n. the power to give orders or make decisions disappoint - v. to make someone unhappy by not being as good as expected or by not doing something that was hoped for or expected undermine - v. to make someone or something weaker or less effective assault - v. the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically convicted – n. to be tried and found guilty of something    

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November 29, 2016

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

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Plane Carrying Football Team From Brazil Crashes in Colombia

  At least 76 people were killed when an airplane carrying a Brazilian football team crashed Monday night in Colombia. A Colombian police commander said five of the 81 people on the chartered plane survived. The aircraft was carrying 72 passengers and nine crew members. The team was on its way to play in the final of the Copa Sudamericana football competition at the time of the crash. The sport is called soccer in the United States. The plane came down in a mountainous area near the city of Medellin. The flight had started in Bolivia. The aircraft’s owner was identified as LaMia, a small Venezuelan airline company. Officials said the plane, a British Aerospace 146, was designed for short flights. The crew reported an electrical failure and declared an emergency at 2200 hours local time (0300 GMT). Colombian officials are investigating what happened. The head of the country’s civil aviation agency said he cannot rule out the possibility that the plane used up all its fuel before the crash. The plane was carrying the Chapecoense football team, from the small city of Chapeco in southern Brazil. Chapecoense was to have played Wednesday in the first of a two-game Copa Sudamericana final against Atletico Nacional of Medellin. The mayor of Chapeco said he and other officials just missed joining the team and reporters on the flight to Colombia. They instead decided to take a commercial airline flight. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com and the Associated Press reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the information 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   chartered – adj. hired for temporary use; a charter flight is one that is arranged for a specific use by a team or group and is not a regularly-scheduled flight. mayor – n. the top official of a city, town of village commercial – adj. of or related to business  

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Piano Player Redesigns His Favorite Instrument

The parts of a traditional piano have changed very little for hundreds of years. The keys are black and white in color, just like when classical musical greats like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Sebastian Bach were alive.  But now an electronic, piano-like musical instrument replaces those keys with surfaces that react to touch. A start-up company called ROLI began selling the electronic keyboard in 2013. The keyboard is known as Seaboard. It does not have the same white and black keys as a piano. Instead it is made from soft, rubbery materials. Roland Lamb is the inventor of Seaboard and a jazz piano player. He says he invented Seaboard so he could create different kinds of sounds with the instrument. "I wanted to be able to express more from the keyboard and create the kinds of sounds and modulations that people could create on a bass or a guitar or a saxophone. And I was sitting at the piano and thinking why can’t I strike a note and then slide it and move it." The way a person touches the keys on a Seaboard affects the instrument’s sound. This new technology enables the player to create sounds that traditional pianos cannot make. Marco Parisi is a classical pianist. He likes Seaboard very much and says he is always learning something new he can do with it. "This is the most expressive instrument I ever played. And to be able to use my piano technique and make that expressive changed my world." Roland Lamb notes it would be harder for him to go back to playing a traditional piano. But Seaboard is not Lamb’s only interesting musical invention. His latest creation is called Blocks. It is a small, black box with a screen like a smartphone. When a person presses on the box in different places, Blocks produces different sounds. Pressing harder or softer changes the intensity of the musical notes. Lamb says the best thing about Blocks is that it is easy to use. Colored images on the screen represent different kinds of sounds. Blocks can record combinations of sounds. And people can buy and combine other devices to use with the small box. Lamb says he designed Blocks so that almost anyone can make top quality music. "Now I know the possibilities that one can access through new technologies and new sounds." Several world-famous music artists use Blocks. They include Grimes, Steve Aoki and RZA. RZA helped demonstrate how to use Blocks at a special event ROLI held in New York in November. The performer had high praise for the device. “Music is something that you feel," he said. “Whether you know how to make music or not, or play music traditionally, when you start playing with this, you will find your voice." I’m Pete Musto.   VOA’s Deborah Block reported on this story. Pete Musto adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Have you ever wanted to learn how to play an instrument? What kind of music would you make if you could? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story piano – n. a large musical instrument with a keyboard that you play by pressing black and white keys and that produces sound when small hammers inside the piano hit steel wires jazz – n. a type of American music with lively rhythms and melodies that are often made up by musicians as they play modulation(s) – n. gradual movement from one system of musical tones based on a scale to another classical – adj. relating to music in a European tradition that includes opera and symphony and that is generally considered more serious than other kinds of music technique – n. the way that a person performs basic physical movements or skills screen – n. the usually flat part of a television or computer monitor that shows the images or text

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Trump Calls Millions of Votes 'Illegal'

  This is What’s Trending Today... President-elect Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had their last debate before the presidential election on October 19. The moderator of the debate, Chris Matthews, asked Trump if he would accept the results of the election. In response, Trump said, “I will look at it at the time.” Later in the conversation, he said, “I’ll keep you in suspense, OK?” We now know that Trump is the likely winner of the election. He is expected to become president in January. But officials have announced they will re-count the votes in at least one state. In response, Trump used Twitter to claim “millions” of people voted illegally for his opponent. Almost 50,000 people forwarded the tweet, and close to 150,000 more “liked” it. News organizations and political analysts say no evidence supports Trump’s claim.  One reason people are still disputing the results is because of how presidents are elected in the United States. States – not voters – choose the president. The system is called the Electoral College. In the 2016 election, Trump won enough states under the Electoral College system to beat Hillary Clinton, but he did not win the most votes overall. In addition, the results were very close in three of the states Trump won. Those states are Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan. Activists are raising money to request the votes there be re-counted. If the results change, Trump risks losing the Electoral College and therefore the election. This weekend, Trump asserted that he won the Electoral College. He would have won the popular vote, too, he said, “if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.” Trump also claimed there were illegal votes in three of the states Clinton won: Virginia, New Hampshire and California. Trump asked, “Why isn’t the media reporting on this?”  Alex Padilla is the secretary of state in California. He said Trump did not have evidence for his claim of illegal votes in California. And, Padilla said, Trump’s tweets were “reckless” and “unbecoming” of a president-elect. Others warned news organizations not to report Trump’s comments without considering first whether they were true. One social media user brought some humor into the debate, saying: “Trump won the popular vote 100-percent if you deduct the millions and millions of people who did not vote for him.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. What do you think of Donald Trump’s election comments? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story moderator – n. someone who leads a discussion in a group and tells each person when to speak suspense –n. a feeling or state of nervousness or excitement caused by wondering what will happen assert – v. to state (something) in a strong and definite way deduct –v. to take away (something, especially an amount of money) from a total inappropriate –adj. not right or suited for some purpose or situation unbecoming –adj. not appropriate or acceptable for a person in a particular job or position

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Researchers: Driverless Scooter Provides Safe and Easy Ride

  Driverless technology is quickly progressing, with many cars being tested on roads around the world. Now, researchers in Singapore are testing a different kind of self-driving vehicle - a scooter.  The scooter has four wheels and a single seat. It can move at speeds of up to six kilometers an hour. It is equipped with sensors to help it avoid people and objects. The scooter was developed at the National University of Singapore. Researchers with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) also took part in the project. This experimental vehicle was designed for people who cannot, should not or do not want to drive a car. It could help older adults, the disabled or people who are too young to drive. The scooter can be used outside or inside buildings. Marcelo Ang is with the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the National University of Singapore. He says the scooter can be especially useful for people who use wireless devices while walking on city streets.   “I'm sure you have experienced people, just using their handphone while walking, and almost running into you. Would be so nice if you are just sitting down and checking your emails, and doing some things.” Ang demonstrated the technology and said the scooter has completed many successful tests at the university. He said the first model was built with “off-the-shelf” materials that did not cost a lot of money. The researchers hope the scooter will decrease the need for automobiles, which can lower pollution and reduce accidents.   Earlier this year, Singapore became one of the first cities in the world to launch driverless taxi service. Developers of the scooter say it can work together with ride-sharing services to make trips completely seamless. Kevin Xiangyu Hui, a university student, tested the scooter and said he found the ride was very smooth and safe. “When you sit on this machine, you feel really relaxed and it’s really cool.” The scooter has yet to complete a series of road tests so it is not available to buy… yet. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for Learning English. His story was based on reports from VOANews.com and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. How do you feel about driverless technology? Would you be willing to give this scooter a try? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story scooter – n. small vehicle with a motor used for transportation sensor – n. a device that can sense light, heat, sound, motion and provide information about it off-the-shelf - adj. available from existing materials seamless - adj. moving from one thing to another easily and without problems relaxed - adj. feeling satisfied and comfortable    

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Castro's Death, Trump Presidency Raise Questions About US-Cuba Ties

During his life, Fidel Castro blamed Cuba’s economic problems on the United States and its restrictions on trade with Cuba. Now, after Castro’s death, many people are wondering what will happen to the economic relationship between the two countries. The election of Donald Trump as U.S. president will likely make the situation even more complex. The U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba – or, the embargo – remain in place. But President Barack Obama recently eased some of those limits. Obama reestablished diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States. The two sides opened embassies in each other’s capitals in 2015. And the improved relations have led to an increase in the number of U.S. visitors to Cuba. Yet many U.S. companies say the government in Cuba makes it hard for foreigners to do business there.   U.S. Senator Bob Menendez says economic links remain firmly connected to Castro's family. "Do you want to do business in Cuba, do you want to be a part of the hotel tourism industry? You have to see Raul's (Cuban President Raul Castro) son. You want to go ahead and do agriculture business in Cuba? You have to do it with his son-in-law, both high-ranking officials of the Cuban military." Jose Azel is an expert on Cuba at the University of Miami in Florida. He agrees that the Cuban government has too many restrictions on foreign businesses. Azel said that foreign investors must share control of their business interests with the Cuban military. And, he adds, the foreigners cannot control who works for their company in Cuba.  But Azel does not believe the country will change its central planning system soon. Another issue for U.S.-Cuba relations is the election of businessman Donald Trump. During the presidential campaign, Trump criticized President Obama's moves to ease tensions with between the two countries. Trump said he will undo Obama’s actions unless Cuba gives more religious and political freedom to its people. He also wants Cuba to release political prisoners. I'm Ashley Thompson. Ken Bredemeier and Jim Randle reported this story for VOA. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted their story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   embargo – n. a government order that limits trade in some way high-ranking – adj. having a high rank or position central planning – adj. In a centrally planned economy, the government makes most economic decisions

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Will Death of Fidel Castro Improve Human Rights in Cuba?

  Some Cuban-Americans believe the death of Fidel Castro means human rights abuses in Cuba will end. Jose Sanchez is one of them. “We had a bad dictator that had Cuba under oppression and repression for almost six decades is no longer with us, and that will give an opportunity to the Cuban people to start the journey towards freedom and democracy.” Sanchez lives in Little Havana, an area of Miami, Florida, where many Cuban-Americans live. Lissette Calderon lives there, too. She says the death of Fidel Castro is the beginning of a new Cuba.  “The people of Cuba do not have free elections and there’s no democracy. And I think those of us aren’t gonna rest until we see the freedom for the people of Cuba.” Fidel Castro began ruling the country in 1959. In 2008, he gave the presidency to his younger brother, Raul. For almost 58 years, the Cuban people have had few civil and political freedoms. Thousands of activists have been punished or imprisoned. In 2014, relations between the United States and Cuba were reestablished. But that change did not decrease limits on freedoms in Cuba. Few people have access to the Internet; journalists and human rights activists are still regularly detained. Guadalupe Correa is a professor of government affairs and security studies at the University of Texas. She told VOA on Skype that Raul Castro, who has slowly taken control of Cuba, must now decide if his brother’s death will bring major changes to the country. “He needs to change his approach to his own country and allow the country to be more open.” Some American lawmakers made similar statements on Twitter. Congressman Carlos Curbelo said Castro’s death is an opportunity for opposition leaders in Cuba to become stronger. But Brian Fonseca, the director of the Public Policy Institute at Florida International University, is not as optimistic. He told VOA on Skype that human rights activists will see things get worse in Cuba before they get better. He says that is because people in power want to keep power. So, he says, current political leaders might react to Castro’s death by limiting any opposition -- at least in the short term.    I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.      VOA National Correspondent Katherine Gypson reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly 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   decade – n. a ten year period approach – n. a way of dealing with something; a way of doing or thinking about something optimistic – adj. having or showing hope for the future;  expecting good things to happen short term – adj. a short period of time at the beginning of something

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Obama, Trump React Very Differently to Death of Fidel Castro

  The death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro has produced a mix of reactions in the United States. The death confirms sharp differences in the thinking of President Barack Obama and his replacement, President-elect Donald Trump. It has also led to discussions about how the U.S. government will deal with Cuba when Trump becomes president in January. President Obama considers reestablishing ties with Cuba after more than 50 years of tensions one of his greatest foreign policy successes. Obama, who visited the country in March, became the first sitting U.S. president to do so since 1928. Obama told the Cuban people: “I have come here to bury the last remnants of the Cold War in the Americas.” In September 2015, Trump supported Obama’s decision to open up relations with Cuba. “I think it's fine,” he told The Daily Caller website. “We should have made a better deal (but) the concept of opening with Cuba -- 50 years is enough.” However, during the election campaign, Trump began to strongly criticize the decision to normalize relations. Now, he is almost always critical of the move. In a statement released soon after Castro’s death last Friday, Obama said: “History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and the world around him.” He added that the United States offers “a hand of friendship to the Cuban people.” Some U.S. lawmakers immediately criticized the statement. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican, called it “pathetic.” He noted that the statement did not talk about the thousands of people Castro killed and imprisoned. Rubio’s parents lived in Cuba, and moved to the United States in the 1950s. Another Republican, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, told ABC News that he hopes “we don’t see any U.S. government officials going to Fidel Castro’s funeral.” Cruz’s father was born in Cuba and now, like Rubio’s parents, is a Cuban-American. Trump released a statement after Castro’s death. He called the former leader “a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades.” He blamed Castro for “firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty, and the denial of fundamental human rights.” Trump promised that, as president, he will do all he can “to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty.” It is not known how relations between the two countries will change when Trump takes office. Kellyanne Conway is a top aide to the president-elect. She told ABC News that Trump will demand that Cuba make changes. Conway said the release of political prisoners would have an important effect on relations. She also said the president-elect is “absolutely” willing to change the Obama policy on Cuba. Some lawmakers hope Castro’s death will lead to improved relations between the two countries. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and some Republicans support a bill that would end the 50-year-old ban on U.S. trade with Cuba. I’m Alice Bryant.     VOA’s Cindy Saine and Fern Robinson reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the reports for Learning English. He also used information from VOANews.com. 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   sitting - adj. In this context, sitting means currently having a political office or job remnant - n. the part of something that is left when the other parts are gone concept - n. an idea of what something is or how it works enormous - adj. very great in size or amount singular - adj. better or greater than what is usual or normal pathetic - adj. very bad, poor, weak, etc. funeral - n. a ceremony held for a dead person firing squad - n. a group of soldiers whose job is to shoot a prisoner who has been sentenced to death prosperity - n. the state of being successful -- usually by making a lot of money

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Update: Breakthrough in Fighting Zika

November 28, 2016

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

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Lesson 37: Let's Agree to Disagree

Summary In this lesson, Anna meets a new friend. Phil is new to Washington, D.C. and he feels lost in the city. Anna asks him to make the city a friendlier place. Speaking Use this video to earn the new words for this lesson. Then, learn how to give a reason when you say your opinion. Pronunciation Use this video to learn how to pronounce possessive pronouns. Conversation Anna: You know, I am from the country and sometimes I miss it. But I really like life in the city! I love the city. Oh, look. Someone lost a bag. Maybe it's theirs. Excuse me. Is this bag yours? Dr. Jill: No. It's not mine. It might be hers. Anna: Excuse me. Is this bag yours? Sarah: No. It's not mine. It might be his. Anna: Thank you. Hello. Is this bag yours? Phil: Yes, that's mine. These are all my travel things. Thank you, thank you! Anna: Are you okay? You seem ... nervous. Phil: Well, this is my first visit to Washington, D.C. I'm from a small town in the country. I feel a little lost. Anna: I am from the country too! And I understand. When I first came here, I felt lost ... all the time. Phil: So, do you like living in the country or in the city? Anna: I like to live in the city. Phil: Why? Anna: The city is exciting! It has more culture than the country. There are many museums and restaurants. Every night, there is theater and music. And, there are more jobs. That is why I'm here. Phil: Well, I agree. There is more culture in the city and there might be more jobs. But the country has more nature! It's peaceful and beautiful. There are more trees and mountains. The air is clean. You can go hiking and camping. The city is not beautiful. It's noisy and dirty. Anna: I disagree. I think all the different buildings are beautiful. And I like to watch all the different people. Phil: That's another thing that is different. People in the country are friendly. They always say "hello!" Here, no one says "hello." I think city people are rude. Anna: Well, I agree. Country people are friendly. But I don't think city people are rude. I think they're just busy. Phil: That's a good point. Anna: Look at me. I live in the city and I said "hello" to you. Phil: But you are from the country. Anna: I have an idea. Let's say "hello!" to people -- to many people! Phil: What? Why? Anna: Well, if we say "hello," maybe they will say "hello" to other people ... Hello! Phil: ... and they will say "hello" to more people! That's a great idea! I'm glad you found my bag. Anna: Come on. Let's go say "hello" to people. Anna: We don't have to agree with people. They have their opinions. We have ours. And as we like to say, you can always agree to disagree! Until next time...! Hello! Writing What is the best place to live? Tell us about where you live now or where you want to live. Be sure you give a reason for your opinion. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice sharing opinions.  Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Personalize.  This means connecting new information to our own feelings and experiences. When we are listening in English, we personalize by thinking about how what we hear is like our own experience. When speaking or writing, we can use what we know to communicate. In this lesson, Anna tells Phil why she likes living in the city. She is personalizing by thinking about the things she likes: "The city is exciting! It has more culture than the country. There are many museums and restaurants. Every night, there is theater and music. And, there are more jobs." Can you find another example in this lesson of someone personalizing and giving a reason for their opinion? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. _____________________________________________________________ New Words agree - v. to have the same opinion dirty - adj. not clean disagree - v. to have a different opinion friendly - adj. acting like a friend or kind and helpful    nature - n. the physical world and everything in it that is not made by people    noisy - adj. making a lot of loud or unpleasant noise opinion - n. a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about   something peaceful - adj. quiet and calm or without noise rude - adj. not polite ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice giving your opinion and asking others for theirs. For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Possessive Pronouns (mine, ours, their, theirs, her/hers, his/his) Topics: Exchanging Opinions; Agreement & disagreement; Comparing things, places, & people Learning Strategy: Personalize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus:  ​Giving a reason for your opinion; Pronouncing possessive pronouns   ____________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. What do you like best about using Let's Learn English? Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson. ​

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Weather Predictions Expected to Improve with New U.S. Satellite

A new American weather satellite could save more lives by better predicting extreme weather conditions. The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, in the state of Florida, on November 19. It will be in orbit some 36,000 kilometers above Earth’s surface. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as NOAA, has been working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the project. NOAA officials are calling the new satellite GOES-R. That is short for a much longer name -- the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R Series. NOAA said GOES-R could improve the nation’s ability to observe weather conditions and make weather predictions. It said the satellite’s deployment would lead to more exact and timely weather forecasts, watches and warnings. The government agency said the satellite will require testing of its six instruments and will be ready to work “within a year.” Next generation of weather satellites “The next generation of weather satellites is finally here,” said NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan. She described GOES-R as one of the most sophisticated Earth-observing machines ever created. Sullivan said its instruments will be able to study Earth five times faster and with four times more detail than any other NOAA satellite currently in operation. She believes this will make the United States an even stronger, more “Weather-Ready” nation. A NOAA statement said the greater detail will help improve the agency’s study of ocean storms, as well as “the prediction and warnings of severe weather.” In addition, GOES-R will be able to provide improved rainfall estimates, which will lead to more timely and detailed flood warnings. The statement also said that GOES-R will give better estimates of wind strength, as well as better measurement of fog, ice or lightning strikes. One of the six instruments on the satellite is designed to help scientists study lightning strikes and map them. This, NOAA says, will help the agency follow the movement of severe storms and provide more detailed warnings. Craig Fugate serves as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He says that the GOES-R satellite will improve the ability of people and organizations across America to prepare for, and react to, weather-related disasters. Fugate feels that better understanding of the world around us will lead to better results. These include knowing where to best position supplies before a storm hits and providing more targeted information to local officials. That information could help the officials decide when to order civilians to leave an area because of bad weather. In addition to weather forecasting, GOES-R will be part of an international search and rescue network. It will have a “special transponder” that will be able to find signals from emergency beacons. I’m Phil Dierking. This story first appeared on VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. How could better weather forecast help you? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   beacon – n. a radio signal that is broadcast to help guide ships, airplanes, etc. forecast – n. to say that (something) will happen in the future geostationary – adj. moving in orbit in space along the equator, so that it remains stationary to a fixed point on the surface sophisticated – adj. highly developed and complex transponder – n. a device that receives a radio signal and sends out a signal in response and that is used especially to show the location of something

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Less Energy Now Produced by Coal in US South

Three large machines called turbines produce electricity at the Buck Combined Cycle Station in central North Carolina, near the town of Salisbury. Tall chimneys that once released smoke into the air all day and night are now unused. The last coal-fueled generators that operated at the energy center were closed a few years ago. Trains full of coal no longer arrive at the center, and large piles of coal no longer cover the ground. The center is owned by Duke Energy. Energy companies have had to sharply reduce the amount of coal they use for several reasons: Stronger government rules have reduced the level of carbon permitted to be sent into the air. And there is a growing demand for clean energy. The new energy center is fueled by natural gas. It is a much cleaner source of electricity than coal. Bill Wilson is the senior engineer of the Buck Combined Cycle Station. He says Duke Energy has closed about half of its coal-fueled energy centers in recent years and has replaced them with ones fueled by natural gas. He told VOA it is less costly to fuel the plant with natural gas than with coal. Switching over Coal was the main fuel used to generate electricity in the United States for many years. But the U.S. Energy Information Administration says in 2015 coal and natural gas were used equally to create electricity -- about 33 percent each. The shift from coal to natural gas is happening at energy centers throughout the country. In July, coal was removed from the Clinch River Coal Plant in Russell County, Virginia. The plant is owned by American Electric Power. Last year, parts of the center were converted from coal to natural gas use. Ricky Chaffin is the manager of the plant. He says it is now not only cleaner but produces more electricity. “You don’t have to handle the coal,” he says. “You don’t have to move the coal from the pile to the plant. We’ve got a lot less equipment. So (there is) a whole lot less manpower required to (operate) a (natural) gas plant,” he said. When the plant was fueled by coal, 182 people were needed to operate it. Now, 46 people work there. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has predicted that natural gas will become the country’s largest source of electricity this year. In North Carolina, Duke Energy plans to close most of its coal-fueled power plants in the next few decades. But as it does, it faces environmental problems. Last month, the company reached an agreement to remove the coal ash from its Buck Steam Station that has been polluting groundwater and the nearby Yadkin River for many years. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.     VOA Correspondent Nadeem Yaqub reported this story from Charlotte, North Carolina. Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   turbine – n. an engine that spins and can be used to produce electricity chimney – n. a tall structure on a building that allows smoke to rise and escape outside plant – n. a building or factory where something is made convert – v. to change from one thing to another pile – n. a group of things that are put one on top of another manpower – n. the number of people who are available to work decade – n. a 10-year period coal ash – n. waste that remains after coal is burned groundwater – n. water that is underground

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Cameroon Taking Steps to Control Social Media

  Social media use has risen sharply in Cameroon, as have the government’s efforts to control it. Our story begins at a church in Limbe, in southwestern Cameroon. These church members are praying for three men. A military court ruled against the three earlier this month. The men were arrested after they reportedly shared a joke about a membership campaign for the Boko Haram terrorist group on social media.  The trial was not open to the public. The rights group Amnesty International and local rights activists condemned the court’s ruling. Tabot Timothy is a 22-year-old law student at the University of Douala-Cameroon. He joined others at the religious center one day recently to protest the ruling. “It was just normal for a thorough investigation to be carried out to really ascertain the fact that these guys were joking. It is unjust. Thorough investigations were not carried out.” The government has used several laws to limit mobile and online communication, including an anti-terrorism law passed in 2014. Barrister George Marcellin Tsoungui is with the Cameroon Bar Council. He says people who use social media to spread unproven information can be sentenced to between six months and two years in prison and fined $10,000 to $20,000. He says the punishments can be twice those amounts if a court rules that the communications were designed to cause unrest. Police detained a journalist in January after he incorrectly reported on social media that President Paul Biya had visited soldiers in Cameroon’s north. In March, police arrested people accused of sharing a letter from the country’s minister of defense on social media. The letter was released without the minister’s permission. It said that Boko Haram members had arrived in the capital, Yaounde. The National Communications Council has the power to stop reporters from working and close media businesses. It is investigating 20 complaints made by top government officials. One of the reports is about a minister who was seen on Facebook dancing to the music of Franko -- a singer whose songs are banned by the government. Yet social media and mobile messaging apps and networking sites are increasingly popular in Cameroon. In fact, they are used by both opponents and supporters of the government.  Nelson Tawe has examined the spread of social media in Cameroon. “Social media is inevitable. It’s like a devil that you are called upon to live with. It’s difficult to suppress it. It’s just going to be like throwing water on the duck’s back. Social media has come to stay -- there’s no way you can suppress it. I think that (the) government will have an uphill task to succeed in what it’s trying to do.” Several other African countries have taken actions against people who use social media in ways governments believe are illegal. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Moki Edwin Kindzeka reported this story from Yaounde. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report 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   ascertain – v. to learn or find out (something, such as information or the truth) mobile – adj. cell phone; smart phone journalist – n. reporter; a person who collects, writes and edits news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, radio or the internet app – n. a computer program that performs a special function, especially on a smartphone inevitable – adj. sure to happen

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UN Warns of Worsening Situation for Displaced Afghans

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been displaced from their homes because of continuing violence in the country. They face severe hardship as the country’s harsh winter approaches. The United Nations calls these people “internally-displaced persons.” They include both those who fled their homes and those forced to return to Afghanistan from neighboring countries. The UN says more than one million people will be in this situation by the end of the year. VOA spoke with some of the refugees. VOA learned that many of them are helped for just one month. Those who have been displaced for longer than that struggle to find help. Noor Mohammed is one of them. "I've been here from Sangin for seven or eight years because there is war there. We have no facilities here. Look, these kids are playing in the dirt. They don't go to school - there are no health facilities. Winter is coming and we have nothing to deal with it." Most of those at risk are women and children. International aid groups believe they are vulnerable to harm, including women like Najeeba. “The government is not helping us at all. They’ve just left us in these tents without any facilities.” The U.N. has warned that the number of Afghans displaced from their homes because of war may increase by the end of the year. But the amount of help is growing smaller as the number of refugees rises. I’m Bryan Lynn.   VOA Correspondent Ayesha Tanzeem reported this story from Kabul. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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 facility – n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose vulnerable – adj. open to attack or harm

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Everyday Grammar: Reported Speech

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Report: Poor Conditions, Low Wages in Chinese Toy Factories

  China Labor Watch (CLW) is an activist group based in New York. The group studies labor conditions in China’s toy industry. In a recent report, the group wrote: “The world of toys is a heaven for children, but (it) may be a world of misery for toy factory workers.” China Labor Watch released the report this month. It tells about working conditions in four toy factories in southern China’s Guangdong Province. Investigators say the workers are paid wages of $300 or less per month for 174 hours of work. They say the workers make toys such as Barbie, Thomas the Tank Engine and Hot Wheels. These products are sold by Mattel, Hasbro, Disney, McDonald’s, Wal-Mart and other large American companies. China Labor Watch says the employees often work in dangerous conditions and are not well-trained. The group says, “the average working hours in these four factories are 11 hours a day, with more than 50 overtime hours a month.” Overtime is time worked in addition to regular working hours. The group said overtime totals were as high as 130 hours in some factories. The group said its information came from people who worked at the factories. These workers were secretly gathering information for the group at what researchers call “relatively well-managed” factories. Chinese laws say employees may not work more than 8 hours a day. The laws permit work hours to be extended in some cases, but employers must be sure the workers do not become tired. The report says employees sometimes worked 11 hours in a day with only a 40-to 60-minute lunch break. It said this is a clear “violation of the right of workers to have adequate rest.” The report says factory managers regularly asked workers to sign “voluntary overtime agreements.” These agreements permit the factory to violate labor laws and regulations without fear they will be punished. Wages too low to live on Because the pay is so poor, almost all of the employees volunteer to work additional hours. Worker Li Jintao told VOA: “the wages are too low. My monthly salary is $360, but after deductions for social security, I make only a little more than $292 per month.” Workers pay a part of their wages into a social security fund, which is used to support older people when they cannot work anymore. Chinese laws require companies that have foreign investors to pay social security taxes for their workers. But the CLW report says none of the factories closely followed the laws. It said one factory did not pay into the social insurance or the housing fund for the workers. Another factory paid only a part of the money to some workers. The report said some factories even forced the workers to agree to give up their right to receive social insurance and housing funds. Li left his home village at the age of 14 to work in the city. He says his monthly salary includes payment for two to three hours of overtime every day. The 2016 minimum wage in the cities of Dongguan and Foshan is $223 per month, while the minimum wage in Shenzhen is $300 per month. The four factories examined by China Labor Watch are in those cities. Workers at the factories earn about five percent more than the minimum wage. But Li says that is still not enough. He plans to leave his job and return to his family home. No safety training The report said the four factories did not give safety training to workers before they began their job. And it said they failed to give the workers safety equipment. The report said almost all of the workers live and eat in the factories where they work. Some of the workers complained about poor-quality food. They said their sleeping areas are old and dirty and often have uncovered electrical wires. Like many toy exporters in China, the factories China Labor Watch investigated have been examined by the International Toy Association. They are part of a program called ICTI Care, a 10-year-old program that says its goal is to protect toy factory workers. Employers: “Conditions better than ever” Mark Robinson is a spokesman for ICTI Care. He said the project does most of its work in China. He said it has examined more than 1,200 toy factories in the country. The project also operates in Vietnam, India and other countries. Robinson said it represents 66 million workers. He says conditions in the factories are better than they have ever been. He adds that Chinese factories that are part of the program are increasing wages. But the China Labor Watch report said the ICTI standards violate China’s own labor rules. Li Qiang, executive director of China Labor Watch, told VOA that ICTI is “an association backed by Mattel, Disney and Hasbro, which (permits) factory workers to work 72 hours a week, and even 78 hours while the factory has to fill an order.” CLW sees no improvement Li began investigating southern China’s toy factories as an undercover laborer in 1999. He said there have been small improvements but the “overall environment for the toy industry has not improved.” Li said when he was working undercover, “we worked more than 10 hours a day, and it was like a prison. Now, workers still work more than 10 hours a day.” China Labor Watch researchers say companies that operate the factories can raise wages and improve conditions and still be profitable. But they say most companies choose not to do so. Disney, Mattel, and Wal-Mart did not answer VOA’s requests to give a reaction to the report. Disney released a statement. It said, “these issues have been investigated and resolved. Disney will continue to encourage and rely on factory owners, business associates and governments to promote safe, inclusive and respectful workplaces where Disney-brand products are made.” I’m Anna Mateo. And I'm Jonathan Evans.   Correspondent Xiao Yu of VOA’s Mandarin service reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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 misery – n. extreme suffering or unhappiness assembly line – n. a line of machines, equipment, workers, etc., in a factory that builds a product by passing work from one station to the next until the product is finished adequate – adj. enough for some need or requirement; good enough; of a quality that is good or acceptable deduction – n. something (such as an amount of money) that is or can be subtracted from a total social security fund – n. a fund created to pay workers when they are too old to work or are injured and cannot work undercover – adj. done or working in a secret way in order to catch criminals or collect information adjust – v. to change in order to work or do better in a new situation brand – n. a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name

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The Making of a Nation: Louisiana Purchase

The U.S. was not always this big. A series of unexpected events transformed the U.S. from a small nation along the Atlantic Ocean into a large country that stretched across most of North America. This video tells the story of the Louisiana Purchase.

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‘President Trump’ Worries Some International Students

  Hussain Saeed Alnahdi was one of the almost 400 international students attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Twenty-four-year-old Alnahdi was from Saudi Arabia. He began his studies at the school in the Midwestern part of the United States last year. But early on the morning of October 30, Alnahdi’s experience as an international student came to a violent end. An unnamed attacker beat him until he died outside a restaurant in the city of Menomonie. A few weeks later, police announced they had arrested a suspect. They said they do not believe the attack was a hate crime, or a crime influenced by race. But events like the attack in Wisconsin have raised concerns for many international students living and studying in the U.S. Study in the U.S.A. is a company that supports international students who want to study at American colleges and universities. A few days before the U.S. presidential election, the company released the results of an opinion study of 1,000 international students from 130 countries. Over 65 percent of the students said they would be less likely to study in the U.S. if Donald Trump were elected president. FPP EDU Media also works with international students. The company released its own survey of 40,000 students in June. Those results suggested 60 percent of their students felt the same way. During his campaign, President-elect Trump made statements about Mexican people that many critics called racist. At one point, he called for a ban on all Muslims entering the U.S. The Southern Poverty Law Center is a civil rights group based in Montgomery, Alabama. The group says it has received 437 reports of incidents of intimidation and harassment in the six days following the election. Renait Stephens is the chief executive officer of Study in the U.S.A. She says international students and their parents are worried. However, she is also hopeful. She argues that what a politician says during a campaign and what they do once they are in power are two different things. Stephens says international students will have to wait and see what happens. "It’s early days. And until we know something more about any policy changes, then I think we just have to really emphasize that and hope that our education system will continue to be how it is right now. So right now we’re just trying to reassure students that nothing has changed. U.S. campuses are still safe. They’re still open. They’re still diverse. And you still get a fantastic education." Other experts say there has never been any real threat to international education. The Institute of International Education (IIE) is a nonprofit organization that studies and supports international student exchanges. Together with the U.S. Department of State, the IIE releases a report every year on the number of international students in the U.S. The 2016 Open Doors report says about 1,044,000 international students attended American colleges and universities last year. That is a record number. Peggy Blumenthal is an official with the IIE. She says the organization has been recording international student numbers for over 90 years. She says international students are mostly concerned with the quality of the education they can get in the U.S. The rest of the world still values the strength of the American higher education system above almost any other country, she adds. Blumenthal points to historical examples. When the U.S. accidentally bombed the Chinese embassy in the capital of Serbia in 1999, major protests took place at the U.S. embassy in Beijing. But, she says, shortly after the protests, Chinese students were complaining the American embassy was not processing their visas fast enough. Blumenthal says this shows world events do not easily affect international student exchanges. "International students really value their opportunity to study in the United States. And throughout the whole history of our collecting data, there has almost never been a drop in the number of international students coming to the United States. There have been many important changes in American policy, in international circumstances, in the economy. But the numbers of international students pretty much continues to rise regardless of what’s going on elsewhere around them." Blumenthal admits there may be a small decrease in the number of Muslim students coming to U.S. schools. That also happened after the terrorist attacks in New York on September 11th, 2001. But she says a decrease in students from one country is often balanced by an increase in students from other countries. Foreign students bring a lot to the economies of many towns and cities across the U.S. The U.S. Department of Commerce says international students added about $30 billion to the U.S. economy in 2015. Blumenthal argues that no politician is willing to risk losing that. However, Philip Altbach remains worried. Altbach is the director of the Center for International Higher Education. The center works through Boston College to research and support international study. Altbach says there are examples of decreases in international study in other countries. He notes the major decrease of Indian students studying in Australia after several Indians were attacked there in 2009 and 2010. He also says the language Trump and his supporters used during the campaign has lowered the world’s opinion of the U.S. "I think that the toxic discourse of the campaign and of what Mr. Trump has said for a long time actually is extraordinarily damaging for the image of the United States in general and in the thinking of students and faculty members overseas who may be considering studying in the United States or coming here as professors. Because the choice of where to study in the world depends very significantly on the comfort that students and their families will feel about the country to which they are planning to go." Altbach says international students and professors bring different perspectives to the universities where they study or teach. Losing them would cost the American students a lot -- educationally and financially. He says international graduate students and professors are involved in much of the research done at most U.S. universities. Also, decreases in international student numbers may not affect large, well-known universities, he says. But many others need international students to pay the full price to attend. Having international students pay more makes it possible for schools to let American students attend at reduced cost, he says. Altbach admits there is no way to know what will happen until the new administration takes office. But until then, universities must make clear public statements saying they will support and protect international students. If not, Altbach says, America may no longer be the first choice for people seeking the best education in the world. I’m Pete Musto.   Pete Musto reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. How would Donald Trump being president affect your decision to study in America? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   hate crime – n. a crime influenced by an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex or religion, typically involving violence influence(d) – v. to affect or change someone or something in an indirect but usually important way survey – n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something racist – adj. showing belief that some races of people are better than others intimidation – n. enforcing agreement by making someone afraid or using violence harassment – n. constant or repeated action causing someone to feel slightly angry or troubled, worried, or concerned emphasize – v. to give special attention to something reassure – v. to make someone feel less afraid, upset, or doubtful diverse – adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other toxic – adj. very unpleasant discourse – n. the use of words to exchange thoughts and ideas perspective(s) – n. a way of thinking about and understanding something, such as a particular issue or life in general graduate student(s) – n. a person who is working on a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university after earning a bachelor's degree or other first degree

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