Trump Names Conservative Judge to US Supreme Court

President Donald Trump named a conservative federal appeals court judge, Neil Gorsuch, to the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday. Gorsuch, 49, is the youngest nominee for the Supreme Court in 25 years. If confirmed by the Senate, he likely will be able to influence important legal issues for many years to come. But he faces strong opposition from Democrats who said the post should have gone to former President Barack Obama’s nominee. Trump said he made the right choice. “Judge Gorsuch has outstanding legal skills, a brilliant mind, tremendous discipline and has earned bipartisan support," Trump said. It was Trump’s first televised address from the White House. As a candidate for president, Trump released the names of 21 judges supported by a conservative judicial group, the Federalist Society. He promised to appoint judges ready to overturn a 1973 Supreme Court ruling that gave women the right to abortions. Supreme Court will likely rule on important issues The U.S. Supreme Court has the final say on many important legal cases. It has and likely will rule again on issues such as abortion rights, the right to own guns, environmental regulations and religious freedoms. The nomination of Gorsuch will not change the narrow Supreme Court majority that protect a women’s right to abortion. But if another vacancy occurs, the court could end up with a majority willing to reverse the decision. And another vacancy would not be unexpected, given that three current Supreme Court justices who have supported abortion rights are over 78-years old. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 83, Anthony Kennedy is 80 and Stephen Breyer is 78. Gorsuch is a judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, Colorado. He was approved by a voice vote in the Senate to the court in 2006. The voice vote signaled that his appointment by President George W. Bush was not considered controversial. In one high-profile case, Gorsuch ruled against the Obama administration by saying that employers cannot be required to provide birth control as part of health insurance policies. The case was brought by businesses that said they opposed birth control on religious grounds. Speaking at the White House, Gorsuch said that a judge should rule, not based on his or her opinions, but based on the law and the U.S. Constitution. Democrats to oppose the nomination The usual nine-member U.S. Supreme Court has been down one justice, since Justice Antonin Scalia died in February, 2016. Republicans refused to hold hearings for Obama’s choice to replace Scalia, Judge Merrick Garland, saying the court choice should go to the winner of the 2016 presidential election. Republicans have a 52-48 advantage over Democrats in the U.S. Senate. But under current rules, Republicans would need 60 votes to stop a Democratic filibuster. Some Democrats are promising strong opposition. Senator Jeff Merkley is a Democrat from Oregon. He said the nomination was stolen from President Obama. “Think about what is at stake: legal abortion, marriage equality, voting rights, the dark money corruption of our ‘We the People’ government, and so much more,” Merkley said. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will hold hearings on the nomination. He praised Gorsuch as “universally respected.” “By all accounts, he has a record of deciding cases based on the text of the Constitution and the law,” Grassley said. “That’s important because in our system of government, Congress, not judges, make the laws.” Trump said Tuesday his promise to appoint a conservative to the Supreme Court was the major reason millions of voters chose him over Democrat Hillary Clinton. Laurence Baum, an Ohio State political science professor, said that may well be the case. Baum said some conservative religious voters might have had concerns about Trump’s qualifications and his character. But they voted for him in large numbers because they believed he gave them their best chance in decades to, if not outlaw, to put big limits on abortions.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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   outstanding – adj. extremely good brilliant – adj. very smart tremendous – adj. very good discipline – n. a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders bipartisan – adj. supported by members of both political parties, Democrat and Republican abortion – n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus vacancy – n. an opening high profile – phrase meaning that it attracts a lot of attention filibuster – n. to delay a vote, often by speaking for a long time stake – n. an interest in how things turn out

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Driverless Electric Buses Tested in Paris, Las Vegas

More and more cities across the world are experimenting with driverless vehicles on public streets. Two of the latest to conduct testing are Paris, France and Las Vegas, Nevada. The cities have used self-driving electric buses to carry passengers on short rides to try out the technology and see how humans react to it. In Paris, two buses have been transporting passengers across a bridge between two of the city’s busiest rail stations. The vehicles, built by French company EasyMile, travel in a special safety lane created for the project. The fully electric buses can carry up to 10 people. The testing in Paris is expected to last three months. If things go well, officials plan to launch more driverless bus lines later this year. Jean-Louis Missika is the deputy mayor of Paris. He told reporters at a recent launch event that autonomous vehicles represent a “revolution” happening in many cities around the world. He said self-driving technology is set to “change our urban environment and public space in a spectacular fashion over the next 20 years.”  Transportation officials say they are planning to use the bus to connect neighborhoods to rail stations around Paris. They will also help ease traffic crowding and reduce severe pollution in the city. In Las Vegas, the city recently launched the first driverless shuttle bus in the United States. The 12-passenger bus from French company Navya has no steering wheel or brake pedals. It uses cameras and sensors to avoid other vehicles and people while making its way down city streets. The electric vehicles can reach a top speed of 40 kilometers per hour. The bus operated for a two-week period along one of the busiest entertainment areas in Las Vegas. Rides during the shuttle experiment were free. “The ride was smooth. It's clean and quiet and seats comfortably,” said Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman after taking a ride. Several autonomous shuttle buses are expected to be deployed in Las Vegas later this year to transport passengers through main areas of the city. The estimated cost of the program is about $10,000 per month. Officials say while this might seem high, the driverless shuttles could still save the city money. The current yearly cost for a single bus and driver is about $1 million.   I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Would you like to see driverless buses running where you live? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   autonomous – adj. existing separately from other things spectacular – adj. very good or exciting shuttle – n. vehicle that travels regularly between places sensor – n. device that detects or senses heat, light, sound, etc. comfortably – adj. physically well and relaxed  

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Disney Releases Final ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Trailer

This is What’s Trending Today… Walt Disney Pictures has released the final trailer for its remake of “Beauty and the Beast.” The movie will come out in March. Disney’s first “Beauty and the Beast” was an animated film. It came out in 1991. The story is based on a French fairy tale written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. In the 2017 version of the romantic fantasy film, real-life actress Emma Watson plays Belle and actor Dan Stevens plays the Beast. Other well-known actors include Ewan McGregor, Emma Thompson and Stanley Tucci. The latest trailer shows Belle as she is imprisoned by the Beast in his large castle. It also shows her meeting some of the castle’s so-called staff members. They include household objects, like candles, teacups and teapots. The trailer also shows Belle and the Beast dancing together. Watson is seen wearing Belle’s iconic yellow dress. The final trailer also includes the film’s beloved song. Ariana Grande and John Legend sing the new version of the emotional ballad. Tuesday’s trailer quickly became the top trending video on YouTube. Fans of the earlier “Beauty and the Beast” are pleased that the live-action version looks very similar to the animated classic. One fan even created a video comparing scenes from the 1991 film to scenes from the newest trailer. ​ But, some say Disney should have tried to make the live-action version more original. Writer Michael Welsh wrote on Nerdist.com that if the movie is not a success, “a major criticism will be that it wasn’t allowed to be its own thing and to exist on its own terms.” “Beauty and the Beast” opens in U.S. theaters on March 17. It opens March 15 in the Philippines; March 16 in Chile, Argentina and Cambodia; March 30 in Brazil; and April 21 in Japan.   And that’s What’s Trending Today.   Ashley Thompson adapted this report from Reuters, with additional materials. Hai Do was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trailer - n. a short video of a movie or program that is used to advertise it  animated - adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another fairy tale - n. a simple children's story about magical creatures fantasy - n. a book, movie, etc., that tells a story about things that happen in an imaginary world iconic - adj. widely known; famous ballad - n. a slow popular song that is typically about love original - adj. not like others : new, different, and appealing  

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Argentine Mothers Grow Marijuana to Help Their Children

  Medical marijuana is legal in parts of the United States and several countries in South America. Argentina is not one of them. But that has not stopped a group of Argentine mothers from growing cannabis illegally at home. They want to help their children who suffer from diseases such as epilepsy and autism. Valeria Salech’s son, Emiliano, has epilepsy. Traditional drugs stopped the epileptic seizures, but left him unable to smile or socialize. Salech decided to give her 10-year-old son some cannabis oil in December 2015.   “All the mothers remember that first day when we gave the oil to our children,” she told VOA. She said that within a few hours, her son went from looking at nothing and having no reaction to looking at her and smiling. Salech said she had waited for that moment for 10 years. “And you just cannot believe it,” she said. She is now president of a group called Mamà Cultiva Argentina, or Mom Cultivates. The group shares knowledge of growing cannabis and pushes for the legalization of medical marijuana. She is so confident about its effectiveness that she describes her group as a “public health network.” “We did what the state cannot do for us – that is to cultivate a lot [of cannabis] to have enough for all of us all the time,” she said. But there is limited scientific research so far on the medical benefits of cannabis oil. There is also concern about potential psychedelic effects that marijuana may have on children. Carlos Magdalena is a neurologist for children. He said, as a natural therapy, a small amount of cannabis oil does not have bad side effects. And, Magdalena added, the side effects are less severe than those of legal prescription drugs. Countries like Uruguay and Chile have already legalized the use of medical marijuana. As the Argentine government is studying its use, Valeria Salech hopes her country will follow next year. Salech said the government would “find out everything that [she] already know[s]” and that she will continue to grow cannabis for her son. I’m Alice Bryant.    Faith Lapidus reported this story for VOAnews.com. Alice Bryant adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cannabis - n. the hemp plant (which produces marijuana and cannabis oil) epilepsy - n. a disorder of the nervous system that can cause people to suddenly become unconscious and to have violent, uncontrolled movements of the body autism - n. a condition or disorder that begins in childhood and that causes problems in communicating with other people seizure - n. an abnormal state in which you become unconscious and your body moves in an uncontrolled and violent way network - n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connected and that work with each other psychedelic - adj. used to describe a drug (such as LSD) that affects your thinking and causes you to see things that are not real adverse - adj. bad or unfavorable; not good

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California Border Schools Celebrate Bilingualism

  Almost 30,000 students attend classes in the Chula Vista Elementary School District in California. The elementary school district is the largest in the state. It operates 45 schools between the city of San Diego and the United States border with Mexico.The majority of students are between five and 12 years old. The district is also one of California's most diverse. Sixty-eight percent of students are Hispanic and 35 percent are learning English. Some of the students come from the Mexican city of Tijuana and speak Spanish at home. The English language ability among these students differs widely. The Salt Creek Elementary School works with students in the town of Chula Vista, about 15 kilometers north of the Mexican border. The boys and girls there share their cultural traditions and learn from one another, including the languages spoken by other students. Francisco Escobedo heads the Chula Vista Elementary School District. "We see Spanish as an asset, not a liability. So we use that richness that they come with and build upon it." The public discussion of immigration issues during and after the 2016 elections led California to take action. Escobedo wrote to the parents across the school district. He told them that their elementary schools were safe areas for students of all citizenship situations. He said the letter helped ease worries. "I received an email … from a teacher, thanking me for that letter that helped her talk to her child and ease his fear, because he came to school crying," Escobedo said. "He came to school in fear that someone will come and remove him from the classroom." In Chula Vista, the classroom is more than a safe place, however. It is where boys and girls can celebrate bilingualism and the sharing of cultures. Emma Sanchez heads the Language Development and Instruction Services and Support office at Chula Vista elementary schools. "Our students come and go from both countries, so we want to empower and build our teachers' capacity to support the children in both languages." Sixth-grader Valeria came to the United States from Tijuana. She describes her life as ideal in her ability to speak two languages and often travels across across the border into Mexico. "It's mainly just going back and forth, visiting my dad and coming back to my mom, and then going to school." Others, like fourth grader Lucia, say bilingualism is important so they can communicate with students and extended family. "I feel happy because I'm with my grandparents and I'm really happy that I see them because sometime time flies, so I better stay with my grandparents until they're gone." Lucia hopes her language skills will help her get a good job, and meet people from many more cultures around the world. I’m Caty Weaver.   Ramon Taylor reported this story for VOANews.com. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English.­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ Additional information came from Arturo Martinez. 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 district - n. an area or section of a country, city or town diverse - adj. different from each other asset - n. a valuable person or thing liability - n. someone or something that causes problems bilingualism - n. ability to speak and understand two languages capacity - n. the ability to do something ideal - adj. exactly right for a particular purpose time flies - idiom, used to say time seems to pass very quickly

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Trump Fires Official Who Refused to Defend Travel Ban

  U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to enforce or defend an executive order he signed last week limiting immigration. The president appointed Dana Boente to replace Yates as the acting head of the Justice Department. Boente immediately cancelled Yates’ order and vowed to “defend the lawful orders of our president.” The order stops all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and bans Syrian refugees indefinitely. It also blocks people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. The Associated Press noted that Yates’ removal was “a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders.” The news agency called the firing “an extraordinary public showdown.” Yates was named to the second-highest position in the Justice Department by then-President Barack Obama. On Monday, she ordered the department’s lawyers not to defend the immigration order. In a memo, she wrote, “At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful.” The career prosecutor added: “For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.” A few hours later, Yates was fired. The White House press secretary released a statement saying Yates “betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” It said the department’s Office of Legal Counsel approved the order. Mixed reaction to the firing Many Democrats criticized the decision to fire Yates. Steny Hoyer, a senior Democratic congressman, called the decision “alarming.” He said “the American people need to consider whether President Trump simply plans to dismiss anyone with whom he disagrees, and I hope my Republican colleagues stand up and express concern over this as well.” Chuck Schumer is the Senate minority leader. He wrote on Twitter that the attorney general “should pledge fidelity to the law and the Constitution, not the White House. The fact that this [administration] doesn’t understand that is chilling.”   ​But Republican Senator Ted Cruz strongly defended the decision to fire Yates. He said Yates’ refusal to support the executive order is a “fitting and sad” last act of Obama’s Department of Justice. “President Trump was exactly right to fire an acting attorney general who refused to carry out her constitutional duty to enforce and defend the law,” Cruz said. This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general. He is expected to defend and enforce Trump’s immigration order. Senator Sessions was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2015 when Yates was confirmed to be the deputy attorney general. During a hearing on her confirmation, Sessions asked Yates: “If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say no?” Yates said she believed that “the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president.” I’m Anna Matteo.     VOA News Writer Chris Hannas wrote this story with additional reporting from Nike Ching, the Associated Press and Reuters. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive order – n. an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law terminate – v. to take a job away from (someone) betray – v. to do something that does not agree with (your beliefs, principles, etc.) pledge – v. to formally promise to give or do (something) fidelity – n. the quality of being faithful or loyal to a country, organization, etc. (usually + to) chilling – adj. very disturbing or frightening act – n. something that is done

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US Supreme Court Justices

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to nominate a justice to the Supreme Court. How does this process work?

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US Has a Long History of Restricting Immigrants

Last Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Protesters across the U.S. immediately objected to the restrictions. Some argue that Trump’s order discriminates against Muslims and defies the American tradition of welcoming immigrants. Many of these protesters correctly point out that the U.S. is a country of immigrants. However, history shows that the U.S. is also a country of restrictions on immigrants. Trump’s government is not the first administration to restrict immigration, including on the basis of national origin. Restrictions on Asian immigrants The U.S. Constitution, which went into effect in 1789, gave Congress “absolute authority” over immigration law, says Linda Monk. The president executes those laws through regulations. Monk wrote a book about the Constitution called “The Words We Live By.” She explains that for about the first 100 years of American history, Congress did not place any federal limits on immigration. During those years, Irish and German immigrants came to the U.S. in large numbers. Many Chinese immigrants did, too. They hoped to find gold in California and then, when they did not, they stayed anyway. But some members of the American public disapproved of these groups. They did not like the Catholic religion that many Irish and Germans immigrants practiced. And they did not like Asian immigrants, whom they viewed as convicts, prostitutes, or competition for jobs. So, in the late 1800s, Congress moved for the first time to limit the number of immigrants. Lawmakers targeted Asians, especially Chinese. The Page Act and the Chinese Exclusion Act banned most Chinese women and workers.   Restrictions on other nationalities By the turn of the 20th century, the U.S. federal government had increased its role in immigration. It established Ellis Island in New York as the entry point for immigrants. And it oversaw a dramatic increase in the number of immigrants, especially from Italy and Eastern Europe. Many of the new arrivals were uneducated and had little money.  Once again, some people opposed the number and kind of immigrants entering the country. A group called the Immigration Restriction League was formed. They petitioned Congress to require immigrants to show that they could at least read. Both Presidents Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson opposed the requirement. But in 1917, Congress approved the measure over Wilson’s objections. People who wished to settle in the U.S. now had to pass a literacy test. In the 1920s, restrictions on immigration increased. The Immigration Act of 1924 was the most severe: it limited the overall number of immigrants and established quotas based on nationality. Among other things, the act sharply reduced immigrants from Eastern Europe and Africa. And it completely restricted immigrants from Asia, except for Japan and the Philippines. At the same time, the historian’s page at the State Department notes that the act made more visas available to people from Britain and Western Europe. “In all of its parts, the most basic purpose of the 1924 Immigration Act was to preserve the ideal of U.S. homogeneity,” the State Department history page concludes. Major change in U.S. immigration policy During the 1940s and 50s, the U.S. made some policy changes that increased – however slightly – the number and nationalities of immigrants. Then, in 1965, a major change happened. Under pressure in part from the civil rights movement, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act.  President Lyndon Johnson signed it.   The act eliminated the quota system based on nationality. Instead, it prioritized immigrants who already had family members in the U.S. It also sought to offer protection to refugees from areas with violence and conflict. Even though the act kept some limits in place, the origins of immigrants changed dramatically. Instead of being from Western Europe, most immigrants to the U.S. by the end of the 20th century were originally from Mexico, the Philippines, Korea, the Dominican Republic, India, Cuba and Vietnam. So, what about Trump’s order? A professor at the University of Miami School of Law says the 1965 law ended “overt discrimination” in U.S. immigration policy. Kunal Parker is also the author of a book called “Making Foreigners: Immigration and Citizenship Law in America.” Parker says that people who are protesting Trump’s executive order probably “perceive what is happening as contrary to U.S. tradition since 1965.” But Parker cautions against seeing Trump’s action as illegal. He points out that the Supreme Court has historically permitted the president and Congress a good deal of authority to regulate immigration. And, he notes, President Obama also signed an executive order related to immigration. That order aimed to protect the families of undocumented immigrants with U.S.-born children. However, Parker says, “Something that is legal might be very problematic.” Both Parker and legal scholar Linda Monk also note the Constitution requires both Congress and the president follow certain procedures when regulating immigration. Those procedures protect against discrimination. “The highest law says that these actions have to be carried out fairly,” says Monk. I’m Anne Ball.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive - adj. an order by the president origin - n. the point or place where something begins or is created petition - v. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something quota - n. an official limit on the number or amount of people or things that are allowed slightly - adv. n a very small amount or degree eliminate - v. to get rid of something overt - adj. obvious

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Trump Defends Travel Ban Despite Protests, Legal Action

President Donald Trump is defending his executive order that bans people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The order was signed by Trump on Friday. It puts a 90-day entry ban on people from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. It also prevents refugees from entering the country for 120 days. Trump has repeatedly called for more controls on U.S. immigration to improve national security and prevent terrorists from entering. His administration has said U.S. policies used to investigate people coming into the United States from certain countries will be reviewed while the current ban is in place. Travel ban led to protests Thousands of people protested the order at U.S. airports and other locations, including the White House. Immigration groups, human rights activists and some foreign governments and organizations criticized the ban. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers also spoke out against the order.   The order led to confusion at many American airports over the weekend. In some cases, people were detained at airports while holding legal documents allowing them to live and work in the United States. A federal judge in New York took action Saturday to block the travel restrictions. Judge Ann Donnelly issued a temporary ban on deportations of people arriving at U.S. airports if they were carrying approved visas or refugee applications. Judges in several other states also issued rulings challenging Trump’s order.     The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday it planned to “comply with judicial orders.” It added that Trump’s order would continue to be enforced to make sure those entering “do not pose a threat to our country or the American people.” Trump defended the travel ban President Trump took to Twitter on Monday to defend the order. The tweet said, “There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter the country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world!” He defended the decision to launch the ban without notice. “If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week,” he tweeted. Trump also took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has criticized the travel restrictions. The Democratic senator appeared to hold back tears while speaking with reporters about the order. At the White House Monday, Trump spoke about Schumer’s reaction. “I noticed Chuck Schumer yesterday with fake tears - I'm going to ask him who was his acting coach, because I know him very well. I don't see him as a crier.”    Other U.S. lawmakers were critical of the ban, including Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham. The senators wrote in a joint statement, “We are particularly concerned by reports that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice and Homeland Security." "Such a hasty process risks harmful results.” Trump responded to the statement on Twitter, saying McCain and Graham were both "weak on immigration." He added that the two senators should be more focused on illegal immigration, border security and the Islamic State. ​ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed support for stronger immigrant screening, but said he opposes religious tests. McConnell told ABC News, "I also think it's important to remember that some of our best sources in the war against radical Islamic terrorism are Muslims, both in this country and overseas." Several Democrats in Congress said they planned to introduce legislation to stop Trump's travel ban. Former President Barack Obama responded Former President Barack Obama also responded to the travel ban and praised protesters for showing their opposition to it. Obama's spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said, “The president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion." It is the first time Obama has issued a statement about Trump since leaving office on January 20. Some Trump administration officials have compared Trump’s order to a policy carried out under Obama. That policy, put in place in 2011, identified the same seven nations as places of concern for terrorism. But the Obama policy only related to individuals without a U.S. visa and was never considered a travel ban.  Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis added, “Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake." Reactions from overseas Foreign leaders and organizations around the world were also critical of Trump’s order. A spokesperson for the European Commission said the 28-nation group is currently studying the ban. In an interview, commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said choices had to be made “about the world we want to live in.” He said one choice is for, in his words, “isolationism and inequality,” while the other is to unite for social equality and strength.   International aid group Doctors Without Borders accused Trump of keeping people "trapped in war zones, directly endangering their lives.” It called on the U.S. government to lift the ban and restart the resettlement of refugees. In Germany, a foreign ministry spokesman said “tens of thousands” of people are likely to be affected by the travel ban. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed regret about order, but stopped short of condemning it. The world's largest body of Islamic nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemned the order in a statement. The 57-nation group called the policy “selective and discriminatory,” saying it will only fuel further extremist violence and terrorism. Businesses criticized the travel ban Google's chief executive Sundar Pichai said Trump’s travel ban could be “painful” for some of the 187 employees reportedly affected. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg added that the door should not be closed to refugees “and those who need help.” In a statement to employees, Ford Motor Company said it opposed the travel restrictions. “We do not support this policy or any other that goes against our values as a company," it said. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein also spoke out against the order. In a message to his employees, he said, “I would note that it has already been challenged in federal court, and some of the order has been enjoined at least temporarily."   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on President Trump's temporary travel ban? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   interpret – v. decide what something means deportation– n. forced removal of someone from a country fake– adj. false, not true coach– n. someone who teaches people a skill or sport hasty – adj. done or made very quickly notion– n. idea or belief assemble– v. gather together enjoin– v. prevent from doing something

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Exhibition Suggests Wood is Tomorrow's Smart Building Material

An exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington challenges that. It suggests that tomorrow's buildings will or should be constructed of wood. VOA's June Soh has more, in this report, narrated by Carol Pearson.

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'Stranger Things' Wins Actors' Group Award

  This is What’s Trending Today. People on social media are talking about the 2017 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards show. The event took place Sunday night in Los Angeles, California. Five young actors were as surprised as the crowd when they heard their show, "Stranger Things," had won the award for best drama series.     The young actors are from 12 to 15 years old. They jumped for joy as they got out of their seats to accept the award. The show "Stranger Things" is set in 1983. It tells about the disappearance of a young boy in a small Indiana town. His friends try to find him with the help of the boy's mother, played by Winona Ryder, and the local police chief, played by David Harbour.   Accepting the award for the cast, Harbour said that actors can "change the world … and through our art … battle against fear, self-centeredness and exclusivity ... to cultivate a more empathetic and understanding society." During his speech, many people saw Ryder giving a number of facial expressions.    Another group of less-known actors won the award for best cast in a motion picture. The movie "Hidden Figures" tells the story of three African-American women who were mathematicians. They helped the American space agency send a man to the moon. The film’s cast includes Mahershala Ali, who also won an award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role for "Moonlight."   ​Denzel Washington won the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for "Fences." The well-known actor had never before received a SAG award.    The online service Netflix had a big night at the awards ceremony. Netflix won four awards. Among them was “Orange Is the New Black,” which won for best group of actors in a comedy series for the third time in three years. The series' lead actor, Taylor Schilling, spoke about the diversity of the cast. “We stand up here representing a diverse group of people, representing generations of families who have sought a better life here from places like Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ireland,” Schilling said. “and we know that it's going to be up to us and all of you, probably, to keep telling stories that show what unites us is stronger than the forces that seek to divide us.” The next award ceremony for the movie industry will be the Academy Awards, which takes place on February 27. One nominee is Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, whose film "The Salesman" is nominated for best foreign language film. Farhadi says he will not attend the ceremony. He is protesting the new U.S. travel ban on Iran and six other countries. I’m Jill Robbins. Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English based on an Associated Press story by Lynn Elber and other sources. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   guild - n. an organized group of people who have joined together because they share the same job or interest cast - n. the actors in a play, film, or television show exclusive - adj. not shared; available to only one person or group empathize - v. to have the same feelings as another person diversity - n. the state of having a variety of types of people       drama – n. a movie or television production with a story about a serious subject, such as conflict role – n. a part played by an actor comedy – n. a show with a happy ending; ahumorous production Now it’s your turn. What was your favorite TV show or movie for 2016? Who are your favorite actors? Write to us in the Comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Here is a complete list of the SAG winners and nominees: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Captain Fantastic Fences Hidden Figures Manchester by the Sea Moonlight Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling, La La Land Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington, Fences Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Amy Adams, Arrival Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train Natalie Portman, Jackie Emma Stone, La La Land Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Crown Downton Abbey Game of Thrones Stranger Things Westworld Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things Claire Foy, The Crown Thandie Newton, Westworld Winona Ryder, Stranger Things Robin Wright, House of Cards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones John Lithgow, The Crown Rami Malek, Mr. Robot Kevin Spacey, House of Cards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series Riz Ahmed, The Night Of Sterling K. Brown, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Bryan Cranston, All the Way John Turturro, The Night Of Courtney B. Vance, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series Bryce Dallas Howard, Black Mirror Felicity Huffman, American Crime Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Sarah Paulson, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Kerry Washington, Confirmation Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali, Moonlight Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea Dev Patel, Lion Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Viola Davis, Fences Naomie Harris, Moonlight Nicole Kidman, Lion Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series The Big Bang Theory Blackish Modern Family Orange Is the New Black Veep Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson, Blackish Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Ty Burrell, Modern Family William H. Macy, Shameless Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble Captain America: Civil War Doctor Strange Hacksaw Ridge Jason Bourne Nocturnal Animals Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble Game of Thrones Daredevil Luke Cage The Walking Dead Westworld

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Why Do People Blink Their Eyes?

  People blink their eyes tens of thousands of times every day. Scientists have long believed blinking was an involuntary movement and served mainly to keep the eyeballs wet. But a new study suggests it has a more important purpose. An international team of scientists studied the blinking of human eyelids. The team reported to researchers from the University of California at Berkeley. The journal Current Biology published their findings. The team said it found that blinking “repositions our eyeballs so we can stay focused” on what we are seeing. It said that when we blink our eyelids, the eyes roll back into their sockets -- the bony area that surrounds and protects the eyes. However, the researchers found the eyes don’t always return to the same position. They say this causes the brain to tell the eye muscles to “realign” our eyesight. Gerrit Maus was the lead writer of the report. He serves as an assistant professor of psychology at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.  Maus says: “our eye muscles are quite sluggish and imprecise, so the brain needs to constantly adapt its motor signals to make sure our eyes are pointing where they’re supposed to. Our findings suggest that the brain gauges the difference in what we see before and after a blink, and commands the eye muscles to make the needed corrections.” The researchers say that without such corrections our surroundings would appear unclear and even jumpy. They say the movement acts “like a steadicam of the mind.” Researchers say they asked volunteers to sit in a dark room while staring at a small dot on a flat surface. They used special cameras to follow the volunteer’s blinks and eye movements. After each blink, the dot was moved one centimeter to the right. The volunteers did not notice this, but the brain did. It followed the movement and directed the eye muscles to refocus on the dot. After the dot was moved in this way 30 times, the volunteers’ eyes changed their focus to the place where they predicted it would be. Professor Maus says “even though participants did not consciously register that the dot had moved, their brains did, and adjusted with the corrective eye movement. These findings add to our understanding of how the brain constantly adapts to changes, commanding our muscles to correct for errors in our bodies’ own hardware.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report into 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   blink – n. to close and then open your eyes very quickly focus – v. to look at something so that you can see it clearly realign – v. to change the position or direction of (something) slightly usually in relation to something else sluggish – adj. moving slowly or lazily imprecise – adj. not clear or exact; not precise gauge – v. to make a judgment about (something) steadicam – n. a kind of video camera that is stabilized so it films images in the same way as the human eye works            

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New Way to Prevent Peanut Allergies

  For VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Peanuts are among the most popular snack foods in the United States. Millions of American children are raised on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. PB&Js, as we like to call them, are found in children’s lunchboxes around the country. Or at least they used to be. Now, many school officials ban peanuts or any products containing peanuts from school property. About 2 percent of U.S. schoolchildren will have an allergic reaction to peanuts. And that number is growing. People allergic to peanuts can develop skin conditions or watery eyes. Children with a peanut allergy can develop a skin condition called eczema. Some reactions are so severe they can result in death.  So far, doctors have advised parents against serving peanut-containing foods to children under the age of 3. But a 2015 British study found that waiting too long most likely is partly to blame for the peanut allergy problem. Anthony Fauci is head of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Fauci spoke to VOA on Skype. He notes that in Israel, people have a tradition of feeding peanuts to babies. He says the percentage of Israeli children with a peanut allergy is much lower than the rate among Jewish children living in England. "It was observed that in Israel -- where they have a custom of feeding peanut-based foods to babies, infants, within the first few months of life -- that when you, in fact, compare the incidence of peanut allergy among the Israeli children compared to comparable Jewish children living in England, the incidence of peanut allergy was more than 80 percent decreased among the Israeli kids as opposed to the kids who are living in England." Dr. Fauci says this finding is very important. It means that babies have a natural mechanism that can be trained not to react negatively to peanuts. That mechanism may turn off as the baby reaches the age of 1. He says a team of experts have agreed on new guidance for U.S. pediatricians who specialize in children's allergies. Fauci calls giving children peanuts a way of “challenging” their bodies. He thinks it could be done safely with some boys and girls, but not with others. "If the child has a history of severe eczema or egg allergy, that in the first 4 to 6 months of life, that you should bring the child to an allergy specialist who can do a skin test or a blood test to determine if the child does have an underlying allergy to peanuts. Because if they do, you are going to want to refrain from challenging that child. Whereas if they don't, then it would be safe to challenge the child and feed them peanuts at 4 to 6 months." If the child has moderate eczema and has a mild reaction to eggs, the doctor is likely to suggest that that child be fed peanut-containing foods at the age of 6 months. That child may need no allergy tests either. Children who have no allergies or family history of allergies can be given peanuts at any age. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo. Zlatica Hoke reported this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted her report for Learning English. Dr. Fauci spoke to VOA on Skype. George Grow was the editor. Check your understanding by taking this quiz: ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   allergy – n. a medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching, or breathing something that is harmless to most people : allergic – adj. mechanism – n. a process or system that is used to produce a particular result < Scientists are studying the body's mechanisms for controlling weight. > pediatrician – n. a doctor who treats babies and children refrain – v. to keep from giving in to a desire or impulse challenge – v. to administer a physiological and especially an immunologic challenge to (an organism or cell) eczema – n. an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and oozing vesicular lesions which become scaly, crusted, or hardened

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January 30, 2017

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

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Reaction to Trump's Travel Ban

President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring the entry of U.S. visa holders and others from seven Muslim-majority countries. The White House defends its order as federal judges intervene and protests continue in cities and airports across America.

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Vietnamese-Americans Celebrate Tet or Lunar New Year

Eden Center in Falls Church, Virginia hosted a Lunar New Year celebration for the year of the rooster. VOA Learning English was there and spoke to members of the Vietnamese American community.

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After March, More Women Ready to Run for Office

More women may be running for elected office in the United States as a result of the Women’s March on Washington. The march in the U.S. capital took place one day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. “I never thought about running for office before,” said Lisa Perry of Florida. “All those women inspired me.” Perry is considering running for city council, a local office, where she lives in the southern state of Florida. She and Theresa Darlington helped organize residents from their Florida community for the Women’s March on Washington. Those taking part filled three buses. The two women supported Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, for president. Both were upset and worried after Republican Donald Trump defeated Clinton in the election. But they were inspired to see so many women opposing Trump’s policies. An estimated 500,000 people took part in the march. Both women are angry that Trump is ending some of former President Barack Obama’s policies on the environment, immigration and health care. “I want to do whatever I can to be most effective and that might mean running for office,” Perry said. Angry people are active Carrie Almond, president of the National Federation of Republican Women, agrees angry people are more likely to get involved in politics. Industrial workers from Midwest states such as Ohio, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania are an example, she said. They felt government was ignoring the loss of good jobs in their areas. Many supported Trump. Their support helped Trump win states that voted for Obama, a Democrat, in the last two elections. “I don’t think the march is going to help Democrats very much,” Almond said. “There (was) a lot of screaming about all sorts of issues, but I think the message was too diluted to have a lasting effect.” By diluted, she meant too many issues were raised. Democratic Group Hearing from more Women Amanda Litman helped organize the group “Run for Something,” which trains Democrats to run for elected office. Since the march, over 800 women “told us they are ready to run,” said Litman, who worked for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Two other groups that train both Democratic and Republican women for elections also reported increases in the number of people seeking to run for office. They are VoteRunLead and the Center for American Women and Politics. The Center, based in New Jersey, said women now hold fewer than 20 percent of the seats in the U.S. Congress. Only four of the 50 U.S. governors are women. And, women are mayors of only 19 of the hundred largest cities. With Clinton losing the 2016 presidential election to Trump, the United States still has not had a woman president. 'Tears and Fears' “The election brought some tears and fears in my house,” said Kathleen Daniel, 46, a single mom in Brooklyn, New York. “But after the march, and the energy of all those diverse women sharing our strong concerns about what Trump will do to our country, the sneakers are back on. I’m ready to go.” Daniel is running for the New York City Council. Erin Vilardi started the group VoteRunLead. She said women face disadvantages when they run for office. Women are often asked something that men are almost never asked, Vilardi said. That question is whether they have the time to serve in elected office because of their duties to care for their children and spouses. Had Clinton become the country’s first woman president, she would have inspired more women to run for office, said Jessica Loyet Gracey. She teaches political science at Northwest Missouri State University. However, Loyet Gracey said Clinton’s loss might lead even more women to run. “I think more women are feeling a lot more threatened than they would have if she had won and so they’re ‘fighting back’ by deciding to get more involved in politics.” Kelly Dittmar is a scholar at the Center for American Women and Politics. She said it is impossible to know for sure if Clinton lost the election because of her gender. But it surely hurt her, Dittmar said. “The presidency is one of the most masculine positions in American politics,” Dittmar said. “That’s clear -- given that all the presidents have been men.” She said that Trump used this to help his campaign. Trump often said he had great energy and that Clinton seemed tired or sick, Dittmar said. He even suggested she did not look presidential. Why Doesn’t She Smile More? Dittmar said some reporters also showed a different standard. There were suggestions that Clinton needed to smile more and comments about her clothing. She said this was “something not done with male candidates.” Caroline Heldman is a political science professor at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California. She said the 2016 elections are likely to create the third time in America when more women candidates ran for public office. The first, she said, came early in the 20th century when women were fighting for the right to vote. The second time came in 1992. It was called “The Year of the Women.” More women were elected to the U.S. Senate after the Senate confirmed Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. He was approved although he was accused of sexual harassment by a woman who worked in his office. “Clinton’s loss in 2016 will likely inspire another wave of female candidates to run for public office,” Heldman said. I’m  Bruce Alpert. And I'm Jill Robbins.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   inspire - v. to make someone want to do something scream - v. to say something in a loud voice sorts - n. all kinds of things diverse - adj. different from each other sneakers - n. a shoe with a rubber sole designed for people to wear while running, playing sports or walking disadvantage - n. something that makes someone less likely to succeed than others masculine - adj. suited for a man smile - v. an expression on your face that makes the corners of your mouth turn up and that shows happiness harassment - n. to attack or annoy someone  

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Trump Being Compared to Former President Andrew Jackson

  Donald Trump has done a lot in his first week as president of the United States. Trump canceled several of former President Barack Obama’s executive orders. He signed some of his own executive orders. He also met with members of the U.S. intelligence community. In between, the new president chose artwork to hang in his office at the White House. One is a painting of former President Andrew Jackson. Some Americans say his choice of the painting is not a surprise. Many have been comparing President Trump with the former president. Jackson became America’s seventh president in 1828. Historians consider the 1828 election one of the more negative presidential campaigns. Many people say the 2016 election campaign was also extremely negative. That is just the beginning of the comparisons between Trump and Jackson, observers say. Both men campaigned as populists – candidates who say they represent ordinary people. Both are also known as political outsiders and conservatives. And, both are known for having strong personalities. Jackson, like Trump, was fiercely independent. He said that he alone would define his administration’s policies. Trump spoke about conditions in the United States, and around the world, at the Republican Party’s national convention last summer. “I alone can fix it,” he said. Trump was talking of, in his words, “poverty and violence at home,” and “war and destruction abroad.” Observers have also noted similar parts of his inaugural speech to the speech given by former President Jackson. Andrew Jackson served two terms in office. He was a member of the Democratic Party -- the conservative party at that time in American history. Donald Trump once considered himself a Democrat. He was also, at one time, an independent. He is now a Republican -- the major conservative party in America today. But there are some clear differences between the two presidents, says writer Richard Dean Young. He has argued that Trump is not exactly a modern-day Jackson. “Historical comparisons are tricky,” Young told VOA. One difference is that Jackson served in the U.S. military, Young said. He fought in battles against Native Americans and, later, against British forces. Trump, on the other hand, is a billionaire businessman from New York City. In Young’s words, Trump is “a city boy with absolutely no experience in military matters.” "Jackson was ‘one of the people,’ definitely not a city boy,” Young said. Margaret O’Mara is a professor of history at the University of Washington in Seattle. She said Trump’s populist-conservative message does resemble that of Andrew Jackson’s. O’Mara said, “Trump is extraordinary.” And the country, she said, has never elected a populist quite like him before. O’Mara said it is still too early to predict Trump’s place in history. "It is too soon to make judgments about his place in presidential history. That will depend on what he does, how he does it," O’Mara said. I'm Caty Weaver.   Catherine Maddux wrote this report for VOANews.com. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   resemble – v. to look or be like (someone or something)​ negative – adj. showing or talking about the bad qualities of someone or something​ ordinary – adj. normal or usual: not unusual, different, or special​ convention – n. a large meeting of people who come to a place for usually several days to talk about their shared work or other interests or to make decisions as a group​ inaugural – adj. happening as part of an official ceremony or celebration when someone (such as a newly elected official) begins an important job: happening as part of an inauguration​

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Israel Builds World's Largest Solar Tower

Israel, a sunny country along the Mediterranean Sea, is a perfect place for solar power. Even so, solar power supplies only a small percentage of the country's energy needs. But that situation is beginning to change. A giant solar tower In 2018, Israel's small solar industry will take a giant leap forward when a new solar tower starts working. The tower will be 250 meters tall. It will be the tallest solar tower in the world. This information comes from Eran Gartner, the CEO of Megalim Power Limited, which is responsible for part of the solar project. The power station, Gartner says, will be what is called concentrated solar power. It will be surrounded by 50,000 mirrors spread over 3 square kilometers. The mirrors will concentrate all of the sunlight onto the solar tower. Here is how it works: Gartner explains that a boiler is at the top of the tower. It will use the heat of the sun to turn water into steam. The steam will make a turbine turn. The turning will create power. There are already a dozen similar solar tower fields around the world. Currently, the largest is the Ivanpah plant in California. It has some 170,000 mirrors around three towers which are each 140 meters tall. Renewable energy goals The new tower, along with three other similar solar projects in the Negev Desert, are part of Israel's plans to develop its renewable energy sector. The Israeli government has set a renewable energy target of 10 percent by 2020. Together, the new solar projects will generate some 310 gigawatts of power, or about 1.6 percent of the country's energy needs, reports the Associated Press. Eran Gartner of Megalim Power explains why Israel has not developed its solar power potential before. He says that Israel did not want to dedicate the land necessary for large-scale solar power production. Such large-scale projects also require access to infrastructure, such as water and electricity, which are difficult to connect to remote areas in the Negev Desert. Israel's Finance Ministry said it has tried to promote the solar industry in other ways. It created incentives for solar power and reduced bureaucracy for Israelis who want to install solar panels on their roofs. Natural gas vs. renewable energy Leehee Goldenberg is with the Israel Union Environmental Defense, a non-profit organization. He says that even though Israel is making progress, it is still behind in taking advantage of its renewable energy. "Compared to other countries such as Germany whose renewable resources, renewable energies (are) 35 percent of its entire energy mix, here in Israel we're still at 2.5 percent renewable energies," he said. In addition to its solar potential, Israel has major natural gas deposits offshore. The country now gets some 70 percent of its energy from natural gas. Yaron Szilas is the CEO of Shikun and Binui Renewable Energy, the lead developer of a second solar-thermal plot in the Negev Desert. He said the natural gas discovery has delayed the promotion of solar energy. "With all the sun we have and how progressed we are in technology, these goals are very, very, very modest," he said. "But these are the goals that were set, and we are working toward it." I'm Anne Ball.   Kevin Enochs wrote this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted it for Learning English with additional information from AP. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. See how well you understand this story by taking a listening quiz! Play the short video and then choose the best answer. ​ _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   mirror – n. a piece of glass that reflects images concentrated – adj. existing or happening together in one place : not spread out boiler – n. a large container in which water is heated to produce steam in an engine turbine – n. an engine that has a part with blades that are caused to spin by pressure from water, steam, or air  

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Thousands Who Left Fukushima Face Hardship

  Nearly six years after Noriko Matsumoto and her children fled Japan's Fukushima area, they face a new possible hardship: cuts to government assistance for housing. People who lived near the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear center feared for their health after a powerful earthquake and tsunami hit Japan on March 11, 2011. The nuclear center’s reactors released high levels of radiation. It was the worst nuclear accident since the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in the Soviet republic of Ukraine in 1986. Matsumoto is among nearly 27,000 people who left areas that the government did not identify as required evacuation zones. Now, the Fukushima local government is preparing to cut unconditional housing assistance at the end of March. Many people will face the choice of returning to places they fear are still unsafe or learning to deal with financial hardship. "Because both the national and the local governments say we evacuated 'selfishly,' we're being abandoned. They say it's our own responsibility," Matsumoto, who is 55, told reporters, her voice shaking. "I feel deep anger at their throwing us away." A local official noted that while the housing assistance ends on March 31, smaller amounts of aid will still be provided, if needed. The official spoke on the condition that media not identify the official by name. At the time of the earthquake, Matsumoto lived with her husband and two daughters in Koriyama city, about 55 kilometers west of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant. Japanese officials declared a ‘no-go’ zone 30 kilometers around the plant, but Koriyama was outside of that area. When her younger daughter, then 12, began suffering nosebleeds and diarrhea, Matsumoto and her children moved to Kanagawa, near Tokyo. Her husband, who operates a restaurant, stayed behind in Koriyama to ensure they could make payments on their home loan and other bills. But, because of travel costs, the family can only meet every one or two months, and they face social pressure. "People like us, who have evacuated voluntarily to escape radiation, have been judged by our peers as if we selfishly evacuated for personal reasons," said Matsumoto. She feels her only support is housing aid that the Fukushima government gives to voluntary evacuees, who numbered 26,601 by October 2016. The payment is generally about 90,000 yen, or $795, for a family of two or more in Matsumoto's area, a Fukushima official said. He added that full rental payments on housing are covered until March 31. "Things here now are safe, but there are people who are still worried about safety and we understand that," he said. The housing assistance will no longer be given to all families. Instead, officials will consider the needs of individual families. A city official said radiation levels in Koriyama are now safe, that they have decreased by time and clean-up efforts. But areas where radiation is high remain, say activists, and Matsumoto still worries. "I'm a parent, and so I'll protect my daughter," she said. "Even if I have to go into debt, I'll keep her safe from radiation." I’m Alice Bryant.   Alice Bryant adapted this Reuters story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tsunami – n. a great sea wave produced by a volcanic explosion or movement of the earth evacuate - v. to remove a person or people from a dangerous place zone - n. an area that is different from other areas in a particular way abandon - v. to leave and never return to (someone who needs protection or help) diarrhea - n. an illness that causes you to pass waste from your body very frequently and in liquid rather than solid form peer - n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else

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Saudi Arabia Uses University Scholarships to Influence Indonesians

  Ulil Abshar-Abdalla was the top student in his Arabic language class at a madrasa in Indonesia when he was a teenager. A madrasa is a place where people learn about Islam, the religion of Muslims. Abshar-Abdalla’s madrasa was in his hometown of Pati, Central Java. The teenager received a prize for his success in the class. He got six months of free education at the Institute for the Study of Islam and Arabic, or LIPIA. It is a university in Jakarta that Saudi Arabia built and supports. When the six-month period ended, Abshar-Abdalla was given six more months of free education. When he completed the year of study, he was offered -- and accepted -- four years of free education at the university. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Islamic law, or shariah. In 1993, after five years at LIPIA, Abshar-Abdalla was offered a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia. This time, he said no.  “Once you accept that, you’re on their payroll for life,” he told VOA. It was not easy to reject the free study. Abshar-Abdalla said Saudi Arabia made a very appealing offer. “I am from a poor family, and it was quite tempting. I think they managed to pull a few good minds from my generation that way.” Saudi Arabia has been using education to quietly spread Salafism in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim country, since 1980. The two ways Saudi Arabia does this is through the LIPIA and scholarships for higher education in Saudi Arabia. Salafism is a severe form of Islam. Its believers want Islamic laws -- as defined by the Koran -- to govern the world. The Koran is the Islamic holy book. LIPIA teaches Wahhabi Madhab. A religious expert from the 1200s, Ibn Taimiyah, led this version of Salafism. People who have studied at LIPIA and in Saudi Arabia hold powerful positions throughout Indonesia, including in a conservative political party and the top levels of government. Some have also become preachers and religious teachers. They work to spread Salafism throughout the country. An agency linked to the Saudi Arabian embassy in Jakarta gives scholarships to students to study in Saudi Arabia. But Saudi diplomat Saad Namase would not tell VOA how many students are given free education. He said “we don't really work with the Indonesian government. We just try to strengthen cultural ties between our two countries by, for example, holding Koranic recitation competitions.” He said many countries, including the Netherlands and the United States, give scholarships to Indonesian students. He said the Saudi program is just one of many that help students pay for their studies. Din Wahid is an expert on Indonesian Salafism at the Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University in Jakarta. He says the Saudi agency pays the wages of well-known Salafi preachers, and sends Arabic teachers to schools throughout Indonesia. Several Saudi Arabian universities also give scholarships directly to Indonesian students. Dadi Darmadi is a researcher who studies the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, called the Hajj. Darmadi says the Indonesian government is not likely to try to stop the Saudi efforts. He says it is concerned that Saudi officials might react by limiting the number of Indonesians who can travel to Mecca. Darmadi says Saudi Arabia just gave permission for 10,000 extra Indonesian visitors for the Hajj this year. Divergent Paths Hidayat Nur Wahid is a member of Indonesia’s House of Representatives and a leader of the Prosperous Justice Party. He is one of the best-known national politicians to have studied in Saudi Arabia. He received scholarships for undergraduate, master’s and doctorate degrees in theology and the history of Islamic thought at the Islamic University of Medina. In his words, “The majority of Islamic texts are in Arabic, which is why I wanted to study in Saudi Arabia. Plus, the spirit of the Prophet Muhammad animates Medina. I enjoyed my years there.” Nur Wahid praised his studies in Medina. “We just learned how to be good Muslims,” he said. “And it’s a misconception that everyone who studies in Saudi Arabia becomes a preacher or religious teacher. Many graduates become officials or politicians like me.” Researcher Din Wahid said many Muslims think Saudi Arabia represents true Islam because it is the birthplace of Islam. Abshar-Abdalla became a critic of the Salafi movement during his studies. He began to read other Islamic books, including ones written by Sufi and Shia Muslims. In 2001, he created the Liberal Islam Network. Some Indonesian officials worry that Saudi-educated preachers are leading Indonesian Muslims to become more conservative in their beliefs. They are even more worried that Salafi teachings could incite terrorism or extremism. Hidayat Nur Wahid says Saudi Arabia is helping many Indonesian students but that it is not clear what changes Salafism will bring to his country. He says all that is clear is that Salafism is “here and it’s growing.” I’m Marsha James.  And I’m John Russell.   Correspondent Krithika Varagur reported this story from Jakarta. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Caty Weaver 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   scholarship – n. an amount of money that is given by a school, an organization, etc., to a student to help pay for the student's education payroll – n. a list of the people who work for a company and the amount of money that the company has agreed to pay them tempt – v. to cause (someone) to do or want to do something even though it may be wrong, bad or unwise managed – v. was able to generation – n. a group of people born and living during the same time preacher – n. a person who speaks publicly about religious subjects in a religious center or other public place recite – v. to read (something) out loud or say (something) from memory usually for an audience animate – v. to bring life to misconception – n. a wrong or mistaken idea              

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Everyday Grammar: While vs. Whereas

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US Presidents Make History with Executive Orders

President Donald Trump has signed many documents in his first week in office. The documents set out Trump’s policies on health care and international trade, among other things. Some of these measures are called executive orders. Others are considered White House or presidential memoranda. In this report, we explain the difference between the two and tell what kind of power each has. We also tell about some of the famous executive orders American presidents have signed. Executive orders vs. memoranda Both executive orders and memoranda have what is known as the “force of law.” In other words, they have the same power as legislation approved by Congress and signed by the president. But there are differences. Executive orders are numbered and published in the Federal Register, the official record of actions of the United States government. Memoranda do not need to be published in the Federal Register. Executive orders must identify whether the order is based on the U.S. Constitution or a law. They must also tell the cost of carrying out the order. Memoranda do not have to state such a cost, unless it is more than $100 million. Every president except one has signed executive orders and memoranda. The exception is William Henry Harrison, who served just one month in office. Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the only president who served more than two terms, signed 3,721 executive orders – more than anyone else. Most of them dealt with measures to help the country fight the Great Depression and World War II. Some executive orders have changed history. Here are some of the most famous: The Emancipation Proclamation President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This executive order freed all slaves living in states not under Union control during the Civil War. Since the southern states had rebelled against the federal government and left the Union, the order had little effect. But it did ensure that any slaves who escaped to the northern states were free. The New Deal During the Great Depression, President Roosevelt signed many executive orders designed to create work for jobless Americans. In 1933, he used an executive order to create the Civil Works Administration. This created about four million new government jobs. He also used an order to create the Export/Import Bank. In 1934, he used an order to create the Rural Electrification Administration to bring electricity to rural, undeveloped areas of the country. Japanese-American Internment President Roosevelt signed an executive order shortly after the Japanese attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii in 1941. The order gave military leaders rights to identify some parts of the country as “military areas … from which any or all persons may be excluded.” It also required the military to give food, transportation and housing to anyone forced to leave their home. As a result of the order, 120,000 men, women and children were required to leave the U.S. West Coast and stay in internment camps between 1942 and 1945. Most of them were American citizens of Japanese descent. Desegregation of the Military In 1948, after the end of World War II, President Harry Truman signed an executive order that officially ended racial barriers in the United States military. The words of the order were simple: “There shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the Armed Services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.” Before the order was signed, military forces trained, worked and even fought in groups separated by race. A sign of the times Very few of the thousands of executive orders and memoranda are as famous as those noted in this story. Some of them are signed because a president was dealing with a Congress unwilling to pass legislation that he wants. Others express the president’s opinions about a subject of importance. Together these documents tell about American history and the goals of each president and the times in which he served. I’m Dorothy Gundy..   Kevin Enochs reported this story for VOANews.com. 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   memoranda – n. written records or communication; directives exclude – v. to prevent or restrict; to bar from consideration or inclusion internment camps – n. places where Japanese Americans were held during World War II descent – n. the fact or process of coming from an ancestor national origin – n. the country where you or your ancestors lived   

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Could NATO Survive without US Support?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is seeking ways to save NATO if the United States decides to cut back on its support for the alliance.   European leaders are not sure what to expect under the new U.S. administration. President Donald Trump has questioned the future of the 67-year-old alliance, calling it “obsolete.” Trump accused European nations of not paying their fair share to support NATO operations. In addition, he has said the alliance has not been used effectively to fight terrorism.   On Thursday, British Prime Minister Theresa May said she believes NATO should continue guaranteeing the security of Europe. But she thinks the alliance needs to be reformed. ​ May spoke to Republican Party leaders during a visit to the U.S. city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NATO cannot have one single “democratic mandate,” she said. Instead, it should seek to serve the needs and interests of all members. “So I share your [Trump’s] reform agenda and believe that, by working together, we can make those institutions more relevant and purposeful than they are today.” May also spoke about her talks with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. She said they discussed the need for the alliance to also be equipped to fight terrorism and cyberattack threats. ​ “America’s leadership in NATO – supported by Britain – must be the central element around which the alliance is built.” The British leader also called on other NATO members to “step up and contribute as they should.”   She noted that Britain is the only G20 country other than the United States to meet a target promise to spend 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product on defense. At least 20 percent of this spending should be for military equipment, she added. May said she already raised this issue with other European leaders and had urged them to meet the 2 percent defense spending goal.  European Union leaders are saying that now is the time for Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense. German Chancellor Angela Merkel recently told reporters that “Europeans have our fate in our own hands.” But military observers say it would be difficult for E.U. nations to recover from a possible reduction in U.S. support for NATO. Jonathan Eyal is a defense and security expert with Britain’s Royal United Services Institute. “While there is a lot of discussion about closer cooperation in the European Union, there simply is no substitute for American military power. Up to 75 percent of all the military assets in NATO belong to the United States.” Germany, France, Spain and Italy say they support closer military and intelligence cooperation among E.U. member countries. This idea also has the support of NATO’s foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini. She spoke about the future of the alliance during a visit to the recent World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland. “Europeans have started to take seriously their security. We have started to do this, well before the U.K. referendum, well before the U.S. elections - because security is a priority for Europeans.” On January 24, German and Belgian troops arrived in Lithuania in the latest NATO deployment. The troops are part of a 4,000-strong NATO force sent to Baltic countries and Poland. The forces were sent to NATO’s eastern border to guard against possible Russian aggression.     I’m Bryan Lynn.   Henry Ridgwell reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English, with additional material from the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think European nations should take action to strengthen NATO if the U.S. cuts support? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   obsolete – adj. outdated and no longer used mandate – n. an official order to do something relevant – adj. current, having to do with the matter at hand fate – n. power believed to control what happens in the future asset – n. a valuable person or thing referendum – n. a vote in which all voters cast ballots to decide an issue rather than representatives in government contribute – v. to give or supply to others G20 – n. short for the Group of 20 countries Gross Domestic Product – n. the total value of goods and services produced in a country during a year cyberattack – n. an attack on computers or computer systems  

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Iranians Concerned About Health Effects of Broadcast Jamming Equipment

  A protest in Iran has raised concerns about broadcast jamming equipment and its effect on human health. The protest took place on January 9 in the southern city of Shiraz. Demonstrators gathered outside the offices of the governor of Fars province. One demonstrator sent a video of the protest to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). The station reports to the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which also supervises Voice of America. RFE/RL says the protesters blamed the government’s jamming operations for health problems among local residents. People accused the equipment of causing problems such as a sharp pain in the head and even cancer. Iran’s government has long interfered with Persian language broadcasts by Western media to try to stop Iranians from watching or listening to them. Some jamming equipment uses electromagnetic waves that critics say are responsible for the health problems. Former Iranian lawmaker Ali Akbar Mousavi investigated the issue of jamming. Mousavi now lives in the United States. He told VOA the Shiraz protesters were concerned about a comment reportedly made by Iran’s deputy health minister, Reza Malekzadeh. The official spoke about a link between jamming equipment and public health. Malekzadeh reportedly said “preliminary studies” found that electromagnetic jamming signals can increase the risk of cancer. Iran’s state-operated news agency, IRNA, reported the comment in a story published in December of 2016. It said he was speaking during a visit to a cancer research event in Shiraz. He provided no further details on the studies that he noted. Iran’s Financial Tribune newspaper noted that Health Minister Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi later questioned the importance of his deputy’s comments. Hashemi reportedly said his ministry still lacked “strong scientific evidence to prove that jamming can enhance the risk of cancer or exacerbate health problems.” The United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) says scientific research does not confirm any health effects from exposure to low-level electromagnetic fields. It also said, “Some gaps in knowledge about biological effects exist, and need further research.” Ali Akbar Mousavi served as vice-chair of the Iranian parliament’s information and communications technology committee. In an email to VOA, he said he had seen “many” reports of Iranian lawmakers and civil society members speaking out in recent years against the government’s jamming activities. “My colleagues and I raised the same concerns (about jamming) as members of the 6th Iranian parliament and succeeded in stopping it through public pressure,” he said. “Unfortunately, the government started jamming again when (former President) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came to power (in 2005).” Jamming is barred under rules of the International Telecommunications Union, of which Iran is a member. Mousavi said he expects criticism of jamming to continue until the Iranian government stops what he called an “illegal” practice. I’m Kaveh Razaei.   Michael Lipin reported on this story for VOANews.com. Afshar Sigarchi provided additional information George Grow adapted their report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   jamming – n. the act of interfering with broadcast signals on purpose resident – n. someone who lives in a place or area preliminary – adj. coming before; beginning or partial exacerbate – v. to make more violent or severe exposure – n. the condition of being unprotected; the condition of being subject to an effect or influence gap – n. a separation in space; a break in a barrier colleague – n. a co-worker; someone who works with you practice – n. an activity   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Words and Their Stories: Put Your Best Foot Forward!

  Now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. On this program, we explore common expressions in American English. Today we talk about a part of our body that is usually very busy – our feet! Feet help us walk, run, dance, and jump. The words feet and foot are also used in everyday speech. For example, the English language has feet idioms that describe different kinds of people. To be under someone’s feet means to be troublesome. In other words, you are standing too close to someone and are getting in their way. Some adults criticize children for being under foot. Speaking of children, if someone says their home will soon have the pitter-patter of tiny feet, it means the family is expecting a baby! Now, people who are active do not let grass grow under their feet. They are never in once place for very long. People who can think and take action at the same time are said to be able to think on their feet. Some people appear to have it all. They have money, a good education, good looks, a great family and a large circle of friends. You could say they have the world at their feet. This means whatever they want seems to be there for them. People who have both feet firmly on the ground are realistic and practical. They are not dreamy. You might say such a person is well grounded. If you are a bad dancer, you might be accused of having two left feet. To dance well, it is better to have a right foot and a left foot. Besides describing different people, feet expressions can be helpful when talking about jobs and careers. Let me tell you about a man named Sam. He has worked at a government job for years. But now he is looking for a new career. He wants to do something he loves -- something exciting! Sam loves skiing. He thinks that it would be fun to own a ski resort high in the mountains. But he knows nothing about operating a business. So, he decides to get his feet wet. In other words, he wants to get used to a new situation. He joins an organization for resort owners and attends their conferences. He travels to ski areas all over the United States. This helps Sam get his foot in the door. Having a foot in the door is a starting point, an opportunity. This expression comes from people selling things door-to-door. They would block the door with their foot so people couldn’t close the door on them. The more Sam learns about the ski business, the more excited he gets. All this information is a great start. But it isn’t enough to make his dream a reality. He finally gets a firm foothold when he finds some mountain top property for sale in West Virginia. He gets a loan from a bank and buys the land! Getting a foothold is finding a starting point that makes further progress possible. Sam is so excited that he jumps in with both feet. If you start a new job or project with much energy, you can say you jumped in with both feet. Sam works hard with ski slope designers and engineers. At the end of each day, all of them are dead on their feet. They are so tired that they have trouble standing up. So, Sam and his team decide to put their feet up. They rest and take it easy. Finally, Sam faces opening day – the day he has been dreaming about. But the night before his business is to open, Sam gets cold feet. He is so nervous that he wants to call everything off. He’s afraid that his resort will be a total failure. To get cold feet means to become afraid about something at the last minute. But then, Sam takes a deep breath and calms down. He gets his feet back under him. He decides that his opening day will be wonderful! However, there is a problem. The ski lift is broken. This makes Sam really angry. He wants to know what went wrong. So, he holds the mechanic’s feet to the fire. This expression means to make someone take responsibility for a mistake. Sam instructs the mechanic to fix the ski lift. But she drags her feet. This means she is slow to fix it. So, Sam fires her and hires another mechanic to fix the ski lift. After it is fixed, Sam is able to land on his feet. To be back on your feet or to land on your feet is to recover from trouble. Soon skiers are happily skiing down the slopes! It is a great success! Sam’s ski resort has been open for three seasons. And every year it is easier for Sam to find his feet in this new and exciting career. It is easier for him to get used to his new situation. Now, Sam’s ski resort is popular with skiers and he has a successful new career. To thank his friends and family who helped him during that difficult first year, he invites them to the resort for a weekend of skiing. And, of course, he footed the bill. This means he paid for everything! And that is Words and Their Stories. Hopefully this story has given you a firm foothold on using feet and foot expressions. I’m Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. The Manhattan Rythym Kings play “Happy Feet” at the end.   _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   idiom – n. an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its separate words but that has a separate meaning of its own practical – adj. logical and reasonable in a particular situation slope – n. an area of land on a mountain that is used for skiing resort – n. a place where people go for vacations engineer – n. a person who has scientific training and who designs and builds complicated products, machines, systems, or structures : a person who specializes in a branch of engineering fire – v. to dismiss from employment hire – v. to engage the personal services of for a set sum   Listen to this episode of English in a Minute to here "two left feet" used in a short dialogue. 

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Students in Amsterdam Share Housing With Refugees

  Finding quality, low-cost housing can be a problem for university students, especially in The Netherlands. Last year, the average cost to rent a house in Amsterdam rose to over 2,000 euros a month. Now, students have another choice: they can live with refugees. The "Startblok" project is a group of city-owned apartment homes that opened in July 2016. The project has 463 studio apartments and 102 rooms. Half of them are for Dutch students and recent university graduates. The other half are for refugees who have official permits to live there. In exchange for low-cost housing, the students and refugees are expected to take care of the property together. The goal is to mix the two sides together so they learn more about each other's culture. Everyone in Startblok is between the ages of 18 and 27. The Dutch are mostly students or those who recently finished their studies. Of the refugees, two-thirds come from Syria and Eritrea. City officials hope that as the young people share the responsibility of operating the apartments, the refugees will become a part of the local community sooner. Nahom Berhane is a 24-year-old Eritrean refugee. He arrived in Europe after crossing the Mediterranean Sea by boat. He says he is happy the local government found a place for him in Startblok. "The life here is more of observing from a lot of people around me. When I see them, I can learn a lot of things from them. Whenever I have problems with translation, homework or anything, everyone is open to help you any time..." A graduate student in architecture, Abdellah Zkert fled the war in Syria. He enjoys living with other students much more than living in a refugee shelter. "We got something so important, it's the friendship. We have a lot of friends in here, and maybe if we are out of Startblok, we will not get these friends..." Tequisha Begeer is a Dutch university student. She moved to the project because she could not find low-cost housing in Amsterdam. She says she had never met a refugee before living here. "In the beginning, I had my thoughts about it because of the culture difference. But from the beginning (that) I was living here, it was all gone." Other European cities are interested in the Startblok model. Fleur Eymann is a graduate student who also takes care of public relations for the project. She is surprised by how much good attention they are receiving. "So there's, for example, the municipality of Antwerp, Berlin, Athens, Vienna. They all came over here and showed interest..." The Netherlands has accepted large numbers of refugees. Other programs in Amsterdam have given refugees space for a short period in old prisons. I’m Jill Robbins.   Marthe Van Der Wolf wrote this report for VOANews.com. Dr. Jill Robbins adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Now it’s your turn. Does your country host refugees? How are they becoming part of the communities where they now live? Write to us in the Comments section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   apartment - n. a usually rented room or set of rooms that is part of a building and is used as a place to live rent - v. to pay money in return for being able to use (something that belongs to someone else) graduate – n. someone who has completed a study program translation – n. the act or process of taking one language, and changing the words into a different language  

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UN: North Korean Airline Facing More Restrictions

  An increasing number of countries are banning North Korea’s state-owned airline because of United Nations Security Council restrictions. Last January, North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test. In response, the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution placing strong economic restrictions, or sanctions, on the North. Among those restrictions is the use of airplanes to move banned “items for supply, sale, transfer or export.” Resolution 2270 calls for all member states to “deny permission to any (North Korean) aircraft to take off from, land at or overfly…unless under the condition of landing for inspection.” The Security Council recently reported that Malaysia has banned Air Koryo from taking off from or landing in any airport it controls. Malaysian officials at the U.N. confirmed the report. It said Air Koryo airplanes also will not be permitted to fly over the country. Air Koryo began flying from the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, to Kuala Lumpur once a week in 2011. The U.N. report says the airline made its last flight to the Malaysian capital on June 8, 2014. Since the U.N. Security Council approved Resolution 2270, more countries have been banning North Korean passenger jets. In October, the air transport director at the Kuwait International Airport sent VOA an email about the issue. It said that the Kuwaiti government had banned Air Koryo from landing in the country’s airport. The airline had been flying to Kuwait City from Pyongyang since 2011.  Air Koryo airplanes often stopped for refueling in Pakistan when they were flying between Pyongyang and Kuwait. But in July, Pakistani officials told VOA that they had decided to ban North Korean flights from its Benazir Bhutto Islamabad International Airport because of the Security Council’s sanctions. An Air Koryo flight last stopped at the airport on June 28, 2016. In April, Air Koryo stopped flying to Bangkok, Thailand, shortly after the Thai government said it supported the Security Council sanctions. The government suggested that it was considering taking action against the airline. I’m Mario Ritter.   VOA News Writer Ham Jiha reported this story from Washington. Jenny Lee contributed to the report. 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   sanctions – n. actions taken against a country to cause it to obey international law usually by restricting trade in some way items – n. objects or products

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