'William Wilson,' by Edgar Allan Poe, Part Four

We present the last of four parts of the short story "William Wilson," by Edgar Allan Poe. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. As I ended the last part of my story, I was speaking of that terrible evening when I played cards with a young gentleman called Glendinning. We were in the room of one of my friends at Oxford University. I had just realized that the young man, weak of mind and weakened by wine, had allowed me to win from him everything he owned. I was still trying to decide what I should do, when, as I said… The wide, heavy doors of the room were suddenly opened. Every light in the room went out; but I had seen that a stranger had entered; he was about my own height, and he was wearing a very fine, long coat. The darkness, however, was now complete; and we could only feel that he was standing among us. Then we heard him speak. In a soft, low, and never-to-be-forgotten voice, which I felt deep in my heart, he said: “Gentlemen, I am here only to do my duty. You cannot know the true character of the man who has tonight taken a large amount of money from Mr. Glendinning. Please have him take off his coat, and then look in it very carefully.” While he was speaking there was not another sound in the room. As he ended, he was gone. Can I — shall I — tell what I felt? Need I say that I was afraid, that I felt the sick fear of those who are judged forever wrong? Many hands held me. Lights were brought. My friends looked in my coat. In it they found all the high cards, the valuable cards needed to win in the game we had been playing. Secretly using these cards, I could have taken the money of anyone who played the game with me. Mr. Preston, in whose room we were, then said: “Mr. Wilson, this is yours.” He lifted from the floor a fine, warm coat, and said, “We shall not look in this to prove again what we have proved already. We have seen enough. You will understand, I hope, the need for you to leave the University. At the very least, you must leave my room, and leave it now.” Down in the dust though my spirit was, I might have tried to strike him for those words if at that moment I had not noticed something very surprising. My coat had cost more money than most men could spend, and it had been made especially for me. It was different, I thought, from every other coat in the world. When, therefore, Mr. Preston gave me the coat which he had picked up from the floor, I saw with terror that my own was already hanging on my arm, and that the two were alike in every way. I remembered that the strange being who had so mysteriously entered and left the room had had a coat. No one else in the room had been wearing one. I placed the coat offered by Preston over my own, and left his room. The next morning I began a hurried journey away from Oxford University. I ran, but I could not escape. I went from city to city, and in each one Wilson appeared. Paris, Rome, Vienna, Berlin, Moscow — he followed me everywhere. Years passed. I went to the very ends of the earth. I ran in fear, as if running from a terrible sickness, and still he followed. Again and again I asked myself, “Who is he? — where did he come from? — and what was his purpose?” But no answer was found. And then I looked with the greatest care at the methods of his watch over me. I learned little. It was noticeable, indeed, that when he appeared now, it was only to stop me in those actions from which evil might result. But what right did he have to try to control me? I also noticed that although he always wore clothes the same as mine, he no longer let me see his face. Did he think I would not know him? He destroyed my honor at Oxford, he stopped me in my plans for getting a high position in Rome, in my love in Naples, in what he called my desire for too much money in Egypt. Did he think I could fail to see that he was the William Wilson of my schoolboy days, the hated and feared William Wilson? But let me hurry to the last scene in my story. Until now I had not tried to strike back. He was honorable and wise, he could be everywhere, and he knew everything. I felt such wonder and fear of him that I believed myself to be weak and helpless. Though it made me angry, I had done as he desired. But now I wanted more and more to escape his control. As I began to grow stronger, it seemed to me that he began to grow weaker. I felt a burning hope; in my deepest thoughts I decided that I was going to be free. It was at Rome, during the Carnival of 1835, that I went to a dance in the great house of the Duke Di Broglio. I had been drinking more wine than is usual, and the rooms seemed very crowded and hot. I became angry as I pushed through the people. I was looking (Let me not say why)…I was looking for the young, the laughing, the beautiful wife of old Di Broglio. Suddenly I saw her; but as I was trying to get through the crowd to join her, I felt a hand placed upon my shoulder, and that ever-remembered quiet voice within my ear. In a wild anger I took him in a strong hold. Wilson was dressed, as I had expected, like myself, in a rich coat of blue. Around his body was a band of red cloth from which hung a long sharp sword. A mask of black cloth completely covered his face. “You again!” I cried, my anger growing hotter with each word. “Always you again! You shall not — you shall not hunt me like this until I die! Come with me now or I will kill you where you stand.” I pulled him after me into a small room nearby. I threw him against the wall and closed the door. I commanded him to take his sword in his hand. After a moment, he took it and stood waiting, ready to fight. The fight was short indeed. I was wild with hate and anger; in my arm I felt the strength of a thousand men. In a few moments I had forced him back against the wall, and he was in my power. Quickly, wildly, I put my sword’s point again and again into his heart. At that moment I heard that someone was trying to open the door. I hurried to close it firmly, and then turned back to my dying enemy. But what human words can tell the surprise, the horror which filled me at the scene I then saw?! The moment in which I had turned to close the door had been long enough, it seemed, for a great change to come at the far end of the room. A large mirror — a looking glass — or so it seemed to me — now stood where it had not been before. As I walked toward it in terror I saw my own form, all spotted with blood, its face white, advancing to meet me with a weak and uncertain step. So it appeared, I say, but was not. It was my enemy — it was Wilson, who then stood before me in the pains of death. His mask and coat lay upon the floor. In his dress and in his face there was nothing which was not my own! It was Wilson; but now it was my own voice I heard, as he said: “I have lost. Yet from now on you are also dead — dead to the World, dead to Heaven, dead to Hope! In me you lived — and, in my death — see by this face, which is your own, how wholly, how completely, you have killed — yourself!”   Download a lesson plan to use with this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. When you do something bad, is it better to face the results of your actions quickly or later in life? What are some things you can do to make people want to forgive you? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cards - n. small pieces of stiff paper that are marked with symbols or pictures to show their value, come in a set, and are used for playing games gentleman - n. a man who treats other people in a proper and polite way coat - n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry down in the dust – idm. an expression that means discouraged, depressed or sad; Poe uses an outdated form of the expression; today, the common expression is “down in the dumps.” duke – n. a man of very high rank in the British nobility shoulder - n.  the part of your body where your arm is connected band – n. a flat, straight piece of material (such as plastic or metal) that forms a circle around something sword – n. a weapon with a long metal blade that has a sharp point and edge mask – n. a covering for your face or for part of your face, such as to hide or disguise your face

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California Brewer Uses Reclaimed Water in Experimental Beer

Beer is one of the world’s most popular drinks. Even some of the earliest humans brewed – or made - beer.  One of beer’s most important ingredients is water. Brewers say you need up to five liters of water to make one liter of beer. If water becomes scarce, then, will people have to stop making beer? Brewers have already thought of that possibility. So, in some cities, people are testing out beers made from collected and filtered rainwater.  They are also collecting rainwater and water from the beer-making process for use inside the brewery. Sierra Nevada is a well-known brewery in California. It also has a new location in North Carolina. It uses rainwater for cleaning and flushing toilets. Brewers understand the importance of saving water. If there is no water, there is no beer. That is why Stone Brewing Company, near San Diego, California, worked with a local water treatment program to make beer. The program is called Pure Water San Diego. It wants to provide one-third of the city’s water by 2035. Working with Pure Water, the brewery used purified water that came from wastewater. Wastewater is water that has already been used for showers, washing dishes or flushing toilets. Stone is a large brewery. It has customers across the U.S. and Europe. Along with its original California location, Stone also has breweries in Richmond, Virginia, and Berlin, Germany. Some of their beers are among the best in the United States. So it was a big deal when Stone released a special beer called Full Circle Pale Ale in March. Many websites and newspapers wrote about the beer. They reported that it was made from “toilet water.” Local television stations recorded people’s reactions as they tasted the beer. The story went viral. The mayor of San Diego took a sip, and said “that’ll work, that’ll work.” Brewer Steve Gonzalez described the beer by saying it had “caramel” and “tropical fruit” flavors. Stone Brewing later wrote a blog post saying it was not happy with all of the news coverage – especially reports that centered on the idea of “toilet water.” But it was happy that the experiment was a success. The beer was only made for a special event. Stone Brewing is not permitted to sell it in stores or at the brewery’s restaurant. But other brewers around the country are taking notice. Kevin Ryan created Service Brewing Company in the southeastern U.S. state of Georgia because he loved making beer for friends and family. They told him his beer was so good, he should go into the business. So he did. Ryan knows how important water is to the beer business. “The southeast is always back-and-forth between drought and recovering from drought,” Ryan said. “As we can afford, we will try to be responsible consumers of that water. I think it’s great that somebody who’s established can use their platform to do the testing and demonstrate that you can make great beer with reclaimed water.” Ben Cook started Hangar 24, a brewery in Redlands, California. One of Hangar 24’s well-known beers is a wheat beer made with locally grown oranges. He was glad that Stone Brewing’s experiment got attention. “I have a biology background,” Cook said. “And water is water. It is H20, along with any minerals that are in it. I see no problem with it. But the public perception, because they don’t know that it’s just as clean as tap water, appears to be still pretty bad.” Cook said if his customers better understood how clean reclaimed wastewater really is, he would have “no problem” brewing beer with that kind of water. “If there’s something that’s better for the environment that we can afford to do, we always opt in,” Cook said. Other American brewers have also experimented with reclaimed-water beer. Researchers and brewers in the state of Arizona are working on a water-saving project. They received $250,000 to promote the use of reclaimed water. They are treating and using wastewater that will be used to make beer across the state this summer. And last year, small brewers in Florida experimented with making beer from reclaimed water. They taste-tested their work at a large water-treatment conference. I’m Dan Friedell. And I'm Jill Robbins.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Would you like to taste beer made from reclaimed water? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scarce – adj. very small in amount or number : not plentiful filter – v. to remove (something unwanted) by using a filter sip – v. to drink (a liquid) slowly by taking only small amounts into your mouth pale – adj. to drink (a liquid) slowly by taking only small amounts into your mouth tropical – adj. to drink (a liquid) slowly by taking only small amounts into your mouth theme – n. a particular subject or issue that is discussed often or repeatedly drought – n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain platform – n. something that allows someone to tell a large number of people about an idea, product, etc. food chain – n. a series of types of living things in which each one uses the next lower member of the series as a source of food — usually used with the (often used figuratively) perception – n. the way you think about or understand someone or something — often + of tap – n. a device for controlling the flow of a liquid or gas from a pipe or container reclaim – v. to get (a usable material) from materials that have been used before opt – phrasal verb - to choose to do or be involved in something

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A 'Working' Vocabulary on Words to the Wise

  Hello again from the Learning English studio at the Voice of America. I’m Dorothy Gundy. Learning English reporter Pete Musto has joined me today. Hi Pete. Hi Dorothy. We want to talk about the English words and phrases that our audience wants to learn about on “Words to the Wise.” So, we asked for suggestions from you. And we got ideas! We did. Our fan Gustavo, for one, proposed a show about words found in the work world. Today, that is what we will talk about. I think first we should think of words that are similar in meaning to “job.” There are lots. Like “occupation.” It is kind of a more formal term than job but it means the same thing. Someone might ask you “what’s your job?” or they could ask “what’s your occupation?” and it would mean the same thing. Right -- both are perfectly acceptable usages. And, another word you use is “profession,” as in “what is your profession?” And even more commonly used “what do you do for a living?” That means “what’s your job?” as well. But job, occupation and profession cannot always be used in the exact same way. For example, let’s say you apply for a position at a college and you are hired. You might excitedly tell a friend, “I got the job!” You would not say “I got the occupation!” –- “I got the profession!” No, of course not. That would sound very strange. Strange, indeed. You would always use job in that structure. Or you could use the word “position.” True, that’s a fine substitute. Now, let’s say you remained in that job, or continued that kind of work, for a long time. That becomes what we call a “career.” Merriam Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary defines a career as a profession for which one trains and which is undertaken as a permanent calling. You could have a career in academia, which means university teaching. Or you could have a career in engineering, acting or journalism! There are a lot of fields or trades to go into. Fields? Trades? Yes. Not field like an open land covered in grass and other plants. Field can also be defined as an area or division of an activity, subject, or profession -- like medicine. Trade is similar: the business or work in which one engages regularly. So, let’s try to put this all together. You’re at a party and you meet someone new. You might say, “So what do you do for a living?” And they answer: “I’m retired…” Oh, lucky you! Right… “but I was in the pharmaceutical trade.” Oh, what was your job, sales? No. I was in the drug development field. I created a cure for the common cold and made a gazillion dollars. Wow, sounds like you had a wonderful career! Well, Pete, I think our “job” here is done. But we will revisit the subject of “work-talk” at another time on Words to the Wise. Thanks for joining us today. And please keep your comments coming. Tell us what you’d like to hear about on Words to the Wise. I’m Pete Musto And I’m Dorothy Gundy. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   formal – adj. suitable for serious or official speech and writing apply – v. to ask formally for something (such as a job, admission to a school, a loan, etc.) usually in writing hire – v. to give work or a job to (someone) in exchange for wages or a salary indeed – adv. without any question — used to stress the truth of a statement substitute – n. a person or thing that takes the place of someone or something else

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Some US Schools Getting Electricity from the Sun

  The cost for homes in the United States to "go solar" has dropped by more than 60 percent over the last 10 years. “Going solar” means changing to an electrical source powered by the sun instead of coal or other dirty fuels. The dropping costs helped persuade more than a million Americans to put solar panels on top of their homes. Now, some public school systems are doing the same, including the schools in Fremont, Indiana. The people in this small town have always depended on sunshine to grow their crops and help bring visitors to their lakes. William Stitt leads Fremont’s school system. "The technology has advanced so much in the last couple of years that it’s become more energy efficient, more cost effective for schools to get solar energy.” Start-up costs Fremont will spend $3 million to build the solar project. When the system is in place, it will fully power the elementary, middle and high school buildings. It may even produce additional electricity that the school can sell to the power company. Several lines of 3,000 to 4,000 panels will be placed in a 2.5-hectare solar field behind the middle school. The school system will pay the local electricity company for use of its solar equipment. That periodic fee is to remain the same for 20 years.   Free electricity, one day Kim Quick is the head of building operations for the Fremont school system. He said Fremont schools will save money even with equipment fees. Unlike electricity costs, the equipment use fees will not go up. And, Quick said, the panels should last 40 years. After the 20 years of fees, the school district will fully own the panels. Then, the electric power they create will be free of cost. Some solar schools cost more  Just three percent of the nation’s 125,000 schools use some form of solar power. Some have higher related costs than others. But, a recent report from the Solar Foundation, a non-profit interest group, says that 72,000 U.S. schools, or 60 percent, could save money with solar. Schools could put panels on their buildings or place a field of panels over a car park. The Solar Foundation says those methods would save most schools an average of $1 million over 30 years. Educational opportunities Going solar might also offer schools valuable educational possibilities. It gives teachers a reason to teach related lessons on science, technology, engineering and math. All three schools in Fremont will have a display that kids can visit daily to learn how much energy is being used and saved. Fremont school system’s William Stitt is already looking to the future. "I’d love the community and the kids in 40 years to go, 'Man, they made a great decision 40 years ago by creating this solar project!'” If all goes as planned, the Fremont school system’s new solar field will be in operation by July. I’m Alice Bryant.   Erika Celeste reported this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.   _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   solar panel - n. a large, flat piece of equipment that uses the sun's light or heat to create electricity advanced - adj. having or using new and modern methods efficient - adj. capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy display - n. an arrangement of objects intended to decorate, advertise, entertain, or inform people about something

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S. Koreans Look Ahead After Removal, Arrest of Former President

South Koreans are thinking about electing the country’s next leader after the arrest of former President Park Geun-hye. Park is the first democratically elected president of South Korea to be ousted from office. She was sent to jail early Friday. Her detention began after a court approved a warrant calling for her arrest. She is accused of bribery, extortion and abuse of power. The charges against Park are linked to the series of events that forced her from office. Government lawyers believe that Park and a longtime friend, Choi Soon-sil, pressured businesses to make donations to two organizations they controlled. They say South Korean companies gave over $69 million to the two groups. South Koreans were divided for months as lawmakers considered the case against the president. Park’s opponents held large protests calling for her ouster or resignation. Her supporters organized demonstrations to try to keep her in office. South Korean conservatives express regret But in Seoul on Friday, no one celebrated Park’s arrest, and there were no angry groups of Park supporters demanding her release. A pro-Park gathering is expected this weekend, but her party, the Liberty Korea Party, seems to want to distance itself from its former leader. In a statement, the party’s spokesman called Park’s arrest “regrettable.” He said “We hope such a painful history of arrest of a former president will not repeat itself in South Korea.” An election for a new president will take place on May 9th. After Park’s removal from office, many South Koreans have seemingly turned against conservative politicians. They blamed Park’s policies for increasing tensions with China and with North Korea over its weapons program. Chinese officials are angry about Park’s decision to accept an American anti-missile system. The Liberty Korea Party has been struggling to find a strong candidate for president. South Gyeongsang Province Governor Hong Joon-pyo is said to be a leading candidate. But his public approval rating in a recent Gallup Organization survey was just four percent. The Bareun Party was once part of the Liberty Korea Party. In a statement, Bareun said it respects the Supreme Court’s decision against Park. But the party questioned whether her arrest was necessary. It said the arrest harmed efforts to heal divisions within the country. Yoo Seung Min -- the Bareun party’s candidate for president -- has a two percent approval rating in the Gallup opinion poll. Victory for South Korea’s liberals The liberal Democratic Party of Korea had called Park’s removal from office a triumph of democracy. It also called her arrest a victory for the rule of law. The party’s spokesman said “Considering the fairness of law and principles, the arrest of former President Park is an obvious conclusion.” Democratic Party candidate Moon Jae-in has a 31 percent approval rating in the latest poll. That is more than any candidate for president. Ahn Cheol-soo – the leading candidate for the centrist People’s Party -- has a 19 percent approval rating in the poll. In a statement, Ahn said Park’s arrest, “is of her own making because she repeatedly gave false explanations without expressing apologies or regrets.” Prison time Park says she is innocent. She has yet to talk publicly about the charges. But after agreeing to cooperate with the government, she was questioned by investigators for 14 hours. Park can be held in prison for up to 20 days while she is being investigated. During this time, she must be charged or released. Her lawyers say she will not leave the country. But the Seoul Central District Court judge in charge of the case ordered her arrest, possibly concerned that she might destroy evidence. Park could be sent to prison for 10 years on charges of accepting bribes from heads of large South Korean companies in exchange for favors. The business chiefs include Samsung Group chief Jay Y. Lee. He denies charges that he provided bribes in exchange for special treatment. I’m John Russell. And I'm Caty Weaver.   VOA Correspondent Brian Padden reported this story from Seoul. Youmi Kim contributed to the report. John Smith 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   bribe – v. to try to get someone to do something by giving or promising something valuable (such as money); to give or offer a bribe to (someone) extort – v. to get (something, such as money) from a person by the use of force or threats poll – n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something triumph – n. a great or important victory; a great success or achievement favor – n. a kind or helpful act that you do for someone  

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English @ the Movies: 'Ahead Of Your Time'

Today on English @ the Movies we talk about the saying "ahead of your time" from the movie "Beauty and the Beast." The movie is about a bright girl, her father and a Beast. Do you know what the saying "ahead of your time" means? Watch our video, take the quiz, and see if you guessed right!

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The Blue Hotel by Stephen Crane, Part One

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US presidents 07 Andrew Jackson

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William Wilson by Edgar Allan Poe, Part Four

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Take a Break with Commas

  From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Imagine you are taking a trip in a foreign country. You are driving a rental car that you got at the airport. What could help you find your way in this strange land? Signs, for one thing. Think of punctuation as a series of signs. These signals clarify your writing. They show your reader what words are important, and what belongs together. Punctuation marks, like traffic signs, show your reader what is coming: a full stop, a minor turn or a sudden change of direction, for example. One of the most important – and most debated – punctuation marks is the comma. Today on Everyday Grammar, we will report on common uses of the comma. We will also tell about the importance of commas in American law, and how they still influence the meaning of laws. Do not fear: unlike driving on busy American roads, this report will be fun! Common uses of commas The comma has many uses. Teaching guides say there are lots of ways to use commas in writing. Luckily, we can find patterns among all of these stylistic rules. The first, and perhaps most common, use of commas is to show a pause. Pauses are important in creative writing, such as poetry, and in speechwriting. In these kinds of writing, the relationship between written and spoken language is very strong. Historically, commas were used as a way to mark a short stoppage or break, instead of showing grammatical differences. However, in many kinds of modern writing, the comma serves a different purpose: to show what is different and what belongs together. Ann Longknife and K.D. Sullivan are writing experts. In their book, The Art of Styling Sentences, they note that commas generally serve two purposes: separating the main parts of a sentence and enclosing words and expressions. Consider the words you heard earlier in this report: "Today on Everyday Grammar, we will report on common uses of the comma. " The comma appears after the word "Grammar." Why is that? First, it shows the reader (in this case, Dr. Jill Robbins) that she needs to pause her voice. Second, the comma shows that what comes before it is serving a different grammatical purpose than what comes after it. In the example you heard, the phrase "In today's Everyday Grammar" gives information about what comes after the comma: "we will report on common uses of the comma." You could remove the words that come before the comma. So the independent clause, "we will explore common uses of the comma," could be its own sentence. Stylistic considerations and editing In The New York Times newspaper, Carmel McCoubrey writes that the difference between comma usage styles is not always clear. Even when operating under the same stylistic guide, McCoubrey writes, different people will want to put commas in different places. In other words, there is some level of personal choice when it comes to comma placement. Comma placement is important - not just for writing papers and stories. Consider these two following examples: Part of the dispute in a recent legal case was related to the meaning of an Oxford comma. An Oxford comma is a comma that is used before the conjunction in a series of nouns. In other words, the comma makes clear that the final term is different than the others on the list. A second - and perhaps more famous - debate involves the second amendment to the United States Constitution. Both supporters and opponents of gun rights have argued about the meaning of the law. They have argued that the use of commas in the amendment changes the meaning.  "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Some writers, such as Adam Freedman, say the commas in the law are arbitrary, and that the sentence is best understood by taking the commas out. He points out that different versions of the law may have different numbers of commas. He adds that historically, punctuation was not used in the same way it is today. These disputes center around one common idea: commas are supposed to make language clearer. However, the commas in the laws created misunderstanding. To go back to our examples of traffic signs, it would be like reading a road sign pointing in two different directions. Both directions cannot be correct. What can you do? So, if comma usage can be difficult for native speakers, what hope do English learners have? Luckily, there are two simple steps that can help you overcome problems with commas. #1 Put yourself in the reader's position The first is to put yourself in the reader's position. Ask yourself if you are using commas that send clear signals to your reader. Are you always using commas in the same way? If you were driving on a road, you would expect the same signs to be used in the same way over and over again. With that in mind, you should always try to use punctuation consistently so that you do not confuse your reader. #2 Use short, declarative sentences Another idea is this: write short sentences. In other words, limit the amount of information you include in each sentence. If your sentence has many pauses, then you are increasing the chances that you will confuse your reader. The next time you are reading in English, look for the commas. When and why does the writer use a comma? Is there a stylistic or grammatical reason they use the comma? How does the comma separate the different sentence elements? With time and effort you will learn how to use commas effectively. We will leave you with a song about punctuation from the American musician and actor, LL Cool J: ​ A comma means you slow down, Pause, take a breath, When I want to go to Spain, I hop onto my plane I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rental – adj. of or relating to paying money in return for being able to use something that belongs to someone else enclose – v. to put something around (something) clause – n. part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb arbitrary – adj. not planned or chosen for a special reason punctuation – n. the act of adding marks or signs to clarify the meaning of sentences pause – n. a temporary break or stoppage conjunction – n. words that join together other words or groups of words overcome – v. to defeat; to reduce or overthrow confuse – v. to make someone unable to understand something consistently – adj. always acting in the same way

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State Department Directives Describe New Steps for US Visas

  The United States has told its diplomats overseas to identify groups whose members should be thoroughly investigated when they request a visa. The State Department sent a series of directives to U.S. embassies and diplomatic offices earlier this month. The department told them to investigate the social media messages and activities of visa applicants. It said officials should be looking for people who are suspected of terrorist ties or of having been in areas controlled by the Islamic State group. Another directive ordered embassies to set up security and intelligence working groups to establish guidance for “population sets.” It said these measures would identify which people require a detailed investigation before they are permitted in the United States. Even if someone is qualified for a visa, they could still be barred from entering the country if they do not meet the rules set by the working groups. The directives are the first evidence of a Trump administration plan for the “extreme vetting” of foreigners before they are given visas. Before becoming president, Donald Trump promised such a plan to American voters during the 2016 election campaign. The four documents sent between March 10 and March 17 do not tell which “population sets” are to be given additional examination. But one document says investigators should ask visa applicants about where they worked, who they worked for and where they traveled over the past 15 years. The document also tells investigators to ask applicants for all email addresses and social media names used over the past five years. The State Department said later it was withdrawing the questions until they are approved by another federal agency. The Reuters news agency first reported on the series of directives last week. Rights groups and others have criticized the directives and accused Trump of discriminating against Muslims. They note his recent executive order to block travelers from six countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. A federal judge has suspended the government’s enforcement of the ban. The rights group Amnesty International wrote a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson last week. It said the documents “could provide license for discrimination based on national origin and religion. They could provide a pretext for barring individuals based on their nonviolent beliefs and expression. Social media checks, as well as demands for social media passwords at U.S. borders, have significant implications for privacy and freedom of expression.” Law professor Anil Kalhan leads the international human rights committee of the New York City Bar Association. He said the documents “will needlessly worsen visa processing backlogs” and may lead to applications for visas being wrongly denied. Some refugee aid groups and even State Department workers have said the visa investigation process is already very strong. Stephen Yale-Loehr is an immigration law professor at Cornell University’s law school. Last month, he told CBS News “we have a terrorist watch database. We have known immigration violators database. We have a criminal background check database that they have to go through. They don’t just take the visa applicant’s word. They do go through all of these computer databases to verify for themselves that it’s appropriate to issue the visa to a particular individual.” I’m Dorothy Gundy.   VOA’s Victoria Macchi and Smita Nordwall reported this story from Washington. VOA State Department Correspondent Cindy Saine provided information for the report. John Smith 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   applicant – n. someone who formally asks for something (such as a job or admission to a college); someone who applies for something qualify – v. to have the right to do, have or be a part of something vet – v. to investigate (someone) thoroughly to see if they should be approved or accepted for a job license – n. freedom to act however you want to (usually followed by to + verb) pretext – n. a reason that you give to hide your real reason for doing something implication – n. a possible future effect or result (usually plural) backlog – n. a large number of jobs that are waiting to be finished database – n. a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used on a computer verify – v. to prove, show, find out or state that (something) is true or correct issue – v. to give (something) to someone in an official way    

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Tillerson, Turkish Officials Discuss Plans to Defeat Islamic State

  American Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was in Ankara on Thursday for talks with Turkish leaders. Tillerson met with Turkey’s president and foreign minister. They talked about efforts to defeat the Islamic State (IS) group and how to reduce the number of refugees in the Middle East. United States-led forces are increasing their offensive to retake the Syrian city of Raqqa from the militant group. Anti-Islamic State coalition partners are looking for ways to return security to areas from which militants have fled. They also want to give refugees a chance to return home. The talks in Ankara were held a day after Turkey declared an end to its seven-month-old military operation in northern Syria. The operation was aimed at clearing IS militants and Syrian Kurds from along the border between Syria and Turkey. Turkish officials have described the operation as a success. They did not rule out the possibility of future raids. It is not clear how the Turkish actions will change northern Syria, where the Syrian government, Islamic State, Kurdish forces and rebel groups are all competing for territory. Turkish troops are still guarding security areas, where the government also hopes to keep Kurdish forces from creating a self-governing territory. The government considers the Kurdish fighters an extension of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party, or PKK. The group has been fighting for 30 years against government forces in southeastern Turkey. The Turkish operations in northern Syria are ending two weeks before Turkey’s planned constitutional referendum. Turkish voters are being asked whether to give new powers to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Professor Jonathan Adelman is with the University of Denver in the United States. He told VOA there is a good chance that the Turks are ending their campaign, but will keep their soldiers right where they are. “What really matters in Turkey right now is the feeling that Erdogan wants to win the upcoming election, and this could be, and probably is, tied to that, to say, ‘You see, I won. It’s all over. No more Turks are dying…’” Adelman says Turkish announcement also takes attention away from the fact that many extremists entered Syria from Turkey. “It also helps take attention away from the fact that thousands of terrorists went through Turkey on their way into Syria because Erdogan has failed in his basic effort, which was to destroy the Bashar al-Assad government.” Relations between Turkey and the United States have been tested by U.S. support for the Kurdish militia force YPG, which is fighting in Syria. In addition, Turkey wants the U.S. government to expel Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim clergyman living in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Turkish officials accuse him of plotting last year’s failed attempt to overthrow the government. I’m Caty Weaver. This story was based on reports from VOANews.com. George Grow adapted the information for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   basic – adj. of or relating to the main idea affairs – n. work or activities done for a purpose   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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South Korean Golfer Hits a Strike at Bowling Alley

  This is What’s Trending Today. Minju Kim is a young golfer from South Korea. Recently, she posted a number of photos of herself playing in California on Instagram. She even posed for a photo with professional golfer Adam Scott of Australia. Kim is not yet a famous player. She works as a golf teacher in South Korea. However, she has almost 15,000 followers on Instagram. Those followers and many golf fans around the world are reacting to a trick shot video she posted the other day. It already has over 40,000 views on her Instagram page, and other media organizations have posted it, too. It is a video of Kim hitting a golf ball while in a bowling alley. She drives the ball towards the pins, and knocks them all down. In bowling, that is called a “strike.” Golf.com posted the video on its Facebook page, and in less than a day, it had almost 600,000 views. The same video on Golf Digest’s Instagram page was played over 100,000 times. Some people think the video is great. They say it combines their two favorite sports. One Facebook commenter proposed it as a way for his friend to get a better bowling score. Golf Digest suggested the new sport could be called “gowling.” The video does have its critics. People are saying it is not real. They think the golf ball is not heavy enough to knock down the bowling pins. They also say the video is edited to show the pins falling down, but it is not clear that Kim hits them with the golf ball. On Facebook, Mark Brennan wrote: “everyone knows this is fake, right?” Kim took another shot and one pin remained. The next part of the video showed a close-up of a third shot knocking down the 10th pin, for what is called a “spare” in bowling. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think Kim’s bowling-alley golf shot was real? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drive – n. to hit or kick (a ball or puck) with a lot of force or speed edit – v. to prepare (a film, recording, photo, etc.) to be seen or heard : to change, move, or remove parts of (a film, recording, photo, etc.) fake – adj. meant to look real or genuine but not real or genuine

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March 30, 2017

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

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World's Oldest Spacewoman Sets Spacewalking Record

American Astronaut Peggy Whitson set the world record on Thursday for most spacewalks ever made by a woman.  She set the record while floating out of the International Space Station to set up a new parking spot for commercial crew capsules. SpaceX and Boeing are building the capsules. It was the eighth spacewalk of Whitson’s career.  A spacewalk is when an astronaut performs a task or mission while outside of their spacecraft in space. Whitson and her spacewalking partner, station commander Shane Kimbrough, took the spacewalk in order to complete work on the space station’s docking port.  Kimbrough disconnected the port during a spacewalk last Friday and then flight controllers in Houston moved it to a new location Sunday.  For Thursday’s spacewalk, the astronauts needed to hook up important heater cables to the docking port. They also needed to install shields to protect against strikes by micrometeorites. The port will serve as the second of two docking ports for the future SpaceX and Boeing crew capsules. An unexpected turn of events The mission did not go completely as planned, however. During the spacewalk, the astronauts lost one of the important cloth shields needed for the space station. NASA says it is not yet clear who let the shield go or how it floated away. The shield is to be attached to the station or astronauts at all times. Each shield weighs about 8.2 kilograms. When unfolded, the shields are about 5 kilometers thick, NASA says. The astronauts did report that the three remaining shields were successfully installed. Breaking records Midway through Thursday's spacewalk, Whitson was set to break another record. She beat the current time record for total spacewalking time by a woman. The record was 50 hours and 40 minutes. It was held by former space station resident Sunita Williams. Williams will be one of four NASA astronauts who will make early test flights of the SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner capsules. The first flight of these capsules could take place as early as next year. Whitson, who is 57, has been in orbit since November. She is the world’s oldest and most experienced spacewoman. This is her third stay at the space station. She has spent more than 500 days off the planet. That is more days than any other woman. Whitson is set to return to Earth in June. But she may stay in space for an extra three months, until September. NASA is hoping she can return to Earth then on an extra seat in the Russian Soyuz spacecraft. It is expected to launch next month and return in September. I’m Phil Dierking   This story was originally written by Marcia Dunn for the Associated Press.   Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English.   Ashley Thompson was the editor. Have you ever set a record?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   astronaut – n. a person who travels in a spacecraft into outer space​ capsule – n. a small part of a spacecraft that is separate from the rest of the spacecraft and that is where people live and work​ commercial – adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods and services​ micrometeorites – n. a micrometeoroid that has entered the earth's atmosphere.​ spacewalk – n. a task or mission performed by an astronaut outside a spacecraft in space​ spacecraft – n. a task or mission performed by an astronaut outside a spacecraft in space​

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News Words: Integration

Learn the meaning of integration with News Words.

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US First Lady Honors International Women of Courage

  United States first lady Melania Trump has recognized 13 women activists with the State Department’s Women of Courage Award. Trump said the women being honored had shown strength in the face of great danger. "These honorees on the stage with me have fought for their rights and for the rights of others. Each battle forces, such as governments, the courts, gender bias, terrorism, war and corruption, and were willing, in each moment, to face harsh penalties including imprisonment and death." The award is called the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage Award. The winners have shown support of peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and empowerment of women at personal risk. More than 100 women from 60 countries have received the awards since it was established in 2007. An international group of women receive recognition The women being honored come from countries around the world. This year’s winners include Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known as “Mother Mushroom,” of Vietnam. The environmental activist and blogger has been in prison since October 2016. The state department has called for Quynh’s immediate release since her detention. State Department spokesperson Grace Choi told VOA, “We believe that international recognition for her courage and advocacy will help bring attention to her work to address corruption and promote human rights in Vietnam.” Natalie Ponce de Leon was attacked with acid in Colombia three years ago. She used the attack to help pass a law in January of 2016 increasing punishments for people who use chemical agents in attacks. Major Aichatou Ousmane Issaka was one of the first women to join the army in Niger in 1996. She was honored for causing people to think about the issue of gender in conflict areas. Veronica Simogun of Papua New Guinea was in the U.S. for the first time. She was honored for her campaign to protect women from violence related to their gender. Simogun told VOA, “I am fighting for equality, gender justice in my country.” She added, “Women’s voices need to be heard, and there should be equality for women and children.” Other recipients include Bangladeshi activist Sharmin Akter who fights early and forced marriages. Two African rights activists are Malebogo Molefhe of Botswana and Rebecca Kabugho, a political and social activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The deputy director of the Organization for Women’s Freedom in Iraq, Jannat Al Ghezi, was among those honored. So was Cindy Arlette Contreras Bautista who started and directs the group Not One Woman Less in Peru. Sister Carolin Tahhan Fachakh is a member of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (F.M.A) group in Syria. From Turkey, Saadet Ozkan received recognition for her education and gender activism. And human rights activists Sandya Eknelygoda of Sri Lanka and Fadia Najib Thabet of Yemen also received the award. The award ceremony was held Wednesday. Now the women will travel to several American cities for individual International Visitor Leadership Programs. Afterwards, they will again gather in Los Angeles, California, to discuss cooperation in improving the lives of women and girls everywhere. The event was one of the rare public appearances by the wife of U.S. President Donald Trump who has been in office for a little more than two months. I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm Mario Ritter. Nike Ching reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gender –n. related to the state of being male or female bias –adj. favoring one side over the other

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US Officials Worry Budget Cuts Could Hurt Aid Efforts

With over 20 million people nearing starvation in four countries, the United Nations (UN) is asking for $5.6 billion in emergency aid. For now, UN members have only offered about 20 percent of that amount. Officials say the world is facing one of the biggest humanitarian crisis since the end of World War II. The UN’s International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has declared a famine in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. A famine means that a very large number of people are starving because of food shortages. The United States provides about 28 percent of the world’s humanitarian aid, the most of any nation. But some warn of large cuts if the U.S. Congress approves a Trump administration proposal. It calls for a cut of about $50 billion in the State Department budget. The State Department oversees foreign assistance programs. The Republican Party controls both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate. Top Republicans in the House and Senate say Congress is likely to reject the big cuts in foreign aid proposed by the president. New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith, a Republican, is chairman of a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee. He said his goal is to get more U.S. aid to help starving people. Pregnant women suffering from famine may be too weak to survive pregnancy, Smith said at a subcommittee hearing this week. If they survive, he said, their children are likely to be “stunted,” meaning well short of normal weight and height. That makes them more at risk of disease, and people in a weakened condition have a more difficult time surviving, UNICEF officials said. They added that 22 million children are hungry, sick and unable to attend school in the four countries. World counts on United States Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland is on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a member of the Democratic Party. Cardin said he is concerned President Trump has not spoken publicly about the starvation crisis and has proposed cuts in foreign aid. “If the U.S. is not in the leadership, the international community is not going to respond,” Cardin said. Senator Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee, chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He predicted Congress will not approve the big cuts in foreign aid proposed by President Trump. But he said action is needed immediately to deal with the starvation crisis, long before a new budget is passed. “We understand that people today as we sit here are dying. What is it that we can do right now today to help try to meet the needs over the next two weeks?” Corker said at a hearing last week. Gregory Gottlieb is with the U.S. Agency for International Development. He told Corker that if his agency received more flexibility on rules for food aid, it could feed an additional five million people a year. Nancy Lindborg is president of the U.S. Institutes of Peace, an independent, federal office. She said a lot of the starvation in the four nations facing famine is a product of war and other conflicts, not food shortages. Lindborg said armed groups are killing livestock, destroying food supplies and closing down markets. On March 16, one reporter asked Budget Director Mick Mulvaney if the proposed budget cuts will cause, in their words, “some of the most vulnerable people on Earth to suffer?” Mulvaney said that Trump is following up on his campaign promise to put America first. “The President said specifically hundreds of times -- you covered him -- I'm going to spend less money on people overseas and more money on people back home. And that's exactly what we're doing with this budget,” Mulvaney said. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on VOANews.com, the Associated Press and other sources. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   respond - v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request flexibility - n. able to change or to do different things livestock - n. farm animals such as cows and that are kept, raised, and used by people vulnerable - adj. people at risk specifically - adv. in a definite and exact way

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Red Bull Heir Avoids Legal Action after Crash

In 2012, the driver of a Ferrari, an expensive Italian sports car, hit a motorcycle police officer in Bangkok, Thailand, dragged him along the road and fled. A trail of brake fluid led investigators to the home of one of the country’s richest families. The car belonged to Vorayuth Yoovidhya. His grandfather co-found the Red Bull energy drink company. Forbes magazine estimates the family’s net worth is around $10 billion. The first reports said a family employee had been driving the car, which was heavily damaged -- its windshield shattered. After top officers visited the house, Vorayuth, who was 27 at the time, went to the police station with his father. The Yoovidhyas paid $15,000 bail at the police station and Vorayuth went home. Almost five years later, Vorayuth has avoided legal action against him. The statute of limitations on some of the charges against him – will end this year. Government lawyers have ordered Vorayuth to court to hear the charges against him, but he has not appeared. His lawyer has given different reasons for the absence, including sickness and involvement in international business deals. Enjoying family’s wealth Many people thought Vorayuth was hiding in Thailand or overseas, living a quiet life and hiding his identity when in public. But the Associated Press news agency reports that the Thai man is not hiding. It found that, within weeks of the accident, Vorayuth was out in public enjoying his family’s wealth. AP says he often flies around the world on company airplanes, attends car races, and drives around London in a costly sports car. The AP says it tracked him easily by reading social media messages. Reporters for the news agency found Vorayuth and his family on vacation in Luang Prabang, Laos, at a $1000 a night hotel. The reports say the family ate at a costly restaurant, visited temples and swam in the hotel pool before flying home to Bangkok. The lawyer for the Yoovidhya family did not answer Associated Press requests to talk to Vorayuth. Police officer was first to leave family’s farm Police Sergeant Major Wichean Glanprasert was the victim of the hit-and-run. It happened in the morning of September 3, 2012 on one a main road in Bangkok. The youngest of five children, Wichean was the first in the family to leave the family’s coconut and palm farm. He paid for his parents’ care until they died. He helped his sister, who had cancer. He had no children, but planned to pay for his brother’s children to attend college. Vorayuth’s lawyer met with Wichean’s family. They accepted a payment of about $100,000. In exchange, they agreed not to demand that Vorayuth face criminal charges. Comronwit Toopgrajank was the head of Bangkok’s police department when the accident happened. Many people believed Vorayuth’s wealth and his family’s power would keep him from being punished. But Comronwit promised the driver would be punished. “We will not let this police officer die without justice, believe me,” Comronwit said. “The truth will prevail in this case. I can guarantee it.” But when Comronwit retired in 2014, Vorayuth had not been punished. Comronwit now says “I am disappointed.” A culture of impunity Critics say the lack of progress in the case shows that rich people in Thailand are not held responsible for violating the law. The country has struggled with the rule of law for many years. Chris Baker is a British historian. He and his Thai wife have written a lot about inequality, wealth and power in Thailand. He said he is not surprised that Vorayuth has not been tried. “There is most certainly a culture of impunity here that big people -- which means, roughly, people with power and money -- expect to be able to get away with a certain amount of wrongdoing,” he said. “This happens so often, so constantly, it is very clearly part of the working culture.” Vorayuth is not the only child of a rich family who has not been punished for a suspected crime. Last year, the son of a rich Thai businessman was speeding in his car when he hit a smaller car. The crash killed two graduate students. No legal action has been taken. In 2010, a 16-year-old daughter of a rich former military officer crashed her car into another vehicle, killing nine people. The girl was sentenced to two years but did not go to prison. She was instead ordered to do community service. The strong ties between money, power and politics in Thailand have led to government overthrows and violent protests. In 2006, a billionaire prime minister was found guilty of corruption. He avoided jail by living outside of Thailand. In 2011, his sister came to power. The military removed her from office. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha is a former commander of the Thai Army. He says he will fight corruption and crime. But the lack of action against Vorayuth and other rich people make it difficult for Thais to believe him. Police spokesman Col. Krissana Pattanacharoen said his agency has done everything it is able to do to charge Vorayuth. And the agency has told Vorayuth’s lawyers that he must appear at the prosecutor’s office on Thursday, March 30. “I am not saying it is a case where the rich guy will get away with it,”' said Krissana. “I can’t answer that question. But what I can answer is, if you look at the timeline here, what we did, by far there is nothing wrong with the inquiry officers who are carrying out the case.” Pokpong Srisanit is a law professor at Thammasat University. He says the situation is “not normal,” but appears to be legal. He says Thai law is flawed by the statute of limitations. If enough time passes between a crime and the legal action to deal with it, people can escape punishment. I’m Jonathan Evans. And I'm Kelly Jean Kelly.   The Associated Press news agency reported this story from Bangkok. John Smith adapted the report 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   trail - n. marks, signs, ... left behind by someone or something brake fluid - n. oil used in device to slow or stop a vehicle shatter - v. break into many small pieces bail -n. money given to a court to allow a prisoner to leave jail and return later for a trial statute of limitation - n. a law that states the amount of time that must pass before a crime can no longer be punished prevail - v. to win, especially in a long or difficult contest disappointed - adj. sad, unhappy rule of law - n. a situation in which the laws are obeyed by everyone impunity - n. freedom from punishment roughly - adv. not exactly but close in meaning constantly - adv. happening all the time inquiry - n. request for information flawed - adj. having a mistake, fault or weakness

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Bob Dylan to Finally Receive Nobel Prize

This is What’s Trending Today. Many people were surprised when the Swedish Academy announced last October that American singer Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize in Literature. The academy said it chose Dylan because he “created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.” After the announcement, the Nobel committee did not hear from Dylan for a long time. Some people openly wondered if he would accept the prize. But in December, Azita Raji, the United States’ Ambassador to Sweden, accepted it for him. Raji read Dylan’s acceptance speech at a dinner in Stockholm. Dylan wrote: “If someone had ever told me that I had the slightest chance of winning the Nobel Prize, I would have to think that I'd have about the same odds as standing on the moon.” American singer Patti Smith attended the award ceremony. She performed Dylan’s classic song “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”  People still did not know, however, when Dylan would accept his Nobel Prize medal and diploma. Now, the permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy, Sara Danius, says the performer will get them this weekend while he’s in Sweden. She left a message on the academy’s blog. Dylan still has one more duty if he wants to collect the last part of his prize. Each Nobel Prize winner receives a payment for over $900,000. But they need to give a “Nobel Lecture.”  Danius wrote that the academy’s members expect Dylan to send in his lecture on video at some point. Bob Dylan is performing in northern Europe through May. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. His report was based on information from Reuters. George Grow was the editor. What do you think Bob Dylan will speak about for his Nobel Lecture? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   slight – adj. very small in degree or amount odds – n. the possibility that something will happen : the chance that one thing will happen instead of a different thing classic – adj. used to say that something has come to be considered one of the best of its kind medal – n. a document which shows that a person has finished a course of study or has graduated from a school diploma – n. a document which shows that a person has finished a course of study or has graduated from a school blog – n. a website on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities, and experiences lecture – n. - a talk or speech given to a group of people to teach them about a particular subject

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Britain Officially Starts Withdrawal from European Union

  British Prime Minister Teresa May has officially started the process for Britain to leave the European Union (EU). May sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday. The move put Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon into effect. The treaty is an international agreement on which the EU is based. Article 50 deals with how a member country can withdraw from the organization. May’s letter noted the historic nationwide vote on EU membership last year. It said the British people had not voted to “harm the European Union or any of the remaining member states.” The letter went on to say that Britain wanted the EU to succeed and explained that the election result was an effort to “restore national self-determination.” By informing the EU of its decision, Britain now starts two years of negotiations between the two sides. Talks on security, business, defense, health, the environment and other issues are expected to be complex. The process started on June 23, 2016, when Britons decided in a close referendum vote to leave the EU. Then-prime minister David Cameron had promised to hold the referendum, but had campaigned for Britain to stay an EU member. Cameron resigned after the vote. Some observers say the vote’s outcome resulted partly from feelings that the EU government was taking too much control away from British citizens. People in London and Scotland voted to stay in the EU, while other areas supported a British exit, commonly called “Brexit.” Little agreement on how long Brexit will take Few Britons and political observers agree on what Brexit will mean for Britain and its partners. Jo Murkens of the London School of Economics says most people do agree the process will be disorderly and take more than two years. He said, “The effect of European Union law is all pervasive from constitutional-level questions to the regulation of bananas and cucumbers. So, it is a mammoth task that will not be negotiated within two years. It will take a decade or decades to give full effect to EU withdrawal.” One day before May invoked Article 50, London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan called on European leaders not to punish Britain. He said that London would remain an important city, especially as a financial center, after Brexit. He said, “The truth is that London will always remain a key partner for Brussels and every European nation long after Brexit is resolved.”  Khan warned against a bad Brexit deal. He said such an agreement would cut off the EU from its only truly international financial center and risk losing financial services companies to New York, Singapore and Hong Kong. London’s mayor also said the “perfect gesture of goodwill” would be for the government to guarantee that EU citizens would remain in Britain. Seliq Khan is the first Muslim mayor of a major western city. He has launched a campaign bringing attention to how London continues to welcome foreigners and businesses. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Luis Ramirez reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   referendum – n. when the people of a country or state vote on a particular law or issue pervasive – adj. existing in every part of something mammoth – adj. very large gesture – n. something said or done that shows a feeling or attitude exit – n. the act of going away or leaving; a way out outcome – n. result restore – v. to re-establish determination – n. the act of deciding something firmly

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Indonesian Tax Amnesty Program Set to End Friday

  About 10 percent of Indonesians are registered taxpayers and only about one million report their taxes to the government. That is not a lot for the world’s fourth most populous country. Indonesia is home to almost 260 million people. The comparatively small number of taxpayers might be one reason for Indonesia’s growing budget deficit. In the summer of 2016, the government launched a program to increase uncollected tax revenue. It offered to forgive individuals who were late or failed to make tax payments if they paid their taxes. The amnesty program was aimed at wealthy Indonesians who keep some of their money and investments overseas. It is set to end on March 31. The program, however, has been criticized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Indonesian labor unions and other groups. They say it does not punish tax evaders enough and it is unfair to other taxpayers. Tax amnesty program could increase revenue Asmiati Malik is an economics researcher at the University of Birmingham in England. She says the money from the amnesty program could reduce Indonesia’s budget deficit by a large amount. “It could do so by as much as 70 percent: from $23 billion to $8.2 billion,” she said. The Jakarta Post newspaper reported earlier this month that up to 4,000 people were signing up for the program every day in March. The Directorate of Taxation says that more than three million Indonesians became new taxpayers over the past year. The new taxpayers include business people in the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Many signed up for the tax amnesty program this year. Yustinus Prastowo is with the Center for Indonesia Taxation Analysis. He says the amnesty program offers good reasons for people to take part and return money from overseas. “Two huge benefits of the amnesty program for taxpayers now are the low interest rate and the abolition of tax debt,” he said. If they bring their financial assets back to Indonesia, individuals will be charged between two and 10 percent interest. That is in place of the business or personal income tax rates, which can reach 30 percent. Those signed up for the program must promise to keep their assets in Indonesia for three years. Many wealthy Indonesians keep money in places with low taxes, such as nearby Singapore. Reports say Indonesia has recovered more money from its tax amnesty experiment than other countries, such as India and Germany. A goal: increase those participating in taxation “The major issue is that the number of taxpayers who joined the amnesty program is still low,” noted researcher Asmiati Malik. She said about 700,000 people joined the program, but that “is only 2.2 percent of those eligible.” She thinks many more Indonesians could be added to the list of those being taxed. She called for a tax policy designed to increase participation in both the amnesty program and taxation in general. Indonesia is expected to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) as a full member in September. When it does so, the country will share its tax information internationally. That means it will be able to find out details of Indonesian citizens’ assets in other countries, such as Singapore and the Cayman Islands. On Monday, the Directorate General of Taxation announced it would give “special attention” to very wealthy Indonesians who had not yet registered for tax amnesty. But political unrest could hurt efforts to get the wealthy to repatriate money from overseas. In November and December, there were protests against Jakarta’s governor, a Chinese Christian. Yustinus Prastowo said political and ethnic unrest are reasons investors keep money out of the country. OECD remains critical The OECD, however, has been critical of Indonesia’s tax amnesty plan. Philip Kerfs is an advisor for the OECD’s Centre for Tax Policy and Administration. He told Bloomberg news that amnesty programs are “unlikely to deliver benefits that exceed their true costs.” Kerfs added that these programs might hurt tax revenue over time and efforts to get people to pay taxes. Groups opposed to the program say it lets Indonesians ignore the law. I’m Mario Ritter.   Krithika Varagur reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Revenue –n. money that is paid to a business, organization or government Evaders –n. people who avoid something repatriate –v. to bring back into a country assets –n. someone or something of value amnesty –n. the act of not punishing a group or permitting them to go free

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Samsung Launches Long-Awaited Galaxy S8

Samsung has launched its much-awaited new smartphone, the Galaxy S8. The device was introduced during a media event Wednesday in New York. The launch came after Samsung was forced to recall millions of its troubled Note 7 devices last year. Samsung’s chief of mobile operations, D.J. Koh, began the event by admitting the company had faced a “challenging” year. One filled with “valuable lessons and hard decisions.” But he said the launch marked an important new beginning. “Today, I’m excited to show you a new phone that extends our heritage of great innovation and stunning design.” Samsung launched two versions of the new phone – the Galaxy S8 (14.7 cm), and the slightly larger Galaxy S8+ (15.75 cm). The company said one of the most exciting features of the S8s is what it calls the Infinity Display. This end-to-end design gets rid of a structured edge, resulting in curving on all sides. The frame has also been reduced on the new phones, giving more room for the display. Also, the S8 does not have a separate home button – a virtual home button is built into the display. Samsung’s senior vice president, Justin Denison, explained the process behind the latest design.        “In other words, we’ve redesigned the smartphone from the inside out – to unbox the screen and unleash its infinite potential.” Samsung also gave the world its first look at a new voice assistant named Bixby. The service uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology comparable to offerings by Google, Apple and Microsoft. This allows voice to control many device actions. The company said users can take photos of books, food or other products and Bixby will automatically search and bring up information on them. The S8s include a higher quality 8 megapixel camera in front, with a 12 megapixel one in the back. Samsung also launched a new virtual reality camera, called Gear 360, which can support the highest quality video, 4K. The new phones come with iris and facial recognition technology that the company says lets users unlock a device just by looking at it. The Galaxy S8 and S8+ will be available for pre-order beginning March 30 and will begin shipping to the U.S. on April 21. Prices have not yet been announced. Samsung issued a worldwide recall of its popular Galaxy Note 7 devices last September after repeated overheating problems. A company investigation found the overheating was linked to batteries that caused some devices to catch fire. Samsung stopped production and recalled at least 2.5 million phones worldwide, costing the company at least $5.3 billion. This week, the company said it plans to sell some refurbished Note 7 phones with new batteries that passed new safety tests. Some parts from recalled devices will also be used in future phones. The decision came after environmental group Greenpeace and others had urged Samsung to come up with a plan to recycle the troubled devices.  Samsung is still working on plans for how and where the refurbished devices will be sold. But the company said they would not be for sale in the United States or India. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   heritage – n. traditions, beliefs, etc. that are part of a group of nation innovation – n. new idea device or method stunning – adj. very attractive, beautiful curve – n. smooth, rounded, without edges frame – n. basic structure holding other things inside virtual – adj. existing on computers or the internet unleash – v. allow something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly iris – n. the colored part of your eye recall – n. – a request by a company for people to return a product because it has a defect or problem refurbish – v. repair or rebuild  

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March 29, 2017

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

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Google Maps Tool Lets Users Share Their Location with Friends

An update to Google Maps contains a handy tool that lets users share their location with friends. No more need to let someone know that you are going to be late. Using the new Google Maps update “Share Your Location,” friends can track your route and know when you will arrive. What share your location does When you share your location using Google Maps, your friends can follow where you are in real time. Your location on the map will change as you move. Users can share their location for a limited period of time that they choose. Or they can set it to share their location until it is turned off. The Google Maps app will let you know when you are sharing your location so you do not forget to turn it off. This tool works with iPhone and Android, and also on computers. Even if you have an iPhone and your friends have Android phones, you can share your location with them using Google Maps. You can even send your location to people who do not have a smart phone. If they use a computer, they can see where you are on the Google Maps website - provided you have shared your location with them. You can send your location to anyone in your list of Google contacts. You can also share your location with someone who is not in your contact list. Just send them a link. You can share your location with as many people as you want. Sharing your route If you are using Google Maps to navigate, you can send your route in addition to your location. That way your friends will know the way you are going and see when you are expected to arrive.                               Share your location video A video from Google shows how location sharing can be used to plan a surprise party. The host and guests can follow each other to know when everyone has arrived at the party. The person who is bringing the guest of honor can share their location so others will know when to prepare for the surprise. How to use share your location in Google Maps After the app has been updated you can begin to share your location with others using Google Maps. You must have the Google Maps app to use this feature. This app comes standard on Android phones. If you have an iPhone, you can download the Google Maps app for free at the iTunes App Store. After you have downloaded the app, log into your Google account. Open the app and tap the blue dot that shows where you are. A menu will show. Tap "Share Location" then choose which of your contacts you would like to share your location with and for how long.           Next, tap "Share" to begin sharing your location. An icon will appear as long as your location is being shared.                               How to share your route When you are using Google Maps on your phone to navigate, tap the "More" button at the bottom of the screen. Then tap "Share trip" and choose which people to share your trip with and for how long. You can choose to share your route for a specific time period or until you arrive at your destination. What else you need to know You can turn off sharing your location at any time. Even if you have set a time period for sharing your location, you can cancel it whenever you want. Google has not given a date for this update to be available. The announcement simply said it is "coming soon." I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Are you interested in sharing your location with your friends using Google Maps? When would you use this new feature? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   handy - adj. very useful or helpful location - n. a place or position track - v. to watch or follow the progress of (someone or something) route - n. a way to get from one place to another place real time - n. the actual time during which a process or event occurs navigate - v. to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling​ icon - n. a small picture on a computer screen that represents a program or function  

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Million-Dollar Coin Stolen from Museum in Berlin

  This is What’s Trending Today. The Bode Museum in Berlin, Germany is known for its collection of 540,000 rare coins. As of this week, however, it is down to 539,999. The collection’s largest coin has been stolen. The giant coin weighs 100 kilograms and is 53 centimeters wide. The Royal Canadian Mint produced the coin. It is known as “Big Maple Leaf.” The face value of the coin is $1 million. But experts say it may be worth up to $4 million because its gold is so pure. It was loaned to the museum in 2010. The museum kept the coin behind bulletproof glass. But, thieves managed to break the case. Berlin police believe the thieves climbed in through a window at the back of the museum. The window is next to train tracks. Police say the thieves used a ladder to reach the window, dropped into the museum, broke the case and took the coin. Since the coin was so large, police are looking for a group of suspects. They say the break-in happened early Monday morning, when trains were not operating. They believe the thieves were in and out of the museum in just 25 minutes. The police have not said if there is security video of the crime. People on social media say the robbery seems like something you would see in a movie. Others are questioning how the thieves got such a heavy coin out of the museum. One person guessed that the thieves must all be weightlifters. Others want to know what they will do with the coin, since they can’t sell it. And of course, they cannot use it in a vending machine to buy a snack, one Twitter user joked.  Experts think the thieves may try to melt the coin into smaller pieces and try to sell the gold. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think will happen to the coin? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vending machine – n. a machine that you put money into in order to buy food, drinks, cigarettes, etc. snack – n. a small amount of food eaten between meals face value – n. the value that is printed or shown on something (such as a coin or bill)

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Three Methods to Improve Your Presentations

  Giving a presentation can be a scary task. It can be even more worrisome when the presentation is not in your native language. You may forget the English words for what you want to say. Or, like a lot of people, you may get nervous. But, the good news is there are many tools you can use. Learning these tools can help you become a confident and effective presenter – even in English! Anna Uhl Chamot, a retired professor at George Washington University, developed a way of teaching language learners. Called CALLA, the method explains how to use learning strategies to understand academic language and content. Learning strategies are thoughts and actions that help people learn better, or perform tasks effectively. CALLA stands for Cognitive Academic Language Learning Approach. Think of these strategies as tools that will make presentations easier and more enjoyable – for the presenter and the audience. Many of the CALLA strategies are useful for giving a presentation in your second language. But Chamot says three are especially useful: Planning, Monitoring and Self-Evaluation. Let’s start with planning. Learning Strategy #1: Planning Planning involves everything you do to prepare and practice before giving your presentation. This includes deciding what your main ideas are and making notes of the points you want to make. Chamot emphasizes that having a good understanding of your subject is very important. This understanding makes it possible to talk about your topic fluidly and confidently during your presentation. After deciding on main ideas and notes, some people even like to write out every word they’re going to say. “I know a lot of learners, and I mean not just learners of English but people in general, even native speakers, feel that they want to write out everything they’re going to say. This gives them some comfort.” If you do this, Chamot says, once you are satisfied with the wording, then it’s time to reduce those words to very, very short notes. During the planning period, you will also prepare your visuals, such as on PowerPoint, Prezi or some other program. Chamot recommends that each visual only have a few bullets of your points and very few words on it. Or, even better is if you have only images or easy-to-see graphics and no words. For example, if you are giving a presentation about things to do during summer in Washington, D.C., your visual might be an image of something exciting that takes place in that season: That next step of planning is practice. Chamot says practicing is the most important step because it will help remind you of the points that the short phrases on your visuals represent. Practice saying what you want to say about each visual. The more you verbalize everything you want to say, the easier it will be to talk comfortably about the points. Practicing will also help you avoid doing two things: reading from your notes or memorizing any part of your presentation. When you practice, do so in front of another person, or a few people. Even your electronics can help you, Chamot says.  “Use a friend or a family member as your audience or/and practice in front of a mirror, looking at yourself, and turn on your smart phone and record yourself. Then you can listen to what you really sound like.” And, as you practice, visualize being in front of the real audience. “Imagine in your head the audience, see all those faces and expressions and imagine that they’re there right in front of you.” Chamot also recommends a tactic that can quickly get any audience interested and helps to decrease the nervous feeling: ask your audience a question. For example, if your topic is summer activities in Washington, D.C., you might ask a question like, “How many of you have ever gone to an outdoor concert in Washington, D.C.?” Asking a question also makes a presentation more like a two-way conversation and less like a lecture. When you spend time preparing and practicing, you gain confidence and comfort and will feel less worry on presentation day. Learning Strategy #2: Monitoring The next strategy is monitoring. Monitoring is watching, listening to, or checking something for a special purpose over a period of time. You should monitor yourself at two different points: during your practice sessions and during the actual presentation. During Practice: To monitor during practice, Chamot says make a list of questions to ask yourself. “Some examples are: ‘Did I state my topic and objectives at the beginning?’ ‘Did I provide some examples and details for each main idea?’ ‘Did I restate the topic and conclusions at the end?’” A big part of developing comfort in front of a group, she says, comes from the effort you put into practicing. If you practice enough, you will not need to monitor much during the actual presentation. During the Presentation: When you’re in front of the real audience, monitoring can help you quickly observe issues and find solutions.  “One of the most important things to monitor is: ‘Am I nervous?’ ‘What can I do about it?’ One of the things about monitoring is that, when you’re monitoring your performance, you notice problems and it allows you an opportunity to try to solve those problems.” Chamot says, if you realize you’re feeling nervous, a good learning strategy to use is Self-Talk: mentally telling yourself you are going to do well. “Like, ‘I really worked hard on this. I know my PowerPoint looks good. I’m going to take a deep breath. And I have practiced so much. I know I can do this.’” And, if you forget English words during your presentation, you can use the strategy called Substitution: choosing different words to say what you want to say. Other questions to keep in mind while you’re giving your presentation are: “Am I speaking too fast or too slow?” “Am I looking at my audience?” “Am I smiling from time to time?” Learning Strategy #3: Self-Evaluation That brings us to Self-Evaluation, our third learning strategy. In Self-Evaluation, you examine how well you did. The main difference between monitoring and self-evaluation is when it happens. Self-evaluation takes place after each practice session and after your actual presentation. Chamot suggests making a list of questions for these two evaluation periods. For after your practice sessions, include questions such as: “Did I look at the audience enough?” “How much more do I need to practice?” and “How well did I do?” And, for after the actual presentation, ask yourself, “What did I do well?” and “What do I need to improve?” The CALLA method says understanding what strategies work well for you is important. That is especially true when you evaluate a time you did something well. Those strategies that helped you do well are the ones you want to use again. Giving a presentation in your second language can indeed be frightening. But, if you have a strong understanding of your subject and use these helpful tools, it will become easier and easier to speak in public! I’m Alice Bryant. And I’m Bryan Lynn.   Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   task - n. a piece of work that has been given to someone; a job for someone to do retired - adj. not working anymore; having ended your working or professional career bullet - n. a large dot in a document, book, etc., that brings attention to separate pieces of information in a list phrase - n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence verbalize - v. to express something in words evaluate - v. to judge the value or condition of someone or something in a careful and thoughtful way

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Death Rates Rising for Middle Age Whites with Little Education

A new study from Princeton University economists says white middle-aged Americans without college educations are dying at higher rates.  Professors Anne Case and Angus Deaton wrote the study. It finds that men and women older than 45 but younger than retirement age are dying from what one expert calls "deaths of despair." These include deaths from suicide, drug overdose or alcohol-related diseases.  They say this is caused by the loss of middle-income jobs for those without a college degree. The economists also say that fewer job opportunities have created other problems for this group. The researchers say they are more likely than those with college degrees to be unemployed, unmarried or suffer from poor health. "This is a story of the collapse of the white working class," Deaton said in an interview. "The labor market has very much turned against them." The study continues research in 2015 that first documented an increase in deaths among middle-aged whites.     A sharp increase in “deaths of despair” Case and Deaton found that since 1999, white men and white women ages 45 through 54 have suffered from a sharp increase in "deaths of despair." These include suicides, drug overdoses, and alcohol-related deaths, such as liver failure. Case and Deaton say in their study that there is a relationship between rising death rates and changes in the job market since the 1970s. They said that men without college degrees are less likely to receive better pay over time, a trend "consistent with men moving to lower and lower skilled jobs." Other research has found that Americans with only high school educations are less likely to get married or buy a home. They are also more likely to get divorced if they do marry the study says. "It's not just their careers that have gone down the tubes, but their marriage prospects, their ability to raise children," said Deaton. "That's the kind of thing that can lead people to despair." Angus Deaton won the Nobel Prize in economics in 2015 for using surveys to study how people spend their money and to learn more about their behavior. White Americans are the most affected The issues identified by Case and Deaton may be causing a change in the trend of improving life expectancies. However, the researchers say it is not clear why these problems are affecting whites more than African-Americans or Hispanics.  Case and Deaton note that many Hispanics are in a much better situation than their parents or grandparents, who were born in another country. This could create a greater sense of optimism.  The professors also added that African-Americans may have become more resilient to economic difficulties because they have a long history of suffering problems in the job market. The researchers also noted that a life expectancy division among people with different education levels is growing. While death rates for middle-aged whites without a college degree are rising, the Princeton professors say the rates for whites with a college education are falling. These trends, the researchers say, are found across the United States. West Virginia and Kentucky are reportedly most affected.  However, areas such as the state of Maine, the city of Baltimore and eastern Washington state also appear to show the trends identified in the study. The research also found these trends exist in rural areas, in small cities and in some large urban areas. Case and Deaton say death rates for middle-aged people in Europe with limited education are falling. And they add that this is the case in most countries. Case and Deaton also note that government programs to help people with disabilities are not responsible for the increase in middle-aged deaths. Some of these programs, the researchers say, are permitting more Americans to stop working. They say that social programs in Europe usually provide more benefits than the ones in the U.S. And the researchers say Europe has not seen a similar increase in middle-aged deaths. Case and Deaton say that changing these trends could take years. To help prevent middle-aged deaths, they say, doctors should cut back on providing opium-based pain drugs to patients. The study was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States. It also appears on the website of The Brookings Institution, a public policy organization. I’m Phil Dierking   Christopher S. Rugaber wrote this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Are these trends found in your home country?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   demographic - n. the qualities such as age, sex, and income of a specific group of people​ despair - n. the feeling of no longer having any hope​ epidemic - n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people​ gone down the tubes - to fail completely overdose - n. an amount of a drug or medicine that is too much and usually dangerous​ resilient - adj. able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens​

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Will High Cost of Small Loans Hurt Cambodians?

The Cambodian government has ordered a limit on interest rates on small loans. The decision comes before local elections are set to take place in June. The 18 percent limit on the microfinance industry interest rates takes effect on April 1. Microfinance businesses operate in many developing countries. They accept deposits and provide small loans to people in the developing world. In Sokai is a 32-year-old Cambodian garment worker. She recently received a microfinance loan of $5,000. She must repay it within four years. “I borrowed $5000 and I bought chickens, built the house, and my husband bought a boat, fishing nets and other items,” she said. She will pay interest at a rate of 22 percent a year. The new legislation will not reduce her loan payments because the law has not yet taken effect. Her loan is considered large for the Cambodian microfinance industry. Seventy percent of microfinance industry, of MFI, loans are under $500. Sokai had not heard of the new law. But it has caused a lot of concern among the private microfinance businesses in Cambodia. Small loans more costly to provide, lenders say Microfinance loans are usually for less than one year. Their interest rates are very high -- 30 percent or more. Microfinance industry supporters say this is necessary because the costs of servicing small, risky loans are higher. The high cost of the loans has not reduced demand, however. Cambodia’s microfinance industry is growing quickly. In 2015, there were 1.5 million depositors and more than two million borrowers. MFIs are in every province of the country of 15 million people. Almost all the loans go to people living outside Phnom Pehn, Cambodia’s capital. Most borrowers are women. The new law comes before local elections in June. A national vote is to take place in the middle of 2018. Supporters of the new law say the limit is meant to protect Cambodians from paying high rates. Lawmakers also want to increase access to Cambodia’s financial system. Borrowers often use their land or home as a security for the loan. They can lose their property if they are unable to pay. Interest rate limits are not unusual. Many countries have them. But, the World Bank says they are becoming less popular. Some industry observers, however, say the law limiting interest rates will have a negative effect. Stephen Higgins is with Mekong Strategic Partners. The company gives business advice. “Ideally we shouldn’t have this cap. The interest rates in Cambodia for these small loans, they’re actually amongst the lowest in the world. And people forget that.”  Higgins says the cost of lending for small loans is high. He says microfinance businesses need to charge a 30 percent interest rate for a $500 nine-month loan to make a small profit. Opponents of the limits say microfinance businesses may stop offering loans. That, they say, will force rural people to go to moneylenders who charge much higher interest rates. The Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) is a non-profit organization based in Phnom Penh. It supports microfinance businesses. It says its members will need to reduce costs and become more efficient in order to survive. Mey Kalyan is an economist and adviser to the government. He supports the law. He says it will help protect small farmers from agriculture-related debt. He says that farmers who take out high interest loans of 30 percent or more struggle to make a profit. CMA chairman Hout Ieng Tong says at least some CMA members will still offer small loans. But it is unclear whether the new interest rate limit will hurt deposits in microfinance businesses or will drive borrowers to higher-cost moneylenders. I’m Mario Ritter.  And I'm Ashley Thompson.   Robert Carmichael and Khan Sokummono reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cap –n. a limit on something microfinance industry –n. businesses that provide banking services like taking deposits and providing small loans to people with little income  

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