Meet the Whale That Can Say 'Hello' and 'Bye Bye'

This is What’s Trending Today… Wikie is a 14-year-old whale living in captivity in France. Wikie is an orca. Orcas are extremely smart, making them dangerous to their prey. Orcas are also called “killer whales.” Their intelligence makes them easy for humans to train. Many captive orcas perform tricks for audiences at marine parks. And, as it turns out, orcas can even be trained to “speak” using human language. An group of international researchers said this week they taught Wikie to repeat human words. They taught her to mimic words like “hello,” “bye bye” and the name “Amy.” She also repeated numbers as well as sounds made by the researchers.   Wikie was a quick learner; she was able to mimic a word or sound after just 10 tries. (You can listen to Wikie’s sounds here:) The news made Wikie a trending topic on social media. In the wild, orcas live in groups of whales called pods. Each pod uses different sounds and calls to communicate with each other. Scientists already knew that orcas were able to learn new whale “dialects.” One orca even learned to communicate with a dolphin while living with it in captivity. Although Wikie is able to mimic human words and sounds, that does not mean she can understand them. Josep Call is a professor of evolutionary origins of mind at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He is the co-author of the study. He told The Guardian this week that there is no evidence that Wikie understands what ‘hello’ stands for. But the orca’s ability is, in Call’s words, “impressive -- even though the morphology [of orcas] is so different, they can still produce a sound that comes close to what another species, in this case us, can produce.” The study was published in the journal Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. Ashley Thompson wrote this article based on reports from Science News Alert and The Guardian. Caty Weaver was the editor.  ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   captivity - n. the state of being kept in a place (such as a prison or a cage) and not being able to leave or be free : the state or condition of being captive prey - n. an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food audience - n. a group of people who gather together to listen to something (such as a concert) or watch something (such as a movie or play) mimic - v. to copy (someone or someone's behavior or speech) dialect - n. a form of a language that is spoken in a particular area and that uses some of its own words, grammar, and pronunciations morphology - n. the study and description of how words are formed in language  

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January 31, 2018

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

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Quiz - Experts Suggest Colleges Should Invest More in Supporting Researchers

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Apple to Allow Users to Turn Off iPhone Slowdowns

  Apple says it will give iPhone users the ability to turn off a software tool that can slow down device performance. The change is expected to come this spring with the release of Apple’s latest mobile operating system update, iOS 11.3. The announcement followed heavy criticism and user anger when it became public that Apple had secretly been slowing down operating systems of older iPhones. The slowdown issue was first pointed out in internet reports. Apple admitted the practice in December. In an explanation, the company said it only took the action to prevent some aging batteries from failing and completely shutting devices down. All rechargeable batteries used in mobile devices become less effective over time. Certain temperature conditions can also cause a battery to age faster. Apple said these older batteries could unexpectedly shut down during times of high energy demand. It called such shutdowns “unacceptable” and said that is why the company took “power management” measures to prevent them. Many people have long suspected Apple intentionally slows the performance of older iPhones in an effort to get users to buy new ones. Apple has strongly denied this suspicion. “We have never - and would never - do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades,” the company said. Despite this explanation, Apple was criticized for not informing iPhone owners about the power issues before it decided to slow devices down. Many owners argued they would have chosen to replace batteries if they had known the issues beforehand. Several lawsuits seeking monetary damages from Apple were also started by iPhone owners. They owners argued they would not have spent money on new iPhones if they had known there were other ways to fix slow performance. In a statement Wednesday, Apple said it had received requests for information about the issue from U.S. government agencies. The statement followed a Bloomberg report that the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission were looking at whether the company's actions had violated any securities laws.  To answer user concerns, Apple announced it was offering owners of an iPhone 6 or later the chance to replace batteries at a reduced cost. The price to replace a battery was cut from $79 to $29, with the deal available worldwide through December 2018. In its announcement about the iOS 11.3 update, the company said users themselves will be able to turn off the power management feature. In addition, a new tool will be added to show iPhone battery health and suggest when service is needed. Apple also previewed some other new features to be released with its iOS 11.3 update this spring. The update will include several new Animojis. These are animated characters iPhone X owners can use with their voices and facial expressions to create videos and messages. In addition, a new feature in the iOS Health app is designed to organize user data from various medical facilities in one view. The Health Records feature can also be used to send messages to patients about conditions, medicines and laboratory results. Apple says all medical data is encrypted for user protection. The iOS 11.3 update also includes a change to Apple Music the company says makes it easier to play unlimited music videos without seeing advertisements. Also, Apple News will include new features to find and view the most important videos of the day. Finally, a new tool called Business Chat will provide a way for users to directly connect with company help representatives from within the Messages service.   I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.     ______________________________________________________________ QUIZ Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   degrade – v. to damage the quality or condition of something upgrade – n. a situation in which one thing is replaced by something better, newer, more valuable, etc. feature – n. an interesting part or characteristic of something animated – adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc. encrypted – v. to change electronic information into a secret system of letters, numbers, or symbols to hide its meaning  

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Russia Warns Against Cutting North Korea’s Oil Supply

  Russia’s ambassador to North Korea says oil shipments to the North should not be reduced again. Russian news media reported the comments of the country’s top diplomat in Pyongyang, Alexander Matzegora. Speaking on the state-operated RIA news agency, he warned, “We can’t lower deliveries any further.” He said increased shortages would lead to serious humanitarian problems. Matzegora added, “Official representatives of Pyongyang have made it clear that a blockade would be interpreted by North Korea as a declaration of war, with all the subsequent consequences.” UN has passed numerous sanctions The United Nations Security Council has passed eight resolutions against North Korea in the last two years. Those resolution placed sanctions on the North by limiting the country’s exports and imports and financial activity. The measures also have put financial and travel restrictions on North Korean officials and barred additional North Koreans from working outside the country. The United States, South Korea and other countries also have put in place their own restrictions. The U.N. has set quotas for North Korean oil imports. The ambassador says about 540,000 tons of crude oil are permitted. Over 60,000 tons of oil products from Russia, China and other countries are also permitted he added. Matzegora said that “is a drop in the ocean for a country of 25 million people.” U.S. President Donald Trump targeted North Korea in his first State of the Union speech to the United States Congress on Tuesday. Trump promised to continue to place pressure on North Korea to keep it from developing weapons that could threaten the U.S. Last week, the U.S. added to existing sanctions on North Korea including measures against its crude oil ministry. Reuter reported that the U.S. Treasury placed restrictions on nine groups, 16 individuals and 6 North Korean ships. The targets of the sanctions are accused of involvement in trading goods used in weapons production. North Korea has condemned the latest sanctions. North Korean state media said the measures were meant to hurt recently improved ties between the two Koreas. The two sides continue to carry out joint preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Russia’s deputy foreign minister said his country has no obligation to carry out U.S. sanctions. Other North Korean exports also have been targeted in an effort to punish North Korea for its nuclear and long-distance missile tests. The Russian ambassador, however, denied that his country is permitting North Korea to use Russian ports to transport coal, another sanctioned product. The U.S. has said such activity would contravene U.N. sanctions on the North. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English from Reuters and AP sources. Caty Weaver was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   delivery –n. the act of taking something to a person or place interpret –v. to understand in a certain way subsequent –adj. coming after something else consequences –n. the results of an action or set of conditions sanctions –n. measures taken to cause a country to obey international law usually by limiting trade quotas –n. an official limit on the number of people or the amount of some material that is permitted obligation –n. something required by rule or law contravene –v. to fail to do what is required by law We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Bees Protect Crops from Wild Elephants in India

  People in Mayilattumpara, a village in southwest India, could not sleep at night. Because of habitat loss, wild elephants would enter their village to look for food, destroying crops and farmland. The villagers tried to keep the wild elephants out with electric fences, deep holes and plants believed to keep the animals away. They even tried beating drums. Nothing worked! The repeated destruction of crops led some villagers to stop farming. But the situation turned around last year. That is because residents have finally found what keeps the elephants away: honey bees. Elephants, it turns out, are afraid of loudly buzzing bees and their stings. A wire fence holding beehives now stretches along the border of the village. When elephants try to pass the 2.5 kilometer wire fence, angry bees swarm out and the elephants quickly flee, people in the village say. Protected by the bees, farmers have returned to growing their crops. Some even started to cultivate honey. The idea started in Africa V.S. Roy works for the federal government’s Agriculture Technology Management Agency (ATMA). He said the idea for the fence came from the work of an Oxford university researcher, Lucy King. In 2008, King successfully tested whether honeybees would keep elephants away from areas in Kenya. Researchers in Tanzania had the same success. Roy wondered, “If it could (work) in the African forest, why couldn’t it in the Kerala forest?” So, he worked with the farmer’s association in Mayilattumpara to start the experiment. The fence cost about $8,000 with funding from the ATMA. Johny Kochery has 9 hectares of farmland in the village. He said setting up the fence and beehives was not easy. The farmers needed to find the most effective fence and hive system. They also needed to learn how to replace diseased colonies, care for the bees and deal with the cost of keeping up the system. Kochery said that last season the farmers were not able to make a profit. But this year they hope to have a big harvest. The results of this experiment have encouraged farmers from other areas to try similar projects. The government also has been working to resolve conflict between humans and elephants by reducing deforestation and improving the elephants’ natural habitat. E.A Jayson is a scientist with the Kerala Forest Research Institute. He said the fencing seems to keep the elephant away. But there are now new problems to solve. “We have met with incidences of theft of beehive boxes,” Jayson said. I’m Mario Ritter.   Rachel Dennis adapted this story from a Reuters news report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story habitat –n. the place where wildlife naturally lives or grows stings –n. an injury caused by the sting of an animal like a bee, the sharp part of the body of some animals that can sting swarm –n. a large group of insects moving together cultivate –v. to look after and care for encourage –v. to make someone more willing to do something

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Report Studies Growing Trees for Profit

  Governments around the world have promised billions of dollars to replant trees on millions of hectares of poor land. What is missing are the businesses to make this happen. A new report by the World Resources Institute says it wants to solve this problem. The non-profit environmental organization wants to show that it is possible to make a profit from restoring deforested land. Making a profit from trees Experts say that demands on land and effects of climate mean the world needs every hectare possible to produce food, clean the air and water. Forests also are important for easing the effects of greenhouse gasses blamed for warming the earth’s atmosphere. A group of 47 countries have promised to restore an area of deforested land equal in size to Mongolia by 2020. African and Latin American investors have promised $2 billion for the project. Sofia Faruqi is the author of the report. She said now it is important for the investors to act on their promises. She said governments and non-government organizations cannot do everything. They also need investment from private businesses.  This means profit must be involved. The report brings attention to 14 companies that want to make money restoring land. The authors wanted business models that could create strong results. New ways for new growth of trees Brinkman Group is a tree-planting business based in Canada. The Brinkman Group website says it has planted 1.4 billion trees on 1 million hectares of land. The company got its start replanting forests that had been clear-cut in Canada. In the 1990s, Brinkman started growing trees on land in Central America were farmers had used slash-and-burn methods. Brinkman created a forest environment with a mix of trees, including teak for furniture and flooring and rosewood for guitars. To protect the plant life, individual trees will be selected to be cut, not clear-cut, at harvest time. Some kinds of trees are not usually grown to sell for a profit. It took years to learn how to grow these trees from cuttings. The effort is starting to have some success after 20 years. The first harvests have begun, and company founder Dirk Brinkman says they are starting to make a profit. “It’s a bit surprising for some looking at this, that this is possible,” Brinkman said. “But it takes time to prove.” Other companies included in the report are lowering the cost of restoration. BioCarbon Engineering flies drones that plant trees. Drones are faster and cheaper than replanting by hand, the company says. They can also go to difficult-to-reach places. Other companies have invested to support their current products.  One example is Guayakí, a company that sells tea made from a plant that grows in the shade called yerba mate. The company says it has planted 500,000 trees in a deforested part of Brazil’s forest to shade its important crop. Trees: a risky business The report also includes some new business models. A major cause of deforestation in Africa is the growing demand for building materials and charcoal. To solve this problem, a company based in Kenya called Komaza gives small farmers tree seedlings to plant on unused parts of their land. When the trees mature in 10 to 12 years, Komaza says it will buy the trees back for a guaranteed price. The company then harvests, processes and sells the wood. More than 9,000 farmers are raising more than 2 million trees for Komaza. However, Komaza has not yet made a profit. Ayesha Wagle is president of Komaza. “Trees take a long time to grow,” Wagle said. She noted that the company could cut down a lot of trees immediately and make a profit. But she added, “the longer we wait, the more valuable they are.” The report’s author, Sophia Faruqi, says the long wait to make any money is one of the problems for some investors. Wagle said there are many problems facing Komaza:  “From rainy seasons that don’t appear, to poor roads that make it hard to truck trees to market.” Other difficulties include unclear land ownership in many developing countries, which makes investing in farmers and land restoration risky. And government policy may change during the investment period, especially in developing countries. The Brinkman Group said it got agreements with officials when it planted its tropical hardwood trees. “We were promised a tax-free harvest,” he said. But the situation changed after many years. “Twenty years later, the bureaucracy is going, ‘No, no, we tax logging.’ And we’re going, ‘No, no, we’ve got a grandfathered agreement.’ ‘Oh, well, we don’t have a copy of that agreement anymore.’” It took Brinkman several years to fix this dispute. Mushfiq Mobarak, an economics professor at Yale, says that the idea of making money from planting trees is still very new.  He said there is not a lot of information about the possible risks and returns. Mobarak said he is pleased the report gave ideas for business models. But he notes that, since the information comes from the companies themselves, more independent research is needed. I’m Phil Dierking.   Steve Varagona originally wrote this story for the VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Can you think of other business models for making a profit planting trees?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bureaucracy - n. a large group of people who are involved in running a government but who are not elected​ charcoal - n. a hard black material that is made by burning wood with a small amount of air​ clear-cut - v.  to cut down all the trees in (an area)​ cuttings - n.  a stem, leaf, or root that is cut from a plant and used to grow a new plant​ drones - n. a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot​ grandfather - n. is a provision in a law or contract that allows old rules to continue to apply in certain situations.​ mature - v. to continue developing to a desired level​ restore - v. to return (something) to an earlier or original condition by repairing it, cleaning it, etc.​ seedling - n. a young plant that is grown from seed​ shade - v.  an area of slight darkness that is produced when something blocks the light of the sun​ slash-and-burn - v. done by cutting down and burning trees and plants in order to clear an area of land and grow crops on it for usually a brief time​

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Trump Calls for a 'New American Moment' in Speech

President Donald Trump sought to unite a deeply divided nation with his call for a “new American moment” during his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Trump declared that there has “never been a better time to start living the American dream.” Tax cuts and the economy The president used the speech to talk about his biggest legislative victory, tax reform and reduction, and the healthy American economy. He said, “Since the election, we have created 2.4 million new jobs, including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone.  After years of wage stagnation, we are finally seeing rising wages.” The president said he kept his promise to Americans and, in his words, “enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history.” He said, “Since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million workers have already gotten tax cut bonuses -- many of them thousands of dollars per worker.” Calling for unity Speaking directly to millions of Americans watching on television, Trump said, “Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of nation we are going to be. All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family.” Trump offered a deal on possible citizenship for “Dreamers” in exchange for compromises on other immigration issues. He said a path to citizenship could be given to hundreds of thousands of people who entered the U.S. illegally as children. In return, he said, lawmakers must support the building of a wall along the United States border with Mexico. He also said America’s visa lottery program must end. Trump asked lawmakers from both parties to join forces to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure and reset immigration policies. “I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties, Democrats and Republicans, to protect our citizens, of every background, color, and creed,” Trump said. However, partisanship has only deepened in the year since Trump took office. The president, a Republican, has continued to make personal attacks against his political opponents. Democrats have continued to criticize Trump’s policies and behavior. In the hours before the president's speech, Republican lawmaker Paul Gosar called for the arrest and deportation of any, in his words, “illegal aliens” who attempt to attend the event. Democratic lawmakers had invited several “Dreamers” to attend as their guests. The future of the Dreamers led to a three-day shutdown of the U.S. government last week. America around the world Declaring “the era of economic surrender” over, Trump said he would fix bad trade deals and negotiate new ones. He said his administration will “protect American workers and American intellectual property, through strong enforcement of our trade rules.” The president called on Congress to “modernize and rebuild” the nation’s nuclear weapons to “deter any acts of aggression.” He called North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons “reckless” and a threat to America and its allies. He pledged to launch “a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening.” First lady and guests First lady Melania Trump listened from the gallery with several guests whose stories were noted by the president. Among the guests were police officer Ryan Holets who adopted the baby of opioid-addicted parents. Other guests included Army Staff Sergeant Justin Peck, honored for saving a fellow soldier in Iraq, and Ji Seong-ho, a North Korean defector who walked with injured legs across China and Southeast Asia to seek freedom. Democratic response Representative Joe Kennedy of Massachusetts provided the Democratic response to this year’s State of the Union. The grandson of political icon Robert Kennedy presented his party as the real champion of the middle class. He said, “We choose the living wage, paid leave and affordable child care your family needs to survive. We choose pensions that are solvent, trade pacts that are fair, roads and bridges that won’t rust away, and good education you can afford. We choose a health care system that offers mercy, whether you suffer from cancer or depression or addiction.” In a break with tradition, the Democrats added a second State of the Union response. Newly elected Elizabeth Guzman a member of the House of Delegates in the state of Virginia spoke in Spanish. She said, “The President has attacked our families…The President has attacked those who are most vulnerable…This is unjust. This is unacceptable.” I'm Caty Weaver. Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   stagnation - n. lack of progress or development creed - n. idea or belief intellectual property - n. work or invention that is the result of creativity such as a design, a manuscript, software, etc. that one has copyright or trademark deter - v. to prevent from happening pursuit - n. the act of pursuing something reckless - adj. not showing concern about result or action gallery - n. the highest section of a room, a chamber pension - n. amount of money paid to a retiree solvent - adj. able to pay        

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Text of President Trump's State of the Union Address

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary January 30, 2018   PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS Remarks as prepared for delivery     TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES:          Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, the First Lady of the United States, and my fellow Americans:      Less than 1 year has passed since I first stood at this podium, in this majestic chamber, to speak on behalf of the American People -- and to address their concerns, their hopes, and their dreams.  That night, our new Administration had already taken swift action.  A new tide of optimism was already sweeping across our land.      Each day since, we have gone forward with a clear vision and a righteous mission -- to make America great again for all Americans.      Over the last year, we have made incredible progress and achieved extraordinary success.  We have faced challenges we expected, and others we could never have imagined.  We have shared in the heights of victory and the pains of hardship.  We endured floods and fires and storms.  But through it all, we have seen the beauty of America's soul, and the steel in America's spine.      Each test has forged new American heroes to remind us who we are, and show us what we can be.      We saw the volunteers of the "Cajun Navy," racing to the rescue with their fishing boats to save people in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane.      We saw strangers shielding strangers from a hail of gunfire on the Las Vegas strip.      We heard tales of Americans like Coast Guard Petty Officer Ashlee Leppert, who is here tonight in the gallery with Melania.  Ashlee was aboard one of the first helicopters on the scene in Houston during Hurricane Harvey.  Through 18 hours of wind and rain, Ashlee braved live power lines and deep water, to help save more than 40 lives.  Thank you, Ashlee.      We heard about Americans like firefighter David Dahlberg.  He is here with us too.  David faced down walls of flame to rescue almost 60 children trapped at a California summer camp threatened by wildfires.      To everyone still recovering in Texas, Florida, Louisiana, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, California, and everywhere else -- we are with you, we love you, and we will pull through together.      Some trials over the past year touched this chamber very personally.  With us tonight is one of the toughest people ever to serve in this House -- a guy who took a bullet, almost died, and was back to work three and a half months later:  the legend from Louisiana, Congressman Steve Scalise.      We are incredibly grateful for the heroic efforts of the Capitol Police Officers, the Alexandria Police, and the doctors, nurses, and paramedics who saved his life, and the lives of many others in this room.      In the aftermath of that terrible shooting, we came together, not as Republicans or Democrats, but as representatives of the people.  But it is not enough to come together only in times of tragedy.  Tonight, I call upon all of us to set aside our differences, to seek out common ground, and to summon the unity we need to deliver for the people we were elected to serve.        Over the last year, the world has seen what we always knew:  that no people on Earth are so fearless, or daring, or determined as Americans.  If there is a mountain, we climb it.  If there is a frontier, we cross it.  If there is a challenge, we tame it.  If there is an opportunity, we seize it.      So let us begin tonight by recognizing that the state of our Union is strong because our people are strong.      And together, we are building a safe, strong, and proud America.      Since the election, we have created 2.4 million new jobs, including 200,000 new jobs in manufacturing alone.  After years of wage stagnation, we are finally seeing rising wages.      Unemployment claims have hit a 45-year low.  African-American unemployment stands at the lowest rate ever recorded, and Hispanic American unemployment has also reached the lowest levels in history.      Small business confidence is at an all-time high.  The stock market has smashed one record after another, gaining $8 trillion in value.  That is great news for Americans' 401k, retirement, pension, and college savings accounts.      And just as I promised the American people from this podium 11 months ago, we enacted the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history.      Our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief for the middle class and small businesses.      To lower tax rates for hardworking Americans, we nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone.  Now, the first $24,000 earned by a married couple is completely tax-free.  We also doubled the child tax credit.      A typical family of four making $75,000 will see their tax bill reduced by $2,000 -- slashing their tax bill in half.      This April will be the last time you ever file under the old broken system -- and millions of Americans will have more take-home pay starting next month.      We eliminated an especially cruel tax that fell mostly on Americans making less than $50,000 a year -- forcing them to pay tremendous penalties simply because they could not afford government-ordered health plans.  We repealed the core of disastrous Obamacare -- the individual mandate is now gone.      We slashed the business tax rate from 35 percent all the way down to 21 percent, so American companies can compete and win against anyone in the world.  These changes alone are estimated to increase average family income by more than $4,000.      Small businesses have also received a massive tax cut, and can now deduct 20 percent of their business income.      Here tonight are Steve Staub and Sandy Keplinger of Staub Manufacturing -- a small business in Ohio.  They have just finished the best year in their 20-year history.  Because of tax reform, they are handing out raises, hiring an additional 14 people, and expanding into the building next door.      One of Staub's employees, Corey Adams, is also with us tonight.  Corey is an all-American worker.  He supported himself through high school, lost his job during the 2008 recession, and was later hired by Staub, where he trained to become a welder.  Like many hardworking Americans, Corey plans to invest his tax‑cut raise into his new home and his two daughters' education.  Please join me in congratulating Corey.      Since we passed tax cuts, roughly 3 million workers have already gotten tax cut bonuses -- many of them thousands of dollars per worker.  Apple has just announced it plans to invest a total of $350 billion in America, and hire another 20,000 workers.      This is our new American moment.  There has never been a better time to start living the American Dream.      So to every citizen watching at home tonight -- no matter where you have been, or where you come from, this is your time.  If you work hard, if you believe in yourself, if you believe in America, then you can dream anything, you can be anything, and together, we can achieve anything.      Tonight, I want to talk about what kind of future we are going to have, and what kind of Nation we are going to be.  All of us, together, as one team, one people, and one American family.      We all share the same home, the same heart, the same destiny, and the same great American flag.      Together, we are rediscovering the American way.      In America, we know that faith and family, not government and bureaucracy, are the center of the American life.  Our motto is "in God we trust."      And we celebrate our police, our military, and our amazing veterans as heroes who deserve our total and unwavering support.      Here tonight is Preston Sharp, a 12-year-old boy from Redding, California, who noticed that veterans' graves were not marked with flags on Veterans Day.  He decided to change that, and started a movement that has now placed 40,000 flags at the graves of our great heroes.  Preston:  a job well done.      Young patriots like Preston teach all of us about our civic duty as Americans.  Preston's reverence for those who have served our Nation reminds us why we salute our flag, why we put our hands on our hearts for the pledge of allegiance, and why we proudly stand for the national anthem.      Americans love their country.  And they deserve a Government that shows them the same love and loyalty in return.      For the last year we have sought to restore the bonds of trust between our citizens and their Government.      Working with the Senate, we are appointing judges who will interpret the Constitution as written, including a great new Supreme Court Justice, and more circuit court judges than any new administration in the history of our country.      We are defending our Second Amendment, and have taken historic actions to protect religious liberty.      And we are serving our brave veterans, including giving our veterans choice in their healthcare decisions.  Last year, the Congress passed, and I signed, the landmark VA Accountability Act.  Since its passage, my Administration has already removed more than 1,500 VA employees who failed to give our veterans the care they deserve -- and we are hiring talented people who love our vets as much as we do.      I will not stop until our veterans are properly taken care of, which has been my promise to them from the very beginning of this great journey.      All Americans deserve accountability and respect -- and that is what we are giving them.  So tonight, I call on the Congress to empower every Cabinet Secretary with the authority to reward good workers -- and to remove Federal employees who undermine the public trust or fail the American people.      In our drive to make Washington accountable, we have eliminated more regulations in our first year than any administration in history.      We have ended the war on American Energy -- and we have ended the war on clean coal.  We are now an exporter of energy to the world.      In Detroit, I halted Government mandates that crippled America's autoworkers -- so we can get the Motor City revving its engines once again.      Many car companies are now building and expanding plants in the United States -- something we have not seen for decades.    Chrysler is moving a major plant from Mexico to Michigan; Toyota and Mazda are opening up a plant in Alabama.  Soon, plants will be opening up all over the country.  This is all news Americans are unaccustomed to hearing -- for many years, companies and jobs were only leaving us.  But now they are coming back.      Exciting progress is happening every day.      To speed access to breakthrough cures and affordable generic drugs, last year the FDA approved more new and generic drugs and medical devices than ever before in our history.      We also believe that patients with terminal conditions should have access to experimental treatments that could potentially save their lives.      People who are terminally ill should not have to go from country to country to seek a cure -- I want to give them a chance right here at home.  It is time for the Congress to give these wonderful Americans the "right to try."      One of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of prescription drugs.  In many other countries, these drugs cost far less than what we pay in the United States.  That is why I have directed my Administration to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices one of our top priorities.  Prices will come down.      America has also finally turned the page on decades of unfair trade deals that sacrificed our prosperity and shipped away our companies, our jobs, and our Nation's wealth.      The era of economic surrender is over.      From now on, we expect trading relationships to be fair and to be reciprocal.      We will work to fix bad trade deals and negotiate new ones.      And we will protect American workers and American intellectual property, through strong enforcement of our trade rules.      As we rebuild our industries, it is also time to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure.      America is a nation of builders.  We built the Empire State Building in just 1 year -- is it not a disgrace that it can now take 10 years just to get a permit approved for a simple road?      I am asking both parties to come together to give us the safe, fast, reliable, and modern infrastructure our economy needs and our people deserve.      Tonight, I am calling on the Congress to produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment we need.      Every Federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with State and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment -- to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit.      Any bill must also streamline the permitting and approval process -- getting it down to no more than two years, and perhaps even one.      Together, we can reclaim our building heritage.  We will build gleaming new roads, bridges, highways, railways, and waterways across our land.  And we will do it with American heart, American hands, and American grit.      We want every American to know the dignity of a hard day's work.  We want every child to be safe in their home at night.  And we want every citizen to be proud of this land that we love.      We can lift our citizens from welfare to work, from dependence to independence, and from poverty to prosperity.      As tax cuts create new jobs, let us invest in workforce development and job training.  Let us open great vocational schools so our future workers can learn a craft and realize their full potential.  And let us support working families by supporting paid family leave.      As America regains its strength, this opportunity must be extended to all citizens.  That is why this year we will embark on reforming our prisons to help former inmates who have served their time get a second chance.      Struggling communities, especially immigrant communities, will also be helped by immigration policies that focus on the best interests of American workers and American families.      For decades, open borders have allowed drugs and gangs to pour into our most vulnerable communities.  They have allowed millions of low-wage workers to compete for jobs and wages against the poorest Americans.  Most tragically, they have caused the loss of many innocent lives.      Here tonight are two fathers and two mothers:  Evelyn Rodriguez, Freddy Cuevas, Elizabeth Alvarado, and Robert Mickens.  Their two teenage daughters -- Kayla Cuevas and Nisa Mickens -- were close friends on Long Island.  But in September 2016, on the eve of Nisa's 16th Birthday, neither of them came home.  These two precious girls were brutally murdered while walking together in their hometown.  Six members of the savage gang MS-13 have been charged with Kayla and Nisa's murders.  Many of these gang members took advantage of glaring loopholes in our laws to enter the country as unaccompanied alien minors ‑- and wound up in Kayla and Nisa's high school.      Evelyn, Elizabeth, Freddy, and Robert:  Tonight, everyone in this chamber is praying for you.  Everyone in America is grieving for you.  And 320 million hearts are breaking for you.  We cannot imagine the depth of your sorrow, but we can make sure that other families never have to endure this pain.      Tonight, I am calling on the Congress to finally close the deadly loopholes that have allowed MS-13, and other criminals, to break into our country.  We have proposed new legislation that will fix our immigration laws, and support our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, so that this cannot ever happen again.      The United States is a compassionate nation.  We are proud that we do more than any other country to help the needy, the struggling, and the underprivileged all over the world.  But as President of the United States, my highest loyalty, my greatest compassion, and my constant concern is for America's children, America's struggling workers, and America's forgotten communities.  I want our youth to grow up to achieve great things.  I want our poor to have their chance to rise.      So tonight, I am extending an open hand to work with members of both parties -- Democrats and Republicans -- to protect our citizens of every background, color, religion, and creed.  My duty, and the sacred duty of every elected official in this chamber, is to defend Americans -- to protect their safety, their families, their communities, and their right to the American Dream.  Because Americans are dreamers too.      Here tonight is one leader in the effort to defend our country:  Homeland Security Investigations Special Agent Celestino Martinez -- he goes by CJ.  CJ served 15 years in the Air Force before becoming an ICE agent and spending the last 15 years fighting gang violence and getting dangerous criminals off our streets.  At one point, MS-13 leaders ordered CJ's murder.  But he did not cave to threats or fear.  Last May, he commanded an operation to track down gang members on Long Island.  His team has arrested nearly 400, including more than 220 from MS-13.      CJ:  Great work.  Now let us get the Congress to send you some reinforcements.      Over the next few weeks, the House and Senate will be voting on an immigration reform package.      In recent months, my Administration has met extensively with both Democrats and Republicans to craft a bipartisan approach to immigration reform.  Based on these discussions, we presented the Congress with a detailed proposal that should be supported by both parties as a fair compromise -- one where nobody gets everything they want, but where our country gets the critical reforms it needs.      Here are the four pillars of our plan:      The first pillar of our framework generously offers a path to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought here by their parents at a young age -- that covers almost three times more people than the previous administration.  Under our plan, those who meet education and work requirements, and show good moral character, will be able to become full citizens of the United States.      The second pillar fully secures the border.  That means building a wall on the Southern border, and it means hiring more heroes like CJ to keep our communities safe.  Crucially, our plan closes the terrible loopholes exploited by criminals and terrorists to enter our country -- and it finally ends the dangerous practice of "catch and release."      The third pillar ends the visa lottery -- a program that randomly hands out green cards without any regard for skill, merit, or the safety of our people.  It is time to begin moving towards a merit-based immigration system -- one that admits people who are skilled, who want to work, who will contribute to our society, and who will love and respect our country.      The fourth and final pillar protects the nuclear family by ending chain migration.  Under the current broken system, a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited numbers of distant relatives.  Under our plan, we focus on the immediate family by limiting sponsorships to spouses and minor children.  This vital reform is necessary, not just for our economy, but for our security, and our future.      In recent weeks, two terrorist attacks in New York were made possible by the visa lottery and chain migration.  In the age of terrorism, these programs present risks we can no longer afford.      It is time to reform these outdated immigration rules, and finally bring our immigration system into the 21st century.      These four pillars represent a down-the-middle compromise, and one that will create a safe, modern, and lawful immigration system.      For over 30 years, Washington has tried and failed to solve this problem.  This Congress can be the one that finally makes it happen.      Most importantly, these four pillars will produce legislation that fulfills my ironclad pledge to only sign a bill that puts America first.  So let us come together, set politics aside, and finally get the job done.      These reforms will also support our response to the terrible crisis of opioid and drug addiction.      In 2016, we lost 64,000 Americans to drug overdoses:  174 deaths per day.  Seven per hour.  We must get much tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scourge.      My Administration is committed to fighting the drug epidemic and helping get treatment for those in need.  The struggle will be long and difficult -- but, as Americans always do, we will prevail.      As we have seen tonight, the most difficult challenges bring out the best in America.      We see a vivid expression of this truth in the story of the Holets family of New Mexico.  Ryan Holets is 27 years old, and an officer with the Albuquerque Police Department.  He is here tonight with his wife Rebecca.  Last year, Ryan was on duty when he saw a pregnant, homeless woman preparing to inject heroin.  When Ryan told her she was going to harm her unborn child, she began to weep.  She told him she did not know where to turn, but badly wanted a safe home for her baby.      In that moment, Ryan said he felt God speak to him:  "You will do it -- because you can."  He took out a picture of his wife and their four kids.  Then, he went home to tell his wife Rebecca.  In an instant, she agreed to adopt.  The Holets named their new daughter Hope.      Ryan and Rebecca:  You embody the goodness of our Nation.  Thank you, and congratulations.      As we rebuild America's strength and confidence at home, we are also restoring our strength and standing abroad.      Around the world, we face rogue regimes, terrorist groups, and rivals like China and Russia that challenge our interests, our economy, and our values.  In confronting these dangers, we know that weakness is the surest path to conflict, and unmatched power is the surest means of our defense.      For this reason, I am asking the Congress to end the dangerous defense sequester and fully fund our great military.      As part of our defense, we must modernize and rebuild our nuclear arsenal, hopefully never having to use it, but making it so strong and powerful that it will deter any acts of aggression.  Perhaps someday in the future there will be a magical moment when the countries of the world will get together to eliminate their nuclear weapons.  Unfortunately, we are not there yet.      Last year, I also pledged that we would work with our allies to extinguish ISIS from the face of the Earth.  One year later, I am proud to report that the coalition to defeat ISIS has liberated almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria.  But there is much more work to be done.  We will continue our fight until ISIS is defeated.      Army Staff Sergeant Justin Peck is here tonight.  Near Raqqa last November, Justin and his comrade, Chief Petty Officer Kenton Stacy, were on a mission to clear buildings that ISIS had rigged with explosives so that civilians could return to the city.      Clearing the second floor of a vital hospital, Kenton Stacy was severely wounded by an explosion.  Immediately, Justin bounded into the booby-trapped building and found Kenton in bad shape.  He applied pressure to the wound and inserted a tube to reopen an airway.  He then performed CPR for 20 straight minutes during the ground transport and maintained artificial respiration through 2 hours of emergency surgery.      Kenton Stacy would have died if not for Justin's selfless love for a fellow warrior.  Tonight, Kenton is recovering in Texas.  Raqqa is liberated.  And Justin is wearing his new Bronze Star, with a "V" for "Valor."  Staff Sergeant Peck:  All of America salutes you.      Terrorists who do things like place bombs in civilian hospitals are evil.  When possible, we annihilate them.  When necessary, we must be able to detain and question them.  But we must be clear:  Terrorists are not merely criminals.  They are unlawful enemy combatants.  And when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are.      In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds of dangerous terrorists, only to meet them again on the battlefield -- including the ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi.      So today, I am keeping another promise.  I just signed an order directing Secretary Mattis to reexamine our military detention policy and to keep open the detention facilities at Guantánamo Bay.      I am also asking the Congress to ensure that, in the fight against ISIS and al-Qa'ida, we continue to have all necessary power to detain terrorists -- wherever we chase them down.      Our warriors in Afghanistan also have new rules of engagement.  Along with their heroic Afghan partners, our military is no longer undermined by artificial timelines, and we no longer tell our enemies our plans.      Last month, I also took an action endorsed unanimously by the Senate just months before:  I recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.      Shortly afterwards, dozens of countries voted in the United Nations General Assembly against America's sovereign right to make this recognition.  American taxpayers generously send those same countries billions of dollars in aid every year.      That is why, tonight, I am asking the Congress to pass legislation to help ensure American foreign-assistance dollars always serve American interests, and only go to America's friends.      As we strengthen friendships around the world, we are also restoring clarity about our adversaries.      When the people of Iran rose up against the crimes of their corrupt dictatorship, I did not stay silent.  America stands with the people of Iran in their courageous struggle for freedom.      I am asking the Congress to address the fundamental flaws in the terrible Iran nuclear deal.      My Administration has also imposed tough sanctions on the communist and socialist dictatorships in Cuba and Venezuela.      But no regime has oppressed its own citizens more totally or brutally than the cruel dictatorship in North Korea.      North Korea's reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland.      We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening.      Past experience has taught us that complacency and concessions only invite aggression and provocation.  I will not repeat the mistakes of past administrations that got us into this dangerous position.      We need only look at the depraved character of the North Korean regime to understand the nature of the nuclear threat it could pose to America and our allies.      Otto Warmbier was a hardworking student at the University of Virginia.  On his way to study abroad in Asia, Otto joined a tour to North Korea.  At its conclusion, this wonderful young man was arrested and charged with crimes against the state.  After a shameful trial, the dictatorship sentenced Otto to 15 years of hard labor, before returning him to America last June -- horribly injured and on the verge of death.  He passed away just days after his return.      Otto's Parents, Fred and Cindy Warmbier, are with us tonight -- along with Otto's brother and sister, Austin and Greta.  You are powerful witnesses to a menace that threatens our world, and your strength inspires us all.  Tonight, we pledge to honor Otto's memory with American resolve.      Finally, we are joined by one more witness to the ominous nature of this regime.  His name is Mr. Ji Seong-ho.      In 1996, Seong-ho was a starving boy in North Korea.  One day, he tried to steal coal from a railroad car to barter for a few scraps of food.  In the process, he passed out on the train tracks, exhausted from hunger.  He woke up as a train ran over his limbs.  He then endured multiple amputations without anything to dull the pain.  His brother and sister gave what little food they had to help him recover and ate dirt themselves -- permanently stunting their own growth.  Later, he was tortured by North Korean authorities after returning from a brief visit to China.  His tormentors wanted to know if he had met any Christians.  He had -- and he resolved to be free.      Seong-ho traveled thousands of miles on crutches across China and Southeast Asia to freedom.  Most of his family followed.  His father was caught trying to escape, and was tortured to death.      Today he lives in Seoul, where he rescues other defectors, and broadcasts into North Korea what the regime fears the most ‑- the truth.      Today he has a new leg, but Seong-ho, I understand you still keep those crutches as a reminder of how far you have come.  Your great sacrifice is an inspiration to us all.      Seong-ho's story is a testament to the yearning of every human soul to live in freedom.      It was that same yearning for freedom that nearly 250 years ago gave birth to a special place called America.  It was a small cluster of colonies caught between a great ocean and a vast wilderness.  But it was home to an incredible people with a revolutionary idea:  that they could rule themselves.  That they could chart their own destiny.  And that, together, they could light up the world.      That is what our country has always been about.  That is what Americans have always stood for, always strived for, and always done.      Atop the dome of this Capitol stands the Statue of Freedom.  She stands tall and dignified among the monuments to our ancestors who fought and lived and died to protect her.      Monuments to Washington and Jefferson -- to Lincoln and King.      Memorials to the heroes of Yorktown and Saratoga -- to young Americans who shed their blood on the shores of Normandy, and the fields beyond.  And others, who went down in the waters of the Pacific and the skies over Asia.      And freedom stands tall over one more monument:  this one.  This Capitol.  This living monument to the American people.      A people whose heroes live not only in the past, but all around us -- defending hope, pride, and the American way.      They work in every trade.  They sacrifice to raise a family.  They care for our children at home.  They defend our flag abroad.  They are strong moms and brave kids.  They are firefighters, police officers, border agents, medics, and Marines.      But above all else, they are Americans.  And this Capitol, this city, and this Nation, belong to them.      Our task is to respect them, to listen to them, to serve them, to protect them, and to always be worthy of them.      Americans fill the world with art and music.  They push the bounds of science and discovery.  And they forever remind us of what we should never forget:  The people dreamed this country. The people built this country.  And it is the people who are making America great again.      As long as we are proud of who we are, and what we are fighting for, there is nothing we cannot achieve.      As long as we have confidence in our values, faith in our citizens, and trust in our God, we will not fail.      Our families will thrive.      Our people will prosper.      And our Nation will forever be safe and strong and proud and mighty and free.      Thank you, and God bless America.     THE WHITE HOUSE,     January 30, 2018. ###

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Rebuilding Puerto Rico May Help Improve Science Education

  Many people in Puerto Rico, a United States territory, are still suffering the effects of two powerful hurricanes that hit the island last year. Hurricane Irma struck in early September, followed shortly thereafter by Hurricane Maria. The back-to-back storms left at least 64 people dead and caused widespread destruction. Officials in Puerto Rico estimate the storms caused up to $95 billion in damage. Electricity was knocked out across the island. About 45 percent of power customers remain in the dark. Water and sewer systems were also badly damaged, causing shortages of drinking water and increasing risks of disease. Even before the latest hurricanes, Puerto Rico struggled for years with a major recession and financial problems. Much of the U.S. territory’s infrastructure has long needed repairs. As efforts to rebuild from the storms continue, some organizations believe the disaster recovery operation can lead to some positive changes. A historic chance to improve education One such organization is Ciencia Puerto Rico. The group describes itself as a “global community of scientists, students, educators and allies.” Specifically, Ciencia has been working for more than 10 years to expand and improve science education in Puerto Rico. The group says Puerto Rico’s science education system was failing long before the hurricanes hit. The territory’s Department of Education reported that in 2016, only 40 percent of 8th grade public school students were considered proficient in science. Internationally, Puerto Rico schoolchildren are among the 10 worst performers on science tests. Ciencia says an estimated 98 percent of students are not able to use basic scientific knowledge to process data and handle complex problems. Students have also shown low performance levels in mathematics.   Mónica Feliú-Mójer is the director of communications and science outreach for Ciencia Puerto Rico. She says the lack of science education in Puerto Rico goes back many years. “I was born and raised in Puerto Rico and I remember growing up, I didn't know that science was done. I didn't know any Puerto Rican scientists. I never saw them in the media. So from the beginning of the organization, we set out to change that.”She added that while some students do show an interest in science and may want to learn more, most ignore these feelings. Students do not relate science to their daily lives and also do not see the studies as a realistic path to a future job, she said. But her organization is seeking to change that. “Science does belong in Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans do belong in science. And something that's always been really important for us is to make science relevant to the culture.” The organization sees the current situation as a historic chance to establish an educational connection between science and disasters. “There’s so many big issues where science could play a role. From the environment, to rebuilding, to economic development, science can be a key element for the recovery and for the rebuilding in Puerto Rico.” ​Over the next year, Ciencia plans to help connect scientists with community leaders and educators to find the best ways to teach disaster-related subjects. “We want these projects to be led by the students for their communities. So that the students can say, alright, here I am learning about water and water systems. How can I come up with a solution that's actually going to impact my community, which maybe has not had access to potable water for three months.” Lessons will also be developed about other disaster-related issues linked to the environment. Feliú-Mójer added that using hands-on methods – instead of students just memorizing scientific facts - will cause more students to become interested in science.  She says most schools have now reopened across Puerto Rico. But many are still operating without power and other basic necessities. This has made the learning process more difficult for students – many of whom also face the same conditions at home.   One of the immediate goals has been to do as much as possible to allow schoolchildren to keep learning despite the difficult conditions. Moving forward, Ciencia believes the disaster can help launch a nationwide rebuilding of science education. While the group’s main goal is to provide better overall science education, Feliú-Mójer says the process will also provide students other valuable life skills. ​“It's not just about, can we get more Puerto Rican kids interested in science. But really, it's about empowering people with the critical thinking that science can give you.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ QUIZ Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sewer – n. pipes buried underground that carry water and waste infrastructure – n. the roads, structures and public services that are needed for a city of area to operate properly proficient – adj. very good at something relevant – adj. relating to something in a useful way impact – v. affect something in a powerful way potable – adj. safe to drink access – n. ability to use or get something empower – v. give power to critical – adj. using or involving careful judgment about the good and bad parts of something  

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North Korea Missile Threat Brings Back Talk of 'Star Wars' Defenses

  Scientists and American space agency officials led efforts by the United States to develop a space-based missile defense system in the 1980s. Now, those same individuals are urging the U.S. government to re-start work on the anti-missile program. They say it could help answer nuclear threats from North Korea and other rogue countries. North Korea’s nuclear activities have become a security concern to the government since the North began testing intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). There were false reports of a North Korean missile attack on Hawaii earlier this month. North Korea says its missiles have the ability to reach the U.S. mainland. The U.S. Space Defense Initiative (SDI) was started over 30 years ago during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. SDI was called “Star Wars” by critics in the U.S. Congress and media. They questioned its high cost. Many people also questioned its effectiveness against the Soviet Union’s large number of highly-developed nuclear weapons. The program never got past the planning stage and was largely ended after the collapse of the Soviet Union. “Everybody lost interest in SDI when the Soviet Union collapsed,” says Robert Scheder, who works for the RAND Corporation. Scheder designed the first model for a space-based defense. He said that the nuclear threat from North Korea, and improvements in technology over the past 30 years, show the need for SDI. In the 1980s, Scheder carried out experiments with a weapon system made of orbiting rockets. They had sensor technology that could stop attacking missiles immediately after launch, before they can release decoys and countermeasures. But there were major technological problems. The satellite interceptor systems, also known as Brilliant Pebbles or Smart Rocks, could not entirely contain a Russian attack involving thousands of nuclear missiles, Scheder said. But he now believes they could provide fail-safe protection against the threat now posed by North Korea, which can only launch at most three or four missiles at a time. Scheder spoke to VOA from his home in Spain. Thomas Roberts, a critic of space-based defense, works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. He says that even a few missiles could get through the defense system. “The enemy can first launch a decoy,” Roberts said, which would make a hole in the system that other missiles could pass through. At least 1,600 “killer” satellites would be needed to fully cover the Earth. The estimated $100 billion cost for placing thousands of Brilliant Pebbles in orbit would have used up all of the money the U.S. spent on defense in the 1980s. The money could be spent just as effectively in deploying more traditional interceptor missiles and launching more satellites to watch and identify incoming enemy missiles, Scheder said. “The much smaller size of satellites...would limit the cost,” he noted. Commercially available space technology that is produced by Tesla and other businesses would also lower costs and shorten deployment time. That’s the belief of experts with NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. A former SDI director, retired U.S. Air Force General James Abrahamson, has placed the cost of Brilliant Pebbles at $20 billion. Roberts said it would cost at least $70 billion. Government support for SDI research was stopped when Bill Clinton was U.S. president. Plans to restart it under President George W. Bush were suspended because of anti-terrorism efforts and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Growing concern with North Korea has moved the U.S. Congress to request new money for space weapons research. The House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee made the request in a recent letter to President Donald Trump and his administration. President Trump signed the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act last month. The act orders the Missile Defense Agency to begin research on SDI and other technologies. Abrahamson has said that the land-based anti-ballistic missile Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, cannot guarantee protection against an attack. Experiments have shown that THAAD and the Navy’s AEGIS system have a 50 percent chance of stopping ICBMs when they re-enter the atmosphere. They are “weapons designed to protect points in a set piece battle scenario,” Scheder said. But effective protection for whole countries or areas under threat by countries like North Korea can only be provided by satellite-operated area defense, he added. Critics of space-based weapons point to the possibility that a satellite could make a mistake when trying to identify a hostile launch. Defensive missiles could also be destroyed as they re-enter the atmosphere before hitting an enemy missile. Scheder also says that the Smart Rock is a solid missile built to destroy a rocket without an explosion. As a result, its collateral damage would be limited. An enemy ICBM has about 20 minutes in space when it could be hit, but “once it’s re-entered the atmosphere, land-based missiles have only seconds in which to hit it,” Scheder said. Some weapon systems considered for SDI, like lasers, could not provide enough protection, he added. There is also the theoretical danger that a rogue nation or group with highly developed cyber war ability could attack the system and use it against the United States or its allies. But difficulties in overpowering a U.S. anti-missile system could persuade enemy nations that nuclear war is futile, said Scheder. He noted that the cost of the 1980s “Star Wars” program caused the Soviet Union to end its arms race. I'm Susan Shand. And I'm Lucija Milonig.   Martin Arostegui reported this story for VOA News. Susan Shand adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rogue – n. someone or something that causes trouble stage – n. a point or period in the development of something decoy – n. someone or something that gets people’s attention so they will ignore someone or something else interceptor - n. something that stops an object mid-flight pose – v. to cause; to set or put in place fail-safe – adj. causing a piece of machinery to return to a safe condition in the event of a breakdown or problem anti-ballistic – adj. of or relating to stopping missiles while in flight commercial – adj. related to the buying and selling of services collateral – adj. related but not in a direct or close way cyber – adj. of or related to computers or computer networks  

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Putin Criticizes US for Publishing List of Influential Russians

  Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticized the United States for releasing a list of over 200 people with close ties to the Russian government. Putin described the release as a hostile and “stupid” move led by opponents of U.S. President Donald Trump. The U.S. Treasury Department published the list on Monday as required under a law approved by Congress. Lawmakers who voted for the measure wanted to punish Russia for interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Some Russians worried that the publication of the list would lead to additional U.S. actions or restrictions from the global financial system. But the publication does not include any new sanctions. In a written statement, a State Department official said just the threat of sanctions had already affected Russian companies. She said that U.S. officials estimate other countries have cancelled plans to buy several billion dollars’ worth of products from Russia’s defense industry. Putin said his government is not going to take any immediate action to answer the U.S. list. And, he said, he did not expect the publication to have an effect. But the Russian leader also said he was surprised by the number and range of the government officials and business people who were listed. He said, “Ordinary Russian citizens, employees and entire industries are behind each of those people and companies. So all 146 million people have essentially been put on this list. What is the point of this? I don’t understand.” Putin also joked that he was offended he was not included. However, every other top Russian government official was, along with the chief executives of all major-state owned companies. The list shows that the U.S. sees the entire Russian government as enemies, a spokesperson for Putin told reporters on Tuesday. The chairman of the Russian foreign affairs committee, Konstantin Kosachev, criticized the U.S. for harming relations between the countries. He said that “the consequences will be toxic and undermine prospects for cooperation for years ahead.” Kosachev said the list shows U.S. lawmakers’ “political paranoia.” But Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny praised the list. Navalny is known for investigating what he calls close ties between government officials and some of the billionaires on the list. The opposition leader wrote on social media that he was “glad that these (people) have been officially recognized on the international level as crooks and thieves.” Last August, President Trump reluctantly agreed to sign a bill aimed to take measures against groups doing “significant” business with people linked to Russia’s defense and intelligence agencies. Trump said at the time that the bill improperly limited the president’s power. He said the measures also hurt American companies and the interests of America's allies in Europe. Some U.S. lawmakers said they were disappointed President Trump had chosen not to punish anyone. Among them is Steny Hoyer, a top Democratic lawmaker in the House of Representatives. Hoyer said he did not believe the Trump government had "put forth a plan for how it plans to deter further Russian aggression." I’m ­Jonathan Evans.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Her story was based on reports from the Associated Press news agency and VOANews.com. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   global – adj. of or involving the whole world sanction – n. a punishment or actions that results from failure to obey a rule or order range – n. a group of individuals toxic – adj. possessing poisonous material; harmful undermine – v. to weaken or secretly harm prospect – n. the possibility that something will happen paranoia – n. a serious mental disorder; an unreasonable fear that people are trying to harm you reluctantly – adj. showing an unwillingness deter – v. to prevent from acting  

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Sky Watchers Prepare For the 'Super Bowl' of Moons

  This is What's Trending Today. The moon is providing a rare triple treat this week. On Wednesday, much of the world will get to see not only a blue moon and a “supermoon,” but also a total lunar eclipse. Having all three events taking place at the same time is extremely unusual. Astronomers say this has not happened since 1982. And it won’t happen again until 2037. A total lunar eclipse happens when the Earth comes between the Sun and a full moon. The Earth blocks the sun’s light, making the moon appear dark in the sky. The eclipse will be easiest to see in the western half of the United States and Canada before the moon sets early Wednesday morning. It will also be visible across the Pacific Ocean into East Asia as the moon rises Wednesday night into Thursday. The U.S. East Coast, however, is out of luck. The moon will be setting just as the eclipse gets started. Europe, most of Africa and South America also will miss out. A blue moon is a second full moon in one month. It is rare enough that English speakers use the expression “once in a blue moon” to describe something that does not happen often! A supermoon is a full or new moon. It appears brighter and bigger than usual because the moon is closer to the earth than usual. In a total lunar eclipse, the Earth covers the moon’s surface with its shadow, giving it a red-like color. For that reason, it is also known as a “blood moon.” Some people are calling this week’s lunar event a “super blue blood moon.” Noah Petro is a scientist with the American space agency NASA. He is calling the lunar event, “the Super Bowl of moons.” No matter the name, it is likely to impress if the skies are clear. As the sun lines up perfectly with the Earth and then the moon for the eclipse, scientists will make observations from a telescope in Hawaii. They are also planning to collect information from NASA’s moon-circling Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Just as last August’s total solar eclipse cooled the Earth’s surface, a lunar eclipse cools the surface of the moon. It’s this sudden cooling — from the heat of direct sunlight to almost a deep freeze — that researchers will be studying. And that's What's Trending Today.  I’m Ashley Thompson.   The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   triple - adj. having three parts or including three people or things lunar - adj. of or relating to the moon eclipse - n. an occasion when the sun looks like it is completely or partially covered with a dark circle because the moon is between the sun and the Earth visible - adj. able to be seen Super Bowl - n. used for the annual championship game of the National Football League impress - v. to cause (someone) to feel admiration or interest solar - adj. of or relating to the sun  

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Higher Flu Rates Reported Across the World

  The United States and several other nations are reporting higher rates of the flu compared with past seasons. American health officials say the winter outbreak is expected to be one of the most severe in 15 years, with up to 34 million people infected. Across the U.S., 1 in 15 doctor visits last week were related to the flu – the highest level since the 2009 swine flu pandemic. Before that outbreak, the last time the U.S. experienced such high levels of seasonal flu was in 2003-2004. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC said last week that flu cases are currently active in all U.S. states except for Hawaii. All remaining 49 states have reported widespread flu activity for the past three weeks.   Officials say most U.S. cases of the flu, also called influenza, involve the H3N2 flu virus, the same kind mainly seen last winter. The CDC said the flu has caused nearly 12,000 hospitalizations and killed 37 children. The CDC does not track adult flu deaths directly. But the highest hospitalization rates have been among people 65 years and older. Flu is a contagious illness that causes such symptoms as fever, cough, headaches and tiredness. Most people who catch the flu get better within a week or two. But some people develop more serious conditions caused by an infection involving the nose, throat or lungs. The flu season is usually highest in February and officials say activity has already begun to slow in some parts of the U.S. The CDC recommends a flu vaccine for everyone older than 6 months. But officials said this year's vaccine is only about 30 percent effective in preventing infection. Flu outbreaks in Koreas, Japan, and Britain In Asia, North and South Korea have reported separate outbreaks of different strains of influenza. The rise in cases comes less than two weeks before thousands of visitors from around the world arrive for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the South. North Korea’s Ministry of Public Health reported more than 80,000 confirmed cases of the influenza strain H1N1 between December 1, 2017 and January 16, 2018. The Red Cross said North Korean health officials reported three children and one adult have died so far in the outbreak. In the South, officials announced last weekend they discovered a serious strain of the H5N6 avian influenza on a chicken farm near Seoul. About 500,000 chickens and 450,000 eggs were to be destroyed at farms where the virus was found. In Japan, the health ministry reported flu cases reached a record high 2.83 million cases last week. The average number of patients per medical facility was 52, Japan’s Kyodo news agency reported. This is the highest number since such data was first collected in 1999. The ministry said the illness hit children and young people especially hard, with more than 100 schools closed. In Britain, health officials recently reported the country was having its worst flu season in seven years. Official government data shows there have also been nearly three times more flu deaths this season compared to last. At least 155 deaths blamed on the flu have been confirmed since last October.   However, the country’s health agency Public Health England reported last week the nationwide rate of people seeking treatment with flu-like symptoms had stabilized. Officials said the hospitalization rate for flu was down 12 percent, leading health officials to say the number of seasonal cases may have peaked. Are we ready for the next pandemic? The possibility of future worldwide pandemics was discussed by health officials attending last week’s meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. One warning came from Elhadj As Sy, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The official told the French Press Agency AFP that he believes pandemics “are becoming a real threat to humanity.” Officials gathered for a discussion called “Are We Ready for the Next Pandemic?” One speaker was Sylvie Briand, a specialist with the World Health Organization, or WHO, who warned about the dangers of a possible future disease similar to Ebola, Zika or SARS. "We know that it is coming, but we have no way of stopping it," she said. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, 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. _____________________________________________________________ Quiz ​_______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pandemic – n. occurrence of disease that spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world contagious – adj. able to be passed from one person or animal to another by touching symptom – n. a physical feeling or problem that indicates a person has a particular illness cough – n. physical condition or illness that causes someone to cough avian – adj. of or relating to birds peak – v. to reach the highest level  

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Terror Attacks Continue in Afghan Capital

  Afghanistan’s capital Kabul has suffered three deadly attacks in a little over one week. In the most recent violence, 11 members of the Afghan National Army were killed at a military academy early Monday morning. Sixteen others were injured. The deadly attack involved a suicide bombing and a long gun battle. It took place near the Marshal Fahim National Defense University. The Associated Press (AP) says a group linked to the Islamic State terror group, known as Khorasan Province, claimed responsibility on the internet. Deadly attacks have taken place at the same academy more than once in the past. In August 2014, U.S. Army Major General Harold Greene was shot and killed in an attack claimed by the Taliban. President Ashraf Ghani denounced the attack. He said the “Taliban must choose between Islam and terrorism.” He spoke at a press conference with visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo. The Indonesian president had just visited Pakistan where he proposed the creation of an Islamic committee for the peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict. The Taliban was blamed for a bomb attack in Kabul Saturday that killed at least 103 people and injured more than 200. Officials say an ambulance filled with explosives caused the damage. One week earlier, a group of militants stormed the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul killing 22 people. Fourteen foreigners were among those killed. The U.S. State Department has confirmed that Americans were among those killed but details have not yet been released. The head of Afghanistan’s intelligence service, Masoom Stanekzai, said five suspects have been arrested in connection with the hotel attack while one suspect had fled the country. He said four others have been arrested in the ambulance bombing case. The recent attacks show security is still a concern in Afghanistan more than 16 years after the U.S.-led military action overthrew the Taliban. The Taliban has carried out an insurgency since it was driven from power after the September 11 terror attacks on the United States. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English from an AP report. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story academy –n. a school that provides training in special subjects or skills ambulance –n. a vehicle used to carry the sick or injured to a hospital insurgency –n. a violent attempt to take control of a government, a rebellion We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Two Years After Poisoned Water Crisis in US City, Mistrust Remains

  Two years have passed since government officials in Flint, Michigan declared a state of emergency. The emergency was lead in the city’s water supply. Officials at Michigan Department of Environmental Quality now say the water is safe again. But, many residents remain unsure. Sincere Smith is 5-years-old. The little boy was on the cover of a 2016 issue of Time Magazine in connection with its story, "The Poisoning of An America City." In photographs, a rash from lead poisoning covers his face and body. "And every time when I get in the shower, I’m going to rush a lot." His mother Ariana Hawk, says she still uses only bottled water to wash her five children and to make their food. After the emergency was declared, the city began to get water from Detroit more than 100 kilometers away. This year, Michigan declared Flint's water safe to drink but only if filtered because some lead pipes remain in use. Ariana Hawk still does not trust the water. "Governor Snyder say we need to use that filter because our water is safe. Our water is not safe." Every day after work, she drives to a place in Flint where the city hands out free bottled water to residents. Most people in Flint say they do not believe the water is safe. Sheryl Thompson is with Flint Department of Health and Human Services. "Some people don’t trust (it) regardless what the scientific data shows. Some people unfortunately still don’t trust the water." Another Flint resident has had her lead water pipes replaced. But she still remains suspicious. "Still doesn't feel safe to drink it. And I even had my pipes redone but the water is still looking the same." They may have good reason to be suspicious. In 2013, Michigan governor Rick Snyder named an emergency manager to run Flint because of the city’s financial problems. That manager approved a plan to use the Flint River for drinking water. However, officials did not order special treatment of the water necessary for its safe use in Flint’s old lead pipes. That meant lead from the pipes got into the water that went directly to homes, schools and other places in the town. Immediately after this plan went into effect Flint residents protested often about the water quality. Government officials told them again and again that the water was safe. But a year and a half later, the state of Michigan released a warning about lead in the water. The warning said the water was unsafe to use or drink. Damage from lead poisoning is permanent and can be severe. Lead collects in the body and can affect many of its systems. Lead exposure is most harmful to young children, especially to developing brains and nervous systems. Children who suffer from lead poisoning experience reduced learning ability as well as problems with behavior and thinking.   Nathaniel De Nicola is a doctor with George Washington University. "For children, there’s not really a way to reverse those effects. But with proper diet, nutrition, counseling, decrease in the exposure ongoing, you can help to not make those adverse effects as impactful." The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) won a legal action against the state of Michigan in connection with the lead crisis. It requires that the state provide nearly $100 million to replace all the lead pipes in Flint. The state also must provide safe water and some special health programs for affected residents. Pregnant women and people younger than 21 who drank Flint water can now receive special health care paid for by the government. Dimple Chaudhary was the NRDC’s lead lawyer in the case. "We’re able to get this great agreement -- again recognizing that there is still so much to do in Flint. But this piece of it is a good step forward." A council member for the city of Flint, Eric Mays, says the state is responsible for the damage done to Flint residents. He adds that the federal government needs to repair and rebuild the systems that deliver services, such as water, to its citizens. That is a long-term goal. For today, Ariana Hawk and all of Flint’s residents continue their daily battle for clean water. ​"That's not fair to the citizens. That's not fair to these kids." I'm Anna Matteo.   Anush Avetisyan with Dima Shakhov reported this story from Flint, Michigan for VOA News. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rush – v. to move or do something very quickly or in a way that shows you are in a hurry rash – n. a group of red spots on the skin that is caused by an illness or a reaction to something filter – v. to pass (something, such as a gas or liquid) through a filter to remove something unwanted data – n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something reverse – v. to cause (something, such as a process) to stop or return to an earlier state counseling – n. advice and support that is given to people to help them deal with problems, make important decisions, etc. exposure – n. the fact or condition of being affected by something or experiencing something adverse – adj. bad or unfavorable : not good impactful – adj. having a forceful impact : producing a marked impression

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Thousands March in Opposition Rallies Across Russia

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been released after thousands turned out to protest the upcoming March presidential elections. "I'm free," Navalny wrote on Twitter late Sunday. He added, "Today has been an important day. We have shown that not all Russia is ready to accept the monarchy. . . Thanks to all those who were not afraid to fight for their rights." Police arrested Navalny while he was on his way to a rally in central Moscow. The protests were part of a nationwide “Voters Strike” called by Navalny. The opposition leader has been banned from running for president over legal problems. The move was seen as an attempt to keep him out of the race. Vladimir Milov, an advisor for Navalny, told VOA “We demand a real contest.” He said that even supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin questioned why Navalny is not permitted to participate in the election. He added, “They believe Putin can beat Navalny, and we believe Navalny can beat Putin. That’s what elections are all about.” Navalny and his supporters have called for a boycott of the election. They argue that a low number of voters will diminish a Putin victory. But it will prove that the government inflates his approval ratings. Most protestors were younger Russians Organizers said that protests took place in over 100 cities across Russia. OVD-Info, a police-monitoring group, reported 340 people had been detained nationwide. In Moscow, police also stormed Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation and cut an online video feed of the day’s protests. Most of the protestors were younger Russians, in their teens and early 20s. Ivan Savin is a high school student who attended the rally. He said, “The authorities are used to thinking that Russians will just sit quietly and wait for change. Well, our generation won’t wait. We want a better life.” He also admitted to telling his parents he was “out with friends” for the day rather than out protesting the Russian president. His classmate, Valerie Koltsov, said that other friends felt the same way. “I know a lot of people who don’t come because it really does scare them. They think they’ll get fined for not doing what the government tells them,” she said. Another candidate asks for support Television host Ksenia Sobchak is running in the election against Putin. She asked the anti-Putin forces to voice their anger by supporting her “Against All” candidacy. ​But Navalny’s supporters have called her campaign a Kremlin trick to make the election appear fair. In Moscow, Ludmilla Sidodova, a veteran of the massive pro-democratic movement of the late-Soviet period, argued real change required a much larger movement. She was among hundreds of thousands who once demanded change, and suggested a new generation could learn from that history. She said, “I wish they’d understand that we did what we could. Maybe it wasn’t always enough. But now it depends on them. Whatever life they decide they want is the life they’ll have.” I’m Jonathan Evans.   Charles Maynes reported this story for VOA. Susan Shand adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   participate – v. to be involved with others in doing something: to take part in an activity or event with others diminish – v. to be involved with others in doing something : to take part in an activity or event with others inflate – v. to be involved with others in doing something : to take part in an activity or event with others monitor – v. to be involved with others in doing something : to take part in an activity or event with others  

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January 29, 2018

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

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A Mix of Politics and Music at the Grammys

  This is What's Trending today... Politics co-starred with music at the 60th Grammy awards Sunday night in New York City. Perhaps the most surprising non-artist to appear? Former Secretary of State and 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. She took part in a skit making fun of President Donald Trump and his leadership. Clinton pretended to be seeking work as the voice for the spoken word recording of Michael Wolf's best-selling book "Fire and Fury." His book describes an unfavorable representation of Trump's first year in office. Along with Clinton, John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B and DJ Khaled also "auditioned" for the part. Grammys host James Corden told Clinton that she defeated the competition to win. "The Grammy’s in the bag?" Clinton questioned. Political observers say Clinton thought a presidential win for her was also "in the bag," or very sure and secure. United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley did not see the humor in the skit. "I have always loved the Grammys, but to have artists read the Fire and Fury book killed it," she tweeted. "Don't ruin great music with trash. Some of us love music without the politics thrown in it.” Neil Portnow, head of the recording academy, defended the skit. He told the Associated Press that he thought Clinton's appearance was more satirical than political. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted: "Getting to read a #fakenews book excerpt at the Grammys seems like a great consolation prize for losing the presidency." Singer/actor Janelle Monae gave a well-received speech at the ceremony. She said the music industry needed to face its sexual harassment and gender discrimination issues, just like Hollywood. "To those who would dare try and silence us, we offer you two words: Time's Up." Monae introduced singer Kesha. She has long sought to break her business agreement with her producer, who she says raped her. Kesha's song Praying included the lyrics, "After everything you've done, I can thank you for how strong I have become." Cuban American singer Camila Cabello spoke out for legal protection for "dreamers" -- immigrants who entered the United States illegally as children but do not have legal status. "This country was built by dreamers for dreamers," she said. Cabello introduced a pre-recorded performance by the Irish band U2, who sang their song "Get Out of Your Own Way." The band performed on a boat in the New York harbor with the State of Liberty behind the musicians. The statue serves as a symbol of American freedom and a sign of welcome to immigrants from all over the world. And that's What's Trending today. I’m Caty Weaver.   Caty Weaver adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   skit - n. a short, funny story or performance​ pretend - v. to act as if something is true when it is not true​ audition - v.  to try out for a role in a play or film, a position in an orchestra, etc.: to perform in an audition​ in the bag - expression certain; sure to happen consolation - n. something that makes a person feel less sadness, disappointment, etc.​ excerpt - n. a small part of a longer written work​

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