Russia Alerts Thailand of Credible IS Threat

Police in Thailand received a warning from Russia’s security agency about an attack there by an Islamic State terrorist group. IS attacks in Thailand could be against targets linked with Russia, reported Fox News. A police memo said international embassies, citizens and interests in Thailand could also be targets. The countries named in the memo were the United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Australia. Thailand is the latest country to be threatened with terrorist attacks. The threats have spread from the Middle East to Europe into Asia. Britain, Belgium and Afghanistan have received warnings of violence. The police memo included a warning from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The memo said 10 Syrians with Islamic State connections entered Thailand in October. The 10 Syrians went to Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket, according to the memo. Pattaya and Phuket are seaside resorts popular with tourists. Pattaya is very popular with Russian visitors. In the past, Islamic State activity in Thailand has been limited. But IS has moved into Thailand’s neighbors, Malaysia and Indonesia, to recruit fighters. Those countries already have Islamic rebel groups operating there. Bangkok was the target of a bombing in August. Twenty people were killed in an attack linked to China’s Muslim Uighur militants. I’m Mario Ritter. Jim Dresbach wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think of the worldwide terrorist threat? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   memo – n. a usually brief written message from one person or department in an organization resort – n. a place where people go for vacations or holidays recruit – v. to form or build a group by getting people to join

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'Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire!'

Hello and welcome to the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Children all over the United States know this simple rhyme. They say it when someone gets caught in a lie. In other words, when someone gets busted for lying. The word “lie” comes from Old English through even older German. A lie is an untruth. It is intentional and usually has consequences. But not all lies are created equal. People often use white lies to prevent hurting the feelings of others or to save themselves trouble. For example, let’s say you are eating dinner at your boss’s house and the food is really bad. When your boss asks you, “How do you like the meatloaf? It’s an old family recipe,” it is a good idea to say you love it. White lie to the rescue! Parents and other adults are known to tell white lies to children. Some white lies -- such as lying about Santa Claus -- are part of a tradition and are meant for fun. Some white lies are to protect children. For example, when a child asks about a person who has died, adults may say the dead person is simply sleeping. These lies are meant to help, not hurt. But they are still, technically, lies. Even adults may sometime prefer to hear a lie than a truth that is too difficult to face. In the song “Tell Me Lies,” by the rock group Fleetwood Mac, a woman is asking for lies -- sweet little lies. Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies. (Tell me lies, tell me, tell me lies) Oh, no, no you can't disguise. (You can't disguise, no you can't disguise) Tell me lies, tell me sweet little lies Another kind of relatively harmless lie is called a fib. It is a little, unimportant lie. Fibbers who fib are usually not out to hurt anyone. Sometimes people simply make things up. Other times they stretch the truth, or exaggerate. In other words, they add details to the truth to make a story better. Bending the truth is also not a severe lie. If you bend the truth, you take the truth and change it very slightly.                         A half-truth is trickier. It could be like the name says – a statement that is half true and half false. Or it could be a statement that is completely true but shows only one part of the real story. Half-truths are meant to deceive or to avoid responsibility. These examples are all clever, subtle ways of lying. They are the opposite of outright lies. These types of lies are direct. They are also called out-and-out, barefaced or bold-faced lies. Many word experts agree that the original expression is "barefaced lie" and that it began in the 1600s. At that time, "bare" meant "bold." Also at that time in history, almost all men had facial hair. It was considered quite bold for a man to be clean-shaven, or barefaced. Eventually, the word for “hairless” went from “bare” to “bald,” and so did the description for an obvious lie. So, these days you can use bold-faced, barefaced and even bald-faced to mean a lie that is obvious. They all mean that there is no mistake or making excuses. This person is lying! Barefaced liars lie easily and often. They lie through their teeth, we like to say.   The group word for lies is pack. Someone who tells a pack of lies tells one lie after another. There are packs of lies and there are webs of lies. This expression may have come from a line of Scottish poetry: “Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive.” To be tangled in a web of one’s own lies … is no place to be.                                          I’m Anna Matteo.   "You can't hide your lying eyes. And your smile is a thin disguise ..." Any good lying idioms in your language? Do share in the Comments section and on our Facebook page. Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. The song that ends this piece is the Eagles singing "Lyin' Eyes." _____________________________________________________________ Words and Their Stories   intentional – adj. done in a way that is planned or intended consequence – n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions deceive to make (someone) believe something that is not true : deception is the noun clever – adj. intelligent and able to learn things quickly subtle – adj. hard to notice or see : not obvious : clever and indirect : not showing your real purpose  

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The Latest From Paris: Climate Conference Update

At the United Nations climate change summit in Paris this week, participants talked about natural disasters and how they impact the world’s most vulnerable populations. The UN says that over the past 30 years, one of every $3 spent on development for countries was lost because of recurring crisis. A total of $3.8 trillion has been lost. It is not just an economic loss these countries suffer from natural disasters, but social and environmental as well. This affects 217 million people every year. Oceans and other water resources were the focus of Wednesday’s sessions. The UN warns that failure to manage water resources hurts attempts to reduce poverty and reach goals to sustain resources. On Tuesday, U.S. President Barack Obama called for some parts of any possible agreement reached to be legally binding. He said he believes that global security depends on decisive actions to slow down global warming.   “This is an economic and security imperitive that we have to tackle now.” Leaders at the U.N. Climate Summit are working on an agreement to keep global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius above levels of the pre-Industrial Revolution (1760-1840) time . Obama said he remains optimistic that climate change can be solved, and that world leaders can reach an agreement at the end of two weeks of negotiations in Paris. As he headed back to Washington Tuesday, he said he is “convinced that we are going to get big things done here.” But, the U.S. president says, there will still be more work to do after that . “And, by the way, we know that even with an optimistic outcome here in Paris, that we’ll still have more work to do, in order to ultimately achieve the goals that scientists say we need to achieve, to avert catastrophic damage.” Earlier on Tuesday, the White House announced 73 U.S. companies are pledging support for action on climate change. The goals of the companies are to reduce emissions by up to 50 percent. Other goals include cutting their water usage by 80 percent, and buying 100 percent renewable energy. U.S. businessman Bill Gates is the founder of the Microsoft computer company. He announced plans to team with 19 governments and 28 billionaires from 10 countries. They will create a multi-billion-dollar public-private group to finance clean and renewable energy research.  The governments involved in Gates’ effort say they pledge to double their spending on clean-energy research over the next five years. Discussions have also been about helping developing countries fight the effects of climate change. Also Tuesday, French President Francois Holland said France will give African countries $2.1 billion over the next four years. The money will help countries in Africa develop renewable energy sources and replace fossil fuels. Those are the fuels blamed for climate change. The U.S., China and India account for about half of the world’s emissions of carbon dioxide. That is the gas that traps heat in the atmosphere, and scientists say it is a leading cause of the rising global temperatures. While in Paris, Obama met with Chinese President Xi Jinping before the conference opened. The U.S. pledged to cut emissions by 2025, and China set targets to top its emissions by about 2030. President Xi Jinping said the two countries have a common vision of what is needed in an agreement. The U.S. president also met with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Obama highlighted India’s work with a group to provide affordable clean energy to developing countries. I'm Anne Ball Aru Pande reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball  adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vulnerable –adj. easily hurt or harmed legally binding – adj. enforceable by law optimistic –adj. hopeful and confident about the future achieve –v. reach or get something by effort  or skill avert catastrophic damage – phrase.  to avoid a terrible disaster and damage pledge – n. promise or agreement emission (s) –n. act of producing or sending out energy or gas renewable energy – n. sustainable energy that comes from the natural environment  

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English in a Minute: Don't Hold Your Breath

Is this expression a warning for swimmers about holding their breath underwater? Find out how to use this idiom in this episode of English in a Minute!

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TALK2US: Idioms Having to Do with Worms and Snakes!

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Vietnamese Jailed for Posting on Facebook

Two Vietnamese men were sentenced to six months in prison for posting locations of traffic checkpoints on Facebook. The decision came this week after the men were in custody for four months for “illegally circulating information on the Internet.” Their posts advised drivers how to avoid temporary traffic checkpoints in the city of Hai Phong. Their lawyer calls the sentencing “a risky move.” And he says the men only used Facebook to express their views. He says the sentencing is a restriction of freedom of speech. Jailing the men amplifies an ongoing debate about the role of social media sites like Facebook in Vietnam, where media is controlled by the government. Media rights organizations like Reporters Without Borders call Vietnam “the enemy of the Internet” because of its online censorship and surveillance of sites like Facebook. The government, however, says it wants to embrace social networks and use them to provide accurate information. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung says he wants citizens to be responsible Internet users. Aside from the men who posted about traffic checkpoints, other people in Vietnam are using Facebook to make controversial posts. In early December, Vietnamese police tracked down three teenagers who created a fake Facebook profile using the photo of an Islamic State terrorist. Because of their age, the boys were not arrested. But the situation underscores how difficult it may be for the Vietnamese government to come up with good social media policy. One media analyst, a former newspaper editor in Vietnam, says “the government is struggling to manage the use of Facebook.” There are at least 30 million Facebook users in Vietnam. The government says it wants to encourage people to use the social media sites. But it says it wants to maintain control over what its citizens write. Here’s another example of this debate: The Vietnamese government launched its official Facebook page in October. But critics say it removes negative comments from the site. “Now, when people can get access to impartial news and have the chance to give feedback, they [the government] are concerned,” the analyst says. I’m ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Dan Friedell.   Trung Nguyen wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. How does the government use Facebook in your country? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   amplify – v. to wait for (someone or something) censorship – n. the act of to examining books, movies, letters, etc., in order to remove things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc. checkpoint – n. a place where people, cars, etc., are searched by someone (such as a police officer) before being allowed to continue circulate – v. to go or spread from one person or place to another custody – n. the state of being kept in a prison or jail — used after in or into fake – adj. not true or real profile – n. a brief written description that provides information about someone or something surveillance – n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime underscore – v. to emphasize (something) or show the importance of (something)

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English in a Minute

Americans use a lot of abbreviated -- or shortened -- expressions. Find out what 'MIA' stands for in this week's English in a Minute!

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Suicide Bombers Kill 30 in Market Attack in Chad

Three suicide bombers attacked markets towns on the shores of Lake Chad, killing at least 30 and injuring 80 others Saturday, according to news reports.  No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks. But the region is a target of Islamist militant group Boko Haram from Nigeria. A state of emergency was declared last month after in the Lake Chad region after raids and suicide bombings there by Boko Haram. The attacks increased after Chad helped to force Boko Haram to give up territory earlier this year. Chad weakened Boko Haram's six-year effort to create a Nigerian caliphate, or extreme Islamic government. The bombers struck on the island of Koulfoua on the Chad side of Lake Chad, Reuters reports. The attacks coincided with market day and the death toll may rise. Half of terrorist killings carried out in 2014 were carried out by Boko Haram and Islamic State terrorist groups, sources said. Boko Haram killed more people than their fellow Islamists, claiming 6,644 lives, compared to 6,073 by the other group. They are based in Nigeria, but are also active in Chad, Niger and Cameroon.  In Lebanon, a suspected Islamist militant killed himself and two members of his family in northern Lebanon on Saturday. Reuters reported that he blew himself up during an army raid on his home. Audio will be added to this story at a later time.  Kathleen Struck adapted this story for VOA Learning English.  Please leave a comment or post to our Facebook page.  ​

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Firebomb Attack in Egypt Kills 16

At least 16 people were killed early Friday in a firebomb attack on a restaurant in the Egyptian capital of Cairo. Officials say they do not know why the El Sayad restaurant and bar in the Agouza neighborhood was attacked. Security officials say the attack was not linked to terrorism. The Interior Ministry said the attack happened after a disagreement between customers and restaurant workers. But earlier, the state news agency reported an official said three men on a motorcycle threw a firebomb into the restaurant and fled. An official told the Reuters news agency the attacker was a former employee who had recently been removed from the restaurant. Islamic extremists have carried out many attacks in Egypt since Mohamed Morsi was ousted as president in 2013 and detained by the military. Morsi is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood. A militant group that says it supports the Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. Most of the attacks have targeted government facilities. Most of them have taken place in the Sinai Peninsula, where many militants live and operate. The attacks have greatly reduced the number of travelers to Egypt. Also this week, Egypt’s parliamentary election ended Wednesday. Experts believe most voters marked their ballots for supporters of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. Some experts say few people voted. And there were reports that some people were paid to mark their ballots. These and other problems could be used to cancel the election results and force the new parliament to stop meeting. El-Sissi was not a candidate. But experts said they believe the election will give him strong support in parliament, which has about 600 seats. They said they believe his supporters will approve 200 laws he has put into place by presidential order. Last year, a new constitution was approved that lets lawmakers remove a president and call for early elections. Even though few people voted, election workers said they were excited because the country has not had a parliament since 2012. Johan Saeed -- an election worker in Cairo -- said, “I love my homeland. I love Egypt. I hope the right candidate will win. I hope all the candidates will win, including myself.” Some observers said some voters were paid for their votes. Lawyer Sameh Eldeep said “some of the candidates are trying to win votes with bribes, and it is changing which candidates they are voting for.” Some observers say vote buying in Egypt is common, and operates like a large business. Essam Azmy, an election monitor, said “buying votes has become like the stock market -- the morning opens with one price and in the afternoon it’s a higher price. The highest prices are just before the polling stations close.” The new parliament is expected to meet beginning next month. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA Central News reported on the firebombing story. VOA's Heather Murdock reported on the Egyptian parliamentary election from Cairo. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the stories for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   facility – n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose bribe – n. something valuable (such as money) that is given in order to get someone to do something illegal or dishonest  

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Obamas Light the National Christmas Tree

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"One Thousand Dollars," by O. Henry

Our story today is called “One Thousand Dollars.”  It was written by O. Henry.  Here is Steve Ember with the story. "One thousand dollars," said the lawyer Tolman, in a severe and serious voice.  "And here is the money.” Young Gillian touched the thin package of $50 bills and laughed. "It's such an unusual amount," he explained kindly to the lawyer. “If it had been $10,000, a man might celebrate with a lot of fireworks. Even $50 would have been less trouble." "You heard the reading of your uncle's will after he died," continued the lawyer Tolman. "I do not know if you paid much attention to its details. I must remind you of one. You are required to provide us with a report of how you used this $1,000 as soon as you have spent it. I trust that you will obey the wishes of your late uncle." "You may depend on it," said the young man respectfully. Gillian went to his club. He searched for a man he called Old Bryson. Old Bryson was a calm, anti-social man, about 40 years old.  He was in a corner reading a book. When he saw Gillian coming near he took a noisy, deep breath, laid down his book and took off his glasses. "I have a funny story to tell you,” said Gillian.  "I wish you would tell it to someone in the billiard room," said Old Bryson. "You know how I hate your stories." "This is a better one than usual," said Gillian, rolling a cigarette, and I'm glad to tell it to you. It's too sad and funny to go with the rattling of billiard balls. I’ve just come from a meeting with my late uncle's lawyers. He leaves me an even $1,000. Now, what can a man possibly do with $1,000?" Old Bryson showed very little interest.  "I thought the late Septimus Gillian was worth something like half a million." "He was," agreed Gillian, happily.  "And that's where the joke comes in. He has left a lot of his money to an organism. That is, part of it goes to the man who invents a new bacillus and the rest to establish a hospital for doing away with it again. There are one or two small, unimportant gifts on the side. The butler and the housekeeper get a seal ring and $10 dollars each. His nephew gets $1,000 thousand dollars." "Were there any others mentioned in your uncle’s will?" asked Old Bryson. "None." said Gillian. “There is a Miss Hayden.  My uncle was responsible for her. She lived in his house. She's a quiet thing … musical … the daughter of somebody who was unlucky enough to be his friend.   "I forgot to say that she was in on the ring and $10 joke, too. I wish I had been.  Then I could have had two bottles of wine, given the ring to the waiter and had the whole business off my hands. Now tell me what a man can do with $1,000." Old Bryson rubbed his glasses and smiled. And when Old Bryson smiled, Gillian knew that he intended to be more offensive than ever. There are many good things a man could do with $1,000,” said Bryson. "You?" he said with a gentle laugh. "Why, Bobby Gillian, there's only one reasonable thing you could do. You can go and buy Miss Lotta Lauriere a diamond necklace with the money and then take yourself off to Idaho and inflict your presence upon a ranch. I advise a sheep ranch, as I have a particular dislike for sheep.” "Thanks," said Gillian as he rose from his chair. "I knew I could depend on you, Old Bryson. You've hit on the very idea. I wanted to spend the money on one thing, because I have to turn in a report for it, and I hate itemizing.” Gillian phoned for a cab and said to the driver:  "The stage entrance of the Columbine Theatre." The theater was crowded. Miss Lotta Lauriere was preparing for her performance when her assistant spoke the name of Mr. Gillian. "Let it in," said Miss Lauriere. "Now, what is it, Bobby? I'm going on stage in two minutes." “It won't take two minutes for me. What do you say to a little thing in the jewelry line?  I can spend $1,000." “Say, Bobby,” said Miss Lauriere,  “Did you see that necklace Della Stacey had on the other night?  It cost $2,200 at Tiffany's.” Miss Lauriere was called to the stage for her performance. Gillian slowly walked out to where his cab was waiting.  "What would you do with $1,000 if you had it?" he asked the driver. "Open a drinking place," said the driver, quickly. "I know a place I could take money in with both hands. I've got it worked out -- if you were thinking of putting up the money.” "Oh, no," said Gillian. “I was just wondering.” Eight blocks down Broadway, Gillian got out of the cab. A blind man sat on the sidewalk selling pencils. Gillian went out and stood in front of him. "Excuse me, but would you mind telling me what you would do if you had $1,000?” asked Gillian. The blind man took a small book from his coat pocket and held it out. Gillian opened it and saw that it was a bank deposit book. It showed that the blind man had a balance of $1,785 in his bank account. Gillian returned the bank book and got back into the cab. "I forgot something," he said. "You may drive to the law offices of Tolman and Sharp.” Lawyer Tolman looked at Gillian in a hostile and questioning way. "I beg your pardon," said Gillian, cheerfully.  "But was Miss Hayden left anything by my uncle's will in addition to the ring and the $10 dollars?" "Nothing," said Mr. Tolman. “I thank you very much, sir," said Gillian, and went to his cab. He gave the driver the address of his late uncle's home. Miss Hayden was writing letters in the library. The small, thin woman wore black clothes. But you would have noticed her eyes. Gillian entered the room as if the world were unimportant. “I have just come from old Tolman's," he explained. “They have been going over the papers down there. They found a …”  Gillian searched his memory for a legal term.  “They found an amendment or a post-script or something to the will.  It seemed that my uncle had second thoughts and willed you $1,000. Tolman asked me to bring you the money.  Here it is.” Gillian laid the money beside her hand on the desk. Miss Hayden turned white. "Oh!" she said. And again, "Oh!" Gillian half turned and looked out the window. In a low voice he said, "I suppose, of course, that you know I love you." "I am sorry," said Miss Hayden, as she picked up her money. "There is no use?" asked Gillian, almost light-heartedly. "I am sorry," she said again. "May I write a note?" asked Gillian, with a smile.  Miss Hayden supplied him with paper and pen, and then went back to her writing table. Gillian wrote a report of how he spent the $1,000: “Paid by Robert Gillian, $1,000 on account of the eternal happiness, owed by Heaven to the best and dearest woman on Earth." Gillian put the note into an envelope.  He bowed to Miss Hayden and left. His cab stopped again at the offices of Tolman and Sharp. “I have spent the $1,000," he said cheerfully, to Tolman. "And I have come to present a report of it, as I agreed.” He threw a white envelope on the lawyer's table. Without touching the envelope, Mr. Tolman went to a door and called his partner, Sharp. Together they searched for something in a large safe. They brought out a big envelope sealed with wax. As they opened the envelope, they shook their heads together over its contents. Then Tolman became the spokesman. "Mr. Gillian," he said, “there was an addition to your uncle's will. It was given to us privately, with instructions that it not be opened until you had provided us with a full report of your handling of the $1,000 received in the will. “As you have satisfied the conditions, my partner and I have read the addition.  I will explain to you the spirit of its contents. “In the event that your use of the $1,000 shows that you possess any of the qualifications that deserve reward, you stand to gain much more. If your disposal of the money in question has been sensible, wise, or unselfish, it is in our power to give you bonds to the value of $50,000. But if you have used this money in a wasteful, foolish way as you have in the past, the $50,000 is to be paid to Miriam Hayden, ward of the late Mr. Gillian, without delay. “Now, Mr. Gillian, Mr. Sharp and I will examine your report of the $1,000.” Mr. Tolman reached for the envelope. Gillian was a little quicker in taking it up.  He calmly tore the report and its cover into pieces and dropped them into his pocket. "It's all right," he said, smilingly. "There isn't a bit of need to bother you with this.  I don't suppose you would understand these itemized bets, anyway. I lost the $1,000 on the races. Good-day to you, gentlemen." Tolman and Sharp shook their heads mournfully at each other when Gillian left.  They heard him whistling happily in the hallway as he waited for the elevator. Now it’s your turn to use these Words in this Story. In the comments section, write a sentence using one of these words and we will provide feedback on your use of vocabulary and grammar.​ ________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   will - n. (law) a legal document in which a person states who should receive his or her possessions after he or she dies billiards - n. any one of several games that are played on a large table by hitting solid balls into one another with the end of a long stick bacillus- n. a straight rod-shaped bacterium that requires oxygen for growth safe - n. a strong metal box with a lock that is used to store money or valuable things ward - n. a person (such as a child) who is protected and cared for by a court or guardian  

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