December 31, 2015

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

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The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry

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The Best New Year's Fireworks in the World

Fireworks are used to celebrate the new year around the world. Which countries have the best displays? According to Australian musician and songwriter Ash Almond, the Top 10 fireworks displays worldwide are in London, Sydney, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, New York, Berlin, Dubai, Hong Kong and Beijing:        In China, fireworks are used to drive away evil, according to the website ChineseNewYears.info. Right after midnight on New Year’s Eve, fireworks are set off. It is believed that the person who launches the first firework of the new year will have good luck.  Dubai is hosting an extravagant fireworks display from Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The event will also be live-streamed on MyDubaiNewYear.com, offering visitors the choice between three camera angles, reports the Khaleej Times.   Fireworks by Grucci will feature a spectacular display at Atlantis, the Palm Hotel and Resort in Dubai. The company plans to spell “Atlantis” in the sky with fireworks. It will use the reflections of the fireworks in the water to enhance the display. “One of their ideas is to create a shimmering red carpet, which will light up the sky as well as reflect in the water below,” wrote the Khaleej Times.     Berlin is celebrating the new year with a festive open-air party at the Brandenburg Gate. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to attend. There will be an international program of live music, light and laser shows, and plenty of food and drink. “The spectacular fireworks display starts at midnight on the dot,” reports the website VisitBerlin.de.       Finally, more than a million revelers are expected at Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve. They will take part in the 109-year-old tradition of watching the iconic ball drop from atop One Times Square. The New York Times reports that the famous ball is about 4 meters in diameter, or 12-feet wide, and weighs close to 5,443 kilograms, or 12,000 pounds. It shimmers because it is covered in 2,688 Waterford crystals. At midnight, revelers will watch the sky above New York City ablaze with fireworks. Some cities will not be celebrating the new year with fireworks. Belgium cancelled its traditional fireworks display in central Brussels due to fears of the continuing terror threat. I’m Mary Gotschall.   Mary Gotschall wrote this story for VOANews.com. Kathleen Struck  was the editor. How are you celebrating New Year’s? Let us know in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   midnight – n. the middle of the night : 00:00  host – v. to entertain guests socially or as a job extravagant – adj.  very fancy spectacular – adj. causing wonder and admiration : very impressive enhance – v. to increase or improve (something) shimmer – v.  to shine with a light that seems to move slightly festive -  adj. cheerful and exciting : suited to a celebration or holiday reveler – n. a person who is celebrating with other people in usually a wild and noisy way : a person who is taking part in revelry iconic – adj. describes a widely known symbol ablaze – v. glowing with light, color, or emotion  

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Memories and Hopes Meet in New Year's Music

Welcome to This Is America with VOA Learning English. Steve Ember brings you music for the New Year.  In the United States and other countries, this old Scottish song, "Auld Lang Syne" is played when a new year begins. The song is about remembering old friends. New Year's is a holiday for memories and for hopes. The past and the future come together at midnight. Not surprisingly, emotions are as much a part of New Year's Eve as noisemakers and fireworks. After all, a traditional way to welcome the New Year is to kiss the person you love. "Old Lang Syne" lends its name to a modern song about a man and a woman who once were lovers. One day, a week before New Year's, they meet again by chance. The singer is Dan Fogelberg and the song is called "Same Old Lang Syne." On December 16, 2007, fans of Dan Fogelberg lost an old friend. The American singer and songwriter died of prostate cancer at the age of 56. He was known for the kind of soft rock popular in the 1970s and 80s. "Same Old Lang Syne" was one of the hits from his 1981 album "The Innocent Age." The idea of meeting an old lover by chance is also at the heart of a Paul Simon song. Here is the title song from Paul Simon's 1975 album "Still Crazy After All These Years." Chance meetings are one of life's little surprises. They can happen anywhere -- in a market, on the street, even in a taxicab. This song by Harry Chapin is called "Taxi." Harry Chapin was a popular folk singer and songwriter. In 1981, at the age of 38, he died in a car crash on his way to a performance. Music and emotions go hand in hand. Songs can make us feel the heartbreak of a lost love, or the excitement of finding a new love. Songs can also capture the pain of a wish that a person knows will never come true. Here is James Blunt with "You're Beautiful." The 1989 movie "When Harry Met Sally" was about a relationship.  Billy Crystal plays Harry and Meg Ryan is Sally. They meet and become friends, though not at first. Later, they fall in love, though not for very long. Then, on New Year's Eve, Harry comes to his senses and finds Sally at a party. HARRY: “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and the thing is, I love you.” SALLY: “What?” HARRY: “I love you.” SALLY: “How do you expect me to respond to this?” HARRY: “How about you love me, too?” SALLY: “How about I’m leaving?” HARRY: “Doesn’t what I said mean anything to you?” SALLY: “I’m sorry, Harry. I know it’s New Year’s Eve, I know you’re feeling lonely, but you just can’t show up here, tell me you love me, and expect that to make everything all right. It doesn’t work this way.” HARRY: “Well, how does it work?” SALLY: “I don’t know, but not this way.” HARRY: “How about this way? I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend a day with you I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. “And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” SALLY: “You see? That is just like you, Harry! You say things like that, and you make it impossible for me to hate you. And I hate you, Harry. I really hate you.” What are they doing now? Well, you can probably guess. From New Year's Day, we turn to "A New Day." That was the name of Celine Dion's music and dance show at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.  It closed on December 15, 2007, after almost five years. It sold a reported 400 million dollars in tickets. The show's run ended two months before the start of a worldwide tour for a new album by the Canadian singer. But some fans came to the show again and again, so closing night was like an emotional goodbye to an old friend.                                       We leave you with Celine Dion and a song that some of you will probably sing along with. From the 1997 movie "Titanic," here is "My Heart Will Go On." Avi Arditti wrote today’s program, and Steve Ember was your reader. We hope you will join us again next week for This Is America, on the radio or online at learningenglish.voanews.com. Wishing you a happy New Year from all of us at VOA Learning English.          

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Carrie Fisher of Star Wars Responds to Criticism on Twitter

This is What’s Trending Today… American actress Carrie Fisher is most famous for her role as Princess Leia in the Star Wars movies. During the 1970s and 1980s, she starred in the films alongside actors Harrison Ford and Mark Hamill. This year, the three reunited for Stars Wars: The Force Awakens. Fans of the films eagerly awaited the trio’s return to the big screen. Fans and movie critics have applauded the latest Star Wars film. But on social media, a major topic has been Carrie Fisher’s physical appearance in the film. Fisher was only 21 when the first Star Wars movie was released in 1977. She is now 59 years old. On Twitter, some fans criticized her appearance in the latest movie, and said the star had not “aged well.” On Tuesday, Fisher responded to the criticism. She tweeted: “Please stop debating about whether or not I aged well. Unfortunately it hurts all 3 of my feelings. My body hasn’t aged well as I have…” She also retweeted a message from a supporter that read: “Men don’t age better than women, they’re just allowed to age.” Fisher’s own response to the criticism has been retweeted more than 38,000 times. Fisher speaks often about the difficulties of aging in Hollywood. In an interview this year with a British magazine, she said,  “I'm in a business where the only thing that matters is weight and appearance. That is so messed up.” Supporters have appreciated Fisher’s honesty in recent interviews and on Twitter. Twitter user JCKNN wrote: “Every interview I've seen with Carrie Fisher for The Force Awakens has been pure gold. She's just the best.” ​ And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Jonathan Evans. Ashley Thompson wrote this report. Hai Do was the editor.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    eagerly - adv. in a very excited and interested way pure gold - (idiom). excellent, exceptional

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December 30, 2015

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

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Bill Cosby Charged With Sexual Assault

[Editor's Note: The audio will follow shortly, thank you.]   Prosecutors in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania have brought criminal charges against celebrity Bill Cosby. The American comedian is charged with sexually assaulting a woman in 2004. The case deals with a former Temple University employee who told police that Cosby drugged and violated her at his home near Philadelphia.    It marks the first criminal case involving Cosby, after many years of accusations. If he is found guilty, he could face up to 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. An arrest warrant for the 78-year-old Cosby has been issued. More than 50 women have accused Cosby of drugging them and, in most cases, sexually assaulting them. Cosby has long denied the accusations. Many of the incidents happened several decades ago, and the statute of limitations has already passed. A statute of limitations is a law that prevents a suspect from being tried after a certain amount of time has passed. The statute of limitations in the Pennsylvania case was to expire in January 2016. Bill Cosby is best known for playing Dr. Cliff Huxtable, the father in the long-running American television program, “The Cosby Show.” The charges have shocked Cosby's fans and damaged his reputation as an entertainer. Ashley Thompson adapted this story from Reuters materials and VOANews.com reports. Kathleen Struck was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   violate - v. (formal) to sexually assault or rape accusation - n. a claim that someone has done something wrong or illegal warrant - n. a document issued by a court that gives the police the power to do something statute of limitations - n. a law that states the amount of time that must pass before a crime can no longer be punished or a right can no longer be given   ​

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What's Trending? #HoverboardFails

  Hoverboards were among the most popular Christmas gifts of 2015. They may have also been most dangerous gifts of 2015. A true hoverboard looks like a skateboard without wheels. To “hover” means to float in the air without moving much in any direction. The popularity of hoverboards began in the 1980s, with the “Back to the Future” movies. Characters in the second and third films used hoverboards as transportation. This year’s popular hoverboards, however, do not actually hover. They have wheels. And, as it turns out, they are not easy to use. Adults and children around the world suffered hoverboard-related injuries over the weekend. Many posted pictures of the damage on social media. As a result, the hashtag #hoverboardfails trended on Twitter. Twitter user David Douglas posted a photo of both him and a young girl with casts for the broken arms they suffered on Christmas Day. And Twitter user Erin Rafferty tweeted a video of her mother falling off a hoverboard, with the caption, “Who let mom on the hoverboard?” Falling is not the only risk with some hoverboards. They are also a fire risk. At one store in Texas, an employee tried to fix a defective hoverboard a customer brought in. The hoverboard then caught fire. Studies suggest that some hoverboard brands have faulty batteries or plugs. Many major airlines worldwide have banned hoverboards because of the fire risk. But some passengers did not hear the news. Australian actor Russell Crowe tweeted on Monday about his disappointment that Virgin Australia Airlines did not permit his children to take their hoverboards on the plane. Major retailers are also taking steps to improve the safety of the hoverboards they sell. Amazon in the United States now only sells hoverboards from brands that have submitted safety standard documents. The UK’s Amazon no longer sells actual hoverboards. It has also advised customers who bought unsafe brands of hoverboards to throw them away. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   skateboard - n. a short board that is on wheels and that a person stands on to move along a surface or to perform tricks cast - n. a hard covering that is put on an arm, leg, etc., so that a broken bone can heal defective - adj. having a problem or fault that prevents something from working correctly submit - v. to give (a document, proposal, piece of writing, etc.) to someone so that it can be considered or approved  

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Many Americans Believe Terrorists Are Winning

A new public opinion survey shows many Americans are not satisfied with the government’s efforts to fight terrorism. Forty percent of those asked said they believe terrorists are winning their fight against the United States. The study by CNN and the Opinion Research Corporation was released on Monday, weeks after deadly terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California. Almost three-quarters of those asked criticized efforts by the administration of President Barack Obama to fight terrorists. In 2007, 61 percent of those asked were critical of the anti-terror efforts of then-President George W. Bush. Obama is a Democrat. Bush is a Republican. The survey showed 55 percent of members of the Republican party believe Islamist militants are winning. Fifty-two percent of Democrats believe neither side is winning. Almost 60 percent of Democrats asked said they were not happy with Obama’s efforts. Seventy-nine percent of independents and 86 percent of Republicans said they were unhappy with the president’s anti-terrorism activities. ORC spoke to 1,018 adult Americans in the middle of December. Almost all of them were registered voters. Forty-nine percent of those asked said they support sending American troops to fight Islamic State militants who now control large parts of Syria and northern and western Iraq. In the days after the attack in San Bernardino, a similar study showed 53 percent support for sending ground troops to fight the terrorists. Americans disagree about what to call the strikes. Fifty-seven percent said the country is involved in a “military conflict.” Forty percent said it should be called a “war.” This level of disagreement is almost exactly the same as in September 2014. Several recent public opinion polls have shown that Americans are more worried about security than the economy. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com reported this story. We also used reporting by CNN. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   registered – adj. having your name entered in an official list, such as a list of voters poll – n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

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Deadly Bombings in Homs, Syria

Up to 32 people were killed in two bomb attacks Monday in the Syrian city of Homs, near the border with Lebanon. The second attack killed people who gathered to see the damage of an earlier car bomb. A suicide bomber entered the crowd and exploded a bomb hidden in clothing. The attacks took place in the al-Zahraa district, in the central part of the city. State-controlled media say 19 people were killed in the two bombings. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says 32 people were killed. Many others were hurt. It was the second major attack in Homs since the government and rebel forces reached a cease-fire agreement this month. The government will take back areas of the city controlled by rebels. On December 12, two bombings killed at least 16 people. Those attacks also took place in the al-Zahraa district. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attacks. The Wall Street Journal newspaper reports that many people who live in the neighborhood are members of the Alawite sect. President Bashar al-Assad and top members of his government belong to the sect. The newspaper reports the area is often “attacked by anti-government rebels armed with rockets and vehicle bombs.” Separately, rebels and others began leaving three Syrian towns this week under a humanitarian agreement reached in September. The agreement between the government of President Bashar al-Assad and the rebels who oppose him is supported by the United Nations. On Monday, more than 120 rebels, and others who are hurt, began leaving the town of Zabadani. It is the last area rebels control in Syria near the border with Lebanon. The Syrian Observatory said they were being moved to areas in Syria controlled by opponents of the government. Also on Monday, a group of 335 people, including civilians, moved from two government-controlled villages in northwestern Syria to other government-held areas. UN voted on Syrian peace plan On December 18, all members of the U.N. Security Council voted to approve a plan for peace in Syria. It was a rare unanimous vote. Staffan de Mistura is the U.N. peace negotiator for Syria. Saturday, he said he hoped to begin peace talks January 25. He said the talks would include members of the different Syrian opposition groups and others. He said the talks would require the “full cooperation” of all those involved in the conflict if they are to succeed. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and others have said ending the civil war in Syria is the most important step in defeating the Islamic State group and bringing stability to the area. More than 250,000 people have died in the Syrian conflict since it began in 2011. More than 4 million people have fled the country. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com reported this story. We also used reporting from The Wall Street Journal, Al Jazeera and Reuters. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sect – n. a religious group that is a smaller part of a larger group and whose members all share similar beliefs; also, a religious or political group that is connected to a larger group but that has beliefs that differ greatly from those of the main group unanimous – adj. agreed to by everyone We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

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December 29, 2015

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

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