US Says It Will Deport Over 100 Illegal Immigrants

More than 120 illegal immigrants have been arrested and detained by U.S. immigration officials in Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. The detainees are from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. Most are mothers or children traveling alone. They have entered the United States from Mexico since May 2014. Homeland Security Chief Jeh Johnson said the detainees were placed in family detention centers in Texas. Close to 100,000 Central Americans crossed into the U.S. in the last 20 months, according to VOA News. Experts say the immigrants are fleeing gang violence in Central America. Also, they seek to reunite with family members in the United States. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) condemned the threat of deportation. The ACLU said federal officials are using the detentions as a “scare tactic to deter other families fleeing violence in Central America from coming to the United States.” I’m Mario Ritter.   The staff at VOA News wrote this story for VOAnews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it 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   detention – n. the act of keeping someone in a prison or similar place

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Markets React Badly to World News, China Troubles

U.S. stock prices fell sharply Monday, following conflicts in the Middle East, and weaker economies in China and in Europe. U.S. stocks started the new year with the most selling of stocks and investments since September 2015, reported CBS News. Stocks lost between 2 percent and 3 percent in trading. The weaker economy in China “reignited fears of a global slowdown,” according to Reuters. Chinese stocks fell about 7 percent Monday. This caused officials to halt trading for the day to stop the falls on the Shanghai and Shenzhen exchanges. It was the first time China used a “circuit breaker,” said CBS News. A “circuit breaker” in a stock exchange stops trading that happens when investors panic and sell too much in too short a time. Reports showed that Chinese manufacturers are not producing as much as before. Investors say China’s economic growth is slowing. China is the world’s second-largest economy and a key market for many other nations. Japan’s Nikkei index was down 3 percent, and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index fell more than 2 1/2 percent by the close of trading. European markets followed Asia’s lead. Germany’s stock market was down more than 4 percent. The British stock market fell by more than 2 percent. Meanwhile, crude oil prices increased. Analysts are concerned that  tension between oil producers Saudi Arabia and Iran might reduce energy supplies. I’m Mary Gotschall.            Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English from VOA News and other sources. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   slowdown – n. a decrease in the speed at which something is moving or happening slump – n. a period of time when an economy is doing poorly tension – n.  a state in which people, groups, countries, etc., disagree with and feel anger toward each other reignite – v. to cause (something) to suddenly occur again mechanism – n. a process or system that is used to produce a particular result tension – n. a state in which people, groups, countries, etc., disagree with and feel anger toward each other        

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VOA English Newscast: 1400 UTC January 5, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Frances Alonzo reporting. Stock markets in China finished largely even in volatile trading Tuesday, a day after falling nearly 7 percent in a selloff that spread to markets across the globe. The massive losses there Monday prompted officials to stop trading. VOA's Beijing Correspondent Bill Ide says that now the market appears to be on an even keel. “Analysts are telling us that this is largely because the government moved in to shore up stock prices, you know funneled some money into the market, to stabilize it, and that ended what we saw on Monday, the sharp decline. That said, it was up and down it was a roller coaster ride again. And the uncertainty remains. One of the things that securities analysts that we’ve been talking to today have pointed out to us is: the big question here is ‘where is the economy going?’ and the answer to that is still very much unclear, and as long as that question or as long as there’s no clarity on that, this kind of turmoil in the market is likely to continue.” That is VOA’s correspondent Bill Ide. You can read more details on that at voanews.com. U.S. President Barack Obama will discuss his new initiatives to curb gun violence in remarks Tuesday at the White House, as he works to detail to Americans the executive orders he says will not step on Constitutional rights. Some of those measures, first announced by the White House on Monday, include expanded background checks, and more enforcement of gun laws. Kuwait joined other Saudi allies in taking diplomatic action against Iran after protesters angry about Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric stormed the country's embassy in the Iranian capital. The state-run KUNA news agency said Tuesday Kuwait recalled its ambassador to Tehran. This is VOA news. _______________________________________________________ Words in the News volatile –adj. likely to change in a sudden or extreme way selloff –n. the sale of a large number of stocks, causing their price to drop massive –adj. large in amount or degree prompted –v. to cause even keel –(idiom) stable, not changing analysts –n. people who study or analyze something funneled –v. to send something usually in an indirect way stabilize –v. to steady, to make more stabile roller coaster ride –(idiom) something that goes up and down often wildly turmoil –n. a state of confusion or disorder initiatives –n. a plan or program that is meant to solve a problem curb –v. to control or limit

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IS Releases Execution Video of British ‘Spies’

The Islamic State terrorist group released a video Sunday it says shows the execution of five British men accused of spying. The 10-minute-long video shows five men saying they filmed IS militants in Raqqa in northern Syria. Raqqa is the capital of the Islamic State group’s self-declared caliphate. The men kneeled on the ground. Five men wearing military clothing and masks stood behind them with guns. One of the gunmen said the execution was “a message to David Cameron” -- the British prime minister. Cameron has ordered an increase in attacks on militants in Iraq and Syria. The five alleged spies were then shot in the head. The British foreign office said it was examining the video. I’m Mario Ritter. VOANews.com reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA 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   spy – v. to try to secretly get information about a country, organization, etc.; to act as a spy caliphate – n. a form of Islamic government led by a caliph -- a person considered a political and religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad mask – n. a covering designed to hide the face  

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Militia Occupies U.S. Federal Wildlife Refuge

  An armed group is occupying a federal building on a wildlife refuge in the western United States. The anti-government militia broke into the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service building in Oregon on Saturday. The group’s leaders said they are ready to stay for years. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said it is working to bring the occupation of the wildlife center “to a peaceful resolution.” The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said its staffers are all safe. But it said on its website that the center is closed until further notice. The group says it acted to protest prison sentences given to two cattle farmers. A court found Dwight and Steven Hammond guilty of setting fire on federal land in Oregon. The ranchers had used the land used for grazing by their cattle. The group posted a sign at the occupied center that accused the government of abusing its power. “We will be here as long as it takes,” said Ammon Bundy, a leader of the occupying group. He said the group has no plan to use force against anyone. But he said, “If force is used against us, we would defend ourselves.” Harney County Sheriff David Ward said the group’s claim of working to support local ranchers is false. He said it wants to overthrow the local and federal government to start a movement across the U.S. Bundy and his family led a 2014 armed standoff over grazing rights on federal lands in Nevada. The government ended the standoff by permitting Bundy and his family to continue to use the federal land for grazing. Bundy at first won Republican Party support for his 2014 battle. He described it as a case of people fighting over-regulation by the federal government. But Republicans later criticized Bundy after he said in an interview that African-Americans were better when they were slaves. The case that touched off the current protest centers on Dwight Hammond, who is 73 years old, and his son Steven Hammond, 46. The Hammonds were given short sentences after their arrests for setting fire to federal land. The Hammonds said that they set the fire on their own property to kill off “invasive” species and that the fire spread to the federal land. But an Oregon jury convicted them of arson in 2012. In October, a federal appeals court ruled the judge made an error in his sentencing. The appeals court said the Hammonds should have served five years each. The judge had given a one-year prison sentence to Dwight Hammond and a three-month sentence to Steven Hammond. A statement from the Hammonds said the two men are ready to turn themselves in and serve out their longer prison terms. The family said “no patriot group or individual has the right or authority to force an armed standoff…against their wishes.” The U.S. government’s ownership of land is a big issue, mostly in western states. Ranchers have used the land for grazing since the mass migration west following the War of 1812. But the U.S. Department of Land Management said some grazing hurts habitat and must be regulated. I’m Caty Weaver. Chris Hannas reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   militiamen – n. a group of people who are not part of the armed forces of a country but are trained or act like soldiers rancher – n. a person who lives or works on a ranch occupation – n. a situation in which the military of a foreign government goes into an area or country and takes control of it grazing – v. to eat grass or other plants that are growing in a field, pasture, etc. recreation – n. something people do to relax or have fun : activities done for enjoyment livestock – n. farm animals (such as cows, horses, and pigs) that are kept, raised, and used by people environment – n. the conditions that surround someone or something intention – n. the thing that you plan to do alternative – adj. offering or expressing a choice motive – n. a reason for doing something standoff – n. an argument, contest, etc., in which there is no winner regulation – n. an official rule or law sentence – n. time in prison authority – n. the power to make decisions We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page.  

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Oregon Protesters Mocked on Social Media

  This is What's Trending Today: Over the weekend, protesters with guns took control of a U.S. wildlife refuge in the state of Oregon. They are protesting the sentencing of two ranchers in the state found guilty of arson.  The armed protesters say they are anti-government.  They say the ranchers’ punishment is too harsh, and that the government is not respecting land rights. One of the protest leaders is Ammon Bundy. He wrote on Facebook that the goal of the protest is to “restore the rights to the people here so that they can use the land and resources. All of them.” In a press conference on Monday, the group named themselves “Citizens for Constitutional Freedom.” Ammon Bundy told the media, “Our purpose, as we have shown, is to restore and defend the Constitution.” Government officials have not said how they planned to respond to the occupation of the wildlife refuge. As the standoff continues, social media is mocking the protesters. One viral hashtag is #YallQaeda, with Twitter users comparing the cowboy-hat wearing gunmen to Islamic terror organizations. The hashtag combines the al Qaeda terrorist group name and the American English contraction y’all. Y’all is often used by rural Americans. Twitter user PatOndabak wrote, “whoever coined the hashtag #YallQaeda is brilliant. Redneck terrorism has descended on Oregon.” Twitter user Annie Post wrote, “If your master plan is to overthrow the world's most powerful government and you attack a remote bird sanctuary you might be #YallQaeda.” Other hashtags like #VanillaISIS and #YeeHawd mocked the protesters in a similar way. The hashtag #whiteprivilege also trended in connection to the protests in Oregon. “White privilege” is a term for social privileges that benefit people who are identified as white. The Oregon protesters are all white. Some Twitter users questioned why the response by the government to a large group of heavily armed people was not stronger.  Others questioned why the “Citizens for Constitutional Freedom” is considered protest group, not a terrorist group. Twitter user Nia Girma wrote: “Protesters carry signs. Terrorists carry guns.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I'm Ashley Thompson.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rancher - n. a person who lives and works on a large farm, known as a ranch arson - n. the illegal burning of a building or other property : the crime of setting fire to something redneck - adj. (informal) a white person who lives in a small town, especially in the southern U.S., who typically has a working-class job, and who is seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes that are offensive mock - v.  to criticize and laugh at (someone or something) for being bad, worthless, or unimportant

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January 4, 2016

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

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Saudi Arabia Ends Diplomatic Ties With Iran

Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Sudan have cut off diplomatic relations with Iran. On Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed a well-known Shi’ite Muslim leader. The cleric had publicly criticized the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. In response, angry demonstrators in Tehran attacked the Saudi embassy Saturday. The demonstrators set fire in the building, destroyed furniture and threw papers off the roof. At least 40 protesters were arrested. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the attack “totally unjustifiable,” but he criticized Saudi Arabia for executing the cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. Saudi Arabia executed 46 other prisoners on the same day as Nimr. It was the largest number of executions in one day in Saudi Arabia in 30 years. Many countries protested the executions. Some critics threatened the Saudi royal family. Large protests have taken place since Saturday in many countries, including Bahrain, where police used tear gas on the protestors. Demonstrations also took place in India and at the Saudi embassy in London. Late Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir ordered all Iranian diplomats to leave Saudi Arabia. He said “the continued attacks on diplomatic missions (are) a flagrant violation of all international treaties.” He said Saudi Arabia -- a Sunni-majority country -- would not let Shi’ite-led Iran weaken the security of Saudi Arabia or the Middle East. Sunnis and Shi’ites are Muslim groups. “We want to make it very clear that there is no space in the community of nations for a country that condones terrorism, that supports terrorism and that engages in terrorism,” he said. Late Sunday, the Iranian state news agency reported comments from Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister. It said he criticized Saudi Arabia’s decision to end diplomatic relations with his country. He said Saudi leaders were trying to move attention away from executing Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr. On Monday, an Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said Iran was helping its diplomats leave Saudi Arabia. But he said none had left the country yet. He criticized Saudi Arabia for ending diplomatic relations with his country. He said Saudi Arabia is causing tension in the Middle East. On Monday, Bahrain also ended diplomatic relations with Iran. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia are close allies. The state news service BNA reported Bahrain’s government had ordered Iranian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.  Sudan also ended diplomatic relations with Iran on Monday. And the United Arab Emirates said it was ordering some Iranian diplomats to leave the country. Sudan called the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran “barbaric.” The UAE criticized what it called Iran’s “continuous interference in the internal affairs of Gulf and Arab states, which has reached unprecedented levels.” Sunday, Iranian state television reported that Iran's Supreme Leader -- Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- said Nimr did not urge “people into armed action,” and did not plot against the Saudi government. He said “the only thing he did was utter public criticism rising from his religious zeal.” In a statement on Sunday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said Nimr’s execution would lead to the “downfall” of Saudi Arabia's monarchy. It called the execution a “medieval act of savagery.” Iraq’s Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani called the execution an "injustice" and an act of "aggression.” Nimr was found guilty of plotting against the state, and other charges, in 2014. He was one of the leaders of Shi’ite protests in eastern Saudi Arabia in 2011. Human rights groups have for many years criticized Islamic courts in Saudi Arabia for sentencing people to death even for non-violent crimes. The groups say trials in Saudi Arabia are secretive and unfair. ​U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was “deeply dismayed” by the execution of Nimr and called for “calm and restraint in reaction” to the killings.   In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the Obama administration “will continue to urge leaders across the region to take affirmative steps to calm tensions.” It also said the administration believes “diplomatic engagement and direct conversations remain essential” to ending the unrest. The State Department said the execution of Nimr would add to the tensions between religious groups in the Middle East. Iran and Saudi Arabia have been competing for leadership of Muslims since the 1979 revolution in Iran. Conservative Shi-ite Muslim religious leaders took power during that revolution. I’m Mario Ritter. VOANews.com and VOA News Writer Chris Hannas reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA 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 unjustifiable – adj. not able to be defended, excused or accepted; not justifiable royal – adj. of or relating to a king or queen tear gas – n. a gas that makes people unable to see by causing their eyes to be filled with tears and that is used especially by the police or military to separate large groups of people mission – n. a place or building where diplomatic work is done; smaller than an embassy flagrant – adj. very bad; too bad to be ignored condone – v. to forgive or approve (something that is considered wrong); to allow (something that is considered wrong) to continue barbaric – adj. very cruel unprecedented – adj. not done or experienced before befall – v. to happen to utter – v. to say something zeal – n. a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something downfall – n. a sudden loss of power, happiness, success, etc monarchy – n. a form of government in which a country is ruled by a monarch medieval – adj. informal or figurative very old; too old to be useful or acceptable; of or relating to the Middle Ages; of or relating to the period of European history from about A.D. 500 to about 1500 savagery – n. a cruel or violent act or action dismayed – n. a strong feeling of being worried, disappointed or upset region – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way affirmative – adj. saying or showing that the answer is “yes” rather than “no” engagement – n. the act or state of being involved with something; involvement essential – adj. extremely important and necessary

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Sweden, Denmark Block Borders to Stop Migrants

Sweden imposed border controls Monday to manage refugees and migrants seeking new lives there. Travelers passing from Denmark into Sweden must show photo identification. The move by Sweden is an attempt to stop the flow of undocumented migrants into the country.  The border checks between the two countries mean travelers will have to show their passports for the first time in more than 50 years. Thousands of daily commuters will be affected by the new order. The Local, Stockholm’s English newspaper, reported “short” delays, and lines were “moving swiftly” on the first day of enforcement.   Travelers were warned to expect long lines on the Danish side of the Oresund Bridge. That bridge is a major entry point for migrants wishing to enter Sweden. The Swedish border controls will continue for three years, according to the New York Times. Following the Swedish border checks, Denmark started its own security checks at the German border, according to the New York Times.  The Danish border checks will last for 10 days, the Times reported, and an extension is possible. Some 160,000 migrants came to Sweden in 2015. Europe and the Mideast are facing the largest refugee crisis since World War II. More than 1 million migrants from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq sought asylum in Europe in 2015, according to the United Nations. I'm Dan Friedell. The staff at VOA News wrote this story for VOAnews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Should migrants and refugees be checked at the Swedish and Danish border? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   undocumented migrants – n. a foreign citizens present on the territory of a state, in violation of the regulations on entry and residence and having crossed the border in an illegal manner swiftly – adv. moving or able to move very fast commuters – n. someone who travels regularly to and from a place and especially between where they live and where they work

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Migrating Birds Can't Find Their Way Home

Scientists say a huge percentage of bird species are in danger because their habitats, or homelands, are disappearing. Traditional migration paths take birds through countries that are not protecting locations to stop, rest and feed. The scientists studied the migration, or flight, paths, of almost 1,500 species. They decided that 91 percent of them passed through dangerous areas. The major danger for migratory birds is development. Building and paving has covered over nature where birds stop and feed as they move from one part of the world to another. For example, a bird called the bar-tailed godwit migrates from its breeding grounds in the Arctic. It flies all the way to the southern hemisphere in Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, the small birds stop at Yellow Sea mudflats in China, North Korea and South Korea. One of the scientists who worked on the study says “many of these critical sites have been lost to land reclamation owing to urban, industrial and agricultural expansion.” The problem, according to investigators, is that many of these small birds die along their migration because they don’t have a safe place to eat and rest. There is no place to restore their energy for the next leg of their journey. “They simply perish along the way,” says one of the scientists. Countries in North Africa, Central Asia and those along the coasts of East Asia are having the most difficult time conserving land. The scientists say these countries do not have enough areas that are safe for birds. In addition, many of the sanctuaries do not overlap enough with the paths of migrating birds. One species that is now extinct is the Eskimo curlew. “Our world gets poorer every time we lose a species,” one of the scientists says. The researchers say countries need to work together and come up with safe stopover areas for birds that pass through their boundaries. For example, one country might have preserved safe zones for migrating birds. But a neighbor country might not. A bird might perish. One scientist who is not involved in the report tells the Los Angeles Times that while some habitats are changing, more work can be done to make urban areas safe for birds. He says small changes – like planting more native plants or keeping cats out of areas birds would be likely to use – could make a big difference. The journal Science published an article in early December by researchers from the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions in Australia. I’m ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English based on reporting from Reuters and The Los Angeles Times. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you think migrating birds would be safe 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   breeding ground – n. a place where animals go to breed conservation – n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources extinct – adj. no longer existing habitat – v. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows perish – v. to disappear or be destroyed : to cease to exist sanctuary – n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus

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China's State Companies Must Employ Soldiers

State-owned companies must employ soldiers who will seek work when the Chinese military is reduced. In September, President Xi Jinping announced the military would drop in size from 2.3 million troops to 2 million. The official People’s Liberation Army Daily newspaper noted a central government agency said “resettling and receiving ex-servicemen is connected to the overall picture of military construction and social harmony and stability.” The order would hurt state-owned companies. Some have reduced their workforce to be more competitive as the Chinese economy slows. Almost all of the country’s oil, coal, electricity, steel and cement companies are state-owned. They have suffered heavy losses over the past two years. Geoffrey Crothall is the communications director of the China Labor Bulletin in Hong Kong. He said he believes some state-owned companies will refuse to employ the returning soldiers. He says many of them do not have enough money to hire any new workers. Experts believe the government expects some of the state-owned companies will refuse to hire the soldiers. State media report that the government has already made plans to deal with the resistance. The PLA Daily newspaper said state-owned companies should not take actions that may hurt the former soldiers. They should not limit how many of them they employ. Some of the leaders of the state-owned companies have been watched closely in recent years as China investigates and punishes corruption. This means that the leaders of the companies are not likely to refuse jobs to former soldiers. But Crothall said many state-owned companies are hiring temporary contractors rather than employees. He said many companies stopped being profitable months or years ago. They have had to ask for money from local governments so they can continue to operate. If the companies are forced to employ former soldiers, they would likely need even more financial help from the government. That would mean the government is still paying the wages of the former soldiers, even though they are no longer in the military.   Correspondent Saibal Dasgupta reported this story from Beijing. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA 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   harmony – n. living together in a peaceful and friendly way. workforce – n. the group of people who work for a particular organization or business competitive – adj. as good as or better than others of the same kind; able to compete successfully with others resistance – n. effort made to stop or to fight someone or something

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