#NewYorkValues

This is What’s Trending Today… During Thursday night’s Republican presidential debate, candidates Ted Cruz and Donald Trump argued about “New York values.” Cruz appealed to conservative Republican voters that Trump, a New Yorker, would not be a good candidate. He said, “Everyone understands that the values in New York City are socially liberal and pro-abortion and pro-gay marriage...” Trump replied that after the terrorist attacks of September 11, “The people in New York fought and fought and fought, and we saw more death, even the smell of death … And we rebuilt downtown Manhattan, and everyone in the world watched and loved New York and New Yorkers.” And then Trump added, “I’ll tell you, that was a very insulting statement that Ted made.” Most of the people on Twitter and Facebook seemed to agree. On Friday, the top trending hashtag on Twitter was #NewYorkValues. People wrote about what “NewYorkValues” mean to them. The New York Daily News, known for its colorful headlines, responded to Cruz’s comment with “Drop Dead, Ted” on its front page. Like Trump, many people mentioned the city’s resiliency after September 11. Other people wrote about the diversity and cultural awareness in New York. Some people wrote about small acts of kindness, like returning a wallet found in a taxi or helping people find their way in a complicated subway. Some pledged their allegiance to the various sports teams in New York, like the Yankees and Mets, along with popular food items – like pizza and bagels that New Yorkers love to tout. Others tweeted about a different kind of “value” -- about how many things in New York are expensive. But with the current drop in prices on the stock market in New York, another person said there actually are values in New York. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.   What are the values of the city in which you live? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   resilience – n. the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens awareness – n. feeling, experiencing, or noticing something expensive – adj. costing a lot of money bagel – n. a bread roll shaped like a ring allegiance – n. loyalty to a person, country, group, etc. tout – v. to talk about (something or someone) as being very good, effective, skillful, etc.  

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Indonesia Arrests 3 Suspects in Jakarta Attack

Police in Indonesia arrested three men Friday in connection with a deadly bombing in Jakarta. Two died and more than 20 were wounded on Thursday. The three suspected militants were arrested in Depok, a suburb of Jakarta. Other raids were conducted throughout the country and suspected militants were detained, according to Reuters news agency. A police spokesman said one of the attacker’s homes was searched. Items linked to the Islamic State were found in that raid. Those items included IS flags and T-shirts. Police identified four of the five attackers in Thursday’s violence. All five died during the bombings and gun attack. The attack took place in a busy part of Jakarta near a shopping center and foreign embassies. Law enforcement officials also announced Indonesian Bahrun Naim was the man who planned Thursday's attack. He is believed to be fighting for the Islamic State terror group in Syria. President Joko Widodo visited the scene of the attack Thursday. He asked Indonesians for calm and to be courageous during this time. While Indonesia recovers, officials told VOA news, between 200 and 300 IS sympathizers are in the country. The Islamic State has increased recruitment in Indonesia. Close to 13 percent of the world’s Islamic population lives in Indonesia. That translates to more than 200 million Muslims in Indonesia. If the IS link to the Jakarta attack is proven, it will be the first time the group targeted Indonesia. The country has been the site of a number of terrorist attacks. Bombings in Bali in 2002 killed 202 people. The last attack against foreigners was a twin hotel bombing in Jakarta in 2009. I’m Jim Dresbach.   This report was based on information from 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   sympathizer – n. one who feels or shows support for or approval of something recruitment – n. the process to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization or the armed forces

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Republican Party Debate Features Foreign Policy

The candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination debated for the sixth time this week. The debate is the second-to-last one before the Iowa caucus on February 1. The Iowa caucus is a series of meetings where participants, called delegates, vote for one Republican and one Democratic party candidate. Whoever gets the most votes in that state will be endorsed at the national convention later in the year. Candidates Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, John Kasich, Marco Rubio and Donald Trump debated in South Carolina on Thursday night. Bush, the former governor of Florida, challenged Donald Trump on his proposal to ban non-American Muslims from coming to the United States. Trump’s idea “makes it impossible to build the coalition necessary to take out ISIS,” Bush says. Bush says it would be difficult for the U.S. to build a coalition against Islamic State terror group without Muslim support. Trump says he wants security for the United States. He says radical Islam is a problem “all over the world.” Another question came up: whether Cruz’s birth in Canada would make him ineligible to be president. Cruz was born with dual American and Canadian citizenship. He gave up his Canadian citizenship in 2014. Trump says he thinks the Democratic Party would file a lawsuit claiming that Cruz is not allowed to be president if he wins the Republican nomination. Two other issues were raised in the debate: One, whether Christie was a strong enough conservative to earn the Republican nomination. And two, who would be the best Republican to overturn policies enacted by President Barack Obama. But who won the debate? Ford O’Connell is a Republican strategist who advised John McCain’s campaign in 2008. He says Trump, Cruz and Rubio look like the front-runners. “At the rate things are going, it seems like we’re heading for a three-man race.” The next and final Republican debate before the caucus is January 28 in Iowa. I’m Dan Friedell.   This report was based on information from VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Who do you think will win the Iowa caucus? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   assertion – n. a strong, definite statement caucus – n. a meeting of members of a political party for the purpose of choosing candidates for an election dual – adj. having two of something ineligible – adj. not allowed to do or be something : not eligible participants - n. people who take part in something endorsed - v. declaring one's support publicly    

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Will: Do You Have It?

  Hello! Welcome to the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Each week, we explain how to use common words and expressions in American English. Today we talk about a seemingly simple four-letter word: will. But do not be fooled. The word will is a strong noun and a powerful verb. As a verb, will requires you to do something. If you say you will take action, you have promised to do it with no excuses -- no ifs, ands or buts. As a noun, will is the determination to do something, demonstrating a strength or firmness of purpose. Someone who has a strong will does not give up. Americans often say someone who is determined has an iron will. On the opposite side, someone who has lost their will has given up. It is a very serious situation when a person has lost their will to live. These people need lots of love and support. Will can also be a person’s choice or desire to do something. For example, do you have the will to learn the English language? If you are listening to this show, I hope your answer would be “yes, I do.” But perhaps you are being forced to learn a foreign language. In this case, you can say you are studying against your will. This will make learning much more difficult. In a perfect world, you would think that all governments represent the will of the people. But sadly, some do not. They may reflect the will of the people with the most money, power or influence. To do something at will means to do what you want, when you want. For example, a woman could say this about a former boyfriend. “He thought he could walk in and out of my life at will. The nerve!” As a noun, the word will can mean a legal document. In a will, a person states who should receive their possessions after he or she dies. There is also a document called a living will. This is a written statement. It explains a person's wishes concerning their medical treatment should they not be able to state this information themselves. For example, a person may write in a living will that they do not wish to be kept alive with life support machinery. Such equipment can keep a person breathing and their heart beating even when they are unable to communicate. The next word is willpower. Willpower is the personal strength you have that enables you to do something difficult. Willpower is the ability to control oneself. For example, it takes great willpower to give up cigarettes. To have willpower in life is important because life can be difficult. But if you do find yourself in a difficult situation, do not give up. As they say, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.” This saying means that having inner strength will help you overcome any problem life throws at you. Even with willpower, life can present you with many difficult situations. For example, being in a battle of wills can be difficult. A battle of wills is when two people or groups are equally determined to get what they want. A battle of wills can get very heated. But if you find yourself in a battle of wills, remember you have the free will to walk away. Free will is a person’s freedom to choose for themselves. It is the power of acting without the help of God or luck. A common word we use for this concept is self-determination. In a popular song, titled “Freewill,” the hard-rocking band Rush sings that if you choose not to choose, you still have made a choice.   “If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice. I’m Anna Matteo and I will be back with another Words and Their Stories. “I will choose a path that's clear, I will choose freewill...”   Anna Matteo wrote this for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Try one of these “will” words or expressions in a sentence in the Comments section.

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January 15, 2016

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

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Remembering David Bowie

Few rock and rollers have been as exciting, experimental and personable as British musical legend David Bowie. His death January 10 shocked many and saddened even more. Two days earlier, he had just turned 69 and released a new album, “Blackstar.” Bowie discovered he had liver cancer in 2013. He had not made the information public. Millions of fans expressed their grief and love for the artist in a flood of messages on social media and other outlets. Others have left flowers and notes in honor of the musician at places he lived, work or is honored. ​Bowie was famous for more than just music. He was an early gender-bender in his style of dress. And he was a famous experimenter with musical styles as well. He was one of the creators of glam rock, and mixed it with hard rock, dance, pop, soul and punk. He rocketed to fame with his 1969 song “Space Oddity.” The song is about an astronaut in space. It evokes the loneliness of the Cold War space race. The song came out in the same month that men first walked on the moon. Bowie calls the astronaut Major Tom. ​Ziggy Stardust Three years later, David Bowie released "The Rise of Ziggy Stardust and Spiders from Mars.” The album introduced one of music's most famous personas: the red-headed, androgynous, futuristic rock star Ziggy Stardust. He wore shiny clothes, metallic face paint and high boots. Bowie retired Ziggy Stardust in 1973. But he continued to be a beloved character in the world of rock and roll. In the mid-1970s, Bowie created another persona. The “Thin White Duke” was sophisticated in a bright white shirt and black vest and pants. His white blonde hair was brushed straight back from his head.   He was seen as romantic and yet emotionless. His character was linked to the city of Los Angeles, where Bowie was living at the time. Los Angeles is often seen as soulless. The character is introduced in the Bowie’s “Station to Station” album of 1976. Bowie was suffering from a severe cocaine dependency at the time. David Bowie was born David Jones in 1947 in London. He was a young music fan and, at 13, began to study saxophone. His older brother Terry introduced him to rock and roll. Jones changed his name to Bowie because of a popular singer named Davy Jones, who performed with The Monkees. Biography.com says he got the name Bowie from the famous Bowie knife. Among Bowie’s other big hits of the 1970s were the songs “Changes,” “Fame” and “Heroes.” In the 1980s, he had huge success with the album “Let’s Dance.” And he never stopped creating. He told the Associated Press in a 2002 interview, "My entire career, I've only really worked with the same subject matter. The trousers may change, but the actual words and subjects I've always chosen to write with are things to do with isolation, abandonment, fear and anxiety — all of the high points of one's life." Bowie was also an actor, playing in major movies including “The Last Temptation of Christ,” and “The Hunger.” But he also took part in smaller projects. He played himself in the television show “Extras” and even voiced a character in the popular animated show “SpongeBob SquarePants.” David Bowie was admitted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. He also co-wrote the musical “Lazarus,” which is finishing its run on Broadway this month. Bowie is survived by his wife, the model Iman, and two adult children, Lexi and Duncan Jones. David Bowie’s funeral will be private. His family said Bowie told them he wanted to “go without any fuss.” However, musicians will honor the man and his music with a concert at New York City’s Carnegie Hall on March 31. I’m Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Are you a David Bowie fan? Leave a message in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story gender-bender – n. the act of dressing and behaving like a member of the opposite sex evoke – v. to bring (a memory, feeling, image, etc.) into the mind introduce – v. to mention or refer to (something) for the first time persona – n. the way you behave, talk, etc., with other people that causes them to see you as a particular kind of person : the image or personality that a person presents to other people androgynous – adj. having both male and female characteristics or qualities sophisticated – adj. having or showing a lot of experience and knowledge about the world and about culture, art, literature, etc. isolation – n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated abandon – v.  to leave and never return to (someone who needs protection or help)

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Taiwanese Voters Look to Economic Issues

Taiwanese voters are choosing a new president Saturday after an intense campaign centered on the island's slowing economy. They will also choose 113 lawmakers from more than 550 candidates. Voters want higher salaries, less costly housing and more jobs. Both top candidates say they have solutions. Taiwan slipped into recession in September. Export orders are the lifeblood of the island’s economy, and they have fallen for nine months. Economic Issues Worry Taiwan’s Voters Workers are unhappy. They say they cannot afford apartments in Taipei on wages as low as $600 a month. They also say they cannot pay to care for children and aging parents. These issues have followed Taiwan’s two major party candidates as they have looked for support before Saturday’s elections. Taiwan’s opposition Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, candidate is leading in public opinion polls. Wang Yeh-lih is political science professor at National Taiwan University. He says voters are looking to the next president for a more comfortable living. He said he believes the economy is a leading election issue as people demand higher incomes. They are seeking more job opportunities and are pressing other issues related to their personal finances. Wang adds that many people are unhappy with the Nationalist Party, or KMT. Taiwan industrialized in the 1960s, but living standards lag those in Japan, South Korea and other places that took the same course. Still, land and labor cost enough to cause some investors to look in other places. This takes capital out of Taiwan and reduces the number of local jobs. Current President Ma Ying-jeou disappointed voters by missing targets to raise salaries, lower unemployment and expand the economy. Since 2008, Ma’s Nationalist Party government has sought to increase economic ties with China. The two sides have signed 23 deals aimed mainly at lifting trade, tourism and investment. China and Taiwan have been rivals for nearly 70 years since the end of China’s civil war in 1949. China’s economy has grown to become the world's second largest. Opposition Party Currently Leads in Polls Opposition Democratic Progressive Party candidate Tsai Ing-wen leads in public opinion polls by at least eight percent over the Nationalist candidate. She has said she would move to help Taiwan's smaller enterprises. She has promised them assistance in the domestic market and overseas. In May, her party suggested changing laws to increase wages and shorten work hours from 84 every two weeks to 40 per week. She also has called for helping families by creating jobs through a network of neighborhood caretakers for children. The opposition candidate also wants to build 200,000 units of affordable housing to ease worries about high land prices. Apartments in Taipei are priced similarly to other major world cities. The Nationalist candidate, Eric Chu, has promised to raise the minimum wage slowly from $600 a month to almost $900 a month by 2020. Chu suggests opening neighborhood senior care centers to look after elderly adults when their adult children go to work. A party spokesman says he would push for low-cost housing in existing units rather than building new ones. Taiwan election officials are to announce the new president Saturday and the winner will take office in May. Current president Ma cannot run because his term is limited. I'm Mario Ritter.   Ralph Jennings in Taipei reported on this story for VOANews.com Mario Ritter adapted his report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   afford – v. to be able to pay for something polls – n. an activity or study in which people are asked about their opinions or their plans to find out what most people think about specific issues comfortable – adj. not causing pain, producing physical comfort lag – v. to move more slowly than others network – n. a group of people who are closely connected with each other

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The Future of Bitcoins

  Bitcoin is a digital currency used by terrorists and drug dealers, as well as major companies like Microsoft and Overstock.com.        In other words, everyone from private individuals who order pizza to terrorists who order weapons. With bitcoins, you can buy webcasting services, pizza or even manicures, reports Money.com.   Bitcoin was a currency created in 2009 by a mysterious software developer. He calls himself Satoshi Nakamoto. No one has ever met him, and it is not clear if he is one person or several people. Bitcoin does not use printed money. It is digital only. The currency is created on computers by a community of people across the globe. Anyone can join that network, or group, according to Coindesk.com. This network processes transactions made with the digital currency. Bitcoins are stored in a “digital wallet” over the Internet or on the user’s computer. There is not an unlimited amount of bitcoins. Nakamoto set up rules to limit the currency to 21 million bitcoins, reports Coindesk. With bitcoins, there are no banks or fees. Users do not register with their real names. Merchandise can be bought without the user showing her or his identity. Bitcoins are not taxed or regulated anywhere in the world.  Bitcoins are a favorite of criminals Bitcoins have become “the currency of choice for people online buying drugs or other illicit activities,” reports Money.com. For example, Silk Road was a major online market that used bitcoins to sell illegal drugs. It was shut down in 2014 by U.S. regulators. Bitcoins are also being used by ISIS terrorists to fund operations, according to Ghost Security Group. It is a counter-terrorism network that focuses on the Internet and social media.  Morgan Wright is a cybersecurity expert and senior fellow at the Center for Digital Government, a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies. He told Fox News that terrorists are increasingly using 21st century technology to transfer assets and finance their operations. “Terrorists need anonymity,” Wright told Fox News. “Countries have gotten very good at tracking terror financing in the years since 9/11. Networks have looked for new ways to do it, and it appears they’ve found it in bitcoin.”     Bitcoins growing among businesses     Despite this dark side of the new currency, bitcoins have their supporters. More and more merchants are beginning to accept bitcoins. Some people buy bitcoins as an investment, hoping they’ll increase in value. There are many online marketplaces that allow people to buy and sell bitcoins using different currencies. Coinbase, in San Francisco, runs the world’s largest bitcoin exchange, and operates 2.8 million bitcoin wallets globally, according to Wired. You can also buy and sell bitcoins on Bitquick, Xapo, and CoinCorner, among other exchanges.  It is possible to do complex financial trades with bitcoins, such as futures, options and swaps. The price of bitcoins on online exchanges has fluctuated widely, which has led to speculation in the digital currency. In 2009 and early 2010, bitcoins had “no value at all,” said Wired. Then in late 2013, it reached a high of $1,216. As of January 6, 2016, the price of one bitcoin was about $434. Wired wrote that bitcoin usage “has hit a record high.”      You can also send bitcoins using mobile apps. This is similar to sending cash online. It is fast and convenient. And you can set up a bitcoin address in seconds, with no fees and no questions asked.  Some people like bitcoins because they are not controlled by one central authority. Traditional currencies, such as the U.S. dollar, are controlled by the government’s central bank. The bank can print more money as part of government policy. Bitcoins, in contrast, are controlled by the people who use them and are viewed as more democratic by their supporters. The Washington Post said bitcoins were one of the six technologies in 2015 that would change the world. The newspaper wrote that the technology behind Bitcoins, called blockchain, is “an almost incorruptible digital ledger that can be used to record practically anything that can be digitized …” “It has the potential to transform the lives of billions of people who lack bank accounts and access to the legal and administrative infrastructure that we take for granted,” wrote the Post.   Regulators step in There is a move to regulate bitcoins. In 2014, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service said bitcoins could be taxed. In addition, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which regulates the sale of stocks and bonds, warned investors that bitcoin users may be targeted for fraud in risky investment schemes.    There are also efforts to regulate bitcoins globally. The European Commission is expected to release regulations by 2017 that would affect European Union nations. “Governments are concerned about taxation and their lack of control over the currency,” writes Money.com. Despite the critics, bitcoins continue to grow in popularity worldwide. Juniper Research said there were 1.3 million bitcoin users last year, and it estimates there will be 4.7 million users by the end of 2017. Wired said bitcoins are “thriving like never before. And some say this is the year it finally reaches the mainstream.”  I’m Mary Gotschall.        Mary Gotschall wrote this story for Learning English. 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   digital – n.  using or characterized by computer technology currency – n. something that is used as money software – n. the programs that run on a computer and perform certain functions transaction – n. a business deal; an occurrence in which goods, services or money are passed from one person, account, etc., to another merchandise – n. goods that are bought and sold illicit – adj.  not allowed by law; unlawful or illegal asset – n. something that is owned by a person, company, etc. anonymity – n. the quality or state of being unknown to most people fluctuate – v.  to change level, strength or value frequently speculation – n. activity in which someone buys and sells things (such as stocks or pieces of property) in the hope of making a large profit but with the risk of a large loss incorruptible – adj. very honest; incapable of being corrupted ledger – n. a book that a company uses to record information about the money it has paid and received infrastructure – n.  the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region or organization to function properly  

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Arab League Backs Saudi in Dispute with Iran

  Arab League foreign ministers said they support Saudi Arabia in its dispute with Iran. Tensions increased after Saudi Arabia executed a top Iranian Shi’ite Muslim religious leader January 2. Demonstrators attacked and burned parts of the Saudi embassy in Tehran and in other countries after Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr was executed with 46 others.  Eight Arab countries have weakened or ended diplomatic relations with Iran because of the attacks. The foreign ministers and diplomats gathered Sunday in Cairo.  They applauded when United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Ben Zayid strongly criticized Iran during the meeting. He said Iran uses religion to cause tensions between countries in the Middle East and inside Arab countries. He said Iran creates and supports terrorist groups that spread violence in the Middle East. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir said Iran helps people in Arab countries work against their governments. He said Iran should “stop interfering in (the) internal affairs” of its neighbors. He said Saudi Arabia does not want conflict between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims. He accused Iran of worsening tensions between the two groups after its revolution in 1979. And, he said Saudi Arabia opposes the creation of tension between the groups. Last week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called the attack on the Saudi Embassy “wrong and against the law.” He also said the execution of al-Nimr was a crime. Al-Nimr had publicly criticized the Saudi royal family. Nabil El Arabi leads the Arab League. He said Iran can reduce tensions with its neighbors. He said Iran must take steps to show it wants to improve relations and not interfere in the governing of other countries. Hilal Kashan is a professor of political science at the American University of Beirut. He told VOA the Arab League meeting will probably not produce any results. He said, “the Saudis simply wanted a statement of solidarity (from the Arab League) and they got it. They did not really ask for more or expect more.” He notes that Iran suspended some police officials in Tehran after the Saudi embassy was attacked. Pakistan also ended diplomatic relations with Iran after the embassy attack. Saudi Arabia wants Pakistan’s support in its dispute with Iran. But Pakistan has large numbers of Sunnis and Shi’ites and must have good relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. Time magazine reported that Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has suggested that Pakistan could help Saudi Arabia and Iran negotiate an end to their conflict. I’m Jim Tedder. Edward Yeranian in Cairo reported on this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his story for Learning English. He also used information from Time. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Write to us in the Comments section, or visit our Facebook page, about this issue. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   applaud – v. to strike the hands together over and over to show approval or praise internal affairs – n. events that take place inside a country solidarity – n. a feeling of unity between people who have the same interests, goals, etc.

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'Benito Cereno,' by Herman Melville, Part One

  Our story today is called "Benito Cereno." It was written by Herman Melville.  We tell the story in three parts.  Here is Shep O'Neal with part one of "Benito Cereno." Captain Benito Cereno hurried aboard his ship. It was ready to sail. A bright sun and a soft breeze promised good weather ahead. The ship's anchor was raised. And the San Dominick -- old but still seaworthy - moved slowly out of the harbor of Valparaiso, on the west coast of Chile. It was carrying valuable products and slaves up the Pacific coast to Callao, another Spanish colonial port near Lima, Peru. The slaves, both male and female, slept on deck. They were not chained, because their owner, Don Alexandro, said they were peaceful. The San Dominick moved steadily forward under a clear sky. The weather showed no sign of change. Day after day, the soft breeze kept the ship on course toward Peru. Slave traffic between Spain's colonial ports in this year of seventeen ninety-nine had been steady. But there were few outbreaks of violence. What happened, therefore, on board the San Dominick could not have been expected. On the seventh day out, before daybreak, the slaves rose up in rebellion. They swept through the ship with handspikes and hatchets moving with the fury of desperate men. The attack was a complete surprise. Few of the crew were awake. All hands, except the two officers on the watch, lay in a deep untroubled sleep. The rebels sprang upon the two officers and left them half dead. Then, one by one, they killed eighteen of the sleeping crew. They threw some overboard, alive. A few hid and escaped death. The rebels tied up seven others, but left them alive to navigate the ship. As the day began to break, Captain Cereno came slowly, carefully up the steps toward the chief rebel leader, Babo, and begged for mercy. He promised to follow Babo's commands if he would only put an end to the killings. But this had no effect. Babo had three men brought up on deck and tied. Then, the three Spaniards were thrown overboard. Babo did this to show his power and authority -- that he was in command. Babo, however, promised not to murder Captain Cereno. But everything he said carried a threat. He asked the captain if in these seas there were any Negro countries.* "None," Cereno answered. "Then, take us to Senegal or the neighboring islands of Saint Nicholas." Captain Cereno was shaken. "That is impossible!" he said. "It would mean going around Cape Horn. And this ship is in no condition for such a voyage. And we do not have enough supplies, or sails or water." "Take us there, anyway," Babo answered sharply, showing little interest in such details. "If you refuse, we will kill every white man on board." Captain Cereno knew he had no choice. He told the rebel leader that the most serious problem in making such a long voyage was water. Babo said they should sail to the island of Santa Maria near the southern end of Chile. He knew that no one lived on the island. But water and supplies could be found there. He forced Captain Cereno to keep away from any port. He threatened to kill him the moment he saw him start to move toward any city, town or settlement on shore. Cereno had to agree to sail to the island of Santa Maria. He still hoped that he might meet along the way, or at the island itself, a ship that could help him. Perhaps -- who knows -- he might find a boat on the island and be able to escape to the nearby coast of Arruco. Hope was all he had left. And that was getting smaller each day. Captain Cereno steered south for Santa Maria. The voyage would take weeks. Eight days after the ship turned south, Babo told Captain Cereno that he was going to kill Don Alexandro, owner of the slaves on board. He said it had to be done. Otherwise, he and the other slaves could never be sure of their freedom. He refused to listen to the captain's appeals, and ordered two men to pull Don Alexandro up from below and kill him on deck. It was done as ordered. Three other Spaniards were also brought up and thrown overboard. Babo warned Cereno and the other Spaniards that each one of them would go the same way if any of them gave the smallest cause for suspicion. Cereno decided to do everything possible to save the lives of those remaining. He agreed to carry the rebels safely to Senegal if they promised peace and no further bloodshed. And he signed a document that gave the rebels ownership of the ship and its cargo. Later, as they sailed down the long coast of Chile, the wind suddenly dropped. The ship drifted into a deep calm. For days, it lay still in the water. The heat was fierce; the suffering intense. There was little water. That made matters worse. Some of those on board were driven mad. A few died. The pressure and tension made many violent. And they killed a Spanish officer. After a time, a breeze came up and set the ship free again. And it continued south. The voyage seemed endless. The ship sailed for weeks with little water on board. It moved through days of good weather and periods of bad weather. There were times when it sailed under heavy skies, and times when the wind dropped and the ship lay be-calmed in lifeless air. The crew seemed half dead. At last, one evening in the month of August, the San Dominick reached the lonely island of Santa Maria.  It moved slowly toward one of the island's bays to drop anchor. Not far off lay an American ship. And, the sight of the ship caught the rebels by surprise. The slaves became tense and fearful. They wanted to sail away, quickly. But their leader, Babo, opposed such a move. Where could they go? Their water and food were low. He succeeded in bringing them under control and in quieting their fears. He told them they had nothing to fear. And they believed him. Then, he ordered everyone to go to work, to clean the decks and put the ship in proper and good condition, so that no visitor would suspect anything was wrong. Later, he spoke to Captain Cereno, warning him that he would kill him if he did not do as he was told. He explained in detail what Cereno was to do and say if any stranger came on board. He held a dagger in his hand, saying it would always be ready for any emergency. The American vessel was a large tradeship and seal hunter, commanded by Captain Amasa Delano. He had stopped at Santa Maria for water. On the American ship, shortly after sunrise, an officer woke Captain Delano, and told him a strange sail was coming into the bay. The captain quickly got up, dressed and went up on deck. Captain Delano raised his spy glass and looked closely at the strange ship coming slowly in. He was surprised that there was no flag. A ship usually showed its flag when entering a harbor where another ship lay at anchor. As the ship got closer, Captain Delano saw it was damaged. Many of its sails were ripped and torn. A mast was broken. And the deck was in disorder. Clearly the ship was in trouble. The American captain decided to go to the strange vessel and offer help. He ordered his whale boat put into the water, and had his men bring up some supplies and put them in the boat. Then they set out toward the mystery ship. As they approached, Captain Delano was shocked at the poor condition of the ship. He wondered what could have happened. . . And what he would find. That will be our story next week. You have heard part one of the American story "Benito Cereno."  It was written by Herman Melville. Your storyteller was Shep O'Neal.  Listen again next week at this time when we continue the American story "Benito Cereno."  What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   suspicion - n. a feeling that something bad is likely or true handspike - n. a wooden rod with an iron tip, used as a lever on board ship and by artillery soldiers.​ hatchet - n. a small ax that has a short handle​ authority - n. the power to give orders or make decisions intense - adj. ​very great in degree; very strong disorder - n. a confused or messy state; a lack of order or organization *Negro countries refers to nations that would be ruled by people of African heritage. Senegal is one of the countries in Africa from which enslaved people were taken to the Americas.

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Russia Faces Pain Over Falling Oil Prices, Sanctions

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report. Russia’s economy is struggling at the beginning of 2016. Low oil prices and Western sanctions against Russia continue to affect the country’s economy.   Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev thinks the economy is looking better than one year ago. But he told a conference this week that Russia must prepare for the worst-case scenario. In such a case, conditions would worsen, not improve. Medvedev spoke in Moscow at the yearly Gaidar Forum on economics. He noted that 2015 was probably the most difficult year for Russia economically in the past 10 years. The level of economic activity shrank 3.8 percent last year. Two main reasons for this were the sharp drop in the price of oil and Western economic sanctions. Oil is Russia’s main export. Its price has dropped about 70 percent to $30 a barrel over the past 12 months. Western countries placed sanctions on Russia because of its 2014 takeover of Crimea. Russia also has continued its military support for rebels in eastern Ukraine. The western measures have cut off Russian banks from international credit. The value of the ruble has dropped from 30 to the U.S. dollar to about 75. Inflation was a major concern for Russians last year. On average, prices increased at a rate of 15 percent in 2015. Yet consumer food prices increased between 20 and 30 percent. High inflation for staple products has hurt Russia’s poor. The number of Russians below subsistence poverty rose to more than 20 million last year from 18 million a year earlier.   Prime Minister Medvedev said the result of inflation was a fall in real incomes. “Many people have become poorer,” he said. “And, the middle class has suffered. And, this is probably one of the most painful aftereffects of the last years.” Government officials have said they expect the economy to improve this year. They predict that inflation will drop below 10 percent in February.  Medvedev praised his government’s plan for reducing shocks from overseas. He added that the economy was not in tatters.  “Russia is in (the) top 10 countries with the lowest public debt and greatest foreign exchange reserves. And, that really provides for the resilience of our financial system,” he said.   The prime minister admitted the federal government would likely face budget cuts. About half of Russia’s budget depends on oil export revenues.  Russia’s 2016 budget was made in October, when oil was selling for $50 a barrel. Many observers say the more likely price is between $30 and $40, and could even drop below $20.   And that’s the Economics Report. I’m Mario Ritter. VOA’s Daniel Schaerf reported on this story from Moscow. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story scenario – n. a description of what could possibly happen sanctions – n. actions taken to force a country or group to obey international rules usually by limiting trade with that country consumer – n. a person who buys goods or services subsistence – adj. describing the smallest amount of things like food and water that are needed to stay alive tatters – n. a state of ruin

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