How America Elects: Polls & Debates

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VOA English Newscast 1300 UTC January 25, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News.       I’m Joe Palka reporting. Secretary of State Kerry comments on start date for Syrian peace talks. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday he expects some clarity on the potential start date of Syrian peace talks to come in the next two days. The U.N. (United Nations) wanted to bring the Syrian government and opposition members together in Geneva for negotiations beginning Monday. But the process has been delayed by disagreements over just who should be invited. Elsewhere with the Secretary of State, the U.S. is stepping up efforts to help Laos deal with problems including hunger, unexploded ordnances and technology access for the lower Mekong (River). Mr. Kerry outlined the initiatives during a visit to Laos today, where he is laying the groundwork for a February summit with leaders of 10 ASEAN countries that will be hosted by President Obama. "Today, I want to really focus on the importance of the summit that will take place in California next month.” The Laos Communist Party has undergone a change in leadership and Thiti-nan Pongsu-dhirak, a political scientist at Chula-longkorn University, stresses policies are (un) likely to change, as well, under the new leadership and the government will continue to face criticism over its human rights record. "The new leadership is more of the same. More of the same in terms also of the repression and constraints on civil society and basic freedoms. We have had some scandals in the recent past over disappearances of civil society activists and human rights violations, so that is expected to be maintained." Laos has just taken over as chairman of ASEAN (The Association of Southeast Asian Nations). The upcoming U.S.-hosted ASEAN summit will also be a focal point for Mr. Kerry at his next stop, which Cambodia. That is another ASEAN country. This is VOA News. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This News   clarity – n. the quality of being easily understood; the quality of being easily seen or heard potential – n. a chance or possibility that something will happen in the future elsewhere – adv. to or in another place stepping up – v. increasing ordnances – n. military supplies, including weapons and ammunition access – n. a way of getting at or near something; a way of being able to use something outlined – v. to list or describe only the most important parts initiatives – n. plans or programs that are designed to solve a problem laying the groundwork – expression. to prepare summit – n. a meeting or meetings between the leaders of two or more governments hosted – v. serving as the individual who welcomes people at a conference; someone who provides a meeting place for an event focus – v. to make something, such as attention, to be directed at something; to direct your effort at something undergone – v. to experience or go through stresses – v. to note constraints – n. limits or restrictions basic – adj. forming or relating to the most important part of something scandals – n. an event in which people are shocked because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong maintained – v. causing to exist or continue without changing upcoming – adj. happening or appearing soon focal – adj. having great or central importance  

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Young Refugees Learn About US on the Soccer Field

Young refugees in the United States are learning about each other and their new country on the soccer field. One player is 13-year-old Win La Bar. His family is from Myanmar, also known as Burma. Win was born in Thailand after his family fled their Burmese homeland. Win is one of about 200 refugee children who play at the North Phoenix Christian Soccer Club, in the western state of Arizona. The players in the club’s 12 teams are between 6 and 18 years old. Win lives with 10 family members. They share two apartments. Win has his own bedroom, but his sister sleeps in a room with her three young children. Win’s parents and three other children live in another apartment that has two bedrooms. He says he loves his new home because “I’ve got a better chance to get a better education, and (I) get to play more soccer without worrying about gunshots.” He says he does not want to have a difficult life like his parents have had. The soccer club has helped him make friends and learn about his new home. His coaches have taught his family about life in the United States. He says it was “very different, very hard to adapt into this world. It’s hard to understand,” he says, because he had never seen cars or planes. “It’s very different from where I used to live.” Win says he does not remember how he learned English. He says one of the coaches has helped him and his younger brothers since the family arrived in Phoenix. He says he is a good student. Alondra Ruiz works for the soccer club. She brings the players to games and drives them home. Sometimes she drives for hours a day, and hundreds of kilometers a week. She says during the rides the students ask her many questions about the United States. “I get the opportunity to teach kids things that maybe their parents can’t answer,” she says. Ruiz says she tells them “you’re not different. You’re here. And you can become anything you want.” “Being part of this club, and keeping kids busy is very rewarding to me because it’s good for them, and it’s good for the future,” she says. “I listen a lot when I’m driving,” she says. “What I hear often is that they’re being treated different at school, that they’re not being accepted. I relate to that 100 percent. I wasn’t accepted coming from Mexico.” Ruiz was an immigrant child. She grew up in the Southwest United States. Ruiz is married, and her two children are adults. She is not in the United States legally. Her husband also came to the United States from Mexico as a child. He has permission to work in the U.S. He cares for plants and trees at a college. More than 70,000 refugees from many countries have been resettled in Arizona in the past 10 years. The U.S. State Department says more than 33,000 refugees have begun new lives in Arizona since 2002. Only Texas, California, New York, Minnesota, Florida and Washington have accepted more refugees than Arizona. In the past year, refugees from 13 countries have moved to Arizona. There are players from at least 12 countries in the soccer club this year. And Alondra Ruiz says the club has had players from at least 24 countries. Zara Doukoum knows what the other refugee students have dealt with, including when people did not understand what they were saying when they were just learning to speak English. “Every refugee in America went through that,” she says. This year she will graduate from Central High School, the public school attended by most of her teammates. It will be four years since she arrived in Phoenix with her mother and three sisters. Her father died seven years ago. She wants to attend college. She may play soccer or tennis. “If that doesn’t work for me, I see myself just helping around, giving back to the community the way people gave to me,” she says. Dina Berman is a professor at the University of Miami. She researches child refugee education and writes for the Migration Policy Institute. She says putting refugee children in schools is difficult because they may not have the same level of education as children their age in the U.S. Win La Bar said he had a difficult time when he started school in the United States. He says people did not understand him. “When I (went) to school and I (met) new people, (at first), they (didn’t) really have respect for me,” he says. “But as they (got) to know me, they (had) a better feeling for me, and became, like, good to me.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. And I’m Anna Matteo. VOA'sVictoria Macchi reported on this story from North Phoenix, Arizona. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report 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   settle – v. to move to a place and make it your home adapt – v. to change your behavior so that it is easier to live in a particular place or situation resettle – v. to begin to live in a new area after leaving an old one; to settle again    

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US 'Alarmed' By Reports of Rape, Torture in Burundi

The U.S. State Department is “deeply alarmed” about reports of torture, killings and gang rapes of women by government security forces in Burundi. State Department spokesman Mark Toner issued a statement Tuesday calling on the government in Burundi to permit an investigation. He also called on Burundi to allow African Union human rights observers to check for human rights infractions. The government refused an offer by the African Union last month. The offer asked to send 5,000 peacekeepers to Burundi to halt violence. The government also refused to take part in talks with the political opposition. Burundi was thrown into crisis last April when President Pierre Nkurunziza said he would seek a third term. That started street protests that led to violence between protesters and security forces. Hundreds of people have died in the violence. Thousands of citizens of Burundi have fled their homeland. I’m Marsha James.   The VOA news staff reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gang rape – n. a crime in which one woman is raped by several men one after another alarm – v. to cause someone to feel a sense of danger : to worry or frighten someone infraction – n. an act that breaks a rule or law

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As More Refugees Drown, Leaders Talk in Davos

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday called for major new international efforts to help refugees. His speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland came on the same day that many migrants drowned in the Aegean Sea. The Greek Coast Guard said at least 42 people, including 17 children, died. Seventy people were rescued, but it is unknown how many remain missing. Greece is the main destination for people fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East. Kerry, the top diplomat in the United States, said that President Barack Obama will host a summit on the refugee crisis. It will take place at the United Nations in New York later this year. The goal of the summit is to increase the number of nations willing to help resettle refugees. He added governments and private groups, including religious groups, will need to work together. He said, they must “integrate refugees into host communities socially, academically, and through access to employment.” The United States has announced plans to admit 85,000 refugees by November and another 100,000 next year. This week, Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bill that would have barred new refugees from Syria and Iraq. Republican presidential candidates have criticized the Obama plans to bring in more refugees from Syria and Iraq. They said it is a security risk. However, Kerry said, “I know we know how to do this in a way that protects the security of our countries." I'm Anna Matteo. Pamela Dockins reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments or share your views on our Facebook Page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drown – v.  to die by being underwater too long and unable to breathe summit – n. a meeting or series of meetings between the leaders of two or more governments protect – v.  to keep from being harmed integrate – v. to include, or make part of a larger group or organization  academically – adv. relating to schools and education access – n. a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone corruption – n. dishonest or illegal behavior especially by powerful people    

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Russia, Ukraine See Red Over Coca-Cola Message

The red-and-white logo for Coca-Cola is quickly recognized by people around the world. It uses those colors in advertising and promotional messages. Here’s a message about “Back to the Future Day” in October 2015. It uses those iconic colors and logo. Here’s another promotion around Daylight Saving Time. So when Coca-Cola posted a message to VKontakte, Russia’s most popular social network, it included a map of Russia. And it was only expecting good will. But the map did not include the contested Crimean peninsula in the Black Sea. It also did not include two islands. And Coca-Cola’s social media followers let the company know. Russia says the Crimean peninsula belongs to it. Russians complained that the map was not accurate. So Coca-Cola re-drew the map, including the missing islands and peninsula. The company wrote “The map has been corrected! We hope you will understand,” along with an apology. But then people from Ukraine got upset. Ukraine says the Crimean peninsula belongs to it. Ukrainians wrote posts on social media with the hashtag #BanCocaCola. So many people were upset about this, that the Ukraine embassy in Washington discussed the map with Coca-Cola and the State Department. The conversation elicited an official apology letter from Coca-Cola’s chief public affairs officer. “We clearly missed the mark with this holiday greeting,” it said. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. His report was based on stories in The New York Times and The Guardian. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   contest – v. to challenge, question, push back, disagree elicit – v. to get a response peninsula – n. a piece of land that is almost entirely surrounded by water and is attached to a larger land area complain – v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something iconic – adj. something widely known logo – n. a symbol that is used to identify a company and that appears on its products

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Everyday Grammar: Pronoun I and Me

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Davos Explores World's Pressing Issues

From VOA Learning English, this is In The News. Falling oil prices are one reason leading measures of world stock markets have dropped in value this year. Yet a United States government official says low oil prices are helping people worldwide. Treasury Security Jack Lew spoke this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Oil is one of many issues the forum’s delegates are talking about. Crude oil now is priced below $27 a barrel on the world market. Lew said that means consumers "have more money in their pockets," to buy products they need or to improve their own finances by paying down debt or saving money. He noted that low oil prices do not have "to be bad for the overall global economy." Once a year, political and business leaders, activists and others gather in Davos for talks on issues that beyond economics. This year, another major issue was concern over China’s economic slowdown. Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, said poor communication by Chinese economic managers has worried investors. She said questions about the value of the Chinese currency, the renminbi, are at the center of current fears about the country's economy.  Feng Xinghai, the vice-chairman of China's securities regulator, reacted to her comments. He said, "We have to be patient because our system is not structured in a way that is able to communicate seamlessly with the market." Jack Lew said the slowdown in Chinese economic growth, the other main factor in falling stock prices, was not a surprise. But he said it shows China needs to press ahead with a "long and difficult transition" to change its economy. That means the country should redirect its attention from exports to a more consumer-driven economy. China this week said its economy grew by 6.9 percent in 2015. That was its slowest growth in 25 years. U.S. Vice President Joe Biden also spoke at Davos. He called for a fairer share of the gains resulting from progress in technology. He spoke days after the non-profit group Oxfam reported that the world's 62 richest people own as much wealth as half of the rest of the world. Biden called for the end of offshore tax shelters for the rich. He also urged political and business leaders to create economic opportunities for more people. Biden asked, "Will we end up creating more of a two-tier society than exists today?" High-level technology received a lot of attention at Davos because of a robot attendee. HUBO is the South Korean humanoid robot. It won the DARPA Robot Challenge last year. The robot showed its ability to walk and operate tools. And the Internet of things, electronic devices connected wirelessly by the Internet, was identified as a rapidly developing field. Delegates also talked about three dimensional printing and even implanting phones in the body. These technologies are seen as driving what has been called the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Not all of the meetings deal with business. Queen Rania of Jordan said short-term solutions can lead to long-term problems. She appealed to rich countries to create a special economic zone for refugees from Syria. Syrian refugees now make up 20 percent of Jordan’s population.   On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry praised the work of the international coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. He promised the militant group would be defeated. Kerry also said the best way to ensure peace in the Middle East is to work toward a negotiated political settlement in Syria. And that’s In The News. I’m Mario Ritter. This story includes material from reports by VOA’s Ken Bredemeier and Zladica Hoke. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   offshore – adj. located in a foreign country or territory two-tier – adj. having two levels or two different groups barrel – n. the standard measurement of oil consumers – n. someone who buys good and services opportunities – n. chances to do or accomplish something DARPA --​ n. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a U.S. agency that invests in technologies for national security rapidly – adj. quickly three-dimensional – adj. having length, width and height

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Is There a Ninth Planet in Our Solar System?

Scientists said they have found evidence of a giant planet far out in our solar system. In a statement, the California Institute of Technology – Caltech -- said this planet travels a strange “highly elongated orbit in the distant solar system.” The discovery was made by two researchers at Caltech: Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown.  They used mathematical modeling and computer simulations to find the planet. So far, there have not been any direct observations of the planet.  “My jaw hit the floor,” said astronomer Mike Brown, the moment he realized there might be a ninth planet. The scientists said it would take this planet 10,000 to 20,000 years just to make one full orbit around the sun. The new planet, called “Planet Nine” has a mass about 10 times the size of Earth.  If they are right, the newly found planet would be the ninth planet in our solar system.  Pluto had been called the ninth planet until 2006, when it was renamed a “dwarf planet.” Actual confirmation of a ninth planet would be very big news. “This would be a real ninth planet,” Brown said in the statement. “There have only been two true planets discovered since ancient times, and this would be a third. It’s a pretty substantial chunk of our solar system that’s still out there to be found, which is pretty exciting.” It is believed that the planet orbits, or travels, around the sun from a great distance. The planet Neptune’s average distance to the sun is about 4.5 billion kilometers.  But “Planet Nine,” could be 20 times farther away from the sun than that. While they did not get a picture of “Planet Nine” yet, the scientists say they are using the biggest—and best -- telescopes on Earth to try to find “Planet Nine.” They are also working on fine-tuning their computer simulations.  They want to find out more about “Planet Nine’s” orbit, and its impact on the outer part of our solar system.  Brown and Batygin reported their findings in the Astronomical Journal. They say that this new planet is so large that there should be no doubt that it is a true planet, once they confirm it. Robert Massey is with the Royal Astronomical Society in London.  He told AFP that planets have been predicted before, and then were not found. But, he said the work of these researchers is definitely worth following up. “It would be a really exciting thing to find. At the moment it’s simply a prediction.” I’m Anne Ball.   Rick Pantaleo reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think we might find on another planet? Write to us in the Comments section and on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   solar system –n. our sun and the planets that move around it elongated –adj. stretched out orbit –n. path of one body as it moves around another simulation –n. something made to  look or behave like something else so it can be studied fine-tuning –v. to make small changes to improve the way something works

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Scientists Find Most Ancient Evidence of War

British scientists say they have found the oldest known evidence of war. Researchers discovered the remains of 27 people near Lake Turkana in northern Kenya. Scientists say they believe the remains are from a Stone Age culture of about 10,000 years ago. The so-called Nataruk fossils show signs of a violent attack. The dig also uncovered weapons including arrows, clubs and stone blades. The scientists published a paper on their findings in the journal Nature. Marta Mirazon Lahr was the lead investigator. She is a paleoanthropologist at the University of Cambridge in Britain. She wrote that the victims were people who hunted, fished and gathered plants for food. She described the 10,000-year-old battle in which they were killed as a “brutal” attack. One skeleton was found with a blade of volcanic glass still stuck in his head. A woman in late pregnancy appeared to have been bound by her hands and feet. Our species arose 200,000 years ago in Africa. Many experts had thought war did not begin until humans started to form settled communities. But the Nataruk people were nomadic hunter-gatherers of an earlier period. So, scientist Lahr says, the findings “raise the question of whether warfare has been part of the human experience for much longer than previously thought." The remains found included 21 adults and six children. Most of the children were younger than 6. I'm Anne Ball.   Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English from Reuters news report. Caty Weaver 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   Stone Age – n. the oldest period in which human beings are known to have existed: the age during which humans made and used stone tools club – n. a heavy usually wooden stick that is used as a weapon​ blade – n. the flat sharp part of a weapon or tool that is used for cutting​ paleoanthropologist – n. a researcher of the origins and predecessors of the present human species, using fossils and other remains​ brutal – adj. extremely cruel​ nomadic – adj. of, or relating to, a group of people who move from place to place instead of living in one place all the time

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Stranded Cuban Migrants Arrive in US

The first of thousands of Cuban migrants stranded in Costa Rica have entered the United States. As many as 8,000 Cuban migrants have been stuck in Costa Rica for several months. They traveled from their homes to Ecuador through Colombia and Panama, and into Costa Rica. Nicaragua then denied the migrants entry. The migrants left Cuba for the United States. They said they feared that they would miss the opportunity to seek asylum in the U.S. Recently improved relations between the U.S. and Cuba could end a policy that gives Cubans asylum rights if they arrive by land. U.S. and Central American leaders reached an agreement in December. The deal permits the migrants to be flown from Costa Rica to El Salvador, before being taken to the U.S.-Mexico border by bus. The migrants arrived in Miami Sunday, after 180 of them first crossed the U.S.-Mexico border last week at Laredo, Texas. The plan will be reviewed by the Central American governments before it is expanded to allow the other Cubans to leave for the U.S. Officials estimate it will take 28 airplane flights to get all of the Cuban migrants to El Salvador. I'm George Grow.    VOANews.com reported on this story. Ashley Thompson adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section and on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   asylum – n. protection given by a government to someone who has left another country in order to escape being harmed

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