'Snowzilla' and Tian Tian the Giant Panda

This is What's Trending Today.... Many cities in the East Coast of the United States continue to dig out after record-breaking amounts of snow fell over the weekend. The community of Glengary in the state of West Virginia had the most snowfall, with 100 centimeters recorded. The storm’s “official” name was Winter Storm Jonas. The Weather Channel began naming large winter storms three years ago, just as the National Weather Service has done with tropical storms and hurricanes for many years. But some cities decided on different names for the weekend’s snowstorm. In Washington, D.C., residents voted to name the storm “Snowzilla,” a play on the famous monster, Godzilla.   The Washington Post created a poll for residents to vote on their favorite storm name. Snowzilla beat out “Make Winter Great Again.” That name is a play on the presidential candidate Donald Trump’s campaign expression, “Make America Great Again.” After the re-naming of the storm, the hashtags #snowzilla and #snowzilla2016 trended on Twitter and Facebook. One Twitter user posted a photo of a street sign that read “Lizzard Warning” instead of "Blizzard Warning." The missing “B” at the beginning of the word made it similar to the word “lizard,” with one "z." And, Godzilla himself is similar to a giant lizard. Some people had fun with the mistake, and added images of Godzilla into the photo:   Twitter user NumbersMuncher posted a photo of a car that appears to be in the giant mouth of a Godzilla-like monster. Of course, the mouth was created from snow: Godzilla was not even the storm’s most famous creature. That honor goes to Tian Tian, a giant panda at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. A video of Tian Tian playing in the snow on Saturday has received over 55 million views on Facebook. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dig - v. to move away soil, sand, snow, etc., often in order to create a hole tropical storm - n. a powerful storm that begins in the tropics and that has winds which are not as strong as those of a hurricane hurricane - n. an extremely large, powerful, and destructive storm with very strong winds that occurs especially in the western part of the Atlantic Ocean monster - n. a strange or horrible imaginary creature​ blizzard - n. a severe snowstorm that goes on for a long time lizard - n. a type of reptile that has four legs and a long body and tail​ creature - n. an animal of any type​

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Roman Toilets Offered No Clear Health Benefits

Around 2000 years ago, the Romans moved into Europe. They built public latrines, or toilets, with many seats and washing areas.  And they built sewerage systems, brought in drinking water from aqueducts, and heated public baths for washing. They even had laws to keep the towns free of human waste and trash. But new archeological research shows that baths and public toilets with washing areas did not get rid of intestinal parasites. In fact, parasites like whipworm, roundworm,  and Entamoeba histolytica dysentery slowly increased, compared to the Iron Age before the Romans ruled Europe. Dr. Piers Mitchell conducted the research. He is from the Archaeology and Anthropology Department of Cambridge University in England. His research suggests that “Roman toilets, sewers and sanitation laws had no clear benefit to public health,” he said. “Roman baths surprisingly gave no clear health benefit, either." Intestinal parasites and ectoparasites -- such as lice – were widespread, he said. The study used samples from ancient Roman times to assess “the health consequences of conquering an empire.” Mitchell gathered evidence of parasites in ancient latrines, human burials and “coprolites” — or fossilized feces. He also examined combs and cloth from different Roman Period excavations, or historical sites, across the Roman Empire. Although the Romans were known for regular bathing, Mitchell found lice and fleas were just as widespread as in earlier times. The Vikings and medieval people did not have the same culture of bathing as the Romans. He found evidence of special combs for removing lice from hair. Getting rid of lice could have been something many people did every day in the Roman Empire. Mitchell said “modern research shows that toilets, clean drinking water and removing feces from the streets all decrease risk of infectious disease and parasites.” So, why did parasites such as whipworm and roundworm increase even when cleaner methods were introduced by Romans? He said it may have been the warm waters of the bathhouses that people shared. The waters were not changed often, and scum, or a layer of human dirt and cosmetics, would float on the top of the bathing water. “Clearly, not all Roman baths were as clean as they might have been,” Mitchell said. Another possibility from the study: Romans used human waste to fertilize crops. Now, in modern times, we know the waste must not be used for many months before adding it to fields. Otherwise, it can spread parasite eggs that survive in plants. "It is possible that sanitation laws requiring the removal of feces from the streets actually led to reinfection of the population as the waste was often used to fertilize crops planted in farms surrounding the towns," Mitchell said. The study also found that fish tapeworm eggs were widespread in the Roman Period, compared to earlier times in Europe.  Mitchell said this might be because the Romans loved a sauce called “garum.” It was used both for eating and as medicine. Garum was made from pieces of fish, herbs, salt and other flavors. It was not cooked, but left out in the sun to ferment. It was traded across the empire, so it may have transported the fish tapeworm along with the sauce, Mitchell said. "The manufacture of fish sauce and its trade across the empire in sealed jars would have allowed the spread of the fish tapeworm … to people all across the empire. “This appears to be a good example of the negative health consequences of conquering an empire," he said. There is an upside, Mitchell added: "It seems likely that while Roman sanitation may not have made people any healthier, they would probably have smelt (smelled) better." The findings are published in the journal Parasitology. I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Tell us what you think!  Write us a comment below and on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vanquish –v. to defeat someone completely in war sanitation –n. the process of keeping places free from dirt, infection, disease, etc., by removing waste, trash and garbage, by cleaning streets, etc. intestinal parasite –n. an animal or plant that lives in another animal’s intestine and gets food or protection from it dysentery –n. a serious disease that causes severe diarrhea and blood loss sewerage –n. a system or process used for carrying water and sewage aqueducts –n. a structure that looks like a bridge and carries water, or pipe or channel used to carry water trash –n. waste fossilized feces –n. human waste that is was from ancient times and that you can see in some rocks ferment –v. go through a chemical change that results in alcohol production

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US East Coast Slowly Recovers from the Storm

The weekend blizzard left many cities the East Coast of the U.S. under a blanket of snow. In Washington, the federal government and schools remained closed Monday. But in New York and other northern cities more accustomed to heavy snow, business is gradually resuming.

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Major Earthquake Hits Alaska

  A magnitude-7.1 earthquake shook south-central Alaska Sunday. At least four homes were destroyed but no injuries or deaths were reported, according to the Associated Press and the Alaska Dispatch News. The earthquake was centered 85 kilometers west of Anchor Point, Alaska, and about 250 kilometers southwest of Anchorage. One eyewitness said the earthquake lasted 30 seconds, according to a CNN news report. Roads and building were damaged and power was out in many areas. A resident of Kenai, Alaska, described the early morning quake.   “It started out as a shaking, and it seemed very much like a normal earthquake,” he said. “But then it started to feel like a normal swaying. It was unsettling. Some things got knocked over, but there was no damage.” Aftershocks followed the quake, including one of 4.7 magnitude felt in Anchorage and Juneau. Anchorage residents did not report any injuries or damage, according to NBC News. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, an earthquake with a 7.1 magnitude is considered a major earthquake. These earthquakes cause damage to buildings and can be felt across long distances. I’m George Grow.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted the story for Learning English. Additional information came from CNN and NBC News. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   magnitude – n. the size or importance of something; a number that shows the power of an earthquake according – adv. as stated by or in swaying – v. moving or causing to move back and forth aftershocks – n. waves of motion after an earthquake that can strike days or weeks later

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Refugees Storm British Ferry at French Port

About 200 refugees attacked the French port of Calais on Saturday, and about 50 got on a passenger ferry. A spokeswoman for the ship’s operator confirmed the refugees gained entry to an outer area of the Spirit of Britain ferry. But they did not get inside the ship because ferry workers had secured the doors. The spokeswoman said some refugees agreed to leave the ship. The rest were removed or arrested, according to CNN television. Passenger service was delayed by a few hours. Another ferry company tweeted that the Calais port had been closed because of a "migrant invasion." Thousands of refugees and migrants have lived in tents near Calais for 12 months. The area, called “the Jungle”, is a place where poor people live and the buildings are in poor condition. Many of the refugees and migrants have fled war and poverty in Africa and the Middle East. They hope to cross the English Channel to Britain in search of a better life. The incident on Saturday happened after about 2,000 people in Calais gathered to show support for the migrants and refugees. A French member of the European Parliament said the conditions were “unacceptable.” "It's like an open-air prison. It's a question of dignity, we can't allow this," Green Party politician and MEP Karima Delli told reporters. CNN reported that French officials have moved some people into shelters made of metal shipping containers. Those shelters have heat and electricity. In related news, about 2,000 refugees and migrants enter Germany each day. But Germany’s interior minister said Sunday that his country is denying entry to 200 others daily. Germany accepted a record 1.1 million refugees and migrants last year. That has stretched resources and created angry political debate. "People who are fleeing war and persecution are offered security and protection in Germany," said the minister, Thomas de Maiziere. "But that also means … anyone who doesn't want to apply for political asylum in Germany and wants to illegally enter Germany has no right to be here." The German newspaper Bild am Sonntag published his comments. I’m Mario Ritter.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Kathleen Struck adapted the story for Learning English. Additional information came from CNN. George Grow was the editor. Do you have a suggestion that would help the migrants, refugees and governments dealing with them? Leave us a Comment below and post on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ferry – n. a ship that transports people or goods migrant – n. a person who goes from one place to another, usually for economic reasons English Channel – n. body of water that separates France and the British Islands of Great Britain dignity – n. a way of behaving that suggests seriousness and self-control persecution – n. the act or condition of threatening others, especially those from other religious or social groups

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IS Video Honors Paris Terrorists

The Islamic State group has released a video of nine militants it says took part in the terror attacks in Paris last November. The attackers, most from Belgium or France, killed 130 people with bombs and guns at several sites in Paris. Many others were injured. Police killed the nine during or soon after the Paris attacks. The Islamic State released the video last weekend. It uses the word “lions” to describe the men, and shows them beheading and killing prisoners in Iraq and Syria. The video includes images from the November attacks. It also shows pictures of London, British Prime Minister David Cameron and other British officials. Lines representing crosshairs are placed over their faces, according to The Guardian newspaper. Shooters use the lines to aim at their target. Britain is part of the U.S.-led coalition that is bombing Islamic State targets. Non-believers "will be a target for our swords," the video says. I’m Mario Ritter.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Kathleen Struck adapted it for Learning English. George Grow 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   lion – n. a large cat known for being fierce according – adv. as stated by or in crosshairs – n. a pair of fine wires or lines that cross at the focus of a lens or gun sight; used to position or aim sword – n. a weapon with a very sharp edge; often worn now at ceremonial events

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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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