Taiwan President Visits Disputed South China Sea Island

The president of Taiwan flew to the South China Sea Thursday to send a signal that reached as far as Washington. President Ma Ying-jeou flew on a military aircraft to Itu Aba, a disputed island also known as Taiping Island. About 200 people live there. Some are members of Taiwan’s coast guard. The other people are mainly medical workers and scientific researchers. Ma returned to Taipei Thursday night. His visit again brings attention to the major territorial dispute in the South China Sea. Taiwan has developed Taiping Island, a land formation in the Spratley Islands. Taiwan has set up a coast guard base with solar energy projects there. The medical workers are available to help crews from ships that pass through the waterway. “President Ma emphasizes that Taiping Island is an inherent territory of the Republic of China,” said a presidential spokesman. The Republic of China is Taiwan’s legal name.      Five other governments claim all or part of the South China Sea. Ma’s trip comes while China continues to develop other islands there with landfill materials. Vietnam has built man-made islands in the sea. Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines also claim parts of the area. ​Taiping Island is 1,600 kilometers from Taiwan. The island is less than a square kilometer in area and has been used mainly as a coast guard base. The Reuters news service reports that Taiwan just completed a port improvement project and built a new lighthouse on the island. Wednesday, the U.S. State Department called the Taiwanese leader’s trip “unhelpful” to easing disputes in the South China Sea.  Ma called the trip to Taiping one of his biggest personal successes while president. He must leave office in May because of term limits. I’m Jim Dresbach.   Ralph Jennings reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow 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   landfill – n. an area where waste is buried under the ground or dumped in a sea or ocean lighthouse – n. a tower with a powerful light that is built on or near the shore to guide ships away from danger solar – adj. of or related to the sun inherent – adj. existing in something

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Trending Today: Barbie Reimagined

This is What’s Trending Today. The Barbie doll has been a part of American culture for more than 50 years. Tall, blond and blue-eyed, the doll became a symbol of the “all-American girl.” But in recent years, critics targeted the doll. Social commentators said Barbie was not a good representation of what women do or should look like. The toy company that makes Barbie made some changes over the years. For example, it widened Barbie’s waist in more realistic proportion to the rest of her body. But that apparently was not enough for consumers or critics. So on Thursday, the manufacturer announced three new Barbie body types. Time magazine reported the story. Mattel describes the new dolls as tall, petite and curvy. The dolls will also represent different ethnicities, with a range of skin colors and hair styles. Lots of people commented about the news on Twitter and Facebook. Some people were excited to see the changes. Geek Girl Diva tweeted, “The curves are cool. I’m way more stoked about the hair color.” Another Twitterer, Maura Brannigan, posted: “Welcome to the 21st Century, Barbie.” But others were not as excited about the news. They say people should not get so worked up about a toy. Facebook user Michon Martin posted: “I never saw anything negative about her body or standards … she’s a fictitious piece of plastic.” And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.   What do you think of the new Barbie dolls? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   symbol – n. an action, object, event, etc., that expresses or represents a particular idea or quality curvy – adj. a term used to describe the shape of a woman’s body, a smooth, rounded line petite – adj. having a small and thin body — usually used to describe a woman or girl range – n. a group or collection of different things or people that are usually similar in some way stoked – adj. very excited worked up – adj. very angry, excited, or upset about something fictitious – adj. not true or real

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Panel Clears Planned Parenthood, Charges Its Accusers

A Texas grand jury decided this week to clear the health care organization Planned Parenthood of charges that it sells body parts from aborted fetuses. The decision has angered those who oppose abortion. A grand jury in Harris County, Texas, refused to file charges against Planned Parenthood. Instead, it filed charges against two people who made a secret video of Planned Parenthood employees. Those responsible for the video said they showed Planned Parenthood employees willing to sell body parts. Planned Parenthood and their supporters have said the video showed no illegal or unethical behavior. David Daleiden is one of the two people charged. The 27-year-old is the director of the anti-abortion group, Center for Medical Progress. He was charged with damaging a government record, because he allegedly created a fake driver’s license. He was also charged with illegally purchasing human organs. In the video, Daleiden posed as a medical research employee interested in buying fetal tissue. Another Center for Medical Progress employee, Sandra Merritt, was also charged with damaging a government record. The grand jury’s decision came after months of emotional debate, followed by  the group’s release of its secret videotapes last summer. Republicans in Congress have tried to end all federal funding for Planned Parenthood, but have failed. Republican presidential candidates promise to end funding for Planned Parenthood if they are elected. After the secret videos were released to the public, Planned Parenthood apologized for the casual way in which an employee discussed the transfer of fetal tissue and body parts. But the organization said the discussion centered on fees to cover Planned Parenthood costs, not profits. And it said the employee believed she was discussing a transfer with a real medical research company. Planned Parenthood said the grand jury’s decision showed the charges against it were false. “These anti-abortion extremists spent three years creating a fake company, creating fake identities, lying, and breaking the law,” said Eric Ferrero, a Planned Parenthood vice president. “When they couldn’t find any improper or illegal activity, they made it up.” Daleiden, the director of the Center for Medical Progress, defended his actions. “The Center for Medical Progress uses the same undercover techniques that investigative journalists have used for decades in exercising our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and the press, and follows all applicable laws,” he said. Melissa Hamilton is a legal scholar at the University of Texas. She explains the reasons for the charges both Daleiden and Merrit face.  “If you are purporting to use a driver’s license, which is a public record, that is beyond the pale -- because there are reasons for society to want to protect the legitimacy of purported government records.” Supporters and opponents of abortion rights had different reactions to the grand jury’s decision. Greg Abbot is the Governor of Texas, and a Republican who opposes abortion. He said, “Nothing about today’s announcement in Harris County impacts the state’s ongoing investigation. The State of Texas will continue to protect life, and I will continue to support legislation prohibiting the sale or transfer of fetal tissue.” But Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said the decision shows that Republican attacks on Planned Parenthood are wrong. “The Texas grand jury decision undercuts the entire Republican attack on Planned Parenthood,” Sanders said. “Planned Parenthood is doing an excellent job and should be supported and expanded, not defunded.” I'm Kathleen Struck.   Greg Flakus reported on this story from Houston, Texas. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   abortion – n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy unethical – adj. morally bad pose – v. to pretend to be (someone or something) in order to deceive people casual – adj. done without much thought, effort, or concern journalist – n. a person who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepares news to be broadcast on radio or television. purport – v.  to claim to be or do a particular thing when this claim may not be true       pale – (n). an area or the limits within which one is protected prohibit – v. to order people not to use or do something transfer – v. to move something from one place to another undercut – v. to show a position or point of view is not correct

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Boko Haram Dents Chad, Cameroon Economies

  Attacks from Boko Haram militants are hurting the economies of Chad and northern Cameroon. The militants often attack trucks transporting goods to the two central African nations. Some of the goods come from Borno state in nearby Nigeria. Naffissa Adja works at one of the most popular stores in N’djamena, the capital of Chad. She says she was not paid last month. She adds that the store has not received supplies from Borno state for several months. Business is slow because of attacks on the store’s supply trucks. Tocba Haman is a truck driver. He says he no longer goes to Nigeria for supplies because Boko Haram targets trucks and kills drivers. He says the militants continue to control Nigerian villages, especially around Borno state. They also seize goods and kill traders. He says business activity in Chad will continue to decrease, even with many soldiers on roads and in markets. Abdoul Said is a customs official in Chad. He says Boko Haram attacked trucks last Saturday in Gambarou, a Nigerian town on the border with Cameroon. He says Boko Haram fighters have attacked and seized many vehicles in the past two weeks. He says recently, the militants seized three trucks carrying goods to northern Cameroon and N’djamena. The Chadian capital is less than 50 kilometers from Borno state, an area currently under the control of the Islamist group. Many goods arriving in Chad and northeastern Cameroon are shipped from Maiduguri, in the center of Borno state. Abba Kabbir is a member of Cameroon’s national assembly. He says the economies of northern Cameroon and Chad are suffering because the militants control roads in Nigeria. Simple goods and manufactured products like telephones and farming tools enter Chad on these roads. He says if Boko Haram continues to control the border roads, economic activity will continue to be paralyzed in Chad, northern Cameroon and parts of northeastern Nigeria. He says he and others want the military to stop the attacks. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Edwin Moki Kindzeka reported on this story from N’djamena, Chad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report into Learning English. George Grow 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   paralyze – v. to make (someone or something) unable to operate, act or move  

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Thailand Reports Second MERS Case

Thailand’s Public Health Ministry says the country has a second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. A public health official said Sunday that a 71-year-old man from Oman came to a hospital in Bangkok Friday. He had a high body temperature and a cough. He received some treatment in his home country that did not help. Like other travelers from the Middle East, he decided to go to Thailand to get medical care. The man is now at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, near Bangkok. Tests there showed he has the MERS virus. Officials are closely watching 37 people who came in contact with the man. They include family members who traveled with him, a taxi driver, passengers who sat near him, flight attendants and hospital workers. These people are in quarantine to prevent them from passing the disease to others. The first case of MERS in Thailand was reported in June 2015. That case was also a man from Oman. He survived the disease. Because of the earlier MERS case, the Thai health ministry says it has improved its methods of finding the virus, monitoring and treating patients. MERS is the same type of virus as the common cold. It is caused by a coronavirus. MERS is similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, another coronavirus. MERS kills more than 30 percent of the people who are infected with the virus. The main cause of death is respiratory infections. People with MERS have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing. There is no vaccine, but the U.S. Centers for Disease Control says that the National Institutes of Health is looking into developing one. The Mayo Clinic says treatment includes rest, fluids, pain relievers and oxygen therapy. MERS does not spread easily. It usually only affects people who are in close contact with an infected person. The first case of MERS in humans was found in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Most of the cases have been in the Middle East. I’m Jill Robbins.   Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English based on reports from Reuters and the Wall Street Journal. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Now it’s your turn. Have you heard of MERS? What do you think of traveling to get medical treatment? Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cough - n. expelling air from the lungs suddenly with an explosive noise respiratory – adj. of or relating to breathing or the organs of the body that are used in breathing quarantine – n. the situation of being kept away from others to prevent a disease from spreading monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time coronavirus – n. a type of virus that usually causes mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness fever – n. a body temperature that is higher than normal (98.5 degrees Fahrenheit or 37 degrees Celsius)  

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English @ the Movies: 'Bigger Than They Are'

Today's English @ the Movies phrase is taken from "Concussion." A concussion is a brain injury that can happen when people hit their heads hard. The movie is about a doctor taking on the football industry. What is the phrase? "Bigger than they are." Watch, and listen.

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Improve Your Writing with Contrast and Concession

For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Today we are going to talk about words that connect opposing ideas. We call these ideas contrast or concession. Some of these adverbs are but, although, however and despite. These words will help you communicate more complex ideas. They will improve the flow and clarity of your writing. Contrast versus concession  Let us begin by understanding the differences between contrast and concession. Here are two examples: I used to live in Malaysia, but now I live in Thailand. Even though I live in Malaysia, I work in Thailand. The first example shows a simple contrast. The first sentence, “I used to live in Malaysia” indicates my previous place of residence. The second part of the sentence, “but now I live in Thailand”, shows that I now live in another place. The statement contrasts these two different places: the one where I used to live and the one where I live now. In the second example, “Even though I live in Malaysia” tells you where I live now. But this sentence contains a surprise for my readers: “I work in Thailand.” When the opposing idea is something readers do not expect or that surprises them, we call it concession. But Let us start with but, the most common way to show contrast. But is a coordinator. We use it to connect ideas that are more or less of equal value. Here are some examples: The students were tired after the test, but were happy with their results. Some refugees have found new homes, but others are still living in camps. Luca tried to solve the math problem for two hours, but he could not find the answer. In the second and third examples, notice that the conjunction but connects two independent sentences or clauses. In this case, we use a comma before but. However, nevertheless, nonetheless A more formal way to say but is however. Consider the examples: We really wanted to go to that concert; however, we could not afford the tickets. Car prices went up fast. However, motorcycle prices are still the same. In these examples, you can replace however with nevertheless or nonetheless. The idea will remain the same. However and nonetheless can make your sentences more formal. You have some options for punctuation. You could write, “I am tired. [period] However, [comma] I will finish the job.” Or you could write, “I am tired; [semicolon] however, [comma] I will finish the job.” The semicolon is a punctuation option to connect two independent clauses that are closely related. It is up to the writer to decide whether to use a period or a semicolon. Although, even though, and though Although and even though are two common adverbs to express unexpected results or surprises. They are subordinators: adverbs that show that one idea is more important than the other. Here are some examples: I managed to fall asleep although we were watching an action movie. Although we were watching an action movie, I managed to fall asleep. In both sentences, the subordinating conjunction although is attached to the clause that contains the less important idea. “Although we were watching an action movie,” cannot stand alone as a sentence; it is a subordinate clause. If the subordinate clause comes first, we must separate the two by using a comma. If the subordinate clause comes second, there is no comma. Here are two examples with even though. These students already know how to read even though they are still in kindergarten. Even though these students are still in kindergarten, they already know how to read. Though is less formal than although and even though. It is more common in spoken English. Here are some examples: Though Indra waited for almost an hour, his doctor never showed up. Indra’s doctor never showed up though he waited for almost an hour. To make your sentence even more conversational, you can move though to the end: Indra waited for almost an hour. His doctor never showed up, though. In spite of, despite In spite of and despite are also subordinators to show unexpected results. They also come attached to the subordinate clause. However, they require a different sentence structure. Consider the examples: That man has saved a lot of money in spite of earning a small salary. That artist is very creative despite having limited resources. In these examples, in spite of and despite are followed by a gerund. A gerund is the “-ing” form of a verb which functions like a noun. In the sentences above, “earning a small salary” and “having limited resources” are gerund phrases. Despite and in spite of can also be followed by noun phrases. My brother has managed to save a lot of money in spite of his small salary. That artist is very creative despite her limited resources. His small salary and her limited resources are noun phrases. In spite of that In spite of that can also be used to indicate contrast or concession, but it works as a coordinating conjunction. Therefore, it is used to connect two independent clauses. For example: Most students had understood the explanation; in spite of that, the teacher wrote a few more examples. It rained for almost three hours non-stop. In spite of that, the ground is already dry. Practice The best way to master these transition words is to make up a few sentences of your own. After you start practicing, you will naturally begin to remember when and how to use these words more accurately. Try to write a few sentences using the transition words above and post them here for comments. I’m Jill Robbins. And I’m John Russell.   This article was written by guest writer Fabio de Oliveira Coelho. Fabio is a linguist and bilingual educator. He has worked on education and development projects in Brazil, the United States, Nicaragua, Indonesia, and Guinea-Bissau. He was born in Brazil and is a now U.S. citizen. Fabio is an English Language Fellow with the U.S. Department of State in Semarang, Indonesia. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   contrast - n. a difference between people or things that are being compared concession - n. grammar. a clause which begins with "although" or "even though" and which expresses an idea that suggests the opposite of the main part of the sentence. clause - n. grammar. a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb semicolon – n.  the punctuation mark ; that is used to separate major parts in a sentence and to separate items in a series if the items contain commas subordinate clause – n. grammar. a clause that does not form a simple sentence by itself and that is connected to the main clause of a sentence gerund – n. grammar. an English noun formed from a verb by adding -ing ​

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How America Elects: Caucuses & Primaries

Caucuses are more complicated than primaries. People who are registered in one of the parties gather for an evening of discussion and debate around the state. At the end of the night, everyone votes.

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Trump Leads in Iowa, Bloomberg May Join the Race

For nearly a year, candidates have been telling American voters that they are best qualified to become the next U.S. president. On Monday, voters will have their say in an evening of discussion and debate known as the Iowa caucus. Monday’s caucus in the Midwestern state of Iowa is the first in a series of caucuses and primaries to select a nominee for the Republican and Democratic parties. In the Republican presidential field, businessman Donald Trump expands his lead over the crowded field of candidates. A Fox News poll in Iowa shows Trump leading 23 to 34 percent above Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. Another poll by CBS News has Trump with a smaller lead over Cruz in Iowa -- 34 to 39 percent. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida is in third place in both polls. Nationally, support for Trump is also increasing, according to a new CNN poll on Tuesday. It shows Trump with the support of 41 percent of Republican voters across the United States. Cruz is in second place with 19 percent. On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont are in a virtual tie among Iowa voters. The CBS poll of Iowa voters shows Clinton leading 46 to 47 percent. But Clinton still has a large lead over Sanders nationally in the new CNN poll. Her lead is 38 percent to 52 percent. As a candidate, Trump has called for deporting undocumented immigrants and for banning Muslims from entering the U.S. On the opposite side, Sanders has called for breaking up large financial institutions. He also wants free college tuition at public colleges. Rival candidates have called their proposals as unrealistic and “not serious.” But Trump, on the Republican side, and Sanders, on the Democratic side, continue to gain strength among primary voters. “There seems to be an extraordinary amount of anger in the United States, both on the left and on the right and maybe even in the center and it’s a little disconcerting,” said political analyst Stan Collender. “I don’t think anyone saw this coming or anyone predicted it.” Will Bloomberg enter the race? Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is considering a run for president as an independent. The paper reported that Bloomberg would run if Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump were the Democratic and Republican nominees. Bloomberg, a billionaire like Trump, was mayor of New York City for 12 years. Since he has left office, Bloomberg has spent much of his own money calling for tougher gun control laws. The threat of another billionaire in the race brought quick response from the candidates. On NBC's Meet the Press, Clinton said, “Well, I’m going to relieve him of that and get the nomination so he doesn’t have to.” Trump said he would be happy if Bloomberg ran. Trump said he and Bloomberg have been friends, but “perhaps we’re not friends anymore.” Sanders’ candidacy is largely a promise to reduce big wage differences between wealthy and poor Americans. “If Donald Trump wins and Mr. Bloomberg gets in, you’re going to have two multi-billionaires running for president of the United States against me,” Sanders said on Meet the Press. He said Americans do not want to see “billionaires control the political process.” Obama weighs in Even President Barack Obama felt the need to say something about the race. In an interview this week with Politico, Obama described Clinton as “wicked smart,” and “extraordinarily experienced.” He also praised Sanders, but not as much, according to Politico. Obama said Sanders gets the benefit of being a new candidate for president. Clinton also ran in 2008, when she lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Obama. “You’re always looking at the bright, shiny object that people haven’t seen before — that’s a disadvantage to her (meaning Clinton),” Obama said. But he had nothing good to say about Trump and Cruz, the two leading Republican candidates. “When I ran against (Senator) John McCain, John McCain and I had real differences, sharp differences, but John McCain didn’t deny climate science,” Obama told Politico.  “John McCain didn’t call for banning Muslims from the United States. … [The] Republican vision has moved not just to the right, but has moved to a place that is unrecognizable.” I'm Kathleen Struck.   VOA's Jim Malone reported on this story. Bruce Alpert adapted his report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or share your views on our Facebook Page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   caucus – n.  a meeting of members of a political party for the purpose of choosing candidates for an election qualified – v. having the necessary skill, experience, or knowledge to do a particular job or activity  poll – n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something virtual – adj.  very close to being something without actually being it deport – v. to force a person who is not a citizen to leave a country extraordinary – adv. very different from what is normal or ordinary disconcerting – adj. cause for concern billionaire – n. a rich person who has at least a billion dollars tougher – adj. stricter, more demanding relieve – v., to reduce or remove something replace – v. to be used instead of something wicked – adj. very much vision – n. what conditions a candidate or person wants in the future

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VOA English Newscast 2200 UTC January 27, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Dave DeForest reporting. A committee of key Syrian opposition groups is expected to decide Thursday whether to participate in U.N.-brokered peace talks in Geneva. U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura sent out invitations to the negotiations on Tuesday, but did not disclose who was on the list. The United States and China agreed Wednesday to work together to ensure that North Korea ends its nuclear weapons program.  U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry met with China's foreign minister Wang Yi in Beijing, stressing the North Korean issue is a high priority for the U.S. government. “Now is the time we believe for action that can bring North Korea back to the (negotiating) table. I agree with my fellow minister. There is a goal in sanctions. It is to get to the negotiations.” The talks revealed that the two sides disagree on whether and what sort of sanctions to use against North Korea following its recent nuclear test. International Criminal Court judges have authorized an investigation into allegations that war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed during the 2008 Russia-Georgia conflict. Japanese-based Toyota Motor Corporation says it sold 10.15 million vehicles worldwide in 2015.  That makes Toyota the world's top-selling automaker for the fourth consecutive year. Suicide bombers have killed at least 10 people in Chibok, the Nigerian town where Boko Haram kidnapped more than 200 schoolgirls nearly two years ago. Witnesses say one bomber detonated explosives Wednesday at a checkpoint where people were being searched, and at least two others blew themselves up in the town's market. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the attack bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram. This is VOA News. ______________________________________________________________ Words in The News   key – adj. important participate – v. to be involved with others in doing something brokered – adj. organized or controlled by disclose – v. to make known ensure – v. to make sure or safe stressing – v. giving special attention to something priority – n. a goal; something that is important table – n. a piece of furniture that has a flat top and one or more legs sanctions –n. actions that are taken to force a country to obey international rules revealed – v. made known authorized – v. to give power or permission to allegations – n. accusations or charges committed – v. carried out; executed consecutive – adj. following one after the other detonated – v. exploded checkpoint – n. a place where police or guards search people bore the hallmarks – expression. showing evidence of something We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Urgent Call to Stop the Spread of Zika Virus

U.S. President Barack Obama has called for immediate development of tests, vaccines and treatments for the Zika virus. The Zika virus has infected people in more than 20 countries. Spread of zika virus Just this week, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed that two people have tested positive for the virus in the states of Arkansas and Virginia. Health officials said that both became infected recently after traveling to countries where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Health official also reported that a baby recently born in Hawaii was infected with the virus in the mother’s womb. The mother had emigrated from Brazil early in her pregnancy. In Puerto Rico, health officials are reporting 18 cases of the virus, according to Reuters. The virus was first reported in the U.S. territory last December. In Europe, a hospital said a Danish tourist who had traveled to South and Central America has tested positive for Zika virus. This came after British health officials confirmed five cases of returning travelers infected with the virus. Where did the virus come from? The CDC said that Brazil reported its first case of Zika virus in May 2015. Since then, the virus has spread by mosquitos and has caused infections in many Brazilian states and other countries in Latin America.    The World Health Organization (WHO) said the Zika virus could be linked to 4,000 suspected cases of microcephaly in Brazil. Microcephaly is when babies are born with extremely small heads. It causes severe brain damage. After the outbreak, Brazilian officials sent 200,000 troops to homes to deliver information on how to get rid of mosquitos. In areas that will be used for upcoming carnival celebrations and this year's Olympics, city workers sprayed chemicals to kill mosquitoes and their eggs. Officials in El Salvador, Colombia and Jamaica have recommended women postpone getting pregnant. Women’s health advocates, however, said that advice was not appropriate. Monica Roa is vice president of strategy for Women's Link Worldwide, a women's rights group. She said it is “incredibly naïve for a government to ask women to postpone getting pregnant in a context such as Colombia where more than 50 percent of pregnancies are unplanned and across the region where sexual violence is prevalent." WHO Director General Margaret Chan said Zika might spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile. "The explosive spread of Zika virus to new geographical areas, with little population immunity, is another cause for concern, especially given the possible link between infection during pregnancy and babies born with small heads." Symptoms and advice on the virus Symptoms for Zika include mild fever, rash, joint pain and red eyes. These symptoms can last from a few days to about a week. However, an estimated 80 percent of people infected with the virus have no symptoms at all. This makes it difficult for pregnant women to know whether they have been infected. Researchers and health experts warn that there are many unknowns about the Zika virus. The World Health Organization said there are two effective ways to stop the virus from spreading: reduce the areas where mosquitos breed and protect people from getting bit by mosquitoes by using insect repellants, nets, screens and clothing that covers as much of the body as possible. The CDC suggests that pregnant women avoid traveling to 14 countries and territories in the Caribbean and Latin America affected by the virus. These areas include Puerto Rico, Martinique, Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Brazil, Colombia, French Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Venezuela and Mexico. The agency also warns that women who have recently traveled to these places during their pregnancy be examined and monitored for the virus. I’m Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo adapted this story from VOA News reports. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   postpone to put off to a later time repellant – n. serving or tending to drive away or ward off —often used in combination naïve – adj. deficient in worldly wisdom or informed judgment prevalent – adj. common or widespread ​

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