Chinese Miners Rescued After 36 Days

Four miners were rescued in eastern China after spending 36 days underground, reported the country’s state-run news agency. The workers were lifted from a mine in Shandong Province Friday night. They were pulled up through emergency holes drilled in the ground to supply them with food and clothing. The gypsum mine collapsed on December 25, trapping 29 miners. Fifteen miners have escaped or were rescued. One person was confirmed dead. Thirteen others are still missing and are believed dead. I’m Mary Gotschall.     Mary Gotschall adapted this story from VOANews.com for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ ​Words in the Story   underground – n. located or occurring below the surface of the earth drill – v. to make a hole in something with a drill  or a tool used for making holes in hard substances gypsum – n. a white mineral that is used to make plaster of paris

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Thai Officials Worry About Child Doll Superstition

It’s the biggest craze in Thailand.  Life-size dolls believed to possess the spirits of child angels have become popular in recent months.   The dolls, known in Thai as luk thep, are believed to bring good fortune. These dolls are purchased for hundreds of dollars and are blessed by Buddhist monks. Many owners attend to the dolls as if they are their children. Shops are selling clothing, jewelry and beauty treatments for the dolls. A buffet restaurant in the Thai capital, Bangkok, offers them children's meals. But the privileges spent on them have also drawn concern and warning from authorities and psychologists in Thailand. Nattasuda Taephant is director of psychological wellness at Chulalongkorn University. She says if the dolls help their owners feel better, then the fad is rather harmless. "But if it crosses the boundary of reality, and they believe they can talk to the luk thep doll, that would be something concerning in terms of mental health," she said. Thai mental health officials have issued an appeal for people to stick to mainstream religious values and reject such unbelievable things. But the belief is rooted in ancient Southeast Asian superstitions. Traditionally, when babies were stillborn, some spiritual leaders in Thailand and other countries in the region took the babies away. They roasted the bodies, blessed them, and covered them in gold leaf. In Thailand, such household divine effigies are known as kuman thong for male figures and hong phrai for female ones. The practice has mostly stopped. But the dolls might represent a return to a more superstitious age. "I'm really wondering how part of Thai society has come to this point," said Sermsuk Kasitpradit, a veteran editor and popular blogger. "As a Buddhist I am feeling much shame as it is totally against the teaching of our Lord Buddha who preached not to believe in superstition," Sermsuk told VOA. Others worry that the modern incarnations may be put to evil use, according to authorities. Nearly 200 "yaba" methamphetamine pills were found Monday stuffed into the chest of a girl doll. The doll had been placed in a suitcase for retrieval in the airport at Chiang Mai, said police Lt. Col. Kom Chetkhuntod. Another police official said the dolls give criminals "a new way to smuggle drugs, into the country. Now, all officers at airport and border checkpoint are instructed to screen dolls. Police officers on Tuesday carried out raids in Bangkok against doll vendors suspected of avoiding import taxes. Three vendors were arrested and authorities seized more than 100 luk thep dolls, mostly imported from China. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. Steve Herman reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted the report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you have superstitions in your country? Would you have a luk thep doll? Please leave us a Comment and post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fortune – n. the good and bad things that happen to someone fad – n. something that is very popular for a short time boundary – n. something that shows where an area ends and another area begins superstition –n. a belief that certain events or things will bring good or bad luck effigy – n. an image of a person incarnation – n. one of a series of lives that a person is believed to have had in the past in some religions

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Everyday Grammar: Onomatopoeia

Learn more with Everyday Grammar: Pow! Whizz! What Are Onomatopoeia? in Level Three

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Migrants Cower as Raids Target Illegal Immigrants

The United States recently launched a campaign to expel illegal immigrants from Central America. The Obama administration targeted people who stayed after they were told to leave the country. Government agents detained 121 Central Americans, many of them women and children. VOA’s Carolyn Presutti recently spoke with a number of undocumented migrants just after their homes were raided. They came to the U.S. mainly for economic reasons. Their full names are not made public because of the sensitivity of the issue. Maria, age 8, said she was cleaning her teeth and preparing to go to school, when she heard a noise at the door. She opened the door and found eight immigration agents. “I said, ‘Who are you?’ and they didn’t tell me their names. They said, 'Is there a grown-up here?' And I said, 'Yes,' ” she continued. Maria said she was “trying to be brave,” knowing “they would never get my family because my family hasn’t done anything bad.” But Maria’s Aunt Sofia is in the United States illegally. So are other adults who were not at home when the agents arrived. Sofia hid in a ground floor bedroom with her three baby boys during the raid. Agents went room to room, but never looked in the basement. “I thought they were going to enter the room with my children there and take me,” Sofia said. While she was able to avoid getting detained by the immigration agents, Sofia said she is still full of fear. “Now, I don’t know what I can do. I’m not even going to the grocery store anymore. I’m scared to go,” she said. The Obama administration said the raids are designed to send a message to people in Central America. It wants to prevent more mass migration to the United States. The administration wants to avoid a repeat of the 2014 immigration crisis. Two years ago, tens of thousands of Central Americans were traveling across the Mexican border. Many were children. Jeh Johnson heads the federal agency that organized the raids. “Our borders are not open to illegal migration,” said Johnson, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. “If you come here illegally, we will send you back consistent with our laws and values.” Immigrant advocates call the raids inhumane. Cecillia Wang is director of the American Civil Liberty Union’s Immigrants' Rights Project. She says “The administration is doubling down on a system that is rigged against these families. Many of these mothers and children had no lawyers because they could not afford them. "Without counsel, traumatized refugees don't understand what is happening in court and cannot get their legitimate asylum claims heard." But two candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, want to do much more. Both said they would try to expel all estimated 11 million illegal immigrants in the United States. Trump also promises to build a fence along the Mexican border and get Mexico to pay for it. “You're going to have a deportation force, and you're going to do it humanely," he said on MSNBC. “Don't forget that you have millions of people that are waiting in line to come into this country, and they're waiting to come in legally. And I always say the wall, we're going to build the wall. It's going to be a real deal. It's going to be a real wall." Immigration activists have reacted to the recent raids by holding meetings and handing out “Know Your Rights” cards. The cards have the following message in both English and Spanish: “I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution, unless you have a warrant.” Maria tells VOA she does not plan to get to that point. “I’ve learned to never open the door and to look out the window,” she says. I’m Mary Gotschall. Carolyn Presutti reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert 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 share your views on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   migrant – n. a person who goes from one place to another especially to find work basement – n. the part of a building or house that is entirely or partly below ground doubling down – v. moving ahead with a program or policy with energy rig – v. to control or affect something in a corrupt way afford – v. to be able to pay for something counsel -- n. a lawyer who represents a person or group in a legal matter traumatize – v. to cause (someone) to become very upset in a way that often leads to serious emotional problems deportation – n. to force a person to leave the country warrant – n. a document issued by a court that gives the police the power to do something  

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Cameras Capture Pictures of Mysterious Bush Dog

Scientists say they have captured photographs of one of the most mysterious known animals: bush dogs. Bush dogs live in Central and South America.  They are a rarely seen and threatened species. But the photos suggest they may be more common than scientists thought. Scientists used cameras that take photos in the forest when an animal passes by. Photos of the bush dogs were taken in wild areas of Panama. The traps can be found across the country from its Costa Rican border to its border with Colombia. Ricardo Moreno is a research associate for the Smithsonian Institution. He and a team of biologists from Yaguará, Panama are studying large, wild mammals in that country. He says, “The bush dog is one of the rarest species that we photograph.” The researchers describe the animals as “short-legged and stubby, standing only about a foot (30cm) tall at the shoulder.” Like other dogs, bush dogs hunt in packs of up to 10. They are known to communicate to each other using “high-pitched whines.” They eat mostly large forest rodents. The bush dog is so elusive that photos of the animal were made only 11 times over 32,000 camera days. That is the number of cameras multiplied by the days in operation. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says bush dog populations have dropped by up to 25 percent over the past 12 years. It is considered a “near-threatened” species. Humans do not hunt or directly threaten bush dogs. But, habitat loss is affecting their numbers. They live mainly in rainforests. Scientists think the animals may require large forest spaces to survive. It is estimated that Panama lost 15 percent of its rainforest from 1990 to 2010. I’m Kathleen Struck.   Caty Weaver adapted this story from a VOA news report. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to know what you think of this story. Post a message in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pack - n. a group of usually wild animals that hunt together​ whine - v. to make a high, crying sound​ rodent - n. a small animal (such as a mouse, rat, squirrel, or beaver) that has sharp front teeth​ elusive - adj. hard to find or capture​ habitat - n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows​

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Venice Throws Wild Party Before Lent

The canals of Venice, Italy were packed with boats this week to launch a period of celebration leading up to Lent. The city kicks off its Carnival with a boat parade. “Carnival” means “farewell to meat,” and Carnival covers the days leading to a period of denial, called Lent. Some observant Christians will also fast during holy days in the Lenten period. Those 40 days lead to Easter, the highest holy day for Christians. The Venice Carnival lasts until Shrove Tuesday, also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras, on February 9. The Venice Carnival is one of the world’s oldest and most colorful. It includes the boat parade in Venice’s famous canals, a ball where people dress in beautiful costumes, and the king’s banquet. People from all over the world come to Venice’s festival. One woman came from England. She says the festival has a great atmosphere. “Great people, great food, getting to have a look around and see the great culture that's here as well." The festival comes at the same time that many large European cities are on guard against terrorist attacks. But Carnival visitors say terrorist threats will not prevent them from enjoying themselves. One Italian woman says she thinks a terrorist attack could come at any time, so she wants to live her life instead of being worried. “We have decided to come anyway to take part in this festival because it really is the most beautiful." Historians think the Carnival celebration has roots in ancient Roman times. Festivals were named after gods. One was called Saturnalia and honored Saturn. Another was called Bacchanalia and honored Bacchus. People of all backgrounds celebrated life together. Slaves could wear masks and dine at the same tables as their masters. Historians think those traditional festivals became the inspiration for Carnival when Christianity became a religion. I’m Dan Friedell.   Zlatica Hoke wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Would you want to visit the Venice Carnival someday? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   background - n. the part of a picture that is farthest from the person seeing it banquet – n. a dinner held for many people, usually to celebrate a special event carnival – n.  a celebration held before Lent that includes music and dancing costume – adj. involving people wearing costumes fast - v. to eat no food for a period of time festival – n. a special time or event when people gather to celebrate something kicks off - v. to start or begin mask – n. a covering used to hide or disguise your face master - n. someone with control over another person; the owner of a slave  

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Businesses Weak on Cyber-Crime Protection

A new report says businesses around the world are not keeping up with the new and increasingly tricky methods of cyber criminals. The international technology company Cisco Systems released the report. It says businesses are trying to prevent cyber-security breaks using old technology and policies. However, the report also says the increased threat is creating many new jobs for those able to help defend computer systems. The report describes major mistakes businesses have made in trying to stop attacks. It said there was a 10 percent recent drop in updates to security measures among businesses. Cisco examined 115,000 devices. It said 92 percent of them had security weaknesses in their software. Jason Brvenik is a top Cisco engineer. He told VOA that computer criminals will attack any system, whether it is owned by a company or an individual. He said criminals will work together to target a computer system to try to steal information. Brvenik said companies are beginning to use defensive measures that watch over their computer systems continuously. He said that helps them know if they are being attacked and to quickly answer such attacks. He said many companies currently do not discover attacks until 100 or more days have passed. He said new programs are able to identify attacks within hours. Cisco says it is able to identify attacks on its systems within about 17 hours. The fight against computer criminals is creating many jobs. Tara Sinclair is the chief economist at the jobs listing website Indeed.com. She says computer attacks have caused a large increase in the need for computer security experts. She says companies need workers who can protect them from attacks. Cisco estimates 1 million people are needed to fill cyber security jobs. The company Symantec is the largest seller of security software in the world. It says the number of people needed for computer security jobs will grow to 1.5 million by 2019. Cisco's Jason Brvenik said universities are working to train students for the growing cyber security market. He said 90 percent of the universities Cisco studied for its report offer cyber-security training. I’m Caty Weaver. VOA Correspondent Ramon Taylor reported this story from New York. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story into VOA Learning English. 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   cyber – adj. of or relating to computers, computer systems, the Internet, etc.    

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White House Protester Dies After Longest Vigil

You probably saw Concepcion Picciotto if you visited the White House over the past 35 years or so. She lived in a camp, in Lafayette Park, right across the street from the official home of U.S. presidents. Picciotto was a peace activist. Holding up homemade signs with anti-war messages, she kept a vigil in the park through rain and snow and heatwaves. She opposed war, nuclear weapons and violence against children. She died January 25 at N Street Village, a shelter for homeless women in Washington. The Washington Post says she had the longest continuous act of political protest in the United States. When she died, Concepcion Picciotto was believed to be about 80 years old. She was also known as “Connie” or “Conchita.” She came to the United States as a Spanish immigrant when she was 18. Through the years she spoke English with an accent. The small woman wore a wig and a scarf over a metal helmet. Walt Palmer worked for ABC News in Washington. Sometimes he was sent to the White House. “I remember talking to her one spring day in the mid-1980s,” Palmer says. “She had particularly big hair. Asking about it, she removed the wig she wore to cover the cooking pot on her head to protect from the 'government X-rays.' '' It was a story Picciotto told many people. She thought the government was trying to hurt her by aiming X-rays at her head. Only a few people would believe that to be true, and many people questioned her mental health. Others thought she had a clear mind. Either way, she provided food for thought for people coming to see one of the most famous houses in the world. Susan McQuillin Bonney works in Washington, D.C. In 2001, she took two children to see the White House. “They were much more fascinated with Concepcion Picciotto and how and why she lived outside than they were with the White House,” Bonney says. “They asked her how she ate and where she went to the bathroom. She told them how a group of people took care of her and the other activists on the vigil. I remember it was hard to explain later what nuclear weapons were.” It would be impossible to know how many times Picciotto spoke with people passing by. But many people who saw her protest signs would talk about them. Some were even inspired by her peace vigil. She was married once and had adopted a child with her husband, according to the Washington Post. She was separated from her family and the newspaper says she last saw her child when the girl was very young. She met a man named William Thomas on the streets of D.C. Together they started the protest in Lafayette Park. Others joined them, including a woman who later married Thomas. He has since died and his wife moved away. Others have worked with Picciotto to keep the vigil. U.S. Park Police rules say that a temporary shelter must be occupied or it will be taken down. Once, years ago, when Picciotto had let others stay at her camp, they left it empty. The Park Police took it down. Eleanor Holmes Norton stepped in to help Picciotto. Norton is a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Saying the Park Police action was “outrageous,” Norton picked up the telephone, called the police and had Picciotto’s home put back in the square. Norton says Picciotto was successful in influencing efforts to limit the production of nuclear weapons. Norton says Picciotto is an inspiration to her and her fight for D.C. statehood. “She inspires me and the great struggle of the people of the District of Columbia for statehood, and she inspires all of us who want peace in this world, and a world free of nuclear arms.” And what about the future of the vigil? A spokesperson for the U.S. Park Police, says it can stay as long as it is occupied. And for now, the group of peace activists who had kept the vigil with Concepcion Picciotto are still there -- right across the street from the White House. I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of Concepcion Picciotto’s more than 30-year vigil for peace? Write to us in the Comments section and post on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   vigil – n. an event or a period of time when a person or group stays in a place and quietly waits, prays, etc accent – n. a way of pronouncing words that occurs among the people in a particular region or country wig – n. artificial hair that you wear on your head because you are bald or in order to change your appearance scarf – n. a piece of cloth worn around your head food for thought – phrase. something that should be thought about or considered carefully inspire – v. to make someone want to do something helmet - n. a hard hat that is worn to protect your head adopted - v. taking a child of other parents legally as your own child according - adv. as stated in or by            

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Ice Boats Race Like the Wind

Who says you have to stay inside your home when it is cold outside? There’s an unusual sport practiced in the northern United States, and the season only starts when winds start blowing and the temperature drops below zero degrees Celsius. The sport is called ice boating. Clement Chua, who comes from a much warmer climate, is learning all about ice boating. He is an exchange student from Singapore and attends the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chua signed up for an ice boating class because he wanted to do something he could not do at home. “Ice boating is a most unique class,” he says. One experienced ice boater calls the sport “ephemeral.” In other words, the conditions for ice boating do not happen very often. And when the conditions are right, they are not right for very long. “You can go weeks in the winter when you can’t go ice boating,” says 81-year-old Lloyd Roberts. Roberts has been ice boating for 40 years. He says dedicated ice boaters make the sport a major event in their lives, just after funerals and weddings. The capital of ice boating in the United States is now the northeastern state of Maine. It once was New Jersey. But the capital moved north because Maine has warmer winters than before, and New Jersey’s winters are sometimes too warm for good ice to form. Maine gets cold enough in the winter that lakes and ponds will freeze, but it is no longer so cold that the ponds are covered with snow. Chua says he does a lot of windsurfing back home in Singapore, a place where water sports are popular. The sport of ice boating also uses wind to power a small vessel. But that is where the similarities end. Ice boats are like small sailboats, but they have sharp blades designed for skimming over the ice. The boats catch the wind and move fast on clear, smooth ice. Roberts says there are only about six good ice boating days each winter. Jim Thieler is a serious ice boater. He says there is always a concern about getting wet, because sometimes the ice is not strong enough to support the weight of both the boat and the boater. “They say there’s two kinds of ice boaters: those that have gone swimming, and those who are going to. Me, personally, yeah, I’ve gotten wet up to my thighs before.” That is why ice boaters always go out in groups, and wear special equipment. You need to wear shoes with metal cleats to avoid slipping on the ice. You also need warm clothing, because sometimes the wind will stop blowing, and boaters can stay in the cold for long periods before they make it back to land. They also carry ice picks, so they can pull themselves out of the water in case the ice breaks. The ice boaters say it is easy to get started in the sport. But the costs for new gear and new boats add up fast. The cost may just be the price people have to pay when faced with the other option: spending the long winter indoors. I’m Dan Friedell.   Arash Arabasadi wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English with reporting from the Portland Press Herald. George Grow was the editor. Would you want to try ice boating someday? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dedicated – adj. having very strong support for or loyalty to a person, group, cause, etc. cleat – n. a piece of rubber, wood, or metal that is fastened to the bottom of a shoe or boot to prevent slipping — usually plural ephemeral – adj.  lasting a very short time gear – n. supplies, tools, or clothes needed for a special purpose pond – n. an area of water that is surrounded by land and that is smaller than a lake practice – v. to do (something) regularly or constantly as an ordinary part of your life skim – v.  to move quickly or lightly along, above, or near the surface of something windsurf – v. to ride along the surface of the water while standing on a long, narrow board that has a sail attached blade – n. the sharp metal piece on the bottom of an ice skate option – n. a choice of possibility  

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China Charges Canadian with Spying and Stealing

China said Friday it has charged a Canadian with spying and stealing state secrets. Kevin Garratt was arrested in August 2014 with his wife, Julia. She was released after six months but is not allowed to leave China. She and her husband ran a coffee shop in Dandong in northeastern China. They also conducted Christian aid work for North Koreans. "During the investigation, authorities found that Kevin Garratt may also be involved in gathering information for Canadian information agencies," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said in Beijing. Garratt's parents said their son was arrested because he is Christian. Hua rejected that it has anything to do with religion. She said "he was indicted because of spying and stealing Chinese state secrets.” China's concept of state secrets can be very broad. Canada said it was concerned about the Garratt indictment. It has raised the issue with the Chinese government "at high levels."  A week ago, Canada accused Chinese hackers of breaking into a key computer network. News of the indictment reached Canadian officials one day after they attended a lavish party hosted by China in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. It marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. I’m Anne Ball.    Kathleen Struck adapted this story for Learning English from VOA news. Hai Do was the editor. Now it's your turn. Please leave a comment or post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   indicted –v. to be formally charged with a crime concept –n. the idea of what something is or how it works hacker –n. person who secretly gets access to a computer system to get information, or cause damage lavish –adj. giving or using a large amount of something

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English in a Minute: 148 Head Over Heels

Have you ever been "head over heels" for someone? Find out what this dizzying expression means in this week's English in a Minute!

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