Old Age, Debt Threaten Vietnam Economy

Vietnam’s population is growing old at the fastest rate of any nation in recorded history. In about 15 years, Vietnam’s share of people aged 65 years or older will rise from 7 to 14 percent of the population. This information comes from the World Bank. By comparison, the aging process will take longer, about 25 years, in two nearby countries: China and Myanmar. World Bank Vietnam director Victoria Kwakwa says the aging of Vietnam’s population will strain the workforce. She said, “What you’re going to see is a slowing down, beginning to slow down and ultimately shrinking of the labor force, which will make significant demands on labor productivity.” She spoke at a Canadian Chamber of Commerce event last week in Ho Chi Minh City. Low-cost labor has powered businesses in Vietnam. It is the only country in East Asia where economic growth was higher in 2015 than 2014, said Kwakwa. Graying workforce But the aging workforce threatens that growth and adds to a list of issues that Vietnam faces. High debt, low government reserves, and dependence on foreign investment are some of the risks to the economy. Other risks include the increase in U.S. interest rates, the drop in prices for commodities, and questions about how the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal will affect Vietnam. The TPP cuts 18,000 tariffs among the 12 participating countries. For many years, Vietnam has been a country of savers. But now it is experiencing growing levels of household debt. Ralf Matthaes is managing director of Infocus Mekong Research, a market research firm. He said he was very surprised when his business found that 30 percent of Vietnamese consumers took out a loan in 2015. “Vietnam is becoming a debt culture, which is a little bit like China and some other places,” he said. “So this is, I think, the one thing that I would worry about in the future.” Public debt is on the rise, too. The Vietnamese government set a debt limit of 65 percent of Gross Domestic Product. The World Bank estimates borrowing reached 62.5 percent of GDP last year, up from 59.6 percent in 2014. Outlook for Vietnam-China relations    Many countries are worried about how China’s economic problems could hurt them. Vietnam could be spared much of the impact. Its exports to China are only about half of what Vietnam exports to Europe or the United States, according to the General Statistics Office. Fred Burke is managing partner at the law office Baker & McKenzie. He suggested Vietnam consider how it can profit from China. “Chinese companies with good experience as residential real estate developers coming in and building projects here, you know, that’s the kind of investment Vietnam actually needs, because they’ve got appropriate technology,” he said. “The price point is right. There’s a lot actually China and Vietnam can do together.” This advice may not be followed. Vietnamese relations with China have worsened recently over territorial disputes in the South China Sea. But that has not stopped Vietnam from buying more products from China than from any other trading partner. I’m Mary Gotschall.       Lien Hoang reported on this story for VOANews.com. Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you have an opinion about this topic? Let us know what you think in the Comments section below, or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________ Words in This Story   strain – n. to cause problems or trouble for (something) reserve– n.  a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later time tariff – n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country consumer – n. a person who buys goods and services Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – noun phrase the total value of the goods and services produced by the people of a nation during a year not including the value of income earned in foreign countries  impact – n. a powerful or major influence or effect residential – adj. containing mostly homes instead of stores or businesses real estate – n.  property consisting of buildings and land  

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Football Player Criticized for Dancing While Black

American football is a game of great drama and theater. On Sunday, the championship game will decide who is the best, and who is second best. The game will include music, noisemakers, confetti, flashing lights and lots of action. So it may not seem out of place when football players express their enthusiasm after scoring points, called a touchdown. But lots of pre-game talk has been focused on a player named Cam Newton and how he celebrates his big plays. Newton is energetic about scoring a touchdown or throwing the ball successfully to another player who then scores. That happened 45 times this season for the Carolina Panthers, so Newton celebrates a lot. He pumps his fist. He waves to the crowd. He mimics what the comic book character Clark Kent does when he is about to turn into Superman. He puts his hands to his chest and pretends to pull back his football uniform, revealing his “super hero” costume underneath. After a touchdown, he always gets the ball and gives it to a fan of his team, the Panthers. Some people think he really is super. He is big, strong, fast and handsome, after all. His touchdown celebrations often include a dance called “The Dab,” which is popular among young African-Americans. Newton is credited with making the move popular. “The Dab” has caused as much controversy as the swaying hips of rock and roll star Elvis Presley when he started his career. In a game against Tennessee earlier this season, Newton scored a touchdown and broke into his “Dab” dance. The Tennessee players were not happy with him. They ran up to him as if to challenge him to a fight. But Newton kept dancing. That prompted a Tennessee fan to write a letter to Newton that she also sent to a newspaper in North Carolina. She wrote: “We had a close-up view of your conduct in the fourth quarter. The chest puffs. The pelvic thrusts. The arrogant struts and the ‘in your face’ taunting of both the Titans players and fans. We saw it all.” Some sports commentators started talking about the way Newton celebrates. Some say he should act like a touchdown is no big deal. Others say he should be himself and celebrate if he wants to. The debate is a reminder of what happened leading up to the Super Bowl in 1989 when Elbert “Ickey” Woods of the Cincinnati Bengals was doing a dance called “the Ickey shuffle.” Woods was a good player. But injuries shortened his career. He is best known for his dance. He did a version of the dance in a recent commercial for an insurance company. Newton is such a good player that will be remembered for more than just a debate over touchdown celebrations. Commentators think some white people are offended by Newton’s celebrations because he is African-American. After all, white athletes celebrate their touchdowns just as much but people are not criticizing them. In a USA Today column, Nancy Armour writes: “If we’re brutally honest with ourselves, the criticism of Newton comes from somewhere ugly and mean, based more on prejudice than a wish for proper decorum.” Two white players known for celebrating their touchdowns in recent seasons are Aaron Rodgers and Tim Tebow. Rodgers is the star quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. Tebow was a star player in college and played in the NFL for a short time. Rodgers does a move where he thrusts his hips and pretends to put a “championship belt,” like the ones they award in professional boxing, around his waist. When Tebow played, he would drop to one knee and pray to God after scoring a touchdown. Both of the players have a lot of fans. Rodgers even does commercials for an insurance company that uses his celebratory move as a joke. No one really complains about their celebrations. In fact, Tebow’s religious expression makes him even more appealing to some fans. When Tebow played, he wore items that referenced Bible verses. In her article about Newton, Armour talked with a professor who studied the way penalties were called on African-American football players during the 2010 season. He said one reason people are offended by these celebrations is that “(minorities) are expected to do their jobs quietly, without making a fuss.” Newton says he will keep dancing, no matter what people say. In a conversation with reporters earlier this week, Newton proposed a solution for those who are offended by his celebrations: “I guess you're going to have to get used to it, because I don't plan on changing.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think of Cam Newton’s touchdown celebration? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   arrogant – adj. having or showing the insulting attitude of people who believe that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people brutally honest – adv. cruel or extreme honesty decorum – n. correct or proper behavior that shows respect and good manners fuss – n.  activity or excitement that is unusual and may be unwanted handsome – adj.  pleasing to look at fist – n.  the hand with its fingers bent down into the palm mimic – v.  to copy someone’s behavior costume – n.  clothes worn by someone who is trying to look like a different person or thing quarterback – n.  the player in a football game who handles the ball and is in charge of the offense touchdown – n.  one way to score in a football game – worth six points prejudice – n.  an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc. taunting – v.  to say or do something in order to make that person angry thrust – v.  to push something with force

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40% of World’s Economy Signs TPP Trade Deal

Representatives of 12 countries have signed a major free trade agreement for East Asia and the Pacific. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) was officially signed at a ceremony Thursday in Auckland, New Zealand. News media released pictures of some ministers rubbing noses. For native New Zealanders, rubbing noses is a sign of good will. The nations that make up the TPP are responsible for 40 percent of the world’s economy. They include Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan and Malaysia. The other nations are Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States. In a statement, U.S. President Barack Obama called the agreement a forward-looking trade deal that sets new, high ideals for trade and investment. He said the pact suspends thousands of taxes and supports a free and open Internet. Obama said it also prevents unfair laws that restrict the free flow of information. And, he added, that it includes strong words in support of fair labor policies and environmental protection. But the signing ceremony was, in some ways, only the beginning of a new process. The 12 nations have two years to ratify or reject the agreement. The United States Congress passed trade promotion authority for the president in June 2015. It requires Congress to either approve or reject trade agreements without adding to or amending them. However, Congress has yet to consider the huge free trade agreement. It also will take some time to study the thousands of pages in the agreement. Michael Froman is the U.S. Trade Representative. He says his office will work to persuade members of Congress that the deal should be passed. He says the estimated increase to exports for the U.S. will be $350 billion a year. The TPP is designed to cut tariffs, or import taxes, that free trade supporters say are barriers to trade. Without these barriers, supporters say, more goods and services will flow across borders, increasing trade and economic activity. Gary Hufbauer is with the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He told VOA that, while tariffs will eventually be dropped, that will not happen immediately. “..The barriers, the tariffs, in the case of goods, do not go to zero immediately. That takes some year, maybe about 10 years, depending on the product.” Labor groups in the United States, however, oppose the TPP. They are concerned that low-cost imports will flood the U.S. market. This would drive prices down and limit the wages that American employers pay their workers. Labor leaders have voiced opposition. They say trade agreements should protect wages and improve labor conditions for workers. It remains to be seen when the TPP agreement will be voted on in the Senate. Gary Hufbauer says if the deal is not brought to a vote by July, the agreement might be voted on after a new U.S. president takes office next year. I’m Mario Ritter.   Victor Beattie and Mil Arcega reported on this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pact – n. a formal agreement between countries, people or groups ratify – v. to make an agreement or treaty official by signing it or voting for it authority – n. the power to give orders or make decisions, the power to control something tariffs – n. taxes on imports or exports

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Introducing Let's Learn English

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February 5, 2016

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

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Trending Today: Have You Seen the Tsunami Ghosts of Japan?

This is What’s Trending Today. Nearly 19,000 people were killed when an earthquake and powerful tsunami struck Japan in March of 2011. A Japanese university student is working on a project in Ishinomaki, a coastal city affected by the disaster. She recently spoke with over 100 of the city’s taxi drivers. And some of the drivers say they have offered rides to passengers who turn out to be ghosts. These spirits ask for rides to places that were destroyed by the huge waves, and then they disappear. The Asahi Shimbun newspaper reported the story last month, but it is trending today on Facebook. The blogger Perez Hilton, who has over 6 million Twitter followers, wrote a story about it. A number of other websites also have the story. One taxi driver told a story about a young woman he met in the summer of 2011. She asked for a ride to an area that the tsunami destroyed. The driver asked if she really wanted to go there because very little was still there. Then the woman asked, “Have I died?” and disappeared. Today on Facebook, people are writing about their own experiences with the spirit world, and talking about the ghosts in Japan. The student says the drivers were not making up the stories, because they started up their taxi cab meters, drove off, and have the records to prove it. They had to pay the “ghost” fares themselves. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you ever seen a ghost? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ghost – n. the spirit of a dead person thought of as living blogger – n. a person who writes and publishes articles and commentaries on a web site tsunami – n. a very high, large ocean wave that can result from a powerful earthquake

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Clinton, Sanders Debate in New Hampshire

Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders traded sharp comments in the first debate in which they faced each other directly. It took place in New Hampshire, days before the primary in that small, northeastern state. Senator Sanders pushed Clinton about the donors who give to her campaign. The former secretary of state replied, “Enough is enough. If you’ve got something to say, say it directly.” Clinton said she was not “bought,” or influenced by donors who were wealthy and powerful. Clinton said she never changed a vote because of a donation and added, "It's time to end the very artful smear that you and your campaign have been carrying out." The candidates also battled over what it means to be “progressive.” And the two argued over who would improve health care, education, and the economy. Sanders called for higher taxes on wealthier Americans to pay for free college education and universal healthcare. Clinton called to make education and healthcare more affordable. Calling herself a “progressive who gets things done,” Clinton said Sanders’ proposals are “just not achievable.” As the debate went on, Clinton stressed her experience while Sanders stressed his progressive positions. Foreign policy Sanders agreed that Clinton has more experience in foreign policy and the fight against the Islamic State, also known as ISIS. Sanders again questioned Clinton’s vote to support the invasion of Iraq. And she replied, "A vote in 2002 is not a plan to defeat ISIS. We have to look at the threats we face right now.” The two agreed that U.S. troops should only have an advisory role in the fight against the Islamic State. And “Muslim troops on the ground” are needed in the fight. In Afghanistan, both agreed with President Barack Obama’s decision to leave 10,000 U.S. ground troops in the fight against the Taliban. Close race, heated debate Differences over issues appear to be very small between the candidates. The tone of the debate, however, reflected how close the race for the Democratic nomination has become. Clinton came out of the Iowa caucus with a very small victory over Sanders. The margin of two-tenths of 1 percent even prompted the Des Moines Register to ask for a recall. A new poll from CNN/WMUR shows Sanders with 61 percent support to Clinton’s 30 percent in New Hampshire. That state borders Sanders’ home state of Vermont. I'm Mario Ritter.   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. If you watched the debate or have comments about it, leave your thoughts in the comments section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   smear – n. an untrue story told about a person meant to hurt their reputation progressive – adj. using or interested in new and modern ideas especially about politics and education affordable – adj. not costly, able to be paid for achievable – adj. able to be reached, able to be successful prompt – v. to cause to do something

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VOA English Newscast 1300 UTC February 5, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News.       I’m Joe Palka reporting. Russian airstrikes undermining peace efforts in Syria, that according to a NATO chief… NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg says Russia's air strikes in Syria are undermining efforts to find a non-military solution to the conflict. The Russian-backed assaults were, in part, responsible for derailing peace talks in Geneva earlier this week, with Syrian government officials walking away from the talks after claiming that they had ended the rebel siege of two Shi'ite villages in Aleppo, handing President Bashar al-Assad's government a major victory. Meantime, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has pledged nearly $1 billion in new U.S. aid for Syrian refugees at an international donors’ conference, and is calling for the Syrian government and Russia to halt attacks on rebel-held areas in order to let humanitarian aid through. The conference opened on Thursday in London. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon… “The commitment of countries hosting large numbers of refugees to open up their labor markets is a breakthrough. I thank the governments of Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey for choosing solidarity over fear.” The more than 10-billion dollars pledged on Thursday aims to support people in Syria as well as in Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey. Those are the neighbor countries that are strained by the exodus of refugees fleeing the fighting in Syria. Somali officials investigating an apparent bomb blast that forced a passenger jet to make an emergency landing in Mogadishu say the explosion was likely the work of militant group al-Shabab. Somali aviation officials say they estimate the blast went off 15 minutes after the plane took off from Mogadishu airport, bound for Djibouti.  Of the 74 passengers were on board, one was likely killed. This is VOA News. ________________________________________________________________ Words in The News   undermining – v. making someone or something less effective according – adv. as stated by or in assaults – n. a violent physical or military attack derailing – v. blocking the progress of something siege – n. a serious, lasting attack; a situation in which police or soldiers surround a building or city handing – v. giving meantime – adv. in the time between events; meanwhile pledged – v. promised commitment – n. promise hosting – v. leading or organizing something breakthrough – n. a sudden or successful development solidarity – n. a feeling of unity between people who have the same interests strained – v. feeling or showing the effect of too much use or effort exodus – n. a situation in which many people leave at the same time blast – n. explosion jet – n. an airplane powered by jet engines aviation – n. the business of flying airplanes or helicopters bound – v. going or moving to board – phrase. on or in a ship, airplane or other vehicle   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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North Korea Prepares to Launch Long-Range Missile

First, North Korea said Tuesday it planned to launch an “Earth observation satellite” between February 8 and 25. It said the launch is part of its peaceful space program. It says it wants to place satellites in space to gather information to help its weather experts make predictions. But many experts say it is a way for the country to develop its nuclear weapons program. That program would be in violation of a United Nations ban on such activities. The New York Times reports the proposed launch is part of a North Korean effort to develop “an intercontinental ballistic missile that can deliver a nuclear bomb.” The newspaper reports that the United States has been helping to write a new U.N. Security Council resolution that would punish North Korea for these tests and launches. On January 6, North Korea conducted a nuclear test. The United States, South Korea and Japan have warned North Korea that it will be punished severely if the launch takes place. South Korea had talked about peace negotiations with the North, but that idea ended after the nuclear test in January. And this week there are reports that South Korean companies may stop operating in the Kaesong Industrial Complex if the launch takes place. The area is operated jointly by North and South Korea, but is six miles north of the border with South Korea. It was formed in 2002. About 120 South Korea companies operate in the area, or zone. About 50,000 North Koreans work there. Some work at South Korean-owned factories there. This benefits both sides. It is the only development program between the two countries that is still operating. Almost all relations and aid programs were cancelled in 2010 after South Korea accused the North of sinking a South Korean naval warship that killed 46 sailors. President Park Geun-hye’s support for strong international sanctions against North Korea has made South Korea’s relations with the U.S. stronger. At the same time, it has weakened its relations with China. Jonathan Pollack is an East Asia policy expert at the Brookings Institution, a research group in Washington. He says Chinese President Xi Jinping “has chosen not to communicate in a meaningful fashion with the government of the Republic of Korea, or with President Park Geun-hye, who he has closely cultivated over a period of time.” China opposes North Korea’s nuclear program, but continues to support the country. China is reluctant to support strong sanctions. Instead, it has called for international talks to end North Korea’s nuclear-weapons program in return for economic aid and security. However, North Korea says its nuclear weapons program is necessary for national defense. It says it will not negotiate an end to the program. That means it will be difficult for China to convince North Korea to end its nuclear activities. Critics say that if China does not take part in sanctions against North Korea, it will send that country a message of support. Experts worry that sanctions put in place against North Korea by the United States or the United Nations could hurt China. That is because North Korea is already isolated and dependent on China for fuel, trade and aid. Possible limits on trade and on companies that operate in North Korea could hurt Chinese companies and banks. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.     VOA's Brian Padden reported on this story from Seoul. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. He also used reporting by The New York Times newspaper. 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   fashion – n. a specified way of acting or behaving cultivate – v. to try to become friendly with (someone) usually to get some advantage for yourself reluctant – adj. feeling or showing doubt about doing something; consequence – n. something that happens as a result of a particular action or set of conditions acquiesce – v. to accept, agree or allow something to happen by staying silent or by not arguing status – n. the current state of someone or something isolated – adj. separate from others intercontinental - adj. traveling or able to travel between continents ballistic - adj. of or related to an object that can travel a great distance, land on the ground and then explode benefits - v. to help or assist convince - v. to persuade

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How Should the Next US President Discuss Islam?

Americans are split on how their next president should talk about Islamic extremism, says a new public opinion study. The study found that 65 percent of Republican supporters say the next president should speak directly about Islamic extremism  -- even if the statements are critical of Islam. But among Democrats, 70 percent said they want the next president to speak more carefully about the issue. The Pew Research Center conducted the poll last month. Almost half of those who took part in the study said they believe some Muslim-Americans disagree with U.S. culture, politics and policies. About 11 percent believe “most” or “almost all” Muslim-Americans are anti-American. A Pew study conducted in December found almost half said they believe Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence. A similar number said they are “very concerned” about an increase in Islamic extremism in the United States. And almost two-thirds said they believe the bigger problem is that religion is used by violent people as a reason for their violent actions. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama visited a mosque, or Muslim religious center, in Baltimore, Maryland. He said Muslim-Americans are seen negatively by many Americans because of the increase in terrorism linked to Islamist extremists. The president’s visit “is a simple but powerful affirmation of the fact that American-Muslims are a part of the mosaic of American society,” said Omid Sofi, director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center in North Carolina, in an email to VOA. “Hopefully, it will serve as a reminder of the need to affirm the full rights of all of us, regardless of faith and ethnicity.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com reported on this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. 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   conduct – v. to plan and do (something, such as an 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 encourage – v. to make (someone) more likely to do something negative – adj. thinking about the bad qualities of someone or something affirmation – n. the showing of a strong belief in or dedication to (something, such as an important idea) mosaic – n. something made up of different things that together form a pattern    

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Martin Shkreli, the 'Most Hated Man in America'

This is What’s Trending Today. Martin Shkreli has been called the “most hated man in America.” The businessman was criticized last year after his company sharply raised the price of a life-saving drug. Studies have shown that the drug, Daraprim, can help patients with AIDS and some kinds of cancer. Daraprim is used all over the world. Last year, Shkreli’s company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, raised the cost of the drug from $13.50 a pill to $700 a pill. Daraprim once sold for $1 a pill. Shkreli defended the price increase as legal. He has said the move was designed to increase profits for investors. On Thursday, Shkreli appeared at a hearing of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. House members wanted to ask him why the company raised the price of the medicine. Shkreli chose to use his Fifth Amendment rights and did not answer the lawmakers’ questions. The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution says a person does not have to be a “witness against himself” in a criminal court case. But, Shkreli was not totally silent on Thursday. He tweeted about the hearing right after it ended. He criticized the lawmakers who were questioning him. In one tweet, he wrote, “Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government.” ​By Thursday morning, “Martin Shkreli” was the number-one search on Google. “Shkreli” trended on Twitter in the United States. On social media, many people criticized Shkreli for smiling during the questioning. One of the lawmakers even said, “It's not funny, Mr. Shkreli. People are dying and they're getting sicker and sicker.” But others on social media criticized members of Congress, saying they did not respect Shkreli’s Fifth Amendment Rights. And that’s What’s Trending Today.   I’m Ashley Thompson.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   imbecile - n. a very stupid person

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