February 9, 2016

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

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Saudi Arabian Women's Sports Bust Stereotypes

Women athletes in Saudi Arabia say sports are helping to break down traditions that crush the voices of many women. In the city of Jeddah, a group of basketball players is urging women and girls to get out of their homes and become active in public life. The group’s members say they can do this by connecting sports to health issues. All of the players are women. Saudi Arabia is one of the richest countries in the Middle East. In many ways, Saudi Arabia is as modern as any place on earth in terms of public health services, transportation and other infrastructure. But activists say the country has a long way to go in terms of women's rights. They say by persuading women and girls to play sports, they are working in support of good health. The activists say they also are breaking down the image of Saudi women as being silent members of their society. The Jeddeh United women’s team was in Malaysia recently for a game. Officials say that by playing internationally, the Saudi women improve their understanding of the world and the nations they visit. Lina Almaeena heads the Jeddah United Sports Company. "We played in the United States, Malaysia, in Jordan and the U.A.E. as well as Riyadh and other cities in Saudi Arabia. So, we do that to promote sports locally and internationally to try to change stereotypes and show a different segment in Saudi Arabia." At an event in Jeddeh for disabled boys and girls, female basketball players say women’s sports are increasingly popular at home. Men do not attend games. The players wear head coverings and white uniforms that extend over their arms and legs. Player Nour Gary says resisting commonly accepted ideas in Saudi Arabia requires pushing against limits, without breaking them. "It is not even against the law or against the religion. It is just people having their own beliefs and trying to close it on other people. So, yes, being open towards sports, they have more flexibility towards other things." Players say women's rights in Saudi Arabia have come a long way in recent years, but many freedoms, like the right to drive a car, still seem far away. Last year, women in Saudi Arabia voted for the first time. Twenty women were elected into local office. Like politicians, female athletes say they believe women's' sports will eventually be accepted more publicly. Deborah Parkwood is the head of the Jeddah United basketball team. "We have great athletes here in Saudi Arabia, some of them. The girls, they want to play harder, they want to train harder and they would love to compete for their country internationally." For now, players say campaigning for women's sports locally is having an immediate result on society. They say it shows mothers the good effects of physical exercise for themselves, and for their children. I’m Marsha James. Heather Murdock reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted her story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   athlete – n. someone who competes in a sport stereotypes – n. a commonly accepted, but sometimes unfair idea that many people have about all members of a group   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.  

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Zimbabwe Appeals for Funding to Avert Food Shortages

The government of Zimbabwe is asking for financial help to avoid food shortages in the country. The government says nearly 2.5 million people in Zimbabwe are facing hunger. That is more than one quarter of the country’s population. The country is currently battling a drought that has affected much of southern Africa. The government blames the drought on El Niño, an extreme weather pattern. El Niño is a warm Pacific Ocean current that causes extreme changes in the worldwide weather conditions. David Phiri is the southern Africa coordinator with the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. He said Zimbabwe must invest in irrigation to prevent more food shortages. “We need to increase the area under irrigation,” Phiri said. “Zimbabwe…has the highest number of water points, dams and rivers. There is water in Zimbabwe.”  He also said Zimbabwe and other governments should encourage conservation agriculture. The goal of conservation agriculture is to protect, improve and make more effective use of nature. Its policies are designed to increase agricultural production and protect the environment. Conservation agriculture would better protect citizens from food shortages during periods of extreme weather, Phiri said. Although some observers blame Zimbabwe’s current food shortage on El Niño, others blame government policy. Critics blame President Robert Mugabe’s land reform program of the early 2000s.  The program forced experienced white commercial farmers off their land. They say the program worsened Zimbabwe’s economic problems and reduced its farming output. I’m Pete Musto.   Sebastian Mhofu reported on this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach 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 visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   El Niño – n. a flow of unusually warm water along the western coast of South America that causes many changes in weather in other places  drought – n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain irrigation – n. to supply land with water by using artificial means encourage – v. to tell or advise (someone) to do something conservation – n. the careful use of natural resources to prevent them from being lost or wasted dormant – adj. not active but able to become active

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Islamic State Smuggling Timber in Afghanistan

Afghan tribal leaders said that the “government has done nothing” to stop the Islamic State terror group from smuggling timber to Pakistan. Residents of eastern Afghan provinces said the terror group has brought tree-cutting machines to the Nangahar province. They said trucks with timber are sent to Pakistan every day. Some of the timber is also sold in the provinces. Malak Afsar is a tribal leader in Achin. He said locals, working as middlemen, transported the timber for the IS terror group. He added, "The government has done nothing in this regard." A provincial spokesman said the issue of tree cutting has not been raised with the government. But an acting agricultural director has heard reports of tree cutting. The acting director, known as Engineer Shakir, said, "Dehbala is the only district where the tree cutting is still going on, and we are communicating with local elders in the district to stop it." Tree cutting (and timber harvesting) is against the law in Afghanistan. The country’s environmental protection agency says forests cover only two percent of the country. And the U.N. Environmental Program says forest cover has decreased by about 50 percent over the past three decades as timber smuggling has continued. In addition to profits from the sale of smuggling timber, residents said the IS terror group also recruited locals to join the group. I'm Anne Ball.   Zia-U-Rahman Hasrat reported this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   smuggling – v. to move something from one country into another illegally and secretly lumber – n. wooden boards or logs that have been sawed and cut for use timber – n. trees that are grown in order to produce wood middlemen – n. people that buy goods from a producer and sell them to someone else

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Airplane Concert in India Lands Crew in Trouble

Five crew members for a chartered flight in India are suspended after permitting a Bollywood star to sing to the passengers. The Jet Airways crew let singer Sonu Nigam use the plane’s announcement system in flight on January 4. Jet Airways confirmed the suspensions after video of the airplane performance appeared online. An official said all cabin crew members from the flight have been taken off flight duty during the investigation. Reports say passengers asked Nigam to sing for them once they realized he was on the flight from Jodhpur to Mumbai. He agreed. He sang two of his popular songs over the plane's announcement system. Passengers posted video of the performance on social media. The video went viral. Government officials who learned of the incident asked the airline to take action. The incident has led to strong arguments online both for and against the action. Supporters of the airline's decision to suspend the crew say misuse of the announcement system puts passengers at risk. But, others say the concert only gave passengers a bit of fun. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Ashley Thompson adapted this report for Learning English from VOANews.com. Kathleen Struck was the editor. Do you think the in-flight Bollywood concert put passengers in danger? We want to hear from you! Write to us in the Comments section or on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   chartered - adj. hired for temporary use viral - adj. relating to an image, video, advertisement, etc., that is spread rapidly on the Internet.

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NASA: Big Asteroid Could Pass Near Earth Next Month

Experts at America’s space agency, NASA, are watching a 30-meter wide asteroid as it comes near the Earth in March. According to NASA, the asteroid has no chance of hitting Earth. It could fly as close as within 17,700 kilometers of the planet on March 5. Paul Chodas leads the space agency's Near-Earth Objects Studies office. He said in a statement, "The possibilities of collision on any of the three future flyby dates are far too small to be of any real concern.” This asteroid was discovered in 2013 and is named TX68. The asteroid is about twice the size of another one that exploded over Russia in 2013. That explosion shattered glass, destroyed buildings, and injured more than 1,000 people. If an asteroid the size of TX68 entered the Earth's atmosphere and exploded, NASA estimates it would be twice as powerful as the 2013 Russian asteroid blast. TX68 is expected to approach the Earth again on September 28, 2017. I’m Jim Dresbach.   Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do 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   asteroid – n. any one of thousands of small planets that circle around the sun flyby – n. a flight of a meteor, asteroid or spacecraft past a planet or moon shatter – v. to break suddenly into many small pieces

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Helicopter Pilot Dies Fighting Poachers

A helicopter pilot died while chasing elephant poachers in Tanzania late last month. British pilot Roger Gower, 37, was working for the Friedkin Conservation Fund and the Tanzanian government. He was trying to prevent elephant poachers from escaping the Maswa Game Reserve near Serengeti National Park. The men opened fire on his helicopter with AK-47 rifles. Gower was able to land his helicopter, but died before he could be rescued.  The Guardian newspaper said five suspects in Tanzania have been arrested in the shooting. The British publication Daily Mail reported that Gower may have been shot down “by poachers who sell illegal ivory to fund terrorism.” It said that sales in elephant tusks supplies money “used to fund Islamic extremist groups such as Al Qaeda-affiliate Al Shabaab.” Also in late January, U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell visited South Africa to see for herself the terrible practice of poaching. Jewell stood by a dead white rhino killed by poachers in South Africa, and called it a “sad scene.” “And it’s a scene that is frustrating as I think that South Africa has done such a good job in bringing the white rhino back from the brink of extinction. So to see a white rhino in this condition, it’s difficult.” She called on nations around the world to work together to stop wildlife trafficking.  At the Kruger National Park, she saw a male white rhino that had been shot and killed by poachers. They removed its horn and left behind the rest of the body for vultures to eat. A park team took DNA samples and other evidence from the rhino. They hope it can convict the poachers once they are found. Edna Molewa is South Africa’s Minister of Water and Environment.  She said, “giving up is not an option. We have to fight this battle and we have to win.” Jewell called on the world to stand up and fight wildlife trafficking in all its forms. “We need the world to see this kind of thing so that they actually take action and also recognize that the only value of rhino horn is on a live animal, otherwise it is valueless.” South Africa has 22,000 white rhino, the world’s largest population. Nearly half live in the Kruger National Park. But poachers keep hunting them, and killing them for their horns. Most of the horns are sold on the international black market, particularly in Asian countries like China and Vietnam. Customers buy the powdered horn, thinking it has the power to heal or make a man more virile. Science has proven that rhino horns have no magic powers and are made of the same things as fingernails.  Last year, poachers killed more than 1,000 rhinos. Now the country uses both ground and air rangers to protect the rhinos. The also watch over hundreds of other wildlife animals from armed poachers. The rangers say they are a very dedicated group. They say they are protecting the animals because they belong to everybody.  As one ranger said, “It’s not only for us Africans, but for the whole world.” The African elephant, African lion, cheetah and the black and the white rhino all have one thing in common.  They are all on South Africa’s endangered species list. Jewell said she has a “mouthful” to report to President (Barack) Obama. And, the secretary warned that “these animals, particularly the black rhinos, are at risk of going extinct if we don’t act and we don’t act quickly.” I’m Anne Ball.   Thuso Khumalo and Adam Shaw reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted their reports for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think can be done to protect these animals? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and on our Facebook page.​ ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   poacher – n.  a person who hunts animals illegally trafficking – n. organized criminal activity of buying and selling illegal items vulture – n. a kind of bird that eats dead animals brink – n. on the edge extinction – n. the act of making something extinct, or disappear forever black market – n.  a system of buying and selling things illegally virile – adj. having qualities considered attractive in men like strength and sexual energy

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Everyday Grammar: Irregular Plurals

To learn more about plurals, read our story Everyday Grammar: Unusual Plurals

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VOA English Newscast: 2200 UTC February, 8 2016

From Washington, this is VOA news… I'm Dave DeForest reporting The United Nations makes a grim accusation: U-N investigators say the Syrian government has carried out a huge "extermination" of civilian detainees. The investigation was based on interviews with more than 600 survivors and witnesses in Syria.  Here is commission chairman Paulo Pinheiro: "The Commission concludes that these violations amount to crimes against humanity and war crimes." It found that the government holds tens of thousands of detainees at any given time and that thousands of people have "disappeared" after being arrested or abducted. German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with Turkish leaders -- including Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu -- in Ankara Monday on the growing refugee crisis. Dorian Jones reports. Following their Monday meeting, Davutoglu said he and Merkel had agreed on several measures. The prime minister said German and Turkish agencies will start working together against people smugglers, adding that working with Germany, Turkey will increase joint police and security force efforts to stop illegal migration. Merkel also announced that NATO could help the EU border security force Frontex. Dorian Jones, Istanbul." The United Nations says at least 40,000 people in South Sudan are on the brink of starvation.  It urged warring parties to let aid deliveries into the country. The U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization said Monday that an additional 2.8 million people, nearly 25 percent of the country's population, are in need of food aid. The figures are part of a U.N. report on South Sudan, where more than two years of civil war have led to the deaths of tens of thousands of people. This is VOA news. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast abduct –v. to take away by force smugglers –n. people who move things or people from country to country illegally or secretly

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Times Are Changing in Havana, Cuba

  Time seems to stand still in Havana, Cuba’s capital city. Old men in fedoras smoke cigars and play dominos. Colorful American cars from the 1950s share the road with rusty bicycles. Laundry hangs from the balconies of crumbling mansions. Children who have never used the Internet play soccer on cobblestone streets. The sound of traditional Cuban music drifts from a corner café. This is the Havana that American tourists dream of—romantic, mysterious, and forbidden. A troubled past American citizens cannot legally travel to Cuba as tourists. The tourism ban goes back to the early 1960s, when tensions between the U.S. and Cuba were high. Cuba’s communist government had formed a close relationship with Russia, formerly known as the Soviet Union. In 1962, the Soviet Union placed nuclear missile silos in Cuba. For 13 tense days, it looked like the U.S. and the Soviet Union would go to war over the missiles in Cuba. Fortunately, the countries reached a diplomatic solution. The event is known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is the closest the world has come to a thermonuclear war. The tourism ban is part of a trade embargo on Cuba started by President John F. Kennedy. The ban on trade was an effort to isolate Cuba’s communist government.    American cars One legacy of the embargo is the large number of old American cars on the streets of Cuba. After 1961, Cubans could no longer import American cars. Some of these pre-revolutionary cars have more than a million miles on them, or about 1.6 million kilometers. Cubans show incredible creativity in keeping these old cars running. Raul, who only gave his first name, is a taxi driver in Havana. “This car is a 1953 Chevrolet. It is the only one in the family. It came from my grandfather, to my father, and then to me. Except for the transmission, everything else is original. Improving relations The Kennedy-era embargo is still in effect. Over the past year, the Obama administration has eased some parts of the embargo. Relations between the U.S. and Cuba have improved. The U.S. Embassy in Cuba reopened after 54 years, and Cuba has reopened its embassy in Washington, D.C. Americans can now legally travel to Cuba for 12 different types of “people-to-people” exchanges. However, a trip to an all-inclusive beach resort is still illegal under American law. Kate Burrill lives in New York City. In January, she visited Cuba with Friendly Planet, an educational tour company. “What surprised me was that it was really as beautiful as all those clichéd photos that you in travel brochures—lots of beautiful old cars and the buildings in the old town were gorgeous.” But it can be difficult for Americans to meet with ordinary Cubans on organized tours. “The main drawback was that I didn’t spend any time with the locals. I only got to interact with the tour guides.” A new openness Scenes of a more open Cuba can be seen on the streets of Havana. The American flag is a common sight – on T-shirts, hanging from balconies, flying on top of taxis. Such displays seemed impossible just a few years ago. In the winter, waves from the Caribbean crash over Havana’s sea wall, flooding the Malecón. The Malecón is a famous road that runs along Havana’s north coast. Every day at sunset, thousands of Cubans gather here to chat, fish, swim, and play music. These days, you can see young people on the Malecón with smartphones using wireless Internet. Until last summer, the Internet was only available in a few universities and luxury hotels. Access to the wireless zone costs about $3 an hour. That is a lot of money in a place where the average state salary is around $25 per month. There are now about 30 public wireless “hotspots” in Havana. Slowly but surely, Cubans are connecting online. High demand for English Young Cubans are eager to learn English. But there are not enough qualified English teachers on the island. Some of the best English teachers go to work in tourism and private restaurants, where they can make more money. English also allows Cubans to make friends and contacts outside of the Spanish-speaking world. Juan Carlos Dominguez is the head of the English Department of a medical school in Havana. He says Cubans prefer to learn American English. “We are neighbors…very close, 90 miles away only. We have some kind of identification. You can see on the streets, on the cars, people on the streets with American flags. We respect that.” A flood of Americans The number of Americans visiting Cuba has risen sharply in the past year. Havana no longer has enough hotel rooms to keep up with demand. The government now allows Cubans to rent their homes to travelers. Recent developments will send even more Americans to Cuba. Americans no longer have to apply for a license from the U.S. government before coming to Cuba. Regular commercial flights from the United States are expected to start this year. Some people are worried that a flood of American tourists will hurt Cuba’s unique culture. They worry that Old Havana will become like a Disney theme park. Will Cuba remain one of the few places in the world without a Starbucks or a McDonald’s? Juan Carlos Dominguez is not worried about American tourism. He says Cubans have a strong sense of cultural identity, or “Cubanismo.” “If Americans are permitted to come to Cuba as tourists, it could be great… We are going to share with you what we have...The future is bright.” Will it last? The upcoming U.S. presidential election could have a major impact on U.S.-Cuba relations. Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders have said that they support lifting the embargo. Two Republican presidential candidates have family ties to Cuba. Ted Cruz is the son of a Cuban father and an Anglo mother. Marco Rubio was born to Cuban immigrants in Miami. Both candidates have criticized President Barack Obama’s move to normalize relations with Cuba. I’m Anne Ball.                           And I’m Adam Brock. Now it’s your turn. Would you like to visit Cuba? Leave a comment below. Adam Brock reported this story for VOA Learning English on a recent trip to Havana, Cuba. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fedora – n. a type of soft hat for men that has a wide brim rusty – adj. to be covered with a reddish substance that forms on iron or some other metal crumbling – adj. in the process of breaking down or collapsing cobblestone – n. a round stone that is used in paving streets forbidden – adj. not allowed silo – n. an underground structure that is used for storing and firing a missile thermonuclear – adj. of or relating to the changes in the nucleus of atoms that happen at extremely high temperatures embargo – n. a government order that limits trade in some way legacy – n. an effect of something that happened in the past incredible – adj. difficult to believe ease - v. to make something less difficult balcony – n. a raised platform that is connected to the side of a building and surrounded by a low wall or railing hotspot – n. a area with wireless Internet access clichéd –adj. something that is so commonly used in books, stories, etc., that it is no longer effective gorgeous – adj. beautiful  

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Obama Seeks $1.8 Billion to Combat Zika

President Barack Obama is asking Congress for more than $1.8 billion to fight the Zika virus in the United States and other countries. The White House said Monday that most of the money would be spent in the United States on programs to combat the virus, which is spread by mosquitos. These initiatives include mosquito control programs, vaccine research and health care services for low-income pregnant women. President Barack Obama urged calm in an interview that aired on Monday. “The good news is this is not like Ebola, people don’t die of Zika. A lot of people get it and don’t even know they have it,” he told CBS News. “But there shouldn’t be panic on this, this is not something where people are going to die from it. It is something we have to take seriously.” Spread of Zika virus The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is the top federal public health agency. It has reported 50 cases of Zika among U.S. travelers from December 2015 to February 2016. In the latest outbreak, Brazil reported the first case of Zika virus in May 2015. The Pan American Health Organization said 26 countries and territories in the Americas have reported cases of the virus since. Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Zika a global health emergency. The global health organization also predicts that Zika could infect as many as 4 million people in the Americas this year. Zika causes no symptoms in 80 percent of people who are infected and only mild symptoms in people who fall ill. Scientists believe it can cause microcephaly, a birth defect that causes babies to have abnormally small heads and problems with learning. U.S. health officials said their greatest concern is for pregnant women who develop Zika. The Zika virus is a disease transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. There is no specific treatment or vaccine currently available. But drug companies in India, Japan and France announced that they are working to develop possible vaccines.   I’m Mary Gotschall.                  Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English from VOANews.com and other sources. Hai Do 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   mosquito – n. a small flying insect that bites the skin of people and animals and sucks their blood symptom – n. a change in the body or mind which indicates that a disease is present panic – n. a situation that causes many people to become afraid and to rush to do something — usually singular territory – n. an area of land that belongs to or is controlled by a government  

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