US Candidates Talk about Faith, Religion

Candidates for president are talking a lot about their religious beliefs. Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, recently asked New Hampshire supporters “to commit to lift this country up in prayer each and every day from now until the election.” Cruz is a Southern Baptist. And when Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, was asked recently about fixing America’s problems, he, too, spoke about religion. “There’s only one savior, and it’s not me,” Rubio said. “It’s Jesus Christ who came down to Earth and died for our sins.” Rubio is Catholic. Businessman Donald Trump, another Republican presidential candidate, recently put up a video on Facebook showing the Bible his late mother had given him. “It's just very special to me,” Trump said. Candidates talking about how religious beliefs will guide them is a big change from 1960. That year, Democrat John Kennedy won the presidency after telling voters his Catholic religion would not affect his decisions as president. American democracy was founded on freedom for individuals to speak, write and worship as they like. “Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together,” wrote James Madison, 4th president of the United States. Robert Schmuhl, a professor of American Studies at Notre Dame University said: “Today we see candidates stressing their religious beliefs as part of their campaigns.” A report last month by the Pew Research Center might explain why. Pew found that 51 percent of Americans say they are less likely to vote for a candidate who does not believe in God. Not believing in God is viewed by voters as worse than having a relationship outside of marriage, Pew said. Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were asked about their religious views during a town hall meeting last week in New Hampshire. All the Republican presidential candidates are Christians, as is Clinton. Sanders is Jewish. Sanders does not often talk about religion. He has said he is not active in any organized religion. But at meeting with New Hampshire voters, he said, “I would not be running for president of the United States if I did not have very strong religious and spiritual feelings.” He said his faith makes him care deeply about people who do not earn enough to afford college, health care or feed their families. At the same meeting, Clinton was asked how she finds balance in her life. The question came from a rabbi, who said a president must balance confidence with wisdom. Clinton said her Methodist faith and help from clergy keeps her balanced. “I get a scripture lesson every morning from a minister that I have a really close personal relationship with. And, you know, it just gets me grounded,” Clinton said. Sanders won Tuesday’s New Hampshire Democratic primary by a large margin over Clinton. In New Hampshire’s Republican primary, Trump won twice as many votes as his nearest opponent, Ohio Governor John Kasich. Cruz, who won the Iowa caucus the week before, finished third in New Hampshire. Rubio, who finished third in Iowa, finished fifth in New Hampshire. Cruz and Rubio talk about their Christian beliefs more than most other candidates. One reason they did not do as well in New Hampshire as in Iowa: Thirty nine percent of Iowa voters say they are very religious, compared to only 20 percent in New Hampshire.  This information comes from a study last week by the Gallup organization. Not everyone is happy with all the religious talk in the 2016 presidential race. “Are Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio running for president or pastor?” asked writer Steve Chapman of the Chicago Tribune. Chapman said the United States Constitution requires separation of church and state, and the government should not be guided by religion. At the annual National Prayer Breakfast last week, President Barack Obama said people of faith should “respect the right of every single American to practice their religion.” Obama attends prayer services led by a Southern Baptist pastor. Obama has criticized Donald Trump over Trump’s views about Islam. Trump said he would stop Muslims from migrating to the U.S. because he fears they would bring terrorism. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA Learning English. ­­­Kathleen Struck 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   commit – v. to make (someone or something) obligated to do something savior – n. coming to the rescue sin – n. an action that is considered to be wrong according to religious or moral law Bible – n. a book of sacred writings. Christians use the New Testament. Jews use the Old Testament. stress – v. special importance or attention that is given to something rabbi – n. spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation scripture – n. the books of either the Old Testament or the New Testament or of both lesson – n. an activity that you do in order to learn something caucus – n. a meeting of members of a political party for the purpose of choosing candidates for an election pastor – n. a minister or priest in charge of a church or parish

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Chocolate Lovers Learn History of the Sweets

Chocolate is an important part of Valentine’s Day celebrations in many countries. People often buy boxed chocolates and give them to a loved one. In some areas, Valentine's Day is celebrated with chocolate festivals. At one such event near Washington, D.C., the visitors tasted all kinds of chocolates and learned about the history of these sweet treats. "The tree grows these pods. You can feel what a pod feels like. It feels fake but..." This chocolate festival took place recently in McLean, Virginia. Visitors started by learning about cocoa beans, the main substance used in chocolate. "Inside, there are about 20 to 40 cocoa beans. And you see the white color here is actually the pulp on the outside of the beans…" The visitors got to see how the beans are separated from their husks, and then broken into smaller pieces. These cocoa nibs are ground on a heated stone. Spices and other ingredients are added to produce a block of chocolate. The festival goers learn how chocolate was used mainly as a drink up to and through the 1880s. That was before the 1st candy bar was manufactured and sold. That sound is David Borghesani, a chocolate historian, hitting a block of chocolate. "It is just a little too hard for us to eat like a candy bar. So in Colonial chocolate making, they would have taken chocolate blocks in this form and grate it to make fine chocolate power." The chocolate particles are then mixed with hot water in a container. "We found an authentic colonial recipe, partnering with the folks at Colonial Williamsburg. The recipe dates back to the 1750s. And it is a recipe that actually documented nine different seasonings and spices in the recipe." People who tasted the drink seemed pleasantly surprised. "Oh, it is delicious. It is very good. It's very spicy and rich and not too sweet. It's been great for the kids. They enjoy trying different chocolates and then learning about how their favorite treats are made. Very educational!" In a separate room, visitors also have a chance to taste and purchase chocolate products from local dealers. Lynn Heinrichs is the president of the Rotary Club of McLean, which organizes the yearly festival. "The proceeds from this event will help fund not just our local projects but some international projects, as well. For example, we have built a dental clinic in Swaziland, Africa. We also have the medical brigade, which is in Honduras, partners of surgery in Guatemala. We have bought computers for low income schools in Greece..." She hopes the festival will help sweeten more lives than just those that taste the goods. I’m Marsha James. VOA’s June Soh reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pulp – n. the fairly soft white substance that is left after the cocoa beans are removed nibs – n. shelled and crushed cocoa beans grate – v. to cut (food) into very small pieces by rubbing it against a special tool (called a grater) authentic – adj. real brigade – n. a large group of people organized to act together pods – n. a long, thin part of some plants that has seeds inside husks – n. a usually thin, dry layer that covers some seeds and fruits ingredients – n. one of the things that are used to make a food, product, etc. candy bar – n. A solid, bar-shaped confection, as of chocolate or caramel. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Trending Today: All You Need Is LoveMojis

  This is What’s Trending Today…. You probably know the Beatles’ song, “All You Need is Love.” This weekend, the song might go by another name: “All You Need is LoveMojis.” A new project between Paul McCartney and the video messaging service Skype made him a trending topic today on social media. The former Beatle has worked with Skype to create music for its new “LoveMojis.” Mojis are short animated videos that Skype users can send to friends and family members. The new “LoveMojis” are just in time for the Valentine’s Day holiday. And, each one includes new music created by Paul McCartney himself. One shows a sumo wrestler dressed like Cupid, complete with a bow-and-arrow. He drops from the sky and this is the sound he makes: (listen to the audio story to hear) Another one shows two cute owls on a tree branch. One owl creeps closer to cuddle with the other. This is the sound: (listen to the audio story to hear) Skype officials said of the project: “We’ve coupled original Skype designs with unique musical compositions from Paul so you can always express your love to friends and family around the world, no matter what you’re trying to say.” On his website, McCartney wrote that the project was “challenging, because you suddenly realize you’ve got to compress a musical interpretation of an emotion into less than five seconds.” On social media, people reacted with excitement and humor. Some found it funny that someone as famous as McCartney would make emoji sound effects. Others wrote about their excitement of using the McCartney LoveMojis this weekend. What do you think about Skype’s new musical Mojis? Let us know in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Ashley Thompson wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cupid – n. the god of love in ancient Rome couple – v. to join (two things) together cute – adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance cuddle – v. to hold (someone or something) in your arms in order to show affection sumo wrestling – n. a Japanese form of wrestling that is performed by very large men composition – n. a written piece of music and especially one that is very long or complex

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Pope Francis Meets with Leader of Russian Orthodox Church

  Leaders of the Roman Catholic Church and the Russian Orthodox Church have met for the first time in history. Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill sat down together Friday in the Cuban capital, Havana. The meeting is part of an effort to heal a 1,000-year-old dispute between the two churches. That is when Eastern and Western Christianity divided. Cuban President Raul Castro and Cardinal Jaime Ortega, the Vatican's highest representative in Cuba, met Francis as he arrived at the airport. Then, the pope and patriarch greeted each other with hugs and kisses. A short time later, they held a two-hour “personal” discussion. They were expected to unite in an appeal for an end to killing and other violence against Christians in the Middle East. Officials of both churches announced the meeting between the two religious leaders a week ago. But it had been planned for two years in secret. Kirill arrived in Cuba Thursday for an official visit. Francis stopped there on his way to a five-day visit to Mexico.  Pope Francis was influential in Cuba’s decision to re-establish ties with the United States. Now, he is seeking to repair a much longer break in relations. Eastern Orthodoxy split with Rome in 1054. Today, the Russian church has about 165 million of the world's 250 million Orthodox Christians. The Roman Catholic Church has more than one billion followers. Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported the Russian Orthodox Church. In exchange, the church has supported Putin’s foreign policy, including positions on Ukraine and the Middle East. Putin has also improved Russian relations with Cuba, which were damaged following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. I’m Caty Weaver. We want to hear from you. Post your message in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story heal - v. to make (someone or something) healthy or well again influential - adj. having the power to cause changes  collapse - n. a situation or occurrence in which something (such as a system or organization) suddenly fails  

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Researchers: Link Between Zika Virus and Birth Defects

Researchers in Slovenia say they have found some evidence of a link between the Zika virus and an increase in some birth defects. They published the study this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Journal also published a report from a group of American health experts that supports the Slovenian research. The researchers studied a woman who was infected with the Zika virus. She had an abortion after an examination showed the fetus had severe health problems. They said the mother and members of her family had not had the health problems found in the fetus. And the researchers believe that neither the woman nor members of her family had been infected with any other viruses that cause health problems in fetuses. When the researchers examined the aborted fetus they found the Zika virus. And they found that it had only attacked the brain. They believe this is strong evidence that the virus causes birth defects. But they said more study must be done to confirm their beliefs. People infected with the Zika virus suffer from fever, rash, joint and muscle pain and red eyes. It is not a severe illness. But because of its possible link to birth defects, experts believe it is a great danger to pregnant women. The World Health Organization (WHO) said the virus could be linked to 4,000 suspected cases in Brazil of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with very small heads. It causes severe brain damage. In February, the WHO said the virus is a global health emergency. And it predicted that Zika could infect as many as 4 million people across the Americas this year. The declaration meant more money and other help would be given to fight the virus. But the health agency did not say there should be a ban on travel or trade in areas where the virus is present. Some health experts say pregnant women, or women trying to get pregnant, should not travel to Brazil. The 2016 Summer Olympics are taking place in the South American country. This week, U.S. public health officials told Congress that workers must kill the mosquitoes that carry the virus if its spread is to be stopped. They said the mosquito that carries the disease lives in parts of the southern United States and on the island of Puerto Rico. They said those areas are at risk of having an outbreak of the virus. No treatment or vaccine for the Zika virus exists. But drug companies in India, Japan and France are working to develop possible vaccines. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. Hai Do 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   infect – v. to cause (someone or something) to become sick or affected by disease abortion – n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus outbreak – n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease ​

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Paul's Case by Willa Cather, Part One

Our story today is called "Paul's Case."  Willa Cather wrote it. Donna de Sanctis​ adapted it for VOA Learning English. "Paul's Case" will be told in two parts.  Here is Kay Gallant with part one of the story. Paul hated school. He did not do his homework. He did not like his teachers. Paul's father did not know what to do with him. His teachers did not know either. One afternoon, all his teachers at Pittsburgh High School met together with him to discuss his case. Paul was late. When he entered the room his teachers sat waiting for him. He was tall for his age and very thin. His clothes were too small for him, but they were clean. He had a bright red flower in the button hole of his black jacket. One of the teachers asked Paul why he had come to the meeting. Paul said politely that he wanted to do better in school. This was a lie. Paul often lied. His teachers began to speak. They had many complaints. One said Paul talked to the other students instead of paying attention to the lessons. Another said Paul always sat in class with his hands covering his eyes. A third teacher said Paul looked out the window instead of looking at her. His teachers attacked him without mercy. Paul's eyebrows moved up and down as his teachers spoke. His smile never left his face, but his fingers shook as he touched the flower on his coat. At last the meeting was over. Paul's smile got even wider. He bowed gracefully and left the room. His teachers were angry and confused. The art teacher spoke for all of them when he said there was something about Paul that he didn't understand. "I don't think he really means to be bad," he said. "There's just something wrong with that boy."  Then the art teacher remembered one warm afternoon when Paul had fallen asleep in his class. Paul's face was white with thin blue veins under the skin. The boy's face looked tired and lined, like an old man's. His eyebrows moved up and down, even in his sleep. After he left the meeting, Paul ran down the hill from the school whistling. He was late for his job at the concert hall. Paul was an usher there. He showed people to their seats. He carried messages for them. He brought them their programs with a polite bow. Everyone thought he was a charming boy and the best usher at the hall. When Paul reached the concert hall that evening, he went immediately to the dressing room. About six boys were already there. Paul began changing his clothes with excited hands. He loved his green uniform with the gold pockets and design. Paul rushed into the concert hall as soon as he had changed clothes. He ran up and down the hall, helping people. He became more and more excited. His face became pink and his eyes seemed larger and very bright. He looked almost handsome. At last everyone was seated. The orchestra began to play and Paul sat down with a sigh of relief. The music seemed to free something in Paul's spirit. Then a woman came out and began to sing. She had a rich, strong soprano voice. Paul felt truly happy for the first time that day. At the end of the concert Paul went back to the dressing room. After he had changed his clothes again he went outside the concert hall. He decided to wait for the singer to come out. While he waited he looked across the street to the large hotel called "The Schenley."  All the important people stayed at The Schenley when they visited Pittsburgh. Paul had never been inside it, but he used to stand near the hotel's wide glass doors. He liked to watch the people enter and leave. He believed if he could only enter this kind of a hotel, he would be able to leave school, his teachers, and his ordinary, gray life behind him. . . forever. At last the singer came out of the concert hall. Paul followed her as she walked to the hotel. He was part of a large crowd of admirers who had waited to see her. When they all reached the hotel, she turned and waved. Then the doors opened and she disappeared inside. Paul stared into the hotel as the doors slowly closed. He could feel the warm, sweet air inside. And for a moment, he felt part of a golden world of sparkling lights and marble floors. He thought about the mysterious dishes of food being served in the hotel's dining room. He thought about green bottles of wine growing cold in silver buckets of ice. He turned away from the hotel and walked home. He thought of his room with its horrible yellow wallpaper, the old bed with its ugly red cover. He shook his head. Soon he was walking down the street where he lived. All the houses on Cordelia Street were exactly alike. Middle class businessmen had bought them for their families. All their children went to school and to church. They loved arithmetic. As Paul walked toward his house he felt as if he were drowning in ugliness. He longed for cool colors and soft lights and fresh flowers. He didn't want to see his ugly bedroom or the cold bathroom with its cracked mirror and gray floor. Paul went around to the back of his father's house. He found an open window and climbed into the kitchen. Then he went downstairs to the basement. He was afraid of rats. But he did not want to face his own bedroom. Paul couldn't sleep. He sat on the floor and stared into the darkness until morning came. The following Sunday Paul had to go to church with his family. Afterwards, everyone came home and ate a big dinner. Then all the people who lived on Cordelia Street came outside to visit each other. After supper Paul asked his father if he could visit a friend to get some help with his arithmetic. Paul left the house with his school books under his arm. But he didn't go to his friend's house. Instead he went to see Charley Edwards. Charley was a young actor. Paul liked to spend as much time as he could at the theater where Charley Edwards and his group acted in their plays. It was only at the theater and the concert hall that Paul felt really alive. The moment he smelled the air of these places he felt like a prisoner suddenly set free. As soon as he heard the concert hall orchestra play he forgot all the ugly, unpleasant events in his own life. Paul had discovered that any kind of music awakened his imagination. Paul didn't want to become a musician, however. He didn't want to become an actor, either. He only wanted to be near people who were actors and musicians. He wanted to see the kind of life these artists led. Paul found a schoolroom even worse after a night at the theater or the concert hall. He hated the school's bare floors and cracked walls. He turned away from his dull teachers in their plain clothes. He tried to show them how little he thought of them and the studies they taught. He would bring photographs of all the actors he knew to school. He would tell the other students that he spent his evenings with these people at elegant restaurants. Then he would announce that he was going away to Europe or to California, or to Egypt for a while. The next day he would come to school smiling nervously. His sister was ill, he would say. But he was still planning to make his trip next spring. Paul's problems at school became worse. Even after the meeting with his teachers, things did not get better. He told them he had no time to study grammar and arithmetic. He told them he had to help the actors in the theater. They were old friends of his. Finally, his teachers went to Paul's father. He took Paul out of school and made him get a job. He told the manager at the concert hall that Paul could not work there anymore. His father warned the doorman at the theater not to let Paul into the place. And Charley Edwards promised Paul's father not to see Paul again. All the actors at the theater laughed when they heard about the stories Paul had been telling. The women thought it was funny that Paul had told people he took them out to nice restaurants and sent them flowers. They agreed with the teachers and with his father that Paul's was a bad case.   You have just heard part one of the American story "Paul's Case."  Willa Cather wrote it. Donna de Sanctis​ adapted it for VOA Learning English. Your storyteller was Kay Gallant.   _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Pittsburgh -  (Placename) a port in SW Pennsylvania; the largest river port in the US and an important industrial centre, formerly with large steel mills.  vein - n. any one of the tubes that carry blood from parts of the body back to the heart eyebrows - n. the line of hair that grows over your eye usher - n. a person who leads people to their seats in a theater, at a wedding, etc. uniform - n. a special kind of clothing that all the members of a group or organization wear marble - n. a kind of stone that is often polished and used in buildings and statues​ wallpaper -n. thick decorative paper used to cover the walls of a room​ soprano - adj.  relating to the highest female singing voice or the highest voice part in a singing group​ Now it's your turn. What do you think of Paul? Is there something wrong with him? Write to us in the comments section.

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Work Soothes Pain of Acid Attacks In India

A café in India is hiring women who once stayed in hiding after being attacked with acid. One woman, Dolly Kumari, says she stayed inside for two years after a man threw acid on her. He was upset that she was not interested in having a romance. But now, Kumari works at a café in Agra, called Sheroes Hangout. The café helps women like Kumari get comfortable in public again. After working in the café and serving customers, she no longer covers her face. She says “I have so much courage, I can say anything to anyone.” A group in New Delhi called Stop Acid Attacks started the café a year ago after women like Kumari had trouble finding jobs. Alok Dixit is the founder of the group. He says the isolation the women feel after the attack might be worse than the physical injury. He wants to change the perception that a person is less valuable based on their appearance. Now that Kumari is back in public, she says she thinks about a career in fashion design. Another woman who works in the café was attacked by her father as a child. She did not go to school or play with other children because of her appearance. She says her life now is so much better because of the café. There could be 1,000 acid attacks per year in India, but there are no official statistics. That is because access to acid is not very well regulated. Stop Acid Attacks says most of the women who are attacked are in their 20s. And many are attacked by men who are angry for some reason. Dixit says he plans to open more cafes around the country to continue the work of Stop Acid Attacks. “We want to redefine beauty,” he says. I’m Dan Friedell.   Anjana Pasricha wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.   Do you think a social program like this would work where you live? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   acid – n. a chemical that can cause burns if it comes in contact with skin perception– n. the way you think about or understand someone or something isolation – n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated hangout – v. a place where a person spends a lot of time romance – n. an exciting and usually short relationship between lovers acid – n. a chemical that burns when it comes in contact with skin cafe – n. a small restaurant where you can get simple meals and drinks

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Body of Mystic Monk On Display for Holy Year

The body of one of the most popular Roman Catholic saints, the mystic monk Padre Pio, will go on display at the Vatican in Rome. His body was placed in a crystal coffin and taken on a journey to Rome Wednesday from San Giovanni Rotondo. It is a small town in southeastern Italy where he spent most of his life.  Padre Pio died in 1968. His body was dug up, or exhumed, in 2008 in San Giovanni Rotondo. His body was partly altered with a life-like mask and preserved in a glass coffin for viewing. He was declared a saint in 2002. He spent most of his life hearing confessions. The Catholic Church said he had the “stigmata,” or the bleeding wounds of Jesus on his hands and feet. Pope Francis wanted the body of the monk to be displayed in St. Peter’s Basilica during the Catholic Church’s current Holy Year on the theme of mercy.  This small town’s economy revolves around pilgrims coming to view Padre Pio’s body. So not all the locals were happy that the saint was going on the road. “Personally, for me, it is a sad day,” said Auro Mizza, one of the hundreds who turned out to see the coffin off. Many had tears in their eyes. “A saint doesn’t go on pilgrimage. It is the others who go on pilgrimage to the saint.” The shrine draws almost 1 million people each year. Padre Pio’s body will be displayed in a Rome church along with the body of another, less famous saint. His body is being transported to Rome from northern Italy. Both bodies will be moved in a walking parade to St. Peter’s on Friday. They will return to their regular locations later this month. Many people said the brown-robed Padre Pio was able to predict events in their lives and knew what they were about to confess. There are thousands of “Padre Pio Prayer Groups” around the world. Padre Pio was accused of being a fake during his life and even after his death. But church investigators cleared him each time. I’m Mary Gotschall.        Mary Gotschall adapted this story for Learning English from reports by the Reuters news agency and VOA News. Kathleen Struck 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 saint – n. a person who is officially recognized by the Christian church as being very holy because of the way he or she lived mystic – adj. a person who tries to gain religious or spiritual knowledge through prayer and deep thought : someone who practices mysticism monk – n. a member of a religious community of men who usually promise to remain poor, unmarried, and separated from the rest of society crystal – adj.  a special type of glass that is very clear coffin – n.  a box in which a dead person is buried exhume – v. to remove (a body) from the place where it is buried confession – n.  the act of telling your sins to God or to a priest mercy – n.  kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly pilgrim – n.  someone who travels to a holy place shrine – n.  a place connected with a holy person or event where people go to worship fake – n.  not true or real

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America Faces Many Security Challenges

Nuclear weapons, terrorism and computer spying are problems for national security, say American intelligence officials. The officials say challenges and crises are more diverse than ever.  James Clapper and Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart oversee national intelligence operations. They spoke to the Senate Armed Services Committee. Clapper and Stewart said North Korea could soon have enough plutonium to make nuclear weapons. And North Korea has started to develop an intercontinental ballistic missile system -- missiles that could reach other countries. The officials said Iran is another country with a developing nuclear weapons program. Iran plans to keep its nuclear program, Clapper said, although it agreed in July to halt it. Economic sanctions put into place by six major nations were lifted when Iran agreed to halt its program. But Vincent Stewart said the Islamic State terror group is the leading international threat. Islamic State, he said, "will probably attempt to conduct additional attacks in Europe and attempt to direct attacks on the U.S. homeland in 2016." Both officials said Russian and Chinese computer crime is another big threat. Clapper told the senators, "Whether China's commitment of last September (to curb its cyber espionage) moderates its economic espionage remains to be seen.” Clapper said Russia is suspicious of being limited by NATO. "They are greatly concerned about being contained and, of course, very concerned about (the U.S.) missile defense, which would serve to neuter what is the essence of their claim to great power status, which is their nuclear arsenal.” On the same day of the hearing, President Barack Obama announced new measures to enhance cyber security. I’m Caty Weaver.   Zlatica Hoke wrote this story for VOA. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think are the main security threats facing your country? Post your thoughts in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   challenge – n. a difficult task or problem: something that is hard to do diverse – adj. different from each other commitment – n. a promise to do or give something espionage – n. the things that are done to find out secrets from enemies or competitors: the activity of spying essence – n. the basic nature of a thing: the quality or qualities that make a thing what it is

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VOA English Newscast: 1300 UTC February 12, 2016

  From Washington, this is VOA News.       I’m Steve Karesh reporting. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Friday in Munich major powers have agreed to seek a cessation of hostilities in Syria. “We have agreed to implement a nationwide cessation of hostilities to begin in a target of one’s week time. That is ambitious, but everybody is determined to move as rapidly as possible to try to achieve this. This will apply to any and all parties in Syria with the exception of the terrorist organizations, Daesh and al-Nusra, and any other terrorist organization designated by the (United Nations) Security Council.” Kerry added that the 17-nation International Syria Support Group has agreed that a task force, co-chaired by the U.S. and Russia, will work towards a long-term reduction in violence. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, however, has cautioned the world powers about committing their troops. He said "a ground operation draws everyone taking part in it into a war." The support group also agreed to "accelerate and expand" delivery of humanitarian assistance. Also in Munich, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is to meet with the head of NATO. This after the Western military alliance and the U.S. announced plans for the biggest military build-up in Europe since the Cold War. Russia has called NATO's moves a threat to stability. NATO says the plans are aimed at reassuring eastern European allies concerned about Russian aggression.  South Sudan President Salva Kiir has appointed his rival, rebel leader Riek Machar, as first vice president in a coalition government. The appointment is part of a peace deal signed by the two leaders last August.  Machar told VOA that this is a good step toward implementing that deal.   This is VOA News. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This New   cessation – n. a stopping or suspension of some action implement – v. to begin to use or do ambitious – adj. having a desire to be famous, powerful or successful determined – v. trying to do or carry out something that is difficult rapidly – adj. quickly achieve – v. to get or reach by hard work apply – v. to cause to have an effect designated – adj. chosen for a job, but not doing that job yet task force – n. a group of people who deal with a problem or issue cautioned – v. warned committing – v. to promise or require someone to do something draws in – v. to cause to enter or take part accelerate – v. to speed up delivery – n. the act of taking something to a person or place build-up – n. an increase stability – n. security reassuring – v. to make someone feel less concerned or angry rival – n. opponent   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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challenging (adjective)

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