VOA English Newscast: 1500 UTC March 2, 2016

  From Washington, this is VOA News.      I’m Joe Palka reporting. Syrian ceasefire continues to hold… The special U.N. Syria envoy says he needs more time before resuming the Syrian peace process. Staffan de Mistura asked for a delay from March 7 to 9 to allow the cessation of hostilities, in effect since Saturday, to take hold. U.S. spokesman John Kirby says the truce, now in its fifth day, remains effective for the most part. "Over the last 24 hours, it would appear that there hasn't been any more violations of the cessation of hostilities. Again, it is a very fluid environment. And, we're just going to keep monitoring it as closely as we can." Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday the cessation of hostilities represents a "glimmer of hope.” He will do his part, he says, to make it work. The opposition says Damascus has breached the ceasefire repeatedly, a charge it denies. The United Nations Tuesday said more than 131,000 migrants and refugees reached Europea via the Mediterranean so far this year. That's more than the total that made the same dangerous journey in the first five months of 2015. The European Union website is reporting an emergency action plan to spend upwards of $750 million in humanitarian assistance over a three year period, making this the first time the European Union will be earmarking financial help for the UN crisis. This is the European Commissioner for Humanitarian and Crisis Management for the EU, Christos Stylianades: “Now more than ever, member states in the EU need to work hand-in-hand to reinforce each other’s actions and, in this way, the European Union can provide a united response to humanitarian suffering. An estimated 24,000 people, mostly from the Middle East and South Asia, continue to languish at makeshift camps.   This is VOA. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast    envoy – n. diplomat; representative resuming – v. re-starting; to begin again allow – v. permit; let cessation – n. stoppage; suspension fluid – adj. able to move freely, like water monitoring – v. watching; observing; listening to something glimmer – n. a weak light; a small amount of something breached – v. violated migrants – n. people who move from one place to another for economic reasons via – prep. by way of; by going through so far – phrase. up to this time upwards – adv. toward a higher level or condition earmark – v. setting aside for a special purpose hand-in-hand – phrase. working together reinforce – v. to strengthen with more people or supplies response – n. something that is done as a reaction to something else languish – v. to stay in one place for a long time without any activity or progress makeshift – adj. temporary   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.  ​

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Trump, Clinton Control Race for US President

U.S. presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump controlled the race for the White House with victories across the country on Super Tuesday. Clinton swept Democratic Party primaries in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Virginia, Massachusetts and Texas. Her rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, won in his home state of Vermont, Oklahoma, Colorado and Minnesota.   In the Republican Party primaries, businessman Donald Trump has won Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Virginia and Arkansas. Trump also came in second in Texas, the home state of Sen. Ted Cruz. As many as 25 percent of the party’s delegates are to be awarded to the candidates on Super Tuesday. With the victories, Clinton and Trump will receive most of them. Hillary Clinton spoke to supporters in Florida after five states were called in her favor. She told the crowd there was work to do for the country. “But,” she said, “that work is not to make America great again. America never stopped being great. We have to make America whole.” “Instead of building walls,” she said, “we’re going to break down barriers and build ladders of opportunity and empowerment.” At his own speech in Florida, Trump reacted to Clinton’s speech. "She wants to make America whole again. I'm trying to figure what that's all about,” he said. “Making America great again is going to be much better than making America whole again." Trump also spoke about Republican candidate Marco Rubio, a senator from Florida. "I know it as a very rough night for Marco Rubio. He worked hard, he spent a lot of money. He is a lightweight, like I have said many times."  He added, "Rubio was the big loser of the night. He didn't win anything tonight. He hasn't won anything period." However, later on Super Tuesday Marco Rubio won his first nominating election with the vote in Minnesota. Speaking earlier to a large crowd in Vermont, Bernie Sanders stayed optimistic. "This campaign, as I think all of you know, is not just about electing a president, it is about transforming America." Sanders stressed that Democratic primaries are proportional, and award delegates according to the vote count. "By the end of tonight, we are going to win many hundreds of delegates," he said. Ted Cruz spoke from his home state of Texas. He congratulated Donald Trump. But he suggested that Trump was winning because there were too many Republicans in the race. The comments seemed to be an appeal to candidate Marco Rubio to leave the race. He told the crowd “We will not let the American light go out. We will fight for the American Constitution, for life and freedom. A Democratic Party candidate must win 2382 delegates to get the presidential nomination. Among Republicans, that number is 1237. I’m Caty Weaver.  

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Kelly, Kornienko Land on Earth after Year in Space

Scott Kelly and Mikhail Kornienko have their feet on the ground for the first time in 340 days. Riding in a Russian spacecraft, they made it back to Kazakhstan, along with a fellow Russian cosmonaut. Theirs was a record-setting journey. It is the longest time humans have spent living on the International Space Station (ISS). Now, Kelly also holds the record for the longest time an American has spent in space: 520 days in space, over four missions. After being taken out of the capsule, they were put in special chairs while they start getting used to Earth’s gravity again. They were to be examined and tested before Kelly is flown home to the United States. After undergoing more tests and exams at NASA’s Houston, Texas offices, Kelly said he wants to go home and jump into his swimming pool. We will find out more about his journey when he talks to the media on this coming Friday. In his last press conference from space, Kelly talked about the difficulties of living on the ISS for a year. He called it “a harsh environment,” with only a small personal space. “You know, I’ve spent in the CQ I’m looking at, the crew’s quarters here, probably almost half the time I’ve been here between sleeping and working on the computer, I’ve spent in a basically a box, the size of a phone booth.”  He said he feels “pretty good physically.”  But the toughest part was being away from loved ones. “The hardest part is being isolated, you know, in a physical sense from people on the ground that are important to you.” Kelly and Kornienko performed scientific experiments including growing flowers and lettuce. The space station year tested how humans endure long-term space flights.  What they learn will be part of NASA’s Journey to Mars program.  It will take astronauts at least 500 days — round trip -- to travel to Mars, and back home.  During that time they will need to grow their own food and live in small spaces with others for many months. Kelly and Kornienko monitored their bodies to see what space does to humans. There are concerns about the effects of long space flights. These include damage from radiation and loss of bone and muscle mass due to lack of gravity. Also, over time in space flight, the fluid in a person’s body moves up toward the head, sometimes causing eye problems. Scott Kelly is also part of a twin study. His brother Mark Kelly is an identical twin and a former astronaut. During the past year, NASA has been testing both the men. They will study the brothers to see how space changes a body. NASA will use these lessons learned to help the newest astronauts now being hired for the Mars journey. The space agency hopes to send humans to Mars in the 2030s. It is a mission Scott Kelly believes is possible. “If we can dream it,” he said from space, “we can do it if we really want to.” I’m Anne Ball.   Anne Ball wrote this story. Kathleen Struck edited it. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and join us on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   swimming pool – n. a large structure filled with water for swimming harsh – adj.  unpleasant or difficult to experience isolate – v. to put or keep in a place that is separate from others endure – v. to experience something for a long time, sometimes painful monitor – v. to watch for activity or behavior

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Trending Today: #SuperTuesday

This is What’s Trending Today…. Tuesday, March 1, marks the most important day, so far, in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. The day is called “Super Tuesday.” Voters from 13 states and one territory will be choosing their preferred candidates from the Republican and Democratic parties. Donald Trump on the Republican side and Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side are the current front-runners. If they see strong results on Super Tuesday, that could push them closer to securing their party nominations. The hashtag #SuperTuesday trended worldwide on Twitter, and was the number-one trending topic on Facebook. The presidential candidates themselves used social media to urge supporters to cast their votes. ​ Some candidates used social media to insult their competition. Republican candidate Marco Rubio tweeted Tuesday: "I've been making jokes on the trail, but here's the scary reality. Donald Trump is dangerous." Not to be outdone, Donald Trump had this to say about Rubio: "Little Marco Rubio is just another Washington D.C. politician that is all talk and no action. #RobotRubio" ​But it will be Super Tuesday voters who will get the last word. Twitter user @Gbonbon13 wrote: "I am Hispanic, but I'm not w/CRubio. I am a woman, but I'm not w/her. I am a human voting for the greater good #Latinas4Bernie #SuperTuesday" ​ And that’s What’s Trending Today.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   front-runner - n. the person or thing that is most likely to win a race or competition​ trail - n. a path secure - v. to fix something so it will not get lost  

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Asians Eager to Hear of Obama's Supreme Court Choice

Two immigrants from Asia are possible nominees for the United States Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died February 4 in his sleep. That left a chair open for a new justice. Possible nominees are judges Sri Srinivasan and Jacqueline Nguyen. Pamela Thakur is a former president of a South Asian Bar Association in California. She said the possible nomination of Srinivasan is “all over every South Asian newspaper.” She added, “Asians in general are becoming more involved in the political system as judiciary members of the bench, so it really is just a testament of the times for Asians to now be nominated for this open seat that’s available.” Sri Srinivasan Born in India, Srinivasan is a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington. The court is often called the second-most important court in the U.S. Many U.S. Supreme Court nominees have come from this lower court. In 2013, the U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment to the court with a 97-0 vote. Srinivasan was a clerk for Judge Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court. He also argued 25 times before the Supreme Court, representing both Republican and Democratic administrations. At a ceremony to honor him as India Aboard Person of the Year in 2013, Srinivasan said: “When we became citizens, we took an oath to support and defend the constitution and laws...What a profound privilege to go from one who took the oath from a judge to one who now is in the position to administer the oath as a judge.” Jacqueline Nguyen More than 50 kilometers south of Los Angeles is Little Saigon. The area is also known as the “capital of the Vietnamese refugee community.” There is excitement there about Jacqueline Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American, as a possible Supreme Court nominee. Dzung Do is managing editor of the Vietnamese newspaper, Nguoi Viet. He said Vietnamese-Americans who escaped the Communist regime want to see a Vietnamese immigrant on the U.S. Supreme Court. “They want to have somebody over here achieve something … so they can tell [communists], ‘Hey, we ran away from you, but now we’re successful.’ ” Do said. Nguyen and her family fled their homeland when the communists took over South Vietnam. As refugees in the U.S., Nguyen first lived in a tent city before settling in Los Angeles.   “My parents were in shock because not only did they have to deal with the loss of their homeland, but also with the prospect of starting all over again, trying to figure out how to provide food and shelter and raise six children in a foreign land. Whenever job opportunities came our way my mom would take it,” said Nguyen in a video produced by United States Courts. Nguyen is serving as a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Bao Nguyen, a Vietnamese-American, said the two Asian-Americans who are possible nominees reflect U.S. society in 2016. “I think this is a point in America where we value the immigrant experience, we value the diversity of what America is all about cause that’s really our foundation. It’s really the roots of our nation,” said Nguyen.    Elizabeth Lee reported this story for VOA News. Kathleen Struck adapted it. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think about the U.S. Supreme Court? Is it important to have minorities as Supreme Court Justices? Leave a comment below and on our Facebook page, thanks!

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VOA English Newscast: 1500 UTC March 1, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News.      I’m Joe Palka reporting. Syrian President weighs in on ceasefire… Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday the cessation of hostilities in his country's five-year war is a "glimmer of hope." In a German television interview, President Assad said his government will do its part to make the truce work. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called the next few days "critical" in building momentum toward the goal of de-escalating the Syrian conflict. "...in determining whether or not we are able to develop some real momentum towards a de-escalation of the conflict. That is the goal here.  And we’re, of course, under no illusions about the obstacles that still exist. This is hard. But the fact is that we need to stop the cycle of fighting and the bloodshed that is destroying Syria." Opposition spokesman Salem al-Meslat says the ceasefire is in jeopardy because of repeated violations by Syrian and Russian forces. "There has to be a power that really stops what Russia and what the (Assad) regime is doing. I don't think the regime or Russia will stick to this truce, and we hope that they will not break it. There was a noticeable uptick in violation claims on Monday.  Meanwhile, the U.N. and aid partners began humanitarian deliveries on Monday with the goal of reaching more than 150,000 Syrians in besieged areas.  The United Nations warned Tuesday that Europe is near a "self-induced humanitarian crisis" because governments are imposing border restrictions and failing to work together as migrants continue to reach the continent. Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the U.N. refugee agency, said more than 130,000 people have crossed the Mediterranean this year, most of them reaching Greece. The two-month total is near the figure for the first six months of last year. This is VOA news. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This New weighs in – v. to state one’s opinion on an issue cessation – n. stoppage; a halt in some action glimmer – n. a small amount of sign of something; a weak light interview – n. questioning someone for information momentum – n. the strength or force that enables something to continue or to grow de-escalating – v. reducing in amount or intensity determining – v. to officially decide something of course – phrase naturally obstacle – n. a barrier cycle – n. a series of actions that happen again and again bloodshed – n. violence; unrest jeopardy – n. danger; risk of death or loss regime – n. a form of government stick to – v. to obey; to follow uptick – n. increase meanwhile – adv. at or during the same time delivery – n. the act of taking something to a person or place besieged – adj. of or related to being surrounded by police or soldiers; self-induced – adj. brought about by oneself imposing – v. ordering; establishing migrant – n. people who move from place to place for a job or economic reasons   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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China’s Economy Continues Decline

China’s economy continues to weaken, according to recent surveys. China is the world’s second-biggest economy. Figures released Tuesday show the country’s factory production is at its lowest level in four years. The official Purchasing Manager’s Index, or PMI, tracks activity in factories. The manufacturing PMI in China is reported by Markit Economics. The index dropped to 49 in China in February. In January, the PMI was 49.4. Any reading of the PMI below 50 signals contraction. It was the seventh month in a row the PMI dropped. Observers of the Chinese economy say February’s PMI reading could have been affected by the New Year holiday. Many factories close for an extended time and workers stay home during the holiday. Another survey showed China’s economy is slumping. The Caixin/Markit purchasing managers’ index fell to a five-month low of 48 last month. It was the 12th month in a row that the index declined. The index calculates economic output, new orders and employment. The economy in China grew at an annual rate of nearly 7 percent in 2015. That was the slowest amount of growth in 25 years. To give the economy a boost, the Chinese announced a round of spending to help the economy and added to the money supply. The People’s Bank of China late Monday announced it was cutting the amount of money that banks must hold as reserves. The People’s Bank also added $100 billion in cash into the banking system to aid in new lending. I’m Jim Dresbach.   This report was based on a story from VOA News.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck 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   contraction – n. the act or process of making something smaller or of becoming smaller slumping – v. to decrease suddenly and by a large amount boost – n. an increase in amount cash – n. money in the form of coins and bills  

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Third of Japanese Working Women Report Harassment

A Japanese government study reports almost one-third of women say they have been sexually harassed at work. The women said they had suffered from unwanted physical contact, insulting comments and other harassment. It is the first government study of the sexual harassment of Japanese women at work. It was released Tuesday. Researchers said more than 9,600 women employees answered questions by mail or online. They said 18 percent of the women who were asked to take part in the study agreed to do so. 29 percent of those who answered said they suffered sexual harassment at work. 54 percent of that group said their face, body or age was discussed. 40 percent said they suffered unwanted touching. 38 percent were asked sexually related questions. 27 percent were asked to eat a meal together or go on a date. Researchers said they also reported receiving many complaints from pregnant women who said they were bullied into quitting their jobs. In many Japanese companies, women and men are treated differently. Gender roles remain traditional in Japan, observers say. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Associated Press business writer Yuri Kageyama reported on this story from Tokyo. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck 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   harassment – n. the annoying or bothering (of someone) in a constant or repeated way date – n. an occasion when two people who have or might have a romantic relationship do an activity together bully – v. to cause (someone) to do something by making threats or insults or by using force (usually + into) gender – n. the state of being male or female

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March 1, 2016

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

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Navy Hero Earns Medal of Honor

For hero Ed Byers, December 8, 2012 was a test of his skills in life or death events. After hours of hiking through the mountains of eastern Afghanistan, he and his Navy team reached its target: a one-room building where Taliban fighters were holding an American hostage. Team member Nicolas Checque attacked a guard. Byers, trained in special warfare, ran through the door, which was covered by heavy blankets. They slowed the team’s attack. As Byers took down the blankets, the fighters shot at him and his team. In the darkness, he saw a fighter in the corner of the room. He shot him, then saw another person crawling across the floor. “By the time I got to him, he already had a weapon in his hand,” Byers told VOA. “I didn’t know if he was just a scared hostage or if he was the actual enemy.” Byers called the name of the hostage -- Dr. Dilip Joseph. He was a father of four who had been teaching medical workers in Afghanistan. Joseph answered. He was a few meters away. Byers shot another fighter, then laid on top of Joseph, shielding him from flying bullets. “When I did that, there was another person within arm’s reach, another enemy that had a weapon and grenades and stuff that was in the corner,” Byers said. “I was able to pin that person to the wall by grabbing his throat and holding him there, as I’m laying on top of the doctor, until our team was able to come in and take care of that threat.” The team saved Joseph. But there was a cost: Nicolas Checque had been shot in the head. He was dead. “He died a hero, and his name will forever be etched in history as being a true American hero,” Byers said. Yesterday, President Barack Obama gave Byers the Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor. Obama praised Byers for his heroism. “In just minutes, by going after those guards, he had saved the lives of several teammates and that hostage,” Obama said. The president said members of the American military who “volunteer for missions of extreme risk” with little chance for survival are very special. Byers has been deployed to other countries 11 times. He is still in the Navy. In addition to the Medal of Honor, he has earned 18 medals. “I followed a dream, and I never envisioned that I’d be sitting here,” he told VOA. “I got to serve with some of the greatest people on the face of the planet, and that in and of itself is a truly humbling experience.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA Pentagon Correspondent Carla Babb reported on this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck 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   grenade – n. a small bomb that is designed to be thrown by someone or shot from a rifle stuff – n. informal used to refer to something when you do not need to name exactly what it is, or do not know what the name of it is pin – v. to prevent or stop (someone or something) from moving by holding or pressing firmly against something etch – v. to produce a pattern, design, etc., by using a powerful liquid (called an acid) to cut the surface of metal or glass; often used figuratively, as in the article above envision – v. to think of (something that you believe might exist or happen in the future); to picture (something) in your mind

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Super Delegates: The Secret Force Behind Candidates

If you count the delegates won by Democratic presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, the race is close. Clinton, after a big primary win Saturday in South Carolina, had 90 elected delegates, compared to 65 for Sanders, according to RealClearPolitics.com. But when you count other delegates, Clinton’s lead is much larger – 543-85, the political website said. The reason: “superdelegates.” “They are unlike other delegates in that they are not elected in primaries or caucuses, don't represent a particular candidate, can endorse whomever they wish, and are not bound on the first ballot or any subsequent ballot,” said Norm Ornstein. He is a government and politics expert at the Washington-based American Enterprise Institute. Superdelegates are party leaders who make up 15 percent of the 4,763 Democratic delegates. A majority of the 4,763 delegates is needed to win the Democratic presidential nomination at the party’s convention this summer in Philadelphia. Clinton, former U.S. secretary of state, and Sanders, a U.S. senator from Vermont, are the two remaining Democratic presidential candidates. Most delegates to the Democratic and Republican conventions are elected in primaries and caucuses. Superdelegates are not elected. They are governors, mayors, members of Congress and other party leaders who automatically become delegates. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are among the Democratic super delegates. The Republicans have 2,472 delegates to select their presidential nominee. About 7 percent are superdelegates. The Republican National Committee says the party adopted a rule in 2012 that requires its superdelegates to vote based on the choices made by voters in their home states. That means they play much less of a role than Democratic superdelegates. Superdelegates have made a big difference for Clinton. After the first four Democratic contests, in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, Clinton had a 90-65 elected delegate advantage over Sanders. But a large lead in super delegates – 453 for Clinton and only 20 for Sanders -- puts her in a big lead for the Democratic presidential nomination. The lead among superdelegates reflects the view of some party leaders that Clinton is more electable than Sanders, Ornstein said. But their support has angered some, especially among young voters, who have packed Sanders rallies, he said. Said Ornstein: “They (superdelegates) are controversial now on the Democratic Party side because the overwhelming majority have endorsed Hillary Clinton, while the activist outsiders who support Bernie Sanders see this as a kind of a cabal to block the popular will.” Isabel Framer of Ohio, a superdelegate for Clinton, told Reuters she has made some voters angry. On one voice mail left for Framer, a caller says he does not think it is fair: “you get to vote whoever way you want. I’ll be watching your vote.” But she said such criticism has not changed her mind and she still plans to vote for Clinton at the Democratic National Convention. After four Republican primaries and caucuses, Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman, has 82 delegates, according to RealClearPolitics.com. Tied for second place are Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, with 17 delegates each. Brian Brox, a Tulane University political scientist, said from the mid-19th century through the early 1970s, Republican and Democratic officials chose presidential candidates. The switch to voting by rank and file party members came after the 1968 Democratic convention. That was the Chicago convention that drew thousands of protestors opposing the nomination of Hubert Humphrey because he supported the Vietnam War. “Today, even though some party officials have voting power at the conventions at which nominations are decided, the vast majority of delegates to those nominating conventions are selected in primaries and caucuses at which registered voters are free to participate,” Brox said. In November, Americans will vote for president by choosing between the Republican and Democratic nominees, as well as any independent candidates who run. The winning candidate in each state will get Electoral College delegates, with wins in larger states worth the most. Usually, the candidate who gets the most votes wins, but there are exceptions. In 2000, Democrat Al Gore won more votes than Republican George W. Bush, but Bush won the presidency because he got more Electoral College votes. The Council on Foreign Relations describes the election process for U.S. presidents as “one of the most complex, lengthy and expensive in the world.” I'm Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on 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   super – adj. special primary – n. an election in which members of the same political party run against each other for the chance to be in a larger and more important election caucus – n. a meeting of members of a political party for the purpose of choosing candidates for an election endorse – v. to publicly or officially say that you support a candidate subsequent -- adj. happening or coming after something else controversial – adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argument outsider – n. a person who does not belong to or is not accepted as part of a particular group or organization cabal – n. a small group of people who work together secretly

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