China Blocks South China Sea

China has stationed up to five ships around a disputed island in the South China Sea, blocking Philippine fishermen. The report comes from The Philippine Star newspaper in its Wednesday edition. China recently sent ships to the Quirino Atoll, also known as Jackson Atoll, the paper reported. Eugenio Bito-onon Jr. is a mayor on the Spratly Islands. He told the Star that Chinese ships docked at the atoll more than a month ago. Chinese boats chased Philippine fishermen from the atoll’s shores, the paper said. The paper quoted an unnamed fisherman, saying, “These gray and white Chinese ships, around four of them inside the lagoon, prevented us from entering our traditional fishing ground.” The Philippine military said it has tracked Chinese ships, too. China claims most of the South China Sea. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also claim parts of the sea. About $5 trillion in trade is shipped through the sea every year. The Philippines is awaiting a ruling by an arbitration court in The Hague on the South China Sea territorial dispute. I’m Mario Ritter.   The Reuters news service reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted the report 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   stationed – v. to assign someone to a position atoll – n. an island that is made of coral and shaped like a ring arbitration – n. a process of settling an argument or disagreement in which the people or groups on both sides present their opinions and ideas to a third person or group 

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1TsHf6f
via IFTTT

Assad: Syrian Ceasefire a 'Glimmer of Hope'

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said Tuesday the suspension of fighting in his country after five years of war is, in his words, a “glimmer of hope.” The Syrian leader spoke on German television. He said his government will work to make the ceasefire permanent. Pro-government fighters and opposition forces in Syria have agreed to stop fighting. But the ceasefire does not include Islamic State militants or supporters of Jabhat al-Nusra, a group linked to al-Qaida. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the next few days are very important to strengthening the truce and ending the conflict. He spoke to reporters Monday in Washington. Kerry said he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agree there have been some violations of the truce since it began on Saturday. But he said they do not want to talk about them publicly. He said a group led by the United States and Russia will investigate every reported violation and urge all sides to honor the truce agreement. Kerry said it is a difficult process, “but the fact is that we need to stop the cycle of fighting and of bloodshed that is destroying Syria. It is that simple.” On Monday, Syrian rebels reported that government forces attacked opposition-controlled villages and towns 26 times. Riad Hijab is the top negotiator for the rebels. In a letter to the United Nations, he said the Syrian government “has continued to target populated areas using helicopter raids using explosive barrels, resulting in a large number of fatalities and causing significant injuries, most of whom were innocent women and children.” On Sunday, Hijab said Russian fighter jets launched 26 air strikes on territory held by opposition groups, which have agreed to stop fighting. Rebels say a map released at the beginning of the truce by the Russian Ministry of Defense is filled with mistakes. The map is said to show the positions of moderate opposition groups in Syria. The rebels have asked the UN to make a new map. On Sunday, Russian ceasefire monitors said they have recorded nine violations of the truce. They blamed rebels for most of them. Separately on Monday, the U.N. and aid groups began transporting supplies to areas that need them. They hope to reach more than 150,000 Syrians in areas that have been affected by the fighting. Yacoub El Hillo is the UN humanitarian chief for Syria. He said “the (ceasefire) is the best opportunity that the Syrian people have had over the last five years for lasting peace and stability.” Staffan de Mistura is the special UN diplomat for Syria. He has said that if the truce remains in effect and aid groups continue to be able to bring supplies to areas that need them he will restart Syrian peace talks on March 9. That is two days later than the date he set earlier. A UN spokesman said the delay was needed to let officials deal with “logistical and practical matters.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com reported on this story, with additional information from Jamie Dettmer in Gaziantep, Turkey and Correspondent Margaret Besheer at the United Nations. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reports for Learning English. George Grow 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   glimmer – n. a small amount or sign of something bloodshed - n. violence fatalities - n. deaths resulting from an accident or violence opportunity - n. chance; likelihood stability - n. the quality of something that is not easily changed  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1Y6FpXu
via IFTTT

LLE 5

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1pphsiD
via IFTTT

News Words: Migrants

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1QOL2ns
via IFTTT

Mexican Presidents Take Issue With Trump

Vicente Fox was the president of Mexico for six years, starting in 2000. He says Donald Trump should not insult Mexicans during his campaign for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. Trump says he will build a wall between the United States and Mexico. And he says he will get Mexico to pay for it if he becomes president. People think the cost of the wall could be greater than $1 billion. Trump also says he plans to deport Mexicans who are not in the U.S. legally. He also wants to deport children born to undocumented immigrants in the U.S. In response to Trump’s claims, Fox recently told Fusion TV: “I’m not going to pay for that [expletive] wall.” An expletive is a curse or swear word. Fox says he is surprised Trump won the votes of 46 percent of the Hispanics who voted in the recent Nevada caucus. Felipe Calderon followed Fox as Mexico’s president. They both say they are concerned about the anti-Mexican sentiment Trump is stirring up. Calderon told The Washington Post the wall would be “useless” and said “we won’t pay a cent for that stupid wall.” Calderon also noted that Trump is ignoring recent statistics from the Pew Research Center that show more Mexicans are returning home than entering the United States in the five years ending in 2014. Calderon says the fact that Trump is ignoring those statistics shows that he is “an ignorant man.” Trump responded to Fox’s comments, using Twitter to say that the former president should apologize for using bad language. Fox says he will not apologize. “He’s the one who should apologize,” Fox says. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on stories from The Washington Post and Agence France-Presse. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think of the war of words between the Mexican presidents and Donald Trump? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deport – v. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country stir up – v. to cause (someone) to feel a strong emotion and a desire to do something ignorant – adj. lacking knowledge or information expletive – n. a word or phrase that people sometimes say when they are angry or in pain, especially one that is considered offensive    

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/24D8Cho
via IFTTT

Russia Seen As Threat to US, Says General

Russia is sending troops to several regions and sees the U.S. and NATO as long-term threats, said NATO’s military commander Tuesday. U.S. Air Force General Philip Breedlove spoke to a panel of the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C. He said Russia has used its military against neighbors to gain regional influence. “Russia has used military force to violate the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of Ukraine, Georgia and others, like Moldova,” the general told the committee.  Breedlove said Russia has kept Ukraine from moving closer to the West. Breedlove noted one of Russia’s objectives is to hurt the relationship between the U.S. and its NATO allies.       The Air Force general added that Russia’s military influence has spread from the Black Sea to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and western Syria. “Russia seeks to re-establish a leading role on the world stage. … Russia sees the U.S. and NATO as threats to its objectives and as constraints on its aspirations. Russia recognizes strength and sees weakness as an opportunity,” Breedlove told the Senate committee. Breedlove said Russia has done little to counter the Islamic State militant group in Syria. Russia started air strikes against rebel positions in Syria in September 2015, according to multiple media sources. I’m Jim Dresbach.   Isabela Cocoli wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted her report for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think of General Breedlove’s comments on Russia? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   NATO – n. short for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; a group of countries that have agreed to provide military support to each other. sovereignty – n. a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself objective – n. something you are trying to do or achieve : a goal or purpose aspiration – n. something that a person or group wants very much to achieve

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1RIItXr
via IFTTT

Apple vs. FBI And Your Privacy

A dispute between Apple and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, or FBI, has put law enforcement and technology in conflict. This could affect privacy, safety and security in the U.S. The dispute involves the FBI investigation of the mass shootings in San Bernardino, California, last December. Syed Farook and his wife, Tashfeen Malik, killed 14 people and wounded 22 others. Farook and Malik were killed in a gun battle with police later the same day. Investigators found an iPhone that Farook had used. It was given to Farook by the Department of Public Health in California, where he worked. That department gave the FBI permission to unlock the phone. But, no one has the password. Farook is dead, and the phone is locked. The FBI wants the data on the phone. It could guess at passwords until it finds one that unlocks the phone. But after 10 failed attempts to enter a password, the phone will automatically erase all the data it has stored. The data will simply disappear. [Tip: To enable this feature on your iPhone, go to Settings =>Touch ID & Passcode =>Erase Data On] On February 16, 2016, a court ordered Apple to cooperate with the FBI. After that order was issued, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, said Apple would not comply. What Does the FBI Want From Apple? The FBI said its goal is to conduct a thorough investigation of the crime. That includes seeing the data on Farook's iPhone. "We simply want the chance, with a search warrant, to try to guess the terrorist's passcode without the phone essentially self-destructing, and without it taking a decade to guess correctly," said FBI director James Comey. Why Apple Is Fighting the Court Order Apple CEO Cook published a letter explaining Apple's position. He said he is concerned that Apple is being forced to create software that makes the iPhone less secure. Once created, he argues, criminals could use the software to unlock other iPhones and steal data. The FBI says they only want Apple to create software for one phone. But Apple disagrees. Once this software is created, other law enforcement agencies and governments could try to force Apple to use this software, the technology company argues. In an interview, Cook said, "There's probably more information about you on your phone than there is in your house. Our smartphones are loaded with intimate conversations, our financial data, our health records. They're also loaded with the location of our kids, in many cases. So it's not just about privacy, it's about public safety." Apple also says that it fears the government could force the company to create other software. Apple argues that the government could require it to create software that turns on the iPhone’s camera or microphone to secretly record video and sound. The FBI disputes Apple's claim that the request violates privacy rights. It argues that Farook has died and does not have rights to privacy. Further, it says the owner of the phone has agreed to the search of the phone and to Apple's helping the FBI. On Monday a court in New York State ruled that Apple did not have to assist the FBI in a similar case, unlocking an iPhone that involved drug charges. On Tuesday, a committee of US Congress heard from both Apple and FBI about the San Bernardino case. The Next Steps The court will hear the case on March 22. As this dispute involves public and personal safety, privacy rights and the future of technology, this issue may be argued for many months and years to come. I’m Kathleen Struck.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver and Kathleen Struck were the editors. Have you been following the Apple vs. FBI dispute? Leave a Comment below and post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   unlock - v. to gain entry to; to open data - n. information that is produced or stored on a computer auto-erase - v. to automatically remove (something that has been recorded) from a tape (such as a videotape or audiotape) or a computer disk CEO - n. short for Chief Executive Officer the top leader in a company or business comply - v. to do what you have been asked to do warrant - n. a document that gives the police power to do something software - n. the programs that operate on a computer interview - n. a meeting in which a person provides information intimate - adj. very personal or private conversation - n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people :the act of talking in an informal way location - n. place or position

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1oQnxUs
via IFTTT

Trending Today: Chris Christie's Worried Face

This is What’s Trending Today… Chris Christie is the governor of New Jersey. Until recently, he was also a candidate for the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. He suspended his campaign in February. And this week, Chris Christie became an Internet meme. March 1 was Super Tuesday in the U.S. It was the most important day of the 2016 presidential election year so far because many states held their primary elections or caucuses. On Super Tuesday, Chris Christie was no longer among the presidential candidates. He recently announced his support for businessman and presidential candidate Donald Trump. The governor joined Trump on stage Tuesday night, but he looked like he wanted to be somewhere else. And social media users took notice. Christie introduced Trump on Tuesday to a crowd of supporters in Florida. He then stood behind the candidate, as Trump spoke after winning seven states on Super Tuesday. During Trump’s speech, Christie looked left; then, he looked right. He looked at the back of Trump’s head. He offered an awkward smile and, at times, he applauded. But, he mostly looked afraid and worried. One writer from The Washington Post newspaper said “it looked as if Christie had seen a ghost.” Esquire magazine wrote “However awful your night was, it wasn’t as bad as Chris Christie’s.” Some people said it looked like Christie was silently screaming for help. Or asking to be “airlifted” out of the room. New York Magazine offered this advice: “Blink twice if you need help, Chris Christie.” [embed ​ And that’s What’s Trending Today.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.   What did you to do celebrate Leap Day? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   awkward – adj. clumsy or not graceful applaud – v. to show signs of approval at a play, speech, sporting event, in which people strike their hands together over and over awful – adj. bad or unpleasant scream – v. to suddenly cry out in a loud and high voice because of pain, surprise, etc. blink – v. to close and then open your eyes very quickly introduced - v. present or offer to someone

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1VRhKcd
via IFTTT

China Doubles Weapons Exports

A research group from Sweden says China’s weapons exports have nearly doubled in five years. Chinese exports of major weapons grew by 88 percent between 2011 and 2015, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). China is now the world’s third largest weapons exporter. The United States and Russia are the other top weapons exporters. Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher with the Swedish group, said: “China is actively pushing for exports. A lot of the exports are going to countries where China has had good relations for a long time.” Pakistan and Bangladesh are two of the countries buying Chinese arms. Wezeman said territory disputes in the South China Sea are fueling an arms race in Asia. Countries are reacting to actions taken by neighboring nations, he said.  Also, many Asian countries are trying to keep pace with China’s modern weapons.   In Asia, Vietnam became the eighth-largest arms importer in the world from 2011 to 2015. Asian political and economic experts agree that Asian countries like Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia would rather focus on economic development. Instead, they are purchasing arms and over- budgeting their defense plans. Gregory Poling, an Asian policy expert, said recent actions in the South China Sea have led to an arms buildup. Those with territorial disputes with China are stockpiling weapons. The sea’s shipping routes are responsible for $5 trillion in trade every year. I’m Jim Dresbach. Shannon Van Sant wrote this story for VOANews.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   pace – n. the speed at which someone or something moves stockpile – v. a large supply of something that is kept for future use

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/21I4VEI
via IFTTT

Attacks Near Baghdad Kills Dozens

  Islamic State militants carried out two suicide attacks outside of Baghdad, killing dozens of people this weekend. In the northeastern Shi’ite suburb of Sadr City, the extremists carried out a double bombing. Hours earlier, three suicide bombers and gunmen stormed into Abu Ghraib. The attackers rode pickup trucks into the town, just 25 kilometers west of downtown Baghdad.  Shi’ite leader Moqtada al Sadr called upon his followers to protect Baghdad. Residents said Baghdad’s International Zone (IZ) was temporarily put on high alert. Many embassies, international staff and Iraqi government officials live and work in the IZ.  More Iraqi forces were quickly deployed there. They were also sent to the capital’s international airport, west of the city. The Iraqi officials declared the fighting in Abu Ghraib over by early afternoon. And Baghdad residents said the city was back to operating as normal. A spokesman for the Iraqi Interior Ministry told local media that all the attackers in the Abu Ghraib assault were killed. He said that the situation was “under control.” He also said that some 30 Iraqi security forces died in the assault. But by early evening, local media said Iraqi fighter jets were involved in the Abu Ghraib fight. They said fighting was still going on in parts of the city. Abu Ghraib is west of Baghdad, about halfway between the capital and Fallujah. IS controls Fallujah. After the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Abu Ghraib became notorious for the photographs showing U.S. troops abusing Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison. In Sadr City, two bombs tore through a crowded local mobile phone market. For years, the Shi’ite suburb has suffered through sectarian violence. Hundreds of people have been killed there in bomb attacks over the years. Last August, a truck bomb at a different market killed 80 people. IS militants took responsibility for that attack. I’m Anne Ball.   Sharon Behn wrote this story for VOA News. Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. And find us on Facebook. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   alert - n. the state of being watchful for danger stormed - v. raided assault - n. attack notorious – adj. well-known or famous especially for something bad sectarian – adj. relating to religious or political sects and the differences between them

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1RI1jOo
via IFTTT

Immigrants Learn to Lose Their Accents

  Some immigrants in the northeastern state of Maine are learning to lose their accents. Some of the immigrants speak English fluently, but have a difficult time being understood because they have heavy accents, reported the Portland Press-Herald newspaper. Assouma Nyirabahizi says she left her home and job in Rwanda two years ago, coming to America on a green card “in hopes of a brighter future.” Nyirabahizi has a master’s degree in computer science and speaks English fluently. She says all of her classes in Rwanda were taught in English, “but here I have to learn again because of (my) accent.” She attends a free class to reduce her accent with seven other students. The city of Portland conducts the class. Marta Greenlaw is the teacher. She is also a speech therapist. She says immigrants who reduce their accent have better success at work. And they can communicate more easily with store workers, teachers, doctors and neighbors. “It’s a basic need to be understood,” Greenlaw told the newspaper. “It affects every part of their lives.” Greenlaw begins the class by telling students the 44 sounds of the English language. Those sounds include vowels, consonants and other sounds that give American English its unique sound.  Later, students speak about the food in their home countries. Sometimes, Greenlaw corrects their pronunciation. She tells them to pronounce the word “onion” as “unnnn-yunnnnn,” and the word “potato” as “poe-TAY-toe.” She tells the students “how the lips and jaw work to form the word.” Greenlaw tells the students that some American English pronunciation rules “don’t make a lot of sense.” But she says they are important to learn if immigrants are to be understood by Americans. Losing one’s accent is especially important for immigrants who live in Maine, which is one of the least diverse states in the country. More than 90 percent of the population of Maine is white. Many people who live in Maine have not heard foreign accents except in movies or on television. Greenlaw says some Mainers are impatient with people who speak English with a heavy accent. Her students say some Mainers ignore them or are unfriendly toward them because of their accent. They say this makes them less likely to speak. “Imagine waking up every day knowing you are going to have that struggle,” she says. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Noel K. Gallagher reported on this story for the Portland (Maine) Press Herald newspaper. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story 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   accent – n. a way of pronouncing words that occurs among the people in a particular region or country fluent – adj. able to speak a language easily and very well green card – n. a document that shows a person from a foreign country can live and work in the United States (it is not green, but once was, so it continues to be called a “green card”) conduct – v. to plan and do (something, such as an activity) speech therapist – n. a person who gives treatment or therapy to people who have speech problems to help them learn to pronounce words correctly vowel – n. a speech sound made with your mouth open and your tongue in the middle of your mouth not touching your teeth, lips, etc.; a letter (such as a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y in English) that represents a vowel consonant – n. a speech sound (such as /p/, /d/, or /s/) that is made by partly or completely stopping the flow of air breathed out from the mouth; a letter that represents a consonant especially any letter of the English alphabet except a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y diverse – adj. different from each other; made up of people or things that are different from each other  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/24C23vo
via IFTTT