Widow of Russian Spy Fights for Justice

  The widow of a murdered Russian spy continues to try to bring her husband’s killers to justice. Marina Litvinenko is the widow of Alexander Litvinenko. She spoke at the VOA offices this month. Ms. Litvinenko displayed a thick document showing that a British court said the death of her husband was murder. The court said the murder was probably ordered by Russia’s top leaders. Alexander Litvinenko was an intelligence agent of the Russian Federal Security Service, or FSB. He was granted asylum in Britain in 2000. He became a well-known critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He was said to have started working with British intelligence officials, providing details of Russia’s organized crime networks and of President Putin himself. On November 1, 2006, Litvinenko had tea at a London hotel with two men from the FSB, Andrei Lugovoy and Dmitri Kovtun. Litvinenko’s cup of tea contained Polonium 210, a radioactive element that can only be made in a nuclear reactor. Litvinenko died 23 days later. Shortly before he died, Litvinenko accused President Putin of killing him.   In the nearly 10 years since his death, his widow, Marina, has worked to prove that the Kremlin killed her husband. She said she considers the recent ruling by the British court a step in uncovering the mysterious deaths of other Russian dissidents. “But this one now is a proof. We have this in a verdict about Russian State involvement ...”   The British court’s verdict came in January. Investigator Robert Owen led the British Court of Inquiry. The court issued a report that connected Lugovoy, Kovtun and, by extension, Vladimir Putin with Litinenko's assassination. Robert Owen concluded that all the evidence suggests Livinenko’s murder was an FSB operation. The operation was approved at the highest level of the Kremlin. “I have further concluded that the FSB operation to kill Mr. Litvinenko was probably approved by Mr. Patrushev, then head of the FSB, and also by President Putin.” Marina Litvinenko said she is pleased with the verdict. But she is not giving up her effort to bring her husband’s killers to justice. She came to Washington this month to meet with government officials, foreign policy experts and journalists. During her visit to VOA, she said she was outraged that those who killed her husband for political reasons have escaped punishment. Instead, they have been protected and rewarded, she said.  “These people committed a very serious crime. And Lugovoy was not even punished for this crime. He was granted. He is a member of Russian parliament. He became a politician straight after.” Russian officials have strongly denied any state involvement in the assassination. Russia’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Alexander Yakovenko, read a statement to reporters, rejecting the charges. “We view it as an attempt to put additional pressure on Russia in connection with existing differences over a number of international issues. For us, it’s absolutely unacceptable that the report concludes that the Russian state was in any way involved in the death of Mr. Litvinenko on the British soil.”  Marina Litvinenko said she doubts that those named by the British Court of Inquiry will be prosecuted for her husband’s death anytime soon. But she promised to continue her protest. She said she hopes her efforts highlight what she says is the continuing operation of Kremlin-sponsored killing groups in foreign cities. She discussed at VOA the mysterious death of Litvinenko’s mentor, Boris Berezovsky, who was found hanged in his bathroom in 2014. He strongly opposed Putin. She also mentioned the death of financier Mikhail Lesin, who was beaten to death last November while in Washington. “Of course, when very high profile people as Lesin and Boris Berezovsky died, it is difficult to believe it was just natural causes...” Litvinenko also said she believes the work done by Owen and the British court on her husband’s death will help in the investigation of the deaths of Berezovsky, Lesin and other Russian dissidents abroad. I’m Ashley Thompson.    Pete Heinlein wrote this report for VOA News. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    widow - n. a woman whose husband has died display - v. to put (something) where people can see it Kremlin - n. the government of Russia and the former Soviet Union verdict - n. the decision made by a jury in a trial outraged - v. to be extremely angry highlight - v. to make or try to make people notice or be aware of (someone or something)​ sponsor - v. to provide money or support for a project or activity  

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Women More Religious Than Men

Women are more religious than men. That is the finding of a new report by the Pew Research Center. Worldwide, 83 percent of women say they identify with a religion, compared to 79 percent of men, according to Pew. Pew found the biggest gender gap in daily prayer. Pew found 61 percent of women say they pray daily, compared to 51 percent of men. David Voas is head of the Department of Social Science at University College London, United Kingdom. He said prayer is often done in private, making it a good measure of how important religion is to people. “The frequency of prayer may be the purest sign of religious commitment, which means that, arguably, it’s the best yardstick to use in comparing men and women,’’ he told Pew. Pew completed its study of religious differences between men and women by exploring research in 84 nations. The research was done between 2008 and 2015. Pew said the stronger religious beliefs by women stand out – given history’s most important religious leaders are mostly men. That includes Jesus, Muhammad, Abraham, Moses, Siddhartha and Gautama. And in some religions, such as for Roman Catholics and Orthodox Jews, only men are allowed to hold clergy positions. Among Christians, women attend services more often than men. But that is not the case with Muslims and Orthodox Jews, Pew said. Among those religions, men are more likely to attend services. Pew said this is because Muslims and Orthodox Jews give more weight to men’s participation in worship services. Some Muslim mosques and Orthodox synagogues separate men and women. In some cases, women are limited to the back or a balcony area. There is general acceptance by both women and men about some religious beliefs. For example, 91 percent of women and 89 percent of men said they believe in heaven. Seventy-eight percent of women and 76 percent of men said they believe in hell, Pew said. Pew found that women who work outside the home are less likely to be religious than women who work at home. Voas of University College in London said researchers disagree on whether women who work outside the home are less religious. If it is true, he offers two possible reasons. “Maybe paid employment crowds out time for religious involvement, or perhaps being exposed to different values and world views tends to undermine religious commitment,” he said. Not only do women tend to be more religious than men, but Pew found men are also more likely to be atheists. An atheist does not believe God exists. In Uruguay, the United States, Germany and Spain, more than 60 percent of people who describe themselves as atheists are men, Pew said. An exception is France. A slightly higher percentage of people who say they are atheists are women – 51 percent vs. 49 percent. 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. How do you feel about belief and religion? Men and women and religion? Write to us in the Comments section or share your views on our Facebook Page.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gender gap – n. differences in views between men and women frequency – n. happening often yardstick – n. measurement of something prioritize – v. to organize things so that the most important thing is done or dealt with first heaven – n. the place where God lives and where good people go after they die according to some religions hell – n. the place where the devil lives and where evil people go after they die according to some religions involvement – n. having a connection to something or someone exposed – v. to be informed of something undermine – v. to make someone or something weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way  

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EgyptAir Plane Hijacked to Cyprus

[This is a breaking news story. Audio will follow later. Thank you for your patience.] An EgyptAir plane was hijacked, or held by terrorists, Tuesday morning and forced to land in Cyprus, said Egyptian officials. The plane was set for the short flight from Alexandria to Cairo, about 180 kilometers away. It landed instead at Larnaca airport in Cyprus, about 540 kilometers northeast.  The man or men who held the plane and crew, or hijackers, said they would blow the plane up, officials said. It was unclear how many passengers were aboard, or on EgyptAir flight 181. EgyptAir said that in Cyprus, the hijackers released all but four passengers and the crew. The four were described as not Egyptian. The New York Times said video showed passengers walking down the plane stairs to a bus on the tarmac at Larnaca International Airport. Cyprus public television reported that the hijacker was a 27-year-old Egyptian. He asked for political asylum, the newspaper said. EgyptAir, released information on its Twitter account. The pilot said a passenger wearing a belt of explosives forced him to land in Larnaca, Reuters reported. It was not known if other hijackers on board. In October 2015, a Russian airplane crashed after leaving Sharm el Sheikh, a beach resort on the Red Sea. All 224 onboard died. A terrorist bomb was suspected, officials said.    VOA News, the New York Times and the Associated Press reported this story. Kathleen Struck adapted it for VOA Learning English. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   hijack -- n. to take, hold or seize something without permission explosives -- n. materials that create a release of energy with great force

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March 28, 2016

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

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VOA English Newscast: 2100 UTC March 28, 2016

  From Washington, this is VOA news… I’m Dave DeForest reporting Pakistan searches for bombers Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed to intensify counter-terrorism operations in the wake of Sunday's suicide bombing in Lahore. At least 72 people were killed and 300 were wounded in the Easter Sunday blast, which targeted Christians at a crowded park. A military spokesman said Monday security agencies have conducted several operations based on initial leads and have arrested a number of suspects. A man widely reported to be a main suspect in last week's Brussels terrorist attacks has been released due to a lack of evidence. Belgium's federal prosecutor said Monday authorities had no justification to hold the man, identified only as Faycal C.  Syria's army says the recapture of Palmyra will be a launching point for expanded operations against the Islamic State group.  Backed by Russian airstrikes, pro-government forces reclaimed control of Palmyra after a 10-month Islamic State occupation.   The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the offensive left 400 militants dead along with more than 180 pro-government fighters.  President Bashar al-Assad hailed it as an "important achievement.” An Angolan court Monday sentenced 17 young activists to from two to eight years in jail for rebelling against the government of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. One of those sentenced is a well-known rap singer. The sentence followed a lengthy trial seen by Angola's political opposition as an example of government repression of dissent. The activists were arrested in June after a public reading of a book described as a "blueprint for non-violent resistance."  This is VOA News. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast Wake –n. the after effect, what remains after something has happened Prosecutor –n. a lawyer who represents the government’s case against a defendant Achievement –n. something that is done, or a goal that is reached through effort and work

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Are Teenagers Mature Enough to Vote?

In Ohio’s presidential primary recently, 17-year-olds were permitted to vote. That’s unusual because the voting age in the United States is 18. But during this election campaign, some people want to change the voting rules. In Ohio, a judge ruled that 17-year-olds who turn 18 before the November 8 general election can vote.    Several groups, including Generation Citizen, want local governments to permit all 16- and 17-year-olds to vote. Generation Citizen argues that lowering the voting age will increase interest in government and politics. “A lower voting age would involve parents, teachers, and community members in the process of learning to vote, and ultimately voting themselves, raising adult voter turnout,” said Oliver York, age 16. He is a junior at a San Francisco high school and working with Generation Citizen’s “Vote 16 USA Campaign.” Arguments against lowering the voting age include: 16- and 17-year-olds are not mature enough and would vote the way their parents do. Here is what one person wrote on the website debate.org: “It’s simply the fact that people at 16-17-years-old don't have the emotional or mental maturity of someone 20-years-old. Their minds are still crazed with the chemicals of being a teenager.” Professor Daniel Hart of Rutgers University has studied the arguments on both sides of the voting-age issue. He found knowledge of 16- or 17-year-olds about government is about the same as for 18- and 19-year olds. There is fall off for 15-year-olds, he said. A University of Edinburgh study found many 16- and 17-year-olds do not vote like their parents. The study reported that 40 percent of these younger voters did not vote the same way as mom and dad in Scotland’s 2014 independence referendum. One reason for a lower voting age is that 18 is the worst age for people to begin voting, according to Scott Warren. He is executive director of Generation Citizen. That is because at age 18 many teens leave home for the first time, either for college or a job, he said. They find themselves in a community they do not know very well. And that makes it harder for them to learn about their new community’s voting rules and issues, Warren said. Some countries already permit teens younger than 18 to vote. Some examples from a recent survey by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency: Austria lowered the voting age from 18 to 16 in 2008. Argentina has allowed 16-year-olds to vote since 2012. In Brazil, 16- and 17-year olds and those older than 70 have the option to vote. People aged 18-69 are required to vote. Hungary allows 16- and 17-year-olds to vote if they are married. Serbia allows 16-year-olds to vote if they are employed. Abigail Koerner, age 16, is a junior at a Washington, D.C., high school. She is disappointed she cannot vote for her Democratic presidential candidate -- Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Said Abigail: “I don't know enough about politics quite yet to make a distinction as to which party I affiliate with. But everything Bernie says about healthcare and education would benefit my life and the lives of people around me.” Warren said teens who start voting at 16 or 17 will continue to vote when they reach 18, 19 and 20 -- ages when turnout is now very low. “The United States now ranks 143rd in voter turnout, and we think we should be doing all we can to increase turnout,” Warren said. In 2012, 53.6 percent of the voting-age population voted in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. That compares to 87.2 percent in Belgium, 86.4 percent in Turkey and 82.6 percent in Sweden.  Belgium and Turkey require people to vote.   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   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 process – n. a series of actions that produce something or that lead to a particular result ultimately – adv. at the end of a process, period of time disappoint – v. to make a person unhappy because they cannot do something that they want affiliate – v. to closely connect (something or yourself) with or to something benefit – v. to be useful or helpful

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China Critic Says His Family is Missing

An Internet activist living in New York says Chinese officials have detained three members of his family in southern China. Chinese officials are reportedly searching for the author of an open letter calling for the resignation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Activist Wen Yunchao said his parents and younger brother have been missing since Tuesday. He says the government harassed his family. Wen has been a vocal critic of China’s government. However, he denied involvement in the letter. He said he shared the letter on his Twitter account after it was published in China. Wujie news posted the letter March 4. That was the first day of annual meetings of top Chinese Communist Party officials, known as the National Party Congress. In the letter, Xi is blamed for "unprecedented problems" in China, and it calls for him to step down. A second Chinese reporter is said to have disappeared Tuesday from the Beijing airport as he tried to board a flight to Hong Kong. He has been identified as writer Jia Jia. His lawyer told Western news agencies that police "took away" the writer after he warned other reporters against re-publishing the letter.  Two top editors and two other technicians from that website are also reportedly being held.   Experts say the widening police probe suggests that investigators do not know who wrote the letter and are under pressure to find out. The letter was signed by "Loyal Communist Party Members" and has spread widely by email. Experts say Wujie was designed to report on Xi's economic plan to increase Chinese investment and trade in Asia and Europe. It began operations in September 2015.   President Xi has increased control of Internet coverage in China and removed opinions that differ from Communist Party leaders.  The crackdown has brought harsher punishment for writers and editors whom the government says have spread rumors. I'm Mario Ritter.  Lou Lorscheider reported this story for VOA. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What do you think happened to the critic's family? Please leave us a comment below and post on our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   harass –v. to mistreat or bother in a constant, repeated way vocal –adj. loud or outspoken unprecedented –adj. not seen before probe –n. an investigation, an effort to find out something

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US Warns Against Fines on Poor People

The U.S. Justice Department says that issuing large fines and putting poor people in prison for not paying them is illegal. The law enforcement agency said putting people in jail or prison for not paying fines is unconstitutional. It damages trust in communities and local governments, it said. The Justice Department warning came after a conference in Washington in December. It revealed that some communities relied on fines as a source of revenue. The government found that fines and jailing happened frequently in Ferguson, Missouri. The small community near St. Louis was the center of attention in 2014. That year, street protests occurred after a policeman shot a black teenager to death.   It was reported by multiple media sources that Ferguson’s court fines account for 20 percent of the city’s revenue. Fines were enforced for minor crimes like littering and speeding. Fines would reach over $500. Attorney General Loretta Lynch, the U.S.’s top law enforcement official, said local courts should not fine the poor to pay for the government, and then arrest people who cannot pay the fines. “The consequences of poverty are not only harmful, they are far-reaching,” Lynch said. She continued to say the poor deserve the ability to support their families. I’m George Grow.   Ken Bredemeier wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted his 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   relied - v. to depend on someone or something revenue- n. money that is collected for public use by a government account - v. to think of as consequence - n. something that happens as a result of something else teenager – n. someone who is between 13 and 19 years old littering – v. to throw or leave wastes on the ground in a public place warrants – n. court-approved documents that give police the power to do something

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Pakistanis Bury Children Killed in Terror Attack

Parents Monday began burying the children who were killed in a suicide bombing Sunday at a crowded park in Lahore, Pakistan. Officials put the death toll at 72, including 29 children. The number of injured reached at least 300, Pakistan officials said. Pakistan’s government said it would start a military crackdown on the Taliban group that claimed responsibility for the attack, Reuters reported. The bombing targeted Christians gathered for Easter at a Lahore park popular with families. Pope Francis denounced the attack. So did Malala Yousafzai, the young Nobel Peace Prize-winner who survived a Taliban shooting in Pakistan. “My heart goes out to the victims and their families and friends,” she said. “Every life is precious and must be respected and protected.” A military spokesman said Monday that security forces have arrested some suspects and those who may have helped. The group that claimed responsibility was once part of the Pakistani Taliban. The group is considered to be independent now. The group said the attacker targeted Christians. Mohammad Arshad saw the attack. He criticized security officials for not limiting who could enter or leave the park. The attack has been criticized by national and international leaders. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif went to Lahore Monday morning. He led a meeting of top civilian and security officials. He said the attack would not slow the country’s efforts to end terrorism in Pakistan. Officials have increased the number of security forces in parks and other public areas throughout Pakistan in answer to the attack. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Correspondent Ayaz Gul reported this story from Islamabad. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it into VOA Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   crackdown – n. a serious attempt to punish people for doing something that is not allowed heart – n. the organ in your chest that pumps blood through your veins and arteries

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Mummies Contain Clues to Colon Cancer

From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle report. Colon cancer is linked with obesity, lack of exercise, and a poor diet high in processed foods. However, scientists also have identified genetic mutations connected to the disease. Researchers at Tel Aviv University are studying the evolutionary history of colon cancer. Microbiologist Rina Arbesfeld is with the university. She wanted to answer this genetic question: Where do these mutations come from? Our lifestyle? The environment? Our diet? Or did these mutations also exist a long time ago? In other words, is the increase in the number of cancer cases today the result of natural evolution alone? To answer this question, Arbesfeld turned to an unusual source: Hungarian mummies that were discovered in 1994 in a church. These preserved bodies rested in a cool, dry climate for more than two and half centuries. They give a rare opportunities to research biologists. An embalmer is a person who prepares a body for burial.  Hungarian embalmers used different techniques than Egyptian embalmers. In ancient Egypt, embalmers removed fluids and internal organs. This made mummification of the bodies happen quickly, over a period of two or three months. Hungarians embalmers mummified more slowly. They left the fluids and organs intact. This means the mummies have retained tissue that could be better analyzed for evidence of disease.   Arbesfeld and her team isolated DNA samples from 22 mummies. They then sequenced the genetic material in the hunt for mutations. This was not easy. Arbesfeld says that after many tries, her team found one specific mutation in a gene called APC. This gene is important. The APC gene is known to be involved in the development of cancer. Arbesfeld explains that the APC gene is what she calls the “gatekeeper” for the development of cancer. This information lead Arbesfeld to this hypothesis: If our ancestors with the genetic mutation for colon cancer lived long enough, they would have developed the disease, just like us. Arbesfeld says her next step is to sequence samples from other sources for a larger follow-up study. She says understanding our genetic past can better explain the present. And understanding a disease’s genetic past can help to handle the disease’s future. Cancer of the color kills about 700,000 people a year worldwide. However, it is highly treatable when found early. This study was published in the journal PloS ONE. I’m Anna Matteo.   Let us know what you think of this story or practice using the words “mummy” and “embalm” in the Comments Section. Rosanne Skirble wrote this story for VOA News in Washington. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   mummy – n. a body treated for burial with chemical preservatives, as was done in ancient Egypt mummified – v. to help protect (a dead body) by treating it with oils and covering it in strips of cloth evolution – n. a theory that the differences in living things resulted from natural changes over a very long time embalm – v. to treat (a dead body) with special chemicals to keep it from breaking down; embalmer – n. one who embalms genetic mutations – n. A gene mutation is a permanent change in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene genome sequencing – n. Genome sequencing is figuring out the order of DNA nucleotides, or bases, in a genome—the order of As, Cs, Gs, and Ts that make up an organism's DNA. The human genome is made up of over 3 billion of these genetic letters hypothesis – n. an idea or theory that is not proven but that leads to further study or discussion

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Parents Crack Up Connecticut Easter Egg Hunt

This is What's Trending Today: In America, one big Easter tradition sends children hunting for hidden Easter eggs. Children carry baskets and collect eggs made of chocolate or candy. They search in the house, their yards or a park.   But one egg hunt on Saturday went wrong in the northeastern state of Connecticut. A candy company hosted an egg hunt for children. The company is called PEZ, and it hid more than 9,000 eggs on its property in Connecticut. But way more people showed up than the candy maker expected. The egg hunt was set up on three separate fields, and children would be assigned to hunt for eggs based on their ages. But Monday morning, stories reported parents going out of control at the hunt and made PEZ one of the top trending topics on Facebook. It turns out the parents rushed on to the fields where the eggs were hidden. They said they were trying to get eggs for their children. But instead, they left behind a lot of hurt feelings. One 4-year-old boy told a local television station someone pushed him over and took his eggs. The boy’s bucket for collecting eggs also broke. One employee said the display of parents rushing onto the fields reminded him of locusts. “We did our best,” he said. “Unfortunately, it fell a little short.” Two PEZ pages on Facebook had comments from people saying the event was not organized well, while others said the parents overwhelmed an event designed for kids. The company tried to make up for the chaos by giving people more candy as they were leaving the event, and passing out coupons for future purchases. But in Washington, D.C., at the White House, the picture was very different. On Monday afternoon, President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama hosted their Easter egg roll. It was the last before Obama leaves office after eight years.   The event featured thousands of people outside the White House who came to see the President and first lady read books to children, enjoy the grounds, play games and also roll eggs with long spoons. It is a tradition going back to the late 1800s. And That’s What’s trending Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. What are some Easter traditions in your country? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   locusts –n. a type of grasshopper that travels in very large groups and that can cause great destruction by eating crops chaos –n. confusion and disorder

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