News America

Thursday, April 14, 2016

VOA English Newscast: 1500 UTC, April 14, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Ira Mellman reporting. Russia defends a close encounter with a U.S. warship… Russia says its aircraft observed all international rules when they flew over a U.S. warship in international waters in the Baltic Sea earlier this week. The Russian Defense Ministry said Thursday that its SU-24 planes were conducting test flights. In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said two Russian attack aircraft flew some 20 passes near the USS Donald Cook while the ship was in international waters. "There have been repeated incidents over the last year where the Russian military, including Russian military aircraft, have come close enough to each other - or have come close enough to other air and sea traffic - to raise serious safety concerns." The Donald Cook had just come from a port visit in Poland, when the flyovers occurred. It was headed out to sea with a Polish helicopter on board. NATO has been asked to provide a permanent presence of battalion-sized deployments of allied troops in the Baltic States. And Moscow denies any intention to attack the Baltic states. For the first time in 16 years, a South Korean ruling party has failed to win a majority in a legislative election. The surprise losses suffered by President Park Geun-hye's Saenuri Party Wednesday revealed widespread public discontent with her conservative economic policies and growing division over her "get tough" approach to the North Korean nuclear threat. The favored Saenuri party won only 122 out of 300 seats in the South Korean National Assembly, according to the National Election Commission. The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea won 123 seats in the unicameral parliament. This is VOA News. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast encounter – n. an unplanned or unexpected meeting warship – n. a military or navy ship planes – n. short for airplane conducting – v. carrying out; performing occurred – v. happened; took place on board – adj. carried on a vehicle battalion – n. a large, organized group of soldiers Moscow – n. a term for the Russian government revealed – v. make known; make public discontent – n. dissatisfaction; unhappiness get tough – adj. showing firmness and wiliness to act if necessary approach – n. a policy or method favored – adj. considered likely to win according – adv. as stated by or in unicameral – adj. having only one part We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Religious Leader Says Saudi Women Should Not Drive

Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world that does not allow women to drive. And it is likely to stay that way, if the country’s top religious cleric has his way. Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al Sheikh argued that allowing women to drive is “a dangerous matter that exposes women to evil,” according to the Associated Press. What did he mean by that? He said men with "weak spirits" who are "obsessed with women" could cause female drivers harm and that family members would not know where the women were. He spoke on the religious channel, al-Majd. The Saudi kingdom follows an ultraconservative version of Islam that includes many restrictions on women. While there is no actual law against women driving, the Saudi government does not permit women to get drivers’ licenses. Women’s rights activists have driven cars to protest the ban, posting images of themselves driving on social media. Some have been arrested. Women must rely on hired male drivers, or male relatives, to get them to work or to go shopping, or anywhere else they might need or want to go. The Los Angeles Times reports that Saudi women are increasingly using the driver service Uber to get around. They do so because the taxi system is described as “sometimes chaotic,” says The Los Angeles Times. The mass transit system is poorly run and the cost of hiring a chauffeur, a regular driver just for one person, is high. The newspaper says a woman using public transportation alone, without a male, is “often seen as lacking morals.” So the country is seeing a rise in smartphone-based ride services. In addition to Uber, Saudi women also use a company called Careem to get around. In addition to not being able to drive or go out alone, women face other restrictions in Saudi Arabia under its form of Islam. The Week website says they are not allowed to mix with men in public places. They cannot open a bank account without their husband’s agreement. They must cover up their bodies. Most women must wear an abaya -- a long black robe that fits over their clothes and has a head scarf. Religious police on the streets go after women who show too much of their body or wear too much makeup. Many public buildings have separate entrances for men and women, according to The Daily Telegraph. This is because women can only spend limited time with men who are not family members. If there is unlawful mixing, the newspaper says, criminal charges can be filed against both parties. But usually the women get a stronger punishment. Saudi women represented their country at the 2012 London Olympics for the first time. Conservative clerics called them prostitutes, says The Week. Still, the women athletes had to have male guardians with them and cover their hair. But progress is being made in at least one area. For the first time, women could vote, and run for office, in local elections in 2015. It was the only the third time elections have been held in Saudi Arabia for either women or men. And it was the first time women were elected as politicians in the Saudi Kingdom. I’m Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this for Learning English from several news sources. Kathleen Struck was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on Facebook. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cleric – n. a religious leader ultraconservative –adj. person or organization that takes a very conservative opinion on something chaotic – adj. complete confusion or disorder prostitutes –n. women who get paid to have sex with people

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Religious Leader Says Saudi Women Should Not Drive

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Ceasefire in Syria Close to Collapse

The ceasefire that began in February in Syria is close to collapsing, say those in the conflict. Rebel fighters and politicians opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad have been working together to unseat him. After five years, the United States and Russia negotiated a ceasefire. But activists say government and Russian forces violated the ceasefire at least 66 times during a recent 48-hour period. They say almost 100 people -- including seven children and five women -- were killed in government airstrikes. The rebels say they expect the government to attack them in the city of Aleppo. Bassma Kodmani negotiates for the rebels. Peace talks are to begin in Geneva, Switzerland this week. On Sunday, he warned that over the previous 10 days there had been a “serious deterioration to the point where the ceasefire is about to collapse.” Both the government and rebels have blamed each other for violating the ceasefire. United Nations officials have said the government has stopped aid to some important towns held by the rebels. There was a sharp increase in fighting during the weekend. On Monday, Islamic State terrorists took back an important town in northern Syria. The town of al-Rai, close to the border with Turkey, was captured by the militants. Observers said rebels failed in al-Rai because fighter jets flown by an international coalition failed to support them. Since the end of March, rebels have seized 12 villages from Islamic State militants. The villages are near the Syria-Turkey border. IS did not agree to the ceasefire, which took effect February 27. On Monday, rebel groups launched attacks in the provinces of Aleppo, Hama and Latakia. The coastal province of Latakia is controlled by the Alawite sect. Assad is an Alawite. If the ceasefire collapses, peace talks may not take place. Little progress was made in earlier talks. The major issue is the future of President Assad. The rebels say he must leave office and not be part of any transition government. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise. Jamie Dettmer reported this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise 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 unseat - v. to remove (someone or something) from a position of power deterioration – n. the act or process of becoming worse sect – n. a religious group that is a smaller part of a larger group and whose members all share similar beliefs transition – adj. a change from one state or condition to another

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Twelve US Places Often Mispronounced

Place names in the United States are a hodgepodge, a seemingly random collection, of different languages. This can make pronunciations a bit difficult, even for people who live here. From the Pacific Northwest to the eastern shores, some names are infamous in this regard. Let’s talk about 12 of them. We begin in the Pacific Northwest. As with most parts of the United States, this area is heavily influenced by its rich Native American history and culture. 1. Spokane, Washington The correct pronunciation of the capital of Washington State is “Spo-CAN,” not “Spo-CANE.” The name Spokane comes from a Native American tribe. It means “children of the sun.” This city is located in the northwestern part of the United States. Spokane is known for its natural beauty. The residents are very outdoorsy, meaning they like to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking and biking. Moving down the coast, we come to California. Many names in this state come from the early Spanish settlers. 2. La Jolla, California This sun-drenched town is commonly mispronounced “La JOL-LA.” But the correct pronunciation is “La HOY-a.” La Jolla is a seaside community located within the city of San Diego, California. It is still unclear whether La Jolla’s name comes from the Spanish word “La Joya,” meaning “the jewel,” or from the Native American term (woholle) meaning “hole in the mountains." But moving east across the United States, we come to not a state but a national park. 3. Yosemite National Park This national park is grand and beautiful … and often mispronounced. It is not “Yo-SE-mi-nee” or “YO-se-MIGHT.” But rather “Yoh-sem-it-ee.” At the end, don’t forget to say the “t” at the end. Yosemite National Park is set within California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains. This park is known for its giant, ancient sequoia trees and for other breath-taking mountain scenes. Photographer Ansel Adams is famous for his black-and-white photographs of this national treasure. 4. Helena, Montana The capital city of Montana is pronounced “HELL-e-na,” not “Hel-AY-na.” That is how most women named Helena say their name. Helena is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, between Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. However, the city’s founders did not come for the scenery. They came to look for gold. It was first called Saint Helena. But the locals dropped the Saint and kept Helena. Besides its Gold Rush history, Helena is also a popular destination for people who like to do things outdoors, such as hiking, biking, fishing and camping. Helena is known for its trail system -- 120 kilometers (75 miles) of hiking and biking trails. Moving inland, we come to a state that does not sound as it is spelled. 5. Arkansas The name Arkansas means “south wind.” It comes from (akansa), a word used by some Native Americans to describe an early tribe in the area. The pronunciation “Ark-an-saw” follows the French custom of not pronouncing the final “s.” This state is known for its rich mineral reserves and natural beauty. But the city of Hope, Arkansas is more famously known as the birthplace of former U.S. president Bill Clinton. 6. Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania This is a college town in the eastern state of Pennsylvania. The “e” at the end may confuse some people. It is not “Willks-BAR” but rather “Willks-BARRY.” Do not drop the last “e” as common sense, and French speakers, would suggest. 7. Schenectady, New York This city in New York State is pronounced “ski-NEK-tuh-dee.” The Mohawk tribe of the Iroquois Nation originally called this area "Schau-naugh-ta-da," meaning “over the pine plains.” As Dutch settlers came to the area in the 17th century, the spelling changed. The great inventor Thomas Edison founded the General Electric Company in this city. In the 1900s, the American Locomotive Company also made most of its trains there. Now, we move from upstate New York into New York City. In the Big Apple, as it is called, there are two names that are often mispronounced. 8. Houston Street, New York City Houston is a big city in the state of Texas. But if you are on a street in New York City’s funky Lower East Side, you do not pronounce it that way. Pronounce it “HOW-ston Street and you will keep your street cred. 9. Carnegie Hall, New York Also while visiting New York City, if you attend a music show at this famous concert hall, make sure to pronounce it properly. It is “ker-NEGG-ee” not “CAR-na-gee.” The stress is on the middle syllable. 10. Worcester, Massachusetts Like the city of the same name in England, the correct pronunciation is WUSS-TER. It is not WOR-ches-ter or WOR-sess-ter. Incorporated as a town in 1722, Worcester, Massachusetts, is now a vibrant, bustling city with a population of over 180,000. This makes it one of the largest cities in New England. Now we move to the South. 11. Louisville, Kentucky If you want to sound like a true southerner, pronounce this city in Kentucky as “LOO-i-vul” not “LOO-iss-vill” and definitely not “LOO-i-vill.” If you do, they will think you’re a Yankee from the North. Louisville is historically a mining and agricultural city. And its position on the Ohio River also made it an important hub for transporting goods by water. These days, the city has a diverse and vibrant economy. Louisville is also famous as the home of the Kentucky Derby horse race. 12. Kissimmee, Florida This one is easy to remember. You are not asking for someone to kiss you. So do not say “KISS-a-mee.” It’s “ka-SIM-mee.” This city is located in the center of Florida. This is another name that comes from a Native American tribe. However, it is not known whether Kissimmee means “long waters,” as in the Kissimmee River, or it refers to the place where mulberries grow. But we do know the name has nothing to with kissing. So, now if you read about or visit any of these places in the United States, you will know how to say their names! I’m Anna Matteo. I'm Jonathan Evans. Anna Matteo wrote this article for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story hodgepodge – n. a mixture of different things outdoorsy – adj. enjoying outdoor activities scenic – adj. having, providing, or relating to a pleasing or beautiful view of nature sequoia – n. a very tall evergreen tree that grows in California foothill – n. a hill next to a higher mountain or group of mountains destination – n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent trail – n. a beaten path through rough country such as a forest or mountain range street cred – n. the acceptance and respect of people who live in a city neighborhood vibrant – adj. having or showing great life, activity, and energy bustling – adj. to have a lot of busy activity hub – n. a center of activity diverse – adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other

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Coachella First: DJ as Leading Performer

The dreamy 10-day California music festival, Coachella, opens Friday, starring three very different artists. Electronic rock band LCD Soundsystem headlines Friday nights. The classic heavy metal band Guns ‘n’ Roses is the main performer for Saturdays. And Sundays feature Scottish DJ and singer Calvin Harris. LCD Soundsystem broke up in 2011. But last year, the group released a single. The band’s reunion was announced soon after. Now they are on tour, including appearances at several music fests. The band has won three Grammy awards, including one in 2006 for the song “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House.” Daft Punk is another popular electronic band. Guns ‘n’ Roses has been around since 1985 and won huge success early on. Band members have come and gone and come again. The song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was the group’s only song to go to No. 1 on Billboard magazine’s “Hot 100” list of popular songs. Lead singer Axl Rose wrote it for his love interest at the time. Some of the band members did not like the song at first. But it helped Guns ‘n’ Roses cross over to non-rock radio play. It also helped sell 30 million copies of the group’s first album “Appetite for Destruction.” Calvin Harris has played Coachella before. But this is his first headline appearance. It is also the first time a DJ has starred at the festival. It is not a surprising choice for Coachella organizers, however. In 2014, Harris reportedly attracted the second-largest crowd ever at the event. This year maybe he will break the record. It would not hurt if his girlfriend attends the festival. She happens to be America’s top earning performer, Taylor Swift. Harris and Swift just celebrated their first year anniversary last month. Coachella takes place in the desert town of Indio, California. It runs through April 24. I’m Dorothy Gundy. Caty Weaver wrote this story for VOA Learning English. _____________ was the editor. Have you been to a big music festival? Tell us about it in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story festival – n. an organized series of performances classic – adj. used to say that something has come to be considered one of the best of its kind tour – n. a series of related performances, appearances, competitions, etc., that occur at different places over a period of time

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US Taxes Low Compared to Other Countries

Taxpayers in America pay less in income tax than many Europeans, according to a Pew Research Center report. Belgium has the highest income tax rate, at nearly 56 percent of income, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD. Taxpayers in the U.S. pay less than 36 percent of their incomes into the national treasury. Taxes pay for services provided by the government. The U.S. ranks 25 of the 34 developed countries polled in the report. An unmarried person with no children was used as an example in the report. In America, an unmarried person, with no children, making the average wage of $50,000 in 2014 paid 24.8 percent of their income in federal income tax and payroll taxes. A similar person living in Belgium would pay 42.3 percent of their income. The average among the 39 countries in the poll was 27.3 percent income tax. South Korea and Canada had two of the lowest tax rates. The tax rate in South Korea for a married couple with two children is between 10 percent and 20 percent. An unmarried person in Canada with two children has a tax rate below 10 percent. The deadline to pay taxes in America is usually April 15. This year, the deadline is April 18. American taxpayers complain that wealthy people and corporations pay too little tax, according to a Pew Research Center poll from 2015. Americans pay tax to fund programs like Social Security and Medicaid, according to the Pew Research Center. Last year, American taxes paid for $888 billion in Social Security benefits. Social Security pays the elderly an income after they stop working. The government also paid more than $546 billion in Medicaid and Medicare benefits. Those programs pay for health and medical care to people who cannot afford it, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. I’m Jim Dresbach. VOANews.com reported on this story. Jim Dresbach adapted this story for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor. How much in income tax do you pay? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story treasury – n. the place where the money of a government is kept tax rate – n. percentage at which an individual or corporation is taxed payroll tax – n. a tax that is paid by a company and that is based on the amount of money that the company spends paying all of its employees deadline – n. a date or time when something must be finished: the last day, hour or minute that something will be accepted

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Successful Debate for Expressing Opinions

Teachers of English may hesitate to teach debate because they think it is beyond their students’ language ability, or proficiency. But debate can be a powerful tool. It can help students learn to speak naturally and to listen carefully. Professor Charles Lebeau teaches English and debate in Japan. He wrote “Discover Debate” with Michael Lubetsky. The book helps English teachers and learners understand how to carry on a simple debate. The “Discover Debate” approach has three stages: creating a visual aid to communicate an argument, presenting the argument and answering the other team’s argument. Each stage puts increasing demands on language ability. It begins with a pre-debate experience. Good topics for debate When teaching debate to English learners, Mr. Lebeau recommends beginning with “controlled practice.” Students work in pairs to practice saying opinions and giving reasons in short conversations. They learn to identify opinions and arguments about everyday topics, such as sports stars, foods, weather and habits. This controlled practice gives students the basic language skills they need to carry on a debate. Teachers may be tempted to give students serious topics, such as “People should stop using nuclear power.” However, Mr. Lebeau cautions that English learners may not have the necessary language ability to handle such topics. More serious topics often require special vocabulary and research. “When I’m introducing specific skills, step-by-step, I want to use a really simple, fun topic, so they already can understand the content. The content is not part of the challenge; the vocabulary is not part of the challenge, it’s something they are very, very familiar with, so we can focus on the skills. So the topics for introducing the skills can be simple and fun – like, for example, cats make better pets than dogs.” Organizing debate in large classes Mr. Lebeau’s classes in Japan are like many in universities; they have 40 to 50 students. He has students form debate teams of three or six, depending on the total number of students. Each team creates a visual aid to show their thinking on the topic. In last week’s article, we explained the visual aid. The visual is a house: a roof represents an opinion, pillars are the reasons supporting the opinion and the foundation is the evidence. Mr. Lebeau says creating the visual aid is not a verbal skill. It is a thinking skill. Language proficiency, he says, is not really required. In the next stage, students present their argument. They have to do some talking, but not too much. “They point to the visual, to the house, ‘this is our opinion’ - the opinion is on the house. 'These are our reasons.' And the reasons are on the house. 'Let me explain each reason.' The visual can do a lot of the talking for the team; for the student.” The third stage is answering the opposing team’s argument. Here, debaters need a higher level of language ability. Mr. Lebeau recommends pausing for the opposing team to develop their answers, or refutations. Each team might go to a different area and discuss the weak points in the opposing argument. Students must first think about the arguments carefully. In “Discover Debate,” Michael Lubetsky and Charles Lebeau include a guide to help students evaluate arguments. The evaluation also takes advantage of the visual aid of a house. Students are asked to look for building flaws, or problems. They identify things that are either “not true” or “not important.” Students can write easily remembered abbreviations and simple statements on their opponents’ houses: “NT” for not true, “NAT” for not always true, or “NNT” for not necessarily true. For true statements they feel are not important, they can also write “It’s not relevant,” “It’s not significant” or “It’s easy to solve.” These simple expressions make it easier for students to refute their opponents’ arguments. “Cats are cheaper than dogs - maybe they’re a couple dollars cheaper so it’s not really significant. And it’s easy to solve: Cats are cleaner than dogs, yes, in general, that’s true, but it’s easy to solve, give your dog a bath. They can draw these on the house, and what it does is, it takes away some of the pressure on the speaking.” After the break, the teams return to debating. Each side takes a turn answering the other side’s arguments. Mr. Lebeau says teams can be divided so three students present the case and a different three students present the refutations. “With a large class I’ll have several debates running at the same time. I’ll direct traffic with a stopwatch and say, 'Okay, time's up, so next, it's the other team's turn.' We can manage a large class that way.” A briefer debate structure Traditional debate, as we described in our previous article, includes several cycles of presentation and refutation. For English learners, one cycle of presentation and refutation is usually enough practice. “Just having the team present their case, and present their refutations, is sufficient, and usually a lot of fun, and everyone feels that they have accomplished something. I always tell them, ‘Everyone’s a winner, we’ve all done a good job.’” Mr. Lebeau says sometimes he asks the rest of the class to vote on which side won. Asking for audience feedback gives the lesson a good ending. But, he says, additional discussion depends on the situation and the level of the students. Next week, in Part Three of “Successful Debate,” we will explain the reasons for learning to debate in business as well as in the academic world. We learn how debating gives students a better understanding of Western culture and lets students practice critical thinking. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly. I’m Jonathan Evans. Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story caution - v. to warn or tell (someone) about a possible danger, problem, etc. refutation - n. act of proving that something is not true flaw - n. weak point abbreviation - n. a shortened form of a word or name that is used in place of the full word or name proficiency - n. how well a person does something Now it’s your turn. Do you teach or study debate? What approach works for you? Write to us in the comments section.

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Which Apps Drain Your Phone’s Battery?

Does your mobile phone’s battery die more quickly than it once did? Apps may be the problem. Even if you did not add new apps to your phone, an app update alone can use lots of battery power. But you can check your apps to see how much battery they have been using. If an app you do not use much requires a lot of battery power, you might want to remove it from your phone. How to Check Which Apps Are Using Battery iPhone and iPad To check an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, then go to Battery. Recent battery use percentages for each app will appear. The device measures use in the last 24 hours and last seven days. You can also see whether an app has been using battery life to update. Tap on the clock icon for either last 24 hours or last seven days. That will show how much time the app has been open on your screen and how much time it has spent working. Android Android phones can show you which apps have used the most battery recently. Note that different versions of the Android operating system may have different settings. Open the Settings app. Tap Battery. In older Androids, go to Settings, then Device, then Battery. Another path might be Settings to Power to Battery Use. Scroll down to see which phone functions are using your battery most. The list will include recently used apps. Each app has a percentage to show you how much battery it has used lately. You may see an app that has used a lot of battery although you have not used the app much. You can force a stop to that app to prevent it from using more battery. To force the app to stop, tap on it in the list. A screen with a button image will appear. A touch of the button will stop the app. You can also report the app to Google. Below the button is a list of more information about how much power and data the app used. I’m Caty Weaver. Carolyn Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Which apps use the most battery on your phone? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mobile - n. able to move from one place to another battery - n. a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a clock, toy, or car) to supply it with electricity update - n. a change or addition to computer software that includes the most recent information percentage - n. a number or rate that is expressed as a certain number of parts of something divided into 100 parts scroll - v. o move text or images of a Web page, document, etc., up, down, or to the side on a computer screen so that you can see all of it function - n. the special purpose or activity for which a thing exists or is used

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April 13, 2016

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

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VOA English Newscast: 1600 UTC April 13, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Sarah Williams reporting. Macedonian police have fired tear gas and stun grenades at a crowd of migrants trying to climb a fence on its border with Greece. Reports said about 30 people were in the group trying to scale a fence Wednesday at the closed Idomeni border crossing in northern Greece. The incident came after similar clashes on Sunday at the same place, when police fired tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets and water cannon at a group of migrants, leaving scores injured. On Sunday, someone had scattered notices throughout the camp spreading a rumor that the border was open. Greek authorities accuse the Macedonians of overreacting, and (Greece) is investigating where the false flyers came from. International Monetary Fund experts say the risks of financial instability have risen in wealthy nations, and remain high in emerging markets. Jose Vinals, a senior IMF official, told journalists Wednesday that recent market turmoil reflects faltering growth, rising uncertainty and falling confidence among investors and others. He said financial markets have recovered much of the ground lost early this year, but he calls that a warning that work needs to be done, not a sign that the danger has passed. Exit polls in South Korea indicate opponents to President Park Geun-hye's conservative Saenuri Party are doing better than expected in Wednesday's legislative election, and may deny the ruling party a clear majority in the National Assembly. Recent polls had shown strong public support for Park, particularly for her tough stance on national security taken against the growing North Korean nuclear threat. This is VOA News. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast stun grenade – n. an explosive device also known as a sound bomb migrant – n. a person who moves from one place to another, usually to find work scale – v. to climb water cannon – n. a device that shoots water at high speeds scores – n. large numbers of people scattered – v. to separate and go in different directions notice – n. a written statement or announcement rumor – n. an unconfirmed report flyer – n. a piece of paper with information printed on it instability – n. unrest; a lack of security emerging – adj. newly created or growing in strength senior – adj. an individual who has a higher position than other people journalist – n. a news media worker cessation – n. stoppage; suspension turmoil – n. unrest; disorder reflects – v. to show (something) or make (something) known faltering – v. failing; weakening uncertainly – n. a situation involving unknown information confidence – n. being sure of something recovered much of the ground – phrase. regaining value or rising in price exit polls – n. opinion studies, or studies, taken after people have voted indicate – v. to show particularly – adv. more than usually tough – adj. strong; form stance - n. position We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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