April 22 2016

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/215p1Id
via IFTTT

World Leaders to Sign Climate Agreement on Earth Day

Leaders from 130 nations are gathering at the United Nations to sign the historic climate deal reached in Paris last December. The signing happens on the 46th anniversary of Earth Day. Since 1970, every year people around the world observe the day by doing different activities to clean up the environment. On April 22, 1970, U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson organized the first Earth Day with a “national teach-in on the environment.” Earth Day Network says 20 million Americans gathered in the streets, parks and meeting halls “to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment” in large rallies across the country. This year, more than a billion people will celebrate the day by working for a clean environment. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has urged countries to take action to fix climate change. “That is the only way which we can save this one, only, planet Earth.” Island nations are very vulnerable the stronger storms and rising sea levels brought on by climate change. One example is the Pacific island of Fiji. Super Cyclone Winston crashed into the island nation last February, killing 44 people and causing $1 billion in damage. Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia Bainimarama talked about their fear about the future: “The frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as Winston’s is increasing. And we all have to be fearful about what this means—not only for ourselves, but for future generations.” It was last December, in Paris, France that world leaders worked out the details for the historic agreement. It limits the rise in global temperatures to well below two degrees Celsius. It provides a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – those include pollution from factories and the burning of fossil fuels like coal. The agreement calls for a way to stop the effects of warming the planet. That includes moving towards using renewable energies, like wind and solar— or power from the sun. Putting the plan into action will take several steps. First, the 130 leaders gathering in New York Friday will sign the agreement. Then their governments must ratify – or formally approve it-- to put it into action. Selwin Hart is director of the U.N. Climate Change Support Team. He says the Paris Agreement must cross two important lines to become enforceable. First, at least 55 parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change must ratify the agreement. And those 55 countries must represent 55 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. China and the U.S. are the biggest contributors to the world’s global greenhouse gases. Together, the countries are responsible for about 40 percent of the world’s emissions. Both the U.S. and China support the agreement. They are pushing for its early adoption by all the nations.  The target date to start the agreement is 2020. That could change. If all the countries ratify it quickly, it could happen this year, or in early 2017. I’m Anne Ball.   Margaret Besheer reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sustainable - adj. involving methods that do not completely use up or destroy natural resources vulnerable - adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally greenhouse gas emissions - n. gases released into the air that cause heat to be trapped and heat the planet enforceable - adj. to make sure that people do what is required by (a law, rule, etc.) global - adj. of the whole planet

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1Sev4bb
via IFTTT

Harriet Tubman to Appear on $20 Bill

This is What’s Trending Today… The last time a woman appeared on U.S. paper money was during the 1890s. That woman was Martha Washington, the wife of America’s first president George Washington.   But this week, the U.S. Treasury announced that a woman will soon appear on the $20 bill. African-American abolitionist Harriet Tubman will replace Andrew Jackson, America’s seventh president. Tubman led hundreds of slaves to freedom through what is called the “underground railroad.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew confirmed Wednesday that Tubman will be the first African-American featured on U.S. money. Lew did not say when the new bill would be printed and used. Lew originally announced his plan to put a woman on the $10 bill last June. But, many groups and people urged him to consider putting a woman on the $20, too. That led to the #womenon20s movement on social media. Andrew Jackson was responsible for the Indian Removal Act of 1830. That started what was known as the Trail of Tears -- a forced migration during which thousands of Native Americans died. Tubman grew up a slave in Maryland. She was born in 1822. Most historians believe she was taken from her parents and put to work when she was barely 6 years old. As a young woman, she married John Tubman. She escaped to the north with the help of a white neighbor. Harriet Tubman returned to Maryland to free members of her family and other slaves. She made that trip about 20 times to lead more people to freedom. ​ On social media, people mostly reacted positively to the currency changes. Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders wrote on twitter: “I cannot think of an American hero more deserving of this honor than Harriet Tubman.” ​ But, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump did not like the removal of Andrew Jackson from the $20 bill. He suggested creating a new bill for Tubman to appear on. On Thursday, he told the Today Show. “Maybe we do the $2 bill or we do another bill...Yes, I think it’s pure political correctness.” ​ Tubman will not be the only woman pictured on U.S. paper money. The $10 bill will also be redesigned. The new design will be released in 2020. The first U.S. treasury secretary, Alexander Hamilton, will remain on the front. But the back of the bill will include members of the women's suffrage movement. The back of the $5 bill will have an image of singer Marian Anderson and former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   abolitionist - n. a person who wants to stop or end slavery barely - adj. used to say that someone or something only has a specified small size, age, length, etc. currency - n. the money that a country uses political correctness - (expression) - agreeing with the idea that people should be careful to not use language or behave in a way that could offend a particular group of people suffrage - n. the right to vote in an election

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1T1WIVn
via IFTTT

Japan Investigates Mitsubishi for Fuel Test Cheating

  It is not just Volkswagen trying to manipulate testing of its cars. This time it is a Japanese company, Mitsubishi. The Japanese automaker received a visit Thursday from the country’s chief cabinet secretary. The government wants to investigate Mitsubishi’s fuel efficiency claims. On Wednesday, Mitsubishi president Tetsuro Aikawa admitted that his employees used higher tire pressure during fuel economy tests for small car models. The more air in a tire, the better it will perform on a fuel economy test. The test recorded 10 percent better fuel economy than consumers were seeing on the road. The cheating affects over 600,000 cars produced for Mitsubishi and Nissan. The models are the eK and Dayz Roox passenger cars. The Japanese government promised to deal with Mitsubishi in a “strict manner.” Mitsubishi’s stock price dropped significantly on Wednesday and Thursday after the news of an investigation came out. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by VOANews.com. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think about the cheating by Mitsubishi? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. __________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story strict – adj. demanding that people obey rules or behave in a certain way efficiency – n. the ability to do something or produce something without wasting materials, time, or energy : the quality or degree of being efficient manipulate – v. to deal with or control (someone or something) in a clever and usually unfair or selfish way  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1Sev1fK
via IFTTT

EU Proposed Visa-Free Travel for Ukrainians

  The European Union is considering a proposal to offer visa-free travel to Ukrainians. If approved, the plan would permit Ukrainians to travel for up to 90 days throughout the European Union's 28 member states. The EU Migration Commissioner, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said Wednesday that the Ukrainian government has made successful judicial and security reforms. These include improved efforts against organized crime and better border security, The Wall Street Journal reports. Last December, the EU Migration Commission announced that Ukraine had met its goals listed under the EU Visa Liberalization Action Plan. The proposal now needs approval from the European Parliament and EU member states. If approved, Ukraine would be added to the list of countries whose citizens can travel in the EU without a visa. The Commission stressed that the measure did not give Ukrainians the right to live or work in the EU. Also on Wednesday, Avramopoulos noted that Turkey has made progress in controlling the flow of migrants. He promised to propose visa-travel for Turks early next month if Turkey meets other requirements listed in the European Union action plan. I’m Dorothy Gundy.   This story was based on reporting from VOANews.com and other sources. Ashley Thompson adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   throughout - adv. in or to every part of; from the beginning to the end migration - adj. of or relating to the movement from one country or place to another commissioner - n. a member of a commission; an official who is responsible for a government office or part of a government agency

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1T1WLjV
via IFTTT

Up to 500 Refugees Feared Dead After Boat Sinks

The United Nations says that 500 people may have died when their boat sank in the Mediterranean Sea. On Monday, witnesses and survivors told VOA that a smuggler’s boat turned over with about 500 people on board. It happened on April 8. The Somali government says 200 of its nationals drowned. The United Nations’ refugee agency says the boat was bound for Europe from Libya. It carried people from Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Syria and Egypt. The accident happened somewhere between Libya and Italy as smugglers tried to move some people from a smaller boat to a larger, more crowded boat. The survivors swam to the original boat and were rescued after drifting in the sea for three days. A large ship took them to Greece. The United Nations says almost 180,000 refugees and migrants have reached Europe this year. Almost 800 have died or gone missing. I’m Marsha James.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by VOANews.com. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think about the cheating by Mitsubishi? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drifting – v. to move slowly on water, wind, etc. smuggler – n. a person who moves (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1Sev2QP
via IFTTT

Commonly Confused Words: Part One

  From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Ashley: Before we get started today, Adam, I wanted to ask you about your weekend at home! Adam: It was great, thanks! But the drive was a little tiring. Chicago is a lot further away than I thought. Ashley: Sorry, you mean...Chicago is a lot farther away than you thought. Adam: Yes, that is what I said. Ashley: No, you said “further.” In American English, “further” is usually used for non-physical or figurative distances. “Farther” is the correct word when talking about actual physical distance - or distance that you can measure.   Adam: Non-physical distances? Can you give me an example? Ashley: Sure. If you cannot decide on which presidential candidate to support, you might look further into their positions on important issues. Here there is no actual, measurable distance. Adam: Okay, I guess that makes sense. Farther and further are words that English learners - and even native English speakers - often confuse. The English language is full of commonly confused words. These words may sound the same but mean different things. Or maybe, they are spelled the same but mean different things. Let’s look at some of these commonly confused words.​ Farther and Further We will start with the two words we just mentioned: farther and further. The word farther is usually used as an adverb. In American English, we say farther when talking about a physical, measurable distance. For example, “We walked farther than we had planned.” The word further has several meanings. It can be used as an adverb, adjective, and even a verb. As an adverb, further means “to a greater extent.” For example, “The scientists are looking further into the new research.” As an adjective, further means “more or additional.” For example, “Further research is needed to reach a conclusion.” Notice how there is no physical, measurable distance in these examples. Further can also be a verb. In its verb form, it means “to help the progress of something.” For example, you might hope to “further your career” by learning English. In other words, you hope learning English will help you advance your career. Again, there is no physical, measurable distance. Lose and Loose Our second set of commonly confused words is lose and loose. These are words that even native English speakers confuse. Lose [L-O-S-E] is a verb. Lose has several meanings. It can mean “to be unable to find.” You might tell a forgetful friend, “Don’t lose your keys again!” Lose can also mean “to fail to win something.” For example, “People expected the team to lose the football game.” It can also mean “to have less and less of something over time.” If someone is looking smaller than before, you might ask, “Did you lose weight?” The word loose, [L-O-O-S-E] is usually used as an adjective. Notice that loose ends with a strong “s” sound, while lose, the verb, ends with a “z” sound. Loose has no relation to lose. Loose means “not tight, secure, or attached.” For example, you can have a “loose tooth”, “loose clothing,” or “loose pieces of paper.” Loose can also mean “not exact.” For example, if you try to very quickly translate something from your native language to English, you might be writing a “loose translation.” Accept and Except Another set of commonly confused words is accept and except. Although they are spelled differently, many American English speakers pronounce these words in almost the same way. But, these two words are not interchangeable. Accept [A-C-C-E-P-T] is a verb. To accept means to receive or take something that is offered. For example, if a company offers you a new job, you will probably accept their offer. Except [E-X-C-E-P-T] can be used as a preposition, conjunction or a verb. In general, it means “not including.” For example, the post office is open every day except Sunday. Here’s an example of accept and except in the same sentence. “This machine accepts all coins except pennies.” As a verb, except [E-X-C-E-P-T] means “left out.” It is used in formal speech. You might say “Women were excepted from the study.” As verbs, accept and except have almost opposite meanings, making these two words all the more confusing. And that’s Everyday Grammar for this week. Join us again next week as we take a look at more examples of commonly confused words. I’m Adam Brock. And I’m Ashley Thompson. Ashley Thompson wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Adam Brock and Hai Do were the editors.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    figurative - adj. used with a meaning that is different from the basic meaning extent - n. the range, distance, or space that is covered or affected by something or included in something

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

Music Legend Prince Dead at 57

Born Prince Rogers Nelson, the multi-talented and influential musician is known for such songs as "1999," "Little Red Corvette," and "Purple Rain," the title track of his breakthrough 1984 album and movie.  He sold more than 100 million albums worldwide, won seven Grammys and picked up an Oscar for Best Original Song score for "Purple Rain."

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1SwtX5Q
via IFTTT

News Words: Holy Grail

An old photograph was bought for $2. What makes it a holy grail? Find out in this week's News Words.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1VIP6gv
via IFTTT

Pop Musician Prince Dead at 57

American pop music superstar Prince has died. His representative, Yvette Noel-Schure, told the Associated Press that the performer was found dead at his home near Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was 57 years old. The singer and songwriter was widely praised as one of the most inventive musicians of his time. James Brown, the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix were among the artists that influenced him. Prince was treated at a hospital last week. He was reportedly suffering from the flu. Prince’s hits included "Little Red Corvette," ''Let's Go Crazy" and "When Doves Cry." The Minneapolis native broke through in the late 1970s with the hits "Wanna Be Your Lover" and soared over the following years with such albums as "1999" and "Purple Rain." I’m Caty Weaver. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on Facebook.

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

US Recognizes 10 Global Youth Leaders

The United States government honored ten young people from around the world on Wednesday. The State Department praised the winners of the first-ever Global Emerging Young Leaders Award for making positive social change. Next month, the winners will visit the U.S. to attend a leadership program and meet with people who can support their work. Here are the winners: Basel Almadhoun, from the Palestinian territories, launched a debate club for young people in Gaza. He says the group gives teenagers a way to express their opinions and change their way of thinking. Hillary Briffa, from Malta, helped lead a campaign against violent extremism. She has also led after-school programs on conflict resolution. Jessel Recinos Fernandez of Honduras was raised in a city that has been called “the murder capital of the world.” Soon after becoming a gang member, he was shot. He later founded Skate Brothers, an organization that helps young people avoid gangs. Samuel Grzybowski, from France, founded Coexister, a group that invites young people with different religious beliefs to come together. The hashtag of the group’s members, #NousSommesUnis (We are united), was the most re-tweeted French hashtag after the terror attacks on Paris last November. Asha Hassan, from Kenya, is an ethnic Somali. She uses youth-led groups to improve contacts among ethnic clans in her home community. She teaches children the value of life and warns them of the dangers of joining extremist groups. Ahmad Shakib Mohsanyar, from Afghanistan, founded a social media campaign called "Afghanistan Needs You." The campaign is aimed at disputing the idea that young people need to leave Afghanistan for a better life. Ahlem Nasraoui of Tunisia started a Peace Mediators program to oppose terrorism and extremism. The program teaches young people leadership, arts and mediation skills. She also helps women and girls set up their own businesses. Nino Nanitashvili, from Georgia, uses new technology to help support peace building and development. She leads a group for women in technology. She has spoken in parliament and at Google’s headquarters in California about how technology can improve civic life. Thinzar Shunlei Yi, from Myanmar, works for Burma’s National Youth Congress and the National Youth Network. She also helped organize the ASEAN Youth Forum. She also held a United Nations International Youth Day event that raised awareness about mental health issues. Zulfirman Rahyantel, from Indonesia, organized discussions about hatred, loss and other feelings among people in Ambon. The city experienced 10 years of violence between opposing religious groups. I’m Mario Ritter. Nike Ching reported this story for VOANews.com. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   positive - adj. useful or good club - n. a group of people who meet to take part in an activity teenager - n. someone between 13 and 19 years old gang - n. a group of criminals; a group of young people who often do illegal things together mediation - n. intervention between conflicting sides in support of a settlement or compromise

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2110ggj
via IFTTT