English in a Minute: Moving Target

Are Jonathan and Anna talking about shooting a bow and arrow? Find out what "moving target" means in this week's English in a Minute!

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'Lemonade' Flavors Beyonce's Tour Opening

  Beyonce opened her Formation World Tour to a full house on April 27 in Miami, Florida. The pop superstar started the show with songs from her album "Lemonade,'' released just a few days earlier. The album release also came with a special television program starring Beyonce on the cable station HBO. Much of “Lemonade” appears to be tied to Beyonce's life. Lyrics like, "Are you cheating on me?'' raised questions of whether her famous husband, Jay Z, had been involved with another woman.   Beyonce came onto the stage wearing black leather and a big country-western hat. Her performance included huge red lights and fireworks. Images of an electrical storm played on a screen behind her during one emotional song.    During the concert, Beyonce did not talk about her husband except for a quick “thank you” at the end. She also said little about her new album, except that her favorite song from it is "All Night.'' It begins with the line, "I've found the truth beneath your lies.'' She also did a quick cover of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams.'' And she sang her song “Halo” in memory of the pop star Prince, who died last week. She thanked him for his “beautiful music” and told the crowd, “He's an artist that inspired all of us.''   Later, images of Jay Z holding the couple's newborn child played as she sang. Wednesday's show also included a video from Jay Z’s grandmother on her 90th birthday. In the video, she said she turned life's lemons into lemonade.   Beyonce’s album is expected to sell hundreds of thousands of copies in its first week. Billboard magazine says it is likely headed to the number-one place on its weekly Top 200 list of album sales. Both Beyonce and her husband have appeared in photographs this week in which they are not wearing their wedding rings. But it is not clear if that means anything. Beyonce’s messages have seemed somewhat mixed. She did thank Jay Z with a song at the concert, saying “I want to dedicate this song to my beautiful husband. I love you so much.” Of course, “Lemonade” can be both sweet and sour. I’m Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver adapted this story from an Associated Press article, with additional reporting. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   full house - expression a theater or concert hall that is filled with spectators lyrics - n. the words of a song stage - n. a raised platform in a theater, auditorium, etc., where the performers stand​ cover - n. a recording or performance of a song that was previously recorded by someone else​ inspire - v. to make (someone) want to do something : to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create​

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Report: Press Freedom Declines to Lowest Point in 12 Years

  A new report says freedom of the press declined worldwide last year to its lowest point in more than ten years. Freedom House, a group that supports freedom and democracy, said only one person in seven lives in a country where reporters’ safety is guaranteed, and where media are not restricted or pressured by the government. The report says media freedom worldwide has declined for the past 12 years. Jennifer Dunham of Freedom House described several reasons for the decline. “One is the, really the heightened level of violence against journalists around the world in, in various settings. And another primary reason is, kind of, the heightened level of polarization, or partisanship, in several different types of media environments.” Powerful media owners and armed militants pressure reporters to support political groups rather than to report objectively on all groups. And dictators and other anti-democratic political leaders are trying to stop independent reporting. The most dangerous subjects to write about include corruption, land development, religion, and crimes committed by organized groups. Reporting from areas of conflict and war Ms. Dunham says reporting from areas where conflict or wars are taking place has become so dangerous and deadly that reporters struggle to get information from those places. “In Syria and Iraq, we do see just reporters having to risk their lives to get any type of news whatsoever. And, you know, Syria was the place with the highest number [14] of journalists deaths in 2015.” Reporters’ lives are also endangered in nations with high crime rates. These nations include Mexico and some Central American countries, where local officials are paid bribes by powerful groups of criminals that grow, sell and transport illegal drugs. Freedom is also limited in cyberspace. Many countries limit access to websites that may report criticisms of their governments. And China has more reporters in prison than any other country. Officials there are also starting to examine more closely reporting on the economy and other subjects that were at one time considered safe to report on. Sarah Repucci also works at Freedom House. “There’s government bans on certain topics that journalists choose to override, and choose to report on anyway, or choose to try to do investigative reporting on certain taboo subjects, like corruption of influential people.” The Freedom House report says journalists throughout the world refuse to stop trying to get information and report about it even though they face intimidation, danger and even death. Russia Russia is one of the countries that make life difficult for reporters. Russia often stops foreign reporters from entering areas it controls. Russia and other countries want people to know only their position on events, not the complete truth. Media experts say press freedoms in Russia have been weakened by President Vladimir Putin. They say his government has increased state ownership of and influence on media. And it has restricted reporting that is critical of the government. Most Russians learn about news events from television reports. The government has targeted television reporters. Most television stations are now completely controlled by the government. However, one station in the Russian capital -- TV Rain -- remains independent. The privately-owned station is one of the few broadcasters in Russia that regularly reports criticisms of government policies. Natalia Shanetskaya reports the news on TV Rain. “We’re not a politically-motivated network. We don’t really see it as our goal to, you know, to challenge the political establishment or anything like that. You know, we just try to be as objective as we can and, and, and that’s really what we’re about.” Many of the employees of TV Rain decided to work there because it was independent of the government. Some of them left other television stations as the government increased its control. Shanetskaya is one of them. “Because I actually quit RT (Russia Today) about a month before the Crimea events. I just had a feeling that things there were tightening in a very uncomfortable way. And, as somebody who was there from the beginning, I found that disturbing.” But refusing to report only positive news about the government, like state media do, has hurt TV Rain. The station reported criticisms of Soviet military strategy during World War II. The government didn’t like the story, and pressured cable companies to drop the channel in 2014.   Many people believe the government was looking for any reason to take action against the station. They include Ilya Klishin, the chief of digital media at TV Rain. “I sincerely believe that if it was, wasn’t that story about, like, the siege of Leningrad they would find something else. Like, it was just a matter of days or weeks.” In an attempt to survive, TV Rain began putting its programs online for people who paid a fee. Seventy thousand people now pay to see the programs, and its website gets millions of page views every month. But Klishin says TV Rain, like all Russian media, is being restricted by the government in what it can report. “We cover everything that doesn’t violate Russian criminal laws.  But, at some point, Russian criminal laws now are contradicting the issues of, of freedom of speech.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA Correspondent Zlatica Hoke reported on the Freedom House report from Washington. Correspondent Daniel Schearf reported on Russia Media Freedom from Moscow. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reports into Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly 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   polarization – n. people and groups separated into opposing groups partisanship – n. strong support for a particular leader, group or cause objectively – adv. based on facts rather than feelings or opinions override – v. to ignore; to defy; to make (something) no longer valid taboo – adj. not acceptable to talk about or do contradict – v. to say the opposite of (something that someone else has said); to deny the truth of (something)

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Bison: America's New National Mammal?

  This is What’s Trending Today…. The bald eagle is the only “national” animal of the United States. But that could soon change. The U.S. government may soon recognize the bison as the national mammal. This week, both houses of Congress approved a bill called the “National Bison Legacy Act.” The bill would officially recognize the wild animal as the national mammal. The measure now goes to President Barack Obama. If he signs the bill, it becomes a law. Bison, also called buffalo, are the largest land animals in North America. They are hairy and have a big head and short horns. U.S. lawmakers called the bison a sign of American strength. Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico spoke in support of the bill. He said that “recognition of our new national mammal will bring a new source of pride for Americans -- just like the bald eagle” and bring greater attention to protecting the species. Many years ago, bison were almost extinct in North America. On social people, many people expressed support for the move. They also praised Republican and Democratic lawmakers for being able to agree on something. ​But, one reporter joked on social media that choosing the bison as the national mammal was “bad news for humans.” Human beings, of course, are also mammals. ​Bison already appear on the state flags of Kansas and Wyoming. Bison are also on the official seal of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Tens of millions of bison once lived throughout an area stretching from central Canada south through the Great Plains and northern Mexico. After many years of hunting, the population fell to about one thousand or fewer by the late 1800s. Now, there are about 30,000 wild bison. The largest population lives in Yellowstone National Park. ​Efforts to give the bison special recognition began about five years ago. Native Americans on the InterTribal Buffalo Council joined with wildlife groups to create a “National Bison Day.” The observance recognizes the importance of the animal’s role in providing food, shelter, and clothing for many Native Americans before European settlement. National Bison Day is held on the first Saturday in November. And That’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Ashley Thompson adapted this report from an Associated Press story. George Grow was the editor.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   mammal - n. a type of animal that feeds milk to its young and that usually has hair or fur covering most of its skin​ species - n. a group of animals that are similar and can produce young animals  extinct - adj. no longer existing seal - n. an official mark that is stamped on paper or on a small piece of wax to show that something (such as a document) is genuine and has been officially approved role - n. the part that someone or something has in a family, society, or other group  

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Italy: NATO Force to Deploy in Mediterranean

  Italy says an international force aimed at limiting the number of people sailing from Libya to Europe could be ready by July. Some observers are worried that the number of people arriving in Europe could jump because travel by land through Greece and the Balkans remains blocked. Most of the new arrivals are migrants. They have fled their home country and chosen to go overseas, usually for economic reasons. Libyan security forces raided a home in the city of Tripoli last week. They detained more than 200 migrants from across Africa. They also captured a suspected smuggler. More than 16,000 people sailed from North Africa to Italy in the first three months of 2016. That is almost two times as many as the number who traveled across the Mediterranean during the same period in 2015. The United States has offered to support a proposed naval operation off the coast of Libya. The international force would be under the command of NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization). But it is not known what the ships would do if they find migrants in boats sailing for Europe. Riccardo Fabiani is a policy expert at the Eurasia Group. He said some observers say the migrants will be returned to their home countries in Africa. But he said it is clear that the African governments do not support that plan. And he said that returning them to Libya is not under consideration because the Libyan government does not have the ability to care for them. Western nations hope to increase Libya’s ability to feed and house the refugees by supporting a new unity government in the country. It is known as the Government of National Accord. Its goal is to persuade competing groups from the eastern and western parts of the country to work together. Fabiani said the unity government is “taking over ministries and taking over departments and taking over government buildings, and there is backing at most levels for it; however, the situation in the east is very different. And that is where I think we are facing a stalemate.” The new government welcomed British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond to Tripoli last week. Libyan officials showed him the country’s naval patrol boats. Hammond said British troops could be sent to train Libyan security forces. Recently, U.S. President Barack Obama said he would not send American troops to help train Libyan forces. “I do not think it would be welcomed by this new government. It would send the wrong signal. This is a matter that Libyans (must) come together on,” he said. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Henry Ridgwell in London wrote this story for VOANews.com.  Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it 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   smuggler – n. a criminal who moves (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly stalemate – n. a contest, dispute, competition, etc., in which neither side can gain an advantage or win ​

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The Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe

  Our story today is called "The Purloined Letter."  It was written by Edgar Allan Poe.  Poe is generally known for his horror stories.  This is the third of three stories he wrote about Auguste Dupin and how he solves crimes.  The story is about a stolen letter.  It first appeared in 1844 in a yearly magazine.  It was reprinted in many publications, newspapers and books.  This is one of Poe's stories that influenced the development of the modern detective story.  One evening in Paris, during the autumn of eighteen forty-five, I went to visit a friend, Auguste Dupin.  We were smoking our pipes and talking when the door of his apartment opened.  Mr. Germont, the head of the Paris police force, came into the room. "I came to ask your advice," Germont said to my friend Dupin.  "I am trying to solve a very important case.  It is also a very simple case, so I really need your help.  But I thought you would like to hear about it, because it is so strange. "My men and I have worked on this case for three months," Germont said.  "It is a very simple case of robbery.  But we still cannot solve it." Dupin took the pipe out of his mouth.  "Perhaps the mystery is too simple," he said. Germont began to laugh.  "Too simple?" he said.  "Who ever heard of such a thing?" I looked at Germont.  "Why don't you tell us the problem?" I said. Germont stopped laughing and sat down. "All right," he said.  "But you must never tell anyone I told you this." "The wife of a very important person needs help.  I cannot tell you her name, because her husband is a powerful man in the French government.  Let us just call her Madame X.  Three months ago, someone stole a letter from Madame X.  She is offering a large amount of money to anyone who can return the letter to her. "We know that her husband's political enemy, Mr. D'Arcy, stole the letter.  We also know it is somewhere in his apartment.  D'Arcy plans to use the letter to embarrass Madame X's husband and destroy his political power. "As you know, I have keys which can open any lock in Paris.  For the last three months, my men and I have spent every evening looking for the letter in his apartment.  But we cannot find it." Dupin stopped smoking.  "Tell me how you looked for it," he said.  Germont moved forward in his chair. "We took our time," he said.  "First, we examined the furniture in every room.  We opened all the drawers.  We looked under the rugs.  We searched behind all the paintings on the walls. "We opened every book.  We removed the boards of the floor.  We even took the tops off the tables to see if he had hidden the letter in the table legs.  But we cannot find it.  What do you advise me to do?" Dupin puffed on his pipe.  "What does the letter look like?" he asked. "It is in a white envelope with a red stamp," Germont said.  "The address is written in large black letters." Dupin puffed on his pipe again.  "I advise you to go back and search the apartment again," he said. About one month later, Germont came back to see us. "I followed your advice," he said.  "But I still have not found the letter." Dupin smiled.  "I knew you would not find it," he said.  Germont became very red in the face.  "Then why did you make me search the apartment again?"  he shouted. "My dear Germont," Dupin said.  "Let me tell you a little story.  Do you remember the famous doctor, Louis Abernathy?" "No!"  Germont shouted.  "Get to the point, Dupin!" "Of course!  Of course," Dupin said.  "Once, a rich old man met Abernathy at a party.  The old man was not feeling very well.  He decided he would get a medical opinion from the doctor without paying for it.  So he described his problems to Abernathy.  'Now doctor,' the old man said, 'suppose you had a patient like that.  What would you tell him to take?'" "'Oh, that is quite simple,' said Abernathy.  'I would tell him to take my advice.'" Germont looked embarrassed.  "Look here, Dupin.  I am perfectly willing to pay for advice." Dupin smiled at Germont.  "How much money did you say the reward was?" he asked.  Germont sighed.  "I do not want to tell you the exact amount.  But I would give fifty thousand francs to the person who helps me find that letter." "In that case," Dupin said, "take out your checkbook and write me a check for fifty thousand francs.  When you have signed the check, I will give you the letter." Germont looked at Dupin with his mouth open.  His eyes seemed to jump out of his head.  Then he took out his checkbook and pen, and wrote a check for fifty thousand francs.  He gave it to Dupin. My friend examined the check carefully and put it in his pocket.  Then he unlocked a drawer of his desk, took out the letter, and gave it to Germont. The policeman's hands shook as he opened the letter.  He read it quickly.  Then he put it in his pocket and ran out of the room without saying a word. "Dupin!"  I said, as I turned to my friend.  "How did you solve the mystery?" "It was simple, my friend," he said.  "Germont and his policemen could not find the letter, because they did not try to understand the mind of the man who stole it.  Instead, they looked for the letter where they would have hidden it. "Mr. D'Arcy is not a policeman.  He is, however, very intelligent.  He knew the police would search his apartment.  He also knew how police think.  So, he did not hide the letter where he knew they would look for it. "Do you remember how Germont laughed when I said the mystery was difficult for him to solve because it was so simple?" Dupin filled his pipe with tobacco and lit it.  "Well, the more I thought about it, the more I realized the police could not find the letter because D'Arcy had not hidden it at all. "So I went to visit D'Arcy in his apartment.  I took a pair of dark green eyeglasses with me.  I explained to him that I was having trouble with my eyes and needed to wear the dark glasses at all times.  He believed me.  The glasses permitted me to look around the apartment while I seemed only to be talking to him. "I paid special attention to a large desk where there were a lot of papers and books.  However, I saw nothing suspicious there.  After a few minutes, however, I noticed a small shelf over the fireplace.  A few postcards and a letter were lying on the shelf.  The letter looked very old and dirty. "As soon as I saw this letter, I decided it must be the one I was looking for.  It must be, even though it was completely different from the one Germont had described. "This letter had a large green stamp on it.  The address was written in small letters in blue ink.  I memorized every detail of the letter while I talked to D'Arcy.  Then when he was not looking, I dropped one of my gloves on the floor under my chair. "The next morning, I stopped at his apartment to look for my glove.  While we were talking, we heard people shouting in the street.  D'Arcy went to the window and looked out.  Quickly, I stepped to the shelf and put the letter in my pocket.  Then I replaced it with a letter that looked exactly like it, which I had taken with me.  I had made it the night before. "The trouble in the street was caused by a man who had almost been run over by a horse and carriage.  He was not hurt.  And soon the crowd of people went away.  When it was over, D'Arcy came away from the window.  I said good-bye and left. "The man who almost had an accident was one of my servants.  I had paid him to create the incident." Dupin stopped talking to light his pipe.  I did not understand.  "But, Dupin," I said, "why did you go to the trouble of replacing the letter?  Why not just take it and leave?" Dupin smiled.  "D'Arcy is a dangerous man," he said.  "And he has many loyal servants.  If I had taken the letter, I might never have left his apartment alive."   The Purloined Letter was written by Edgar Allan Poe and adapted by Dona De Sanctis. The storyteller was Shep O'Neal. The producer was Lawan Davis. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   case - n. a situation that is being investigated or managed by someone (such as a police officer or social worker) in an official way robbery - n. the crime of stealing money or property​ embarrass - v. to make someone feel confused, foolish or ashamed in front of other people puff - v. to breathe smoke from a cigarette, pipe, etc., in and out of the lungs​ sigh - v. to take in and let out a long, loud breath in a way that shows you are bored, disappointed, relieved, etc.​ check - n. a piece of paper that is used to make a payment to someone using the money in a bank account checkbook - n. a book containing checks for use with a checking account franc - n. a basic unit of money that is used in some countries where French is spoken Now it's your turn. Do you like to read detective stories? Who is the best detective story writer in your language? Write to us in the comments section.

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English @ the Movies: 'Come To Your Senses'

"Rock Dog" is a movie about dogs. This funny movie is a cartoon about a Dad dog and his son who wants to be a rock musician. Our English @ the Movies phrase we are talking about is "come to your senses." Come watch it and tell us what you think.

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April 29, 2016

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

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National Park in New Orleans Celebrates Jazz

  Our National Parks journey this week takes us to New Orleans, Louisiana, the city many consider to be the birthplace of jazz. New Orleans is a port city at the mouth of the Mississippi River. It holds one of the most famous cultural celebrations in America: The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, called Jazz Fest for short. This year, the event opened April 22 and continues through May 1. It is the 47th festival. Famous performers this year include Stevie Wonder and Paul Simon. The first New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival took place in 1970. That year, about 350 people attended the five-day celebration. Five years later, about 80,000 people attended the festival. Today, attendance is measured in hundreds of thousands. ​The festival’s original organizers said the event “could only be held in New Orleans, because here and here alone is the richest music tradition in America.” And, only in New Orleans could you find a whole national park honoring jazz. Today, we are exploring the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park. The park includes sites important to jazz history in New Orleans. Visitors can walk around the city to see these sites. They include places located in the oldest part of the city -- the French Quarter -- as well as in the Louis Armstrong Park. Louis Armstrong is one of the greatest American jazz musicians. His voice, trumpet-playing skill and creativity continue to influence jazz artists today. Armstrong was born in New Orleans in 1901. Jazz was just beginning to develop when Louis was a boy. It grew out of the blues songs and ragtime music that had been popular at the turn of the century. Louis Armstrong discovered music early in life.  He was surrounded by it. By the time he was 18, he joined the Kid Ory Band, one of the finest bands in New Orleans. In the 1920s, Armstrong moved on to Chicago, and then New York, which had become major centers of jazz music. The trumpeter soon became one of the most famous musicians of his time. In the 1930s, he had his own big band, called Louis Armstrong and his Orchestra. But, his biggest hits came later in his life. In 1964, his version of the song “Hello Dolly” was the top hit around the world. And the song “What a Wonderful World,” recorded in 1968, was his final big hit. Armstrong died in 1971. In 1980, the city of New Orleans opened the Louis Armstrong Park to honor one of the city’s most famous sons. Among other sites, the park includes a statue of Armstrong himself and a place called Congo Square. Throughout history, the square had many names. Congo Square was once used as an area where slaves were permitted to perform African and Caribbean dances and drumming. The sounds played a role in the development of jazz. Today, the city holds the annual Congo Square Rhythms Festival there. Another stop within the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park is the J&M Recording Studio. It lies just south of Louis Armstrong Park, on Rampart Street. The studio operated from 1945 to 1955. Cosimo Matassa, a recording engineer, was the owner of the studio. He recorded some of the greatest jazz and rhythm and blues artists of the time. Today, the spot is a laundromat. But a small sign on the building points out its important place in music history. Next, we visit the Mint. A mint is a place that produces coins. The Mint started out as a place where U.S. and Confederate currency was made. But today, the Mint is a famous performing arts center and a museum full of jazz history. That museum is the Louisiana State Museum. Here, visitors can see Louis Armstrong’s first cornet -- a brass instrument similar to a trumpet. He bought it in New Orleans when he was 15 years old.   The National Park Service holds live educational performances at the Mint most days of the week. Many of those performances are streamed live online for viewers around the world to enjoy. ​Another park site is Preservation Hall, in the French Quarter. The word “preservation” means keeping or protecting for the future. By the early 1960s, traditional New Orleans jazz music was in danger of disappearing. Young people wanted to hear the music of Elvis Presley and other rock and roll stars. Not many young people were interested in listening to jazz. In 1961, Allan and Sandra Jaffe began using a small, old building on St. Peter’s Street as a music hall. Musicians there played traditional New Orleans jazz, sometimes just for their own enjoyment. Allan Jaffe was a tuba player. He played with what became known as the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The Jaffes created Preservation Hall to protect and preserve the city’s traditional jazz sounds. Today, different bands play at the hall each night. Musicians also still play in the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. They play in concert halls around the United States. They will even be playing on April 30 as part of this year’s New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m Caty Weaver. Ashley Thompson wrote this report, with material from the VOA Learning English archives and the National Park Service. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________

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North Korea Sentences Korean-American to Hard Labor

A North Korean court has sentenced a Korean-American man to 10 years of hard labor. Kim Dong Chul was given the sentence on Friday after the court found him guilty on subversion charges. Kim is a naturalized citizen of the United States. He admitted last month that he had attempted to steal North Korean military secrets. His confession took place in front of reporters in Pyongyang. He was arrested in October 2015. His confession came a week after a North Korean court sentenced Otto Warmbier, an American college student, to 15 years of hard labor. The court acted after Warmbier said he had attempted to steal a propaganda banner. Observers note that North Korean officials likely pressured the confessions of both men. Tensions between the United States and North Korea have risen in recent months because of the North’s nuclear weapons and long-range rocket tests. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have increased their defense readiness in response to the tests. U.S. and South Korean forces held their yearly joint military exercises in March. Those exercises were described as the largest ever. Also in March, the United Nations Security Council approved the strongest sanctions yet on North Korea for its nuclear and missile activities. I’m Mario Ritter.   Fern Robinson reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   confession – n. a written or spoken statement in which a person admits to something, usually something wrong sanctions – n. action is taken to force a country to obey international law

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April 28, 2016

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

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