English in a Minute: Where There's Smoke There's Fire

If you smell smoke, you usually know there is fire. But, you don't actually need to call the fire department if you hear someone say this expression! Do you have a similar expression in your language?

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Turkish Military Attempts to Seize Control of Government

The military in Turkey said Friday that it has taken control of the country. In a statement, the military said it had “fully seized control” of the government. However, Prime Minister Binali Yildrim told private NTV television Friday, "Some people illegally undertook an illegal action outside of the chain of command." The prime minister said a small group, and not the entire army, was behind the events. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with a local TV station on the video service Facetime. He urged the Turkish people to go to the streets. Istanbul’s two main bridges across the Bosphorus Strait separating Europe and Asia were blocked on Friday. U.S. military and diplomatic officials are seeking more information about the situation in Turkey. For the latest news about events in Turkey, go to the VOANEWS website.

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New 'Ghostbusters' Film Shows the Spirit of the First

  Forget everything you think you know about the new “Ghostbusters” movie. Critics, movie-lovers and film industry professionals had expressed considerable worry about the remake of the movie from 1984. There were protests on the Internet about the cast and story even before the film finished production. The first “Ghostbusters” is a classic American film. So, the public has been sensitive about a remake. But, Ivan Reitman, the producer of the new version, says, “The movie is the only answer to the question, ‘Is the movie good, or not?''' The first “Ghostbusters” film featured four funny men as lead characters. The 2016 version has four funny women as its lead characters. In the films, the group hunts ghosts and protects the living. The 2016 film took a funny path in reaching the cast change decision. Reitman directed the original “Ghostbusters” and produced “Ghostbuster 2,” which was released in 1989. He was looking to do a third in the series. It was to feature the now-grown son of two of the original characters. “Ghostbusters III” was expected to bring back several members of the original movie cast. A sad development However, one star, Bill Murray, was not excited about the project. He wanted his character killed very early into the movie. Then Harold Ramis, the beloved co-star and co-writer of the original, got very sick. He died in February 2014 at the age of 69. That changed everything.  “It just broke all of our hearts,'' Reitman said. “There was no way to do that movie without him and with a reluctant Bill. I decided I would give up the directing and negotiated a deal to make it possible for the studio to continue this thing that we started.'' Shortly after, “Bridesmaid” director Paul Feig got involved in the project. He brought in writer Katie Dippold. Dippold had written the popular comedy movie, “The Heat,” which starred Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy. Feig got “Bridesmaid” cast members McCarthy and Kirsten Wiig, and Saturday Night Live comedians Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon, to play the four new ghost hunters. “When Paul told me the four people who were on it, I was like, ‘Oh he's going for a beast fest.' All of us are comedic beasts,'' said Jones. She was a little worried about how they would all work together. Producer Reitman did not share her early fears. “I knew very early that we were in very good shape when I saw the four of them together,'' he said. 'The spirit of the movie' Reitman had a simple rule: this film could not be an insult to the first. It could not be a spoof. And it is not. The story is its own creation about the formation of the Ghostbusters, set in the present day. The 1984 Ghostbusters do exist. And, only a few scientists believe in the paranormal.  For Kirstin Wiig, choosing to do the project was “an easy yes.” She was happy knowing the original cast supported the production. “It really felt like we were being blessed in such a way that we were all part of this thing together. It's kind of what the spirit of the movie is,'' Wiig said. Harold Ramis is honored in a small part of the film. His son, Daniel Ramis, has a small role that takes place at heavy metal rock music show. “Ghostbusters” was released in the United States on July 15. It cost around $150 million to make. Most movie critics have either praised the film or given it a neutral review. And many have taken issue with the dislike some people have expressed about the casting of all-female ghostbusters. A headline of the review in the New York Times newspaper reads: “Our Ghostbusters Review: Girls Rule. Women Are Funny. Get Over It.” I’m Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver adapted this report from the Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor.  ______________________________________________________________  

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July 15, 2016

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

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Group Helps North Korean Children Flee Statelessness in China

A South Korean Christian missionary organization is helping some of the thousands of children of North Korean defectors living in China. The group works to help the children escape the difficulty of being “stateless” and suffering lives of poverty and abuse. Pastor Chun Ki-won is a religious worker for the Durihana Church in Seoul. He has helped many children and their mothers get to South Korea. Once there, they can be granted asylum and citizenship. Chun said the South Korean government limits some benefits for defectors. For example, free university tuition is not available to North Korean children born in China. “General defectors can get reimbursed for the tuition but our students must pay by themselves, so we have to help them,” he said. The human trafficking of defectors leaves many open to abuse Increased border security has reduced the number of North Korean defectors in recent years. Those who are able to cross into China are now mostly women. South Korea’s Unification Ministry says nearly 80 percent of all North Korean defectors seeking asylum in the country are women. Chun said human traffickers bribe guards to let the women across the border. He says, in rural China, there is a high demand for wives, domestic workers and sex workers. North Korean women are brought into China, often into abusive situations, where they have no rights or legal status. “There are many people who want to buy the women, and there are many North Koreans who want to defect,” he said. Many North Korean defectors have given birth to children in China. The Korea Institute for National Unification estimated in 2012 that there were about 30,000 children of escaped North Korean women in China. Defectors live a difficult life in exile Human rights organizations say China is required to protect refugees under international law. Yet, China considers North Korean defectors illegal migrants. Activists say North Korean children in China are not considered citizens and often have no access to school or health care. The children’s mothers live in fear they will be sent back to North Korea where they could face prison. Fifteen-year-old Han Ye-Seul is a North Korean defector. She said, “When I was living in China, it was very dangerous, but here in Korea I am living with freedom.” She and many of the children rescued by Chun were brought to attend the Durihana International School in Seoul. There, they learn educational and social skills. The children also learn how to deal with daily life in the wealthy and democratic South. South Korea uses the term “defector” rather than “refugee” for North Korean asylum seekers. The term shows that they are escaping a repressive, communist political system. Yet, these “defectors” also are driven by economic and basic human needs. In the 1990s, North Korea suffered a severe and deadly famine. Conditions in the communist country have improved partly because of market reforms that give farmers more control over what they produce. However, poverty and food shortages are still widespread. Many defectors helped by Chun carry scars Some North Korean students in Seoul are still recovering from past abuse suffered during their years in China. Eleven-year-old Kim Choon-woo carries physical scars from when she was stabbed by her Chinese father. “My father did it because he was mentally ill,” Kim said. Pastor Chun said Kim’s father committed suicide because he thought he had killed his daughter. Most of the North Korean women and children his church is helping, the pastor said, have experienced some kind of abuse or mistreatment. Kim says that her mother remarried in South Korea and she is happy in her new home. I’m Mario Ritter. Brian Padden reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story defector –n. someone who leaves their country to go to another for political reasons reimburse –v. to be paid back for an expense tuition –n. the cost of taking classes at a school bribe –n. something valuable given, often illegally, to get someone to do something status –n. the position of a person under the law scar –n. what remains after a wound has healed

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Desert Diversity at Joshua Tree National Park

  This week on our national parks journey, we explore a unique place where two deserts meet. The hot, harsh, rocky landscape is home to a rare and strange-looking tree. In fact, the park gets its name from this iconic plant. Welcome to Joshua Tree National Park, in southeastern California. The limbs of Joshua Trees stretch and twist upward in all directions. At the end of each limb are sharply pointed green leaves. The plant looks like a large cactus, and can grow over 12 meters tall. But, as the National Park Service explains, Joshua Trees are not really even trees. They are succulents that belong to the yucca family. Succulents are desert plants can hold a lot of water inside them. Joshua Trees are not exactly beautiful. An early explorer to the area once described them as “the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom.” But park visitors are amazed by the wild-looking forests of Joshua trees. The Mormon religious group is said to have given the plant its name. Mormon settlers reportedly thought it looked like the Christian holy figure Joshua, his arms held out, guiding travelers to the promised land. Joshua trees thrive in the climate of the Mojave, one of two deserts within the park. The Mojave is a high desert. It is 900 meters above sea level. It is also relatively cool and wet. The Mojave Desert meets up here with the Colorado Desert. The Colorado is a lower desert. It makes up the eastern part of the national park. Much of the park sits within the “overlap” of the two deserts. The overlap creates a diverse ecosystem, where many plants and animals thrive. Within the park you can find bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, iguanas and black-tailed jackrabbits. The park is also home to 250 kinds of birds, like the red-tailed hawk, the roadrunner and the Scott’s oriole. After spring rainstorms, desert wildflowers burst to life in colorful display. The blooms on Joshua trees are bright white. Cacti produce bright purple, red and orange wildflowers. The blooms last just a few weeks before the hot summer heat becomes too strong. Along with Joshua trees, large piles of rocks are another defining part of the park’s landscape. The huge boulders sit stacked on top of each other. Roads and hiking trails lead visitors through paths of these boulders. Joshua Tree National Park is over 320,000 hectares. It has many hiking and walking trails -- from long hikes that take all day to finish, to short ones, like the Hidden Valley trail. This trail takes you through an area that was once a place for cattle-stealing cowboys to hide out. The area’s massive rock piles made for effective places to hide in the desert. These huge boulder piles and rock walls have made Joshua Tree National Park world-famous for rock climbing and bouldering. The park has more than 8,000 climbing routes. John Hochhausler often comes to Joshua Tree to rock climb and enjoy nature. He makes the three-hour drive from Los Angeles, where he is a lawyer.  “When you see the park from down low, it’s beautiful, but when you see the park from 150, 200 feet up, it’s amazing." Rinat Erlich visited the national park with Hochhausler. She is also a lawyer in Los Angeles. She had just tried rock climbing at Joshua Tree for the first time.  "We love it. We come here to walk on trails, last time we were here we rode Jeeps, which was so much fun. And, it's just a great place, a great outdoorsy place with a lot of character."  I'm Caty Weaver.  And I'm Ashley Thompson.  Ashley Thompson wrote this report, with additional materials from the National Park Service. Caty Weaver was the editor.  What U.S. national park would you most like to visit? Let us know in the comments section! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story      

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'After Twenty Years,' by O.Henry

  We present the short story "After Twenty Years," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.   The cop moved along the street, looking strong and important. This was the way he always moved. He was not thinking of how he looked. There were few people on the street to see him. It was only about ten at night, but it was cold. And there was a wind with a little rain in it. He stopped at doors as he walked along, trying each door to be sure that it was closed for the night. Now and then he turned and looked up and down the street. He was a fine-looking cop, watchful, guarding the peace. People in this part of the city went home early. Now and then you might see the lights of a shop or of a small restaurant. But most of the doors belonged to business places that had been closed hours ago. Then the cop suddenly slowed his walk. Near the door of a darkened shop a man was standing. As the cop walked toward him, the man spoke quickly. “It’s all right, officer,” he said. “I’m waiting for a friend. Twenty years ago we agreed to meet here tonight. It sounds strange to you, doesn’t it? I’ll explain if you want to be sure that everything’s all right. About twenty years ago there was a restaurant where this shop stands. ‘Big Joe’ Brady’s restaurant.” “It was here until five years ago,” said the cop. The man near the door had a colorless square face with bright eyes, and a little white mark near his right eye. He had a large jewel in his necktie. “Twenty years ago tonight,” said the man, “I had dinner here with Jimmy Wells. He was my best friend and the best fellow in the world. He and I grew up together here in New York, like two brothers. I was eighteen and Jimmy was twenty. The next morning I was to start for the West. I was going to find a job and make a great success. You couldn’t have pulled Jimmy out of New York. He thought it was the only place on earth. “We agreed that night that we would meet here again in twenty years. We thought that in twenty years we would know what kind of men we were, and what future waited for us.” “It sounds interesting,” said the cop. “A long time between meetings, it seems to me. Have you heard from your friend since you went West?” “Yes, for a time we did write to each other,” said the man. “But after a year or two, we stopped. The West is big. I moved around everywhere, and I moved quickly. But I know that Jimmy will meet me here if he can. He was as true as any man in the world. He’ll never forget. I came a thousand miles to stand here tonight. But I’ll be glad about that, if my old friend comes too.” The man waiting took out a fine watch, covered with small jewels. “Three minutes before ten,” he said. “It was ten that night when we said goodbye here at the restaurant door.” “You were successful in the West, weren’t you?” asked the cop. “I surely was! I hope Jimmy has done half as well. He was a slow mover. I’ve had to fight for my success. In New York a man doesn’t change much. In the West you learn how to fight for what you get.” The cop took a step or two. “I’ll go on my way,” he said. “I hope your friend comes all right. If he isn’t here at ten, are you going to leave?” “I am not!” said the other. “I’ll wait half an hour, at least. If Jimmy is alive on earth, he’ll be here by that time. Good night, officer.” “Good night,” said the cop, and walked away, trying doors as he went. There was now a cold rain falling and the wind was stronger. The few people walking along that street were hurrying, trying to keep warm. At the door of the shop stood the man who had come a thousand miles to meet a friend. Such a meeting could not be certain. But he waited. About twenty minutes he waited, and then a tall man in a long coat came hurrying across the street. He went directly to the waiting man. “Is that you, Bob?” he asked, doubtfully. “Is that you, Jimmy Wells?” cried the man at the door. The new man took the other man’s hands in his. “It’s Bob! It surely is. I was certain I would find you here if you were still alive. Twenty years is a long time. The old restaurant is gone, Bob. I wish it were here, so that we could have another dinner in it. Has the West been good to you?” “It gave me everything I asked for. You’ve changed, Jimmy. I never thought you were so tall.” “Oh, I grew a little after I was twenty.” “Are you doing well in New York, Jimmy?” “Well enough. I work for the city. Come on, Bob, We’ll go to a place I know, and have a good long talk about old times.” The two men started along the street, arm in arm. The man from the West was beginning to tell the story of his life. The other, with his coat up to his ears, listened with interest. At the corner stood a shop bright with electric lights. When they came near, each turned to look at the other’s face. The man from the West stopped suddenly and pulled his arm away. “You’re not Jimmy Wells,” he said. “Twenty years is a long time, but not long enough to change the shape of a man’s nose.” “It sometimes changes a good man into a bad one,” said the tall man. “You’ve been under arrest for ten minutes, Bob. Chicago cops thought you might be coming to New York. They told us to watch for you. Are you coming with me quietly? That’s wise. But first here is something I was asked to give you. You may read it here at the window. It’s from a cop named Wells.” The man from the West opened the little piece of paper. His hand began to shake a little as he read. “Bob: I was at the place on time. I saw the face of the man wanted by Chicago cops. I didn’t want to arrest you myself. So I went and got another cop and sent him to do the job. JIMMY.” Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How much do people change over time? What is it like to try to connect with a friend you have not seen in a long time? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cop – n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests watchful – adj. paying careful attention to someone or something shop – n. a building or room where goods and services are sold jewel – n. a valuable stone such as a ruby or diamond that has been cut and polished necktie –n. a long piece of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and under a collar and that is tied in front with a knot at the top coat – n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry

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China Restricts Reporting Through Social Media

  For years, media in China were able to use and publish information from the country’s social media platforms. Social media websites were not under the government’s control. Recently, however, the government took action to reduce the amount of news coming from those sites. Under new rules, Chinese media must first confirm a story found on social media before reporting it as news. Until now, the media have often reported information posted on Sina Weibo, a service like Twitter. Sina Weibo has over 200 million users. A recent search of the Xinhua news agency website showed hundreds of stories with the word Weibo. The official People’s Daily Online even publishes photographs posted by people on Weibo. Now, a reporter would have to confirm the story with a government official or agency before reporting the information. Under the new rules, some major news websites have been punished for what the government calls “making up” stories. Those sites include Sina, ifeng and 163.com. Outside observers say this is just a new way to censor information the government finds objectionable. Fengshi Wu teaches at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. He says the new policy is a way for the government to encourage news organizations to justify the work of the Communist Party. In the past, users of sites like Weibo posted stories about corruption and poor leadership by government officials. Active users of Weibo published videos of officials accepting illegal payments or paying someone for sex. Restrictions on the use of social media as a source for news may result in blocking a vital source of information, observers said. The state-supported China Daily newspaper recently asked for the media’s help in “restoring people’s trust in the party.” It suggested that people may be unhappy with China’s slowing economy. Kristin Shi-Kupfer is director of research on politics, society and media at the Mercator Institute of China Studies. She says the new rule may be the result of unrest within the Communist Party. On June 25, Zhu Tiezhi, the deputy editor-in-chief of a Communist Party publication, was found dead. Chinese officials said Zhu Tiezhi was an apparent victim of suicide. He was believed to have been greatly concerned about the growing differences between the party’s reformists and conservatives. Shi-Kupfer said the death was one of several recent incidents that point to more fundamental disputes within the Communist Party concerning the role of media and propaganda. “Like in many suicide cases of party cadres, personal and political factors are possibly involved at the same time,” she said. I’m Dan Friedell.   Saibal Dasgupta wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the new rules on social media reporting in China? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   encourage – v. to tell or advise (someone) to do something censor – v. to examine books, movies, letters, etc., in order to remove things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society, etc. posted – v. to publish, announce or advertise fundamental – adj. of or related to the most important part of something factor – n. something that helps produce or influence a result

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English @ the Movies: 'Stepping Up'

Our English @ the Movies phrase is from the movie "Ride Along 2." This comedy is about a short police officer. He is getting married, while fighting crime in Miami. The phrase is "stepping up." Does it mean he is in danger? Listen and find out.

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Crash Turns Tour de France into Running Event

This is What’s Trending Today. The Tour de France is the most famous cycling event in the world. It takes place every year over three weeks in July. Some of the most important stages of the event finish on top of mountains. That is because it is a chance for riders who are good at going uphill to move ahead of slower riders. British cyclist Chris Froome is one of those riders. He won the Tour de France in 2013 and 2015. Heading into Thursday’s stage he was leading the race by 28 seconds. Stage 12 finished on top of Mont Ventoux. The riders covered about 180 kilometers on Thursday. Mont Ventoux is famous for its steep sections. Near the end of the stage, Australian rider Richie Porte was in front of Froome. Then he crashed into a motorcycle. Froome crashed into Porte, and his bike was so damaged, he could not keep riding. The road was packed with spectators. Froome’s support vehicle had a replacement bike, but it could not get through. Instead of waiting, worried that he would lose time, Froome decided to run up the mountain. He was about 1 kilometer from the finish when he started running. Froome was running fast even though he was wearing shoes meant only for cycling! Most people could not remember a cyclist running during a bike race. In fact, riders are not supposed to finish a stage without their bike. Froome’s run was so surprising; it was a worldwide trending topic on Twitter. Many people used photo editing software to show Froome running in unique places. One person showed him running away from bulls, as if he were in Pamplona, Spain. Another showed him finishing ahead of sprinter Usain Bolt. A third showed him running with Forrest Gump from the famous Tom Hanks movie. A lot of people had fun with Froome’s panic. But some people were worried Froome would lose time on his rivals. ​ Luckily for Froome, the crash did not affect his position in the race. Because the crash was not his fault, race officials adjusted his time. Froome finished the stage with same time as the other riders he was with at the time of the crash. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. What did you think of Froome running in the Tour de France? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   stage – n. a section or period of an event spectator – n. a person who watches an event, show, game, activity, etc., often as part of an audience panic – n. a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally adjust – v. to change the position of (something) steep – adj. almost straight up and down : rising or falling very sharply edit – v. to prepare (something written) to be published or used : to make changes, correct mistakes, etc., in (something written)  

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France in Shock after Truck Attack in Nice

A driver killed more than 80 people and injured more than 100 others when he crashed a large truck into a crowd in Nice, France Thursday night. People had gathered in Nice for a celebration of Bastille Day, France’s independence holiday. Nice is the fifth-largest city in France. It is a port city about 30 kilometers from the Italian border. About 350,000 people live there. The driver was shot and killed. Police identified him as a 31-year-old French-Tunisian who lived in Nice. Police said he was known as a violent person and longtime criminal. But security forces did not suspect him of having links to terrorist groups. The driver entered a street that was closed to traffic at the time. He crashed through a barrier, then drove through the crowd for up to two kilometers, speeding up and targeting people as they tried to flee. French President Francois Hollande spoke to the nation early Friday. He said “nothing will make us give way in the fight against terrorism.” He talked about the terrorist attacks in Paris last November. He said all of France is being threatened by the Islamic State terrorist group. Hollande extended the country’s state of emergency -- which was to end later this month -- for three months. He has also ordered 10,000 members of the military to help security forces throughout the country. And he said France will increase its roles in Syria and Iraq. This is the third large attack in France since last year. An attack in Paris in November killed at least 130 people and a series of attacks in January 2015 that began with an assault on the offices of the magazine Charlie Hebdo killed 17 people. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA news reports. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

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