Trump

Donald Trump officially became the Republican nominee for president at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, this week. Trump defeated 16 other candidates to win the nomination. The 4-day convention did not show as much unity as the nominee had hoped for. Trump’s campaign spent the first two days of the convention explaining accusations of plagiarism over a speech given by his wife, Melania. The speech contained similar sentences to ones in the speech given by first lady Michelle Obama at the 2008 Democratic convention. Former competitors Marco Rubio, Chris Christie and Ben Carson joined other Republicans to support Trump’s candidacy. Both Christie and Carson spoke on Tuesday aiming strong criticism at the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Rubio spoke in a taped message one day later. On Wednesday, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas spoke at the convention. He was Trump’s strongest opponent in a race for the nomination that many observers considered very divisive. Cruz refused to support, or endorse, Trump. Instead, he asked delegates to “stand, and speak and vote your conscience.” Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich followed the Texas Senator. He said Trump understood the treat of Islamic extremism better than Hillary Clinton. He also addressed Cruz’s speech saying that, if people vote their conscience, they would support Trump. The controversy overshadowed the appearance of Indiana governor Mike Pence. He gave his acceptance speech as the party’s vice presidential candidate.   Trump will face Hillary Clinton in the general election this November. Clinton is scheduled to accept the Democratic nomination next week at its convention in Philadelphia An untraditional candidate Donald Trump has taken an untraditional path to win the nomination. He has never held a public office. On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his candidacy from the lobby of his apartment building in New York. Trump said, “I’m really rich.” And he added, “I will be the greatest jobs president that God ever created.” Trump has spoken about the unemployment rate in America. During the campaign, he has said China, Japan and Mexico have taken those jobs. He said Mexico and other Latin American countries have sent illegal immigrants to the United States. Trump has been strongly criticized for saying, “They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists.” Trump promised to “build a great wall” on the border with Mexico to keep immigrant out and that he “will have Mexico to pay for that wall.” Other candidates spent money to buy advertising during the primary elections. Trump spread his message and attacked opponents on free television, radio and social media. Trump has made many controversial comments during the campaign. Speaking of Republican Senator John McCain, he said, “He’s not a war hero. … I like people who weren’t captured.” Senator McCain ran for president as a Republican in 2008. He was shot down during the Vietnam War and was tortured as a prisoner of war. Many Democrats and Republicans condemned Trump when he called for a ban on all Muslims entering the United States. Many criticized Trump for saying U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot rule fairly because of his “Mexican heritage.” Curiel is hearing the case against Trump University. People who paid money to take real estate classes at Trump University are bringing a legal case against Trump. Others disagreed when Trump praised former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein for killing terrorists. Trump’s background Trump was born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York. He graduated from the New York Military Academy and later completed a study program at the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Trump started in business by working for his father who was a wealthy real estate developer in Queens. During New York’s financial crisis, Trump received reduced taxes from the city to build a hotel in Manhattan. The deal was the first of many projects for the developer -- from casinos to golf courses. For a short period, Trump owned a sports team and a small airline company. In 1991, he sought bankruptcy protection when some of his businesses did not make enough money to pay the loans. It was the first of four bankruptcy filings by Trump companies. Trump used his name to sell neckties, water, wines, steaks, books and magazines. He launched the reality TV show, “The Apprentice,” and produced a business seminar called Trump University. In the 1990s, Trump’s name became a headline for New York’s newspapers when he divorced his first wife, Ivana, and married Marla Maples, a little-known actress. He is now married to Melania Knauss, a former model from Slovenia. The businessman has five children by three wives.   Where does Trump stand on the issues? On immigration, Trump has said he opposes giving undocumented workers a path to citizenship. He said he wants to end birthright citizenship, and wants undocumented immigrants to leave the U.S. On foreign policy, Trump has criticized the Iran nuclear agreement. He opposes the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. Trump has said he would consider withdrawing troops from East Asia if Japan and South Korea refuse to increase security payments to the U.S. In an interview with The New York Times, Trump suggested that he might not honor America’s commitment to NATO unless the countries meet their financial obligations. On national security, Trump calls for more military spending. He wants to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. He said he supports a form of interrogation called water-boarding which is considered torture. On gun control, Trump generally supports the right to bear arms. But he said he supports the existing ban on some assault weapons, a waiting period on gun purchases, and criminal and mental health background investigations. On healthcare, Trump said he will cancel the Affordable Care Act, if he is president. He will replace it with a “much better and much less expensive [plan] for people and for the government.” He has not given details of the plan. On taxes, Trump said he wants to reduce personal and business income taxes on Americans, and end the “death tax” on inheritances. Trump said he would close loopholes to pay for tax cuts. On China-U.S. relations, Trump called China “a currency manipulator,” meaning that he believes China unfairly controls the exchange value of its money. He would act against hackers and counterfeiters. On the environment, Trump has questioned climate change calling it a hoax. He also has said he would cut the Environmental Protection Agency.   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story plagiarism - n. the act of using another person's words or ideas without giving credit      

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/29QnYIn
via IFTTT

News Words: Momentous

Learn from your hosts, Anne and Jonathan the meaning of momentous.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a2yXS4
via IFTTT

Meet The RNC's Youngest Delegate

Jace Laquerre, 17, from Vermont is one of the youngest delegates at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/29PteM9
via IFTTT

July 20, 2016

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/29OcRiM
via IFTTT

Determined, Dedicated and Disciplined to Be Fit

It would be an understatement to say that Ernestine Shepherd is in better condition than most people. The 80 year-old bodybuilder lives by the words "determined, dedicated and disciplined" to stay in the best health possible. Yes. You heard that right. Ernestine Shepherd recently celebrated her 80th birthday. And she still works out every day. But this was not always the case, she says. “Earlier in life, I really did not think too much about eating correctly nor exercising, but as time went on, my mind changed completely.” One day she went out shopping with her sister, Mildred Blackwell. Shepherd tried on a swimsuit. She says she did not like how it fit her. She says both women realized they were out of shape. Blackwell suggested the sisters take a fitness class to lose weight and get in shape. So at age 56, alongside her sister, Shepherd started to exercise.     She says her sister inspired her to do more than just exercise. “My sister was instrumental in getting me started to lift weights and to try to become a bodybuilder.” Then, in 1992, Mildred Blackwell died suddenly of a brain aneurysm.  Ernestine says the loss deepened her commitment to good health. She promised to continue training as a bodybuilder to honor her sister’s memory. “After my sister’s death I first couldn’t really do too much of anything. I was just so upset about her death. But then finally I got myself together, decided that I would start working out and I started working out with a friend by the name of Raymond Day. And we worked out three days a week.” Later, Ernestine invested in a personal trainer. “My trainer the former Mr. Universe Yohnnie Shambourger. Wow, did he work me and get me into shape…Then after training with Yohnnie Shambourger I did my first bodybuilding show.” And, she won her very first competition. A call from the Guinness Book of World Records followed a short time later. “Yohnnie got a call from the Guinness Book of World Records stating they thought I was the oldest female competitive bodybuilding in the world, but they would have to check it.” Ernestine Shepherd holds the 2010 and 2011 title in the Guinness World Records as the World’s Oldest Performing Female Bodybuilder. Shepherd runs every morning. She lifts weights three times a week. She says she keeps a balanced diet of proteins and carbohydrates such as chicken and rice. She also drinks lots of water. And she gets support from Collin, her husband of 52 years. He helps prepare her seven small meals a day. Shepherd says her lifestyle changes cured her of several health conditions. "Physical activity in my later years has helped me, because at one time I suffered with high blood pressure, panic attacks, acid reflux. Oh, you name it. I had it.  After I started working out everything changed for me. No more high blood pressure medicine. No more panic attacks. No more acid reflux. Exercise is not work, it's fun. It's a joy."      Shepherd still competes in body building events. She also works as a fitness trainer and professional model. And, this year, she became an author. Her book, “Determined, Dedicated and Disciplined To Be Fit,” came out in April just before she turned eighty. Shepherd says she wanted to let people know, especially older people, that it is not too late to get healthy. And, the author shares a secret about aging. “If ever there was an anti-aging pill you will have to call it exercise.” I’m Marsha James.   Marsha James wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Try this quiz to practice your listening skills and check your understanding. Next on People in America, the inspirational R&B and gospel singer, songwriter and producer, BeBe Winans. ________________________________________________________ Words In This Story      workout – phrasal verb- to exercise rigorously in order to maintain fitness out of shape – expression - in poor physical condition, unfit fitness class – n. a course taken to help get in shape and become healthy inspiration – n. something that makes someone want to do something instrumental – adj.  very important in helping or causing something to happen or be done bodybuilder – n. a person who practices bodybuilding aneurysm - n. an abnormal blood-filled tumor usually an artery resulting from weakening of the artery wall diet – n. the food that a person usually eats body building – n. the activity of doing exercises (such as lifting weights) to make the muscles of your body larger and stronger anti-aging – adj. (a product or technique) designed to prevent the appearance of getting older

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a1aRX5
via IFTTT

Bebe Winans

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/29Vz2CF
via IFTTT

Terrorists Using Low-Tech Methods to Attack, Kill

  Leaders of the al-Qaida and Islamic State terrorist groups have been urging followers in Western nations to carry out attacks with whatever weapon is available -- including a knife, a car or a fist. This month, Mohammed Bouhlel showed how deadly simple attack methods can be. He killed 84 people in the French port city of Nice with a truck. Daniel Benjamin was a counterterrorism official at the U.S. State Department. He is now the director of the John Sloan Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College. “It’s a frightening moment,” he said. “How many easy and simple ways can we identify to kill people?” Vehicles as weapons Terrorists have begun using vehicles as weapons for several years. So-called car-ramming assaults by Palestinian militants have killed many people in Israel. Vehicles have also been used in a series of smaller attacks in France, Britain, Canada and the United States. In 2006, Iranian-American Mohammed Reza Taheri-azar drove his car into a group of students at the University of North Carolina. Nine people were hurt. The attack in Nice was unusual, however, because of the size of the vehicle and the size of the crowd. Scott Stewart is the vice president of tactical analysis at the intelligence advisory company Stratfor. He told VOA on Skype that “what’s kind of unusual about this [Nice] attack is that such a large vehicle was used against such a large crowd; you had such a huge death toll.” Low-tech methods It was likely easy for Mohammed Bouhlel to find information about how to carry out his attack. In 2010 al-Qaida began urging its followers to use vehicles to kill what it called “the enemies of Allah.” And in January, 2015, IS spokesman Mohammad al-Adnani urged supporters of the group to kill Westerners with whatever means available -- “whether an explosive device, a bullet, a knife, a car, a rock or even a boot or a fist.” His words have been effective. In June, Larossi Abballa, a 25-year-old Frenchman and former recruiter for a terrorist group, used a knife to stab a police officer and another person near Paris. And this week, a 17-year-old Afghan asylum-seeker used an axe and a knife to attack people on a train in Germany. At least five people were injured before the teen was shot dead by police. One reason that militants are turning to low-tech methods is because Western officials have improved their ability to stop large and complex attacks. But American intelligence and law enforcement agencies have long feared a low-tech attack such as that which happened in Nice. They admit it is difficult to defend against such an attack. Colin Clarke is a political scientist at the Rand Corporation, a research group. He asked: “What are you going to do? Take people’s cars away?” Security barriers and large trucks carrying loads of sand are used to protect government buildings in the United States. Scott Stewart of the Stratfor company says officials are “going to consider using those sorts of things or large vehicles to block streets during large events in the future.” Michael Rubin is a former official of the U.S. Department of Defense. He now works at the American Enterprise Institute, a research group in Washington. He notes that the United States has many so-called “soft targets.” He says because terrorists have begun to use simple methods, the country needs to think in different ways about how to defend against terrorist attacks. Rubin told VOA “we’re very good at preventing the last terrorist attack. We’re not forward thinking.” In a blog post last week, he disagreed that some attackers work on their own. These attackers are often called “lone wolves.” Rubin said many of them are supported by terrorist groups online and may have been radicalized over the internet. “Every lone wolf now has a pack behind them,” he wrote. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Masood Farivar reported this story. VOA’s Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for 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   ram – v. to forcefully hit something pack – n. a group of usually wild animals that hunt together

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a1b8sY
via IFTTT

Pokémon Go Banned by Saudi ‘Fatwa’

Saudi Arabia’s top religious officials decided there is no place for Pokémon Go in the Arab kingdom. The officials made their ruling in a Fatwa, or a finding of Islamic law. The General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars said Pokémon is not consistent with Islamic law, according to Reuters. The news agency reported that the religious leaders said Pokémon promotes the theory of natural evolution. Pokémon Go is a popular game in many places around the world. It lets players “evolve” their captured Pokémon characters. That means players can make the characters bigger and stronger by using points they earn by playing the game. The Saudi religious ruling was a renewal of a 2001 Fatwa against the Pokémon card game. Pokémon Go uses Google Maps and a smartphone. The Pokémon characters can be collected using a phone’s camera, map and location tracker. Pokémon Go has been a big hit in the United States and other countries. But not everyone likes it. In Indonesia, officials banned people from playing the Pokémon Go game at the presidential palace. “This is the office of the president, not a playground,” said a palace spokesman. That comment was reported by the Associated Press. Also in Indonesia, police briefly held a French citizen after he walked onto a military base while hunting for Pokémon characters. The website GeekWire reported that Boeing banned employees from using Pokémon Go at work. GeekWire reported that a Boeing employee got a little too excited playing Pokémon Go and was almost injured. Company spokesman Charles Bickers told VOA the company has banned employees from walking and using a mobile device at the same time on Boeing property. That has been a rule at Boeing since 2014, he said. The rule is designed to avoid distractions that can lead to people falling, Bickers said. The company has also banned employees from downloading third party apps onto company mobile devices. He said “the buzz around Pokémon,” has let Boeing “talk to our employees and reinforce our strong safety focus.” I’m Jill Robbins.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by Reuters and other information. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. If you play the game, let us know if you are worried about getting carried away and possibly getting hurt. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   consistent -- adj. always acting or behaving in the same way evolution -- n. a theory that the differences between modern plants and animals are because of changes that happened by a natural process over a very long time promote -- v. to help (something) happen, develop, or increase distraction -- n. something that makes it difficult to think or pay attention app -- n. a program added to a phone or computer buzz -- n. the things that are being said about something reinforce -- v. to encourage or give support to an idea, rule or behavior  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/29VzlNY
via IFTTT

Pro Wrestlers Sue WWE Over Brain Injuries

  Retired professional wrestlers are suing World Wrestling Entertainment, also known as WWE, for head injuries they claim to have suffered in the ring. The WWE is the latest American sports organization to face a lawsuit over head injuries, following the National Football League and the National Hockey League. More than 50 wrestlers are listed on the complaint. That includes Joseph Laurinaitis, Jimmy Snuka and Paul Orndorff. Laurinaitis was known as “Road Warrior Animal,” Snuka was “Superfly” and Orndorff was “Mr. Wonderful.” The lawsuit charges WWE with classifying the wrestlers as independent contractors instead of employees. This, the suit says, was to avoid paying injured wrestlers who could not work. The suit says, “WWE wrestling matches, unlike other contact sports, involve very specific moves that are scripted, controlled, directed and choreographed by WWE.”  And the wrestlers’ head injuries “were the direct result of the WWE’s actions.” The complaint says many of the wrestlers have headaches, dizziness and memory loss. Others are showing signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease that can only be officially diagnosed after death. The wrestlers claim the organization knew about, but hid the long-term effects of head injuries they suffered in the ring. The WWE, in a statement, called the lawsuit a “ridiculous” attempt by a lawyer who had filed two earlier lawsuits against the organization. There have been high-profile cases in the U.S between sports leagues and their players. The National Football League settled recent lawsuits that claimed it knew about, but did little to protect its players from head injuries. The National Hockey League is defending itself from a lawsuit that names over 100 former players as plaintiffs in a similar case. In April, a court approved a settlement that granted over 20,000 former NFL players a share of about $1 billion. The settlement for each player depends on the severity of a player’s injuries and how long they played in the league. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English based on reporting by Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. Do you think the wrestlers will be successful in their case? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ring – n. an area that is used for shows and contests and is usually surrounded by ropes or a fence complaint – n. a formal charge saying that someone has done something wrong contractor – n. a person who is hired to perform work or to provide goods at a certain price or within a certain time choreograph – v. to decide how a dancer or group of dancers will move during a performance chronic traumatic encephalopathy – n. a brain disease caused by repeated hits to the head diagnose – v. to recognize (a disease, illness, etc.) by examining someone script – n. a plan for what is going to be done or said in a particular situation ridiculous – adj. extremely silly or unreasonable

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2abRk8I
via IFTTT

Taiwan Fishing Boats Start Trip to Defend Contested Island

  Five fishing boats sailed Wednesday from southern Taiwan heading for an area in the South China Sea. The trip is meant to dispute a ruling by an international court that calls a land formation in the Spratly island chain a rock rather than an island. The boats left from Pingtung County for a 10-day trip. Fifteen people are operating the boats. Their goal is to reach the land formation known as Taiping or Itu Aba.   Taiping is controlled by Taiwan. Luo Chiang-fei is a spokesman for the fishing boat operators. He said the fishermen will show that Taiping is an island and that it belongs to Taiwan. The spokesman said Taiwan’s coast guard will observe the fishing boats but will not follow them to the land formation. Taiping is about 2000 kilometers southeast of Taiwan. Once the boats reach it, they will be safe because of the coast guard presence there. Taiwan is involved in a dispute with China and five other countries over islands, rocks and reefs in the South China Sea. Other nations include Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. China claims most of the South China Sea as its territory.  On July 12, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague made a decision on China’s claims to the waterway. That ruling rejected the historical basis for China’s claim to almost all of the South China Sea. However, the court also said many small land formations, including Taiping, do not qualify as islands. This means that they also do not qualify for wide economic zones in surrounding waters. Taiping is 1,400 meters long and 400 meters wide. Both China and Taiwan denounced the ruling, which is based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Taiwan and China and other countries now may look to discussions to ease tensions over territorial claims in the waterway. Taiwan has built up Taiping with an airstrip, pier, a solar energy project and a humanitarian rescue center. The South China Sea is valued for its natural resources including fishing areas, oil, and natural gas. It also has important shipping lanes for international trade. I’m Mario Ritter. Ralph Jennings wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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   fishermen – n. people who catch fish zones – n. sections in an area that are used for a particular purpose airstrip – n. an area of land that is used as a runway for airplanes to take off and land pier – n. a structure that goes out from a shore into the water shipping lanes – n. official routes that ships must follow when they sail from one place to another  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a9Ejtn
via IFTTT

Famous Comedy Writer, Producer Garry Marshall Dies

This is What’s Trending Today. Garry Marshall was a comedy writer, producer and director. He was famous for creating television shows including The Odd Couple and Happy Days and directing the movies Pretty Woman and The Princess Diaries. He died on Tuesday at the age of 81. Marshall was involved as a writer, actor, producer or director on movies and television shows for almost 60 years. Overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday, people Marshall worked with in Hollywood expressed their sadness and appreciation. Marshall was one of the trending topics on Twitter overnight. Marshall started out as a writer for comedians in New York. He started writing for The Tonight Show in 1959. In 1961, he moved to Hollywood to work in television. Marshall helped the careers of many actors by casting them in his shows. They included Henry Winkler and Robin Williams. Winkler played the iconic character “The Fonz” on Happy Days, a show that aired in the 1970s. Williams played “Mork,” an alien who came to live on Earth, on the show Mork and Mindy. On Twitter, Winkler wrote: “Thank you for my professional life…” Marshall directed the movie Pretty Woman. It starred Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The film website IMDB lists Pretty Woman as one of the most popular and successful movies of the 1990s. Before starring in the film, Roberts only had small movie roles. In honor of Marshall, one Twitter user posted a link to a famous scene from Pretty Woman. It shows Roberts’ character Vivian shopping on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. The twitter user said it “will forever hold a special place in my heart.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Do you have a favorite Garry Marshall television show or movie? Tell us about it in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   appreciation – n. a feeling of being grateful for something cast – v. to assign roles for (a play, movie, etc.) to actors iconic – adj. used to describe a person or place that is representative of something larger alien – n. from somewhere other than the planet Earth scene – n. a division of an act in a play during which the action takes place in a single place without a break in time

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a9BaK3
via IFTTT