US Investigates Missing Money in Malaysia

U.S. attorney general Loretta Lynch says billions of dollars were stolen from an investment fund run by the government of Malaysia. The thieves may be high-ranking officials in the Malaysian government and their family members. The money generated by the fund was supposed to be used for economic development projects and to help raise the quality of life in Malaysia. But instead, it was used to buy artwork by famous artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso. More money was used to purchase expensive homes and a jet, and to finance Hollywood movies. The fund is called 1MDB. It opened in 2009. Early on, billions of dollars moved out of the fund and into the account of a co-founder of oil company PetroSaudi International. The money was supposed to fund a project between Malaysia and the oil company. But the money went back into the account of a Malaysian government official known as “Malaysian Official One.” Lynch would not identify the person known as “Malaysian Official One.” But observers believe it may be Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak. Over the next five years, more than $3.5 billion were transferred from the fund into private bank accounts in Switzerland. The U.S. Department of Justice is working to recover at least $1 billion in assets that were purchased with money stolen from the fund. Those assets include the artwork and some of the profits from the 2013 movie “The Wolf of Wall Street.” The case, filed in California, is in fact called “U.S. v. Wolf of Wall Street.” Najib’s stepson and another Malaysian investor started the production company that financed the film. The money likely came from the 1MDB fund. Lynch said, “Corrupt officials treated this public trust as a personal bank account.” The Department of Justice is involved through its Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. Lynch says the U.S. is involved because money passed through American banks. U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs also raised money for the fund. The complaint says banks in Singapore, Switzerland, Luxembourg and the U.S. were used in the fraud. Other governments are investigating the 1MDB fund, including Switzerland and Singapore. Members of the Malaysian government’s opposition will probably ask for Najib to resign. But some of those same party members say Najib’s position as prime minister is probably safe. Charles Santiago is a member of the opposition Democratic Action Party. He says some organizations in Malaysia will ask for an investigation based on the U.S. allegations. But, he said, “This will not go far.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Steve Herman wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Do you think the U.S. will be successful in its case? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trust – n. an arrangement in which someone's property or money is legally held or managed by someone else or by an organization (such as a bank) for usually a set period of time kleptocracy – n. a corrupt government that steals from the people it is supposed to represent asset – n. something that is owned by a person, company, etc. — usually plural initiative – n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem complaint – n. a formal charge saying that someone has done something wrong fraud – n. the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person allegation – n. a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal

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Philippines Leader Duterte: Just Call Me President

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has issued an order directing the Philippine people to address him simply as “president.” Duterte’s executive order banned the use of honorifics for himself or his cabinet. Honorifics are titles or terms of respect. Duterte approved the executive order on July 15. The order was issued to stop the use of terms such as “honorable” or “his excellency.” While Duterte will be called “president,” the order suggests the term “secretary" be used for the country’s ministers. Duterte’s officials say the order is a step aimed to reinforce the president’s “simple” style. Though he will formally be addressed as president, Duterte still prefers to be called "mayor," according to a statement from the president’s staff. For more than two decades, Duterte was the mayor of southern Davao City. There, he became an admired public servant and crime-fighter. Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said the executive order was intended to preserve Duterte’s “populist” style. “He encourages less ceremonial communications,” Abella added. The order will not surprise the millions of Filipinos who voted for Duterte. He became popular due to his down-to-earth style and clothing. The new president took office three weeks ago. He will give his first State of the Nation address on Monday. The State of the Nation is an extraordinary affair more like a fashion show than a political speech. However, the Duterte administration did make a change to the event. The budget has been reduced for this year’s State of the Nation address. This year’s event will have fewer guests and a business dress code. I’m John Russell.   Reuters contributed to this VOA News story. Jim Dresbach 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   honorifics – n. titles used in speaking to or about a superior or elder executive order – n. an order that comes from a president or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law excellency – n. used as a title for some high government officials populist – adj.  relating to a political party that claims to represent ordinary people fashion show – n.  an event at which newly designed clothing are modeled for an audience

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Islamic State Is Said to Be Shrinking in Cyberspace

  The top American diplomat working to lessen the effect of terrorist messages says the Islamic State’s recruiting efforts on the Internet have been slowed. Richard Stengel, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy, says the news is not all good, though. The terrorist group’s message continues to motivate angry and mentally unstable Muslims. Stengel recently spoke to the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United States House of Representatives. His testimony was more positive than statements made by other American officials in recent weeks. “The virtual caliphate…is shrinking,” he said. “Now we see the tide turning.” He told committee members that the amount of anti-IS information on the Internet is six times higher than pro-IS information. Stengel helps direct officials from several agencies that seek to tell people in other countries the truth about terrorists. The group has also worked with technology companies, Hollywood filmmakers and Muslims around the world to fight terrorist propaganda. Stengel noted that thousands of pro-terrorist Twitter accounts have been cancelled. And he said YouTube and Facebook are removing terrorist material. Stengel told the House committee that the Islamic State terrorist group’s military losses are also beginning to affect their capabilities on the Internet. “With our success on the military battlefield -- getting back almost 40 percent of the territory in Iraq that [IS] once held -- we are getting rid of a lot of those people who were creating [terrorist information on the Internet]," he said. But Stengel said the terrorists’ online messages are still reaching people. Stengel said the group’s messages are not “taking nice, young Muslim boys and girls and turning them into foreign terrorist fighters.” Instead, he said, the terrorists “are tapping into an already-existing market of grievance and unhappiness that [exists] throughout the Muslim world. They are sometimes pushing on an open door.” Republican Congressman Ed Royce of California is the chairman of the committee. He said the Islamic State’s online messages are still effective. IS "operates a vast network of online recruiters [and] online propagandists,” Royce said. “They use popular media sites, and through that process [IS] can reach a global audience -- it does this within seconds.” Recently, Assistant FBI Director Michael Steinbach told a Senate committee that the Islamic State had increased the quality and quantity of its messages on the Internet. “No matter the format, the message of radicalization spreads faster than we imagined just a few years ago,” Steinbach said. “The most concerning trend that we’ve seen in the past year when we identify these individuals online is the speed with which they mobilize.” Democratic Congressman Eliot Engel said that pressure against the Islamic State must continue. He said, “We’re connected on a global scale like never before. And so much good can come of that. But we know it cuts both ways. This incredible tool can also be used for incredible harm.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   This story was reported by VOA Capitol Hill Correspondent Michael Bowman. It was adapted for Learning English by Christopher Jones-Cruise. 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   motivate – v. to give (someone) a reason for doing something virtual – adj. existing or occurring on computers or on the Internet tap into – expression connect with   vast – adj. very great in size, amount or extent format – n. the form, design or arrangement of something radicalize – v. to cause (someone or something) to become more radical especially in politics mobilize – v. to bring (people) together for action scale – n. the size or level of something, especially in comparison to something else      

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Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

Now the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Each week we explore the meaning and origin of American English expressions. Today, I want you to look at your hand. The hand is an amazing tool. With it, we humans have done many wonderful things. Of course, human hands have also done some not so wonderful things. But today, let’s focus on the wonderful things. For those, we should thank the thumb. You could say the thumb made us humans what we are. Its development was as important an event in man’s growth as his success in learning how to walk upright. Our opposable thumbs, as we call them, allow us to work with our fingers. Opposable thumbs also allow us to grab and pick up things. Scientists say without our opposable thumbs, humans might not have survived. The thumb is so important that we have a couple phrases to express its power. The first power thumb expression is the rule of thumb. These are not rules about how to use your thumb. A rule of thumb is a general principle developed through experiments rather than scientific study Another power thumb expression, is to be under someone’s thumb which is not a good place to be. When a person is ruled by another, completely controlled by someone else, we say the person is under the other’s thumb. For example, a sick woman may find herself under the thumb of a greedy relative. The relative wants to inherit the woman’s money. He says he will take care of all her finances while she is ill. Soon, he does not buy her medicine or doctor appointments. The woman’s health gets worse and worse, but she can’t do anything about it. She is completely under his thumb. If this woman had control of her own money, she would not be under this man’s thumb. In fact, she could thumb her nose at him. Thumbing your nose at someone is showing a person disrespect and disregard. This expression can also be used for things that you don’t respect, for example a type of literature or art or music, or even a law. No matter how you use your thumb, each hand has only one. And that’s a good thing. Two or three thumbs on a hand might make doing things hard. In fact, that is how we describe people who are clumsy. We say they are all thumbs. Anyone can be all thumbs. You know the feeling. You’re in the kitchen cooking dinner and you keep dropping things -- the spices, the broccoli, the knife. All go crashing to the floor. You might say, “What is wrong with me today? I’m all thumbs!” So, it is a good thing that our hands are designed to have only one thumb. And if that thumb is green – even better! Someone with a green thumb is really good at growing plants. Let’s say the balcony of a neighbor’s apartment has a beautiful flower and herb garden. Her roses and begonias are big and fragrant. Her parsley, chives and cilantro are so plentiful that she shares them with all her neighbors. As she gives a bunch of fresh herbs and flowers to you in the elevator one day, you say, “These came from your balcony garden? Wow, you really have a green thumb. I can’t get anything to grow on my balcony!” So, the thumb is helpful and useful.  In fact, waving your thumb at a driver used to be a way of getting ride. Hitchhiking was common in the U.S. decades ago. But thumbing a ride, as hitchhiking is also called, is no longer considered a safe way to travel. In fact, it is even illegal in some U.S. states.   However, giving someone a thumbs up is still legal and still common. Thumbs up means you approve something. Thumbs down means you don’t. If a number of people are deciding on a yes or no question, someone can call for a thumbs up or thumbs down vote. This expression comes from ancient Rome when gladiators fought for their lives in the public arena. The crowd decided if the fighter was to live or die. A defeated gladiator would lower his arms as a sign of surrender. If the crowd turned up their thumbs he would be allowed to live. But if the crowd gave the thumbs down, he would be killed. These days a thumbs up or thumbs down vote can be important but not so … violent. And that brings us to the end of another Words and Their Stories. If someone asks you if you enjoyed this show, we hope you give us a thumbs up. I’m Anna Matteo.   In the Comments Section let us know if your language has any expressions using the every useful digit of the thumb. Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. The song at the end is “Under My Thumb” by the Rolling Stones. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   opposable – adj. able to be placed against one or more of the other fingers or toes on the same hand or foot disrespect – n. speech or behavior which shows that you do not think someone or something is valuable, important, etc. : lack of respect disregard – n. the act of ignoring something or treating something as unimportant clumsy – adj. moving or doing things in a very awkward way and tending to drop or break things fragrant – adj. having a pleasant and usually sweet smell plentiful – adj. containing or giving large amounts of something hitchhike – v. to get a ride in a passing vehicle by holding out your arm with your thumb up as you stand on the side of the road

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English in a Minute: No Pain No Gain

Some expressions are easy to remember because they rhyme. "No pain no gain" is something you tell someone to urge them to keep going. Learn more about this expression in this week's English in a Minute!

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Trump Follows Nixon’s Lead in Calling for Law and Order

In 1968, Richard Nixon accepted the Republican presidential nomination promising a war against crime. Forty-eight years later, Donald Trump did the same thing as he accepted the Republican nomination Thursday. “I have a message to every last person threatening the peace on our streets, and the safety of our police: When I take the oath of office next year, I will restore law and order to our country,” Trump said. But there are limits to what a president can do to reduce crime. Unlike in some countries, most policing in the United States is done by agencies controlled by local governments, not the federal government. “Federal law enforcement handles less than 10 percent of crime,” said Jack McDevitt, director of the Northeastern University Institute on Race and Justice. Nixon and Trump paint scary picture In his speech, Trump, like Nixon before him, painted a frightening picture of the crime threat facing America. ”Decades of progress made in bringing down crime are now being reversed by [the Obama] administration’s rollback of criminal enforcement,” Trump said. “Homicides last year increased by 17 percent in America’s 50 largest cities. That’s the largest increase in 25 years.” Nixon talked about a “wave of crime” victimizing Americans. The website Factcheck.org said Trump is correct to report an increase in homicide rates. However, it said that law enforcement experts say it is too early to say this is a trend. The website said crime rates are still far lower than in the 1990s. Trump has not yet offered details on how a Trump administration would fight crime. Bill Clinton’s anti-crime program One of the largest federal anti-crime programs came from Democratic President Bill Clinton. He is the husband of current Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The 1994 crime bill that Clinton helped push through Congress increased penalties for federal crimes, especially drug violations. It also called for adding 100,000 new police officers with federal funds. By 2005, a congressional report said the program had added 88,000 police officers. It found the program added about 1 percent to total local spending on police and “contributed to a 1.3 percent decline in the overall crime rate.” Hillary Clinton has said adding police was a good thing. But, she said the bill went too far by requiring long sentences for non-violent drug offenses. She said it has led to the imprisonment of too many African-Americans. Other similarities between Trump and Nixon There are other similarities between what Nixon said in 1968 and what Trump said Thursday in Cleveland, Ohio, at the Republican National Convention. Both men said their plans would help people of all races. Nixon said: “And to those who say that law and order is the code word for racism, there and here is a reply: Our goal is justice for every American.” Trump said: “Every action I take, I will ask myself: does this make life better for young Americans in Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Ferguson who have the same right to live out their dreams as any other child in America?” The four cities he mentioned have a large population of African-Americans. Racial tensions in the 1960s and Today America struggled with racial tensions in the 1960s and still does today. In the 1960s, there were race riots in some American cities. Some of the reasons were a lack of jobs, charges of violent police treatment of African-Americans and the assassination of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. A 1968 report from the Kerner Commission said, “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white -- separate and unequal.” In 2015 and 2016, the Black Lives Matter movement has protested police shootings of African-Americans. This month, there were killings of five police officers in Dallas, Texas, and three police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mass killings, connected to terrorism, in San Bernardino, California, in 2014, and last month in Orlando, Florida, have added to unease among Americans.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOANews.com. 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. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   oath –n an official promise by a person who has been elected to a public office to fulfill the duties according to the law restore –v. to put or bring something back into existence or use reverse – v. to change your decision or opinion about something homicide –n.  murder trend – n. a general direction officer – n. a member of a police force decline – n. a reduction society –n. people in a particular group  

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Shenandoah: A Western-Style Park in the East

  This week on our national parks journey, we visit a mountainous landscape on America’s east coast. Within the park are rocky peaks, rolling green hills, and spectacular waterfalls. It is also home to hundreds of black bears. Welcome to Shenandoah National Park in the state of Virginia. Shenandoah sits in the heart of Blue Ridge Mountains. The mountains are part of the larger Appalachian Mountain range. The park’s hiking trails, waterfalls and wildlife appeal to nature-lovers and adventurers.         Driving on top of the mountain Shenandoah National Park is perhaps best known for the road that goes through it: Skyline Drive.  Skyline Drive runs nearly 170 kilometers north to south. It is the only road in the park. There are more than 70 overlooks along the way, where people can pull their car off the road. These overlooks provide visitors with beautiful views of the Shenandoah Valley. The road was built in the 1930s, at a time when the automobile was becoming popular. Shenandoah’s north entrance lies less than 120 kilometers from Washington, D.C. Early planners wanted a major national park like those in the American West here on the East Coast, close to big cities. In fact, Shenandoah was described as “an Eastern park in the Western tradition.” And, early park planners wanted Skyline Drive to be “the single greatest feature” of the park. Denise Machado is a park ranger at Shenandoah. She explains that the park soon became a place for people to escape the noise -- and heat -- of big cities. “It was created just so people could kind of get away, a place to escape the big city the hustle and bustle. Pre-air-condition days, this was the place to be. The temperatures were about 10 degrees cooler up here on the mountain.” But, Shenandoah’s history is not without controversy. To create the place that park planners envisioned, many families were forced to leave behind properties in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Shenandoah National Park was formed from more than 3,000 individual land purchases. They were presented to the federal government by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Shenandoah officially became a national park in 1936. Today, most of the buildings and structures that once stood in the area are long gone. But, you can find some signs of the past. A log building called Corbin Cabin still stands. George Corbin, who built the log structure, was forced to leave the land in the late 1930s, just after the creation of the national park. Today, the cabin is operated by the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club. The club permits people to rent the cabin. Hiking Shenandoah Shenandoah National Park has more than 800 kilometers of hiking trails. They take visitors to rocky mountain peaks, grassy meadows, and forested canyons. Hikers are especially drawn to the park’s famous waterfalls. “The waterfalls are definitely the most popular. We have nine waterfalls. Dark Hollow Falls is our most popular. It’s a beautiful waterfall, it's a 70-foot waterfall. It 1.4 mile hike round-trip. It follows along a stream. And you’re right at the base of the falls and you’re looking up and you can feel the spray. It’s a really great experience.” Grace Williams hiked to Dark Hollow Falls with her daughter on her birthday. “My daughter’s gift for me to bring me to the national park. And it’s on my bucket list. I always love falls, I like the sound. The water is refreshing. So, they did tell us it's kind of like a moderate hike. I do have knee problems, but I just wanted to challenge it, and I’m glad I came. It’s beautiful.” Another of Shenandoah’s famous hikes is called Old Rag. It is almost 15 kilometers long. To get to the top of Old Rag Mountain, hikers must scramble up large rocks. It is a long and difficult hike. But, the views from the top bring hikers from all across the country and world. Because it is close to many big cities, Shenandoah’s trails are often crowded with people. More than 1 million people visit the park each year. Although Shenandoah was created to be an easy escape from big East Coast cities, today it sees visitors from all over the world. “It's amazing how many people you meet that come from far-flung countries and corners of the world. We've had people from Africa. We get a lot of people from Germany, France, Sweden, Netherlands, so you  just never know where they're going to come from."    Machado says summer and fall are the most popular times to visit the park. While summer is a good time to enjoy the waterfalls, the fall brings beautiful autumn colors. In the middle of October, the trees begin to lose their leaves. The leaves change from green to different shades of yellow, orange, and red as winter approaches. On weekends in October it can take up to two hours just to get into the park. Shenandoah’s black bears Visitors to Shenandoah National Park have a good chance of seeing a black bear. The park is home to between 400 to 600 black bears. It has one of the densest black bear populations of any national park. Denise Machado knows a lot about these black bears. In fact, her nickname is “the bear lady.” “Well, I am known in Shenandoah as the bear lady. I see a lot of bears every season. I'm in the park early in the morning and late in the evening. I see anywhere from 400 or so bears every year. And, it's wonderful to see. I never get tired of seeing them. They are all different and they are all special.” Machado gives visitors advice for what to do if they see a black bear. “So, if you see a bear, you want to clap your hands, you wanna say ‘Hey bear! Hey bear!’ They really don’t like to be startled. You don’t want to try to sneak up on them to get a photo or anything. You want to make sure that they are totally aware you are there.” Malachi and his older brother Brent visited Shenandoah National Park with their parents. The family traveled here from Cincinnati, Ohio. The family hiked the Little Stony Man Trail. Along the way, they came upon a black bear. “I really liked how we could see the animals. We saw a really big bear. And he was really friendly and he didn’t do anything. And he was just eating.” The park’s bears and other wildlife are a big part of what attracts so many visitors to Shenandoah. Carol Bair and her husband visited the park from York, Pennsylvania. She said visiting Shenandoah is “like a breath of fresh air.” “It's just quieter. You hear the birds. You look at trees different. The wind blowing through the fields, it's just really neat.”        I'm Ashley Thompson.  And I'm Adam Brock.    Ashley Thompson reported and wrote this story. Adam Brock was the editor.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   peak - n. the pointed top of a mountain spectacular - adj. causing wonder and admiration hustle and bustle - expression. busy and noisy activity meadow - n. a usually flat area of land that is covered with tall grass canyon - n. a deep valley with steep rock sides and often a stream or river flowing through it bucket list - n. a number of experiences that a person hopes to do in their lifetime moderate - adj. average in the level of difficulty scramble - v. to move or climb over something quickly especially while also using your hands recreation - n. activities done for enjoyment dense - adj. having many of something in a certain area startle - v. to surprise or frighten suddenly sneak up - phrasal verb. to approach (someone) quietly and secretly in order to avoid being noticed

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US Park Service Director: A Dream Job

More than 300 million people from around the world visit America’s national parks each year. They visit beautiful places like the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. They walk among the ancient giant sequoia trees and watch wolves, bison and bears in their natural habitats. They are all managed by the U.S. National Park Service. This year it is celebrating its centennial, or 100th anniversary. Jonathan Jarvis is the National Park Service Director. Recently, he spoke to VOA about his time with the service. “For the last 100 years, the National Park Service has been charged by the U.S. government to manage the very best of America; the very best places that represent both our natural and cultural heritage. So, to be part of this organization and to be in the directorship is really a lifelong dream for me.” He has worked at the park service for 40 years, and been the director since 2009. “I like to say the National Park Service is the only federal agency with the responsibility to ensure the public actually has fun! So we have a lot of places that are there for the enjoyment of the American people, and visitors from around the world.” Called the country’s national treasures, these parks are found in every state. They cover over 32 million hectares from Guam to the Virgin Islands to Alaska. There are 412 sites in all.  Not Just Beauty: Lessons Learned Too But they are not just places of wild nature. The national parks include thousands of historic buildings, presidential homes, monuments and Civil War battlefields. They tell the story of the United States of America. The director says the parks are not just about seeing their beauty. “We want you to learn something, to take something away.  Whether it’s to learn about nature or plate tectonics or climate change, but also about history.” Sometimes those history lessons are difficult ones about the darker side of America. Jarvis talks about the Manzanar National Historic Site in California.  This is the place that tells the story of the internment of Japanese-Americans in military-like camps during World War Two. He explains that Japanese-Americans were held in the camps by order from President Franklin Roosevelt when the U.S. was at war with Japan. “Over 100,000 Japanese-Americans were rounded up at bayonet point and put into prison camps for multiple years during the war just because of their ethnicity. The Park Service has been charged with telling that kind of story." Jarvis says it is “an honor” to serve as the director. It is a big job.  The agency has 22,000 employees and gets help from another 400,000 volunteers. He says being in charge of “incredible places” is the “best job in the government.” Those incredible places are full of action—fires, volcanoes and floods. He says there are also activities around the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution—freedom of speech. The parks also participate in activities around the Confederate flag used by the south in the Civil War, and LGBT rights. Dealing with Climate Change The national parks hold some of the country’s most beautiful natural spaces. One thing the park service must deal with, however, is climate change. The parks are federally protected, but that does not shelter them from the effects of warming temperatures. Jarvis gives some examples. Like the glaciers -- the large bodies of ice on slopes -- in Glacier National Park. He says they will be “gone within 20-25 years.” He adds that the wildfires in the national parks and other public lands are burning “at least a month longer,” than in years past. Because of climate change, he says, “the forests are not even coming back the same way.” “We’re seeing species being forced to migrate and not necessarily having the corridors to connect between parks and protected areas across the landscape.” Park Service’s Second Century Heading into its second century, Jarvis says the new national parks will be “more representative” of women and minorities in the U.S. He says there are several key goals for the parks future. One of those goals, he says, is “battling to protect these key natural resources.” “I hope that the Park Service thrives in its second century -- that it is established on a sound foundation of financial support. But really the key is the public support. That the public still views the National Park Service as essential.”   I’m Anne Ball.   Julie Taboh wrote this story for VOA News.  Anne Ball adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   centennial – n. the one hundredth anniversary of something plate tectonics – n. the theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that move over the surface of the Earth bayonet – n. the knife-like point at the end of a rifle ethnicity – n. group of people who belong to a particular race or share a culture LGBT – short cut phrase. stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender migrate – v. to move from one place to another to live corridor – n. a long narrow passage in a building or piece of land thrive – v. to do well essential – adj. extremely important or necessary

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'A Retrieved Reformation,' by O. Henry

  We present the short story "A Retrieved Reformation," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. In the prison shoe-shop, Jimmy Valentine was busily at work making shoes. A prison officer came into the shop, and led Jimmy to the prison office. There Jimmy was given an important paper. It said that he was free. Jimmy took the paper without showing much pleasure or interest. He had been sent to prison to stay for four years. He had been there for ten months. But he had expected to stay only three months. Jimmy Valentine had many friends outside the prison. A man with so many friends does not expect to stay in prison long. “Valentine,” said the chief prison officer, “you’ll go out tomorrow morning. This is your chance. Make a man of yourself. You’re not a bad fellow at heart. Stop breaking safes open, and live a better life.” “Me?” said Jimmy in surprise. “I never broke open a safe in my life.” “Oh, no,” the chief prison officer laughed. “Never. Let’s see. How did you happen to get sent to prison for opening that safe in Springfield? Was it because you didn’t want to tell where you really were? Perhaps because you were with some lady, and you didn’t want to tell her name? Or was it because the judge didn’t like you? You men always have a reason like that. You never go to prison because you broke open a safe.” “Me?” Jimmy said. His face still showed surprise. “I was never in Springfield in my life.” “Take him away,” said the chief prison officer. “Get him the clothes he needs for going outside. Bring him here again at seven in the morning. And think about what I said, Valentine.” At a quarter past seven on the next morning, Jimmy stood again in the office. He had on some new clothes that did not fit him, and a pair of new shoes that hurt his feet. These are the usual clothes given to a prisoner when he leaves the prison. Next they gave him money to pay for his trip on a train to the city near the prison. They gave him five dollars more. The five dollars were supposed to help him become a better man. Then the chief prison officer put out his hand for a handshake. That was the end of Valentine, Prisoner 9762. Mr. James Valentine walked out into the sunshine. He did not listen to the song of the birds or look at the green trees or smell the flowers. He went straight to a restaurant. There he tasted the first sweet joys of being free. He had a good dinner. After that he went to the train station. He gave some money to a blind man who sat there, asking for money, and then he got on the train. Three hours later he got off the train in a small town. Here he went to the restaurant of Mike Dolan. Mike Dolan was alone there. After shaking hands he said, “I’m sorry we couldn’t do it sooner, Jimmy my boy. But there was that safe in Springfield, too. It wasn’t easy. Feeling all right?” “Fine,” said Jimmy. “Is my room waiting for me?” He went up and opened the door of a room at the back of the house. Everything was as he had left it. It was here they had found Jimmy, when they took him to prison. There on the floor was a small piece of cloth. It had been torn from the coat of the cop, as Jimmy was fighting to escape. There was a bed against the wall. Jimmy pulled the bed toward the middle of the room. The wall behind it looked like any wall, but now Jimmy found and opened a small door in it. From this opening he pulled out a dust-covered bag. He opened this and looked lovingly at the tools for breaking open a safe. No finer tools could be found any place. They were complete; everything needed was here. They had been made of a special material, in the necessary sizes and shapes. Jimmy had planned them himself, and he was very proud of them. It had cost him over nine hundred dollars to have these tools made at a place where they make such things for men who work at the job of safe-breaking. In half an hour Jimmy went downstairs and through the restaurant. He was now dressed in good clothes that fitted him well. He carried his dusted and cleaned bag. “Do you have everything planned?” asked Mike Dolan. “Me?” asked Jimmy as if surprised. “I don’t understand. I work for the New York Famous Bread and Cake Makers Company. And I sell the best bread and cake in the country.” Mike enjoyed these words so much that Jimmy had to take a drink with him. Jimmy had some milk. He never drank anything stronger. A week after Valentine, 9762, left the prison, a safe was broken open in Richmond, Indiana. No one knew who did it. Eight hundred dollars were taken. Two weeks after that, a safe in Logansport was opened. It was a new kind of safe; it had been made, they said, so strong that no one could break it open. But someone did, and took fifteen hundred dollars. Then a safe in Jefferson City was opened. Five thousand dollars were taken. This loss was a big one. Ben Price was a cop who worked on such important matters, and now he began to work on this. He went to Richmond, Indiana, and to Logansport, to see how the safe-breaking had been done in those places. He was heard to say: “I can see that Jim Valentine has been here. He is in business again. Look at the way he opened this one. Everything easy, everything clean. He is the only man who has the tools to do it. And he is the only man who knows how to use tools like this. Yes, I want Mr. Valentine. Next time he goes to prison, he’s going to stay there until his time is finished.” Ben Price knew how Jimmy worked. Jimmy would go from one city to another far away. He always worked alone. He always left quickly when he was finished. He enjoyed being with nice people. For all these reasons, it was not easy to catch Mr. Valentine. People with safes full of money were glad to hear that Ben Price was at work trying to catch Mr. Valentine. One afternoon Jimmy Valentine and his bag arrived in a small town named Elmore. Jimmy, looking as young as a college boy, walked down the street toward the hotel. A young lady walked across the street, passed him at the corner, and entered a door. Over the door was the sign, “The Elmore Bank.” Jimmy Valentine looked into her eyes, forgetting at once what he was. He became another man. She looked away, and brighter color came into her face. Young men like Jimmy did not appear often in Elmore. Jimmy saw a boy near the bank door, and began to ask questions about the town. After a time the young lady came out and went on her way. She seemed not to see Jimmy as she passed him  “Isn’t that young lady Polly Simpson?” asked Jimmy. “No,” said the boy. “She’s Annabel Adams. Her father owns this bank.” Jimmy went to the hotel, where he said his name was Ralph D. Spencer. He got a room there. He told the hotel man he had come to Elmore to go into business. How was the shoe business? Was there already a good shoe-shop? The man thought that Jimmy’s clothes and manners were fine. He was happy to talk to him. Yes, Elmore needed a good shoe-shop. There was no shop that sold just shoes. Shoes were sold in the big shops that sold everything. All business in Elmore was good. He hoped Mr. Spencer would decide to stay in Elmore. It was a pleasant town to live in and the people were friendly. Mr. Spencer said he would stay in the town a few days and learn something about it. No, he said, he himself would carry his bag up to his room. He didn’t want a boy to take it. It was very heavy. Mr. Ralph Spencer remained in Elmore. He started a shoe-shop. Business was good. Also he made many friends. And he was successful with the wish of his heart. He met Annabel Adams. He liked her better every day. At the end of a year everyone in Elmore liked Mr. Ralph Spencer. His shoe-shop was doing very good business. And he and Annabel were going to be married in two weeks. Mr. Adams, the small-town banker, liked Spencer. Annabel was very proud of him. He seemed already to belong to the Adams family. One day Jimmy sat down in his room to write this letter, which he sent to one of his old friends: Dear Old Friend: I want you to meet me at Sullivan’s place next week, on the evening of the 10th. I want to give you my tools. I know you’ll be glad to have them. You couldn’t buy them for a thousand dollars. I finished with the old business—a year ago. I have a nice shop. I’m living a better life, and I’m going to marry the best girl on earth two weeks from now. It’s the only life—I wouldn’t ever again touch another man’s money. After I marry, I’m going to go further west, where I’ll never see anyone who knew me in my old life. I tell you, she’s a wonderful girl. She trusts me. Your old friend, Jimmy. On the Monday night after Jimmy sent this letter, Ben Price arrived quietly in Elmore. He moved slowly about the town in his quiet way, and he learned all that he wanted to know. Standing inside a shop, he watched Ralph D. Spencer walk by. “You’re going to marry the banker’s daughter, are you, Jimmy?” said Ben to himself. “I don’t feel sure about that!” The next morning Jimmy was at the Adams home. He was going to a nearby city that day to buy new clothes for the wedding. He was also going to buy a gift for Annabel. It would be his first trip out of Elmore. It was more than a year now since he had done any safe-breaking. Most of the Adams family went to the bank together that morning. There were Mr. Adams, Annabel, Jimmy, and Annabel’s married sister with her two little girls, aged five and nine. They passed Jimmy’s hotel, and Jimmy ran up to his room and brought along his bag. Then they went to the bank. All went inside—Jimmy, too, for he was one of the family. Everyone in the bank was glad to see the good-looking, nice young man who was going to marry Annabel. Jimmy put down his bag. Annabel, laughing, put Jimmy’s hat on her head and picked up the bag. “How do I look?” she asked. “Ralph, how heavy this bag is! It feels full of gold.” “It’s full of some things I don’t need in my shop,” Jimmy said. “I’m taking them to the city, to the place where they came from. That saves me the cost of sending them. I’m going to be a married man. I must learn to save money.” The Elmore bank had a new safe. Mr. Adams was very proud of it, and he wanted everyone to see it. It was as large as a small room, and it had a very special door. The door was controlled by a clock. Using the clock, the banker planned the time when the door should open. At other times no one, not even the banker himself, could open it. He explained about it to Mr. Spencer. Mr. Spencer seemed interested but he did not seem to understand very easily. The two children, May and Agatha, enjoyed seeing the shining heavy door, with all its special parts. While they were busy like this, Ben Price entered the bank and looked around. He told a young man who worked there that he had not come on business; he was waiting for a man. Suddenly there was a cry from the women. They had not been watching the children. May, the nine-year-old girl, had playfully but firmly closed the door of the safe. And Agatha was inside. The old banker tried to open the door. He pulled at it for a moment. “The door can’t be opened,” he cried. “And the clock—I hadn’t started it yet.” Agatha’s mother cried out again. “Quiet!” said Mr. Adams, raising a shaking hand. “All be quiet for a moment. Agatha!” he called as loudly as he could. “Listen to me.” They could hear, but not clearly, the sound of the child’s voice. In the darkness inside the safe, she was wild with fear. “My baby!” her mother cried. “She will die of fear! Open the door! Break it open! Can’t you men do something?” “There isn’t a man nearer than the city who can open that door,” said Mr. Adams, in a shaking voice. “My God! Spencer, what shall we do? That child—she can’t live long in there. There isn’t enough air. And the fear will kill her.” Agatha’s mother, wild too now, beat on the door with her hands. Annabel turned to Jimmy, her large eyes full of pain, but with some hope, too. A woman thinks that the man she loves can somehow do anything. “Can’t you do something, Ralph? Try, won’t you?” He looked at her with a strange soft smile on his lips and in his eyes. “Annabel,” he said, “give me that flower you are wearing, will you?” She could not believe that she had really heard him. But she put the flower in his hand. Jimmy took it and put it where he could not lose it. Then he pulled off his coat. With that act, Ralph D. Spencer passed away and Jimmy Valentine took his place. “Stand away from the door, all of you,” he commanded. He put his bag on the table, and opened it flat. From that time on, he seemed not to know that anyone else was near. Quickly he laid the shining strange tools on the table. The others watched as if they had lost the power to move. In a minute Jimmy was at work on the door. In ten minutes— faster than he had ever done it before—he had the door open. Agatha was taken into her mother’s arms. Jimmy Valentine put on his coat, picked up the flower and walked toward the front door. As he went he thought he heard a voice call, “Ralph!” He did not stop. At the door a big man stood in his way. “Hello, Ben!” said Jimmy, still with his strange smile. “You’re here at last, are you? Let’s go. I don’t care, now.” And then Ben Price acted rather strangely. “I guess you’re wrong about this, Mr. Spencer,” he said. “I don’t believe I know you, do I?” And Ben Price turned and walked slowly down the street. Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. Are you a bad person just because you break the law? Can a bad person become a good person? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   shop – n. a building or room where goods and services are sold or worked on safe(s) – n. a strong metal box with a lock that is used to store money or valuable things coat – n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry cop – n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests lovingly – adv. done in a way that shows love proud – adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own or someone you know or are related to cake – n. a sweet baked food made from a mixture of flour, sugar, and other ingredients corner – n. the place where two streets or roads meet

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English @ the Movies: 'There's A Lot At Stake'

Our English @ the Movies phrase is from the movie "Eye in the Sky." This movie is about using military drone aircraft in war. The pilot and officers are deciding if the pilot should fire a missile. The phrase is "there's a lot at stake." Listen and find out what it means.

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Exhibit Explores Power of Press in 18th Century

  Clearly, there was no social media or television to spread the word when America declared its independence from Britain in 1776. Information about the American Revolution came from newspapers. An exhibit at the Newseum in Washington D.C. shows the power of newspapers in 18th century America. The Newseum is a museum about the news and reporting. Patty Rhule is exhibit development director for the Newseum. She said: “The exhibit tells the story of the printers and publishers in colonial America who helped make the case for independence, who fanned the flames of revolution.” The Pennsylvania Evening Post was first to publish the freedoms called for in America’s Declaration of Independence. “Today, we get news over our Facebook feeds, or on Twitter, or Instagram, or on the radio or on television,” Rhule said. “Back then, newspapers were it.” She said newspapers were used to debate the big issues of the day. That included the emotional arguments over whether America should or should not leave Britain. The Newseum has on display all four pages of the 240-year-old newspaper. It is one of only 19 known copies. The case for independence was made in publications like Common Sense, a pamphlet written by Thomas Paine. The publication gave Paine’s arguments for American independence. He is known as one of America’s Founding Fathers. Rhule said Common Sense reached a huge number of colonists at the time. “America was one of the most literate countries at the time,” Rhule said. “Almost half of the people who could read had heard -- or read parts -- of Common Sense, which is incredible when you think about it.” I’m Marsha James.   Julie Taboh reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. 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. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   exhibit -- n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at printer -- n. a person or company that puts out books, newspapers or magazines colonial -- adj. of or relating to the original 13 colonies forming the United States flames -- n. creating support for a cause pamphlet -- n. a small, thin book with no cover or only a paper cover that has information about a particular subject incredible -- adj. difficult to believe

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