August 31, 2016

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

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Have We Entered a New Geological Period?

This is What’s Trending Today… For almost 12,000 years, Planet Earth has been in what is called the Holocene Epoch. This geological era started after the last ice age. Human civilizations developed during this warm period. But, geology experts now say the Holocene period is over. We are in a new geological era, they say, and have been since around 1950. This era is marked by the huge effects humans have had on the planet. Scientists have been calling this new era the Anthropocene Epoch. The prefix anthro comes from the Greek word anthropos, which means human.  A group of experts at the International Geological Congress presented a report on the Anthropocene era this week in Cape Town, South Africa. They recommended officially declaring a new geological era. Their statements quickly became a trending topic on social media. The group ClimateMama posted on Facebook, “We have entered Anthropocene, the age of man’s dominance over our planet...Can we learn to be thoughtful caretakers?” Some called it “terrifying” that humans have so strongly affected the planet. Twitter user Lexie described the change as “incredible and terrifying at the same time.”   Many others on social media and beyond shared those thoughts.   And that’s What’s Trending Today.    Ashley Thompson adapted this report. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   era - n.  a period of time that is associated with a particular quality, event, person, etc. prefix - n. a letter or group of letters that is added at the beginning of a word to change its meaning​ dominance - n. power and influence over something or someone incredible - adj. difficult or impossible to believe​  

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In Michigan City, College Is Free for Many High School Graduates

  Emily Olivares was surprised when a friend told her she is $50,000 in debt after paying for four years of college. “I almost had a heart attack,” Olivares said. “That’s a lot of money.” She has no such problem. Her tuition for four years at Western Michigan University was about $40,000. But, a program called Kalamazoo Promise paid for it all. Since 2006, a group of secret donors provided money so students who graduate from Kalamazoo public schools can attend a Michigan state college. The money pays tuition for students in part or fully. “I don’t think I would be in the same place in life right now if it wasn’t for this program,” said the 22-year-old Olivares. She recently graduated from Western Michigan University, and works for Kalamazoo Promise. In the future, she hopes to set up international study programs for college students. Hillary Clinton's Proposed Tuition Program The Kalamazoo program is now getting more attention because of Hillary Clinton. The Democratic candidate for president is proposing a free tuition program for the entire country. Clinton wants to provide free state college tuition for families with yearly incomes of up to $125,000. Republican Donald Trump’s campaign website does not list a plan on college tuition. However, last year, Trump told The Hill newspaper that the federal government should not profit on student loans and should allow students to lower the amount of interest they pay.                 In Kalamazoo, the tuition aid program is praised as a program that makes a difference in the small city in America’s Midwest. Kalamzoo has a population of 76,000 and is halfway between the cities of Chicago, Illinois and Detroit, Michigan. Bob Jorth is the Kalamazoo Promise executive director. He said the city has about 25 percent more students attending college than it did 10 years ago, when the program began. Kalamazoo is sending about 85 percent of its high school graduates to college. That percentage, Jorth said, is similar to the rate in much wealthier communities. Research Group Says Promise Program Has Limits But the Brookings Institution research group said in a 2015 report that the program has limitations. It found that only twenty percent of African-American high school graduates earned college degrees six years after graduation. Brookings said the overall college degree average for the city’s public school graduates was forty percent. What it shows, Brookings said, is that Kalamazoo “has not yet come close to resolving the problem of inequality of opportunity” for African-American children. But several Kalamazoo Promise students said the program made a big difference for them. Twenty-one-year-old Tinashe Chaponda is now attending Western Michigan University with a lot of help from Kalamazoo Promise Not having to pay full tuition, means he does not have to spend his free time working at a paid job, Chaponda said. It has freed him to set up a non-profit group to help place students with groups needing volunteers. Chaponda came to Michigan from Zimbabwe in time to start 8th grade in Kalamazoo’s school system. Today, he gets 70 percent of his tuition covered. Students who attend Kalamazoo public schools for all 12 years get their entire Michigan state college tuition covered. Chaponda said his goal is to return to Zimbabwe some day and run for president of the southern African country. “The Promise program allows me to focus on college and still have extra time to start my non-profit,” Chaponda said. “I feel if people are investing in me, the least I can do is give back to the community in some way.” Other Cities Offer Tuition Aid Kalamazoo is not the only place with free- or reduced-cost tuition for public school graduates. The Upjohn Institute for Employment Research reported that about 30 U.S. communities have created similar programs. One of the largest is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Upjohn Institute studied graduation rates in Kalamazoo in 2015. It said there was a 12 percent increase in people earning college degrees within six years of high school graduation. The U.S. Education Department says that is important for economic reasons. People who graduate from college in America earn $1 million more, over their lifetime, than those who only graduated from high school. The Promise program also means Kalamazoo public school graduates can attend state colleges without owing a lot of money. The average student debt for 2016 college graduates is $37,000, according to the website, StudentLoanHero.com. Not everyone supports the idea of free tuition. Norbert Michel, writing for the conservative Heritage Foundation, said free tuition can lead to higher education costs. “The core problem is that they remove the paying customer -- in this case the student -- from the equation,” Michel said. If students and their parents are paying they will work to keep costs down, he said. Students Know 'This Is Something Special' Michael Rice is superintendent of Kalamazoo Public Schools. He said, teachers start talking about the program in early in a student’s education. “By sixth grade students understand that this is something special and unique,” Rice said. He said the program has helped increase test scores for students who know they and their families will be able to afford college. Jorth said it is too early to say what will happen to the program he leads if Clinton is elected and gets her tuition plan approved by Congress. When Kalamazoo Promise was announced in late 2005, a press release said the donors wanted to give people a reason to remain in Kalamazoo or move to the city. They also wanted a more educated workforce. But the press release did not say who the donors are. Since then, Jorth said local residents have been trying to guess who in Kalamazoo has enough money to provide the $80 million given the program since 2006. The secret donors make Jorth’s job pretty special. He may be one of the few people who can say, “I don’t know who I work for.” I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported this story for VOA 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 heart attack -- n. a suddedn painful and dangerous condition in which your heart stops beating properly tuition -- n. money that is paid to a school for the right to study there entire -- adj. complete or full focus -- v. to put most of your attention on a matter or subject graduate -- n. a student who complete his or her studies at a school core -- adj. the central or major issue equation -- n. the issue at hand guess -- v. to form an opinion or give an answer about something when you do not know much or anything about it

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Indian Scientists Design Device to Collect Solar Energy

Indian scientists have designed a new device they hope will solve one of the biggest problems with the use of solar energy. They call the device a solar tree. Solar trees have metal “branches” extending from a tall, central pole at different levels. Each branch holds a photovoltaic panel, also called a solar panel. These panels are flat surfaces that collect energy from the sun and turn it into electricity. Daljit Singh Bedi is the chief scientist at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, or CSIR, in New Delhi, India. The CSIR laboratories are where the solar tree was designed.  Bedi says the shape of the solar trees makes it possible to fit more photovoltaic panels in a space than traditional systems do. This means less land would be needed to produce solar energy. “It takes about four-square meters of space to produce energy which otherwise would have required 400 square meters of space,” he says. “So almost 100 times the space is saved, which as you know is very valuable.” Buying land to develop roads, factories and other infrastructure has been a disputed issue in India. Disagreements often lead to protests by those forced to move. Some of the protests have turned violent. Scientists believe the energy a solar tree collects will be enough to power five homes. The space-saving tree will make it easier to provide solar energy to homes in cities, they say. The trees will also take less space from farmers in rural areas. Bedi says solar trees will collect more energy than normal photovoltaic panels on the tops of buildings. “This design, it facilitates placement of solar panels in a way that they are exposed more towards the sun, ” he says. “And that way they are able to harness 10 to 15 percent more energy.” India is the world’s third largest producer of greenhouse gases. The country promised to reduce its rate of greenhouse gas production at the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Paris last year. India said, by 2030, it would reduce its rate of greenhouse gas production by one third over its levels in 2005. The country’s promise depends heavily on increasing solar energy. India has set a difficult goal of getting 40 percent of its total energy from renewable sources by 2030. It also plans to reduce its use of coal. The cost of photovoltaic panels has gone down in recent years. This has made solar power cheaper and easier to use. But, some people worry about the need to buy large areas of land for traditional solar energy collectors. Amit Kumar is the senior director of the Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi. The institute studies development in India and countries in the southern half of the world. Kumar says gaining access to land takes time and increases costs. He adds that it is still not clear how useful these new  developments in solar power technology are. “[Only when] we put those [trees] on a large scale … will we be able to get that answer,” he says. I’m Pete Musto. Anjana Pasricha reported on this story for VOA. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Are scientists in your country developing new technology for renewable energy? What are some ways countries should try to use renewable energy sources? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pole – n. a long, straight piece of wood or metal that is often placed in the ground so that it stands straight up photovoltaic – adj. relating to the production of electricity by exposing two substances to light panel – n. a flat piece of metal or plastic facilitate – v. to make something easier greenhouse gases – n. gases or pollution that causes the temperature of the Earth to raise renewable – adj. restored or replaced by natural processes

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Political Tension Cancels Nigerian Mass Wedding

  A mass wedding has been canceled in northern Nigeria, leaving about 100 couples wondering when they will get another chance to marry. The couples from rural areas in Kano state were to be married in the middle of August. But tensions between the governor and a state senator who organized the ceremony forced a delay. The postponement was enforced by police. They said they had been told the event could be a security threat. Plans had already been made when the postponement was announced the day before the wedding. The wedding meal was prepared. A goat had been slaughtered. Chickens were roasting and rice had been bought. Organizers said thousands of people were expected to attend, including governors from five other states. “I had already invited my friends and many of them had come from faraway places, only to come to Kano to hear that the wedding will not be taking place,” said Inuwa Inuwa. The 22-year old Inuwa had planned to marry his 16-year-old girlfriend Kaishia Yunusa.  Mass weddings paid for by the government are common in this mostly Muslim state. All costs are covered, including the venue, gifts and food. The government buys furniture for each couple and gives them some money to start out. The Kano state government has held mass weddings for more than 4,000 couples in recent years. The governor’s office said it will try to organize a new mass wedding in Kano as soon as possible. Single women register for mass weddings with an Islamic, or Sharia committee. The committee helps match them with a man and organizes the wedding ceremonies. Couples who do not have enough money for their own weddings can also register. Abubukar Jiddere is a political scientist with the Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Research and Training in Kano City, Nigeria. He says the wedding program is good for society and can improve a woman’s social status. “It is essentially meant to promote gender equity, in terms of providing sustainable lifestyles for the women.” In Nigerian culture, a sustainable lifestyle means getting married and staying married. But many couples are also getting divorced. Economy affecting marriages  Population growth and falling oil revenues have made the economy worse making it harder to find a job in Nigeria. This has caused many families to force their young girls into early marriage. But many newly married couples find they are not happy together and cannot pay their debts.  It is harder for people married in mass weddings to get a divorce. The couple must bring their marriage disputes to officials who enforce Muslim Sharia law. Husbands are required to pay a $600 fine to divorce.  Local activist Zubaida Nagee says the high divorce rate causes problems for women. She believes the real issue is that too many women lack education and are poor. She says many of these women are “desperate” and see a government-sponsored marriage as a way out of their problems.  “There are better ways of taking care of women. For the government to come up with mass weddings, it is only a short term solution to the problem.” She says marriage naturally leads to children who add to the financial burden of the family. She would like to see the government do more to help the women in other ways. As for Inuwa, he now has a job as a driver. He says he can now afford to take care of a wife on his own. But, he says he would not turn down a government offer to pay for his wedding. I’m Bryan Lynn. Chika Oduah reported this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. Pete Heinlein was the editor. We want to hear from you. What do you think about the holding of mass weddings? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   slaughter – v. to kill an animal for meat venue – n. a place to hold a wedding or other special event furniture – n. chairs, tables and other items used inside a house equity – n. when everyone is treated fairly and equally sustainable – adj. able to stay or continue over time divorce – n. the official or legal end of a marriage desperate – adj. a feeling of hopelessness burden – n. something difficult or unpleasant to deal with

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August 30, 2016

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

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Juno Gets a Close-up Look at Jupiter

  The spacecraft Juno successfully passed close to Jupiter Saturday as it orbits the solar system’s largest planet. NASA, the American space agency, said the spacecraft passed about 4,200 kilometers above Jupiter’s clouds. The approach was the closest the spacecraft will get to the planet before crashing into it at the end of its mission in 2018. Early information shows NASA officials “that everything worked as planned and Juno is firing on all cylinders,” said Rick Nybakken.  He is Juno project manager at NASA’s Jet propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. All scientific instruments on the spacecraft were turned on for the first time and pointed towards the planet as it passed Jupiter. NASA released a picture taken as Juno sped toward the planet. The agency says more will be made public later. The new photographs will be the closest ever taken by a space probe. They also will be the first of their kind taken of the planet’s north and south poles. Scott Bolton is the top investigator of Juno from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. He said, "We are in an orbit nobody has ever been in before, and these images give us a whole new perspective on this gas-giant world." Jupiter and the three other outer planets are known as gas-giants because of their thick, gaseous atmosphere. Bolton said, “we are getting some intriguing early data returns.” Intriguing means very interesting. He said that it will take days before all the data collected during the flyby to be “downlinked,” or sent back to Earth. And he said, it will take more time to understand “what Juno and Jupiter are trying to tell us” with the data scientists are gaining. There are seven instruments on board the spacecraft sending the information to NASA. NASA hopes scientists will learn more about the Jupiter’s beginnings, structure, and its atmosphere and magnetosphere. The magnetosphere is believed to influence auroras, or glowing particles, above Jupiter’s northern and southern poles. Scientists also hope to find out more about the great red spot.  It is a huge storm that has lasted for hundreds of years. NASA launch the Juno spacecraft in August 2011, from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It began its orbit of Jupiter this year on July 4. I’m Anne Ball. Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter 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 firing on all cylinders – phrase. all its parts are working probe – n. an instrument used for examining something pole – n. either end of the imaginary line around which something, like Jupiter, turns—north or south pole perspective – n. knowledge or understanding flyby – n.  the act of flying over, or by, something magnetosphere - n. an area of space surrounding an object in space that is dominated by the object’s magnetic field

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Obama Names New National Monument in Maine

  President Barack Obama has named a new national monument in the northeastern state of Maine. Businesswoman Roxanne Quimby gave the 35,000 hectares of land to the government. The gift honored the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis said “I can’t think of a better way to celebrate” the anniversary. He called the land in Maine’s North Woods “extraordinary.” The Katahdin Woods and Waters monument includes the East Branch of the Penobscot River. From the land, Maine’s tallest mountain -- Katahdin -- can be seen. Many animals live on the land, including moose, black bears, coyotes, deer and bald eagles. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said the gift would permit the area to “remain accessible to current and future generations of Americans, ensuring the rich history of Maine’s hunting, fishing and recreation heritage will forever be preserved.” Supporters of the monument say it will create hundreds of jobs in an area affected by the closing of paper factories. But opponents fear it will hurt efforts to rebuild a forest-based economy in the area. Earlier this year, the Maine state legislature said it opposed federal ownership of the land. Governor Paul LePage also opposed the creation of the monument. Lucas St. Clair is Roxanne Quimby’s son. He has led the efforts in recent years to create the monument. “Many parks over the history of the park system have been criticized upon creation,” he said. “But when we look to the future, we see huge amounts of success.”' Quimby began buying the land in the 1990s. She wanted it to be named a national park. But only Congress can create new parks. The president has the power to create national monuments without the approval of Congress. Many national parks -- including the Grand Canyon National Park -- were monuments before becoming parks. The land has a value of $60 million. Quimby gave 20 million to help care for it. She plans to help raise another 20 million for the effort within three years. I’m Caty Weaver. The Associated Press news agency reported this story from Portland, Maine. It was adapted for Learning English by Christopher Jones-Cruise. Caty Weaver ​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   accessible - adj. able to be reached or approached​ heritage - n. the traditions, achievements, beliefs, etc., that are part of the history of a group or nation​ preserve - v. to keep (something) in its original state or in good condition​

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Feelings and Fashion at MTV's Video Music Awards

  This is What’s Trending Today… The MTV network held its Video Music Awards, or VMAs, Sunday night. Social media users are still talking about the stars and performances at the ceremony. Rihanna was honored with the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. Her friend, singer Drake, introduced her and presented her with the award. In his speech, he declared his love for the singer. “She's someone I've been in love with since I was 22 years old,” Drake told the crowd. He then tried to kiss Rihanna on stage. The media has long questioned the nature of Rihanna and Drake’s relationship. Is it romantic? Or is it just friendship? One fan tweeted that she thought Drake might ask Rihanna to marry Sunday night. Another asked if this meant their relationship was now “official.” ​ Whatever Drake meant, Facebook posts and tweets seem to approve the message. One Twitter user asked “Can someone get me a Drake please?”   ​ Singer Beyonce arrived at the VMAs with her daughter, Blue Ivy, by her side. Her appearance was also a popular subject of social media discussion. The four-year-old Blue Ivy wore a $11,000 gown and a diamond tiara. One Twitter user said the little girl “stole” the show. But, some social media users criticized the amount of money spent on the child’s clothing and jewelry. Social media was also excited about Alicia Keys at the VMAs. She reportedly went without wearing any makeup on her face. Many applauded her decision. One Twitter user wrote “I love Alicia Keys’ no make up movement.” ​ Another wrote that Keys’ decision was something for “women to get inspired by.”   And that’s What’s Trending Today.   Caty Weaver wrote this article for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story tiara - n.  a small crown that is decorated with jewels and that is worn by women or girls on special occasions makeup - n. substances (such as lipstick or powder) used to make someone's face look more attractive applaud - v.  to express approval of or support for (something or someone)

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Average Weight of American Men Increased 7 Kilograms in 20 Years

  American men weigh about seven kilograms more now, on average, than they did 20 years ago. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, reported the finding earlier this month. The CDC report noted that the average weight for American men over the age of 20 is 88.7 kilograms. That amount is based on information gathered between 2011 and 2014. Between 1988 and 1994, the average weight of an American man was 82 kilograms. Over the 20-year period, the average height of men did not change. The report said American women and children have also gained weight. The average woman weighed 64 kilograms in 1960 and now weighs 76 kilograms. On average, the weight of adolescent boys and girls increased 5.4 kilograms over the past 20 years. The report did not tell why the average weight of Americans increased. But many studies show a large number of people in the United States are obese. Obesity is a condition in which the body stores large, unhealthy amounts of fat. Obese individuals are considered overweight. The information for the new report was gathered from 19,000 people. They took part in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2011 to 2014. CDC officials say about 35 percent of Americans are obese. Obesity can cause many health problems, including heart disease, stroke, Type 2 diabetes and some kinds of cancer. There was some good news from the report. It noted that the rate of weight increase for men appears to be slowing. Since 2002, the average weight of men has increased by just 2.3 kilograms. Goutham Rao heads the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Case Western Medical Center in Ohio. Rao told ABC News the rate of increase in weight of American men, women and children “is always a cause for alarm.” He said there are some easy ways to prevent weight gain, including choosing water over sugary drinks and taking part in some kind of physical activity every day. Rao said that people should not worry about each pound they lose, but should instead “think about adopting healthy behaviors that can last a lifetime.” I’m Pete Musto. This story was based on a report published on VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story obese – adj. very fat; fat in a way that is unhealthy adolescent – adj. describing a young person who is developing into an adult stroke – n. a serious health diroder caused when a blood vessel in your brain suddenly breaks or is blocked diabetes – n. a serious disease in which the body cannot properly control the amount of sugar in your blood because it does not have enough insulin adopt – v. to begin to use or have something

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Deaths From Lightning Strikes in US at Highest Since 2010

  Two people in the United States died over the weekend after they were struck by lightning.   The number of deaths from lightning-related accidents in 2016 rose to 29. It is the highest amount of deaths from lightning strikes since 2010, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).  The latest lightning-related deaths happened in the states of Colorado and Michigan on August 19.   Even though there are four months left in the year, the 2016 toll has already exceeded last year's 27.  Eight people have died from lightning in August of this year, making it the deadliest August since 2007. July is usually the month with the most fatalities. This year, 12 people were killed by lightning in July.  John Jensenius, an NWS lightning safety specialist, believes that the rise in lightning-related deaths was due more to people’s behavior than science.   "People are outside, enjoying beaches in the summer time. There's not much variance in lightning activity," Jensenius said.  Fridays have been the deadliest day of the week in 2016, which Jensenius said was unusual.   Usually, the highest number of incidents occur on Saturdays and Sundays, when Americans are outside barbecuing and enjoying other weekend activities.  Florida has had the highest number of lightning deaths in 2016, with six people. Louisiana followed with four lightning-related fatalities and then New York with three.  Deaths from lightning strikes were reported in the hundreds each year in the 1940s and 1950s because there were more farmers riding tractors in open fields, Jensenius said.   Since then, deaths from lightning have decreased significantly.  The chances of being struck by lightning in a lifetime remain low. About 1 in 12,000 people will be struck by lightning in their lifetime. Out of every ten people struck by lightning, one of them will die.   Even though the odds are low, Jensenius wants people to be more careful. "If you can hear thunder, you're close enough to be struck," he said.   Jensenius advises people to get inside during thunderstorms to avoid the risk of being struck by lightning. ​ I'm Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth This story was reported by Reuters news service. Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.    _______________________________________________________________    Words in This Story    toll – n. the number of people who are killed or injured in an accident, disaster, war, etc.   exceeded – v. to be greater or more than (something) : to go beyond the limit of (something) ​ variance – n. an amount of difference or change ​ significantly – adv. in a way that is large or important enough to be noticed or have an effect 

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