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Meet Someone Special by Covering Up Your Face

Speed dating is an efficient way for single people hoping to find romance to meet a number of other single people at once. People who attend a speed dating event go on several short dates in the same night. At the end of the night, they let the organizers know if they met someone they would like to see again. The organizers then help the daters get in contact with each other. The problem with this kind of event, however, is that the people with the best looking faces and bodies are often the most popular. But one speed dating company in Japan is working to change that. It wants to prove that people can connect emotionally without seeing each other’s faces clearly. The company is called Def Anniversary. It thinks that people trying to find a partner should think more about personality than appearance. The singles are required to wear surgical masks, which cover the lower part of the face. Kei Matsumura is the head of Def Anniversary. She said the singles attending her events should get to know each other’s personality first instead of judging a person only on his or her appearance. One opinion survey found that nearly half of single people between the ages of 25 and 36 in Japan want to be married. They say they just have not met the right person yet. Those questioned say there are not very many ways to meet new people outside of work. That is why speed dating events are popular. Chiharu Tsukahara is one speed dater. She said she was able to learn more about her possible dates because her face was covered. “Generally, facial features influence our first impression, but here, personality matters,” she said. Yasumasa Kishi is another speed dater. He liked Def Anniversary’s masked dating event. “Because I was not being judged on my appearance, I think I was able to be more outgoing with the women,” he said. Research from Japan’s health ministry said the marriage rate nationwide has dropped by 50 percent since 1975. Maybe the masked dating will make a difference. I’m Dan Friedell. The Reuters news agency and VOANews.com reported this story. Dan Friedell adapted the story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Would you go to a masked dating event? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________   Words in This Story date – n. when two people who have or might have a close personal relationship do an activity together romance – n. the feeling of being in love bar – n. a building or room where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served surgical – adj. of or related to medical operations mask – n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth first impression – n. the effect or influence that something or someone has on a person's thoughts or feelings the first time  

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More Hardship in Afghanistan as 800,000 Afghans Return Home

Afghanistan is facing another crisis. This time it is a housing and food shortage, resulting from the return to the country of about 800,000 Afghans this year. They had been staying in Pakistan and Iran. Neighboring countries, particularly Pakistan, have taken in several million Afghan refugees over the past 40 years. But Pakistan and Iran have been pushing the refugees to return home. The people returning to Afghanistan include undocumented deportees. They were expelled, but lack documentation. “I’ve returned after a long time,” a man named Azad Khan Minumdai told VOA. “…I left because the situation in Pakistan had become very difficult. One has to protect one’s honor.” Afghans living in Pakistan reported increased police harassment. But they are having a hard time finding shelter, water and food in Afghanistan. Haji Ghulamullah returned home with his clan of 600 to 800 families. Many of the families have little money to pay for their own food or water. Ghulamullah said Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Reparations promised to build homes and provide water. But the ministry has yet to make good on its promises, he said. He said he called Afghan officials to ask for help. One official advised him to close roads by launching a street protest. He suggested such action might put pressure on the government. The United Nations says it recognizes the problems faced by people returning to Afghanistan. U.N. officials made an appeal for more than $150 million in emergency aid. But so far, it has only received about 13 percent of the requested money. With winter weather coming soon, the United Nations is worried about a humanitarian crisis. Afghanistan has faced almost nonstop military conflict since 1973, when the armed forces ousted the government. This week, Afghan officials reported that at least 30 civilians were killed in clashes between government forces and Taliban fighters. The United States military provided assistance to the Afghan forces. Two U.S. soldiers were reported killed in the fighting. “Despite (this) tragic event, we are steadfast in our commitment to help our Afghan partners defend their nation,” said General John Nicholson. He is commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan. In Washington, another U.S. government spokesman said Pakistan can help bring about stability by acting against militants on Pakistani soil “who seek to attack its neighbors.” State Department spokesman John Kirby was asked this week about protests against the government in Pakistan. The New York Times newspaper reported that 1,500 people supporting the opposition party have been arrested. “The United States will continue to support freedom of assembly and freedom of expression,” Kirby said. I’m Bruce Alpert.   Ayesha Tanzeem reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow 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   particularly – adv. more than usually harassment - n. to interfere with someone, often in a repeated way clan - n. a large group of people who are related assembly - n. a group of people who gather together stability - n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change steadfast - adj. very loyal to a person, belief, or cause commitment - n. a promise to do or give something

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Underwater Exploration at Biscayne National Park

This week on our national parks journey, we head to southern Florida. Here, you will find blue-green seas, marine wildlife, and islands that hold thousands of years of human history. Welcome to Biscayne National Park! Biscayne is not very far from the lights, noise and excitement of downtown Miami. But it has a very different atmosphere from the big city. Biscayne National Park was established as a national monument in 1968. It became a national park in 1980. That year, its size also increased. The park now covers more than 70,000 hectares. It includes the northern part of the world-famous Florida Keys. Keys are low-lying islands or reefs. If you enjoy water, Biscayne is the park for you. Ninety-five percent of the park is water. Many kinds of animals live in these waters. Some of them are threatened or endangered. You will find the huge, gentle West Indian manatee, the less gentle American crocodile, several kinds of sea turtles, and more than 500 species of fish. Four ecosystems come together here, which is what makes the park so diverse. The blending ecosystems create “edge communities.” These edge communities support a huge array of wildlife. The underwater diversity is what attracts most people to Biscayne National Park. Many visitors come here to snorkel or scuba dive in Biscayne’s clear and warm waters. Human history Human history at Biscyane begins more than 10,000 years ago. Scientists say evidence of the area’s earliest people is mostly underwater now, as water levels have risen over time. Within the last 3,000 years, people began to settle in the area. Scientists continue to learn about these people by examining the big hills of shells they left behind. The shells contain other waste, too, including early tools and housewares. As the population grew, it divided into separate cultures. The groups began making pottery and created trade networks. These Native Americans are called the Tequesta. The Tequesta depended on the rich food source of the sea to survive. They were not centered on farming, which requires huge amounts of time. So the Tequesta had more time than other natives for art and religion. Very complex social structures developed as a result.   European explorers began arriving in the area in the early 1500s. They brought with them diseases like smallpox and measles. Over time, these diseases killed huge numbers of Florida’s natives. Early explorers arrived in the area on ships. The reefs and rough waters made it difficult for ship captains. Biscayne’s waters contain more than 50 shipwrecks. Scuba divers today can explore six of them. Among them is the Erl King, which sank in 1891. It was built in 1865. Erl King was mostly used to transport goods, but it also carried rich passengers. In its first few years of service, it was used for trading between China and Australia. The ship hit Long Reef as it sailed to New Orleans from England. Its machinery and other parts were saved, but Erl King itself sank to the sea floor. Another shipwreck that scuba divers can explore is the Lugano. The British steamship sank in 1913. At the time of its sinking, it was the largest ship ever to wreck in the Florida Keys. It was traveling to Havana, Cuba, carrying goods and more than 100 passengers. Most of them were Spaniards immigrating to Cuba. High winds and heavy seas sent the ship far off course. A collision with Long Reef damaged the ship. Much of the cargo and all of the passengers were safely removed from the ship. The captain and crew remained aboard. Many people tried to remove the water from Lugano and repair it. But, after several weeks, they abandoned their efforts. Today, the Lugano remains along Long Reef, almost 8 meters below water. Exploring the park Many visitors to Biscayne National Park choose to explore underwater. Guides lead snorkeling and scuba diving trips. These give visitors the chance to get up close to the park’s underwater wildlife as well as its shipwrecks. Visitors can also explore the park on a boat. Canoeing and kayaking are great ways to enjoy Biscayne’s mangrove forests. Mangroves are little trees that grow in coastal waters. Many people take a kayak or canoe around the islands and lagoons. At Elliot Key, visitors can set up camp and sleep in the wild. At Boca Chita Key, visitors can explore a lighthouse. The lighthouse has become a symbol of Biscayne National Park. It was built in the 1930s by Mark Honeywell, one of the island’s former owners. The deck at the top of the 20-meter-tall lighthouse provides beautiful views of the ocean and the nearby islands. The top of the lighthouse also offers views of Miami Beach’s famous skyline. But, visitors to Biscayne National Park probably are not there to see skyscrapers and city lights. The beauty in Biscayne is quiet waters, rustling mangroves and, if you’re lucky, a visit with a manatee. I'm Caty Weaver.  And I'm Ashley Thompson.    Ashley Thompson wrote this report with materials from the National Park Service. Caty Weaver was the editor.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story marine - adj.  of or relating to the sea or the plants and animals that live in the sea key - n.  a low island or reef array - n. a large group or number of things — usually singular network - n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connected and that work with each other cargo - n. something that is carried from one place to another by boat, airplane, etc. mangrove - n. a tropical tree that has roots which grow from its branches and that grows in swamps or shallow salt water canoe - v.  to go or travel in a canoe, a long narrow boat that is moved by a paddle with one blade kayak - v. to go or travel in a kayak, a long narrow boat that is moved by a paddle with two blades

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And the Winner Is… Store Owner Predicts Next US President

  With the American elections just a few days away, researchers are busy preparing last-minute opinion surveys. The researchers hope to identify the next president of the United States by questioning likely voters. But one businessman is using a completely different method to predict who will win the election. He is choosing the winner based on sales of presidential campaign-related products in his store. Jim Warlick owns and operates White House Gifts in Washington, D.C. His business is a short walk from the real White House. Warlick has been selling presidential campaign buttons for the past 35 years. In August, 62 percent of the buttons he sold were for Hillary Clinton, the candidate of the Democratic Party. Buttons for Donald Trump, the Republican Party candidate, totaled 38 percent. His unofficial survey was taken a short time after the parties held meetings to officially nominate the candidates. Jim Warlick’s store sells a lot more than buttons. People can also buy T-shirts, bobbleheads, coffee mugs and magnets showing their favorite candidate. As the long campaign season nears an end, some Americans might be growing tired of politics. But a lot of people are still buying items at the store. On a recent day, one of them was Mariam Khan, a U.S. citizen who was born in Zimbabwe. “It’s going on and on and on, all the name calling.” However, Khan’s feelings did not stop her from buying many election-related items from White House Gifts. Another woman, Susan Levin, said no matter who wins, she thinks this presidential election has already been historic. “I’m getting things that are not going to be here after the election,” she said. Warlick said the numbers in his button count recently changed after the third and final presidential debate. “It was 57 Hillary and 43 Trump. So it’s narrowed. Yes, it has.” But he says the best-selling products are actually not related to either candidate. Instead, the most popular things have to do with President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. “Actually, Michelle is more popular than the president, so we started doing a Michelle line. And so the two legacies of the president and the first lady are selling more than both Clinton and Trump.” Warlick has correctly predicted the result of almost every presidential race since 1980. The only time he was wrong was in 2000, when Al Gore lost to George W. Bush. So the big question is - which candidate is he choosing this year? “I watch the polls quite a bit daily and my merchandise daily. So I would say it’s going to be Clinton.” So based on souvenir sales and his own opinion, Warlick placed an order last week for the 2017 presidential inauguration. He spent a lot of money buying Hillary Clinton-related items. He admits that his decision could be a mistake if Donald Trump wins on Election Day. But he is not too worried, since he has a good record making choices based on what people buy. He is excited about the swearing-in of the next president, set to take place January 20, 2017. And after that, he says the 2020 election can’t come soon enough. “Oh yes, yes! Christmas comes every four years for us,” he said. I’m Bryan Lynn. Mil Arcega reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. What are your favorite election-related items? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   button – n. ​ small, round piece of plastic or metal with a stamped design or print that is worn on clothing bobblehead – n. a doll having a head that repeatedly moves when touched or moved mug – n. large cup usually used for hot drinks legacy – n. something passed down from an earlier time souvenir – n. something people buy to remember a person or event instinct – n. something a person knows without learning or thinking about inauguration – n. ceremony where a leader is officially sworn into office survey – n. a study of public opinion item – n. an object or thing

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Fall Colors Not Only Red and Blue

  This is What’s Trending Today. Americans often identify the two major political parties by the colors red and blue. The practice began with the 2000 election. Media organizations liked the idea because it made easy use of voting maps. It helped show the winner of each state as the results came in. The Democratic Party is blue. The Republican Party is red. For the last 16 years, there has been a lot of talk about red states and blue states. Since elections take place in autumn, red and blue have become “fall colors.” But this time of year, people on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are also talking about true fall colors – like those found in nature. The colors are orange, yellow, red, and brown. Why? Huge numbers of trees change color in the late fall in the U.S. Their leaves go from green to shades of orange, red, brown and yellow. A chemical called chlorophyll is responsible. Chlorophyll helps trees make sugar from sunlight. This feeds the tree and keeps the leaves green. But, as sunlight decreases in the fall, the trees produce less chlorophyll. This is when the leaves show what some people call their “true colors.”  The website SmokyMountains.com has a Fall Foliage Map. It predicts when people will see the best fall colors.  The best time to see the colorful leaves, also known as foliage, was in mid-October, but some areas in the U.S. still have colorful trees. Twitter user, Chris Duncan shared a photo he took earlier this week in Washington, D.C. It shows a bright red tree and the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument. One person shared a photo taken high above the Virginia Tech campus, a university in southwest Virginia. Inga Sarda-Sorensen is a photographer in New York City. She posted some stunning photos of Central Park. But you do not have to be in the U.S. to see the color change. Ewan Gunn posted a photo from Scotland showing the Craigellachie Bridge with beautiful green, orange and yellow leaves in the background. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Did you see some fall colors this year? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share some photos on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________   Words in This Story stunning – adj. very beautiful or pleasing foliage– n. the leaves of a plant or of many plants

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Will the American Election Affect US Foreign Policy in Asia?

The two main candidates for president of the United States have spoken about a lot about Asia during the election campaign. Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are critical of trade deals with Asian nations. They have different opinions about U.S. defense policies in East Asia. Some observers have noted that America’s interests overseas remain consistent. And, they say, the problems facing the next president are complex. Both Clinton and Trump have been critical of free trade deals. That is especially the case with the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). The candidates might be reacting to growing public anger. Many Americans have blamed international trade for the loss of jobs over the past 20 years. The U.S. Congress has yet to approve the TPP. It is unclear whether lawmakers are willing to vote on the agreement after the elections next week. During election campaign stops, Clinton and Trump have each said they do not support the TPP. Clinton changed her position from 2012 when she called the deal the “gold standard in trade agreements.” Four years ago, she was serving as Secretary of State. Trump has also voiced his opposition to the TPP, calling it a bad deal. Supporters of the agreement, however, note that it is meant to open up markets in Asian and Pacific countries to American companies. The deal is also meant to balance China’s expanding economic influence in East Asia. The TPP’s supporters note that, if approved, the deal would include 12 nations, including Japan. Those countries are responsible for 40 percent of world trade. China policy an important campaign issue Trump has accused China of manipulating the value of Chinese money to make its exports less costly to other countries. He has threatened, if elected president, to use high taxes on Chinese goods to punish China for its actions. Some economists say measures such as these could cause a trade war. Clinton has been more critical of human rights abuses in China. And she has criticized the Chinese government for its territorial claims in the South China Sea. Professor Xie Tao teaches political science with Beijing Foreign Studies University. He says public criticism of China has been strong during the election campaign. But he says the criticism tends to soften after the elections. Xie notes this was the case with Clinton’s husband, former president Bill Clinton. As president, he decided not to link Chinese human rights issues to trade. Candidates differ on answer to North Korean threat How the United States should answer threats from North Korea also has been a campaign issue. Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state, has voiced support for strong military alliances with South Korea and Japan to counter North Korea’s weapons programs. She also wants to continue working with China to increase economic restrictions on the North Korean government. Trump has suggested another plan of action. China is North Korea’s main ally and trade partner. The businessman says he would pressure the Chinese government to force North Korea to stop its nuclear activities. China has joined the United Nations Security Council in ordering sanctions on North Korea. But, it is unwilling to cause the collapse of the North, which would likely result in a unified Korea under the control of South Korea. In addition, Trump has called on South Korea and Japan to support more of the cost of the U.S. military presence in those countries. At times, he has suggested that the allies might be permitted to develop nuclear weapons as protection against North Korea. Professor Kim Hyun-Wook is with the Korea National Diplomatic Academy in Seoul. He says some changes may take place under the next president, but the alliance will remain strong. “There might be some tensions and adjustment and refinement, but I think the alliance will be very solid.” The U.S. military has visibly placed bombers and fighter jets in East Asia. It is also seeking to deploy the THAAD anti-missile system in South Korea. Both China and Russia have criticized the proposed deployment. I’m Mario Ritter. VOA’s Brian Padden reported this story with additional information from reporter Bill Ide in Beijing. Mario Ritter adapted the story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. How do you think the election will affect us foreign policy in East Asia? Let us know in the comment section below. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story consistent – adj. staying about the same over time gold standard – n. the best example of something manipulate – v. to deal with in a controlling way, often unfairly tend – v. to behave in a certain way often counter – v. to do something in response to something else visibly – adj. in a way that can be noted or observed

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'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,' by Washington Irving

Today's story is called "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.  It is about something strange that happened long ago in a valley called "Sleepy Hollow".  It was written by Washington Irving. The story is told by Doug Johnson. The valley known as Sleepy Hollow hides from the world in the high hills of New York state. There are many stories told about the quiet valley. But the story that people believe most is about a man who rides a horse at night. The story says the man died many years ago during the American Revolutionary War. His head was shot off. Every night he rises from his burial place, jumps on his horse and rides through the valley looking for his lost head. Near Sleepy Hollow is a village called Tarry Town. It was settled many years ago by people from Holland. The village had a small school. And one teacher, named Ichabod Crane. Ichabod Crane was a good name for him, because he looked like a tall bird, a crane. He was tall and thin like a crane. His shoulders were small, joined two long arms. His head was small, too, and flat on top. He had big ears, large glassy green eyes and a long nose. Ichabod did not make much money as a teacher. And although he was tall and thin, he ate like a fat man. To help him pay for his food he earned extra money teaching young people to sing. Every Sunday after church Ichabod taught singing. Among the ladies Ichabod taught was one Katrina Van Tassel. She was the only daughter of a rich Dutch farmer. She was a girl in bloom…much like a round red, rosy apple. Ichabod had a soft and foolish heart for the ladies, and soon found himself interested in Miss Van Tassel. Ichabod's eyes opened wide when he saw the riches of Katrina's farm: the miles of apple trees and wheat fields, and hundreds of fat farm animals. He saw himself as master of the Van Tassel farm with Katrina as his wife. But there were many problems blocking the road to Katrina's heart. One was a strong young man named Brom Van Brunt.  Brom was a hero to all the young ladies. His shoulders were big. His back was wide. And his hair was short and curly. He always won the horse races in Tarry Town and earned many prizes. Brom was never seen without a horse. Sometimes late at night Brom and his friends would rush through town shouting loudly from the backs of their horses. Tired old ladies would awaken from their sleep and say: "Why, there goes Brom Van Brunt leading his wild group again!" Such was the enemy Ichabod had to defeat for Katrina's heart. Stronger and wiser men would not have tried. But Ichabod had a plan. He could not fight his enemy in the open. So he did it silently and secretly. He made many visits to Katrina's farm and made her think he was helping her to sing better. Time passed, and the town people thought Ichabod was winning. Brom's horse was never seen at Katrina's house on Sunday nights anymore. One day in autumn Ichabod was asked to come to a big party at the Van Tassel home. He dressed in his best clothes. A farmer loaned him an old horse for the long trip to the party. The house was filled with farmers and their wives, red-faced daughters and clean, washed sons. The tables were filled with different things to eat. Wine filled many glasses. Brom Van Brunt rode to the party on his fastest horse called Daredevil. All the young ladies smiled happily when they saw him. Soon music filled the rooms and everyone began to dance and sing. Ichabod was happy dancing with Katrina as Brom looked at them with a jealous heart. The night passed. The music stopped, and the young people sat together to tell stories about the revolutionary war. Soon stories about Sleepy Hollow were told. The most feared story was about the rider looking for his lost head. One farmer told how he raced the headless man on a horse. The farmer ran his horse faster and faster. The horseman followed over bush and stone until they came to the end of the valley. There the headless horseman suddenly stopped. Gone were his clothes and his skin. All that was left was a man with white bones shining in the moonlight. The stories ended and time came to leave the party. Ichabod seemed very happy until he said goodnight to Katrina. Was she ending their romance? He left feeling very sad. Had Katrina been seeing Ichabod just to make Brom Van Brunt jealous so he would marry her? Well, Ichabod began his long ride home on the hills that surround Tarry Town. He had never felt so lonely in his life. He began to whistle as he came close to the tree where a man had been killed years ago by rebels. He thought he saw something white move in the tree. But no, it was only the moonlight shining and moving on the tree. Then he heard a noise. His body shook.  He kicked his horse faster. The old horse tried to run, but almost fell in the river, instead. Ichabod hit the horse again. The horse ran fast and then suddenly stopped, almost throwing Ichabod forward to the ground. There, in the dark woods on the side of the river where the bushes grow low, stood an ugly thing. Big and black. It did not move, but seemed ready to jump like a giant monster. Ichabod's hair stood straight up. It was too late to run, and in his fear, he did the only thing he could. His shaking voice broke the silent valley. "Who are you?" The thing did not answer. Ichabod asked again. Still no answer. Ichabod's old horse began to move forward. The black thing began to move along the side of Ichabod's horse in the dark. Ichabod made his horse run faster. The black thing moved with them. Side by side they moved, slowly at first. And not a word was said. Ichabod felt his heart sink. Up a hill they moved above the shadow of the trees. For a moment the moon shown down and to Ichabod's horror he saw it was a horse. And it had a rider. But the rider's head was not on his body. It was in front of the rider, resting on the horse. Ichabod kicked and hit his old horse with all his power. Away they rushed through bushes and trees across the valley of Sleepy Hollow. Up ahead was the old church bridge where the headless horseman stops and returns to his burial place. "If only I can get there first, I am safe," thought Ichabod. He kicked his horse again. The horse jumped on to the bridge and raced over it like the sound of thunder. Ichabod looked back to see if the headless man had stopped. He saw the man pick up his head and throw it with a powerful force. The head hit Ichabod in the face and knocked him off his horse to the dirt below. They found Ichabod's horse the next day peacefully eating grass. They could not find Ichabod. They walked all across the valley. They saw the foot marks of Ichabod's horse as it had raced through the valley. They even found Ichabod's old hat in the dust near the bridge. But they did not find Ichabod. The only other thing they found was lying near Ichabod's hat. It was the broken pieces of a round orange pumpkin. The town people talked about Ichabod for many weeks. They remembered the frightening stories of the valley. And finally they came to believe that the headless horseman had carried Ichabod away. Much later an old farmer returned from a visit to New York City. He said he was sure he saw Ichabod there. He thought Ichabod silently left Sleepy Hollow because he had lost Katrina. As for Katrina, her mother and father gave her a big wedding when she married Brom Van Brunt. Many people who went to the wedding saw that Brom smiled whenever Ichabod's name was spoken. And they wondered why he laughed out loud when anyone talked about the broken orange pumpkin found lying near Ichabod's old dusty hat.   Now it’s your turn. What are some of the most famous ghost stories in your country? Write to us in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   burial – n. the act or ceremony of burying a dead person in a grave crane -  n. a type of tall bird that has a long neck and long legs and lives near water rebel – n. a person who opposes or fights against a government Revolutionary War – n. the war for American independence from Britain shake – v. of your voice: to produce sound in an unsteady way because you are nervous, angry, sad, etc

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1200 UTC Newscast for November 3, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Ira Mellman reporting. The U.S. president campaigns for his former Secretary of State. Stumping for fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton, his former secretary of state, U.S. President Barack Obama called her Republican rival Donald Trump. a "con artist," temperamentally unfit to be president. More from VOA’s Zlatica Hoke. "Speaking at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, Obama acknowledged Americans' frustration with the ugliness of the current presidential campaign. 'I want you to push away the noise for a second and just focus on the choice you face in this election.' Obama told voters, if they think clearly, their choice can only be Clinton. He portrayed Trump as a shady business dealer, lacking compassion for disadvantaged Americans and lacking qualifications to lead a democratic country. Trump, for his part, took a hit at Obama and promised to dismantle his legacy if elected. 'And the last thing we need is another four years of Obama. It's the last thing..’ Zlatica Hoke. VOA News, Washington." Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are both concentrating their efforts on North Carolina and Florida today (Thursday), two states seen by both campaigns as vital to winning the November 8 election. Trump has four rallies scheduled along the east coast Thursday, beginning in the northern Florida city of Jacksonville, before heading to a stop in eastern Pennsylvania, and finally finishing out the day with two stops in North Carolina. Clinton, meanwhile, has two rallies scheduled in North Carolina, the first in Greenville, followed by another in nearby Raleigh. President Obama will be campaigning on Clinton's behalf in Florida. Stay abreast of all the happenings of the U.S. campaign at VOANews.com. This is VOA News. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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