Election 2016: Reaction to the Vote

Republican Donald Trump is the president-elect of the United States. Here's a look at election night reactions.

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November 8, 2016

Today's Day in Photos highlights U.S. election 2016.

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One Dead in Shooting at California Voting Center

At least one person was killed and three others were wounded in a shooting Tuesday afternoon near a voting center in Southern California. The attack took place in the city of Azusa, 40 kilometers east of Los Angeles, as Americans marked ballots in the presidential election. Police officers who answered reports of the shooting were fired upon. The Los Angeles Times newspaper reports the officers shot at a man, who entered a home. It is believed that no police officers were injured. Officials asked people to avoid the area and stay in their homes or offices. Two voting centers and a middle school were closed and guarded. People were not permitted to enter or leave them. I’m Chris Cruise. VOANews.com reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report into VOA Special English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.

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LIVE: Polls Beginning to Close in US Election

23:30 UTC: Welcome to VOA Learning English's live coverage of the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. Tonight, America will choose its 45th president. The Republican candidate is Donald Trump. The Democratic candidate is Hillary Clinton. If elected, Clinton would become the country's first woman president.  Several states' polls close in 30 minutes:  Polls close at 00:00 UTC in the following states:  •Georgia (16 Electoral Votes) •Indiana (11 Electoral Votes) •Kentucky (8 Electoral Votes) •South Carolina (9 Electoral Votes) •Vermont (3 Electoral Votes) •Virginia (13 Electoral Votes) Polls close at 00:30 UTC in three other states:  • North Carolina (15 Electoral Votes) • Ohio (18 Electoral Votes) • West Virginia (5 Electoral Votes) Ohio is considered an important 'swing state.' 

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Philippine Court Approves Hero’s Burial for Dictator Ferdinand Marcos

  The Philippine Supreme Court has ruled that former president Ferdinand Marcos can be buried in a cemetery for national heroes. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had approved the burial. But several groups opposed his decision and went to court to stop it. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court voted 9-5 to dismiss opposition requests to block the burial. In its decision, the court noted that while Marcos “was not all good,” he “was not pure evil either.” A spokesman for the court added that there was no law preventing the burial. Marcos ruled the Philippines for more than 20 years. His administration was accused of widespread corruption and human rights abuses. He was removed from office in 1986 when the army supported what was called a “people power” rebellion. At that time, his opponents accused him of trying to steal an election from another candidate. Marcos fled the country. He died in 1989 while living in exile with his family in the American state of Hawaii. In 1993, his body was flown back to the Philippines and taken to his home province of Ilocos Norte. It has been kept in a glass coffin. Many people travel there to see his remains. Family members have denied wrongdoing during his rule. Marcos’s wife Imelda currently serves as a member of Congress in Ilocos Norte. Their daughter, Imee, is governor of the province. Their son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., has served in the Philippine Senate and nearly won the election for vice president in May. The family has long sought to have the body moved to the national Heroes’ Cemetery in Manila. The cemetery is the final resting place for other former presidents, military leaders, and national artists. President Duterte ordered the military to bury the president at Heroes’ Cemetery, saying he was acting on a campaign promise. Duterte said he felt it was right for Marcos to be buried there “not because he was a hero, but because he was a Filipino soldier.” Marcos served in the Philippine army and was a guerrilla leader against Japanese occupation forces during World War II. Duterte’s father was a provincial governor who once served in Ferdinand Marcos’s cabinet. The president also said that Imee Marcos was a supporter of his campaign.    A spokesman for Duterte expressed hope that with the court’s decision, “the matter will finally be laid to rest.” Marcos supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court to cheer the decision. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also praised the ruling, saying he hopes it can “lead the nation towards healing.” But former congressman Neri Colmenares condemned the decision. Colmenares, one of many Filipinos persecuted during a period of martial law, said “history has lost its meaning.” “It's confusing and frustrating that after so many decisions against Marcos, the Supreme Court turned itself around,” he said. One group opposing an honorable burial included victims who say they were tortured during Marcos’s rule. They argued the burial was “illegal and contrary to law, public policy, morals and justice.” I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on information from VOA News, Reuters and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. Do you think Ferdinand Marcos should be buried in the cemetery for national heroes? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cemetery – n. place where dead people are buried plunder – v. to steal goods from a place or people, usually by force coffin – n. box used to bury the body of a dead person grave – n. place in the ground where a dead body is buried persecute – v. to treat or punish someone in a cruel, hostile manner, especially because of their race or political beliefs   martial law – n. a law imposed by a military-backed government contrary – n. opposite in meaning​  

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Schools Are Latest Victims in Kashmir Conflict

Unidentified attackers have set fire to more than 20 schools in Indian Kashmir over the past two months. Education is the latest victim of the conflict for control of the region. India’s central government controls the state of Jammu and Kashmir. For almost 20 years, groups have protested and even fought against government forces for the right to separate from India. But this is the first time attackers have targeted so many schools. Islamist militants usually attack military or police targets in and around the Himalayan valley. Most schools have been closed for almost four months in Indian Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court called on the state government to protect schools after attackers burned three schools late last month. The court said the government should “unmask the enemies of education” and deal with them with an “iron hand.” However, there seems to be no clear idea of who attacked the school buildings. The fires completely destroyed some of the schools. Others only burned a little. Observers say the number of fires rose after the state government attempted to reopen schools and it said schools would hold examinations, as planned. At first, the government closed schools because of a curfew it declared after security forces killed a militant leader in July. His death led to violent anti-India protests. About 90 people died in the unrest. Soon after, some separatist leaders added orders to attack schools in their weekly directives to their followers. Top state officials say the separatists want to raise a generation of uneducated young people. That way the separatists will have more followers to carry out attacks. “That is the [plan],” Kashmir education minister Naeem Akhtar told VOA. “To keep them away from schools and have cannon fodder ready. … [The separatists] have [let business] work partially. The private trade, everything is going on. [This] is about denying education to students.” The All Parties Huriyat Conference is the main coalition of separatist groups in Indian Kashmir. It argues that the attacks are part of a plan to create bad publicity for the group and “paint it as violence and anarchy.” But observers say, through all the attempts to place blame, the real victims are the tens of thousands of students living in the Himalayan valley. The government wants the schools to reopen to show that things in Indian Kashmir are back to normal. The area is facing its longest period of conflict since the end of a violent separatist movement 15 years ago. Yet a top separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, has said they will only let schools re-open once the government agrees to their demands. He and his followers want the government to release all those arrested during the protests. Radha Kumar is a policy researcher. She once represented the government in Kashmir when the area was hit by protests six years ago. “It is just so sad that all issues in Kashmir begin to become about propaganda or rhetoric when there are very important daily life issues,” she said. “It is between ridiculous and tragic.” Both the police and state government have asked the local community for help in protecting the schools. They say it is impossible to protect more than 12,000 schools spread over the mountainous region. While the recent attacks have made many people angry, Education Minister Akhtar sees hope. He feels the events have shown people how important education is. And he believes people will work together to protect it. Many people in Indian Kashmir distrust security forces and the state government. But Radha Kumar says on the issue of education, public opinion is with the government. “What the government does have in their favor is that there is now a large public outcry against the burning of the schools,” she said. “That should help them a great deal if they show a serious commitment to reopening schools and providing education.” However, some still fear recent events are a sign of the return to the violence Kashmir experienced in the 1990s. I’m Pete Musto.   Anjana Pasricha reported on this story for VOANews.com. Pete Musto adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. How can the government and separatist try to resolve these conflicts? How can students receive the education they need? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story region – n. a part of a country or of the world that is different or separate from other parts in some way unmask – v. to reveal the true identity or nature of someone or something cannon fodder – n. soldiers who are sent into battle even though it is likely that they will die rhetoric – n.  language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable ridiculous – adj. extremely silly or unreasonable

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Thousands Visit Anthony Gravesite on Election Day

  This is What’s Trending Today. One-by-one, people are visiting Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester, New York. The visitors are coming to see the final resting place of Susan B. Anthony. Anthony was an important civil rights activist. She led the way for legal recognition of women’s rights in the United States. She campaigned for women’s voting rights in the late 1800s. Anthony became famous after she was arrested for voting in the 1872 presidential election. That was a violation of the law at that time. In 1920, women were given the right to vote when states approved the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But Susan B. Anthony did not live to see women get the right to vote. She died in 1906. On Tuesday, a Rochester newspaper wrote a story saying some Americans were going to Anthony’s burial place after voting for Hillary Clinton. Clinton is the first female presidential candidate of a major U.S. party. The newspaper estimated that 1,000 people visited Anthony’s gravesite by late Tuesday morning. Many of them placed a sticker printed with the words “I voted” on her headstone.  Mothers brought their daughters with them in honor of the historic election. Many women said they cried while marking their ballot earlier in the day. Jodi Atkin told the newspaper: “I realized my daughters have the right to vote for a woman. It made me cry.” Some people left yellow roses in honor of the suffragette movement. The women who worked for voting rights a century ago were called suffragettes. One television station in Rochester showed the people visiting the cemetery using Facebook Live. The Facebook Live images received over 3 million views. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What did you think of the Facebook Live video? 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 suffragette – n. a woman who campaigned for the right to vote in elections view – n. visits to a website or internet display gravesite – n. a hole in the ground for burying a dead body sticker – n. a piece of paper with a picture or writing on it and a sticky substance on its back that is used to attach it to a surface

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Improve Your Pronunciation By Taking Selfie Videos

  English learners can improve their pronunciation skills with training exercises used by singers. A smartphone with a camera can help, too. These suggestions come from Michael Berman. He works in the Reading, English as a Second Language (ESL) and Linguistics Department at Montgomery College in the American state of Maryland. Many students of a foreign language have trouble with word stress and intonation – raising and lowering the sound of your voice when you speak. Michael Berman believes that such problems are not as serious as some people might think. Up to a third of his students, he says, have increased their ability to be understood by using two simple actions: slowing down and speaking up. Common problem: VOA Learning English's video series Let’s Learn English tells about a situation that many English learners have probably experienced: [VIDEO CLIP Lesson 20 Quiz Q1] In the video, Anna asks Pete to repeat his sentence because she did not understand him. And like many English learners, pronouncing words correctly is not Pete's problem. The reason Anna does not understand Pete is because he is not speaking loudly. In Pete's case, he is not raising his voice because he is sad about not having a job. For some English learners, the problem of speaking softly is that the speaker appears to be showing weakness, says Berman. English learners may want to hide their mistakes by speaking quickly or softly. Or, Berman adds, they are bringing customs from their native language. Whatever the reason, the result is this: English learners might not be understandable to a native speaker. Berman says there are several different ways to successfully deal with these problems. Tip #1 Use strategies that come from vocal music training The first is simple: focus on the speed and volume levels of one’s voice. By thinking about slowing down and speaking louder, you can slowly change your speech over time. In addition to thinking about how you speak, you can also use strategies from the music industry. In voice training, Berman says, singers will often train by opening their mouth wider than they usually do. This enables them to get a better tone and a better pitch when they perform. Singers will often imagine their voice coming up on a string to a target 3 to 5 meters away. When English learners imagine their voices hitting a target at a distance, Berman says, they often improve their ability to speak louder. Tip #2 Use Selfie Videos In an earlier Education story, we discussed the value of self-testing. Educational consultant Sarah Lynn said that testing yourself often is one of the best ways to learn. Lynn teaches at Harvard University's Bridge Program in Massachusetts. So, how can you take this idea and use it to improve your pronunciation? One way is by taking a selfie video, says Michael Berman. All you need to do is place the electronic device 1-2 meters from where you stand. Then, record yourself speaking. When you listen back to the recording, you can get valuable information about how you sound when you speak. You can share the videos with friends or your teachers. They can give you advice, too. The value of this practice, adds Berman, increases because young people – often called "millennials – place a high value on the idea of posting videos on social media. When millennials know their video will appear on social media, he explains, they are likely to repeat the performance many times before filming. "If you're talking about English intelligibility issues, that kind of repetition and practice and focus is amazing", Berman says. So, give the vocal music and selfie video tips a try, and let us know how they work for you! I’m John Russell. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story pronunciation – n. the way in which a word or name is said smartphone – n. a telephone that can be used to send and receive e-mail, connect to the Internet and take photographs stress – n. greater loudness or force given to a part of a word in speech or to a beat in music intonation – n. the rise and fall in the sound of your voice when you speak focus – v.  to direct your attention or effort at something specific volume – n. the amount of sound that is produced by someone oe something string – n. a long, thin piece of twisted thread that you use to tie things together or hang things consultant – n. a person who gives professional advice or services to companies for a payment intelligibility – adj. able to be understood  

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1600 UTC Newscast for November 8, 2016

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Frances Alonzo reporting. Americans began voting Tuesday. It's the end to a campaign that was exhausting and often bitter -- as Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump presented radically different visions of how to lead the United States. Let’s take a listen to VOA's Katherine Gypson and her live election coverage on VOA's Facebook page. “I’m VOA’s Katherine Gypson. I’m here in downtown Philadelphia, where voters have been lining up since seven (o’clock) this morning, voting in the most exciting and consequential presidential election in American history, a choice between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, and a number of other key races in this battleground state that could help decide the presidency. So coming down here, we see a whole mix of voters. We’re going to be talking to a couple of them and asking what’s the important issues for them in this election. So ma’am, can you tell me your name please?" 'I’m Glenna MacDonald.' 'Okay. And can you tell me, what issues are you voting on in this election?' 'Women’s issues and economic issues, specifically tax cuts or raises for the wealthy. So I hear there’s a whole range of issues that are facing American voters today: economic issues, immigration and, of course, women’s issues, which has been a big point of discussion in this campaign.'" The name of the winner, meanwhile, is not expected before 0300 GMT. Hillary Clinton cast her vote early Tuesday near her home in New York State. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is expected to vote shortly in his precinct in Manhattan. You can follow all of the election coverage on VOANews.com. Meanwhile, hot and wild and with an ``increasingly visible human footprint'' -- that's how the U.N. weather agency sums up the global climate in the past five years. This is VOA News.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Trump - 'Making America Great Again' by Running for President

  Donald Trump has proved an unusual political candidate since he entered the 2016 United States presidential campaign. The Republican party nominee is the first billionaire businessman and reality television star to seek the presidency. He has never held public office before. But much of his support is rooted in his political outsider image. Born in Queens, New York, he grew up in a wealthy family headed by his real estate developer father, Fred Trump.  Bart Rossi is a political psychologist. He says Trump’s father was a strong influence. "His father was very authoritarian, very demanding, the boss.  And of course, Donald picked up these traits and characteristics."  Trump studied business at the famed Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He took over his father's company in 1971. His early career featured great successes like the development of the iconic Trump tower in New York City in 1983. He demonstrated skill at personal branding and a deep understanding in the use of media. Edward Mermelstein is a leading real estate attorney in New York. "Doing business in New York requires a very strong person, very motivated person and he is very much a New York businessman." Trump also experienced failures. Some of his casinos failed. A real estate crash hit his personal fortune very hard. George Washington University’s Christoher Leinberger is an expert on real estate and city planning. "New York is the biggest market as far as real estate development in this country, and he was a midsize player, and most people who looked on from the outside feel that he's a mediocre success." Donald Trump’s personal life has also had very public ups and downs. He has been married three times. His two divorces were covered extensively by the media. He has five children, four of them adults who have been very active in his campaign. He has a young son with his current wife, Melania. On the campaign trail, his personal life has received as much attention as his business dealings. In a 2005 video tape recently leaked to the press, Trump spoke about about touching women sexually without their permission. After the recording was released several women reported than Trump had done exactly that to them. Trump denied the accusations. "These vicious claims about me of inappropriate conduct with women are totally and absolutely false." Donald Trump has a history of coming back from adversity. In the 2000s, he brought his aggressive business style and sharp speech to a national television audience. He starred in the popular reality show "The Apprentice.” On the show people competed to win a position in a Trump company. Trump became a major political voice in 2011 when he questioned President Barack Obama’s birthplace. He demanded Obama make public his birth certificate. President Obama was born in the American island state of Hawaii. His birth certificate was released publicly. Still, Trump questioned the president’s birthplace. He did not publicly accept that Obama was U.S.-born until last month. Donald Trump defeated 16 Republican opponents for the party’s presidential nomination. Michael Kranish is the author of the book “Trump Revealed.” "He's tapped into this great angst that has been out there for quite some time."  Donald Trump’s self-description as a “populist politician” has resonated with American voters. "I am with you, I will fight for you, and I will win for you."  I’m Caty Weaver.   Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted this report for Learning English from VOANews sources. George Grow and Caty Weaver were the editors. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   iconic - adj. related to something that is very successful or admired branding - n.  a category of products that are all made by a particular company and all have a particular name attorney - n. a lawyer fortune - n.  a very large amount of money adversity - n. a difficult situation or condition angst - n. a strong feeling of being worried or nervous  resonate - v.  to have particular meaning or importance for someone

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How Would Hillary Clinton Govern if She Were Elected President?

  How will presidential candidate Hillary Clinton govern if she is elected president? Will she act as she did when she served New York as a member of the United States Senate, from 2001 to 2009? Will she act as she did when she was U.S. Secretary of State during President Barack Obama’s first term in office? Or will she behave as she did during the presidency of her husband, Bill Clinton? John Hudak works as a researcher for the Brookings Institution, a public policy group based in Washington, DC. “If, as president, Clinton is more like she was as first lady, it’s going to be problematic for her,” he says. “If she’s more like she was as senator, she’ll find much more success.” First Lady Clinton Clinton chose to be a more active first lady than the wives of many other presidents. She led her husband’s efforts to reform healthcare, helping to write a healthcare bill. Congress rejected it in 1993. Opponents criticized the measure’s complexity and her involvement as the president’s wife in helping to write it. Her public approval ratings dropped by almost 20 points. Her approval ratings rose in 1998 when she strongly defended her husband against accusations of wrongdoing. His critics attempted to remove him from office for having a relationship with a young volunteer at the White House. Reporter Michael Isikoff first uncovered the story of the relationship. “There’s always been that side of Hillary Clinton who has looked with suspicion towards the news media and has been quite combative and that sometimes contrasts with the public image that Clinton likes to present,” he said. Isikoff said Clinton is still careful when she talks with reporters. “While she gives TV interviews,” Isikoff said, “she doesn’t give press conferences where reporters can ask anything they want or are likely to badger her with questions she doesn’t want to spend a lot of time answering.” This unwillingness to speak with reporters, and her weakness as a politician -- a weakness she has admitted -- can make Clinton look like a poor candidate. But Indira Lakshmanan says it is important to remember that campaigning for office is not the same as governing. Lakshmanan has written for Politico, a newspaper specializing in national politics. She reported on Clinton’s campaign for the presidency in 2008 and her time as secretary of state. “She’s much better when she’s actually in office, and you see it even in just her body language and her behavior. She was much more relaxed around her own staff, around the press, just more relaxed and comfortable when she actually was in office,” Lakshmanan said. Senator Clinton Lakshmanan believes Clinton will continue the work and build on the programs of President Barack Obama if she is elected. “We know that she has more hawkish tendencies. She is more of a traditional Cold War, realist Democrat. But I think she would double down on health care and she would perhaps try to do more interventionist -- for humanitarian reasons -- foreign policy than the Obama administration has been willing to do.” Clinton would likely deal with U.S. lawmakers differently than Obama did. He has not had strong relations with congressional leaders during his presidency. The Brookings Institution’s John Hudak says Clinton’s experience as a senator would be helpful, especially in the first few months of her presidency. “If it’s controlled by Republicans, she’s going to have to veto an Obamacare repeal. She’s going to have to deal with all of the things President Obama has had to deal with coming from Congress,” he says. Hudak adds Clinton could tell Congress she would agree to not make major changes in tax laws or try to extend President Obama’s health care reforms. Then, he says, she could say, “I want to get things done, and I want you to help me.” Lakshmanan says Clinton should try to govern as she did when she was a U.S. senator. At that time, she worked quietly on policy and legislation that the two main political parties would support. Political lessons learned Experts say if her presidency is to be effective, she should learn from mistakes she made in her first presidential campaign and during her time as secretary of state. Ron Fournier reports on politics for National Journal. He says Clinton was not successful as head of the State Department. “We saw in 2008, and at the State Department, an inability to run a big operation in a 21st century way,” he said. Fournier says Clinton’s actions during and after the deadly raid on a U.S. government building in Benghazi, raises questions about her leadership style and believability. Fournier has reported on Clinton since the 1980s when her husband Bill Clinton was the governor of Arkansas. He says she is a nice person. He likes the way she looks at solving problems. “She thinks like a lawyer -- ‘Here’s what we got to get done. Boom-boom, get it done. Think it through; work it through,’” he said. I’m Mario Ritter. VOA Correspondent Katherine Gypson reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it 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   first lady – n. the wife of the U.S. president suspicion – n. a feeling of doubt contrast – v. to compare (two people or things) to show how they are different; is different from badger – v. to bother or annoy (someone) with many comments or questions hawkish – adj. a person who supports war or the use of military force tendency – n. a quality that makes something likely to happen or that makes someone likely to think or behave in a particular way double down – v. expression to work hard on a project; to use renewed effort on a project repeal – v. to officially make (a law) no longer valid

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