Castro's Death, Trump Presidency Raise Questions About US-Cuba Ties

During his life, Fidel Castro blamed Cuba’s economic problems on the United States and its restrictions on trade with Cuba. Now, after Castro’s death, many people are wondering what will happen to the economic relationship between the two countries. The election of Donald Trump as U.S. president will likely make the situation even more complex. The U.S. trade restrictions on Cuba – or, the embargo – remain in place. But President Barack Obama recently eased some of those limits. Obama reestablished diplomatic ties between Cuba and the United States. The two sides opened embassies in each other’s capitals in 2015. And the improved relations have led to an increase in the number of U.S. visitors to Cuba. Yet many U.S. companies say the government in Cuba makes it hard for foreigners to do business there.   U.S. Senator Bob Menendez says economic links remain firmly connected to Castro's family. "Do you want to do business in Cuba, do you want to be a part of the hotel tourism industry? You have to see Raul's (Cuban President Raul Castro) son. You want to go ahead and do agriculture business in Cuba? You have to do it with his son-in-law, both high-ranking officials of the Cuban military." Jose Azel is an expert on Cuba at the University of Miami in Florida. He agrees that the Cuban government has too many restrictions on foreign businesses. Azel said that foreign investors must share control of their business interests with the Cuban military. And, he adds, the foreigners cannot control who works for their company in Cuba.  But Azel does not believe the country will change its central planning system soon. Another issue for U.S.-Cuba relations is the election of businessman Donald Trump. During the presidential campaign, Trump criticized President Obama's moves to ease tensions with between the two countries. Trump said he will undo Obama’s actions unless Cuba gives more religious and political freedom to its people. He also wants Cuba to release political prisoners. I'm Ashley Thompson. Ken Bredemeier and Jim Randle reported this story for VOA. Kelly Jean Kelly adapted their story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   embargo – n. a government order that limits trade in some way high-ranking – adj. having a high rank or position central planning – adj. In a centrally planned economy, the government makes most economic decisions

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Will Death of Fidel Castro Improve Human Rights in Cuba?

  Some Cuban-Americans believe the death of Fidel Castro means human rights abuses in Cuba will end. Jose Sanchez is one of them. “We had a bad dictator that had Cuba under oppression and repression for almost six decades is no longer with us, and that will give an opportunity to the Cuban people to start the journey towards freedom and democracy.” Sanchez lives in Little Havana, an area of Miami, Florida, where many Cuban-Americans live. Lissette Calderon lives there, too. She says the death of Fidel Castro is the beginning of a new Cuba.  “The people of Cuba do not have free elections and there’s no democracy. And I think those of us aren’t gonna rest until we see the freedom for the people of Cuba.” Fidel Castro began ruling the country in 1959. In 2008, he gave the presidency to his younger brother, Raul. For almost 58 years, the Cuban people have had few civil and political freedoms. Thousands of activists have been punished or imprisoned. In 2014, relations between the United States and Cuba were reestablished. But that change did not decrease limits on freedoms in Cuba. Few people have access to the Internet; journalists and human rights activists are still regularly detained. Guadalupe Correa is a professor of government affairs and security studies at the University of Texas. She told VOA on Skype that Raul Castro, who has slowly taken control of Cuba, must now decide if his brother’s death will bring major changes to the country. “He needs to change his approach to his own country and allow the country to be more open.” Some American lawmakers made similar statements on Twitter. Congressman Carlos Curbelo said Castro’s death is an opportunity for opposition leaders in Cuba to become stronger. But Brian Fonseca, the director of the Public Policy Institute at Florida International University, is not as optimistic. He told VOA on Skype that human rights activists will see things get worse in Cuba before they get better. He says that is because people in power want to keep power. So, he says, current political leaders might react to Castro’s death by limiting any opposition -- at least in the short term.    I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.      VOA National Correspondent Katherine Gypson reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   decade – n. a ten year period approach – n. a way of dealing with something; a way of doing or thinking about something optimistic – adj. having or showing hope for the future;  expecting good things to happen short term – adj. a short period of time at the beginning of something

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Obama, Trump React Very Differently to Death of Fidel Castro

  The death of former Cuban President Fidel Castro has produced a mix of reactions in the United States. The death confirms sharp differences in the thinking of President Barack Obama and his replacement, President-elect Donald Trump. It has also led to discussions about how the U.S. government will deal with Cuba when Trump becomes president in January. President Obama considers reestablishing ties with Cuba after more than 50 years of tensions one of his greatest foreign policy successes. Obama, who visited the country in March, became the first sitting U.S. president to do so since 1928. Obama told the Cuban people: “I have come here to bury the last remnants of the Cold War in the Americas.” In September 2015, Trump supported Obama’s decision to open up relations with Cuba. “I think it's fine,” he told The Daily Caller website. “We should have made a better deal (but) the concept of opening with Cuba -- 50 years is enough.” However, during the election campaign, Trump began to strongly criticize the decision to normalize relations. Now, he is almost always critical of the move. In a statement released soon after Castro’s death last Friday, Obama said: “History will record and judge the enormous impact of this singular figure on the people and the world around him.” He added that the United States offers “a hand of friendship to the Cuban people.” Some U.S. lawmakers immediately criticized the statement. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican, called it “pathetic.” He noted that the statement did not talk about the thousands of people Castro killed and imprisoned. Rubio’s parents lived in Cuba, and moved to the United States in the 1950s. Another Republican, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, told ABC News that he hopes “we don’t see any U.S. government officials going to Fidel Castro’s funeral.” Cruz’s father was born in Cuba and now, like Rubio’s parents, is a Cuban-American. Trump released a statement after Castro’s death. He called the former leader “a brutal dictator who oppressed his own people for nearly six decades.” He blamed Castro for “firing squads, theft, unimaginable suffering, poverty, and the denial of fundamental human rights.” Trump promised that, as president, he will do all he can “to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty.” It is not known how relations between the two countries will change when Trump takes office. Kellyanne Conway is a top aide to the president-elect. She told ABC News that Trump will demand that Cuba make changes. Conway said the release of political prisoners would have an important effect on relations. She also said the president-elect is “absolutely” willing to change the Obama policy on Cuba. Some lawmakers hope Castro’s death will lead to improved relations between the two countries. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and some Republicans support a bill that would end the 50-year-old ban on U.S. trade with Cuba. I’m Alice Bryant.     VOA’s Cindy Saine and Fern Robinson reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the reports for Learning English. He also used information from VOANews.com. 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   sitting - adj. In this context, sitting means currently having a political office or job remnant - n. the part of something that is left when the other parts are gone concept - n. an idea of what something is or how it works enormous - adj. very great in size or amount singular - adj. better or greater than what is usual or normal pathetic - adj. very bad, poor, weak, etc. funeral - n. a ceremony held for a dead person firing squad - n. a group of soldiers whose job is to shoot a prisoner who has been sentenced to death prosperity - n. the state of being successful -- usually by making a lot of money

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Update: Breakthrough in Fighting Zika

November 28, 2016

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

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Lesson 37: Let's Agree to Disagree

Summary In this lesson, Anna meets a new friend. Phil is new to Washington, D.C. and he feels lost in the city. Anna asks him to make the city a friendlier place. Speaking Use this video to earn the new words for this lesson. Then, learn how to give a reason when you say your opinion. Pronunciation Use this video to learn how to pronounce possessive pronouns. Conversation Anna: You know, I am from the country and sometimes I miss it. But I really like life in the city! I love the city. Oh, look. Someone lost a bag. Maybe it's theirs. Excuse me. Is this bag yours? Dr. Jill: No. It's not mine. It might be hers. Anna: Excuse me. Is this bag yours? Sarah: No. It's not mine. It might be his. Anna: Thank you. Hello. Is this bag yours? Phil: Yes, that's mine. These are all my travel things. Thank you, thank you! Anna: Are you okay? You seem ... nervous. Phil: Well, this is my first visit to Washington, D.C. I'm from a small town in the country. I feel a little lost. Anna: I am from the country too! And I understand. When I first came here, I felt lost ... all the time. Phil: So, do you like living in the country or in the city? Anna: I like to live in the city. Phil: Why? Anna: The city is exciting! It has more culture than the country. There are many museums and restaurants. Every night, there is theater and music. And, there are more jobs. That is why I'm here. Phil: Well, I agree. There is more culture in the city and there might be more jobs. But the country has more nature! It's peaceful and beautiful. There are more trees and mountains. The air is clean. You can go hiking and camping. The city is not beautiful. It's noisy and dirty. Anna: I disagree. I think all the different buildings are beautiful. And I like to watch all the different people. Phil: That's another thing that is different. People in the country are friendly. They always say "hello!" Here, no one says "hello." I think city people are rude. Anna: Well, I agree. Country people are friendly. But I don't think city people are rude. I think they're just busy. Phil: That's a good point. Anna: Look at me. I live in the city and I said "hello" to you. Phil: But you are from the country. Anna: I have an idea. Let's say "hello!" to people -- to many people! Phil: What? Why? Anna: Well, if we say "hello," maybe they will say "hello" to other people ... Hello! Phil: ... and they will say "hello" to more people! That's a great idea! I'm glad you found my bag. Anna: Come on. Let's go say "hello" to people. Anna: We don't have to agree with people. They have their opinions. We have ours. And as we like to say, you can always agree to disagree! Until next time...! Hello! Writing What is the best place to live? Tell us about where you live now or where you want to live. Be sure you give a reason for your opinion. Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice sharing opinions.  Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Personalize.  This means connecting new information to our own feelings and experiences. When we are listening in English, we personalize by thinking about how what we hear is like our own experience. When speaking or writing, we can use what we know to communicate. In this lesson, Anna tells Phil why she likes living in the city. She is personalizing by thinking about the things she likes: "The city is exciting! It has more culture than the country. There are many museums and restaurants. Every night, there is theater and music. And, there are more jobs." Can you find another example in this lesson of someone personalizing and giving a reason for their opinion? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. _____________________________________________________________ New Words agree - v. to have the same opinion dirty - adj. not clean disagree - v. to have a different opinion friendly - adj. acting like a friend or kind and helpful    nature - n. the physical world and everything in it that is not made by people    noisy - adj. making a lot of loud or unpleasant noise opinion - n. a belief, judgment, or way of thinking about   something peaceful - adj. quiet and calm or without noise rude - adj. not polite ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice giving your opinion and asking others for theirs. For Teachers See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Possessive Pronouns (mine, ours, their, theirs, her/hers, his/his) Topics: Exchanging Opinions; Agreement & disagreement; Comparing things, places, & people Learning Strategy: Personalize Speaking & Pronunciation Focus:  ​Giving a reason for your opinion; Pronouncing possessive pronouns   ____________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. What do you like best about using Let's Learn English? Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson. ​

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Weather Predictions Expected to Improve with New U.S. Satellite

A new American weather satellite could save more lives by better predicting extreme weather conditions. The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral, in the state of Florida, on November 19. It will be in orbit some 36,000 kilometers above Earth’s surface. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, also known as NOAA, has been working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on the project. NOAA officials are calling the new satellite GOES-R. That is short for a much longer name -- the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite – R Series. NOAA said GOES-R could improve the nation’s ability to observe weather conditions and make weather predictions. It said the satellite’s deployment would lead to more exact and timely weather forecasts, watches and warnings. The government agency said the satellite will require testing of its six instruments and will be ready to work “within a year.” Next generation of weather satellites “The next generation of weather satellites is finally here,” said NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan. She described GOES-R as one of the most sophisticated Earth-observing machines ever created. Sullivan said its instruments will be able to study Earth five times faster and with four times more detail than any other NOAA satellite currently in operation. She believes this will make the United States an even stronger, more “Weather-Ready” nation. A NOAA statement said the greater detail will help improve the agency’s study of ocean storms, as well as “the prediction and warnings of severe weather.” In addition, GOES-R will be able to provide improved rainfall estimates, which will lead to more timely and detailed flood warnings. The statement also said that GOES-R will give better estimates of wind strength, as well as better measurement of fog, ice or lightning strikes. One of the six instruments on the satellite is designed to help scientists study lightning strikes and map them. This, NOAA says, will help the agency follow the movement of severe storms and provide more detailed warnings. Craig Fugate serves as administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. He says that the GOES-R satellite will improve the ability of people and organizations across America to prepare for, and react to, weather-related disasters. Fugate feels that better understanding of the world around us will lead to better results. These include knowing where to best position supplies before a storm hits and providing more targeted information to local officials. That information could help the officials decide when to order civilians to leave an area because of bad weather. In addition to weather forecasting, GOES-R will be part of an international search and rescue network. It will have a “special transponder” that will be able to find signals from emergency beacons. I’m Phil Dierking. This story first appeared on VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. How could better weather forecast help you? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   beacon – n. a radio signal that is broadcast to help guide ships, airplanes, etc. forecast – n. to say that (something) will happen in the future geostationary – adj. moving in orbit in space along the equator, so that it remains stationary to a fixed point on the surface sophisticated – adj. highly developed and complex transponder – n. a device that receives a radio signal and sends out a signal in response and that is used especially to show the location of something

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Less Energy Now Produced by Coal in US South

Three large machines called turbines produce electricity at the Buck Combined Cycle Station in central North Carolina, near the town of Salisbury. Tall chimneys that once released smoke into the air all day and night are now unused. The last coal-fueled generators that operated at the energy center were closed a few years ago. Trains full of coal no longer arrive at the center, and large piles of coal no longer cover the ground. The center is owned by Duke Energy. Energy companies have had to sharply reduce the amount of coal they use for several reasons: Stronger government rules have reduced the level of carbon permitted to be sent into the air. And there is a growing demand for clean energy. The new energy center is fueled by natural gas. It is a much cleaner source of electricity than coal. Bill Wilson is the senior engineer of the Buck Combined Cycle Station. He says Duke Energy has closed about half of its coal-fueled energy centers in recent years and has replaced them with ones fueled by natural gas. He told VOA it is less costly to fuel the plant with natural gas than with coal. Switching over Coal was the main fuel used to generate electricity in the United States for many years. But the U.S. Energy Information Administration says in 2015 coal and natural gas were used equally to create electricity -- about 33 percent each. The shift from coal to natural gas is happening at energy centers throughout the country. In July, coal was removed from the Clinch River Coal Plant in Russell County, Virginia. The plant is owned by American Electric Power. Last year, parts of the center were converted from coal to natural gas use. Ricky Chaffin is the manager of the plant. He says it is now not only cleaner but produces more electricity. “You don’t have to handle the coal,” he says. “You don’t have to move the coal from the pile to the plant. We’ve got a lot less equipment. So (there is) a whole lot less manpower required to (operate) a (natural) gas plant,” he said. When the plant was fueled by coal, 182 people were needed to operate it. Now, 46 people work there. The U.S. Energy Information Administration has predicted that natural gas will become the country’s largest source of electricity this year. In North Carolina, Duke Energy plans to close most of its coal-fueled power plants in the next few decades. But as it does, it faces environmental problems. Last month, the company reached an agreement to remove the coal ash from its Buck Steam Station that has been polluting groundwater and the nearby Yadkin River for many years. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.     VOA Correspondent Nadeem Yaqub reported this story from Charlotte, North Carolina. Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   turbine – n. an engine that spins and can be used to produce electricity chimney – n. a tall structure on a building that allows smoke to rise and escape outside plant – n. a building or factory where something is made convert – v. to change from one thing to another pile – n. a group of things that are put one on top of another manpower – n. the number of people who are available to work decade – n. a 10-year period coal ash – n. waste that remains after coal is burned groundwater – n. water that is underground

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Cameroon Taking Steps to Control Social Media

  Social media use has risen sharply in Cameroon, as have the government’s efforts to control it. Our story begins at a church in Limbe, in southwestern Cameroon. These church members are praying for three men. A military court ruled against the three earlier this month. The men were arrested after they reportedly shared a joke about a membership campaign for the Boko Haram terrorist group on social media.  The trial was not open to the public. The rights group Amnesty International and local rights activists condemned the court’s ruling. Tabot Timothy is a 22-year-old law student at the University of Douala-Cameroon. He joined others at the religious center one day recently to protest the ruling. “It was just normal for a thorough investigation to be carried out to really ascertain the fact that these guys were joking. It is unjust. Thorough investigations were not carried out.” The government has used several laws to limit mobile and online communication, including an anti-terrorism law passed in 2014. Barrister George Marcellin Tsoungui is with the Cameroon Bar Council. He says people who use social media to spread unproven information can be sentenced to between six months and two years in prison and fined $10,000 to $20,000. He says the punishments can be twice those amounts if a court rules that the communications were designed to cause unrest. Police detained a journalist in January after he incorrectly reported on social media that President Paul Biya had visited soldiers in Cameroon’s north. In March, police arrested people accused of sharing a letter from the country’s minister of defense on social media. The letter was released without the minister’s permission. It said that Boko Haram members had arrived in the capital, Yaounde. The National Communications Council has the power to stop reporters from working and close media businesses. It is investigating 20 complaints made by top government officials. One of the reports is about a minister who was seen on Facebook dancing to the music of Franko -- a singer whose songs are banned by the government. Yet social media and mobile messaging apps and networking sites are increasingly popular in Cameroon. In fact, they are used by both opponents and supporters of the government.  Nelson Tawe has examined the spread of social media in Cameroon. “Social media is inevitable. It’s like a devil that you are called upon to live with. It’s difficult to suppress it. It’s just going to be like throwing water on the duck’s back. Social media has come to stay -- there’s no way you can suppress it. I think that (the) government will have an uphill task to succeed in what it’s trying to do.” Several other African countries have taken actions against people who use social media in ways governments believe are illegal. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   Moki Edwin Kindzeka reported this story from Yaounde. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his 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   ascertain – v. to learn or find out (something, such as information or the truth) mobile – adj. cell phone; smart phone journalist – n. reporter; a person who collects, writes and edits news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, radio or the internet app – n. a computer program that performs a special function, especially on a smartphone inevitable – adj. sure to happen

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UN Warns of Worsening Situation for Displaced Afghans

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans have been displaced from their homes because of continuing violence in the country. They face severe hardship as the country’s harsh winter approaches. The United Nations calls these people “internally-displaced persons.” They include both those who fled their homes and those forced to return to Afghanistan from neighboring countries. The UN says more than one million people will be in this situation by the end of the year. VOA spoke with some of the refugees. VOA learned that many of them are helped for just one month. Those who have been displaced for longer than that struggle to find help. Noor Mohammed is one of them. "I've been here from Sangin for seven or eight years because there is war there. We have no facilities here. Look, these kids are playing in the dirt. They don't go to school - there are no health facilities. Winter is coming and we have nothing to deal with it." Most of those at risk are women and children. International aid groups believe they are vulnerable to harm, including women like Najeeba. “The government is not helping us at all. They’ve just left us in these tents without any facilities.” The U.N. has warned that the number of Afghans displaced from their homes because of war may increase by the end of the year. But the amount of help is growing smaller as the number of refugees rises. I’m Bryan Lynn.   VOA Correspondent Ayesha Tanzeem reported this story from Kabul. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story facility – n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose vulnerable – adj. open to attack or harm

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Everyday Grammar: Reported Speech

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