Islamic State Expanding Schools in Eastern Afghanistan

Arrested Islamic State fighters stand outside Afghan police headquarters in Nangarhar, Afghanistan

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Returning Somali Refugees Rebuild Lives

Abdullahi Mohamed, a former refugee from Somalia, has returned to his country in search of work. Mohamed, now in his 20s, spent many years living in the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. Now he is one of about 18,000 former refugees who live in the Somali city of Kismayo. He is fixing automobiles and learning how to be an auto mechanic. His training will continue into February. Mohamed hopes to have a better future than other former refugees because he is learning how to do a job. Thousands of refugees are returning to Somalia after living in camps in Kenya. When they were away, some went to school but many depended on assistance from aid organizations. They did not get a good education or learn a how to do a job. “At least here, I have got something to learn and do,” Mohamed said. There is a concern that the returnees will have trouble starting new lives without the skills they need for a good job. That is why organizations like the American Refugee Council are supporting job training programs. The council also wants to be sure the young men who did go to school in the camps do not join militant groups like al-Shabab. Abdi Ibrahim Abdi Barre is the deputy mayor of Kismayo. He is concerned young men with a high school education might be asked to work with chemicals and make bombs. “Young people are vulnerable,” he said. “If they are not provided with the skills, education and materials they need to pursue their goals, then people will take advantage of them." At one point, the Dadaab camp was home to more than 300,000 people. Most of them were from Somalia. The Kenyan government said it would close the camps, so many native Somalis went home. The United Nations refugee agency said at least 34,000 refugees have returned to Somalia. But they do not have much to return to. Many have criticized a lack of jobs and other services. In Kismayo, the American Refugee Council is helping 20-year-old Shafii Ali. He is learning to make window frames. He builds the frames and adds the window glass. At first, he did not think he could do the work. After three months of training, the young man said he wants to open his own business and help teach other former refugees how to make windows. Abdullahi Mohamed said that he and the other returnees need to depend on themselves instead of other people. He said they need to forget about how their lives worked in the refugee camp. Abdi Barre said the future of the returning refugees should be a national concern and not limited to aid agencies. “Everyone should be involved,” he said. I’m Dan Friedell. Mohammed Yusuf wrote this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think Somalia should do about all the refugees coming home? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________   Words in This Story mechanic– n. a person who repairs machines (such as car engines) and keeps them running properly vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally council – n. a group or organization frame – n. the structure that gives shape or strength to something

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Prisoners Find Humanity in Theater Arts

On a recent day in New York City, seven women prepare for a theater production. Their show is not for a Broadway stage, however. And, the actors are not professional. They are prisoners. They will perform in a gymnasium at Rikers Island jail. The correctional center sits on an island in the East River. It holds about 10,000 prisoners, most of them with little time left to serve. The performers range from teen-aged to midlife. They all look a little nervous, just like any actors might before a live show. But they are ready. These prisoners have trained with the famed Stella Adler Studio. It is one of the most respected acting schools in America. The studio launched the acting program at Rikers in 2014.  It hoped to bring some humanity to prison life. Tommy Demenkoff is the studio’s outreach director. He says the program is important to the prisoners. “They lose a lot of humanity when they come to jail,” he says. “We are allowed to come in and reinvigorate that humanity.” The Stella Adler prison program has grown. Today, film and stage professionals train prisoners at six Rikers Island centers. They do eight different programs each week. And, several former Rikers inmates now work with the studio on the prison program. The show today is called “The Compassion Project.” The audience includes about 50 prisoners, correction officials and invited guests. The crowd shows its support with loud cheers and by stomping on the floor. “The Compassion Project” combines movement and poetry written by the performers. The poems express the ideas of compassion and understanding between people. Performer Deanna Rhett’s piece describes her passion to be the best she can be, to love unconditionally and to let the past be the past. Rhett praises what the Stella Adler program has done for her. “It has let me escape to another dimension. It has changed me to be whatever and whoever I want to be, whenever I want to be.” Rhett says that she would like to work with the Stella Adler Studio when she gets out of prison. She wants to keep writing and improving her writing skills. She says she has hope for the future. “The Compassion Project” is a hit with the audience. Just as on Broadway, the prisoner-actors get a curtain call. Each steps forward to loud cheering from the crowd. Entertainment industry supporters of the Adler program at Rikers include Benicio Del Toro, Julianne Moore and Pauletta Washington. Washington introduced “The Compassion Project” to the audience. She says the Rikers program is important. “Anybody that can survive this, and come out on the other side, just to come out period, and then to come out with hope, that’s somebody we really need in our communities.” I’m Caty Weaver. Bernard Shusman wrote this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. What kind of program do you think might help prisoners serve their time and improve their futures? Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story gymnasium – a large room or a building used for sports activities or exercise compassion – n. feeling of wanting to help and be kind to someone allow – v. to permit something inmate – n. a prisoner stomp – v. to put your foot or feet down forcefully and noisily reinvigorate – v. to give life and energy to someone curtain call – n. at the end of a show, when performers come forward to accept the cheers of the audience

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Trump Names US Defense Secretary Nominee

American President-elect Donald Trump named retired Marine General James Mattis to be his secretary of defense this week. Mattis left military service three years ago. At the time, he led the U.S. Central Command, which carries out U.S. operations in the Middle East. He was also the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces. His leadership in the fight against enemy forces in Afghanistan and Iraq won him respect among many military leaders. General John Nicholson is the commander of international forces in Afghanistan. “I first met him in Nangahar province in Afghanistan, where we were in a tough fight in 2006, and he’s a very inspirational leader -- I know he inspired me.” Michael O’Hanlon writes about military affairs at the Brookings Institution, a research group in Washington. “He’s thought of as one of the best-read, best-informed and most-experienced generals of his generation.” O’Hanlon says Mattis knows the limits of military power. He says he believes the former general’s battlefield experience gives him persuasive power with Trump. O’Hanlon says Trump will be more likely to listen to an argument for restraint, for example, if it comes from Mattis. Currently, Mattis is not permitted to take the office of defense secretary, however. A U.S. law bans military officers from the position who have fewer than seven years in retirement. Congress would have to change that law. The 1947 law first called for a 10-year ban. But Congress cut it to seven years in 2008. Congress has let only one general serve as secretary of defense before the time permitted by law. In 1950, Congress voted to let General George Marshall serve as secretary of defense. Marshall had been a top general during World War II. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   VOA Pentagon reporter Carla Babb wrote this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tough – adj. physically and emotionally strong; able to do hard work, to deal with harsh conditions, etc. inspirational – adj. causing people to want to do or create something; giving inspiration generation – n. a group of people born and living during the same time      

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American Company Helps Small Farmers Make Money

Five years ago, American James Faison could not imagine what he is doing today. Faison worked in the state of Florida as a lawyer for large companies until 2012, when he moved to Virginia to start a farm business. But now, instead of raising crops, he is raising the earnings of local farmers. Faison seems at ease with life on a farm. Members of his family have been farming for many years. When his grandparents died, he and his brothers and sisters inherited their farm. He says that began the process of trying to decide what they were going to do with it. Four years ago, Faison left his job as a lawyer in Miami and returned to the family farm in Virginia. Slowly, he began to learn about the economic issues farmers face. “A lot of small farmers are struggling. And they’re working very hard, but they’re not able to drive the income from farming to sort of make it economically viable. The issue with agriculture in America is we only spend 6.8 percent of our income on food, which is the lowest in any industrialized nation. And so, since we spend so little on food, we expect food to be inexpensive, which means in order to make a living doing it, you have to have really, really big volumes. And so having big volumes of, of, of anything can be very expensive in terms of having enough cattle, having enough hogs or having enough infrastructure to support having those animals.” Faison said he met with several farmers who raise animals naturally -- in other words, they do not give them hormones, antibiotics or steroids. After the meetings, Faison created a company called Milton’s Local, named for his grandfather. Today, his work day is very different from his work as an attorney. Milton’s Local markets and transports all-natural meat from local farms to stores and restaurants. Faison says the company helps farmers increase their earnings, supports the local economy and satisfies the buyers of these meat products. “When you’re eating locally, you’re able to sort of support that farmer who raised it, you support that store who sold them the feed -- where you’re keeping more dollars in your community. The other part I, I think is people are really concerned about what’s being put in, into animals. So I think about 73 percent of all antibiotics used in the U.S. are used on animals. So that’s a really big problem -- especially in terms of antibiotic resistance. So I think that both movements will, will continue to, to grow and hopefully we’ll be able to grow with ‘em.” Milton’s Local products are sold at MOM’s Organic Market in Arlington, Virginia. Chris Wolfe is the head of the store. He says it and other stores like it seek to sell all natural, organic products. Milton’s Local products have been sold at the Arlington store for more than a year. People like the products, not just because they are natural but because they come from local farms. “The farm is growing because we are demanding more because our customers are demanding more.” That is good news for James Faison. He now works with more than 30 small farms in Virginia and North Carolina. He hopes Milton’s Local will expand, become more profitable and help more small farmers. I’m Jill Robbins.     VOA’s Faiza Elmasry reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her 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   viable – adj. capable of succeeding volume – n. an amount of something infrastructure – n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly hormones – n. a natural substance that is produced in the body and that influences the way the body grows or develops antibiotics – n. a drug that is used to kill harmful bacteria and to cure infections steroids – n. a drug that is sometimes used illegally by athletes to help them become stronger and more muscular and by farmers to help their animals grow larger more quickly

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Germany’s Merkel Calls for Ban on Full-Face Covers

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for a ban on full-face veils worn by some Muslim women. Merkel announced her position Tuesday at a conference of her Christian Democrat Union (CDU) in the central German city of Essen. Her comments were part of a speech she gave before her reelection as party leader. “In communication between people, which is of course essential to our living together, we have to show our faces,” Merkel said. She said veils that fully cover the face should be banned “wherever legally possible.” Merkel’s CDU party has previously discussed banning them in schools, courts and other public buildings.   A small minority of Muslim women in Germany wear full-face veils.  In the past, Merkel has said she believes Muslims who completely cover their faces have little chance of fully mixing into German society. Legal experts said it is unclear whether a veil ban would violate Germany’s constitution. Three European nations - France, Belgium and the Netherlands – already have bans on the face-covering veils. Merkel recently announced she would seek a fourth term as chancellor in elections expected to be held in fall 2017. Her popularity has dropped since Germany decided to accept about one million refugees. German public opinion studies show Merkel’s CDU party is currently leading among voters. But even if the CDU wins, the Chancellor would likely have to form a coalition government with competing parties.  “The 2017 election will be more difficult than any election before, at least since German reunification,” Merkel said. Merkel also faces strong opposition from the anti-immigration Alternative for Deutschland (AFD) party. The AFD has been critical of Muslim migrants entering Germany. The group recently said Islam is not compatible with Germany’s constitution. I’m Anne Ball. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English with reporting from the Associated Press and Reuters. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. What do you think about governments banning face covers? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story veil – n. thin piece of material that covers the face essential – adj. extremely important or necessary compatible – adj. able to exist or be used together  

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Winemaker Matthieu Finot

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Athena Zhe: Creating Art on Human Bodies

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Trump Uses Twitter to Defend Call with Taiwan President

  Some people in China welcomed the election of businessman Donald Trump as president of the United States. They believed he would negotiate deals helpful to both countries. But President-elect Trump’s decision to speak directly with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen led the Chinese government to protest to the U.S. ambassador in Beijing. Some Chinese officials said the telephone call between Trump and Tsai violated America’s 1979 pledge of support for a one-China policy. Since then, the U.S. has not had official contact with Taiwan’s government.  Tsai told a small group of U.S. reporters Tuesday that she did not sense a major change in U.S. policies toward Taiwan. "One phone call does not mean a policy shift," Tsai said. Trump has used social media to defend his decision to speak with Taiwan’s president.  On Twitter, the president-elect criticized some of China's policies. He wrote that China devalued its money to make it harder for American businesses to sell goods in the country. He said the Chinese government continues to heavily tax U.S. exports to China. And he said the Chinese military is expanding its presence in the South China Sea, all without asking the United States, in his words, “if it was OK.” Mark Toner is a spokesman for the U.S. State Department. He said the Chinese government called the U.S. ambassador to China on Saturday to protest Trump’s contact with Taiwan’s president. Toner also defended America’s “one China policy,” which has been in effect for 37 years. “It’s allowed us to develop relations – frankly, closer relations with Beijing and also to deepen our unofficial ties with Taipei,” Toner said. The policy also provides economic and security benefits to the United States, he said.  Wang Dong is a political science professor at Peking University. He said Trump’s tweets may be all about improving his negotiating position with the Chinese government. Trump has said he sometimes uses strong words to help him negotiate better deals later. But Wang said Trump may also be following the opinions of some Republican Party activists who want the U.S. government to take a harder position with China. The Washington Post and Wall Street Journal both reported that the telephone call between Trump and Tsai was planned weeks ago by Trump aides. “And I think that gives us reason to be worried about U.S.-China relations going forward,” Wang said. “There (has) been too much wishful thinking and overly optimistic expectations about Donald Trump and China and I think now, people have to come back to reality.” John Bolton served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. Bolton said the United States needs to deal with what he called China’s “aggressive and belligerent claims” in the South China Sea. He is reportedly under consideration for a diplomatic position with the Trump administration.    On  Tuesday, a Republican Party official arrived in Taiwan for a week-long visit. The official, Stephan Yates, is the party’s chairman in the state of Idaho. Yates said he is not carrying any messages from Trump to Tsai. But he said that China should respect the “political reform and democratization of Taiwan,” as President-elect Trump has. Jeffrey Bader was the lead adviser on China for President Barack Obama from 2009 to 2011. He now works at the John L. Thornton China Center, part of the Brookings Institution research group. Bader said Trump’s phone call with the Taiwan leader raises concerns about his foreign policy skills. “There are serious risks posed by his failure to take briefings by government professionals,” Bader said. He added that Trump “appears to have little respect” for the possible damage to longtime U.S. security interests. I’m Ashley Thompson. And I'm Caty Weaver. William Ide and Nike Ching reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted their reports 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   pledge – n. promise shift - n. to move to a different position frankly - adv. speaking candidly optimistic - adj. expecting good things to happen belligerent - adj. angry and aggressive pose - v. to create a possible problem briefing - n. people with expertise providing information to someone

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December 6, 2016

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

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Japan's Abe to Visit Pearl Harbor; Will Not Apologize for Attack

  Japan says Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will not apologize for his country’s 1941 attack on United States forces when he visits Pearl Harbor, Hawaii later this month.   Wednesday marks the 75th anniversary of the attack on the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. Japanese warplanes dropped bombs that sunk the battleship USS Arizona. They also damaged or destroyed 20 other ships and 164 planes. More than 2,300 Americans were killed. The attack led to the American entry into World War II. The day after the attack, Congress declared war on Japan. The war ended after the U.S. military dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese city of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The two attacks killed more than 210,000 people. Six months ago, Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to visit a memorial to the bombing in Hiroshima while still in office. Tuesday, Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yoshihide Suga, said the prime minister will visit Pearl Harbor on December 26th and 27th. He said Abe’s visit is designed “to show his commitment towards the future and to never repeat the tragedy of the World War, as well as to send a message of reconciliation between the U.S. and Japan." Abe’s visit will be the first by a Japanese leader since the attack. Matthew Linley is a professor in the Department of International Programs at Nagoya University. He said that Abe and his supporters consider the visit a sign that the two countries now have strong relations. “This is also seen within Japan as -- especially for Abe and his supporters -- as being kind of a final conclusion of the post-war period. For Japan, the post-war period, many of them feel that relations now are completely normalized between the two countries. And that, even though it was of course controversial for President Obama to visit Hiroshima and controversial for Prime Minister Abe to visit Pearl Harbor, I think especially within Japan there’s a lot of support for Prime Minister Abe to make this visit. "But the main point that the media seems to be making is that this is a good move, but it’s tied to a number of, of different things. One thing is of course the Donald Trump incoming presidency -- Japan really wants to create a good relationship with Donald Trump because Japan is very worried about China and the South China Sea and North Korea’s missile program. Because Trump made some critical comments of Japan and the US-Japan alliance during the campaign, Japan is very concerned about trying to create good relation(s) with the United States and all eyes I think are on the Trump administration coming forward.” Linley noted that Abe was the first foreign leader to meet with Trump. The two spoke in New York last month. During the campaign, Trump criticized Japan and other nations where the U.S. military has troops. He said they should be paying more for the security the troops provide. Grant Newsham is a senior research fellow at the Japan Forum on Strategic Studies. Newsham says “Trump’s statements while he was a candidate suggesting that Japan was not doing enough for its defense and not paying enough for the services of U.S. forces really frightened the Japanese government.” “Since Mr. Trump has been elected -- to the Japanese population and the Japanese government’s great surprise -- the Japanese government has really been scrambling to try and build some sort of relationship with Mr. Trump. They didn’t think he would win.” This week, U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced plans to return to the Japanese government almost 4,000 hectares of land in Okinawa used for military training.  I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA Reporters Chris Hannas, Victor Beattie and Jeff Custer reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their reports 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   reconciliation – n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement commemorate – v. to do something special in order to remember and honor (an important event or person from the past) atrocity – n. a very cruel or terrible act or action

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