The Story Behind the Photo

  This is What’s Trending Today. You may not know the name Burhan Ozbilici. But by now, you have probably seen his photos. Ozbilici is a photographer for the Associated Press news service. And on Monday, he took pictures of the man who had just shot Russia’s ambassador to Turkey, Andrei Karlov. Karlov was attending a photo exhibition in Ankara. He later died of his wounds. The shooter has been identified as Mevlut Mert Altintas, a 22-year-old police officer. In one of Ozbilici’s photos, the shooter is pointing a finger in the air. In his other hand, he is holding the gun by his hip. He is shouting, as Karlov’s body lies on the floor near him. Photographers and media experts are calling it “the photo of the year.” People have praised Ozbilici for remaining calm enough to keep taking photos after witnessing an assassination. Ozbilici told the Associated Press many people dropped to the floor when the man showed his gun. Other people ran. But he did not. “I’m a journalist,” he said. “I have to do my work. I could run away without making any photos. ... But I wouldn't have a proper answer if people later ask me: 'Why didn't you take pictures?’” Dennis Paquin is the Associated Press’ acting director of photography. He said the image shows how often photographers face real risks. Dangerous situations can come up even in quiet places like an art gallery. Ozbilici said he only decided to attend the event at the art gallery at the last minute. “The event seemed routine,” he wrote in an Associated Press story. After the gunshots -- “at least eight of them,” Ozbilici recalled -- he found a safe space behind a wall. There, he continued taking photos. Many people have written about Ozbilici’s photos and his work. A New York Times reporter called him courageous.  One magazine editor called him “extraordinarily brave.”  On Tuesday night, Ozbilici wrote on Twitter: “Andrei Karlov, good man, rest in peace. … Thanks God … I’m alive.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What did you think of Ozbilici’s photos? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   assassination– n. the act of killing someone, usually for political reasons cool - adj. able to think and act in a calm way proper – adj. correct according to social or moral rules courageous – adj. very brave : having or showing courage routine – adj. done or happening as a normal part of a job, situation, or process

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Immigrants Find Success in Silicon Valley

  Some of the most successful technology business owners in Silicon Valley are immigrants. Silicon Valley is an area of northern California that is home to major technology companies like Apple, Google and Facebook. For some immigrants, just living in the United States is the goal. But others have bigger dreams, like Qasar Younis. Younis is the chief operating officer of Y Combinator. Y Combinator is an investment company. It gives money to new technology businesses in return for part ownership. If the company is sold or offers its shares for sale to the public, Y Combinator can make a lot of money. Younis is from the Punjab area of Pakistan. He says he was just a normal child. But, he says he believed from an early age that he could be successful in the U.S. Another Pakistani immigrant, Dilawar Syed, owns the software company Freshdesk. It provides customer support services. Syed said the people who live in Silicon Valley create big opportunities for themselves and each other. “The idea of making an impossible, possible is the way we operate.” And, he thinks Silicon Valley is unlike any other place. "I think the valley is unique. In that ecosystem, there is an interesting mix of enabling factors that allow people to develop themselves, to push themselves, to take risks, fail often and then succeed quite often in a spectacular fashion.” Many entrepreneurs around the world dream of coming to California and starting a business. But how do they do it? There are organizations that can help. Mohammad Ibrahim’s Leaders is one such group. It invites leaders of start-ups from the Palestinian territories to attend a one-month program in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley experts provide training and advice to the visitors. They learn how to market and grow their businesses. They find ways to increase sales. And Ibrahim says Leaders can connect the start-ups that need money with investors. Google has a similar program called Launchpad Accelerator. It offers problem-solving for people who started businesses in parts of Latin America and Asia. Those who come to the program spend two weeks at Google’s headquarters and then get access to Google experts for six months. Another way people get their start is through internships. Internships are mostly unpaid training positions at companies. Interns can gain valuable connections as well. The tech company Mozilla, known for their web browser, offers three-month paid internships. Some Silicon Valley interns earn as much as $5,000 per month. Nichole Gibson finds interns for Mozilla. “So here at Mozilla we are looking for the best and the brightest, but we also focus on diversity and inclusion. So, we have a wide range of interns that we actually hire. Since we are an international company, we can hire interns from all over the world, which is great. We hire into non- technical and technical roles so we have a wide range of positions that they can apply for.” I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by VOA’s Vina Mubtadi and Saqib Islam. Caty Weaver was the editor. Will you come to Silicon Valley to start a business one day? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________   Words in This Story start-up – n. a new business opportunity – n. a chance to do something or act spectacular – adj. causing wonder and admiration; very impressive unique– adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else accelerator – n. an organization that helps a business improve entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money diversity – n. the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group or organization​ inclusion – n. the act of making something or someone part of a group  

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Two Ways to Track Santa Around the World

  If you or your children are eagerly waiting for Santa to arrive, you can watch his progress with a Santa tracker. This year, two Santa trackers offer new ways to see where Santa is during his trip on the night before Christmas. These websites also have some other fun activities. Google Santa Tracker Google has been tracking Santa every December for twelve years. This year, Google’s tracker takes you to Santa’s Village, which is filled with new ways to follow Santa. Head to Google Santa Tracker to find a countdown clock to Christmas Eve and 24 different activities to pass the time before Santa arrives.           Watch videos such as Santa Gets Back to Work:   Visitors to the site can see translations of Christmas expressions using Google Translate in Santa's Village. You can learn terms in more than 25 languages, including “Elvish.” We are not sure that language will be very useful, however. There are also games on Google Santa Tracker, such as Gift Slingshot, Santa Search and Penguin Dash. You can learn coding skills and find out about charitable organizations that work all year. One activity is unlocked for each day in December, with categories Explore, Play, Learn and Watch. You can try each activity in order or choose by category. Google's Santa tracker is also available on Santa tracker app for Android, the Chrome Santa Tracker extension, and a link in Google Maps to Santa's Village. Google also has a new Santa tracker for educators. That web page has resources to help them teach children geography, coding, languages and more in a fun way. NORAD Santa Tracker NORAD continues its tradition of tracking Santa with its NORAD Santa Tracker website. The North American Aerospace Defense Command is celebrating its 61st year of tracking Santa by offering a Christmas countdown, games, activities, 2D and 3D training maps, Santa Camera videos and more.   Listen to NORAD Christmas music while you explore the North Pole. Play games, watch videos and learn the history of how a child dialing a wrong phone number led to the tradition of NORAD tracking Santa.   You can also watch movies about the NORAD Santa Tracker and see a 360-degree view of Santa's Village. The site has a library with interactive books about holiday traditions around the world, Santa history and more. The arcade unlocks a new game every day such as Santalicious, Cookie Crunch and Santa Hop. The NORAD Santa tracker website is available in eight different languages.   Visitors can watch streaming videos of Santa as he prepares for his flight on December 24. NORAD will also answer email questions about Santa’s location throughout Christmas Eve. NORAD Santa Tracker is also available via apps for Android and iPhone and iPad.   I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Have you tried using a Santa tracker? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   eager - adj. very excited and interested countdown - n. the act of counting down the time that remains before something (such as the launch of a rocket) happens — usually singular clock - n. a device that shows what time it is translation - n. words that have been changed from one language into a different language charitable - adj. done or designed to help people who are in need category - n. a group of people or things that are similar in some way tradition - n. a way of thinking, behaving, or doing something that has been used by the people in a particular group, family, society, etc., for a long time interactive ​- adj. designed to respond to the actions, commands, etc., of a user arcade - n. a place with many games streaming - adj. playing continuously as data is sent over the Internet  

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Matthieu Finot: The Art and Science of Winemaking

  Matthieu Finot knows a lot about wine. He sees it as a combination of science and art. From watching the weather and checking the soil, to testing grapes for sugar levels and acidity and then deciding when to harvest, Finot says nature and winemaker must work together. “So what I do is I change grapes into wine. So, that's the easy part of it. But my job is a blend of farming, of science and arts because we need Mother Nature to ripen the grapes and to make grapes good to make good wine. So, that's the natural part. "I need science to understand all the fermentation part and the aging part and everything that happens to the wine, and I need the artistic part that is what makes each wine maker unique and what makes brings the human factors into producing wine. And that is the reason why wine is being considered, very often, as, you know, is a kind of art. And there's a sense of artistic feeling too into winemaking that I really appreciate.”     Finot comes from a family of viticulturists and wine lovers. It was a natural for him to follow that path. He began his study early on his grandparents’ farm. “I was very proud of my roots of being a farmer and that's what I wanted to be. So, coming from Northern Rhône area in France in Crozes-Hermitage, and the family farm was apricots, cherries, pear and vines. That's my roots. I mean we had like goats, we had a lot of things like that in my grandmother's house. But like, you know, when I came in a bit later in age, when after high school when I had to decide what I wanted to do for a living, I was passionate about wine and that's my father's side, too. My father loves wine, and when I was a kid my father make me try good wine and I really loved that.” Finot knew studying winemaking would be a good link between his love of wine, his love of dirt and his roots in farming. “So, I've study viticulture and oenology and I went to Beaune in Burgundy to study that. It’s a school in Beaune that give you training and practice about how to take care of a vineyard and how to make wine out of it.”     After graduating in 1995, Finot worked in many different wine regions around France to learn all he could about wine. "I've traveled a lot in France to go get into plenty of different wine regions. So, I've been in the Burgundy area, I've been in the Rhône area, been in Jura, I've been in Provence. I've been in Bordeaux area. So, I've been traveling a lot in France to learn different techniques of winemaking. And for me traveling was a part of learning, not only learning about winemaking, but you also learn a lot about yourself and that's the best part of traveling. And you learn that not everybody thinks the way you do and you learn to listen to people, and it's not all about you. And that's a very good thing that I've learned.” Matthieu Finot has also worked in Italy and South Africa to learn about winemaking and to gain international experience. In 2003, he came to the United States and he settled in Virginia.   "I wanted to go to New Zealand. But before going to New Zealand, I wanted to come to the United States. And, that was in 2003. I was planning to stay here for six months and then go to the southern hemisphere and go to New Zealand. It happened that I'm still here 13 years after. So, I guess I've been stuck here for some reason. When I first arrived here, I didn't know where was Virginia on the map, to be honest. I'd never been to United States before. That was my first time here. I had to look where was Charlottesville on the map, too. Never heard of it.  I really had no expectation. It turned out to be that I'm loving it here and it's a great place to live.” Matthieu works at King Family Vineyards.  He says winemaking is new to the state of Virginia. “So here in Virginia and at King Family Vineyards, Virginia is a fairly new wine region. So, we are still working a lot about experimenting, to try to see what fits the best (in) our climate. We are hot and humid climate. And so it's not the most ideal weather to ripen grapes. Grapes like usually more dry, dry weather so we are still experimenting with what does well for us here. But at King Family Vineyards and in Central Virginia we do like to work with white wine, we do like to work with viognier. We do like to work with chardonnay. I think that works very well for us here. And when it comes to red, most of the grapes that grow in Bordeaux, grow very well here also. So, that's what we do at King Family vineyards.” Matthieu Finot says one does not have to know a lot about wine to understand or enjoy it. “If you go to an art show, you don't need to have a lot of knowledge to say if you like this painting or if you like this one. And you might have one that you're not going to like at all because, like all, I found that completely ugly, but at the same time some people would say like, ‘oh no that's wonderful. That's a nice piece of art.’ With wine, it is the same. It's not because your neighbor is going to like this specific wine that you have to like it. I think people think they need to learn a lot about the wine to see if they like it or not. What really matters on a tasting is what do you like.” Making wine is a process. Finot says the process for making red and white wine is different for each one. “There's basic rules. I say that on a white wine, the basic rule is you're going to press the grapes, get  some juice, and then ferment the juice in liquid form. And, that you're going to change grape juice into wine white. "The reds you want to get some tannin and the color. And tannin and color are in the skin, not in the pulp, in the skin. So, you need the skin. So, what we do for the reds, we ferment the red with the whole berries. So, this fermentation process take two or three weeks, and sometimes even more, to get the color and the tannins out of the berries. So, it's two different process(es). "If you ask me what tannin means, tannin is what's good for your heart, and that's the reason why people saying, like, drinking wine is healthy; that's mainly the tannins that are very strong antioxidant. And what tannin is, if you don't drink wine, if you don't drink wine I hope you drink tea, and if you drink tea and if you let your tea being infused for too long, the drying sensation that you've got out of the tea leaves are tannins." Matthieu Finot says there is something important for all drinkers to remember about wine: it is meant to be enjoyed.   “Wine is just a way to have a good time. If you lose this idea of having a good time while you’re drinking wine, then what's the purpose of wine? I mean if it's not your job, like mine. "(The) purpose of wine is just to make you happy. So, at the end it's not something serious. I mean we can take it seriously, and I make a living out of it. So, in some way it's serious for me, but wine it's not something serious. It's just a way to enjoy life. And I think people should just drink what they like. At the end of the day you should be happy with having a glass of wine. If you force yourself to drink a glass of wine and you don't like it, don't drink it. Drink something else." I’m Marsha James.   Marsha James wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Next time on People in America, meet Neftalie Williams, educator and chairman of Cuba Skate. Listening Quiz See how well you understand this story by taking a listening quiz. Play each video, then answer the question. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story      blend - n. something produced by mixing or combining different things ripen - v. to become ripe (fully grown and developed) and ready to be eaten  fermentation – n. the process of going through a chemical change that results in the production of alcohol unique - adj. very special or unusual viticulturists – n. people who study grapes and the growing of grapes passionate - adj. having or showing strong emotions or beliefs oenology n. – the study of wines practice - n. the activity of doing something again in order to become better at it humid - adj. having a lot of moisture in the air ideal - adj. exactly right for a particular purpose or situation ugly - adj. not pretty or attractive tannin –n. a reddish acid that comes from plants, is used in making ink and leather, and occurs in various foods and drinks (such as wine) pulp – n. the inner juicy part of a fruit or vegetable antioxidant - n. a substance that is added to food and other products to prevent harmful chemical reactions in which oxygen is combined with other substances infuse – v. to allow something (such as tea or herbs) to stay in a liquid (such as hot water) in order to flavor the liquid

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Chairman of Cuba Skate Neftalie Williams

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Matthieu Finot: The Art and Science of Winemaking

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German Police Free First Suspect in Berlin Truck Attack

  German police have released a man they arrested shortly after a deadly truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.   Officials said there was not enough evidence to link the suspect to the attack Monday that killed 12 people and injured nearly 50. The truck crashed into the holiday market and continued for about 60 meters before coming to a stop. Witnesses said they saw a man fleeing from the truck after the attack. Police said the suspect matched descriptions of the man running away. But they said earlier Tuesday they were not sure if the man arrested was actually the attacker. Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said the suspect was a Pakistani citizen. He entered Germany as a migrant on December 31 last year and arrived in Berlin in February. The head of Germany’s Federal Criminal Police force said the man denied involvement in the attack. Officials said they were working with “limited” evidence. Police said they had not yet found a weapon believed to have been used to kill the driver of the truck before it was stolen. The owner of the truck said he believed the vehicle may have been hijacked. The Polish driver of the truck was found dead in the vehicle’s passenger seat. German officials said the investigation is ongoing and have warned the public that the suspect has not been caught. They urged people to watch out for and report suspicious movements or behavior. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said officials have to assume that Monday’s truck attack on the Christmas market was an “act of terrorism.” Interior Minister de Maiziere also said there was “no doubt” the driver intentionally hit the popular market.   Merkel and other senior German officials went to the area of the attack Tuesday. They spoke with police officers at the market and left flowers to honor the victims. Later, Merkel and German President Joachim Gauck also attended a memorial service at the church nearby. On Tuesday, the terror group Islamic State said the person who carried out the attack did so “in response to calls” for violence targeting citizens of what it called “Crusader” nations. The attack came less than a month after the U.S. State Department warned that extremist groups - including Islamic State and al-Qaida - might carry out holiday attacks in Europe. IS and al-Qaida have both called on followers to use trucks to attack crowds.   Monday’s truck attack was similar to one that took place on July 14 in southern France. In that case, a truck crashed into a celebration in the French city of Nice, killing 86 people on France’s Bastille Day holiday. IS claimed responsibility for that attack, which was carried out by a Tunisian national living in France. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, with material from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   suspicious – adj. causing a feeling that something is wrong assume – v. to believe something is true without actually knowing it intentionally – adj. on purpose, deliberate  

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Small US Town Prepares to Welcome Syrian Refugees

  Some refugee aid organizations in the United States are working to help people who fled Syria and will soon come to America. The groups are working hard because they believe that president-elect Donald Trump may stop Syrian refugees from entering the United States when he takes office. During the presidential campaign, then-candidate Trump criticized American government policies that let Syrian refugees enter the United States. The small city of Rutland, in the northeastern state of Vermont, will be one of the first American cities to receive Syrian refugees in 2017. About 16,000 people live in Rutland. VOA recently visited a refugee aid group in the city. “So these just arrived...” In a room at a church, Marsha Cassel is opening a box full of homemade hats. The people who made and sent the hats also sent a card. “We have knitted these hats with love and hope they help your heads and hearts feel warm…” Marsha’s organization is called Rutland Welcomes. Volunteers have donated household goods, furniture and clothing to help the Syrian families who are to arrive early next year. “We have some really active volunteers -- about 200 volunteers -- who are willing to step up to provide transportation, to set up houses, to collect household goods and furniture, to do tutoring…” Italian, Greek, and Polish immigrants built Rutland. More than one hundred years ago, there were many factories in the city. But today, its economy is poor and businesses cannot find the workers they need. Mayor Christopher Louras showed VOA a very old photograph of factory workers in the city. “Look around them. There is a lot of short, undersized guys with dark skin working in that factory.”   In memory of the immigrants who built Rutland, Louras created a plan to bring 100 Syrian refugees to the city each year for the next several years. “We saw refugee resettlement as an opportunity not only to do the right thing, the compassionate humanitarian thing, but also from a very self-serving perspective as a community, provide population growth to fill our jobs.” But not everyone agrees with the mayor’s plan. City Treasurer Wendy Wilton says the city does not have enough money to support 100 refugees a year. “When I add refugee resettlement and its impact on education and community development and planning, it looked to me like it would be a 35 percent tax increase for Rutland city residents. That’s a lot of money.” Mayor Louras says Wilton’s estimate is not correct. “The numbers were frankly fabricated, not just on the municipal budget side, but also on the school side as well. And it is unfortunate that she chose to use such erroneous numbers.”   Some city legislators are also unhappy with the mayor’s plan. Sharon Davis says the mayor never talked about his plan with city officials or the community. “I think that if the mayor had taken the opportunity to respect and support the folks he represents, we wouldn’t be in this discussion at this time.” Although not everyone supports the plan, the first refugees are expected to arrive in Rutland in early January. I’m Jill Robbins.  VOA Correspondent Jeff Swicord reported this story from Rutland, Vermont. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her 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   knit – v. to make (a piece of clothing) from yarn or thread by using long needles or a special machine step up – phrasal verb. to say openly or publicly that you are the person who can do something tutor – v. to teach a single student; to teach someone as a tutor compassionate – adj. feeling or showing concern for someone who is sick, hurt, poor, etc.; having or showing compassion perspective – n. a way of thinking about and understanding something (such as a particular issue or life in general) fabricate – v. to create or make up (something, such as a story) in order to trick people municipal – adj. of or relating to the government of a city or town

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Most Americans Live in States Partly or Completely Under Republican Control

  The Republican Party now holds more power in the United States than at any time since the 1920s. Since 2000, the Republicans have sharply increased the number of legislatures and governorships they control. That is part of a movement that began in 1938. Since then, the number of Republican state lawmakers has increased more than 64 percent. The party’s influence at the state and national level has continued to rise since President Barack Obama took office in 2009. Because of the 2016 elections, Republicans will control Kentucky’s House of Representatives, and the Iowa and Minnesota Senates beginning in January. In addition, the top Democrat in the Kentucky House, Greg Stumbo, and the top Democrat in the Iowa Senate, Mike Gronstal, were both defeated for reelection. Gronstal is also the president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). The Democratic Party had controlled Kentucky’s House for 94 years. It was the last legislative chamber under the Democrats’ control in the South. In January, there will be 64 Republicans in the 100-seat Kentucky House. The NCSL reports that Republicans will soon control both chambers of the legislature in 32 states -- the most in the party’s history. Democrats will control both chambers in 15 states. Control will be split in three states. Before the election, Republicans controlled both parts of the legislature in 30 states. Democrats controlled both in 12 states, while control was split in seven states. One state, Nebraska, has a unicameral legislature -- in other words it has just one chamber, not a house and senate. NCSL researcher Tim Storey told dailysignal.com that “Republicans have taken full advantage of their (power) in the states -- including implementing tax cuts in a number of places, imposing stricter limits on abortion and voting rights, and combating controversial issues like gun control.” While Democrats attempted to keep control of the presidency, Republicans worked at the state and local levels. That work has helped the party take control of a large majority of state offices. The Washington Post newspaper said that “with this election, (Republicans) cemented their dominance.” The paper added that about 80 percent of Americans now live “in a state either totally or partially controlled by Republicans.”  Amy Walter is the national editor of the Cook Political Report. She said that because of the recent elections, Democrats “are going to be hurting for a long time.” This month, Democrats got even more bad news. In the state of Louisiana, the Republican state treasurer, John Kennedy, won election to the U.S. Senate. President-elect Donald Trump campaigned for Kennedy. A large majority of voters in Louisiana supported Trump in the November election. Kennedy strongly opposes the health care program known as Obamacare. He supports the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which gives Americans the right to own guns. And he opposes abortion, the medical operation in which a woman’s pregnancy is ended. In January, Republicans will hold 52 seats in the U.S. Senate. Democrats will control 46. There are two independent senators. They usually vote with the Democrats. I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOA’s Christopher Jones-Cruise reported this story and wrote it in VOA 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   chamber – n. a usually large room where members of a government group (such as a legislature) have meetings implement – v. to begin to do or use (something, such as a plan); to make (something) active or effective impose – v. to cause (something, such as a tax, fine, rule or punishment) to affect someone or something by using your authority controversial – adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement or argument cement – v. to make (something) stronger

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Obama’s Education Policies Likely to Change Under Donald Trump

  Like other top officials in the administration of President Barack Obama, Education Secretary John King will leave government on January 20. King gave a speech last week, talking about his hopes for education programs after Obama’s term ends. He said Americans should continue to work for schools with students and teachers who represent America’s different races, religions and ethnic groups. “I am convinced that the growing conflicts in this country over race and religion and language would be profoundly reduced if our citizens were able to learn and play alongside classmates who were different from themselves,” King said. President-elect Donald Trump replaces Obama on January 20. He has named Michigan’s Betsy DeVos to replace King. “Under her leadership we will reform the U.S. education system and break the bureaucracy that is holding our children back so that we can deliver world-class education and school choice to all families,” Trump said. DeVos is a supporter of charter schools. They are schools that can experiment more because they operate independently of local school boards. She also supports taxpayer money for vouchers that parents can use to pay for private school. DeVos and other Republicans say vouchers allow parents in poor communities to move their children out of failing public schools. She has said they are likely to find a better learning environment in a good private school. Obama Opposed Vouchers President Obama has supported charter schools, but not private school vouchers. Obama said he looked at studies about private school voucher programs in Washington D.C. and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “As a general proposition, vouchers has not significantly improved the performance of kids that are in these poorest communities,” Obama told Fox News in 2014. Education policies have long divided Americans. Republicans generally support less federal control over schools, preferring to let local officials have more control. Democrats generally support keeping a strong federal Education Department to ensure that school districts treat all students fairly. In his speech, King said all sides should unite behind a simple goal: building a strong and fair public education system. He said the Education Department should continue to fight for better schools for all Americans. DeVos has not said how she might change Obama's and King’s education policies. These policies include the Education Department’s efforts to limit physical punishment of students, such as hitting. Obama’s Education Department reported that minority students are more likely to get physical punishment than whites. Taking Aim at For-Profit Colleges King and the Education Department also ordered stronger regulations of for-profit colleges. The department found some for-profit schools charged high fees, leaving students with large loans to pay off. In many cases, King said, students did not get a good education. Some large for-profit schools have closed down because of the Obama administration's enforcement efforts. Last month, the Career Education Colleges and Universities association said for-profit colleges are ready to educate 5 million career professionals. It put out a statement from former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich, calling on the federal government to stop targeting for-profit colleges. Gingrich was an early supporter of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Instead of fighting for-profit colleges, Gingrich said the government should work with the schools to help Americans develop skills needed for good jobs and better pay. DeVos is a wealthy Republican from the Midwestern state of Michigan. She is chair of the American Federation for Children. The group supports vouchers and charter schools. The conservative Heritage Foundation praised the choice of DeVos as education secretary. “Betsy DeVos has been a staunch supporter of more education choices for students and parents, and the school choice movement will have a champion in the Education Department,” said the Heritage Foundation’s Marguerite Bowling. Randi Weingarten is the president of the American Federation of Teachers. He said the choice of DeVos meant that Trump does not support public education in the U.S. “In nominating DeVos, Trump makes it loud and clear that his education policy will focus on privatizing, defunding and destroying public education in America,” Weingarten said. The Department of Education has 4,400 employees and a yearly budget of $68 billion. I’m Jill Robbins. ​ And I'm Bruce Alpert   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. _______________________________________________________ Words in This Story   profoundly - adv. very greatly vouchers - n. a document that gives you the right to get something such as a service without paying for it proposition - n. something presented to a person or group of people to consider significantly - adv. a way that is large or important enough to be noticed or have an effect kids - n. children staunch - adj. very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or cause defunding - v. taking away money for a program

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Solar Electricity Production Grows in Africa, with U.S. Help

  In many parts of Africa, communities have electricity service that sometimes does not operate. And many rural settlements are cut off from electricity producing centers. But, industry experts say off-grid solar power is becoming available to many communities.  Off-grid solar energy is energy that is captured from the sun without being connected to a nation’s main electricity centers. The United States government is investing millions of dollars in solar technology through its Power Africa project. The International Energy Agency says more than 600 million people in Africa have no way to get electricity. New technology, however, could help solve this problem. The price of off-grid solar energy systems has decreased sharply. Today, people can rent solar equipment for less than 50 cents a day. And they can pay for the electricity as they need it. Lumos Global is among the companies offering solar energy services in Nigeria. The company's Chief Operating Officer, Nir Marom, says putting the equipment in place is simple.  "He puts the system on the roof, he puts the indoor unit in the home. There is a cable to connect between them.  It's a plug on both sides, you don't need to be an electrician or anything like this. And then you need to charge this by credit. So the sun charges the electricity, but you need to provide the credit to power the system up, and you do this using your mobile phone." The company received financing from the U.S. government's Overseas Private Investment Corporation, or OPIC. The effort is part of President Barack Obama's Power Africa project. As the off-grid solar energy industry expands, several African countries have also invested millions of dollars in large solar plants. These power centers are on-grid, meaning they are connected to the country’s electrical wires and power stations. Senegal opened one of Africa's largest solar plants in October. It is able to produce 20 megawatts of electricity. That is enough for 160,000 people.   Chief executive Charlotte Aubi-Kalaidjian heads Greenwish Partners. The company paid for the construction of the solar plant in Senegal.           Aubi-Kalaidjian says a solar farm in Senegal can produce twice the amount of electricity that a farm of the same size in Britain or in northern France could produce. The International Energy Agency predicts that almost a billion people in sub-Saharan Africa will have on-grid electricity by 2040. But, the agency says, 500 million people will still be off-grid. Investors believe solar power could serve those people while also helping to reduce gases linked to climate change.    I'm Alice Bryant. Henry Ridgwell reported this story for VOA News in London. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.   ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   rent - v. to pay to use something that is owned by someone else cable - n. a wire that carries electricity to a machine plug - n. a part at the end of an electric plug that goes into an electricity source mobile - adj. able to moved anywhere, not fixed in one place megawatts - n. a measure of electricity equal to one million watts climate change - n. a change in global climate patterns caused by an increase in gases that trap heat, such as carbon dioxide, which comes from burning coal and natural gas

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