January 25, 2017

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

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Cambodian Photographer Teaches About Wildlife

  Suy Senglim credits a French journalist he met in 2000 for his interest in photography.   Since 2012, the Cambodian man has used his love of photography for a good cause: protecting wildlife. As more and more animal species began to disappear from Kandal province, he grew worried. So he created a photo project he hopes will bring more attention to the loss of natural habitat in Cambodia. Now 35 years old, Suy Senglim carefully documents each species he photographs. He records the common name of each creature, its scientific name and identifying qualities, and whether or not the species is endangered. He hopes to educate Cambodians about the importance of bird species and the effect development has on nature. “The biggest issue is damage to habitat and poaching. Besides that, it is due to demand from the rich who desire wild meat and who consider wild meat chemical-free,” he told VOA. The Giant Ibis is Cambodia’s national bird. It is considered critically endangered, with its population increasing and decreasing every year, he said. His photography work has showed him how lack of education and law enforcement makes the problem worse. Hunting is at the root of Cambodian culture, he said. But he notes that centuries ago, there were more animals and less people. Educating Cambodians about the need for saving natural resources is very important to Suy Senglim. “Education is very limited,” he said. “And in terms of legal enforcement, only one organization is standing out, and that is the Wildlife Alliance.” He noted that the group has carried out a number of successful crackdowns against hunting. But there are few major campaigns on wildlife hunting, as a whole, he said. Chhit Sam Ath is executive director of the World Wildlife Fund, or WWF office in Cambodia. The group works to protect wildlife and their habitats around the world. Chhit Sam Ath said land sales and development are partly responsible for a sharp drop in the number of trees. Forests are home to many bird species. Protected areas within forests have disappeared at the same rate as forests in other parts of the country. The environmental protection group Fauna and Flora International says poaching and hunting have led to loss of animal and plant species in Cambodia. Between 2001 and 2014, the yearly rate of forest loss in Cambodia was the highest in the world, the group said. The rate increased 14.4 percent during that period. Flora and Fauna International noted almost 60 percent of the country was forested in 2009. But it fell to 48 percent by 2014. Recently, Prime Minister Hun Sen approved an increase in the number of rangers to guard forests and parks, Chhit Sam Ath noted. The increased security is part of an effort to stop poaching and destruction of forests. But like Suy Senglim, the World Wildlife Fund official said lack of education about wildlife leads to careless hunting by people. He also called for an end to the wild meat trade. I think we should improve education among the people to make them understand more and love wildlife, Chhit Sam Ath said. “I want to call on the people that it is time to help protect the wildlife in our nation.” Chantha Nasak is a wildlife expert with Fauna and Flora International. He said the group is still carrying out a study of endangered and non-endangered species in Cambodia. But without the right protections, the wildlife face great risks. Through research by non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, and other groups, we have recorded a huge number of wildlife in Cambodia, he said. “The number of endangered species, such as elephants, can face further decreases if there are no [protective] measures taken.” To Chantha Nasak, damage to wildlife habitats is the main reason for the decrease in the number of wild animals. He said destruction of forests and use of land for agricultural and other purposes are the biggest threats, as well as climate change. However, there are already agreements between some NGOs and the Cambodian government to help wild species. Also, Chantha Nasak said some communities are working together to protect wildlife around the country. “All Cambodian citizens should join hands in the protection of wildlife, not just the NGOs and the government,” he said. “It should be everyone.” Suy Senglim is working on a book on 100 bird species from among the 400 species he has photographed. He hopes to publish the book in early 2018. He says he looks forward to teaching in high schools and colleges to influence a new generation of nature-lovers. I’m Alice Bryant.   Nem Sopheakpanha reported on this for VOANews.com. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. What efforts to protect the environment are happening in your country? How does your country try to protect endangered plants and animals? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   species - n. a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus habitat - n. the place or type of place where a plant or animal naturally or normally lives or grows poach - v. to hunt or fish illegally; to catch or kill an animal illegally crackdown - n. an increased effort to enforce a law or rule ranger - n. a person in charge of managing and protecting part of a public forest elephant - n. a very large gray animal that has a long, flexible nose and two long tusks

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TPP Nations Seek to Save Trade Deal after US Withdraws

  Members of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are seeking to move forward with the trade agreement after the United States withdrew. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Monday pulling the United States out of the TPP. Leaders from some TPP nations pledged Tuesday to make attempts to continue the agreement even without the U.S. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he had discussed the TPP’s future with the leaders of Japan, Singapore and New Zealand. He told reporters that while the U.S. leaving was clearly “a big loss,” he is hopeful the trade deal will survive. The United States negotiated the TPP under former President Barack Obama. But the deal faced opposition in the U.S. Congress, which never approved the deal. Turnbull added that with America now out of the agreement, “Certainly there is potential for China to join the TPP.” The Obama administration had said one goal of the TPP was to counter China’s growing regional influence in the Asia-Pacific.  In Beijing, a foreign ministry spokeswoman would not say whether China would now attempt to join the TPP. She said China believes that all nations “should keep going down the path of open, inclusive, continuous” economic development. In the past, China has proposed an alternative to the TPP, a trade group called the Free Trade Area of the Asia Pacific (FTAAP). The foreign ministry spokeswoman said efforts to form the FTAAP should now be increased. China has also supported another group, the Southeast Asian-backed Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Analysts say other nations may now seek to join alternative trade agreements to take advantage of the U.S. withdrawal from the TPP.  Trump’s rejection of the TPP was expected. He repeatedly condemned the agreement during his presidential campaign, saying it was not a fair trade deal for America. Trump has said he favors one-on-one agreements with other nations rather than multinational deals like the TPP. Carl Thayer is a political scientist at Australia’s University of New South Wales. He said he believes America’s withdrawal from the TPP will greatly reduce Washington’s influence in the region. “At the moment he (Trump) has given away multilateral (agreements) so the U.S. has no longer a leadership role using the economic lever in Southeast Asia.” There are 11 remaining TPP members, including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. The others are Canada, Mexico, Chile, Peru and Brunei. A Malaysian government trade official said the remaining TPP countries would meet in the near future to discuss what steps to take next. The official said there are still “many possibilities” for the remaining 11 nations to push ahead with the TPP. Last week, Japan’s parliament approved the TPP. But Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said that without the U.S., it would become “meaningless.” On Tuesday, Abe told lawmakers during a parliamentary debate he still had hope that Trump might change his position. He said he plans to seek Trump's "understanding" on the importance of the TPP. Abe added that he plans to meet with Trump as soon as possible. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn adapted this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA’s Ron Corben, the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think TPP member nations should move forward with the agreement without the United States? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive - adj. a decision made by the person in charge inclusive – adj. including or covering everything alternative – n. something that can be chosen instead of something else advantage – n. something that helps make something else better lever – n. a handle that can be pulled or pushed to make a machine work

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British Court Says Parliament Must Approve Brexit

Britain’s Supreme Court says Parliament must approve plans to start the British withdrawal from the European Union. The ruling comes the same week that British Prime Minister Theresa May is to visit the United States. She will be the first world leader to meet with newly inaugurated President Donald Trump. The high court ruled that the prime minister must consult Parliament to begin the withdrawal process. Supreme Court President David Neuberger announced the decision on Tuesday. The court ruled eight to three that May cannot invoke Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon by herself. The treaty is the agreement that sets rules for agencies that govern the EU. Putting that article into effect officially begins the withdrawal process, which is expected to take two years. The withdrawal has been called ‘Brexit’, short for the words British and exit. May had argued that, as prime minister, she had the powers to start the process. The high court said Parliament must approve the Brexit measure because withdrawing from the EU would cut off part of British law. It said the move also would change the rights of British citizens. Britain’s Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, said the government will follow the ruling and, in his words, “do all it can to implement it.” Wright said now Brexit was a political issue, and not a legal one. Last June, British citizens approved a special referendum to leave the EU in a close vote. Brexit means new trade deals must be negotiated May has supported calls for what is being called a “hard” Brexit -- leaving the huge European single market completely. The British government says it wants the nation to trade freely with countries around the world, including China and India. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson recently visited several cities in India. He said that although Britain is leaving the EU, it is not withdrawing from trade. “We may be leaving the EU, we may be taking back control of our borders. But, my Indian friends, I say to you that does not mean we want to haul up the drawbridge,” he said. However, critics say Britain is closing itself off from the world. For example, education is a major British product. But the numbers of students from India in Britain are falling. India blames Britain’s visa system. Pratik Dattani is the British director for the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He says trade goes both ways. “It's not all one way traffic -- that the U.K. can sell internationally and not bring anything in. There has to be an open policy in terms of allowing immigration...” With Brexit, Britain will have to negotiate a trade deal with India independent of the EU. Indian officials said they were willing to discuss a deal last week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. But official talks can take place only after Britain leaves the European Union. Dattani adds that a trade deal could take years to negotiate. He says India and the EU have been negotiating a freed trade deal for seven or eight years. He says that Britain’s concerns have been among the issues slowing the talks. British officials say they will look to the Commonwealth group of nations for new trade deals after Brexit. The Commonwealth’s more than 50 members are mostly former British colonies. A meeting of Commonwealth heads of government is to take place later this year in London. However, experts say Britain may find it difficult to reach quick trade deals after leaving the EU. Concerns over what Brexit will mean for Britain and the EU continue to affect financial markets around the world. The move would require Britain to renegotiate trade rules with all its trading partners -- not only in Europe, but around the world. Trade is expected to be one of the main issues discussed when Teresa May meets with Donald Trump this week. Although it is unclear how long negotiations will take, Trump has said he supports Britain’s move. I’m Mario Ritter.   This report is based on stories from VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted the stories for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. What do you think the British Prime Minister and the U.S. President should discuss about Brexit? Let us know in the comment section. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story inaugurated – adj. to have officially been sworn into office consult – v. to discuss something in order to make a decision invoke – v. to formally announce the use of something such as a law or rule implement – v. to put into action referendum – n. a vote in which all voters cast ballots to decide an issue rather than representatives in government

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Former US President Carter Urges Support for President Trump

Former President Jimmy Carter says he wants to have a good relationship with President Donald Trump. Carter served a single term as president of the United States. The Democratic Party nominated him as its presidential candidate in 1976. He won the election, but lost when he sought reelection four years later. Carter is one of only two presidents in the past 40 years who has served only one term. The other is George H.W. Bush. Carter has lived longer after leaving the White House than any other U.S. president. Trump is the sixth president he has seen take office since the swearing-in of Ronald Reagan in 1981. Carter talks about his Christian beliefs at the Maranatha Baptist Church in the small town of Plains, Georgia, where he lives. On a recent Sunday, Carter said he and his family did not want Donald Trump, a Republican, to become president. “We have 22 voters in our family. None of our family voted for him.” Some former and current Democratic lawmakers did not attend Trump’s swearing-in last Friday. President George H.W. Bush was too sick to attend the ceremony. But all the other former presidents, including Jimmy Carter, came to Washington. “I was the only former president for a long time that said he was going! But I felt like we needed to get to know the new president. I think we need to give him support.” Carter spoke to VOA reporter Kane Farabaugh at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The former president explained his way of thinking about the country’s new leadership. “We want to be helpful to them when they get in office so we hope that this relationship of supporting President Trump and his new administration will be both beneficial to them, and also to help when they think it’s appropriate, us to reach our goals in those particular areas of the world.” Carter says he can help the Trump administration by sharing information gathered at Carter Center events. “We’re preparing a, a brief memorandum from me to the new secretary of state and new secretary of defense, for instance, on our mapping program inside Syria and what we have learned from President Putin and that sort of thing.” When he was president, Carter helped Israel and Egypt agree to end their disputes. The 1978 Camp David Accords were the first permanent peace agreement between the two countries. Carter says he hopes Trump will work to end conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. “We've had a full-time office in Jerusalem and in Ramallah in the West Bank and also in Gaza now for 35 years. And we have a lot of inside information on what's going on inside the boundary of what we call the Holy Land. And I want to share the information with them.” Carter was elected in 1976, a time when the United States was recovering from the scandals of the administration of Richard Nixon. Many Americans were angry with the government -- as they are now. They voted for Carter. Like Trump, he had never served in the federal government. In fact, while Carter served one term as governor of Georgia, Trump had never campaigned for political office until he ran for president. "He never has been involved in politics before. So he has a lot to learn, he'll learn sometimes the hard way like I did"  I’m Pete Musto.   VOA Correspondent Kane Farabaugh reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report into 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   beneficial – adj. producing good or helpful results or effects; producing benefits appropriate – adj. right or suited for some purpose or situation particular – adj. used to indicate that one specific person or thing is being referred to and no others memorandum – n. a usually brief written message or report from one person or department in a company or organization to another scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong  

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January 24, 2017

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

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Trump Administration Studying US Embassy Move to Jerusalem

  United States officials are studying a possible move of the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. That information came this week from Sean Spicer, the spokesman for new President Donald Trump. Although Trump has said he wants to move the embassy to Jerusalem, Spicer said a final decision has not been made. “If it was already a decision, then we wouldn’t be going through a process,” the presidential spokesman told reporters on Monday. Israeli officials have argued that the embassy belongs in Jerusalem because it is the country’s capital. But the Palestinian Authority hopes to make East Jerusalem as its capital in a future Palestinian state. Israel captured east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war. Palestinian officials oppose any effort to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, as do many countries. The Islamic militant group Hamas warned on Tuesday that moving the embassy to Jerusalem could result in violence. In a statement, Hamas said such a move would “open a new chapter of conflict” and “add fuel to the fire.” New Israeli Settlements Announced On Tuesday, Israel announced approval of 2,500 new homes for settlers in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the new settlement homes are “in response to housing needs." The majority of the housing, he said, will be built in areas where most Israeli settlers now live.   Nabil Abu Rdeneh works for the Palestinian Authority and speaks for its president, Mahmoud Abbas. He said the new housing "disregards" international opposition to the settlements. He called on world leaders to take a “real and serious position" against Israel.   In one of its final acts, the Obama administration did not use its veto to block a resolution in the United Nations Security Council. The resolution urged Israel to stop building new housing settlements. The council’s members passed the measure by a vote of 14 to nothing. Trump criticized the vote in a comment on social media. He wrote on Twitter: “The United Nations has such great potential but right now it is just a club for people to get together, talk and have a good time. So sad!” Money Released for Palestinian Authority On Monday, the Associated Press and other news media reported that the Obama administration released $221 million to the Palestinian Authority last week. Some members of Congress had been blocking the release. They were unhappy with the Palestinian Authority seeking to join international organizations. They noted that membership is normally reserved for countries. Israeli and Palestinian representatives have spent years talking about a possible two-state agreement. Under the plan, the Palestinians would be given statehood in return for recognizing Israel’s right to exist. But those negotiations resulted in failure. Many U.S. administrations tried and failed to bring the two sides together. That includes the Obama administration. John Kerry served as President Barack Obama’s Secretary of State. Kerry said last month that increased settlements in Jerusalem made a peace agreement difficult. “Now, one thing we do know: if Israel goes down the one-state path, it will never have true peace with the rest of the Arab world, and I can say that with certainty,” he said in a speech last month. At the time, Trump criticized Kerry’s speech. “We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect,” Trump said on Twitter. “They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but not anymore.” He added: “January 20th is fast approaching.” Trump named lawyer David Friedman as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel. Friedman has been a strong supporter of Israel’s settlements and moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On Sunday, Trump spoke by telephone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They agreed to meet in Washington early next month. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said he hopes the Trump administration will be more supportive of settlements than the Obama administration. I’m Dorothy Gundy.   Robert Berger reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   chapter - n. period of time that is very different from the period of time before it disregard - v. to ignore something potential - n. capable of becoming real certainty - n. the state of being or feeling sure about something disdain - n. a feeling of strong dislike or disapproval of someone or something you think does not deserve respect reserve – v. to set or have set aside  

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'La La Land' Leads Academy Award Nominations

    This is What’s Trending Today… The nominees for the 2017 Academy Awards, or Oscars, were announced Tuesday. The musical love story “La La Land” led the way. It received 14 Oscar nominations, including best picture. That ties it with “Titanic” and “All About Eve” for most Oscar nominations ever. “La La Land’s” lead performers, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, both earned acting nominations. The film’s 32-year-old writer and director, Damien Chazelle, was nominated for best director as well as best original screenplay. The musical is set in modern-day Los Angeles. The name “La La Land” is a nickname for the city. This means a place that is fun and not serious, and out of touch with reality.  In the movie, Stone plays Mia, a hopeful actress. Gosling plays Sebastian, a jazz piano player. Both are struggling to make their dreams come true in Los Angeles. The eight other nominees for best picture are: "Moonlight,'' "Arrival,'' "Manchester by the Sea,'' "Hell or High Water,'' "Lion,'' "Fences,'' "Hidden Figures'' and "Hacksaw Ridge.'' This year’s nominees are more diverse than in recent years. In both 2015 and 2016, all 20 of the nominees for acting awards were white.  This year, seven people of color were nominated for acting awards. This year’s Academy [of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences], whose members choose the nominees, is also more diverse. Members of the Academy traditionally are older white men. But last year, Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs decided to change Academy membership rules. The changes permitted 683 more people to join the group that chooses Oscar nominees. The Academy now has 6,687 members. Three of the nominated films for best picture this year star African-American actors. “Moonlight,” “Fences” and “Hidden Figures” center on the black community in three periods of American history. “Moonlight” tells the story of a young black man growing up in Miami in the 1980s. Barry Jenkins directed the film. It earned eight Oscar nominations, tying Denis Villeneuve’s science-fiction alien thriller “Arrival” for the second-most nominations this year. The online marketer Amazon earned its first Best Picture nomination with “Manchester by the Sea.” Amazon Studio helped distribute the film. “Manchester by the Sea” received six Oscar nominations. The film tells the story of a man who cares for his brother’s teenage child after his brother dies. Five movies are up for the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. They are Iran’s “The Salesman;” Sweden’s “A Man Called Ove;” Denmark’s “Land of Mine;” Australia’s “Tanna;” and Germany’s “Toni Erdmann.” The Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 26, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Jill Robbins.   Dr. Jill Robbins adapted this story for Learning English from AP and Reuters news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Now it’s your turn. What was your favorite movie in 2016? Have you seen any of the movies that won nominations for Academy Awards this year? What did you think? See the full list of nominees here.  You can see the trailers for the movies nominated for best picture here: ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tie – v.  to achieve the same score, time, etc., as (a person, a record, etc.) screenplay - n. the written form of a movie that also includes instructions on how it is to be acted and filmed diverse - n. made up of people or things that are different from each other thriller – n. a novel, movie, etc., that is very exciting : a story full of exciting action, mystery, adventure, or suspense distribute - v. to give or deliver (something) to people    

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China Launches Campaign Against VPN Access

China is expanding efforts against services that help its citizens get around the government’s control of the Internet. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology released a statement on Monday. The ministry said it has launched a 14-month-long campaign against unsupervised internet connections, including virtual private networks, known as VPNs. The technology enables users to open and gain access to blocked websites without the government’s permission. A number of Chinese and foreign companies in China use VPNs to do business. Private citizens often turn to this technology to access banned websites, such as Google, Facebook, and international news agency sites. The new rules make using a VPN without permission illegal. They require that all VPNs and leased cable lines operating in the country have a government license. The service providers are also now required to carry out “self-inspections” for any unlawful activity taking place on their servers. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed support for “internet sovereignty.” That is the idea that governments have the right to control and protect their nation’s internet as if it were a physical territory. China’s “Great Firewall” is the largest web censorship operation in the world. The anti-censorship group Greatfire.org reports that China blocks 135 of the world’s top 1,000 websites, according to the South China Morning Post newspaper. The sites include Google, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. A writer who calls himself “Charlie Smith” helped to set up Greatfire.org. Smith says it is not clear if internet services will follow the Chinese government’s new campaign. "They will push back, quietly ... if they deem the cost of running these checks to be too high," Smith said. "Even the authorities recognize that there are legitimate needs for VPNs and other circumvention services."   I’m Ashley Thompson.   The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted the report, and used additional information from the South China Morning Post. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   access - n. a way of being able to use or get something license - n. an official document, card, etc., that gives you permission to do, use, or have something sovereignty - n. unlimited power over a country — often + over censorship - n.  the system or practice of censoring books, movies, letters, etc. deem - v. to think of (someone or something) in a particular way​ checks - n. something that stops or limits another thing​ circumvent - v. to avoid being stopped by (something, such as a law or rule) : to get around (something) in a clever and sometimes dishonest way​

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Chinese to Clear Path on Mekong River for Large Ships

Thailand is backing Chinese plans to clear parts of the Mekong River to allow large cargo ships to pass through. The plans call for destroying small islands and rocky areas along the Mekong River as part of a 10-year project. The project is intended to boost shipping navigation along a 630-kilometer part of the river from China’s Yunnan province to Luang Prabang in Laos. In 2015, an estimated 3,500 commercial ships used the Mekong River to carry goods from China’s Yunnan province to Thailand. Most of those ships weighed between 100 and 300 tons. The goal is to make the Mekong River passable for 500-ton cargo ships. The Mekong River in China is known as the Lancang River. It runs a total length of about 4,300 kilometers through China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. China will reportedly provide one and a half billion dollars in loans and $10 billion in credit lines to pay for infrastructure and improve transport networks along the Mekong. The first phase involves an initial survey of the area and design plans for the project. Environmental and social assessments are also to be conducted. In the second phase to begin in 2020, navigational improvements will be made over a distance of 259 kilometers. In addition, cargo and passenger ports will be built. The project is expected to be completed by 2025. Thai officials have said the changes are needed to improve the safety of transporting goods and people along the river. They say navigation improvements will reduce the risk of accidents and environmental disasters on the Mekong.   ​Objections from conservationists Several conservation groups have condemned the plan. They say clearing the islands will have a “disastrous impact” on aquatic wildlife and communities along the Mekong River. Robert Mather, a conservationist, said “These are areas, very important for fish breeding, fish eating areas, because you have algae growing on the rocks and islets [small islands.] They are important.” The conservationists are especially concerned with a 1.6-kilometer stretch of the river near Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai. This area includes a collection of small island and rock formations that serve as a border marker between Thailand and Laos at the river’s deepest point. Additionally, they say the Mekong River is already facing harm from dam construction projects. These include three hydropower projects now being built or under consideration by Laos on the lower Mekong River. Millions of people also depend on the lower Mekong as a major source of food. A coalition of local environmentalists representing eight Mekong provinces has launched a joint campaign opposing China’s development plans. I’m Anne Ball.   Ron Corben reported this story for VOA News. Bryan Lynn adapted his report for Learning English. Hai Do 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   navigation – n. the finding of the right direction to travel algae – n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems that grow in or near water  hydropower – n. power generated by water

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Trump Withdraws US from TPP Trade Deal

President Donald Trump officially withdrew the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal on Monday. The move was expected. Even before he announced his candidacy for president 18 months ago, Trump said the trade deal was bad for American workers. The president signed an anti-TPP executive order at the White House, as reporters watched. "We’ve been talking about this for a long time,” Trump said. “A great thing for the American worker, what we just did." During his campaign for the presidency, Trump said some trade deals with other countries cost America jobs. He said they lead employers to move operations outside the United States to save on labor costs. Obama administration negotiated TPP The United States negotiated the TPP during the administration of former President Barack Obama. But the U.S. Congress never approved the trade deal. The agreement would have lowered tariffs on trade involving the U.S. and 11 other countries, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile and Japan. The others are Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. The TPP would have been the biggest trade deal in history, covering nearly 40 percent of the world economy. China did not take part in the negotiations. But it appears ready to sign its own trade deals with Southeast Asian countries that would have been part of the TPP. Former President Obama said the trade agreement would be good for the United States. Without a deal, he said, China would write the rules for the global economy. Last Friday, Trump was sworn-in as president. He was elected last November after defeating former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Both she and Obama are members of the Democratic Party. Trump was the Republican presidential candidate. After being sworn-in, Trump said his administration would work to put “America First,” signaling a move to more isolationist policies. TPP would have cut more than 18,000 tariffs, including taxes on all goods made in the U.S. and almost all American farm products. The deal sought to end child labor abuses and set better conditions for workers on pay, hours of work and safety and health. At the start of talks with business leaders on Monday, Trump said he would reduce government rules on businesses by 75 percent or more. And he said the U.S. government would be streamlined. By streamlined, he meant there would be fewer government workers. “The regulations are going to be cut massively and the taxes way down," he said. But he also warned the business leaders not to move operations to other countries. He said businesses would pay a heavy price if they make products in other countries, and then try to sell them in the United States. The new president said he also wants to change the terms of the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Mexico and Canada. On Sunday, Trump announced he will discuss NAFTA, immigration and border security when he meets with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto at the end of January. The Trump administration said he also plans to meet soon with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "I think we're going to have a very good result for Mexico, for the United States, and for everyone involved," Trump said. Japan approved TPP Friday Last week, Japan’s Parliament approved the TPP. But Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that without the United States, the trade deal would become “meaningless.” Japanese stock prices fell on Monday. Market watchers said it showed investors’ reaction to Trump’s “America First” speech and the U.S. rejection of the TPP. South Korea is not part of the TPP, but has a free trade agreement with the United States. Some American companies noted that South Korea tries to get around the agreement by putting strong non-tariff rules on U.S. imports. On Monday, South Korea’s Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn said the South Korean government has been in contact with the Trump administration. He said the government told Trump officials that it has lived up to the trade agreement. Also on Monday, Trump signed executive orders suspending the employment of new federal workers, except for the military. His spokesman said the only exception would be workers in national or public security positions. Another order banned U.S. non-governmental organizations that receive federal money from providing abortions outside the United States. The organizations had received government funding during the Obama presidency.   Ken Bredemeier and Brian Padden reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted the 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   tariff - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country isolationist - adj. a policy of not working so much with other countries massively - adv. very large complain - v. to express unhappiness with something abortion - n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus  

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