Trump Fires Official Who Refused to Defend Travel Ban

  U.S. President Donald Trump has removed Acting Attorney General Sally Yates for refusing to enforce or defend an executive order he signed last week limiting immigration. The president appointed Dana Boente to replace Yates as the acting head of the Justice Department. Boente immediately cancelled Yates’ order and vowed to “defend the lawful orders of our president.” The order stops all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days, and bans Syrian refugees indefinitely. It also blocks people from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Somalia. The Associated Press noted that Yates’ removal was “a warning to other administration officials that Trump is prepared to terminate those who refuse to carry out his orders.” The news agency called the firing “an extraordinary public showdown.” Yates was named to the second-highest position in the Justice Department by then-President Barack Obama. On Monday, she ordered the department’s lawyers not to defend the immigration order. In a memo, she wrote, “At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the Executive Order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the Executive Order is lawful.” The career prosecutor added: “For as long as I am the Acting Attorney General, the Department of Justice will not present arguments in defense of the Executive Order, unless and until I become convinced that it is appropriate to do so.” A few hours later, Yates was fired. The White House press secretary released a statement saying Yates “betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States.” It said the department’s Office of Legal Counsel approved the order. Mixed reaction to the firing Many Democrats criticized the decision to fire Yates. Steny Hoyer, a senior Democratic congressman, called the decision “alarming.” He said “the American people need to consider whether President Trump simply plans to dismiss anyone with whom he disagrees, and I hope my Republican colleagues stand up and express concern over this as well.” Chuck Schumer is the Senate minority leader. He wrote on Twitter that the attorney general “should pledge fidelity to the law and the Constitution, not the White House. The fact that this [administration] doesn’t understand that is chilling.”   ​But Republican Senator Ted Cruz strongly defended the decision to fire Yates. He said Yates’ refusal to support the executive order is a “fitting and sad” last act of Obama’s Department of Justice. “President Trump was exactly right to fire an acting attorney general who refused to carry out her constitutional duty to enforce and defend the law,” Cruz said. This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to approve the nomination of Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general. He is expected to defend and enforce Trump’s immigration order. Senator Sessions was a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2015 when Yates was confirmed to be the deputy attorney general. During a hearing on her confirmation, Sessions asked Yates: “If the views the president wants to execute are unlawful, should the attorney general or the deputy attorney general say no?” Yates said she believed that “the attorney general or the deputy attorney general has an obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and to give their independent legal advice to the president.” I’m Anna Matteo.     VOA News Writer Chris Hannas wrote this story with additional reporting from Nike Ching, the Associated Press and Reuters. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the story for Learning English. Hai Do 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   executive order – n. an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law terminate – v. to take a job away from (someone) betray – v. to do something that does not agree with (your beliefs, principles, etc.) pledge – v. to formally promise to give or do (something) fidelity – n. the quality of being faithful or loyal to a country, organization, etc. (usually + to) chilling – adj. very disturbing or frightening act – n. something that is done

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US Supreme Court Justices

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to nominate a justice to the Supreme Court. How does this process work?

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US Has a Long History of Restricting Immigrants

Last Friday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The countries are Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Protesters across the U.S. immediately objected to the restrictions. Some argue that Trump’s order discriminates against Muslims and defies the American tradition of welcoming immigrants. Many of these protesters correctly point out that the U.S. is a country of immigrants. However, history shows that the U.S. is also a country of restrictions on immigrants. Trump’s government is not the first administration to restrict immigration, including on the basis of national origin. Restrictions on Asian immigrants The U.S. Constitution, which went into effect in 1789, gave Congress “absolute authority” over immigration law, says Linda Monk. The president executes those laws through regulations. Monk wrote a book about the Constitution called “The Words We Live By.” She explains that for about the first 100 years of American history, Congress did not place any federal limits on immigration. During those years, Irish and German immigrants came to the U.S. in large numbers. Many Chinese immigrants did, too. They hoped to find gold in California and then, when they did not, they stayed anyway. But some members of the American public disapproved of these groups. They did not like the Catholic religion that many Irish and Germans immigrants practiced. And they did not like Asian immigrants, whom they viewed as convicts, prostitutes, or competition for jobs. So, in the late 1800s, Congress moved for the first time to limit the number of immigrants. Lawmakers targeted Asians, especially Chinese. The Page Act and the Chinese Exclusion Act banned most Chinese women and workers.   Restrictions on other nationalities By the turn of the 20th century, the U.S. federal government had increased its role in immigration. It established Ellis Island in New York as the entry point for immigrants. And it oversaw a dramatic increase in the number of immigrants, especially from Italy and Eastern Europe. Many of the new arrivals were uneducated and had little money.  Once again, some people opposed the number and kind of immigrants entering the country. A group called the Immigration Restriction League was formed. They petitioned Congress to require immigrants to show that they could at least read. Both Presidents Grover Cleveland and Woodrow Wilson opposed the requirement. But in 1917, Congress approved the measure over Wilson’s objections. People who wished to settle in the U.S. now had to pass a literacy test. In the 1920s, restrictions on immigration increased. The Immigration Act of 1924 was the most severe: it limited the overall number of immigrants and established quotas based on nationality. Among other things, the act sharply reduced immigrants from Eastern Europe and Africa. And it completely restricted immigrants from Asia, except for Japan and the Philippines. At the same time, the historian’s page at the State Department notes that the act made more visas available to people from Britain and Western Europe. “In all of its parts, the most basic purpose of the 1924 Immigration Act was to preserve the ideal of U.S. homogeneity,” the State Department history page concludes. Major change in U.S. immigration policy During the 1940s and 50s, the U.S. made some policy changes that increased – however slightly – the number and nationalities of immigrants. Then, in 1965, a major change happened. Under pressure in part from the civil rights movement, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act.  President Lyndon Johnson signed it.   The act eliminated the quota system based on nationality. Instead, it prioritized immigrants who already had family members in the U.S. It also sought to offer protection to refugees from areas with violence and conflict. Even though the act kept some limits in place, the origins of immigrants changed dramatically. Instead of being from Western Europe, most immigrants to the U.S. by the end of the 20th century were originally from Mexico, the Philippines, Korea, the Dominican Republic, India, Cuba and Vietnam. So, what about Trump’s order? A professor at the University of Miami School of Law says the 1965 law ended “overt discrimination” in U.S. immigration policy. Kunal Parker is also the author of a book called “Making Foreigners: Immigration and Citizenship Law in America.” Parker says that people who are protesting Trump’s executive order probably “perceive what is happening as contrary to U.S. tradition since 1965.” But Parker cautions against seeing Trump’s action as illegal. He points out that the Supreme Court has historically permitted the president and Congress a good deal of authority to regulate immigration. And, he notes, President Obama also signed an executive order related to immigration. That order aimed to protect the families of undocumented immigrants with U.S.-born children. However, Parker says, “Something that is legal might be very problematic.” Both Parker and legal scholar Linda Monk also note the Constitution requires both Congress and the president follow certain procedures when regulating immigration. Those procedures protect against discrimination. “The highest law says that these actions have to be carried out fairly,” says Monk. I’m Anne Ball.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive - adj. an order by the president origin - n. the point or place where something begins or is created petition - v. a written document that people sign to show that they want a person or organization to do or change something quota - n. an official limit on the number or amount of people or things that are allowed slightly - adv. n a very small amount or degree eliminate - v. to get rid of something overt - adj. obvious

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Trump Defends Travel Ban Despite Protests, Legal Action

President Donald Trump is defending his executive order that bans people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. The order was signed by Trump on Friday. It puts a 90-day entry ban on people from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Somalia, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. It also prevents refugees from entering the country for 120 days. Trump has repeatedly called for more controls on U.S. immigration to improve national security and prevent terrorists from entering. His administration has said U.S. policies used to investigate people coming into the United States from certain countries will be reviewed while the current ban is in place. Travel ban led to protests Thousands of people protested the order at U.S. airports and other locations, including the White House. Immigration groups, human rights activists and some foreign governments and organizations criticized the ban. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers also spoke out against the order.   The order led to confusion at many American airports over the weekend. In some cases, people were detained at airports while holding legal documents allowing them to live and work in the United States. A federal judge in New York took action Saturday to block the travel restrictions. Judge Ann Donnelly issued a temporary ban on deportations of people arriving at U.S. airports if they were carrying approved visas or refugee applications. Judges in several other states also issued rulings challenging Trump’s order.     The Department of Homeland Security said Sunday it planned to “comply with judicial orders.” It added that Trump’s order would continue to be enforced to make sure those entering “do not pose a threat to our country or the American people.” Trump defended the travel ban President Trump took to Twitter on Monday to defend the order. The tweet said, “There is nothing nice about searching for terrorists before they can enter the country. This was a big part of my campaign. Study the world!” He defended the decision to launch the ban without notice. “If the ban were announced with a one week notice, the 'bad' would rush into our country during that week,” he tweeted. Trump also took aim at Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who has criticized the travel restrictions. The Democratic senator appeared to hold back tears while speaking with reporters about the order. At the White House Monday, Trump spoke about Schumer’s reaction. “I noticed Chuck Schumer yesterday with fake tears - I'm going to ask him who was his acting coach, because I know him very well. I don't see him as a crier.”    Other U.S. lawmakers were critical of the ban, including Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham. The senators wrote in a joint statement, “We are particularly concerned by reports that this order went into effect with little to no consultation with the Departments of State, Defense, Justice and Homeland Security." "Such a hasty process risks harmful results.” Trump responded to the statement on Twitter, saying McCain and Graham were both "weak on immigration." He added that the two senators should be more focused on illegal immigration, border security and the Islamic State. ​ Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed support for stronger immigrant screening, but said he opposes religious tests. McConnell told ABC News, "I also think it's important to remember that some of our best sources in the war against radical Islamic terrorism are Muslims, both in this country and overseas." Several Democrats in Congress said they planned to introduce legislation to stop Trump's travel ban. Former President Barack Obama responded Former President Barack Obama also responded to the travel ban and praised protesters for showing their opposition to it. Obama's spokesman, Kevin Lewis, said, “The president fundamentally disagrees with the notion of discriminating against individuals because of their faith or religion." It is the first time Obama has issued a statement about Trump since leaving office on January 20. Some Trump administration officials have compared Trump’s order to a policy carried out under Obama. That policy, put in place in 2011, identified the same seven nations as places of concern for terrorism. But the Obama policy only related to individuals without a U.S. visa and was never considered a travel ban.  Obama spokesman Kevin Lewis added, “Citizens exercising their constitutional right to assemble, organize and have their voices heard by their elected officials is exactly what we expect to see when American values are at stake." Reactions from overseas Foreign leaders and organizations around the world were also critical of Trump’s order. A spokesperson for the European Commission said the 28-nation group is currently studying the ban. In an interview, commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said choices had to be made “about the world we want to live in.” He said one choice is for, in his words, “isolationism and inequality,” while the other is to unite for social equality and strength.   International aid group Doctors Without Borders accused Trump of keeping people "trapped in war zones, directly endangering their lives.” It called on the U.S. government to lift the ban and restart the resettlement of refugees. In Germany, a foreign ministry spokesman said “tens of thousands” of people are likely to be affected by the travel ban. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed regret about order, but stopped short of condemning it. The world's largest body of Islamic nations, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, condemned the order in a statement. The 57-nation group called the policy “selective and discriminatory,” saying it will only fuel further extremist violence and terrorism. Businesses criticized the travel ban Google's chief executive Sundar Pichai said Trump’s travel ban could be “painful” for some of the 187 employees reportedly affected. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg added that the door should not be closed to refugees “and those who need help.” In a statement to employees, Ford Motor Company said it opposed the travel restrictions. “We do not support this policy or any other that goes against our values as a company," it said. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein also spoke out against the order. In a message to his employees, he said, “I would note that it has already been challenged in federal court, and some of the order has been enjoined at least temporarily."   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. What are your thoughts on President Trump's temporary travel ban? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   interpret – v. decide what something means deportation– n. forced removal of someone from a country fake– adj. false, not true coach– n. someone who teaches people a skill or sport hasty – adj. done or made very quickly notion– n. idea or belief assemble– v. gather together enjoin– v. prevent from doing something

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Exhibition Suggests Wood is Tomorrow's Smart Building Material

An exhibition at the National Building Museum in Washington challenges that. It suggests that tomorrow's buildings will or should be constructed of wood. VOA's June Soh has more, in this report, narrated by Carol Pearson.

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'Stranger Things' Wins Actors' Group Award

  This is What’s Trending Today. People on social media are talking about the 2017 Screen Actors Guild (SAG) awards show. The event took place Sunday night in Los Angeles, California. Five young actors were as surprised as the crowd when they heard their show, "Stranger Things," had won the award for best drama series.     The young actors are from 12 to 15 years old. They jumped for joy as they got out of their seats to accept the award. The show "Stranger Things" is set in 1983. It tells about the disappearance of a young boy in a small Indiana town. His friends try to find him with the help of the boy's mother, played by Winona Ryder, and the local police chief, played by David Harbour.   Accepting the award for the cast, Harbour said that actors can "change the world … and through our art … battle against fear, self-centeredness and exclusivity ... to cultivate a more empathetic and understanding society." During his speech, many people saw Ryder giving a number of facial expressions.    Another group of less-known actors won the award for best cast in a motion picture. The movie "Hidden Figures" tells the story of three African-American women who were mathematicians. They helped the American space agency send a man to the moon. The film’s cast includes Mahershala Ali, who also won an award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role for "Moonlight."   ​Denzel Washington won the award for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for "Fences." The well-known actor had never before received a SAG award.    The online service Netflix had a big night at the awards ceremony. Netflix won four awards. Among them was “Orange Is the New Black,” which won for best group of actors in a comedy series for the third time in three years. The series' lead actor, Taylor Schilling, spoke about the diversity of the cast. “We stand up here representing a diverse group of people, representing generations of families who have sought a better life here from places like Nigeria, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Ireland,” Schilling said. “and we know that it's going to be up to us and all of you, probably, to keep telling stories that show what unites us is stronger than the forces that seek to divide us.” The next award ceremony for the movie industry will be the Academy Awards, which takes place on February 27. One nominee is Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, whose film "The Salesman" is nominated for best foreign language film. Farhadi says he will not attend the ceremony. He is protesting the new U.S. travel ban on Iran and six other countries. I’m Jill Robbins. Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English based on an Associated Press story by Lynn Elber and other sources. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   guild - n. an organized group of people who have joined together because they share the same job or interest cast - n. the actors in a play, film, or television show exclusive - adj. not shared; available to only one person or group empathize - v. to have the same feelings as another person diversity - n. the state of having a variety of types of people       drama – n. a movie or television production with a story about a serious subject, such as conflict role – n. a part played by an actor comedy – n. a show with a happy ending; ahumorous production Now it’s your turn. What was your favorite TV show or movie for 2016? Who are your favorite actors? Write to us in the Comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Here is a complete list of the SAG winners and nominees: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Captain Fantastic Fences Hidden Figures Manchester by the Sea Moonlight Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling, La La Land Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington, Fences Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Amy Adams, Arrival Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train Natalie Portman, Jackie Emma Stone, La La Land Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series The Crown Downton Abbey Game of Thrones Stranger Things Westworld Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things Claire Foy, The Crown Thandie Newton, Westworld Winona Ryder, Stranger Things Robin Wright, House of Cards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones John Lithgow, The Crown Rami Malek, Mr. Robot Kevin Spacey, House of Cards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series Riz Ahmed, The Night Of Sterling K. Brown, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Bryan Cranston, All the Way John Turturro, The Night Of Courtney B. Vance, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a TV Movie or Limited Series Bryce Dallas Howard, Black Mirror Felicity Huffman, American Crime Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill Sarah Paulson, The People vs. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story Kerry Washington, Confirmation Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali, Moonlight Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea Dev Patel, Lion Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Viola Davis, Fences Naomie Harris, Moonlight Nicole Kidman, Lion Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series The Big Bang Theory Blackish Modern Family Orange Is the New Black Veep Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series Anthony Anderson, Blackish Tituss Burgess, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Ty Burrell, Modern Family William H. Macy, Shameless Jeffrey Tambor, Transparent Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series Uzo Aduba, Orange Is the New Black Jane Fonda, Grace and Frankie Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep Lily Tomlin, Grace and Frankie Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble Captain America: Civil War Doctor Strange Hacksaw Ridge Jason Bourne Nocturnal Animals Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble Game of Thrones Daredevil Luke Cage The Walking Dead Westworld

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Why Do People Blink Their Eyes?

  People blink their eyes tens of thousands of times every day. Scientists have long believed blinking was an involuntary movement and served mainly to keep the eyeballs wet. But a new study suggests it has a more important purpose. An international team of scientists studied the blinking of human eyelids. The team reported to researchers from the University of California at Berkeley. The journal Current Biology published their findings. The team said it found that blinking “repositions our eyeballs so we can stay focused” on what we are seeing. It said that when we blink our eyelids, the eyes roll back into their sockets -- the bony area that surrounds and protects the eyes. However, the researchers found the eyes don’t always return to the same position. They say this causes the brain to tell the eye muscles to “realign” our eyesight. Gerrit Maus was the lead writer of the report. He serves as an assistant professor of psychology at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.  Maus says: “our eye muscles are quite sluggish and imprecise, so the brain needs to constantly adapt its motor signals to make sure our eyes are pointing where they’re supposed to. Our findings suggest that the brain gauges the difference in what we see before and after a blink, and commands the eye muscles to make the needed corrections.” The researchers say that without such corrections our surroundings would appear unclear and even jumpy. They say the movement acts “like a steadicam of the mind.” Researchers say they asked volunteers to sit in a dark room while staring at a small dot on a flat surface. They used special cameras to follow the volunteer’s blinks and eye movements. After each blink, the dot was moved one centimeter to the right. The volunteers did not notice this, but the brain did. It followed the movement and directed the eye muscles to refocus on the dot. After the dot was moved in this way 30 times, the volunteers’ eyes changed their focus to the place where they predicted it would be. Professor Maus says “even though participants did not consciously register that the dot had moved, their brains did, and adjusted with the corrective eye movement. These findings add to our understanding of how the brain constantly adapts to changes, commanding our muscles to correct for errors in our bodies’ own hardware.” I’m Christopher Jones-Cruise.   VOANews.com reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the 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   blink – n. to close and then open your eyes very quickly focus – v. to look at something so that you can see it clearly realign – v. to change the position or direction of (something) slightly usually in relation to something else sluggish – adj. moving slowly or lazily imprecise – adj. not clear or exact; not precise gauge – v. to make a judgment about (something) steadicam – n. a kind of video camera that is stabilized so it films images in the same way as the human eye works            

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New Way to Prevent Peanut Allergies

  For VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Peanuts are among the most popular snack foods in the United States. Millions of American children are raised on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. PB&Js, as we like to call them, are found in children’s lunchboxes around the country. Or at least they used to be. Now, many school officials ban peanuts or any products containing peanuts from school property. About 2 percent of U.S. schoolchildren will have an allergic reaction to peanuts. And that number is growing. People allergic to peanuts can develop skin conditions or watery eyes. Children with a peanut allergy can develop a skin condition called eczema. Some reactions are so severe they can result in death.  So far, doctors have advised parents against serving peanut-containing foods to children under the age of 3. But a 2015 British study found that waiting too long most likely is partly to blame for the peanut allergy problem. Anthony Fauci is head of America’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Fauci spoke to VOA on Skype. He notes that in Israel, people have a tradition of feeding peanuts to babies. He says the percentage of Israeli children with a peanut allergy is much lower than the rate among Jewish children living in England. "It was observed that in Israel -- where they have a custom of feeding peanut-based foods to babies, infants, within the first few months of life -- that when you, in fact, compare the incidence of peanut allergy among the Israeli children compared to comparable Jewish children living in England, the incidence of peanut allergy was more than 80 percent decreased among the Israeli kids as opposed to the kids who are living in England." Dr. Fauci says this finding is very important. It means that babies have a natural mechanism that can be trained not to react negatively to peanuts. That mechanism may turn off as the baby reaches the age of 1. He says a team of experts have agreed on new guidance for U.S. pediatricians who specialize in children's allergies. Fauci calls giving children peanuts a way of “challenging” their bodies. He thinks it could be done safely with some boys and girls, but not with others. "If the child has a history of severe eczema or egg allergy, that in the first 4 to 6 months of life, that you should bring the child to an allergy specialist who can do a skin test or a blood test to determine if the child does have an underlying allergy to peanuts. Because if they do, you are going to want to refrain from challenging that child. Whereas if they don't, then it would be safe to challenge the child and feed them peanuts at 4 to 6 months." If the child has moderate eczema and has a mild reaction to eggs, the doctor is likely to suggest that that child be fed peanut-containing foods at the age of 6 months. That child may need no allergy tests either. Children who have no allergies or family history of allergies can be given peanuts at any age. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo. Zlatica Hoke reported this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted her report for Learning English. Dr. Fauci spoke to VOA on Skype. George Grow was the editor. Check your understanding by taking this quiz: ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   allergy – n. a medical condition that causes someone to become sick after eating, touching, or breathing something that is harmless to most people : allergic – adj. mechanism – n. a process or system that is used to produce a particular result < Scientists are studying the body's mechanisms for controlling weight. > pediatrician – n. a doctor who treats babies and children refrain – v. to keep from giving in to a desire or impulse challenge – v. to administer a physiological and especially an immunologic challenge to (an organism or cell) eczema – n. an inflammatory condition of the skin characterized by redness, itching, and oozing vesicular lesions which become scaly, crusted, or hardened

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January 30, 2017

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

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Reaction to Trump's Travel Ban

President Donald Trump signed an executive order barring the entry of U.S. visa holders and others from seven Muslim-majority countries. The White House defends its order as federal judges intervene and protests continue in cities and airports across America.

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Vietnamese-Americans Celebrate Tet or Lunar New Year

Eden Center in Falls Church, Virginia hosted a Lunar New Year celebration for the year of the rooster. VOA Learning English was there and spoke to members of the Vietnamese American community.

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