February 2, 2017

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

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News Words: Persecuted

Find out what the word persecuted means with Anne Ball and Jonathan Evans in this week's News Words.

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Groundhog Day 2017: Punxsutawney Phil Predicts 6 More Weeks of Winter

Here's What's Trending Today. Pennsylvania’s world famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, predicted six more weeks of winter on Thursday after seeing his shadow.  This event is part of an American tradition called “Groundhog Day.” It takes place every February 2 in the small Pennsylvanian town of Punxsutawney.   Since 1886, thousands of people have come together on this day on a hill called “Gobbler’s Knob.” They watch as a groundhog named Phil predicts the length of the winter season. Today was the 131st official Groundhog Day. A groundhog is a large rodent, and part of a family known as marmots. On Groundhog Day, Phil the groundhog comes out of a hole in the earth just after sunrise. As the tradition goes, Phil will then look for his shadow on the ground. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of cold weather during winter. If Phil does not see his shadow, warmer weather will arrive soon. From Europe to America The story of Groundhog Day comes from an early Christian European tradition, says John Griffiths. He helps take care of Phil the groundhog. “It stems from the tradition of ‘Candlemass.’  February 2 actually is the halfway point of winter. In Europe, they would melt their candles down and make new candles … and it was basically a day for communities and folks to get together.” Griffiths said that when European settlers came to Pennsylvania from Germany, they held on to that tradition. They decided that the groundhog was the best animal to continue the tradition. The town of Punxsutawney held its first Groundhog Day in 1886, but the first official Groundhog Day at Gobbler’s Knob happened the next year, in 1887. The legend of Phil Phil is taken care of by a local group known as Phil’s “Inner Circle.” Griffiths is a member of the Inner Circle. He says the group helps pull Phil out of the hole on Groundhog Day. The members also take care of the day-to-day activities of the Groundhog Club. The Groundhog Club organizes the annual celebration. Phil has become very important for the town of Punxsutawney. This year, between 15,000 to 20,000 people came to town for the celebration. The event helps support the local economy. Many people say that Punxsutawney Phil is always correct with his weather predictions. Elaine Owen traveled to Punxsutawney from Greenwich, Pennsylvania. It was her first time coming to the event. “It’s just been a tradition that everybody says that the groundhog is very accurate. And whatever he predicts is what happens.” As the story goes, the groundhog that appeared in this year’s event is the same groundhog that saw its shadow in 1886. Phil is able to live so long because he drinks “groundhog punch,” made from a secret recipe. One sip is given to Phil every summer. It is enough to give him many more years of life. More than just the weather The Stormfax website looked back at Punxsutawney Phil’s predictions over the years. It found Phil has been correct 39 percent of the time. He usually predicts six more weeks of winter weather. Griffiths says Groundhog Day means more to people than just predicting the weather. “It’s not religious, it’s not political, it’s all about having fun.  It’s a time of the year… it gives everybody a chance to get out and for one day, cast all their cares off and have a good time.” Visitors agree. One visitor who went by the nickname of “Winter” says the event helps bring the community together. “I think it brings a community together, and people get really excited… generally speaking Groundhog Day is something that, for a very long time, has brought communities together." Whether it is for the community, the weather prediction, or just the tradition itself, Groundhog Day is one of America’s most unusual celebrations. And that's What's Trending Today.  I’m Jill Robbins. Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you think an animal can predict the weather?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________ Words in This Story accurate - adj. able to produce results that are correct candle - n. wax that has been formed into a stick or another shape and has a string in the middle that can be burned cast - v. to throw or move (something) in a forceful way celebration - n. a party or other special event that you have for an important occasion or holiday groundhog - n. a small, furry North American animal that lives in the ground marmot - n. a small animal of America and Europe that has short legs and that lives in holes that it digs in the ground rodent - n. a small animal (such as a mouse, rat, squirrel, or beaver) that has sharp front teeth

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Tuhin Das, the exiled writer/poet of Bangladesh

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The Houses of City of Asylum Pittsburgh

The City of Asylum Pittsburgh's row houses along Samsonia Way are colorful and unique. They represent the works of exiled writers, past and present.

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Ralph Henry Reese: Giving Exiled Writers Security and Freedom

  Ralph Henry Reese remembers clearly the day he and his wife decided to start City of Asylum Pittsburgh. It was in 1997. He and his wife, Diane Samuels, were attending a talk by British Indian writer Salman Rushdie at the University of Pittsburgh. The famous author had just started making public appearances again after several years of hiding.  Rushdie’s 1989 novel ‘The Satanic Verses’ had offended many Muslims because of its portrayal of Islam. After its publication, the Supreme Leader of Iran issued a fatwa ordering Rushdie’s execution. While in hiding, Rushdie and other writers in danger formed the International Parliament of Writers.The group urged cities in Europe to provide support and safety for writers in exile. These cities became known as “Cities of Asylum.” Writers who stayed in these cities could feel safe and secure again. More importantly, they could also enjoy freedom of expression again. Rushdie spoke about the Cities of Asylum in that 1997 talk at the University of Pittsburgh. Almost immediately, Reese and Samuels started thinking about how they could make Pittsburgh a city of asylum, too.   Reese grew up near Pittsburgh in a small town called Homestead, Pennsylvania. The area was home to one of the first big steel plants in the United States. “A very famous small town because it was the site of the original labor riots back in the early steel industry. And it was sort of legendary and it was a much-studied community because of the turmoil and the immigrants in the community and the diversity of the people.” For much of his adult life, Reese was an entrepreneur. He owned his own business. He describes himself as being able to create and develop ideas. And in 1997, a new idea presented itself. Rushdie’s mention of European cities of asylum made Henry Reese and Diane Samuels think about how they – and the city of Pittsburgh – might be able to help writers in exile. “He [Rushdie] talked briefly about the City of Asylum network in Europe. And Diane and I had a house at the time. We were renting out -- it had been at one time a crack house and we had acquired it to keep it from becoming a crack house again. And we thought, ‘what a perfect house for a writer.’” Shortly after hearing Rushdie’s talk, Ralph Henry Reese wrote to the Cities of Asylum network in Europe. He expressed interest in giving a writer in danger to a safe place to live. Several years went by before Reese and Samuels heard anything. Then, in 2003, they received an email. The Cities of Asylum program was looking to expand in the United States. And one year later, the City of Asylum Pittsburgh opened its doors. “City of Asylum Pittsburgh began to provide sanctuary to a writer exiled under threat of persecution. Persecution meaning the writer could be endangered with prison, violence or censored in a way that you can’t publish freely.”   City of Asylum Pittsburgh’s first writer was Huang Xiang, a poet from China. “When he came here he wanted to celebrate his freedom. He had never been allowed to express himself. [He had] never been published. He'd been tortured where his mouth had been beaten in so he couldn't even recite his poetry publicly, or they try to prevent it.” WATCH: Henry Reese on importance of learning English for writers in exile   When Huang arrived in Pittsburgh, Reese says, he wanted to “carve his poetry into the mountains outside the city.” Huang spoke little English. He communicated through his wife, who translated for him. At first, Reese and Samuels thought they might have misunderstood Huang’s wishes. "And we thought ‘Oh are we really hearing this?’” Indeed, that was Huang’s wish. But, Samuels came up with an easier way for Huang to display his words. “So Diane came up with the idea of putting his poetry on the outside of the house there. So he immediately came and did this beautiful calligraphy. It became a landmark instantly people came looking for it. He would come out and perform at his house.” The row house was once a drug house. Now, it is decorated with Chinese poetry. Huang’s home is known as “House Poem.” Today, City of Asylum Pittsburgh is made up of several row houses on the block of Samsponia Way. Its other houses have names. The names serve as reminders of the exiled writers who have lived there. City of Asylum Pittsburgh has provided homes for exiled writers from six countries: China, El Salvador, Burma, Venezuela, Iran and Bangladesh. The program gives the writers a place to live, an income and medical benefits. It also provides support for them to continue being who they are: writers. “We feel it’s extremely important that the writer maintain the identity of being a writer and the only way to do that, in exile, is to be published in the country you’re in.” Reese says the City of Asylum Pittsburgh offers its writers a chance to express themselves freely, without threat. And for some, that feeling is entirely new. “Freedom of expression can inspire many people in a deep way. This is a country -- the United States is a country -- where First Amendment rights and the idea to speak your mind is just so deeply ingrained that I think that is fundamental and everybody feels that is a sense of entitlement. “But, I think everybody in this community understands the value of what we have here, and is more committed to understanding the meaning of creative expression, First Amendment rights in a different way, than maybe we did before. Because we have monuments in our midst, living monuments, who represent what it's like to lose that.” I’m Marsha James. Marsha James wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. 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   appearance – n. the way that someone or something looks portrayal – n. the act of showing or describing someone or something especially in a painting, book, etc. fatwa – n.  a ruling on a point of Islamic law given by a recognized authority. turmoil – n. a state of confusion or disorder crack house – n. a house or apartment where the illegal drug crack is made, used or sold sanctuary – n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter endangered – adj. seriously at risk or in danger persecution - n.  the unfair or cruel treatment treat of someone, especially because of race or religious or political beliefs tortured – v. to cause someone to experience severe physical pain especially as a form of punishment to force that person to do something or say something carve – v. to create something by cutting into a surface calligraphy – n. the art of making beautiful handwriting landmark – n. an object or structure on land that is easy to see and recognize row house – n. a house in a row of houses that shares a wall with the houses next to it entirely – adv. completely or fully: not lacking or leaving out any part First Amendment – an amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, prohibiting Congress from interfering with freedom of religion, speech, assembly, or petition. ingrained – adj. existing for a long time and very difficult to change fundamental – adj. forming or relating to the most important part of something entitlement – n. the condition of having a right to have, do or get something commitment – n. a promise to do or give something midst – n. used to say that someone is among the people in a group

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February 1, 2017

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

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Fans Donate to Wish Harry Styles Happy Birthday

  Here's What's Trending Today. February 1 is Harry Styles' 23rd birthday. And the hashtag #HappyBirthdayHarry is trending around the world. Fans of Harry Styles have also donated $11,849 to support the oldest gay and lesbian telephone help line in the United Kingdom. Styles’ fans in the UK and the US have sponsored birthday charity efforts for several years. The 1D Fans Give group raised $24,671 for the Switchboard hot line last year. The group also sells clothing with images of hearts made up of words from One Direction's songs and rainbows to raise money for the charity. The singers themselves have held charity dances and in 2016, pledged to donate £200,000 from their concert ticket sales to the charity Stand Up To Cancer.   Styles started singing in a band called White Eskimo while he was in secondary school. At 16, he sang on the television talent show, The X Factor. The show's producers then asked Styles to be the lead singer for a new band - One Direction. The band's first album was a best seller and through social media the group found international success. They won a large number of music awards, such as Artist of the Year and Top New Artist. By June 2015, the business magazine Forbes said the group had earned $130 million for the previous year. They ranked One Direction as the fourth highest earning performers in the world. The band has not kept all that money to themselves. They support a number of humanitarian causes, including the Alzheimer's Association, Comic Relief, Greenpeace, and the Global Poverty Project.   Now, Styles is trying out a new career - acting. He plays a role in the movie Dunkirk. The movie tells the story of Allied soldiers who were rescued from the German army on a beach at Dunkirk, France. The movie will come out in July 2017. And that's What's Trending today. I'm Jill Robbins. Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   hot line – n. a telephone service for the public to use to get help in emergencies Allied - adj. of or relating to the nations that fought together against Germany in World War I and World War II humanitarian - adj. describes help or money given to people, countries, etc., in order to improve living conditions We want to hear from you. Do you like the One Direction band? What do you think of Harry Styles? Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Violence Restarts in Ukraine

  American officials have expressed “deep concern” about new fighting in eastern Ukraine between pro-Russian rebels and government troops. More than 10 people have been killed since Monday in and near the town of Avdiika. Many others are wounded. On Tuesday, the State Department called for an immediate ceasefire. It said the fighting has left 17,000 civilians without water, heat and electricity. It is extremely cold in the area right now with temperatures as low as -18 degrees Celsius. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg also expressed concern about the situation in Ukraine. He urged Russia to use its influence with rebels in eastern Ukraine to stop the fighting. The European Union has called the fighting a “blatant violation” of the agreement known as the Minsk Protocols. That agreement, reached in Belarus’s capital in 2014, calls for a ceasefire and for the withdrawal of heavy weapons from battle areas. The conflict in Ukraine began in 2014. That year, popular protests forced Ukraine’s pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, out of office. Russia then claimed lawful control of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula. After tensions increased, fighting started between pro-Russia, separatist rebels and Ukrainian government forces. Western countries and the United Nations sharply criticized Russia’s move to take Crimea. The United States and European Union ordered international economic restrictions against Russia that have hurt its economy for more than two years. More than half of the almost 10,000 people killed in the conflict have been civilians. America’s new president Donald Trump has called for warmer relations between the U.S. and Russia. I’m Mario Ritter. Richard Green reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blatant –adj. not hidden, very clear

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Twitter's New Explore Tab

  Twitter is trying to make it easier for people to find important tweets. So now, a new tab called “Explore” replaces the “Moments” tab in the Twitter app. It is important to explore the Explore tab as it is filled with many features. In fact, if you do not explore Explore, you may wonder where “Search,” “Trends” and other sections have gone in Twitter. Where to Find the Explore Tab The Explore tab is found in the bottom menu bar on the Twitter app, where the Moments tab used to be.     Explore is only available in the updated Twitter app for iPhone and iPad. If you do not see Explore in the app, check to see if you have updated the app. According to the official Twitter blog, Explore will be coming to the Twitter Android app within a few weeks. ​ Twitter has not said when or if Explore will be available on the Twitter website. What Is In the Explore Tab The Explore tab is more useful than the Moments tab because Explore has more information. Popular videos or tweets are at the top of the Explore section.           Explore also includes Trends, Search, Moments and Explore All. Each has a preview of the top listings and you can tap "More" to see a longer list. Trends If you are looking to see what is trending on Twitter, you will find it at the top of the Explore section.                 Trends on Twitter can be tailored to connect with your interests and location, or you can choose a different location.           Search If you are looking in Twitter for the search icon, a magnifying glass, you will not find it in the main section. Instead, the magnifying glass icon is used for the Explore tab. At the top of the Explore section is a search bar you can use to type in search terms, #hashtags, and @Twitternames. Moments The Moments feature has not gone away. Instead, Moments is found in the Explore tab below Trends. Moments is a collection of what Twitter views as important tweets on trending topics. Explore All The Explore All section shows categories to explore. Sample categories in the Explore All section include: NFL, News, Sports, Entertainment and Fun. Categories will probably change based on time of year and location. NFL, the National Football League, now gets the top spot in “Explore All” in the US. Users from outside the US might not see NFL in their Explore All section. “Fun” may or may not equal your idea of fun. Expect silly tweets that may bring a smile.                         I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Have you seen the new Explore tab in the Twitter app? Were you wondering where Search and Trends went on the Twitter app? Which categories would you like to have in the Explore All section? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tab - n. a second or further page that can be opened on an app or web browser section - n. one of the parts that form something tailor - v. to make or change (something) so that it meets a special need or purpose icon - n. a small picture on a computer screen that represents a program or function magnifying glass - n. a specially shaped piece of glass that is attached to a handle and is used to make an object look larger than it is hashtag - n. a word or phrase that starts with the symbol # and that briefly indicates what a message (such as a tweet) is about silly - adj. playful and funny

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Nearly 1,000 at State Department Oppose Trump's Travel Ban

A large number of U.S. State Department workers have expressed concern about President Donald Trump’s executive order on immigration. The Foreign Service officers and civil service employees added their names to a memo critical of the immigration order. State Department officials confirmed that the document was presented to the department’s leadership through what they call the Dissent Channel. The channel is a way for U.S. diplomatic workers to offer their personal opinions about foreign policy issues. Last week, President Trump signed an order banning entry to refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority countries.  VOA reporters have read an early version of the State Department memo. It says the signers are worried that the order will not achieve its goal “to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States.” The memo warns that the action will immediately hurt relations with allies in the fight against terrorism. It suggests other possible steps, including improving visa and immigration screening. State Department officials would not tell VOA how many people signed the dissent or what their duties are. However, sources tell VOA almost 1,000 people signed the dissent. Robert Ford served as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria during the presidency of Barack Obama. He says if about 1,000 people signed the document, it would be much larger than the number who signed a dissent criticizing the Obama administration’s policy on Syria. Diplomats say that Dissent Channel memo had 51 signatures. Laura Kennedy is a former ambassador to Turkmenistan. She said the large number of signatures and its release to reporters “are clear indicators of the widespread concern within the department over this specific policy step and unease over the broad direction of foreign policy." On Monday, presidential spokesman Sean Spicer rejected the dissent. Spicer told reporters that anyone at the State Department who opposes the order should, in his words, "either get with the program or they can go.” He said the order is “about the safety of Americans” and the limits the president ordered are “common sense.” The State Department says it usually receives four to five Dissent Channel messages each year. Workers who use the Dissent Channel are guaranteed protection from punishment. Former diplomats strongly criticized Spicer’s reaction. Some consider it a threat against members of the Foreign Service. Harold Hongju Koh is a former assistant secretary of state and State Department legal adviser. He is a now a professor at Yale University School of Law in Connecticut. He told VOA “the time-honored tradition of respectful dissent at (the) State (Department) is supported by the very American and constitutional values that this cable honors and that the executive order tramples.”   VOA Correspondents Steve Herman and Nike Ching reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   executive order – n. an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law dissent – v. to publicly disagree with an official opinion, decision or set of beliefs achieve – v. to become successful; to reach a goal screen – v. to examine (people or things) in order to decide if they are suitable for a particular purpose source – n. a person, book, etc., that gives information indicator – n. a sign that shows the condition or existence of something trample – v. to treat other people’s rights, wishes or feelings as if they are worthless or not important

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