February 7, 2017

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

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3D Printers Allow Tanzania Hospital to Make Artificial Limbs Quickly

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Nigeria’s President Extends Medical Leave in London

  Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s extended medical leave is raising concerns in the most populous country in Africa. Buhari, 74, has been in London for the last two weeks receiving medical care. He had been expected to return to Nigeria on Sunday night. But on Sunday, his office released a statement saying the president was advised by doctors to remain in London to await results from medical tests. The statement did not say what he was being tested for, or how long it might be before he could return to Nigeria. The statement said the president has asked Nigeria’s parliament for approval to continue his medical leave. Richard Joseph teaches international history and politics at Northwestern University in Illinois. He said President Buhari’s absence is causing concern in Nigeria. Joseph said it could weaken his government, which already faces charges that it has not done enough to deal with economic and terrorism problems. “Obviously, there is something significant going on,” Joseph said of the reports that the country’s president would not return to Nigeria this week. Adding to the concern -- this is President Buhari’s second medical leave as president. He took two weeks off last June to be treated in London for an ear infection.  Joseph said the government’s refusal to provide more information about Buhari’s medical condition has some people questioning if he will return to the presidency. It even led to people questioning on social media if he might be dead.   ​ But Joseph said it is a good signal that Buhari followed the Nigerian constitution. It says the vice president is to become acting president when the president is not available.  Yemi Osinbajo is Nigeria’s vice president. He is a lawyer and professor. Osinbajo has used social media to show how he is carrying out the duties of president in Buhari’s absence.        Last week, the acting president wrote on Twitter about visiting a primary school. He said the visit was “certainly one of the highlights of my day.”   On Monday, the Nigerian government released a video of an interview with Osinbajo. He spoke about Buhari, saying "he’s in good shape. In the interview, the vice president also said Buhari's medical tests should be completed soon.  Hundreds of Nigerians protested Buhari’s absence Monday. The march occurred in Lagos, Nigeria’s largest city.  Prices of food and other goods have increased as Nigeria deals with low oil prices and a devalued currency. Some of the protesters carried signs about unemployment and hunger.            “Nigerians are frustrated and tired with this absentee government," activist Omoyele Sowore said as he marched in Lagos.  I'm Jill Robbins.  Bruce Alpert adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by Reuters, the Associated Press, and other sources.  Hai Do 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   statement - n. something that you say or write in a formal or official way absence - n. a failure to be present at a usual or expected place obviously - adv. in a way that is easy to see significant - adj. important occur - v. to take place frustrate - v. to cause someone to feel angry, discouraged, or upset because of not being able to do something

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Is China Ready for Possible Conflict with US?

During his visit to Asia, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the U.S. is committed to “freedom of navigation” in the disputed waters in the South China Sea. But, he ruled out a military response. Mattis said to reporters in Tokyo, “At this time, we do not see any need for dramatic military moves at all.” Tension between U.S. and China Last December, China conducted takeoff and landing drills from its aircraft carrier Liaoning in the South China Sea, according to the state news agency Xinhua. The move followed a phone call between then President-elect Donald Trump and the president of Taiwan. China has long considered Taiwan as a province of China. During his confirmation hearing, Rex Tillerson, the new U.S. Secretary of State, called China’s island building an “illegal” activity. He said, “We’re going to have to send China a clear signal that, first, the island-building stops; and, second, your access to those islands also is not going to be allowed.” The comment drew sharp reaction from China. Lu Kang is a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry. In his daily briefing on Jan. 12, he said that China “has full right to conduct any kind of normal activities on its own territory within its sovereignty.” The Global Times is a state-run news organization. It published a strongly worded editorial saying, “Unless Washington plans to wage a large-scale war in the South China Sea, any other approaches to prevent Chinese access to the islands will be foolish.” China’s military capabilities Military experts say China’s current military capabilities do not measure up to Beijing’s tough rhetoric on its continuing activities in the South China Sea. Jeffrey Engstrom is a senior policy analyst at the RAND Corporation. “Certainly things are more tense than they were just a few weeks ago. But I still don’t think we’re quite at the point of crisis, and certainly not at immediate confrontation.” Engstrom said China’s navy is not nearly as well equipped as the United States. The Liaoning is the only aircraft carrier in the Chinese naval fleet. It was first built for the Soviet navy and launched in Ukraine in 1988, but was never fully completed. It was upgraded and modernized for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, which launched it in 2012. The Liaoning is smaller than U.S. aircraft carriers and cannot support as many aircraft. It also has a “ski jump” type of system for launching aircraft instead of a catapult system. This limits the size of aircraft that can be launched, as well as how many weapons can be loaded onto the aircraft. According to the U.S.-based research group the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the Liaoning can carry up to 24 fighter jets and about 12 helicopters.  The U.S. Navy’s current Nimitz-class warships can handle more than 60 aircraft. One of these is the USS Ronald Reagan, stationed in Japan. ​ Since the Liaoning has only been fully operational for a few years, it also remains behind the U.S. Navy in experience and training. Denny Roy is a senior fellow at the Hawaii-based East-West Center. He says China is getting a lot of experience using the Liaoning while building its own new carrier fleet. “We understand that the Liaoning is primarily meant for training. Learning to operate an aircraft carrier takes many years, it’s extremely complicated. So it’s reasonable that the Chinese would start with a practice carrier, with the training wheels.” Roy added that China is thought to be currently working on additional, more advanced aircraft carriers. “We think there are more Chinese carriers under construction that will be larger, more capable - and these are intended to actually be prepared to fight.” However, he added that even China’s carriers currently under construction will not have the same capacity as the new U.S. super carriers. ​ The United States is currently building a new class of aircraft carriers known as the Gerald R. Ford class. These $13 billion super carriers are even bigger than the Nimitz class. They can carry more than 4,500 people and at least 75 aircraft. The first of these, the USS Gerald Ford, is expected to be put into service in 2017. Jeffrey Engstrom says despite the Liaoning’s limited capabilities, it serves as an important symbol of progress for China’s navy. “The symbolism is that China is a great power. Great powers have aircraft carriers, and China too has an aircraft carrier.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English, with additional material coming from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. 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. process by which ships are successfully guided though water drill – n. training activity conducted by soldiers​ approach – n. way of doing something rhetoric - n. language intended to influence people that might not be honest or reasonable fleet – n. a group of ships in a country’s navy ski jump – n. a jump used by skiers to lift them into the air catapult – n. device for launching a plane from the deck of an aircraft carrier training wheels – n. small wheels attached to the back of a bicycle when someone is learning to ride it  

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Running in Cold Weather Improves Performance

Militant Groups in Afghanistan Make Money Smuggling Minerals

  The smuggling of minerals continues to supply millions of dollars to armed groups in Afghanistan, said an anti-corruption group this week. The Afghanistan Anti-Corruption Network said in a report that militant groups received at least $46 million by illegally exporting minerals and precious stones to Pakistan. The report said up to 750,000 tons of marble and talc were smuggled from various parts of Nangarhar province. Some areas of this province have active Taliban and Islamic State fighters. Marble is a kind of stone that is often polished and used in buildings and statues. Talc is used in the manufacturing of products, including plastics, paints and cosmetics. Zaman Khan Amarkhail is the President of the Anti-Corruption Network. He told Radio Liberty's Afghanistan service that every day, 500 trucks carrying stones pass through government-controlled roads and arrive in Pakistan. Each truck, he added, carries about 45 tons of stone. From there, he says, the stones are sent to European countries. The Afghan mines ministry says the government has banned mineral exports to Pakistan. It says it has also encouraged local businesses to invest in the sector and legally export processed material to foreign countries. Smugglers thrive Pakistan is not the only destination for smuggled minerals. The anti-corruption network says precious stones are being illegally mined from at least 2,000 mines in Afghanistan's northeast. These stones travel across Afghanistan's border with China. Zabiullah Wardak, a member of the anti-corruption group, said that "Last year, $300 million worth of precious stones were smuggled from the province [Badakhshan] to China." The Afghan government says fighting between Afghan forces and militant groups has led to an increase in illegal mining. Experts say the mineral smuggling occurs through a strong network of militants, criminal groups, and some civil servants and military officials. Haroon Rashid Sherzad is a civil society activist and former deputy minister of anti-narcotics. He told VOA that mineral smuggling is "a huge business for the involved parties who are thriving under weak government surveillance." Conflict and development Afghanistan has a long history of smuggling. In the early 1970s, as much as 20 to 25 percent of Afghanistan's foreign trade came from smuggling. This information comes from a paper written by Jagdish Bhagwati and Bent Hansen in 1971. A report from West Point's counterterrorism center says small-scale mining and drug-smuggling played an important role in financing conflicts throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Despite Afghanistan's wealth in minerals, the country has had a difficult time developing significant industries in some parts of the country. A 2010 report in the New York Times says Afghanistan may have over $1 trillion dollars' worth of mineral reserves. "The ongoing insurgency and instability in the province [Nangarhar] has not allowed businesses to establish factories," an official at the ministry of mines told VOA. The official did not want to be identified. Experts say that continued smuggling and border corruption are not only fueling conflict, but costing Afghanistan millions of dollars. Customs revenue collections have increased in the past year, says the country's finance ministry. However, the country still loses large amounts of tax revenues due to smuggling. "Surveillance is weak at the borders. An individual with a license to export 100 tons of stones would be able to export 1,000 tons instead," Sherzad, the civil society activist, said. "Corrupt officials turn a blind eye to illegal exports and, in return, they too benefit from it." I'm John Russell.    John Russell wrote this story for Learning English based on reporting by VOA's Noor Zahid. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   smuggle – v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly precious – adj. rare and worth a lot of money cosmetic – n. a substance (such as a cream, lotion, or powder) that you put on your face or body to improve your appearance thrive – v. to flourish or succeed  

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Patriots, Brady and Lady Gaga Impress at Super Bowl

  This is What’s Trending Today. The New England Patriots football team defeated the Atlanta Falcons in the 51st Super Bowl on Sunday. It was the Patriots’ fifth Super Bowl win. It was also the first-ever Super Bowl game to go into overtime. At one point, the Patriots were losing to the Falcons 28-3. The game seemed over. But the Patriots came back to win in overtime, 34-28. Running back James White dove over the goal line to score the winning touchdown. Names from this year’s Super Bowl took over Twitter and Facebook in the United States from Sunday evening into Monday. New England quarterback Tom Brady was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. He became the first quarterback in the National Football League to win five Super Bowls.   One writer said he played the best Super Bowl game ever. The Falcons looked so good in the first half of the game that many people turned away from the game itself. That set the stage for the halftime show. Lady Gaga’s 13-minute show got better ratings than the game did. Lady Gaga wore a beaded, silver costume, including high-heeled silver boots. She had sparkling makeup around her eyes. She was lowered onto the stage with wires from high above the stadium.   She performed seven of her popular songs, including “Poker Face,” “Bad Romance,” “Just Dance” and “Born This Way.” She was joined on stage by many dancers but no guest performers.    After the game, Lady Gaga announced her plans for a series of performances around the world. The tour starts in Canada on August 1 and takes her to the United States, Brazil, Switzerland, England, Spain, Sweden and several other countries. One expert said it was the fourth-straight year that more people watched the halftime show than the football game itself. Television commercials also trended on social media. One of the most talked-about commercials came from the building supply company 84 Lumber. That advertisement showed a mother and daughter walking through the desert towards the United States, only to be stopped at the border by a wall. They believe their trip is over, but find a door that lets them through.  The commercial ends with the words: “The will to succeed is always welcome here.”   And that’s What’s Trending Today.   I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor.   Did you watch the Super Bowl? What did you think of the result? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   overtime – n. extra time added to a game when the score is tied at the end of the normal playing time receiver – n. a player who catches passes thrown by the quarterback quarterback – n. a player who leads a team's attempts to score usually by passing the ball to other players costume – n. the clothes that are worn by someone (such as an actor) who is trying to look like a different person or thing halftime – n. the period of rest between the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half in games like football and basketball set the stage – expression. to make something likely or ready to happen sparkling– adj. shining with or reflecting bright points of light wire – n. a thin, flexible thread of metal beaded - adj. decorated or covered with beads; bead: a small, usually round piece of glass, wood, stone, etc., that has a hole through its center and that is put on a string with other similar pieces and worn as jewelry or that is sewn onto clothing tour – n. a series of related performances, appearances, competitions, etc., that occur at different places over a period of time will – n. a strong desire or determination to do something running back – n. a player who carries the football on running plays  

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Everyday Grammar: Sentence Pattern

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For Highest US Court, a Harvard or Yale Education Is a Must

  Neil Gorsuch, President Donald Trump’s choice for the United States Supreme Court, has something in common with the court’s current members. He studied at Harvard Law School, as did four current Supreme Court justices. A fifth justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, attended Harvard, but graduated from Columbia University’s law school. The court’s three other members graduated from Yale Law School. The Gorsuch nomination now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee. If he is confirmed, it means all nine Supreme Court justices will be former students at either Harvard or Yale. That is worth noting, given that the United States has more than 200 law schools.   Nominations to the Supreme Court are among the most important made by a president. Once approved by the Senate, federal judges have lifetime positions. Someone as young as Gorsuch, who is 49, can serve for many years -- long after Trump’s presidency ends. Yale and Harvard rated 1st and 2nd by magazine Both Yale, located in New Haven, Connecticut and Harvard, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, are rated highly. In its 2017 list of law schools, US News and World Report magazine rated Yale No. 1, and Harvard No. 2. Still not everybody is happy with their influence over the Supreme Court. Jonathan Turley is a law professor at George Washington University in Washington D.C. He says that Gorsuch “is widely viewed as a powerful writer and intellectual leader” on his Colorado federal appeals court. But Turley said it is wrong to exclude all but graduates of two law schools. “It not only reduces the number of outstanding candidates, but guarantees a certain insularity in training and influences on the court,” Turley wrote on his website. Before Trump named Gorsuch, White House aides told reporters that federal judge Thomas Hardiman was the other finalist for the nomination. Hardiman would have broken the Supreme Court’s Harvard-Yale domination. He graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington. Obama also looked to Harvard and Yale for nominees Many observers say Gorsuch is more conservative than the Supreme Court nominees proposed by Barack Obama. Obama, a member of the Democratic Party, served as president from 2009 until January 20th of this year. But Trump, a Republican, followed Obama’s example in choosing a nominee from Harvard or Yale. In his first term, Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor, a Yale Law School graduate, and Elena Kagan, a Harvard Law School graduate. The U.S. Senate approved both nominations.   ​In his second term, Obama chose Merrick Garland, another Harvard Law graduate. But Senate Republicans refused to consider his nomination. Republicans said the choice should be left to the winner of the 2016 presidential election. In that election, Trump defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate. Since 1975, only two nominees to the high court came from schools not called Yale or Harvard. In 1975, President Gerald Ford named John Paul Stevens, a graduate of Northwestern University School of Law in Illinois. In 1981, President Ronald Reagan named Sandra Day O’Connor, a graduate of Stanford University’s law school in California. If the Senate approves Gorsuch, he would replace Antonin Scalia. Scalia joined the Supreme Court in 1986. He was the nominee of President Reagan. Scalia served until his death in February, 2016. He, too, attended Harvard Law School. In a 2010 report, a Georgetown University’s Patrick Glen wrote that people attending law schools other than Harvard and Yale should lower their expectations. Non-Harvard or Yale Law School graduates can become judges, just not on the Supreme Court, Glen wrote. I’m Bruce Alpert. Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA 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   intellectual - adj. involving serious study and thought exclude - v. to leave people out of a group or organization outstanding - adj. very good insularity - n. separated from other people graduate – v. to complete a program of study locate – v. to set up or establish in a place  

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New Technology Helps Move Hearts

Heart transplant surgery is a common medical treatment in the United States. Some doctors are skilled at removing the heart from someone who has just died, and then preparing it for another person who needs a new heart. Nationwide, about 4,000 new patients a year are listed for a heart transplant. But only about 2,500 are able to have the operation.     Jason Smith is a surgeon with the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. He notes that because of the difference in numbers, not all patients on the transplant list will live. “Because of that disparity, we still have about 17 percent of patients who get listed for transplant, for heart transplant, who die on the waiting list.” There is a shortage of organ donors. Some people do not want to donate their organs or those of a loved one. But also, some donated organs do not make it to the surgery room in the right condition for transplant. Once the organ is removed from the donor, there is only a short time to get the organ to the person who needs it. The average length is four to six hours. After that, the organ begins to fail. This can be a problem if the donor died far away from the recipient. Traditionally, the donated hearts are transported in an ice box. Keeping the organ on ice has been the best way to preserve it. Medical workers sometimes carry the box on a helicopter or airplane. Now, a new travel box contains equipment that keeps the heart beating during transport. The only time it stops beating is for a few minutes -- just before it is placed into the chest of the person receiving it. For more than a year, the Organ Care System has been tested in the United States. The system, also known as “heart in a box,” has an American manufacturer, a company called TransMedics. It is already available in Europe and Australia. Dr. Jason Smith is pleased about the addition of transport pumps on the boxes. “So having a transport pump to preserve the heart function allows us to better match the hearts to the recipients so that more of the hearts that are being donated can actually be used and implanted into recipients.” Ted Daniels is also pleased with the “heart in a box.” He was the first patient to get a heart through the Organ Care System in the U.S. trials. Daniels, a truck driver from Washington State, received his new heart in September 2015. A month later he spoke to the news media. Daniels said he was “excited” to be part of the new patient technology. He said, "It makes me happy to know that I'll probably get to see my daughters (ages 16 and 7) graduate and get married." The equipment has been tested on flights up to 11 hours long. The machine pumps donated blood through the organ, so it can work as it does inside a body.   Those traveling with the heart watch it closely to make sure it is in the best possible condition for transplantation. The development of this new heart travel machine is good news to Kevin O’Connor. He is the head of Lifecenter Northwest, a group that organizes organ and tissue donation in some Northwestern states. “I absolutely think it’s a great opportunity to improve the preservation technology for hearts and other organs, and will only stand to benefit patients in need of replacement organs in the future.” TransMedics is also testing the technology to help preserve donated lungs and liver organs. Similar to the way that hearts are kept beating in the box, the lungs “breathe”, and livers “produce bile,” according to the company’s website. It adds that if an organ is beginning to fail, the machine may be able to bring it back to a fully functioning condition. That would give doctors more organs for transplantation. Doctors say the new technology alone will not end the need for more donated hearts. They are urging Americans to register to become an organ donor. I’m Anne Ball.   Zlatica Hoke reported this story for VOA. Anne Ball adapted for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. See how well you understand the story and develop your listening skills by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video and then choose the best answer. ​ _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   disparity – adj. different from each other preserve – v. to keep something its original state and good condition recipient – n. a person who receives something graduate – v. to earn a degree from a high school or college bile – n. a yellow or green liquid made by the liver that helps the body digest fats according to – adv. as stated, reported or recorded by functioning – adj. working to operating

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The Future of Shopping: 3D Printing and Augmented Reality

  These days, shopping often involves an Internet connection and a laptop or smartphone.  However, businesses are now trying to use new technology, such as 3D printing and augmented reality, to bring customers back into stores. At the recent National Retail Federation show in New York City, many companies demonstrated these new technologies.  One, the computer company Intel, is experimenting with 3D printing.  It is using the Mach 2XS commercial printer.  Instead of printing words on paper, the Mach 2XS prints clothes.  For example, it uses thread to print out a sweater.  It prints the sweater out row by row, until it is fully formed. Ryan Parker is the general manager of Responsive Retail at Intel. He says the 3D printers print out clothing, made just for the individual in size and style, in about 45 minutes. Bringing consumers back to stores More and more consumers shop online. But young people still seem to like going to physical stores. A recent study shows that 67 percent of people between ages 13 to 21 shop in physical stores most of the time. The IBM Institute for Business Value and the National Retail Federation did the study. A London-based company, Ads Reality, is trying to use augmented-reality, or AR technology in stores.  Augmented reality is a technology that creates computer-generated images and projects them in a way that they look real. “When it’s used in the right way, it’s a very powerful tool to drive mobile engagement and store traffic,” said Richard Corps, managing director. The company’s latest product is an “AR Window.” It superimposes life-sized augmented-reality characters on big screens in store windows. “It looks like those characters are actually inside the store ... it stops people outside the store because they’re amazed to see these characters ... and then it drives them inside the store because they want to have their photograph taken with these characters,” Corps said. Customer service robots Customer service robots might also become a common store experience. The New York company Autonomous is experimenting with customer service robots. These wheeled devices include a Wi-Fi connection to a real person who can be seen on the robot’s screen. Robots in a hardware store, for example, could be operated from anywhere by experts in different fields, like plumbing or electrical wiring. Autonomous chief Duy Huynh says the robots can make the shopping experience personal. “With our technology, when you walk into a store one of our robots will approach you and behind the robot, [it’s] going to bring someone who knows your shopping habits, who has been helping you for the past six months, who knows what you need, to talk to you. So to us that’s really, really important and that’s the very first time you can actually do personalization offline.”  I’m Phil Dierking.   This story was originally written for VOAnews.com by.  Phil Dierking adapted this story for Learning English using other media. Caty Weaver was the editor. Do you prefer to shop online or at physical stores?  Why?   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   amaze – v. to fill someone with wonder. augmented reality – n. a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world. 3D printing – n. the process of making a physical object from a three-dimensional digital model. character – n. a person who appears in a story, book, play, movie, or television show. consumer – n. a person who buys goods and services. customer – n. someone who buys goods or services from a business. product – n. something that is made or grown to be sold or used. robot – n. a real or imaginary machine that is controlled by a computer and is often made to look like a human or animal. thread – n. a long, thin piece of cotton, silk, etc., used for sewing. superimpose – v. to place or lay something over something else. sweater – n. a warm usually knitted piece of clothing for the upper part of your body.

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