Venezuelan VP Dismisses US Sanctions

  The United States is accusing a top Venezuelan official of being a major international drug trafficker. The Trump administration has announced sanctions against Vice President Tareck El Aissami for his reported involvement in cocaine shipments from Venezuela. The administration barred Al Aissami from using any money or other assets under his name in the United States. The Associated Press says the government also has banned him from entering the country. El Aissami is the highest Venezuelan official ever to face U.S. sanctions. The government has classified him as a drug kingpin – someone who directs people in the illegal drug trade. ­ On Tuesday, El Aissami said the Trump administration’s actions only strengthen his support for the revolution started by former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez. In messages on social media, El Aissami said U.S. aggression will not stop him from doing his job of rescuing Venezuela's economy from sabotage by its conservative opponents. Observers are unsure if the sanctions mean a tightening of U.S. policy toward Venezuela or a continuation of policies from the presidency of Barack Obama.  Under Obama, U.S. officials were careful not to demand the removal of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro, as the opposition had been seeking. Instead, the U.S. government chose to support discussions aimed at avoiding violence. The Vatican also supported this policy. Chris Sabatini is with Latin America Goes Global, a website that follows U.S. policy toward Latin America. He said there is increasing dissatisfaction that the discussions have yet to show results. ‘Criminal’ state? El Aissami  has been the target of U.S. law enforcement investigations for years, starting in his days as interior minister. The investigations began when falsified Venezuelan passports were found in the Middle East. Some were in the possession of suspected Hezbollah members. A few years ago, Walid Makled, a jailed drug trafficker, told investigators he sent payments to Venezuelan officials through El Aissami's brother. He said in return for the money, officials permitted cocaine shipments through the country's ports and airports. The U.S. announcement Monday said El Aissami had worked with drug traffickers in Mexico and Colombia to direct cocaine shipments from Venezuela. Venezuelan businessman Samark Lopez was also sanctioned. Lopez is accused of hiding money earned from the drug trade in a number of companies and real estate in the U.S., Panama, British Virgin Islands and Venezuela.   The Associated Press reported this story. Alice Bryant adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sanction – n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws asset – n. something that is owned by a person or company real estate – n. property consisting of buildings and land We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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English in a Minute: On a Roll

What does it mean to be "on a roll?" Watch this week's EIM to find out!

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Giant Panda Bao Bao Prepares for China Move

  This is What’s Trending Today. Bao Bao was born in the United States, but she was always destined to go to China. A giant panda named Mei Xiang gave birth to Bao Bao at Washington’s National Zoo in 2013. She was the zoo’s first surviving panda cub since 2005. Visitors got to see Bao Bao for the first time in early 2014. The zoo’s first giant pandas arrived in 1972. They were a gift to the United States after President Richard Nixon’s historic trip to China. The U.S. agreement with China states that the cubs of pandas loaned to the National Zoo must go to China by age 4. Zoo officials have a number of events planned for Bao Bao before she travels overseas. For example, she will receive a cake made of ice. Officials say it will recognize the people who give money to the National Zoo to help finance research into animals. People around the world will be able to watch Bao Bao’s final days in Washington on the zoo’s Panda cam. There will be several Facebook Live events, including videos of zookeepers preparing Bao Bao for her trip and a program showing how to make panda-themed art projects. Bao Bao’s final hours at the zoo will be shown on Facebook Live on February 21. Some of her human friends are using the hashtag #ByeByeBaoBao to say goodbye.  On Twitter, Lisa wrote “I am going to miss Bao Bao so much!! I have met so many people because of her.”  ​ The user @CharmCityPanda wrote: “I love you sweet girl – thanks for the joy.” Bao Bao will leave for China next Tuesday on a flight called the Fed Ex “Panda Express.” If you are sad about seeing her go, there are three other pandas at the zoo. You can still see her parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, and her brother, Bei Bei. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I'm Caty Weaver.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Will you send a goodbye wish to Bao Bao? Let us know in the comments section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   destined – adj. certain to achieve or experience something cub – n. a young animal cake – n. a bread-like food

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'The Fall of the House of Usher,' by Edgar Allan Poe, Part One

  We present the first of three parts of the short story "The Fall of the House of Usher," by Edgar Allan Poe. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.   It was a dark and soundless day near the end of the year, and clouds were hanging low in the heavens. All day I had been riding on horseback through country with little life or beauty; and in the early evening, I came within view of the House of Usher. I do not know how it was — but, with my first sight of the building, a sense of heavy sadness filled my spirit. I looked at the scene before me — at the house itself — at the ground around it — at the cold stone walls of the building — at its empty eye-like windows — and at a few dead trees — I looked at this scene, I say, with a complete sadness of soul, which was no healthy, earthly feeling. There was a coldness, a sickening of the heart, in which I could discover nothing to lighten the weight I felt. What was it, I asked myself, what was it that was so fearful, so frightening in my view of the House of Usher? This was a question to which I could find no answer. I stopped my horse beside the building, on the edge of a dark and quiet lake. There, I could see reflected in the water a clear picture of the dead trees, and of the house and its empty, eye-like windows. I was now going to spend several weeks in this house of sadness — this house of gloom. Its owner was named Roderick Usher. We had been friends when we were boys; but many years had passed since our last meeting. A letter from him had reached me; a wild letter, which demanded that I reply by coming to see him. He wrote of an illness of the body — of a sickness of the mind — and of a desire to see me — his best and, indeed, his only friend. It was the manner in which all this was said — it was the heart in it — which did not allow me to say no. Although as boys we had been together, I really knew little about my friend. I knew, however, that his family, a very old one, had long been famous for its understanding of all the arts, and for many quiet acts of kindness to the poor. I had learned, too, that the family had never been a large one, with many branches. The name had passed always from father to son, and when people spoke of the “House of Usher,” they included both the family and the family home. I again looked up from the picture of the house reflected in the lake to the house itself. A strange idea grew in my mind — an idea so strange that I tell it only to show the force of the feelings which laid their weight on me. I really believed that around the whole house, and the ground around it, the air itself was different. It was not the air of heaven. It rose from the dead, decaying trees, from the gray walls, and the quiet lake. It was a sickly, unhealthy air that I could see, slow-moving, heavy, and gray. Shaking off from my spirit what must have been a dream, I looked more carefully at the building itself. The most noticeable thing about it seemed to be its great age. None of the walls had fallen, yet the stones appeared to be in a condition of advanced decay. Perhaps the careful eye would have discovered the beginning of a break in the front of the building, a crack making its way from the top down the wall until it became lost in the dark waters of the lake. I rode over a short bridge to the house. A man who worked in the house — a servant — took my horse, and I entered. Another servant, of quiet step, led me without a word through many dark turnings to the room of his master. Much that I met on the way added, I do not know how, to the strangeness of which I have already spoken. While the objects around me — the dark wall coverings, the blackness of the floors, and the things brought home from long forgotten wars — while these things were like the things I had known since I was a baby — while I admitted that all this was only what I had expected — I was still surprised at the strange ideas which grew in my mind from these simple things. The room I came into was very large and high. The windows were high, and pointed at the top, and so far above the black floor that they were quite out of reach. Only a little light, red in color, made its way through the glass, and served to lighten the nearer and larger objects. My eyes, however, tried and failed to see into the far, high corners of the room. Dark coverings hung upon the walls. The many chairs and tables had been used for a long, long time. Books lay around the room, but could give it no sense of life. I felt sadness hanging over everything. No escape from this deep, cold gloom seemed possible. As I entered the room, Usher stood up from where he had been lying and met me with a warmth, which at first I could not believe was real. A look, however, at his face told me that every word he spoke was true. We sat down; and for some moments, while he said nothing, I looked at him with a feeling of sad surprise. Surely, no man had ever before changed as Roderick Usher had! Could this be the friend of my early years? It is true that his face had always been unusual. He had gray-white skin; eyes large and full of light; lips not bright in color, but of a beautiful shape; a well-shaped nose; hair of great softness — a face that was not easy to forget. And now the increase in this strangeness of his face had caused so great a change that I almost did not know him. The horrible white of his skin, and the strange light in his eyes, surprised me and even made me afraid. His hair had been allowed to grow, and in its softness it did not fall around his face, but seemed to lie upon the air. I could not, even with an effort, see in my friend the appearance of a simple human being. In his manner, I saw at once, changes came and went; and I soon found that this resulted from his attempt to quiet a very great nervousness. I had indeed been prepared for something like this, partly by his letter and partly by remembering him as a boy. His actions were first too quick and then too quiet. Sometimes his voice, slow and trembling with fear, quickly changed to a strong, heavy, carefully spaced, too perfectly controlled manner. It was in this manner that he spoke of the purpose of my visit, of his desire to see me, and of the deep delight and strength he expected me to give him. He told me what he believed to be the nature of his illness. It was, he said, a family sickness, and one from which he could not hope to grow better — but it was, he added at once, only a nervous illness, which would without doubt soon pass away. It showed itself in a number of strange feelings. Some of these, as he told me of them, interested me but were beyond my understanding; perhaps the way in which he told me of them added to their strangeness. He suffered much from a sickly increase in the feeling of all his senses; he could eat only the most tasteless food; all flowers smelled too strongly for his nose; his eyes were hurt by even a little light; and there were few sounds which did not fill him with horror. A certain kind of sick fear was completely his master. “I shall die,” he said. “I shall die! I must die of this fool’s sickness. In this way, this way and no other way, I shall be lost. I fear what will happen in the future, not for what happens, but for the result of what happens. I have, indeed, no fear of pain, but only fear of its result — of terror! I feel that my time will soon arrive when I must lose my life, and my mind, and my soul, together, in some last battle with that horrible enemy: fear!”   Download a lesson plan to use with this story here. ​ Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. How do you act when you see someone you have not seen in a long time? What is the best way to stay in contact with old friends? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   the heavens - n. the sky on horseback - n. sitting on a horse reflect(ed) - v. to show the image of something on a surface gloom - n. a feeling of sadness illness - n. a condition of being unhealthy in your body or mind branch(es) - n. a part of a tree that grows out from the trunk decay(ing) - v. to be slowly destroyed by natural processes lip(s) - n. either one of the two soft parts that surround the mouth

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What Are ‘Leaks’ That So Anger President Trump?

President Donald Trump went on Twitter Thursday to talk about his continued concern about leaks. He wrote, “The spotlight has finally been put on the low-life leakers? They will be caught!” The president then said later Thursday that he “called the Justice Department to look into the leaks.” Trump has been very critical of leaks from people identified in stories as U.S. intelligence officials, though some may have come from White House aides. The information provided to the New York Times and Washington Post, among others, covered discussions between Trump’s now former national security adviser and a Russian diplomat. The former adviser, Michael Flynn, had told Vice President Mike Pence the discussion with the Russian diplomat did not include talk of U.S. sanctions. The intelligence officials who spoke to reporters said Flynn was not being truthful. News that Flynn had not been truthful led to his resignation, Trump said Thursday. But he called Flynn, “a fine person.” Leaks have long been a tradition in America. It means giving information to reporters. Often the information would not be known unless it was “leaked” to reporters. And often the people providing the information do not want their names released for fear of losing their jobs or facing other punishment. Trump is not the first president to speak out against leaks. President Richard Nixon had many battles with news organizations. The Obama administration aggressively investigated suspected leakers, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. “People in power never like leakers, whether we’re talking about President Trump or former President Obama,” said Roy Gutterman. He is director of the Tully Center for Free Press at Syracuse University in New York. Notable leaks in US history The kind of leaks Trump is criticizing is not new. In 1973, Daniel Ellsberg gave reporters information from a secret report that the U.S. expanded the war in Vietnam without informing the public. Ellsberg, who had helped write the report, known as “The Pentagon Papers,” said Americans had a right to know.   Two Washington Post reporters received information from a source known only as “Deep Throat.” They reported stories about the cover-up of a break-in into Democratic Party headquarters. The news stories led to President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Many years later, “Deep Throat” was identified as a Federal Bureau of Investigation official. ​ In 2013, Edward Snowden, a contractor with the National Security Agency, gave thousands of documents to WikiLeaks. The documents provided information about U.S. government surveillance practices. After the release, Snowden left the U.S. for Russia. Stories often start with call from concerned person Many important stories start with call from a person who says something is not right where they work or live. Calls from doctors and nurses at U.S. veterans’ hospitals, for example, led to reporting in 2014 that officials were hiding long waits for medical care. “Often the confidential information provided by a source leads a reporter to reach out to other sources and to get documents so that a story that should be known to the public gets out,” said Gutterman of Syracuse University. But Trump said recent leaks provided information about his discussions with foreign leaders that he considered private. He called it “a criminal act.” Trump has called for an investigation of leaks. So have two Republican members of Congress -- Jason Chaffetz and Bob Goodlatte in a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice. They expressed concern about release of “classified information.” Congressman Elijah Cummings, a Democrat, said that Chaffetz and Goodlatte are asking for the wrong investigation. "Congress should be doing independent oversight of the executive branch and protecting whistleblowers,” he said. In the past, some reporters who refused to identify their sources went to prison. Among the most recent was former New York Times reporter Judith Miller, who served 85 days in prison in 2005 for not saying who gave her the name of a Central Intelligence Agency agent. At a Thursday news conference, Trump continued his criticism of the news media. The president said, “the leaks are absolutely real. The news is fake.” During the 77-minute long news conference, he used the term “fake” news 13 times. This led a reporter to ask: “If the information coming from those leaks is real, then how can the stories be fake?” I'm Bruce Alpert.  And I'm Dorothy Gundy.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English. 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   leak - n. disclosure of information not known previously often from a person who doesn’t want his or her name known source - n. a person who provides information to a reporter, often without revealing his or her name surveillance - n. to keep careful watch of people practice - n. how things are done by an organization classified - adj. information considered secret by a government or government agency oversight - n. to provide review of activities by people and or government whistleblower - n. a person who provides secret information about bad or illegal activity booster - n. someone that supports or champions someone or some group  

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Flight Attendants Train to Watch for Human Trafficking

  Flight attendant Sheila Fedrick says she knew something was wrong when she saw a teenage girl with greasy hair sitting on an airplane next to an older man. The girl had bruises, possible evidence that she had been hurt. The man, however, appeared very well-dressed. When Fedrick tried to talk to them, the man became defensive.  So the flight attendant left a note for the girl in a bathroom. The girl later wrote back a message that said “I need help.” Fedrick was able to inform the pilot of the Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to San Francisco. The pilot spoke to police officials on the ground. By the time the plane landed, officers were waiting for the girl and the man at the airport. She later learned the girl was a victim of human trafficking. Keeping the skies safe The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation says human trafficking is thought to be the third largest criminal activity in the world. Trafficking involves the illegal transport of people from one country or area to another. This is usually done to force victims into forced labor or the sex trade. Human traffickers have often used airplanes as a way to quietly transport their victims. Yet one group, Airline Ambassadors International, or AAI, is training airline and airport workers to recognize signs of human trafficking. The goal is to give more workers the same kind of skills and sensitivity Fedrick has. ​AAI was the idea of Nancy Rivard, a former flight attendant. She founded the group as a way for flight attendants to help vulnerable children directly. Rivard said AAI developed the first industry-specific training on human trafficking and trafficking awareness. She said that training just one person can have a big effect. “Every flight attendant sees 500 people a week minimally… that’s 2,000 (people) a month and 24,000 (people) a year. So training 100 front line employees enables them to scan 2.4 million passengers.” Airline support Rivard said it has not always been easy to persuade airline companies to collaborate with her group. “All airlines are required to train both pilots and flight attendants annually. And including us in the security section of training would seem simple enough to do. But the airlines were not that receptive, originally.” Rivard told VOA that AAI can spend about $3,000 to set up one training program -- or $5,000, if it’s international. The group contacts airport directors for a place to hold the classes, but AAI usually has to raise the money for the training itself.  Red flags Rivard says the training program is divided into three parts. The first part is a description of human trafficking. Then a trainer, who usually is a survivor of trafficking, discusses the effects of trafficking on victims.  The final part of the program discusses how to recognize and report human trafficking in an airplane or airport setting. There are many signs to look for. “We teach our crews … to be aware of victims and be aware of who is traveling and who they are traveling with…  Are they with or under the control of a companion… and to look for different indicators like they are not in control of their travel documents. They are frightened, ashamed, or nervous.  In many cases, two or three cases I know of where the victim was not even allowed to use the bathroom on their own. They may be unsure of their destination.  They may have bruises… If they have scripted or inconsistent stories … Many of them appear drugged and they probably are.” Rivard also said sometimes victims are tattooed -- with a bar code or name like “daddy” printed on their skin. Rivard says it is important not to try and rescue the victim when you first recognize the problem. This can endanger yourself and the victim. The most important action is to report what you see to police, with as many details as you can. Sridhar Chillara is a volunteer with AAI. He used his trafficking awareness training while on a flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic to Newark, New Jersey. He noticed two children that were being mistreated by two older people. He also saw that as they moved through the airport, they were passed to other individuals, both on and off the plane. Chillara informed the flight attendants, who contacted the airport in Newark. He was later told that his report led U.S. officials to uncover a child pornography ring in Boston. Eighty-six children were saved. How to report Rivard says that if you see a situation suspected of human trafficking, there are several ways to report it.  In the United States, you can call 911, the number for emergency calls, or the Department of Homeland Security TIP hotline (866-347-2423 toll free in U.S. and Canada, or 802-872-6199 if outside the U.S.). This number is operational 24 hours a day. You can also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888. AAI has developed a free computer app that lets users not only report what they saw, but they can upload photographs, audio, video, and GPS location. I’m Phil Dierking.   Phil Dierking reported on this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What are other ways people can stop human trafficking?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bruise – n. a dark and painful area on your skin that is caused by an injury dress – v. to put clothes on yourself collaborate – v. to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something indicator – n. a sign that shows the condition or existence of something tattoo – n. a picture, word, etc., that is drawn on a person's skin by using a needle and ink pornography – n. movies, pictures, magazines, etc., that show or describe naked people vulnerable – adj. easily hurt or harmed physically, mentally, or emotionally app – n. a computer program that performs a special function GPS location – n. The technology can pinpoint longitude, latitude, ground speed, and course direction of the target somewhere in the world awareness – n. knowledge and awareness of your own personality, character, or surroundings

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Arrests, Dismissals Continue under Presidential Powers in Turkey

  This week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed into law constitutional changes designed to give him strong, wide powers. The reforms are being hotly debated. Supporters say they will strengthen democracy. Opponents say the reforms could lead to dictatorship. Turks are to vote on the amendments April 16. However, some critics say the government is already taking action against opponents of the laws. Meral Aksener, a leading politician, recently spoke at a demonstration against the constitutional reforms. The meeting was held in darkness after electric power to the site was cut. Aksener told the crowd she believed the power outage was done on purpose. She shouted out, “President, what are you afraid of, me as a woman opposing you and your powerful state?” She later spoke to reporters. “We look for democracy in darkness,” she said, “and hopefully on April 16 we will find democracy coming out of the ballots.” Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk, a Nobel Prize for Literature winner, said he gave an interview to a newspaper. But he said it refused to publish his comments after he told the paper he would vote against the reforms. Additionally, a leading news reporter said he was dismissed from his job after tweeting about his opposition to the laws. And a top constitutional law expert says he was dismissed from his university position because he opposes the reforms. Ibrahim Kaboglu of Mamara University in Istanbul, Turkey says some of his colleagues lost their jobs as well. Purges after failed coup attempt Turkey has been under emergency rule since a failed attempt to overthrow the government last July. The rule permits the president and his government to dismiss any state employee. Police also have wide powers to arrest people without charging them. President Erdogan says only traitors and terrorists are against the reforms. “Who says no to these reforms? The PKK terrorist says no. Who says no? The coup plotters say no. Who says no? Those who want to divide this country say no. Only those against the flag say no,” Erdogan said. Police are continuing to carry out raids under emergency rule powers. They have arrested thousands of members of Turkey’s second largest opposition party, the Pro-Kurdish HDP. Among those detained is HDP leader Selahattin Demirtas. Soli Ozel is an international relations expert from Kadir Has University in Istanbul. He questions if the vote April 16 will be fair. “I think it will be very uncomfortable for the naysayers to be able to push their line of thinking, because the last two elections we’ve held have not really been either as fair or free as we’ve come to expect.” I’m John Russell.   Dorian Jones wrote this story for VOA News. Caty Weaver adapted this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   interview – n. a meeting at which people talk to each other in order to ask questions and get information colleague – n. a person who works with you coup – n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence uncomfortable – adj.  causing a feeling of physical discomfort naysayers – n.  a person who says something will not work or is not possible

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February 17, 2017

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

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English @ the Movies: 'Write Your Own Rules'

Our saying today on English @ the Movies is "write your own rules" from the movie "La La Land." It is about a woman and a man who fall in love, while trying to make it big in the movie and music worlds. Do you know what "write your own rules" means? Watch our video and then take the quiz!

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February 16, 2017

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

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America's Presidents - Geroge Washington

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