America's Presidents - John Adams

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More than Just a Party, Brazil’s “Carnaval” Comes to Washington

Caique Vidal first experienced Brazil’s Carnaval celebrations as a baby living in Salvador, the capital of Bahia State. Before he was even a year old, his mother took him to his first Carnaval event. He says Afro-Brazilian groups performed during parades in the city’s historic Pelourinho neighborhood. Vidal has no memory of this, but his mother’s friends tell him the stories. Still the cultural traditions of Salvador have stuck with him. And, Vidal, a trained musician, now performs the unmistakable music of Bahia in the United States. He often plays in the Washington, D.C. area. Right now, it is Carnaval season in Brazil and other countries around the world. Even the DC area celebrates the season. Last week, Vidal, Brazilian singer-songwriter Cissa Paz and other musicians performed here for a Carnaval celebration. They played at Tropicàlia, a colorful event space named for the Brazilian artistic movement of the 1960s.   Performing in Washington and other U.S. cities has helped Vidal and Paz stay close to their Brazilian roots. Vidal spoke with VOA before the show. “Being here now living in the U.S. and not being able to enjoy Carnaval as I’m used to back in Brazil with my friends and family is really heartbreaking. And that was the reason why I decided to start making my own events – Carnaval parties – just to get connected to my roots, to my happiness.” It may come as a surprise, but Washington is said to have one of the largest followings for Brazilian culture in the U.S. This year alone, there are more than a dozen Carnaval celebrations in the DC area. Here, the season isn’t celebrated on city streets as in Brazil, where it is currently summer. February is one of Washington’s coldest months. So, the events take place indoors at theaters, restaurants, and other places. Diverse crowds gather to joyfully revel together. The revelers include Americans from all walks of life and a number of Brazilians.  Carnaval is one of the world’s biggest celebrations. In many countries, activities take place for a few weeks each year and include huge parades and street parties with live music. Carnaval goers wear colorful, themed clothing and masks. In Rio de Janeiro, hundreds of thousands of people gather outdoors for these celebrations in neighborhoods all over the city. And, as many Brazilians know, Carnaval is more than just ‘one big party.’ Historically, it was a time for revelry just before the Christian religious observance of Lent. Today, Carnaval is non-religious and offers a wide mix of cultural and social activities. Both Vidal and Paz say they recognize the importance of Carnaval apart from what’s observed on the street. Paz grew up in Rio and has lived in the U.S. since the age of 17. Her music draws on many traditions, including bossa nova, forró, and other Afro-Portuguese and Brazilian influences.   Paz notes that, in addition to all the celebrations, the work that goes into Carnaval leads to unity and teamwork. Samba schools, for example, work for 12 months organizing, creating fine, elaborate clothing and floats, and training for performances, Paz notes. “It brings everybody out, it makes everybody work together, and it just – it promotes happiness, it promotes enjoyment, it promotes music, it promotes dance, and it promotes the culture itself, and even religion….You know, there are so many different aspects of it, so I think it’s extremely important.” For many of the performers, Carnaval is also a time to publicize socially-important messages. Rio and São Paulo are at the center of Brazil’s most commercial Carnaval celebrations. But, even in these cities, many samba schools use their performance to publicize messages of social or cultural importance. For Afro-Brazilian artists in Salvador, Carnaval has long been a vehicle for social expression. For many years, local samba-reggae musicians have sung about social issues, such as poverty and inequality. The musicians also sing to honor their African roots. But, Vidal says, Salvador’s Carnaval has changed a lot, and those changes have made social and racial inequity more noticeable. For example, wealthy Carnaval goers pay hundreds of dollars to wear the abadà, a t-shirt that helps them gain entrance to an area guarded by security. Sadly, most of the people who can’t pay are the locals. Back in DC, Vidal performs the socially-conscious music of his Bahian roots along with salsa, bachata, pop, and rock. He sings with his band Batuque, which is made up completely of Americans. Having a social conscience, he says, means seeing Carnaval “with different eyes,” but it’s still a joyful and unforgettable time. “Carnaval is such a fun, happy time where you liberate yourself to express yourself artistically or just as a human being.” And crowds in D.C. are happy when he jumps off into the crowd and starts singing and dancing with them. Vidal lives in North Carolina. But he says Washington is his favorite U.S. city for a performance because of the energy from the crowds. Paz, too, says she feels lucky to be in DC, where the people are in love with Brazilian culture. “They’re very open. They’re very happy. They’re very excited and they’re very supportive, which is amazing.”   I’m ___________.   Alice Bryant wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story dozen - n. a group of 12 things or people diverse - adj. made up of people or things that are different from each other revel - v. to enjoy something very much theme - n. the main subject that is being discussed or described in a piece of writing, music or a movie Lent - n. a period of 40 days during which many Christians do not eat some kinds of food or avoid pleasurable activities as a way of remembering the suffering of Jesus Christ elaborate - adj. made or done with great care or with much detail commercial – adj. conscience - n. a feeling to do right or be good commercial - adj. of or related to a business or earning a profit floats - n. a vehicle with a flat surface that is used to carry something in a parade

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Amnesty International Concerned About ‘Us Versus Them’

  A human rights group is warning against a rise in politically divisive speech and international indifference to rights abuses. Amnesty International released its 2016 report on Wednesday. The report is called The State of the World’s Human Rights. The group criticizes both rich and poor nations. It noted government efforts to restrict free speech in countries such as Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Russia. It also noted attacks on civilians in places such as Syria, Yemen and Sudan. Amnesty’s Secretary General Salil Shetty spoke to reporters in Paris. He noted that 2016 “was a year in which poisonous political rhetoric” increased in many areas around the world. Shetty criticized politicians, even some world leaders, for their use of “us versus them” comments to denounce immigrants, Muslims and other groups. The leaders included Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and United States President Donald Trump. “And at the root of this rhetoric lies a dangerous idea -- the idea that some people are less human than others.” He added that “one of the most dangerous things that’s happened in 2016 is to increasingly start equating refugees with terrorists.” Salil Shetty said Amnesty is also worried about the international community’s reaction to violence against civilians. These acts include the bombings of schools and hospitals in Syria, migrant drownings in the Mediterranean, and reports of the use of chemical weapons in Darfur, Sudan. “We have reached a point where there is no longer any red line. Almost no action has become too appalling or indefensible.” Shetty said many of these terrible acts have been met with, in his words, “deafening silence.” He said people can force their governments to change. He noted that such efforts are taking place in Europe, Africa and the United States. Amnesty researcher Gaetan Mootoo said there have been attacks against the rights of people who belong to the LGBT community. LGBT is short for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. He also noted attacks against free speech in some African countries. “People have been arrested, for example, in Cote d’Ivoire because they were protesting against the referendum. Many of them were arrested and released shortly afterwards.”  Mootoo said similar actions have taken place in Nigeria, Zimbabwe and South Africa.  Amnesty criticized President Trump’s efforts to temporarily block U.S. visits by citizens from seven Muslim majority countries. It called the ban, “inhumane, unlawful and just plain stupid.” Trump has said the travel restrictions are necessary until stronger measures can be put in place to stop possible terrorists from entering the country. But federal judges have suspended enforcement of the ban. Trump has promised to write a new order that will be accepted by U.S. courts. I’m Pete Musto.   Correspondent Lisa Bryant reported this story from Paris. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted her 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   rhetoric – n. language that is intended to influence people and that may not be honest or reasonable us versus them – expression red line – n. appalling – adj. very bad in a way that causes fear, shock or disgust lesbian – n. a woman who is sexually attracted to other women; a female homosexual gay – n. a person and especially a man who is homosexual bisexual – adj. sexually attracted to both men and women transgender – adj. of or relating to people who feel that their true nature does not match their sex at birt

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NASA: Newly Discovered Planets Could Hold Life Forms

For the first time ever, astronomers have discovered a system of seven Earth-sized planets orbiting around a single star. The finding was announced Wednesday by officials from NASA – the U.S. space agency – and other research team members. The discovery was also published in the journal Nature. Scientists said three of the newly discovered planets are in the so-called habitable zone. This is the area around the parent star where a rocky planet is most likely to have liquid water, and possibly life. Thomas Zurbuchen is an associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate in Washington. He said the discovery could play an important role in finding new environments that could support life forms. “Answering the question ‘are we alone’ is a top science priority,” he said. “And finding so many planets like these for the first time in the habitable zone is a remarkable step forward toward that goal.” The new discovery set the record for the most habitable-zone planets found around a single star. These planets outside our solar system are called exoplanets. NASA says the seven new discoveries are just 40 light years away from earth. The planets were observed by NASA’s Spitzer Telescope. NASA says the planets are circling around a small, nearby dwarf star called TRAPPIST-1. The star is not hot like the sun. It is very cool, meaning liquid water could survive on planets orbiting close to it.  Scientists say further study is needed to determine whether these rocky, terrestrial planets could support any life forms. But they agree that the new discovery shows the possibility that many other Earth-size planets could be out there. Thomas Zurbuchen said the latest findings provide valuable information about other worlds and what they may look like. But he added that much remains unknown and will only become clear with future discoveries.   “There’s many things we don’t know - many questions we have that come up when we see these observations. We look at all these animations. Very likely nature is way more beautiful, way more amazing than what we’ve animated here. It’s always that way.”   Sara Seager is a professor of planetary science and physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She said the new exoplanet discoveries gives her great hope for future research about other worlds. “When there’s one, there’s more. And so that’s why I’m so excited to be here today to share it with you. Because with this amazing system, we know that there must be many more potentially life-bearing worlds out there just waiting to be found.” Some of this future research will be completed with the help of new advanced observance tools NASA has yet to launch. One of those is the James Webb Space Telescope – a large infrared telescope with a nearly 7-meter mirror. It is scheduled to launch in October 2018. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on information from NASA and a report from Associated Press. 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   habitable – adj. able to sustain life priority – n. something important needing to be dealt with before other things dwarf – adj. smaller than normal size terrestrial – adj. relating to the Earth, not space potentially – adv. possibility of becoming real infrared – adj. producing or using rays of light that cannot be seen mirror – n. a piece of glass that reflects images  

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Iceland’s President Suggests Banning Pineapple on Pizza

This is What’s Trending Today. The last time this many people were talking about Iceland was in June, when the small country’s soccer team defeated England in the Euro 2016 tournament. People were talking about players like Sigurdsson and Sigthorsson, who each scored goals in the game. Now, many people are talking about Johannesson. That is Gudni Johannesson, the President of Iceland. Johannesson recently visited a high school. One of the students asked him what he thought about pineapple on pizza. According to the Guardian newspaper, Johannesson answered questions on a range of topics, including his favorite soccer team. (Turns out it is Manchester United.) He also said he was “fundamentally opposed” to pineapple on pizza. And he would ban it, if he could. After the news of his opposition to pineapple made news around the world, he clarified his position on his Facebook page. Johannesson wrote: “I like pineapples, just not on pizza.” He then explained that he was glad he did not have the power to ban pineapples from pizza. He said he would not like to live in a country that allowed its president to pass laws just because he did not like something. People are still talking about pineapple on pizza, however. They wrote messages on Johannesson’s Facebook page in both English and Icelandic. One person wrote: “Thank you for saying out loud that pineapples shouldn’t be allowed on pizzas!” Another wrote: “I love pineapple on pizza, but I applaud your attitude to government.” And still another endorsed his support of Manchester United. One radio program in Canada interviewed Sam Panopoulos. He is a Greek immigrant credited with adding pineapple to pizza. He said in the 1950s and 1960s, nobody in Canada was eating very much pizza. And no one was mixing sweet and sour flavors. Panopoulos said “it was plain, plain food.” But after he started putting pineapple on pizza, everything changed. Pizza became more interesting. He sold pineapple pizza at his restaurant in Ontario, Canada for the next 40 or 45 years. “You can put whatever you want on it, and everybody eats it,” he said. Now, we can thank the President of Iceland for the lesson on the history of pineapples on pizza. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think of pineapples on pizza? Let us know in the comments section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   according to – prep. as stated, reported, or recorded by (someone or something)​ range – n. a group or collection of different things or people that are usually similar in some way​ topic – n. someone or something that people talk or write about ​ fundamentally – adv.  at the most basic level​ clarify – v. to make (something) clear or clearer​ tournament – n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days applaud – v. to express approval of or support for (something or someone) endorse – v. to publicly or officially say that you support or approve of (someone or something) plain – adj. not having any added or extra things interview – n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information for a news story​ credit – v. to say that (something) is because of someone or something​  

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Websites to Find Free Ebooks

  Have you wanted to try an ebook? Would you like to keep ebooks handy to read on your phone or tablet? Has the cost of ebooks stopped you? Well, there are ebooks out there that you can download some books without spending any money at all. Several websites offer free ebooks. Others share information about where to find free or discounted ebooks. There are several reasons some ebooks are free. In some cases, the book’s copyright has expired. In other cases, writers offer books for free to grow a readership. Often a free ebook will be the first in a series. The writer hopes you will like the first book enough to buy those that follow. When you find a free ebook you want to read, get it right away. Often the offer is open only briefly. If you wait too long, you may discover the book now has a price attached. Be careful of websites that offer free ebook files to download directly from the site. These files could have malware designed to infect your computer. For example, be suspicious if a best-selling novel is available free on an unfamiliar website. It is best not to download ebooks, or any file, from an unknown site. Some free ebook sites offer referral links to other websites so you can download the free ebooks there. These referral sites help you find free ebooks of interest to you. They also let you know when an ebook is free or goes on sale. Amazon Amazon is filled with free Kindle ebooks you can download, if you know where to look. Check out Amazon's Best Selling Free Kindle Books, a list of the top 100 free ebooks on Amazon. This list changes constantly, based on how well the books are "selling" and whether they become or remain free. Amazon's Best Seller list is divided into Paid and Free. Check out the free sections in dozens of genres, such as: Non-fiction Business and investing History Foreign Language Computers and Technology Romance Teens and Young Adults Each genre lists the Top 100 free ebooks so you will have a lot of choices. Prime Reading If you are a member of Amazon Prime in the United States you can download free Kindle books through its program called Prime Reading.         The ebook has to be eligible for the Prime Reading program. You can keep the book as long as you want, as long as you remain a member of Amazon Prime. When you want to download a Prime Reading Kindle book from Amazon, click the "Read for Free" button to download it. Prime Reading also includes magazines to download for free. To learn more, check out the Amazon Prime Reading page. OverDrive Amazon is not your only source for free ebooks. OverDrive is an ebook service that works with local libraries to lend free ebooks to readers. If your library is a member of OverDrive, you can borrow free ebooks, without even having to go to the library.       OverDrive includes a wide collection of ebooks, from new best sellers to classics. Sometimes there is a wait for a library ebook, just as there can be for a popular print book. Project Gutenberg Started in 1971, Project Gutenberg has over 53,000 free ebooks. Their website is filled with books that are no longer protected by copyright and are available to download for free. Project Gutenberg books are available to download in the U.S. but may be restricted in other countries if they are still protected by copyright. You can also check out its partner sites in other countries. Apple iBooks You can read free ebooks on your iPhone and iPad using the​ iBooks app. After you download the app, head to the iTunes App Store and click the “Free Books” category. You can see a list of the top best sellers in the free category of books.         Click "Get" to download those books to your phone or iPad. Google Play Store Check out Google Play Store's Free Best Sellers to find popular books that will not cost anything.               You can also search by genre, such as Fiction & Literature Cooking, Food & Wine Science & Math Books in Spanish and many more. Ebooks from the Google Play store can be read on Android devices using the Google Play Books app. Audible Audible lets you download audio books, a different kind of ebook you listen to. You can get a free audiobook when you sign up for a trial membership. An Audible member can also give you an audiobook.       Audible members are permitted to send one copy of each audiobook in their Audible library free to a friend. If a friend of yours is an Audible member and has enjoyed a book, ask him or her to send it to you so you can listen to it too. Each listener can receive one free audiobook from a friend. This audiobook program is currently available for listeners in the U.S. BookBub BookBub is a subscription service to let you know about ebooks that go free or are on sale. You can get daily emails to alert you about free and discounted books, and choose which books you want to hear about. Select from different formats (Kindle, iBook, Nook, etc.) and genres (fiction, mysteries, biographies, etc.).                         The BookBub site has a "no spam" guarantee for your email address. BookBub is available for readers in the U.S., United Kingdom, Canada, India, and Australia. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I’m Bruce Alpert. Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Have you ever read a free ebook? Do you have some ebooks to read when you have spare time? Which sites do you use to find free ebooks? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ebook - n. a book that is read on a computer or other electronic device discount - n. a price reduction copyright  - n. the legal right to be the only one to reproduce, publish, and sell a book, musical recording, etc., for a certain period of time​ malware - n.  software program designed to damage a computer system infect - v. to cause (a computer or computer file) to stop working as it should referral - n. the act of sending someone to another person or place genre - n. a particular type or category of literature or art eligible - adj. able to be chosen for something audiobook - n. a recording of a reading of a book  

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China Building Missile Structures in South China Sea

China has almost finished building more than twenty structures on artificial islands in the South China Sea. Two American officials told Reuters that the structures appear designed to hold long-range surface-to-air missiles. The latest development is likely to raise questions about what, if anything, the United States might do to answer China’s actions. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson spoke about the issue in January during his Senate confirmation hearing. He said China should be barred from the islands it has built in the South China Sea. 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 permitted.” This week, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group began what the U.S. called “routine operations” in the area. A Navy spokesman said the group would contribute to “freedom of navigation and lawful use of the sea.” China claims most of the waters of the South China Sea. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam also have claims. So does the government in Taiwan. China has already built military airstrips on Subi, Mischief and Fiery Cross reefs of the Spratly Islands. The new concrete structures appear to be 20 meters long and 10 meters high. The roofs of the structures appear to be able to open and close. A U.S. intelligence officer told Reuters the structures look like others that hold surface-to-air missiles. So, the officer said “the logical conclusion is that's what they are for.” Reactions to report of new structures In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Wednesday he knew of the report about the structures. He said it was a normal right under international law for a nation to build on its territory and to deploy “territorial defense facilities.” He did not provide more details. Greg Poling is a South China Sea expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. He said in a report last December that China had put weapons on all seven of its artificial islands. He said such weapons include anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems. He said the new structures would expand China's air defense over the islands. "It certainly raises the tension," Poling said. "The Chinese have gotten good at these steady increases in their capabilities." Reuters reported that the U.S. intelligence official it spoke to said the structures did not create much of a military threat to U.S. forces. He said the building project appeared to be more of a political test for the Trump administration. On Tuesday, the Philippine Foreign Secretary called China's placement of weapons in the South China Sea "very unsettling.” He said the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN, hoped China and the United States would ensure peace and stability in the area. I’m Pat Bodnar.   Hai Do adapted this story from Reuters for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   range - n. a specified distance routine - n. a regular way of doing things concrete - n. a hard, strong material that is used for building and made by mixing cement, sand, rocks and water logical - adj. sensible or reasonable facilities - n. something built for for a specific purpose stability - n. the quality or state of being stable  

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UN: Time ‘Running Out’ for 1.4 Million Starving Children

The United Nations Children’s Fund says about 1.4 million children face death from starvation in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. UNICEF issued the warning with an appeal to the world for help to feed these children. Anthony Lake is UNICEF’s executive director. He said, “Time is running out. We must not repeat the tragedy of the 2011 famine in the Horn of Africa.” The UN reported that 260,000 people lost their lives in that famine. Lake described the famine and malnutrition in the four nations today as “largely man-made.”  UNICEF reports more than 250,000 children South Sudan are severely malnourished. It says hundreds of thousands more are at risk of the same. South Sudan is experiencing the worst hunger situation since civil war began there in 2013. Famine has been officially declared in two areas of Unity State. Challiss McDonough is spokesperson for the World Food Program in East Africa. “You have got nutrition rates that are astronomical, you have got people with very limited access to food, the mortality rate is above the level that’s required, so they have announced that although you have got a bad food security situation throughout the country, that in those two specific counties, things are about as bad as they can get.” McDonough and other UN officials blame the continued civil war in South Sudan, along with a collapsing economy, high food prices and low agricultural production. “If we had peace and could work on agricultural development, then yes, in the long run, there is enormous potential for South Sudanese agriculture. But you can't farm when you are fighting, or you can't farm when it is not safe to go into your fields because somebody else is fighting.” The United Nations said 450,000 children in northeast Nigeria are also facing severe malnutrition. The Famine Early Warning System Network, or FEWS NET, said attacks by Boko Haram militants have made it hard to transport food. In Yemen, UNICEF says it is providing help for 320,000 children, but that much more help is needed. FEWS NET says the continuing military conflict there has interfered with food supplies. The U.N. estimates that half of Somalia's population, 6.2 million people, is threatened by drought following two failed rainy seasons. It says Puntland and Somaliland are the hardest hit areas. UNICEF said children were the country’s most vulnerable people. A UNICEF spokesman said the number of young suffering from severe acute malnutrition in Somalia "is expected to rise to 270,000 in the next few months." Farm animals are dying in large numbers. In Somaliland, the drought has killed more than 10 million goats and sheep. Farmer Mohamud Ibrahim Yassin says few of his 150 animals can make the 20-kilometer walk from his farm to water. He says most are too weak to complete the walk and are too skinny to sell. “If we get rain, they will survive, but if there is no rain, I don’t think they will survive,” he said. I’m Caty Weaver.   Bruce Alpert adapted this story for Learning English from reports by Jason Patinkin and Jill Craig for VOANews. Caty Weaver 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   famine - n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat disrupt -- v. to interfered with normal activities shortage - n. not enough county - n. an area of a state or country that is larger than a city and has its own government to deal with local matters enormous - adj. very large potential - n. capable of becoming real skinny - adj. too thin

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February 22, 2017

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

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Malaysia: Suspects Were Trained, N. Korean Diplomat Sought

Editor's Note: An audio to accompany this story will be added when it is available.   Malaysian police say the two women suspected of poisoning the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had been trained. Police also are seeking two more suspects including a North Korean diplomat. At least one of the women arrested in connection with the death of Kim Jong Nam has stated that she was tricked into attacking him at an airport in Kuala Lumpur. The woman told Malaysian police she believed the attack was part of an act for a reality television program. Malaysian police say women knew what they were doing "We strongly believe it is a planned thing and that they have been trained to do that," Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters. "This is not just like shooting a movie." Security camera video from the airport shows one of the women seizing Kim from behind and forcibly holding something over his face. He sought help from an airport service desk before he died. Khalid said it was clear from the video that the woman is holding her hands away from herself as she walks away from Kim and toward a washroom. He said she knew very well that whatever she had held was poisonous and she needed to wash her hands. However, experts in poison say it is unclear how the woman could not also have been affected if she were using a highly dangerous substance. Two other people have already been arrested in connection with the attack. Malaysian officials say they are looking for additional suspects. Police seek additional suspects Khalid said police are now seeking a North Korean diplomat Hyon Kwang Song who serves as the second secretary at the country's embassy in Kuala Lumpur. Another suspect, Kim Uk Il, is an employee of North Korea's state-owned airline company, Air Koryo. A North Korean embassy statement rejected Khalid's claims. The statement questioned how the women would still be alive if they had a poisonous substance on their hands. It also called on Malaysia to release the two and a North Korean citizen who are being detained. Heart attack or wounds ruled out Malaysian health officials have examined Kim’s remains. Officials have said they are waiting on the results of laboratory tests before announcing his cause of death. The director of general health at Malaysia’s health ministry said on Tuesday the exam showed no evidence of a heart attack or anything that suggested wounds to the body. Earlier this week, North Korea's ambassador to Kuala Lumpur, Kang Chol, called for a joint investigation of the death. He told reporters that North Korea "cannot trust the investigation by the Malaysian police." Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak says his country had no reason "to paint the North Koreans in a bad light." He also expressed “absolute confidence” in the objectivity of the investigation. The two women have been identified as Siti Aisyah, an Indonesian, and a woman with a Vietnamese passport in the name of Doan Thi Huong. The father of Doan Thi Huong spoke with VOA's Vietnamese service about his daughter’s suspected involvement in the death of Kim Jong Nam. "I couldn't know what she did," Doan Van Thanh told VOA. “We can't. She didn't even let us know where she goes. She did get home on January 25 and left four days later. She left and we know nothing since then,” Doan added. He described his daughter as “a good and hard-working girl. She's not a bad girl.” Kim Jong Nam and his younger brother, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, are sons of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. However, they had different mothers. Many people thought the older brother would lead the country after Kim Jong Il left power. However, Kim Jong Nam fell from favor with his father in 2001. That year, he attempted to enter Japan with a false passport, reportedly to visit Tokyo Disneyland. Since that time, he has lived mainly in the Chinese territory of Macau. South Korea's spy agency says Kim Jong Un approved a "standing order" for his half-brother's assassination after taking power. Kim Jong Nam was reportedly considered a threat to his half-brother’s rule because of his criticism of the North Korean leadership. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Chris Hannas reported on this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   desk – n. a stand at which a person works absolute – adj. complete; without restrictions or exceptions confidence – n. trust; belief that one will act in a right or effective way fell out of favor – expression to once be considered very good but no longer so assassination – n. to kill someone, usually for political reasons   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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February 21, 2017

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

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