Latest Flooding in Peru Turns Deadly

  Fast-moving water spilled onto streets and into homes on Thursday during intense rainstorms in Lima, Peru’s capital. The heavy rains killed at least 12 people in Peru, the Associated Press reported. It said the water, much of it dirty, now threatens to flood the city. Peruvian officials said on Thursday they expect the extreme weather to continue for another two weeks. Weather experts are blaming the intense rains on the weather event called El Niño. It produces a warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. To date, the storms are reported to have killed more than 60 people and destroyed 12,000 homes across Peru this year. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas. He said the government is prepared to provide shelter and assistance to those left homeless by the storms. Schools nationwide have suspended classes. In the past three days, the rains and mudslides have brought severe destruction to Peru. And, the storms have caught people in Lima by surprise. The city, where it almost never rains, is home to 10 million people.   One extreme incident happened about 50 kilometers south of downtown Lima. Shocked city residents watched and captured video on their mobile phones as a woman escaped from a mixture of mud, wood and farm animals. Evangelina Chamorro had just left her two daughters at school when, soon after, she and her husband were pulled into a landslide. They were feeding their pigs when the landslide seized control of them. Armando Rivera, Chamorro's husband, told a Peruvian radio station that he and his wife climbed a tree but the tree broke in two. They held on to each other's hands, but Chamorro eventually lost hold and got separated. Then, Chamorro appeared near a bridge, lifting herself from a flood of debris and walking toward land covered head to toe in mud. "There's a person there!" an observer cried out. Chamorro collapsed as she reached land and was quickly carried by several men to an emergency vehicle. She suffered only minor injuries. Last week, during heavy rainfall, more than 15 people were killed when a bus fell into a ravine in central Peru, Alliance France-Presse  reported. This week in Lima, the rising Huaycoloro River washed away two trucks and nearly destroyed a bridge. Seven of the nation's most dangerous criminals were temporarily transported to another detention center after a river near the prison threatened to overflow. President Kuczynski said in a statement Wednesday that Peruvians should not take unnecessary risks. He urged them to avoid flooded roads and weak bridges. I’m Alice Bryant.   The Associated Press, Alliance France-Presse and United Press International reported on this story. Alice Bryant adapted the information 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   mudslide - n. landslide mud - n. soft, wet earth debris - n. the pieces that are left after something has been destroyed ravine - n. a small, narrow valley

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March 17, 2017

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

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English @ the Movies: 'I'm From A Different Planet'

Today on English @ the Movies we talk about the saying "I'm from a different planet." It is from the movie "The Space Between Us." It is about a boy who grows up on Mars, but falls for a girl on Earth. What do you think "I'm from a different planet" means? Watch our video and find out!

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News Words: Confront

What is the meaning of the word confront? Find out in this week's News Words.

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European Populism Suffers Setback in Dutch Election

  A Dutch political party known for its anti-Muslim statements has failed to win the most seats in parliamentary elections in the Netherlands. The Party for Freedom, or PVV, led by Geert Wilders, won the second most seats in parliament. It was second behind the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, or VVD, of Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Recent opinion surveys had suggested Wilders’ Party for Freedom might have had enough support to gain a plurality, or the most seats in parliament. With most votes counted for the 150-seat legislature, the VVD had 33 seats. That is eight fewer seats than in the previous election in 2012. The Party for Freedom won 20 seats, gaining five since the last election. The Christian Democrats and progressive D66 party won 19 seats each. Thirteen parties won seats in parliament. The results mean Prime Minister Rutte will begin talks with other parties to form a coalition government. Until now, he has rejected the possibility of working with Wilders and his Party for Freedom. “Now we are the 2nd largest party,” Wilders tweeted about the results. “Next time we will be number 1." Wilders campaigned for strong limits on immigration. He also called for pulling the Netherlands out of the European Union and frequently spoke out against Muslims. He proposed shutting down mosques and banning the Koran across the country. The Koran is the Muslim holy book.   Other candidates have denounced Wilders’ strong language against Muslims and immigration. However, most support policies that limit immigration in the Netherlands. The results were seen as a setback for European populist movements that strengthened after a migrant crisis hit many countries.   Political observers believe a win for Wilders may have helped France’s far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. Her public support is nearly equal to more moderate candidate Emmanuel Macron before a first round of elections next month. Le Pen’s National Front party has called for anti-immigration policies to win voter support. It has spoken out against Muslim immigration after several major terrorist attacks hit France. Macron said the voting in the Netherlands showed that “a breakthrough for the extreme right is not a foregone conclusion.” He said he believes progressive candidates are now gaining momentum in Europe. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union party suffered a political setback in elections last year. The losses were blamed partly on her decision to accept more than one million refugees during Europe’s migrant crisis. Growing anti-immigrant feelings in Germany have fueled support for the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party (AfD).  Merkel will seek re-election in September. She reacted to the Dutch elections by calling the outcome “a very pro-European result” and “a good day for democracy.” The head of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, said Dutch voters confirmed the importance of European values for “free and tolerant societies.” In a letter to the Dutch prime minister, Juncker said he looked forward to continuing good working relations, “in particular our work on the future of Europe.” I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on material from the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think the Dutch election result sends a message about upcoming voting in other European nations? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story foregone – adj. something in the future that is sure to happen or be true momentum – n. strength or force that allows something to continue or grow tolerant – adj. able to accept feelings or beliefs that are different from your own  

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Some People Want to #BoycottHawaii

  This is What’s Trending Today. Hawaii was the 50th state added to the United States. It joined the U.S. in 1959. Before that, it was a U.S. territory. Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. It is made up of eight islands, including Oahu, Maui and the largest island, called Hawaii. Hawaii is known for its unique culture, beautiful rainforests, volcanoes and sandy beaches. Many Americans like to visit Hawaii on vacation. But people now say they will not travel to Hawaii. The hashtag #BoycottHawaii is trending on Twitter. The online call for a boycott began on Wednesday evening. That is when a federal judge in Hawaii froze President Trump’s executive order banning visitors to the U.S. from six mostly Muslim countries for 90 days. The ban prevents all refugees from entering the United States for 120 days. Judge Derrick Watson said the president’s order discriminated against Muslims, and likely violated the U.S. Constitution. He described the order as “fundamentally flawed.” A federal judge in Maryland supported Watson’s decision on Thursday. That judge said the order was an attempt to ban Muslims from coming to the U.S. Supporters of the president are saying on social media that people should protest Judge Watson’s decision by not traveling to Hawaii. For example, one Trump supporter asked: “Why should Hawaii … control who can come in? I don’t think so!” He said Hawaii is too far away from the rest of the U.S. to be able to make such big decisions.  Others wondered if they should make plans to visit other beaches, instead of those in Hawaii. A user named Theresa said she was making plans to visit Florida.    But, many people supported the judges’ rulings. They, too, used the hashtag #BoycottHawaii on Twitter to express their opinions. Some Twitter users celebrated the fact that Trump supporters would not visit Hawaii anytime soon. They said that would make Hawaii even nicer and more enjoyable. Actor Jeffrey Wright wrote, “Kids, pack everything. We’re moving to the North Shore.”    The North Shore is on the Hawaiian island of Oahu. Some people said Judge Watson put the U.S. in danger by rejecting Trump’s ban. They said people in Hawaii do not have the same concerns about safety as other Americans do. But, one political writer asked if some Twitter users have forgotten what happened on December 7, 1941, during the Second World War. That is when the U.S. Navy, in Pearl Harbor, near Hawaii’s capital Honolulu, was attacked by Japan. That day, more than 2,000 Americans were killed. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Will you plan a trip to Hawaii sometime soon? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story territory – n. an area of land that belongs to or is controlled by a government unique – adj. used to say that something or someone is unlike anything or anyone else executive order – n. an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law flaw – n. a small physical problem (such as a crack) that makes something less valuable echo – v. to have a feature or quality that repeats or resembles (something else) discriminate – v. to unfairly treat a person or group of people differently from other people or groups

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After 35 years, Music Lovers Again Hear a Rare Violin

  A valuable musical instrument was played recently in its first public performance since being rediscovered in 2015. The instrument, a Stradivarius violin, had been stolen and was missing for 35 years. The violin has a long history. It was made in the 18th Century. Later, the instrument belonged to Roman Totenberg, a Polish-born virtuoso violinist. He died before the violin was rediscovered. Now, the violin belongs to one of his daughters and its sound is again being heard. This week, one of Totenberg’s former students, Mira Wang, played the instrument for the first time since its rediscovery. She spoke about her teacher, the violin’s former owner. "I think Roman was one of the most important men I have met as a teacher, and also he was almost like a mentor to me.  And I came from China, I didn't know anybody, and he took me really in as a student and into his family.” Totenberg’s three daughters all agreed that Mira Wang should perform with the Stradivarius. Amy Totenberg says the former student was close to her father. "She was my father's protégé. He's certainly had many beloved students but she was so close, and to all of us, to him." Antonio Stradivari made the instrument in 1734. Roman Totenberg played the violin for almost 40 years. He performed on many famous concert stages around the world. Totenberg died in 2012 at the age of 101. The Stradivarius was taken from his dressing room after a show. Daughter Nina Totenberg remembers what happened. "He was greeting well-wishers afterwards and when he turned around to go back and get the violin, it was gone. And they found the case thrown down the stairs in the place where the concert had been and they called the police and the FBI came." The disappearance of the violin remained a mystery for 35 years. Then, the former wife of the man who stole the instrument tried to sell it to a violin specialist who identified it. The former husband had once been a student of Totenberg. In 2015, the Stradivarius was returned to Totenberg’s three daughters. They had it restored to playing condition. Wang said it was an honor to be the first to play the violin again. "It means a great deal to me that I can use the violin, to be the first one who would bring it to the public. There's joy, there is a lot of sorrow that he could never see this or hear this and I wish he was with us." The Totenberg sisters say they will sell the violin to a performer or a group. They want the instrument to again be heard by listeners around the world. Rare instruments also are musical treasures. In 2011, a Stradivarius violin sold for more than $15 million. I’m Mario Ritter. Deborah Block reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story mentor – n. a teacher or someone who helps and gives advice to someone who is less experienced protégé – n. a student who is taught and helped by someone with experience virtuoso – n. a skilled musical performer; one skilled in or having a taste for fine arts restore – v. to repair; to bring back into existence or use

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Scientists Race to Save World's Coral Reefs

Just a year ago, the colors were bright under the waves. Now the Maldivian reef is dead, the coral killed by the pressure of rising ocean temperatures. What is left is gray, a scene repeated in reefs around the world. Coral reefs are areas underwater where small creatures live. The coral is hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of those creatures. Usually brightly colored fishes swim among the coral. The world has lost about half its coral reefs in the last 30 years. Scientists are working to prevent their destruction. The health of the planet depends on it. "This isn't something that's going to happen 100 years from now. We're losing them right now," said marine biologist Julia Baum of Canada's University of Victoria. "We're losing them really quickly, much more quickly than I think any of us ever could have imagined." Scientists say global warming is causing the rising ocean temperatures. Global warming is the heating of the planet, which most scientists say is caused by harmful carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases released into the air by human activities. The gases trap heat on the planet and its oceans, causing temperatures to rise. Even if global warming stopped now, scientists still expect that more than 90 percent of corals will die by 2050. Without serious efforts to help the coral, there is the risk of losing all of them. "To lose coral reefs is to fundamentally undermine the health of a very large proportion of the human race," said Ruth Gates, director of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Why are coral reefs important? Coral reefs support a fourth of all marine species, as well as half a billion people worldwide. The reefs produce some of the oxygen we breathe. They serve as barriers, or walls, to protect coastlines from the storms. They provide billions of dollars from tourism, fishing and other trade. They are also used in medical research for cures for diseases including cancer, arthritis and infections. "Whether you're living in North America or Europe or Australia, you should be concerned," said biologist Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, at Australia's University of Queensland. "This is not just some distant dive destination, a holiday destination. This is the fabric of the ecosystem that supports us." “Bleaching” A temperature of just one to two degrees Celsius, can force coral to expel the algae that live there. This leaves their white skeletons uncovered. It is a process called “bleaching.” When the water cools, the bleached coral can recover. But when the water rises in temperature, the coral will die. Sixteen percent of the world’s corals died of bleaching in 1998. The problem became much worse in 2015-2016. That is when the El Nino, a natural weather pattern, warmed Pacific Ocean waters near the equator. The bleaching continues today, even after the El Nino ended. While stories have been written about damage to Australia’s famous Great Barrier Reef, other reefs have also suffered, from Japan to Hawaii and Florida. Julia Baum, the University of Victoria biologist, said the central Pacific has been hit the worst. She has been working, there on Kiritimati, or Christmas Island. For ten months between 2015 and 2016 the water temperatures were warmer and 90 percent of the reef died. Now the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists are predicting another round of increased ocean temperatures starting next month. They say models show the return of bleaching in the South Pacific soon, along with the possibility of bleaching in parts of the Indian Ocean. It might not be as bad last year, but it could damage reefs that are still hurting from the last two years. Some help ahead  Last month, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg helped start a program called 50 reefs. The program wants to educate the public on the issue and to protect the reefs from pollution, overfishing and coastal development. Other scientists are working on experiments they hope will stop the possible final disappearance of corals. "We've lost 50 percent of the reefs, but that means we still have 50 percent left," said Ruth Gates, who is working in Hawaii to breed corals that can better withstand increasing temperatures. She is also trying to "train" corals to survive rising temperatures. Gates says it is time to start “thinking outside the box.” In other words, it is time to come up with creative ways to help the coral. I’m Anne Ball. And I'm Kevin Turner.    Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English from the Associated Press report. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and find us on Facebook. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   marine – adj. of or relating to the sea or the plants and animals that live in the sea undermine – v. to make (someone or something) weaker or less effective usually in a secret or gradual way proportion – n. an amount that is a part of a whole dive – v. to jump into water with your arms and head going in first fabric – n. material or the basic structure of something algae – n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water equator – n. an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole breed – v. to keep and take care of animals or plants in order to produce more animals or plants of a particular kind

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Imprecise Noun Phrases in Conversation

Imagine you hear a group of American teenagers talking. One teenager has received a gift, and his friends are a little jealous. Where did you get that new video game? Yeah! It's expensive - it costs like thirty dollars or something! My mom got it for me. You're lucky – she's always buying you games and stuff like that! In today's report, we are going to learn about video games. Just joking! In fact, we are going to teach you how Americans use certain phrases to show they are uncertain. Sometimes they use these phrases to shorten their sentences, too. These phrases are sometimes called coordination tags. What are coordination tags? In conversation, Americans often use imprecise nouns. Imprecise nouns are nouns that do not represent an exact person or object. Sometimes Americans use these imprecise nouns in phrases. Americans use them to show that they have not identified exactly the noun they are thinking of. Rather than listing a long series of nouns, speakers will often use one noun and then use a coordination tag to show that there are other possible nouns they could have said. So, what do these coordination tags look like? Three common coordination tags Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are English grammar experts. They write that there are three common coordination tags in conversation. These include or something like that, and things like that, as well as and stuff like that. The words like that can be optional. Sometimes speakers will say them; sometimes they will not. #1 or something (like that) The first common coordination tag is the phrase or something like that. Speakers generally use this phrase when the earlier noun is not exactly what the speaker meant, say Conrad and Biber. Here's an example. Imagine you are listening to strange electronic music. A friend might tell you this: "It sounds like a science fiction movie or something like that." The speaker uses the coordination tag because he thinks that the noun, science fiction movie, is not quite the right noun for the situation. The speaker is able to make a statement while expressing some uncertainty about that statement. #2 and things (like that) The second common coordination tag is the phrase and things like that. Americans generally use this when there are unstated nouns that could be added to the earlier noun. Sometimes speakers will use this to move through a sentence quickly, to avoid listing all of the exact nouns. Consider this example. Imagine you are at a college and a student is telling you about all of the majors at the school of fine arts. "We have a master of arts in painting and things like that." Why did the speaker say and things like that? She used it mainly to shorten the length of her sentence without limiting its meaning too severely. Perhaps she felt that listing every degree at the school would bore the person listening to her. Or perhaps she does not care very much about all of the majors at the school. Regardless of the speaker's opinion, the basic point is this: and things like that is a way to express that there is a long list of exact nouns. #3 and stuff (like that) The third common coordination tag is the phrase and stuff like that. As with things like that Americans use this when there are some unstated nouns. Sometimes speakers will use and stuff like that to refer to nouns that are objects. For example, you might hear an American say, "The restaurant has hamburgers and hot dogs and stuff like that." Here, the speaker is suggesting that the restaurant has common American foods -- hamburgers and hot dogs, most notably. You will notice that the construction and stuff like that has an almost identical meaning to and things like that. They both mean that there are unstated nouns that should be added to the earlier noun. In conversation the phrases things like that and stuff like that are basically the same. What can you do? Now let's think back to the conversation from the beginning of the story. Where did you get that new video game? Yeah! It's expensive - it costs like thirty dollars or something! My mom got it for me. You're lucky – she's always buying you games and stuff like that! You will notice the two examples of coordination tags have slightly different meanings. The first example, or something, shows that the speaker does not know the exact price of the video game. The speaker is able to express some amount of uncertainty while making a statement. The second example, and stuff like that, shows a different meaning: the game was one of a series of gifts that the lucky teenager has received! The coordination tags we have explored today are not only useful in everyday conversation. They can be useful in written communication such as emails or text messages to friends, too. We do not advise using these structures in formal speaking or writing. In general, formal situations call for more exact language. While you might say "We have a master of arts in painting and stuff like that" to a friend who visits your college, you should not say it in a speech to officials at your college. In that setting, it would be better to say "We have a master of arts in painting and many other degrees" or "We have a master of arts in painting, drawing, and filmmaking," for example. The next time you are watching an American film or television show, try to listen for when the speakers use coordination tags like the ones you heard in today's report. Try to listen for other coordination tags, and ask yourself what they might mean. In future Everyday Grammar programs, we will explore parts of speech and other stuff like that. I'm John Russell. And I'm Alice Brant.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   expensive – adj. costing a lot of money phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence coordination tag – n. grammar words that show that the speaker has not exactly identified the noun they are thinking of conversation – n. an informal talk involving two people or a small group of people imprecise – adj. not clear or exact  optional – adj. available as a choice but not required quite – adv. exactly or precisely uncertainty – n. something that is doubtful or unknown construction – n. the way words in a sentence or phrase are arranged formal – adj. suitable for serious or official speech and writing  

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China: Trade War With US Would Harm Both Nations

China is warning about the possible effects of a trade war with the United States. The warning comes as the world’s two biggest economies take steps to improve relations under the presidency of Donald Trump.  Chinese Premier Li Keqiang spoke to news reporters earlier this week in Beijing. He talked about reasons for the two countries to have good relations. He said he was optimistic about ties, but warned that a trade war would hurt American businesses. “We do not want to see any trade war breaking out between the two countries,” Li said. “That would not make our trade fairer and would harm both sides. Our hope on the Chinese side is that no matter what bumps the China-U.S. relationship hits, we hope it will continue to move forward in a positive direction.” Getting personal Recently, Chinese state media have been publishing many stories in support of Li’s position on trade. Some have noted that Trump’s businesses would grow as a result of better economic relations with China. One opinion piece noted the many business interests The Trump Organization has in China. The comments were published in the Communist Party-supported Global Times newspaper. The comments noted the Chinese government’s “preliminary approval” of more than 30 Trump trademarks. Observers were surprised at the approval of so many trademark requests at one time. The requests involved businesses such as golf clubs, hotels and restaurants. The Global Times report agreed with Li that American businesses would suffer if there was a trade war. It said “Trump’s position as U.S. president would not (protect) his business(es) from a trade war with China.” It said his businesses would be harmed just as any other American company would be if relations worsened. The report said Trump’s political skills will be tested by how he works to keep his promise to put “America First” while keeping good relations with China. Tough talk During the 2016 election campaign and since he took office, Trump has strongly criticized China. This has worried Chinese officials. Trump has talked about many issues, including trade, China’s activities in the South China Sea and China’s relations with North Korea. But China is most worried about his threats to name it as a currency manipulator and to require large taxes on Chinese exports to the United States. He has not taken those actions yet. But in April, the U.S. Treasury Department will release a report on currency actions. This all worries Chinese officials even though the two nations are opening contacts with one another. There were reports this week that Trump and Chinese President Xi Jin-Ping could meet in early April. On Saturday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make his first trip to Beijing. Fairer trade This week, Acting Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton told CNBC television that Tillerson would talk about fair trade. “While we have a very important economic relationship with China, it hasn’t been a level playing field vis-à-vis U.S. companies and U.S. interests,” Thornton said. “We are going to be insisting that there be fair trade measures that be put in place and that be observed and implemented.” Last year, the U.S. trade deficit with China was $347 billion. That was only a little less than the trade deficit in 2015. Li told reporters that China would continue to open up its economy. He said American companies and others were already benefiting. “We may have different statistical methods, but I believe whatever differences we may have, we can always sit down and talk to each other, and work together to reach consensus,” Li said. He said trade and investment between the two countries created more than one million jobs in the United States last year. I’m Caty Weaver.   VOA Correspondent Bill Ide reported this story from Beijing. John Smith adapted his reporting 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   optimistic – adj. having or showing hope for the future; expecting good things to happen bump – n. something that slows the progress of a plan or relationship (often used figuratively in American English) trademark – n. something (such as a word) that identifies a particular company's product and cannot be used by another company without permission currency manipulator – n. a country that takes part in currency intervention or foreign exchange market intervention by putting in place a monetary policy in which the government or the central bank buys or sells foreign currency in exchange for their own domestic currency, usually to influence the exchange rate level playing field – n. a state in which conditions in a competition or situation are fair for everyone vis-à-vis – preposition in relation to; with regard to insist – v. to demand that something happen or that someone do something implement – v. to begin to do or use (something, such as a plan); to make (something) active or effective statistical – adj. relating to numbers that represent a piece of information (such as information about how often something is done, how common something is, etc.) consensus – n. a general agreement about something; an idea or opinion that is shared by all the people in a group    

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March 16, 2017

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

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