Philippine President Orders Military to Seize Islands in South China Sea

  Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered troops to seize and occupy unpopulated islands that his country claims in the South China Sea. Duterte said that he may visit a Philippine-controlled island in the sea to raise the national flag. “The unoccupied, which are ours, let’s live on it,” Duterte told reporters Thursday during a visit to a military camp in Palawan, near the disputed waters. "It looks like everyone is making a grab for the islands there,” he continued. “So we better live on those that are still unoccupied. What's ours now, we claim it and make a strong point from there." Duterte’s plan is likely to anger Chinese officials. China claims almost all of the South China Sea. China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei and Vietnam claim all or parts of the sea. This has led to disputes between China and some of its neighbors. Each year, an estimated five trillion dollars in trade passes through the waterway. Duterte’s comments came just before the opening of talks between the presidents of China and the United States. The two leaders, Xi Jinping and Donald Trump, are meeting in Florida. China's claims in the South China Sea were to be among the issues discussed. The U.S. State Department did not comment on Duterte's comments. However, in the past it has urged countries with competing claims in the area to reduce tensions and find a solution to their differences. Duterte announced his "separation" from the United States in October 2016. He also said the Philippines and China had agreed to work together. The two nations agreed to resolve their South China Sea dispute through talks.   Duterte's efforts to work with China marked a major change in foreign policy. The Philippines occupies nine "features," or islands and coral reefs, in the South China Sea. They include a World War 2 transport ship that struck a shoal in the late 1990s. Bonnie Glaser is an Asia expert at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies. She compared the Philippine leader’s latest comments to statements he made as a presidential candidate. Duterte once joked that he would ride a jet ski to a Chinese man-made island in the South China Sea to strengthen his country’s claim to the territory. Glaser told Reuters news agency that “Duterte seems to be under great domestic pressure and criticism” on issues connected to the South China Sea. She said his comments may have been driven by Philippine politics, not international politics. Duterte also said he might visit Thitu, the largest of the Philippine-controlled islands in the Spratly archipelago. He said he would build housing for servicemen operating in the area. Thitu is close to Subi Reef. Subi is one of seven man-made islands in the Spratlys that China is accused of developing for its forces. Duterte said last month there was no good reason to dispute China's activities on the man-made islands. He also made fun of the media for taking his jet-ski comments seriously. “We cannot stop them because they are building it with their mind fixed that they own the place. China will go to war," he said. I’m Caty Weaver. Reporter Manuel Mogato in Manila wrote this story for the Reuters news agency. Ashley Thompson adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   grab - n. the act of taking something in a forceful or illegal way shoal - n. a small, raised area of sand just below the surface of the water jet ski - n. ​a small and fast vehicle that is used on water and carries one or two people​ archipelago - n. a group of islands

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Using Discourse Markers in American English

Imagine you are watching an old American movie -- the crime film “Dirty Harry.” You have heard that one part of the film is very famous in American culture. You watch the scene, which sounds like this: You go to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do you, punk? A sudden, strange thought comes to your mind. What is the purpose of the word well? You have heard different English speakers use the word in different ways, but you are not sure what it means. In our Everyday Grammar report, we will explore the common adverb well. We will show you how Americans use it while they are speaking. Do not fear. Unlike an unexpected meeting with Dirty Harry, this report will be painless! What are adverbs? Adverbs are one of the most difficult subjects in English grammar. They are difficult because they represent a large group of words that have different uses. In general, the definition of an adverb is this: a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence. Adverbs are often used to show time, place or a way of doing things. They can also show a degree or measurement of something. Consider the sentence, "I really like English grammar." The adverb really changes the meaning of the verb like. The adverb really increases the force of the statement. There are also sentence adverbs. They limit or describe the meaning of an entire statement. Sentence adverbs also provide more information about the sentence. These are sometimes called conjunctive adverbs or discourse markers. Regardless of the name you choose to call them, the purpose is the same: They connect sentences in the same way coordinating conjunctions do, but they provide a different kind of information. Here is an example. Let’s consider the statement: "I love English; however, I do not love English grammar!" The word however is a conjunctive adverb that shows a contrast or comparison is coming. You can read more about words like these in an earlier Everyday Grammar story called "Contrast and Concession." The case of "well" Today we are considering common conjunctive adverbs, or discourse markers, and how they are used in everyday-speech. Let’s go back to the word well. As you heard at the beginning of today's program, well can have a few different uses. 1.  Well indicates contrast or disagreement The first use is to show a contrast or even a disagreement. Consider this line from the ending of the American film “Some Like It Hot.” "You don't understand, Osgood! I'm a man." "Well, nobody's perfect..." Here, the speaker uses well to show that a contrast is coming. The first speaker, the actor Jack Lemmon, expects the second person to become angry when he states he is not a woman, but a man. But Osgood reacts in an unexpected, or contrasting way. He does not act surprised at all! 2.  Wells shows uncertainty   The second use of well is to show uncertainty, especially in answers. Consider this exchange between two friends. "Do you mind if I borrow five dollars? Well, I'm not sure if I have any money with me..." In this example, the second speaker is a little slow in responding. The word well shows that she is not sure if she has the money. Or, maybe she knows she has five dollars, but she does not want to say so. Whatever the case, the point is that well serves as a word that shows movement between the question and the answer. This transition shows that there is some uncertainty. 3.  To show a conversation is ending The third common use of well is to show a transition to the end of a conversation. Consider this example. Imagine you are in a business meeting, and your boss makes the following statement: "Well, this meeting has been very productive." In this case, the word well is showing a transition to the end of the meeting. Your boss is showing that he wants the meeting to end soon. In American culture, this is considered a careful, indirect way to end a conversation. However, if a speaker directs your attention to the word "well," then the meaning changes. The statement can take on an angry, tense sound. Consider the difference between these two statements: "Well, this meeting has been very productive." "WELL, this meeting has been very productive." The first statement is a respectful way to end a meeting. The second statement is a tense, perhaps angry way to bring a meeting to an end. If you heard the second statement in a business meeting, then you should know that something is wrong! Do you understand the uses of well? Think back to the movie scene you heard at the beginning of this report. Now that you have learned about the word well, consider what Dirty Harry might have meant. Like any good crime film, we end with a few questions. What do you think Dirty Harry meant when he said well? Does he use it in a way that has the same meaning as the uses of well we have discussed, or does he use it in a different way? Leave your answers in the Comments Section on our website, learningenglish.voanews.com, or on our Facebook page. Well, I guess that is all for today's program. Until next time! I'm John Russell. And I'm Alice Bryant.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scene – n. a part of a play, movie, story, etc., in which a particular action or activity occurs adverb – n. a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb, or a sentence and that is often used to show time, manner, place, or degree conjunctive adverb – n. a conjunction that connects two sentences with an adverbial emphasis coordinating conjunction – n. a conjunction (such as and, or, or but) that joins together words, phrases, or clauses of equal importance contrast – n. to be different especially in a way that is very obvious uncertainty – n. the quality or state of being uncertain degree – n. a step in a process or order of classification regardless – adv. without being stopped by difficulty or trouble transition – n. passage from one subject or place to another  

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Smithsonian Releases Video of Baby Cheetahs

This is What’s Trending Today. The National Zoo in Washington, D.C. has a lot of cute animals. The giant pandas from China are among the zoo’s most popular animals. They receive thousands of visitors every year. Many people were sad when Bao Bao, one of the most well-known pandas, left for China in February. But there are other pandas living in Washington, and many other cute animals. The National Zoological Park is part of the world-famous Smithsonian Institution. This week, Smithsonian officials announced that 12 cheetahs were born last month at the zoo’s research center in Virginia. They were born to two adult cheetahs, named Miti and Happy. Miti actually had seven cubs, but two did not survive. Each mother now has two male and three female cubs. The Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute in Virginia is not caring for cheetahs as a way to guarantee the arrival of more cute animals. The institute’s researchers are hoping to diversify the genetic code of cheetahs. The Cheetah Conservation Fund and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature say a large number of cheetahs died about 10,000 years ago. Those that survived eventually helped the population recover. But that caused what scientists call “a population bottleneck.” Of all the cheetahs alive today, many have the same or similar genetic qualities. That means many of the cheetahs suffer from the same problems. If there is a disease that spreads among the animals, many may die. That is why the Smithsonian and other organizations are breeding cheetahs. They are choosing mates with diverse genes. The effort is part of the Cheetah Species Survival Plan from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The zoo released a video of the 10 surviving cubs. Some were lying next to each other and breathing loudly. They have light faces with dark markings. The fur covering their small bodies is a mixture of light brown and dark brown, and it looks soft. The cubs will visit an animal doctor for the first time in just a few weeks. Until then, scientists are using a camera to observe their condition. Many people were excited to see them. On Twitter, the cheetah cubs were called “adorable,” “awesome,” and “little cutie-pies.” Cheetahs are also making news in Australia. A week earlier, five other cheetah cubs were born at a zoo near Adelaide. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from the Smithsonian. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the new cheetahs? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cute – adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance attraction – n. something interesting or enjoyable that people want to visit, see, or do diversity – n. the quality or state of having many different forms, types, ideas, etc. conservation – n. the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources bottleneck – n. a section of road or highway where the traffic moves very slowly characteristic – adj. the special qualities or traits of a person, thing, or group breed – v. to keep and take care of animals or plants in order to produce more animals or plants of a particular kind     species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants huddle – v. to come close together in a group adorable – adj. very appealing or attractive : very lovable cutiepie – n. an attractive person : cutie — often used as an informal way of addressing a lover, a small child, etc. genetic code – n. the rules or structures relating to genes passed along from previous generations

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Brexit Raises Tension over Gibraltar's Future

Britain officially informed the European Union (EU) of its plans to leave the group last week. The move came at a time when Britain is involved in a heated dispute with the EU and Spain over the future of the British territory of Gibraltar. Many people think of Gibraltar as just a mountainous piece of land on Spain’s southern coast. For years, it has been known as "The Rock." Once part of Spain, Anglo-Dutch forces captured Gibraltar during the War of Spanish Succession in the early 1700s. Spain’s rulers gave Britain control of the area in the Treaty of Utrecht. The Rock has been a source of tension ever since. Last week, the European Union published guidelines for negotiations between EU and British officials. The document states that any deal between the two sides won’t affect Gibraltar, unless Spain agrees to it. The EU’s inclusion of Gibraltar angered many British lawmakers, but there is little they can do. That is the opinion of Andrew Canessa, a Gibraltar expert at the University of Essex. "Now that the UK (United Kingdom) is not in the EU … the EU will now defend its members' interests," he said. "And in this case, the members' interests are Spain. And so Britain really doesn't have much of a way into that discussion." Last weekend, Britain held events to mark the 35th anniversary of the Falklands War. In 1982, Britain, under then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, fought off an Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. To Argentinians, the islands are known as the Malvinas. Michael Howard is a former leader of Britain’s Conservative Party. During the anniversary events, he said current Prime Minister Theresa May is prepared for a fight over Gibraltar. "Thirty-five years ago this week, another woman prime minister sent a task force halfway across the world to defend the freedom of another small group of British people against another Spanish-speaking country, and I'm absolutely certain that our current prime minister will show the same resolve in standing by the people of Gibraltar," Howard said. Yet on Monday, Prime Minister May chose calmer words to describe the situation. She told reporters, "What we are doing, with all EU countries in the EU is sitting down and talking to them." May added that British policy on Gibraltar would not change. Spain's Foreign Minister Alfonso Dastis expressed surprise at the comments from Britain. "Bringing into the debate events from the past like the Malvinas Islands is completely out of context,” he said. “Someone in the United Kingdom is losing their calm, and there is no reason for doing that." The future of Gibraltar's 30,000 occupants is not clear. Ninety-six percent voted to stay in the European Union in Britain’s vote on EU membership last June. The economy of Gibraltar is mainly financial services and the gambling industry. The economy depends on membership in the EU’s Single Market. "It's not so much that Spain will take Gibraltar over, or have a much more serious threat on British sovereignty in Gibraltar, but rather that the economic basis of Gibraltar is threatened," says Andrew Canessa. Spain created another problem for Britain on Monday by suggesting it would not veto any effort by an independent Scotland to join the European Union. This raises the possibility that Britain could split after it cuts ties with the EU. In the past, Spain had been opposed to Scottish EU membership. Spain feared that such a move would aid Catalonian separatists in the north of Spain to separate as well. They will be holding their own independence vote by October. I’m Phil Dierking.   Henry Ridgwell wrote this story for VOAnews.com.  Phil Dierking adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you think Gibraltar should stay with England or stay in the European Union?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________ Words in This Story guidelines – n. rules or orders that explains how something should be done gambling - n. the practice of risking money in a game or bet​ sovereignty – n. self-rule; controlling influence; freedom from outside influences source – n. cause; root absolutely – adj. completely or totally resolve – n. a set purpose; something that is resolved or settled    

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Turkey Targets Social Media Users Ahead of Referendum

In less than two weeks, Turkish voters will decide whether to extend the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The constitutional referendum is set for April 16.   Public opinion studies show the vote will be close. Most television news channels in Turkey broadcast at least three campaign speeches a day in support of a "Yes" vote on the presidential powers issue. The so-called "No" campaign gets only about 10 percent of the air time that the “Yes” vote gets. So, the “no” campaign is turning increasingly to social media. But that comes with risks. Rights groups say prosecutors are targeting people who use social media to help the “no” campaign gain strength. Ali Gul is a law student in Turkey. He made an internet video that explained why people should vote “no.” The humorous video told of the dangers of putting too much power into one person’s hands. At the end of the video, Gul asked, “Will I get arrested if this video is popular?” Gul’s video spread quickly on social media. Days later, he published another video. In it, he said he knew he would be soon be arrested. “But it is not important, I am not afraid,” he said. “The children and youth of this nation deserve freedom and happiness — and not fear, imprisonment and death." Gul was later arrested but, apparently, not for the video. He was detained instead for Twitter messages the government says he wrote. The two-year-old tweets were considered insulting to the president -- a crime punishable by three years in jail. Gul denies writing the tweets. But his lawyers say he is likely to remain detained for many months as he waits for a trial. Gul is not alone. In the past six months, more than 2,500 people have been accused of insulting the president online. Observers say such risks are likely to remain as the “power bill” campaign comes to an end. I’m Ashley Thompson.   Dorian Jones reported this story for VOA News from Istanbul. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   referendum - n. an event in which the people of a county, state, etc., vote for or against a law that deals with a specific issue : a public vote on a particular issue channel - n. a television or radio station prosecutor - n. a lawyer who represents the side in a court case that accuses a person of a crime and who tries to prove that the person is guilty

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Congressman Steps Down from Trump-Russian Investigation

The congressman leading an investigation into reported Russian interference with last year’s presidential election has temporarily stepped down from the investigation. Congressman Devin Nunes, a California Republican, said his decision follows the announcement of an investigation Thursday by the House Committee on Ethics. The committee is looking into whether Nunes gave out classified information. Nunes called the charge “entirely false” and said it came from liberal activists. Democrats have been asking Nunes to give up the chair of the House investigation into Russian interference. They are angry that he went to the White House on March 22 to give information to President Donald Trump. He told Trump that American intelligence agencies had recorded discussions by Trump aides. The information from Nunes led Trump to say he felt “somewhat” vindicated about his claim that he had been wiretapped by former President Barack Obama. Democrats objected that Nunes gave the information to the president and reporters before telling members of the House Intelligence Committee. They said the information came from the president’s own staff. And the information did not support Trump’s claims he had been wiretapped by President Obama. Replacing Nunes as leader of the House Russia investigation will be Congressman Mike Conaway of Texas. Like Nunes, Conaway is a Republican. The investigation centers on reports from U.S. intelligence officials that Russia hacked into Democratic Party computers and released information to hurt Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign. Several people in President Trump’s administration and his campaign have faced questions about their Russian ties. Michael Flynn ​ Michael Flynn was Trump’s national security adviser. He was fired after 23 days for misleading Vice President Mike Pence. Officials said Flynn had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador but he told the vice president that he had not. Flynn has offered to talk to congressional committees in return for immunity. Immunity means a person cannot be charged with a crime for anything he says to Congress -- while under immunity. Paul Manafort ​ Paul Manafort is a longtime Republican adviser who served as campaign manager for the Trump campaign. He stepped down three months before the election after questions were raised about his work for pro-Russian interests, particularly in Ukraine. Jared Kushner                                                                                                                                    Jared Kushner is President Trump’s son-in-law, and an important White House adviser. He agreed to talk to Senate investigators. He is likely to be questioned about his meeting with a Russian banker connected to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Jeff Sessions ​ Jeff Sessions was an early supporter of Trump’s presidential campaign. He was selected by Trump to be attorney general -- the top federal law enforcement job. Sessions announced he will not oversee the federal government’s Russia investigation. He made the announcement after admitting that he failed to tell senators considering his nomination for attorney general about a meeting with the Russian ambassador. Roger Stone Roger Stone is described as a long-time friend of President Trump. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he predicted correctly that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange would release documents that would hurt Democrats. I’m Mario Ritter.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. _________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   classified - adj. information that is supposed to be secret vindicate - v. to show someone who has been criticized or doubted is correct wiretap - v. a device that allows someone to secretly listen to phone conversations replace - v. to take over a job from another person hack - v. to secretly get access to the files on a computer or network in order to get information sanctions - n. an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country particularly - adv. more than usually

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April 6, 2017

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

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H1-B Visa Open Season Begins

Many people have been contacting United States offices around the world since the government’s H1-B visa program for foreign workers opened on Monday. H1-B visas give American businesses permission to employ skilled foreign workers in the United States for three years. Many technology companies have used the program to fill job openings. This year, there are 85,000 visas available: 65,000 for people with a bachelor’s degree from a college or university, and 20,000 visas for those with higher education. In recent years, there have been so many visa requests that the U.S. government stopped accepting them within a week. Visa winners are chosen through a computer-generated lottery system. This year, there is additional pressure because the program’s future is not clear: President Donald Trump has said that he will not let foreigners holding H1-B visas displace U.S. workers. On Monday, the Department of Justice warned U.S. companies not to discriminate against American citizens. Tom Wheeler is Acting Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division. He said: “U.S. workers should not be placed in a disfavored status, and the department is wholeheartedly committed to investigating and vigorously prosecuting these claims.” At the same time, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services warned it will take a “more targeted approach” as its agents inspect businesses across the country. It promised to investigate companies with a high percentage of H1-B workers compared to U.S. citizens. It also plans to investigate employers who ask for permission to let H1-B workers perform their duties away from the traditional workplace. Outsourcing The Department of Homeland Security noted that 71 percent of H-1B visas were given in 2015 to people from India. That year, 10 percent were given to Chinese. Experts say India has such a high number because of the country’s many outsourcing companies. Those businesses supply workers and services to other employers. Supporters of the H1-B visa program say there are not enough skilled American workers to fill all the positions for which skilled workers are needed. A group called New American Economy says there are “persistent and dramatic” worker shortages in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The group is made up of American business leaders and city officials who support immigration reform. It reported that in 2016, there were 12 or more job openings in the STEM areas for every unemployed American worker. Some bills in the U.S. Congress expand the visa program. Others seek to limit it. I’m Kevin Turner.   VOA News reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the 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   bachelor’s degree – n. a recognition given to a student by a college or university, usually after four years of study generate – v. to bring into existence; to be the cause of something disfavored – adj. disapproving or disliking status – n. a position or rating in relation to something else vigorously – adj. of or related to full physical or mental force prosecuting - v. to follow to an end; to bring legal action against approach – n. passage; path or way persistent – adj. existing for a long or longer than usual time dramatic – adj. historic; theatrical

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Trump Denounces Chemical Attack in Syria

  U.S. President Donald Trump said the chemical attack in Syria crossed “many, many lines” and called it an “affront to humanity.” But the president declined to say how he would respond to the attack. During a joint appearance Wednesday with King Abdullah II of Jordan at the White House, Trump said: “I will tell you that attack on children yesterday had a big impact on me, big impact. That was a horrible, horrible thing. And I've been watching it, and seeing it, and it doesn’t get any worse than that.” Trump added that the attack had made him change his mind about Assad and what has been happening in war-torn Syria. He said the latest attack followed several others in recent weeks, bringing the conflict to “a whole different level.” “And I will tell you it’s already happened, that my attitude toward Syria and Assad has changed very much.” Trump’s comment came days after members of his administration said that removing Assad was not a U.S. “priority” but that it “will be decided by the Syrian people.”     Throughout the six-year war, the Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons against civilians. Russia denied any role in the latest attack. A Russian spokesman blamed the incident on Syrian warplanes striking a warehouse or factory storing chemical weapons possessed by rebel forces. Crossing the red line Trump also blamed the Obama administration for the current situation in Syria, saying it should have taken action against the country years ago. “The Obama administration had a great opportunity to solve this crisis a long time ago when he said the red line in the sand. And when he didn’t cross that line after making the threat, I think that set us back a long ways – not only in Syria, but in many other parts of the world.” Trump was speaking about Obama’s warning to Assad in 2012 – that a chemical attack would “cross a red line” and lead to a U.S. response. Obama did not follow through on this warning. In 2013, however, Trump appealed to Obama not to attack Syria in a series of tweets. No U.S. military action was taken after a gas attack later killed hundreds outside Damascus, Syria. Instead, Obama chose to support a Russian-backed agreement to remove Syria's chemical weapons supplies. Syrian chemical weapons attacks continued after the deal. When asked whether the latest attack had crossed a red line of his own, Trump said it had crossed many. “When you kill innocent children, innocent babies - babies, little babies - with a chemical gas that is so lethal – people were shocked to hear what gas it was – that crosses many, many lines. Beyond a red line.” Possible action against Syria When asked by a reporter about any possible action against Syria or its allies, Trump said, “I’m not saying I’m doing anything one way or the other, but I'm certainly not going to be telling you.”   Earlier in the day, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley urged the U.N. Security Council to take action following the chemical attack. She said it “bears all the hallmarks of the Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons.” She added that the attack marked “a new low, even for the barbaric Assad regime.” “There is an obvious truth here that must be spoken. The truth is that Assad, Russia, and Iran have no interest in peace. If Russia has the influence in Syria that it claims to have, we need to see them use it. We need to see them put an end to these horrific acts. How many more children have to die before Russia cares?” Haley concluded by saying that when the U.N. “fails in its duty to act collectively,” there are times where states can be “compelled to take our own action.” And North Korea During his remarks, Trump also brought up the issue of North Korean missile tests and nuclear weapons development. This is expected to be a main issue discussed during Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping beginning Thursday in Florida. “We have a big problem, we have somebody that is not doing the right thing, and that’s going to be my responsibility.”   While accepting that these issues are now clearly his responsibility, Trump again pointed the finger at the Obama administration for not making his job easier. “The world is a mess. I inherited a mess. Whether it's the Middle East, whether it’s North Korea. Whether it’s so many other things, whether it’s in our country, horrible trade deals. I inherited a mess. We’re going to fix it.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from. 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   challenge – n. difficult task or problem affront – n. action or statement that insults or offends   attitude – n. the way a person thinks or feels about something lethal – adj. deadly hallmark - n. a quality, ability, etc., that is typical of a particular person or thing barbaric – adj. ​very cruel compel – v. convince or force someone to do something conclude - v. to end (something) in a particular way or with a particular action point the finger at (someone) - idiomatic expression. to blame or accuse someone inherit – v. receive something passed on by someone else flexible – adj. capable of bending or being influenced by something  

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Classrooms in Boston to Get Different Kind of World Map

Walk into most any classroom, and you will see a large world map hanging somewhere on the wall. Teachers use maps for subjects like geography and social studies. In the United States and other countries, schoolchildren have long learned from one kind of world map. It is called the Mercator projection. This version of map is more than 400 years old. Gerardus Mercator, a European mapmaker, designed it for the purpose of helping sailors and ships on the high seas.       Today, the Mercator projection is the map of choice for modern-day direction-finding services like Apple Maps and Google Maps. It is also the map of choice in school classrooms and textbooks. But map experts and other people say the Mercator projection should not be used in schools. They say it does not correctly show the sizes of countries and continents. It is not an easy thing to show our three-dimensional planet in just two dimensions – length and width. Gerardus Mercator’s 16th-century method made countries far from Earth’s equator appear larger than they are. Countries close to the equator appear small in comparison. On Mercator maps, for example, Africa appears smaller than North America. In reality, the African continent is larger than all of North America. Mercator maps also make Greenland appear bigger than China. In fact, China is about four times larger than Greenland. The Peters projection Now, school officials in the U.S. state of Massachusetts are replacing the Mercator map with one that presents a different view of the world. Boston Public Schools is America’s oldest public school system. It is also the first-known American school system to use the Gall-Peters projection world map. German historian Arno Peters worked on the projection in the 1970s. James Gall of Scotland first developed it in the middle 1800s.  Peters’ aim was to fix Mercator’s problems with sizes. He believed that map showed what critics called a “Eurocentric” world view.     Officials announced the change last month. Soon, Peters world maps will hang in classrooms across the city. The change from Mercator to Peters is part of the school system’s efforts to “decolonize the curriculum,” said Colin Rose, an official with Boston Public Schools. He recently spoke with The Guardian newspaper. Hayden Frederick-Clarke is also with Boston Public Schools. He told National Public Radio that 86 percent of the school system’s students are individuals of color. Maps such as the Mercator, he said, “generally classify the places that they’re from as small and insignificant." “It only seems right that we would present them with an accurate view of themselves,” he told NPR. Ward Kaiser is a writer, publisher and an expert on maps. In 1983, his publishing business produced the first English-language Peters maps in North America. Kaiser supports Boston Public Schools' decision to move beyond the Mercator projection. “I think on the whole it is a great decision, a right decision, because it helps enlarge the understanding of those students.” Seeing a Peters map for the first time can be a strange experience. Land masses may look stretched compared to how they look on the Mercator and some other world maps. Kaiser says he expects Boston students to be surprised when they have their first look at a Peters map. “I hope that they will have an “aha!” moment. My experience is that in any school where this new map, the Peters map is being used, that does happen." A map’s purpose Every map has its purpose. At first, the main purpose of Gerardus Mercator’s map was to help sailors get across the open seas without getting lost. It was not supposed to be an educational tool, Kaiser says. “When the (Mercator) map is used for other purposes than navigating, such as on classroom walls as a representation of the real world, that’s like using a telephone to brush your teeth. It’s the wrong use of the map.” He adds that the aim of the Peters projection was to “show all countries, all regions, all continents, at their actual size.” "...And people from Nigeria, or Thailand, or Venezuela, can gain a sense of their own value in the world, their place. They are not shrunk down. They are not marginalized. They are treated with respect in that sense.” “The world belongs to everybody” The Mercator and Peters projections are just two of many kinds of world maps that may hang in school classrooms. Many public schools in China, for example, use a map that shows East Asia near the center.     Kaiser said it is human nature to view one’s own place near the center of the world. Mercator himself put Germany -- his adopted homeland – near the middle of his map. “We all tend, no matter who we are, to see ourselves at the center of the world," he said. "Of course, not all maps do it so obviously.” Maps are powerful tools, Kaiser says. And the map from which a student learns about the world can make a big difference in their understanding of -- and feelings toward – others. “The world is not their oyster. The world belong to everybody. And if we treat people with respect and understanding, we may even get a better set of relationships in the world.” I’m Ashley Thompson.  ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   three-dimensional - adj. having or seeming to have length, width, and depth equator - n. an imaginary circle around the middle of the Earth that is the same distance from the North Pole and the South Pole view - n. an opinion or way of thinking about something curriculum - n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc. accurate - adj. free from mistakes or errors aha! - interjection. used when something is suddenly seen, found, or understood navigate - v. to find the way to get to a place when you are traveling in a ship, airplane, car, etc. marginalize - v. to put or keep (someone) in a powerless or unimportant position within a society or group region - n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way the world is your oyster - idiomatic expression.  you are in a position to take the good chances that life has to offer (oyster - n.  a type of shellfish that has a rough shell with two parts and that is eaten both cooked and raw)  

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Kansas Students Praised for Investigating New School Principal's Past

  This is What’s Trending Today. American reporters and news media are praising a group of high school students from southeastern Kansas.   The students attend classes at Pittsburg High School and work for its newspaper. The school has about 900 students. Amy Robertson was named Pittsburg High’s new principal in early March. School officials said she lived in Dubai. They said she would move to Kansas and start her new job before the next school year. Robertson said she works as an education consultant in the United Arab Emirates. After reading a press release from the school and speaking with her on Skype for a newspaper story, the high school students had some questions. One of the students, Connor Balthazor, told The Washington Post that there were some things about Robertson “that just didn’t quite add up.” He and others from the school newspaper decided to look at Robertson’s credentials. The number-one thing they found is that Robertson claimed to have high-level degrees from Corllins University in California. When they went to the Corllins’ website, it did not have the look of the website of a serious university.  The site had spelling mistakes and no information about how to become a student there or which classes are required to complete a study program. It also lacked information about a university library or how much money students have to pay for their education.   The high school students worked on the story about Robertson for three weeks, and published their findings on March 31. The students said they had found “inconsistencies in Robertson’s credentials” and raised their concerns to the school district. The Pittsburg Community Schools’ superintendent asked the students to continue their investigation. The newspaper said it could not find evidence that Corllins University ever held classes in California. And Robertson’s problems did not end there. The students had further questions about her work at universities in both the United States and Britain. On Tuesday, the school district announced that Robertson resigned. Trina Paul is an editor of the student newspaper. She told the Kansas City Star “we wanted be assured that she was qualified and had the proper credentials.” Separately, Robertson told The Star that the students’ concerns “are not based on facts.” Pittsburg Community Schools plans to reopen the position for the high school’s principal. When the news of the students’ investigation came out, journalists and organizations that critique U.S. media expressed their admiration. Todd Wallack works for an investigative team at The Boston Globe newspaper. The team was recognized in the film that won the Best Picture Oscar at the 2016 Academy Awards. Wallack tweeted to the students, writing: “great investigative work.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports from the Washington Post, Kansas City Star and the Booster Redux. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of the students’ work? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   consultant – n. a person who gives work-related advice or services to companies credential – n. a quality, skill, or experience that makes a person equipped to do a job superintendent – n. a person who directs or oversees a place, office or organization admiration – n. a feeling of great respect and approval principal – n. a chief or head of an educational organization

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