April 21, 2017

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

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Head of Homeland Security Defends “Get Tough” Approach

The head of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this week strongly defended how his agency is dealing with what he sees as threats to the country. Former Marine general John Kelly said he is tired of the criticisms directed at his workers by some members of the media, lawmakers and others. He said his agents are just enforcing the law. And his agents are protecting Americans. “Make no mistake, we are in fact a nation under attack. We are under attack from people who hate us, hate our freedoms, hate our laws, hate our values, hate the way we simply live our lives.” Kelly spoke Wednesday at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He said his department’s stronger enforcement of immigration laws has led to a drop in the number of detentions of people trying to cross into the southwestern United States from Mexico. He says that helps people on both sides of the border. “Fewer people crossing the border illegally means fewer deaths in the desert.” Kelly says there are other borders to worry about, as well. They include some that are vulnerable to militants who once fought for the Islamic State terrorist group. Kelly says large numbers of these fighters have already begun to return to their home countries. He says he is worried about those who are returning to European countries. Agreements between many European countries and the United States permit citizens to enter the U.S. without a visa. Homeland Security officials are also worried that terrorist groups and criminal organizations are working together. Secretary Kelly warned that these groups have become so good at smuggling that they can move almost anything around the world. The department says the network of criminal groups and smugglers has brought hundreds of tons of drugs into the U.S.  And until recently, it was moving tens of thousands of illegal immigrants. Kelly said the group “could move other things, too” -- including biological weapons or even a nuclear bomb. European security officials have similar worries. Intelligence officials believe that criminal networks have helped terrorists across North Africa and the Middle East launder money, profit from the drug trade and secretly become rich. I’m Phil Dierking.   VOA National Security Correspondent Jeff Seldin reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Ashley Thompson 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   vulnerable – adj. open to attack, harm or damage wreak havoc – v. to cause (something very harmful or damaging); to create a situation in which there is much destruction or confusion smuggle – v. to move (someone or something) from one country into another illegally and secretly launder – v. to put (money that you got by doing something illegal) into a business or bank account in order to hide where it really came from    

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The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock by O. Henry

  We present the short story "The Caliph, Cupid and the Clock" by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State. Prince Michael of Valleluna sat in the park on the seat he liked best. In the coolness of the night, he felt full of life. The other seats were not filled. Cool weather sends most people home. The moon was rising over the houses on the east side of the park. Children laughed and played. Music came softly from one of the nearer streets. Around the little park, cabs rolled by. The trains that traveled high above the street rushed past. These cabs and trains, with their wild noises, seemed like animals outside the park. But they could not enter. The park was safe and quiet. And above the trees was the great, round, shining face of a lighted clock in a tall old building. Prince Michael’s shoes were old and broken. No shoemaker could ever make them like new again. His clothes were very torn. The hair of his face had been growing for two weeks. It was all colors—gray and brown and red and green-yellow. His hat was older and more torn than his shoes and his other clothes. Prince Michael sat on the seat he liked best, and he smiled. It was a happy thought to him that he had enough money to buy every house he could see near the park, if he wished. He had as much gold as any rich man in this proud city of New York. He had as many jewels, and houses, and land. He could have sat at table with kings and queens. All the best things in the world could be his—art, pleasure, beautiful women, honor. All the sweeter things in life were waiting for Prince Michael of Valleluna whenever he might choose to take them. But instead he was choosing to sit in torn clothes on a seat in a park. For he had tasted of the fruit the tree of life. He had not liked the taste. Here, in this park, he felt near to the beating heart of the world. He hoped it would help him to forget that taste. These thoughts moved like a dream through the mind of Prince Michael. There was a smile across his face with its many-colored hair. Sitting like this, in torn clothes, he loved to study other men. He loved to do good things for others. Giving was more pleasant to him than owning all his riches. It was his chief pleasure to help people who were in trouble. He liked to give to people who needed help. He liked to surprise them with princely gifts. But he always gave wisely, after careful thought. And now, as he looked at the shining face of the great clock, his smile changed. The Prince always thought big thoughts. When he thought of time, he always felt a touch of sadness. Time controlled the world. People had to do what time commanded. Their comings and goings were always controlled by a clock. They were always in a hurry, and always afraid, because of time. It made him sad. After a little while, a young man in evening clothes came and sat upon a seat near the Prince. For half an hour he sat there nervously. Then he began to watch the face of the lighted clock above the trees. The Prince could see that the young man had a trouble. He could also see that somehow the clock was part of the trouble. The Prince rose and went to the young man’s seat. “I am a stranger, and I shouldn’t speak to you,” he said. “But I can see that you are troubled. I am Prince Michael of Valleluna. I do not want people to know who I am. That is why I wear these torn clothes. It is a small pleasure of mine to help those who need help. First I must feel sure they are worth helping. I think you are. And perhaps your trouble may be ended if you and I together decide what to do about it.” The young man looked up brightly at the Prince. Brightly, but he was still troubled. He laughed, then, but still the look of trouble remained. But he accepted this chance to talk to someone. “I’m glad to meet you, Prince,” he said pleasantly. “Yes, I can see you don’t want to be known. That’s easy to see. Thanks for your offer to help. But I don’t see what you can do. It’s my own problem. But thanks.” Prince Michael sat down at the young man’s side. People often said no to him, but they always said it pleasantly. “Clocks,” said the Prince, “are tied to the feet of all men and women. I have seen you watching that clock. That face commands us to act, whether or not we wish to act. Let me tell you not to trust the numbers on that face. They will destroy you if they can. Stop looking at that clock. What does it know about living men and women?” “I usually don’t look at that clock,” said the young man. “I carry a watch, except when I wear evening clothes.” “I know men and women as I know the trees and the flowers,” said the Prince, warmly and proudly. “I have studied many years. And I am very rich. There are few troubles that I cannot help. I have read what is in your face. I have found honor and goodness there, and trouble. Please accept my help. I can see that you are wise. Show how wise you are. Do not judge me by my torn clothes. I am sure I can help you.” The young man looked at the clock again, and his face grew darker. Then he looked at a house beside the park. Lights could be seen in many rooms. “Ten minutes before nine!” said the young man. He raised his hands and then let them fall, as if hope had gone. He stood up and took a quick step or two away. “Remain!” commanded Prince Michael. His voice was so powerful that the young man turned quickly. He laughed a little. “I’ll wait ten minutes and then I’ll go,” he said in a low voice, as if only to himself. Then to the Prince he said, “I’ll join you. We’ll destroy all the clocks. And women, too.” “Sit down,” said the Prince softly. “I do not accept that. I do not include women. Women are enemies of clocks. They are born that way. Therefore they are friends of those who wish to destroy clocks. If you can trust me, tell me your story.” The young man sat down again and laughed loudly. “Prince, I will,” he said. He did not believe that Prince Michael was really a prince. His manner of speaking proved that. “Do you see that house, Prince? That house with lights in three windows on the third floor? At six tonight I was in that house with the young lady I am going to—was going to marry. I’d been doing wrong, my dear Prince, and she heard about it. I was sorry. I wanted her to forget it. We are always asking women to forget things like that, aren’t we, Prince? “ ‘I want time to think,’ she said. ‘I will either forget it forever, or never see your face again. At half-past eight,’ she said, ‘watch the middle window on the third floor of this house. If I decide to forget, I will hang out a long white cloth. You will know then that everything is as it was before. And you may come to me. If you see nothing hanging from the window, you will know that everything between us is finished forever.’ “That,” said the young man, “is why I have been watching that clock. The time was passed twenty-three minutes ago. Do you see why I am a little troubled, my torn Prince?” “Let me tell you again,” said Prince Michael in his soft voice, “that women are the born enemies of clocks. Clocks are bad, women are good. The white cloth may yet appear.” “Never!” said the young man, hopelessly. “You don’t know Marian. She is always on time, to the minute. That was the first thing I liked about her. At 8:31, I should have known that everything was finished. I’m going to go West. I’ll get on the train tonight. I’ll find some way to forget her. Good night—Prince.” Prince Michael smiled his gentle, understanding smile. He caught the other’s arm. The bright light in the Prince’s eyes was softening. It was dream-like, clouded. “Wait,” he said, “till the clock tells the hour. I have riches and power and I am wiser than most men. But when I hear the clock tell the hour, I am afraid. Stay with me till then. This woman shall be yours. You have the promise of the Prince of Valleluna. On the day you are married I will give you $100,000 and a great house beside the Hudson River. But there must be no clocks in that house. Do you agree to that?” “Sure,” said the young man. “I don’t like clocks.” He looked again at the clock above the trees. It was three minutes before nine. “I think,” said Prince Michael, “that I will sleep a little. It has been a long day.” He lay down on the seat, as if he had often done it before. “You’ll find me on this park on any evening when the weather is good,” said the Prince. “Come to me when you know the day you’ll be married. I’ll give you the money.” “Thanks, Prince,” said the young man. “That day isn’t going to come. But thanks.” Prince Michael fell into a deep sleep. His hat rolled on the ground. The young man lifted it, placed it over the Prince’s face, and moved one of the Prince’s legs into an easier position. “Poor fellow!” he said. He pulled the torn coat together over the Prince’s body. It was nine. Loud and surprising came the voice of the clock, telling the hour. The young man took a deep breath, and turned for one more look at the house. And he gave a shout of joy. From the middle window on the third floor, a snow-white wonderful cloth was hanging. Through the park a man came, hurrying home. “Will you tell me the time, please?” asked the young man. The other man took out his watch. “Twenty-nine and a half minutes after eight.” And then he looked up at the clock. “But that clock is wrong!” the man said. “The first time in ten years! My watch is always—” But he was talking to no one. He turned and saw the young man running toward the house with three lighted windows on the third floor. And in the morning two cops walked through the park. There was only one person to be seen—a man, asleep on a long park seat. They stopped to look at him. “It’s Michael the Dreamer,” said one. “He has been sleeping like this in the park for twenty years. He won’t live much longer, I guess.” The other cop looked at something in the sleeper’s hand. “Look at this,” he said. “Fifty dollars. I wish I could have a dream like that.” And then they gave Prince Michael of Valleluna a hard shake, and brought him out of his dreams and into real life.   Download activities to help you understand this story ​here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. Do you feel that you are often in a hurry? How often do you stop to enjoy the world around you? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   prince – n. a male member of a royal family cab(s) – n. a car that carries passengers to a place for an amount of money that is based on the distance traveled beating – v. to make the regular movements needed to pump blood comings and goings – idm. the activity of people arriving at and leaving a place nervously – adv. done in a way showing feelings of being worried and afraid about what might happen pleasantly - adv. done in a way that is friendly and likable hopelessly – adv. done in a way that shows no feeling of hope cop(s) - n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests

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English @ the Movies: 'Piece Of Cake'

On English @ the Movies we talk about the saying "piece of cake" from the movie "Power Rangers." This movie is about a group of teenagers who are given special powers. Do you think "piece of cake" is about eating? Watch our video and find out!

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April 20, 2017

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

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Noun Clauses in Everyday Speech

  From VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. Almost every American has seen or heard of the movie "Forrest Gump." The film is a touching story about the life of a man who faces many challenges. One of the most famous quotes from “Forrest Gump” is this: My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. These lines might interest you for two reasons. First, if you mention them to an American, they will probably know what you are talking about. Second, if you study the lines carefully, you can learn how complex grammar is used in everyday speech. Today on Everyday Grammar, we are going to explore how Americans use noun clauses in speech. Just like Gump's box of chocolates, this report might have a pleasant surprise for you! What are noun clauses? Noun clauses are groups of words that act as a noun. They often begin with words such as if, what, why, and so on. These clauses have a subject and a predicate, just like a sentence. However, they do not act as sentences on their own. Instead, they have an effect on a longer, more complex sentence. Here is an example. Imagine you do not know the answer to a question in your mathematics class. You could ask, "I wonder if my teacher knows the answer?" In the sentence, the main clause, "I wonder," is followed by the if - noun clause, "if my teacher knows the answer." In this report, we are talking about noun clauses that begin with the words what, why, where, and so on. Let’s call them wh- clauses. In technical language, you could call them subordinators. They can act as subjects, objects, complements, and so on. The good news is this: Americans commonly use if- and wh- noun clauses in a few expressions. Generally, such expressions have one of the following verbs: know, see, and wonder. We will use lines from popular movies and short examples to show you how Americans use these verbs with different noun clauses.   1. Know Consider this line from the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby. "No matter where he is, I thought you should know what kind of man your father really was." In the sentence, the word what leads to a clause that comes after the verb, know. This is a common pattern in American English. If you were to visit the United States, you would probably hear expressions such as "I know what..." or "I don't know what..." almost every day. Speakers will also use different wh- words to introduce clauses. For example, you could say, "I thought you should know why I came here." Or you could say, "I thought you should know where to find the post office.” You will also hear if-noun clauses with the verb know. For example, imagine that a person asked you, "Do you know if the museum is near here?" You could say, "No, I don't know if the museum is near here." 2. See Another word that is commonly followed by an if- or wh- noun clause is the verb see. Consider this line from the 1998 film “The Truman Show.” "Do you want another slice? No, I'm okay. What else is on? "Yeah, let's see what else is on." Where's the TV Guide? Americans will often use the words "Let's see what...." or "Let's see if..." to make a suggestion, as in the line from The Truman Show. At other times, speakers will use "Let's see …" in an informal way. They do not necessarily mean it as a suggestion. Consider this quote from 1999 film, “The Green Mile.” "Mr. Jingles? Where you been? Been worried about you, boy. You hungry? Hmm? Let's go see if we can't find you something to eat." These lines show you how some Americans speak, notably in the southeastern United States. The speaker is clearly not making a suggestion; instead, he is speaking to himself in an indirect way. Although he uses the negative "can't", he actually means "can." 3. Wonder Another word that is commonly used with an if- or wh- noun clause is the verb wonder. The structure "I wonder if..." is commonly used to ask a question. Remember the example, "I wonder if my teacher knows the answer." Speakers will also use wh-clauses with the verb wonder. Many forgetful people have probably said "I wonder where my keys are?”, for example. Why these structures are important Now that you have learned about if-and wh- clauses, think back to the film Forrest Gump. "My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Did you notice that Gump uses one of the common grammatical structures that we have talked about in this report? Although you might not suspect it, every time you watch an American film, listen to American music, or talk to an American, you can learn more grammar. All of the structures we have studied today are considered polite, and can be used in formal or informal speech. They also can be used in writing. The next time you are watching an American film, try to find complex grammatical structures like the ones we talked about. Listen for the words know, see, and wonder. What types of noun clauses do speakers use? How do they organize their sentences? This process might be difficult. But remember this: you know what you should do. I'm John Russell. And I'm Jill Robbins.   John Russell 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   grammar – n. the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language clause – n. grammar: a part of a sentence that has its own subject and verb predicate – n. grammar: the part of a sentence that expresses what is said about the subject complement – n. grammar: a word or group of words added to a sentence to make it complete challenge – n. a difficult test or problem complement – n. something that completes something else or makes it better pattern – n. a repeated form or design introduce – v. to use or make something available for the first time; stylistic – adj. of or relating to a way of doing things polite – adj. showing respect to others formal – adj. of or related to serious of official speech  

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Photographer Captured Changing Lives of His People

  For more than 50 years, photographer Horace Poolaw captured the lives of members of his American Indian tribe. Now, The National Museum of the American Indian is showing the American Indian photographer’s rare work. The exhibit is called “For a Love of His People: The Photography of Horace Poolaw.” Poolaw’s photos show the cultural assimilation that was taking place in American Indian communities during his lifetime. Poolaw was a member of the Kiowa tribe. He took pictures of American Indian subjects.  He used pictures to form a history of his friends, family and events important to them. Linda Poolaw is his daughter from his second marriage. One of the 80 photos in the exhibit, she said, is of her and her older brother, Robert coming home from school. “He put cowboy hats on our heads and gave us pistols to hold,” Linda remembers. Whether the photo was meant to be ironic or not, Linda is not sure. All she knows is that she never much cared for it.     “No, it’s not because of the ‘cowboyness’ of it or the whiteness or racism or anything like that,” she said. “It’s just that Dad made us pose for him all the time. We had to be still. We had to wait for him to get the shot just right when all we wanted to do was go play.” From tipi to mainstream Horace Poolaw was born in 1906 in Mountain View, Oklahoma.  Until the late 19th Century, Oklahoma’s Indian Territory belonged to tribes native to the area or that had been sent there from other parts of the country. Poolaw’s tribe is called the Kiowa Comanche. They lived with the Apache tribe on a reservation that covered 1.2 million hectares of land. But 20 years later, a law known as the Dawes Act permitted Congress to divide the land. Individual Indians were given their own land. The rest was opened up to non-Native settlers. Horace Poolaw lived with his parents in a traditional tipi early in life.  His father, Kiowa George, was the son of a warrior. Poolaw’s mother was descended from a Mexican woman who had been captured during a Kiowa raid. They moved into a house that still remains with the family today. Then, settlers from the east came to live in Mountain View. Photographer George W. Long moved there and became a mentor to Poolaw.  He gave the young man his first camera. His work Poolaw’s photos captured images of Kiowa women wearing traditional American Indian clothes and Kiowas in cars with headdresses. But he had very little money to make photographs. “He developed his own pictures, even though there was no electricity or water in the house back in those days,” said his daughter Linda. “He had to send to Chicago for film and developing supplies.” The high cost of photographic paper and film meant that Poolaw worked hard to get his pictures right on the first try. He developed only a small number of the photographs he took. And he took all of his photographs outdoors so he would not need lighting equipment. “We were poor, dirt poor,” said Linda. “But we didn’t know it because everybody around us was poor too.” Today, those postcards sell for as much as $50 on the internet.     Poolaw continued taking pictures until the 1970s when his eyesight began to fail. In 1979, the Southern Plains Indian Museum in Anadarko organized an exhibit of his photographs. It would be the only showing of his work during his lifetime. In the late 1980s, Poolaw’s daughter Linda established a research program at Stanford University to archive and digitize her father’s work. When her father died in 1984, he left behind 2,000 photographic negatives. Today, art historians and critics consider Poolaw’s work equal to many better-known photographers working in the western United States in the early 20th Century. His photographs are often described as documenting the change from traditional to mainstream ways of life for American Indians. I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Marsha James.   Cecily Hilleary reported on this story for VOANews.com. Marsha James adapted her report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   assimilation – n. to fully become part of a different society, country, etc. pistols – n. a small gun exhibit – n. a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at ironic – adj. relating to or characteristic of a famous person or thing that represents something of importance reservation – n. an area of land in the U.S. that is kept separate as a place for Native Americans to live tipi – n. a tent that is shaped like a cone and that was used in the past by some Native Americans as a house warrior – n. a person who fights in battles and is known for having courage and skill mentor – n. someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person headdress - n. a decorative covering for your head photographic negatives – an image on a photographic film that shows dark areas as ligh and light areas as dark, from which the final picture is printed mainstream – n. the thoughts, beliefs, and choices that are accepted by the largest number of people We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Venezuelans Promise To Continue Protests

Opponents of the Venezuelan government have promised to continue street protests aimed at forcing out President Nicolas Maduro. The opposition warning came a day after at least two people were killed and hundreds arrested in Venezuela’s largest anti-government demonstrations in years. Thousands of Venezuelans filled the main streets of the capital, Caracas, on Wednesday. Many demonstrated in support of the president. Many others protested against Maduro and socialist policies. Security forces armed with tear gas were deployed in a neighborhood on the west side of Caracas. One teenager shot in the head near an anti-government protest died while doctors operated on him. Pro-government militias were blamed for his death, as well as the killing of a woman in the city of San Cristobal. Venezuelan officials are investigating the events leading up to both deaths. A National Guard soldier was reported killed during protests in Miranda state, near Caracas. At least eight people have been killed since the political unrest started three weeks ago. Wednesday’s protest fell on an important date for Venezuelans. On April 19, 1810, Venezuelans began their drive for independence from Spain. U.S. reaction In Washington, United States officials are worried the Venezuelan government is working to suppress the opposition. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said “We are concerned that the government of Maduro is violating its own constitution and not allowing the opposition to have their voices heard, nor allowing them to organize in a way that expressed the views of the Venezuelan people.” “We are concerned about that situation,” he added. “We’re watching it closely and working with others … to communicate those concerns to them.” Tillerson spoke at the State Department on Wednesday. In recent protests, security forces have fired rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannons. The demonstrations began after a Venezuelan Supreme Court ruling on March 30. The court said it would take away the legislative powers of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. However, the court overturned its position after national and international criticism about an attempt to seize power. Opponents call for democratic customs Maduro's opponents gathered in Caracas on Wednesday to pressure his administration to respect the assembly's autonomy. They also want the government to hold long-delayed elections, free political prisoners and restore other democratic customs. The National Socialist Party has ruled Venezuela for 17 years. Economic pressures have grown in recent years. The price of oil, Venezuela's chief export, began falling in 2014. Venezuelans also face severe shortages of food, medicine and basic goods. In related news, the American car manufacturer General Motors has stopped doing business in Venezuela after the government took control of its only factory in the country. In a statement Thursday, the company said vehicles and other property were also seized, “causing irreparable damage to the company.” I’m Jonathan Evans.   Alvaro Algarra wrote this story for VOA News.com with contributions from Nike Ching. Jonathan Evans adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   autonomy – n. the power or right of a country or group to govern itself socialist – adj. of or related to a system in which there is no private property tear gas – n. a liquid or gaseous substance that is used mainly to break up protests; the substance causes an allergic reaction in the body allow – v. to permit; to let view – n. the act of seeing or watching something; a pictorial image  

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Zimbabwe Considers Using Livestock, Vehicles as Loan Security

  Zimbabwe wants small business to be able to get credit to start or grow a business. If the country’s Parliament approves a bill proposed last week, business owners will be able to use cows, cars, machines and other “movable property” to secure loans. In most countries, people use their home or land they own to secure a bank loan. But in countries where the economy is struggling, many people do not have those assets. If the bill passes, Zimbabwe will join other African nations, including Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, Lethoso and Malawi that use “movable assets” to secure loans. The law would let the Zimbabwean government consider “movable assets” as any “tangible or intangible property” that is not immovable. Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa introduced the bill so Zimbabwe’s informal businesses could get bank loans more easily. The “movable assets” used to secure loans would be registered in a database set up by the central bank. Chinamasa said banks have not changed their policies to deal with the current economy in Zimbabwe. The country used to have many more traditional business loans that were secured by land and homes. But that changed when President Robert Mugabe seized farms and other property held by white owners between 2000 and 2008. The farms became less productive and the country’s economy declined. Instead of having large farms, Zimbabwe became a country of smaller farms and smaller businesses. The economy became less traditional and more informal. But the banks did not adjust. Chinamasa said he wants banks to change their attitudes in order “to reflect our economic realities.” Chinamasa said he wants loans to small businesses to grow. So far this year, small business loans have accounted for only $250 million out of $4 billion of bank loans. In his proposal to Parliament, Chinamasa said moveable assets increased the number of loans given to small businesses in countries where non-traditional assets were accepted as security. He added that interest rates in those countries also fell. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting by Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you think the Zimbabwean economy will be helped by this banking change? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   secure – v. to guarantee that (an amount owed) will be paid usually by offering your property if you cannot pay asset – n. a valuable person or thing tangible – adj. able to be touched or felt adjust – v. to change (something) in a minor way so that it works better attitude – n. the way you think and feel about someone or something reflect – v. to cause people to think of someone or something in a specified way — + on or upon

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China Seeks Help to Find Oil, Gas in South China Sea

The Chinese government is looking to foreign businesses to help find oil and natural gas under the South China Sea. Yet China expects to meet resistance because other countries dispute Chinese territorial claims to much of the sea. In addition, observers say any oil and gas discoveries might not be very profitable. Last week, China’s state-operated China National Offshore Oil Corporation made an appeal for foreign help. The company said it wants to work with foreign businesses in exploring for fossil fuels in 22 areas south of the country’s coastline. When combined, that represents more than 47,000 square kilometers of territory. The governments in Taiwan and Vietnam also claim those waters. Vietnam has been outspoken about its claims since the 1970s. Foreign oil companies are now studying the Chinese offer, which closes in September. Experts say the companies may be worried that any work they do for China could hurt their ability to work for other countries. And they say the companies may also be worried that any oil or gas they find could be claimed by China’s neighbors. Thomas Pugh works for the Capital Economics research service in London. He says if foreign companies start working with “China and Chinese firms, they could risk not being allowed to work with other countries…who are disputing ownership of the area.” Raymond Wu is the managing director of e-telligence, a Taipei-based service that specializes in political risk. He also notes that any oil and gas discoveries could be claimed by other countries. “The other contestant parties do not accept that China has sovereign claims,” Wu said. He noted that foreign companies must face, in his words, “not only the difficulty or uncertainty of finding oil, but who does the oil belong to? I don’t see many investors willing to get into it at this point.” In May 2014, Vietnamese and Chinese boats sailed into each other near the Gulf of Tonkin, after China deployed oil drilling equipment in the area. Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines have been worried about Chinese attempts to increase control over about 95 percent of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer sea. Over the past 10 years, Chinese crews have been creating islands for military aircraft and radar systems. Companies need costly equipment to search for oil and gas, and it is not clear how much of it they will find. Zhao Xijun is the deputy chief of the School of Finance at Renmin University of China. He says the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) is working to lessen the risk of exploration by working with foreign companies. “The first thing is that risk is pretty high and second, the technical requirements are rather high,” Zhao said. “So perhaps the organizations or companies able to participate in this project would face a certain hurdle.” Experts say falling oil prices would limit the value of any undersea discoveries. World oil prices have fallen from more than $100 per barrel in 2013 to about half that. The United States Energy Information Administration estimates there are about 11 billion barrels of oil under the sea and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Over 40 years ago, the Philippines began searching for oil west of Palawan Island, at Reed Bank. In 1984, a Philippine company discovered an oil field in the area. It now supplies 15 percent of the oil used in the Philippines. Malaysia has found about five-billion barrels of oil and 80 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, more than any other country with territorial claims to the South China Sea. I’m Caty Weaver.   Ralph Jennings in Taiwan reported on this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his 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   fossil fuel – n. a fuel (such as coal, oil or natural gas) that is formed in the earth from dead plants or animals outspoken – adj. talking in a free and honest way about your opinions allow – v. to permit (someone) to have or do something contestant – n. opposing parties; a person who takes part in a contest sovereign – adj. having independent authority and the right to govern itself hurdle – n. something that makes an achievement difficult barrel – n. the amount of something in a barrel  

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Tennis Player Serena Williams Is Pregnant

  This is What’s Trending Today. Earlier this year, many tennis fans were talking about the Australian Open finals. American tennis stars – and sisters – Serena and Venus Williams played each other in a so-called Grand Slam final for the first time since 2009. Serena beat her older sister in two sets to win the Australian Open. Little did we know, Williams was in her eighth week of pregnancy at the time. This week, she posted a photo of herself wearing a yellow bathing suit on social media. On the photo she wrote “20 weeks.” Fans immediately started talking and debating. Was Serena pregnant? A spokeswoman later confirmed Williams’ pregnancy. She also confirmed that she would not play in tennis competitions for the rest of the year. The spokeswoman said Williams expects to return to tennis in 2018, however. The baby is due sometime in the fall. Williams is set to marry internet businessman Alexis Ohanian. Williams has not played since her win at the Australian Open. She reportedly had an injured knee. The younger Williams sister holds the most-ever Grand Slam singles titles. Her win in Australia moved her ahead of Germany’s Steffi Graf. Many people could not believe Williams was able to win a major tournament while pregnant. Comedian Trevor Noah joked Williams had an unfair advantage in the match against Venus; she was actually playing “doubles” tennis while her sister was playing “singles.” A doctor told the BBC that being pregnant might have helped Williams in some ways. Some of the changes women go through in the first few weeks of pregnancy actually help improve physical performance, the expert said. However, one fan on social media said she could barely get out of bed at that point in her pregnancy. Another person joked Williams’ fetus is already ranked 200th in the world in tennis. ​ In other tennis news, Russian Maria Sharapova starts her comeback next week after a 15-month suspension. She had not been permitted to play after taking the illegal drug meldonium. She will return to competition at a tournament in Germany. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fetus – n. a human being or animal in the later stages of development before it is born title – n. the status or position of being the champion in a sport or other competition advantage – n. something (such as a good position or condition) that helps to make someone or something better or more likely to succeed than others comeback – n. a return to a former good position or condition pregnancy – n. the condition of a woman or female animal that is going to have a baby or babies : the condition of a pregnant woman or female animal

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