Augmented Reality vs. Virtual Reality – What’s the Difference?

  Tech(nology) can change the way you look at the world. Augmented reality and virtual reality are two of the ways that tech can change the way you look at the world. The terms can be confusing. Sometimes people think AR and VR are the same thing. Augmented reality and virtual reality are increasingly used in technology, so knowing the difference is important. This picture helps explain the difference between the two. Augmented Reality Augmented reality is defined as "an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something." AR is used in apps for smartphones and tablets. AR apps use your phone's camera to show you a view of the real world in front of you, then put a layer of information, including text and/or images, on top of that view. Apps can use AR for fun, such as the game Pokémon GO, or for information, such as the app Layar. The Layar app can show you interesting information about places you visit, using augmented reality. Open the app when you are visiting a site and read information that appears in a layer over your view. You can also find money machines, see real estate for sale, find restaurants, and more using the AR feature of the app. You may even discover new sites you did not know existed. This video shows you how augmented reality works with the Layar app. Layar is available free for Android on Google Play and iPhone and iPad at the iTunes App Store.   Virtual Reality Virtual Reality is defined as "the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment." When you view VR, you are viewing a completely different reality than the one in front of you. Virtual reality may be artificial, such as an animated scene, or an actual place that has been photographed and included in a virtual reality app. With virtual reality, you can move around and look in every direction -- up, down, sideways and behind you, as if you were physically there. You can view virtual reality through a special VR viewer, such as the Oculus Rift. Other virtual reality viewers use your phone and VR apps, such as Google Cardboard or Daydream View. With virtual reality apps, you can explore places you have never been, such as the surface of Mars, the top of Mt. Everest, or areas deep under the sea. The New York Times has a virtual reality app that lets you experience virtual environments on Earth and other planets. Google Earth also has a virtual reality app. Check out this video to see how it works. I’m Caty Weaver.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Catherine Kelly Weaver was the editor. Have you ever wondered about augmented reality versus virtual reality? Have you tried apps using either one? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   augmented reality - n. an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something virtual reality - n. the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment confusing - adj. difficult to understand enhanced - v. to increase or improve something simulated - adj. made to look, feel, or behave like something : not real artificial - adj. not natural or real : made, produced, or done to seem like something natural animated - adj. produced by the creation of a series of drawings, pictures, etc., that are shown quickly one after another : produced through the process of animation *Augmented reality vs. virtual reality image used with permission of halfprice.com.au    

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Renald Richard: At 92, a Life Filled with Music

“To be a musician, it’s like fulfilling a part of your life that’s irreplaceable. It’s something that I enjoy and I love to do and I get a satisfaction from it.” That is Renald Richard. Born in 1925 in Thibodaux, Louisiana, just west of New Orleans, Richard’s memories of childhood are filled with music. His father played piano by ear. His uncles and cousins all played instruments and sang. So at the age of six, Richard started piano lessons at home. “I played partially by ear and I learned pieces on the piano like the boogie woogie and that kind of stuff, so I guess music was in my system.” Jam sessions were usual events at Richard’s house when family stopped by. And that was more than fine with Richard. “I just wanted to play music."     At the age of 13, Renald Richard went to see a band perform at a church dance. He noticed two young trumpet players in the band. He says they were dressed “clean and sharp.”  All the girls -- including his girlfriend -- fell for the trumpet players. Richard knew he had to take action. “I got to do something about this, so..." I asked my Dad if I could play the trumpet. And he said ‘why do you want to play the trumpet’? I said ‘I think I like the trumpet’. And he said ‘I'll get a trumpet for you but, you cannot stop the piano. You have to continue the piano’. And I got the trumpet. And I started lessons on the trumpet. I continued lessons on the piano and trumpet. And it went on like that for a while. And I got my girl back.” Renald Richard played the trumpet in the high school band. After high school, the government sent him into military service. He played his trumpet during his time in the United States Navy Band. Later, he performed while touring in a USO variety show.   Richard thought he had learned enough from his time in the band and the USO show. “I got an experience from that (which) lasted me a lifetime and I almost made a bad mistake because when I came out of the Navy I figured I knew it all. That was my education.” But, Richard ended up studying music at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans. He played clubs on the city’s famous Bourbon Street. He also toured with many bands including his family band, the Johnson Brothers, as well as Guitar Slim and Ivory Joe Hunter. While playing in Houston, Texas in 1954, Richard was approached by Jeff Brown, the manager of musician Ray Charles. “Ray Charles is forming a new band. He just got a hit record out and he would be interested in you playing trumpet in the band. Would you like to do that? Of course. Ray Charles. I said ‘yes’!” Renald Richard soon was playing his trumpet for Ray Charles' band. “First of all, to be selected by Ray Charles was an honor to me. I was honored by that and a little nervous.” In time, Richard became Charles’ bandleader. Ray Charles was exacting, says Richard, and he demanded the same from band members. “He was a perfectionist and he was rather strict about his music.” Richard says over their years together he came to realize the genius of Ray Charles. “It was like going to college with Ray Charles. I learned voicing and resolving notes. He would start with the baritone sax and then he would dictate every note like he’s not using anything from memory like his Braille. He say alright, let’s take the saxophone, let’s take the trumpet or whatever. Everything is in his mind. So it really was educational.”    Renald Richard toured all over the South and West with Ray Charles. Sitting in the back seat of the car on the way to a gig, Richard wrote the song “I Got a Woman” for Charles. It became Ray Charles’ first number one radio hit. The song put Ray Charles on the map. In 1954, Renald Richard left Ray Charles band. He was upset by the drug problems among band members. “I knew that it would not be long before they would be what we call busted. And it did happen. And I wasn’t quite ready for that.” Richard stayed friendly with Ray Charles over the years. He went back to his hometown and became the high school’s band director until 1962. Four years later, he moved again, this time to New York City. Over the years, Richard has written many other songs that have been recorded by artists including Joe Turner, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Elvis Presley to name a few. I was thrilled when music artist Kanye West used “I Got a Woman” as the basis for his hit song “Gold Digger”, Richard says. The song was number one on the Billboard Charts for 16 consecutive weeks. “It was a big, big hit,” says Richard. Renald Richard retired from teaching in 1991. Living now in Southern Florida, Richard is still active at the age of 92. “I’m playing music mainly with the Marco Island Strummers and I’m playing with the Jazz Masters in Naples, so I do a lot of playing and I enjoy that .” As you can see Renald Richard's musical days are by no means near an end. I’m Marsha James.   Marsha James wrote this original story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ______________________________________________________________ See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Irreplaceable – adj. too valuable or rare to be replaced by ear – idiom  to play a piece of music after hearing it without looking at written music jam session – n. a gathering or performance in which musicians play together fell for – idiom find someone attractive approach - v. to start talking to someone for some purpose or to make a request select - v. to choose someone from a group perfectionist – n. a person who wants things to be done perfectly strict – adj. exact precise dictate – v. to say or state something with authority or power gig – n. a job for a musician on the map – idiom make someone famous or popular  

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Secret Space Plane Lands After Two Years in Orbit

  This is What’s Trending Today.... [listen to sound of plane landing] That is the sound of the United States Air Force’s unmanned spacecraft landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida over the weekend. The United States Department of Defense posted a video of the landing on YouTube. The Air Force’s X-37B spacecraft passed over the state of Florida early in the morning Sunday. It made a different sound then. It created a “sonic boom.” That is the noise caused by something traveling faster than the speed of sound – or 1,225 kilometers per hour. The sonic boom served as a surprising alarm clock for some Floridians. They took to Twitter to express their shock and describe the loud noise. One person said she thought someone had crashed into her garage. The X-37B was first used in 2010. Each time it goes on a mission, it stays in space and orbits the Earth many times. In its first mission, it stayed in space for about six months. Its second mission was close to a year, and its third mission was close to two years.   On Sunday, the plane ended its fourth mission about two weeks short of two years. So, what does the plane do when it is in space? No one really knows. It is classified. That means only certain military members are permitted to know about its mission. The Air Force can only publicly say that the plane helps them see how new devices perform while in space for a long time. The website Space.com reported that the Air Force was happy with the mission. The long trip did not result in any problems. The Air Force is planning to continue launching and landing the space plane from Florida. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on information from Space.com and CNN. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Have you ever heard a sonic boom? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   alarm clock - n. a clock that can be set to sound an alarm at any desired time garage - n. a building or part of a building in which a car, truck, etc., is kept mission – n. a flight by an aircraft or spacecraft to perform a specific task orbit  - v.  to travel around (something, such as a planet or moon) in a curved path : to make an orbit around (something) classified - adj. kept secret from all but a few people in the government  

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Harmonica Playing Good for Body and Soul

Stacey Blank remembers the day she first read about an exciting new tool to improve the health of patients with lung diseases. That tool was the harmonica, a small musical instrument that you play with your mouth. Blank works at a hospital in the American state of Maryland. There, she supervises a program that treats patients with lung diseases. Her career goal has been to help her patients breathe better. "You don’t realize how tough it is to live every day and be short of breath," she says. To help her patients, Blank became involved in Harmonicas for Health. The national program shows people with lung disease that learning to play the harmonica can improve breathing. When Blank met popular country musician Chris Janson, he explained how playing the harmonica helped his asthma. An organization called the COPD Foundation sells Harmonicas for Health packages on their website. The packages contain a harmonica, a book of songs, instructions, and other materials.   The COPD Foundation aims to prevent and treat COPD, a serious form of lung disease. The letters "COPD" stand for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Other groups across the country have also been promoting the Harmonicas for Health program. Breathe in, breathe out Stacey Blank counts the musical beats as 25 of her patients breathe in and out of their harmonicas. Her patients are members of the Better Breathers Club, a group with many members across the United States. The group gives patients important skills to manage their lung conditions. It also offers them a chance for social support from other members. As Blank's patients practice with their harmonicas, they play songs, like the well-known children's song "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." Playing the instrument strengthens their lungs as they create musical sounds. The harmonica is the only instrument that requires players to breathe in and out to make music. For seven years, Kathy Middleton has been using an oxygen machine to help her breathe. She explains that her lungs do not close the way they are supposed to when she breathes out. "Lungs close up like this when you breathe. Mine go like this. I mean, blowing on that harmonica, I feel like I'm breathing better." Now, she is a member of the Better Breathers Club at the hospital where Stacey Blank works. 91 years of playing  Jack Hopkins does not have a lung condition. But, he played his harmonica in the hospital last year while recovering from a heart attack. Hopkins laughs a lot. Often, he also runs up and down stairs. He turned 97 years old during the Virginia Harmonicafest in late April.   The group sang “Happy Birthday” to him on their harmonicas and gave him a cake shaped like a harmonica. Hopkins answered by playing the song “This Old Man” on his instrument. “Got to watch out for us old guys on the harmonica!” he says, laughing. He says his harmonica has helped him breath better all of these years. He also has healthy habits. He does not smoke. “I do a lot of drinking………water,” he says, with a laugh.   Hopkins received his first harmonica on Christmas Day when he was six years old. Within two weeks, he was playing complete songs. He convinced his father to buy him a chromatic harmonica – one that makes sharp and flat sounds. "He heard me playing a popular tune of the day – 'Yes Sir, That's My Baby' – and it blew his mind." Hopkins did not take lessons until he was 49. He said that, sometimes, he plays harmonica before he even gets out of bed in the morning. Often, he said, he likes to sing, too. Physical, social, emotional gains Medical specialists say the harmonica is good for the player physically and mentally. People who have COPD often get depression because the disease separates them from normal activities. But, the musical instrument has been known to bring COPD patients out this depression. A group like the Better Breathers Club gives members a chance to regain some of the social activity that the disease took away. "I think we laugh the whole time. The whole hour and a half that we are here, we’re just having a great time," says Blank. And at 97 years of age, Jack Hopkins still enjoys playing the harmonica. "It's been a great life and it ain't over yet!" I'm John Russell. And I'm Alice Bryant.   Carolyn Presutti reported this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   lung - n. either one of the two organs that people and animals use to breathe air country music - n. a style of music that developed in the southern and western U.S. asthma - n. a physical condition that makes it difficult for someone to breathe stair - n. a series of steps that go from one level or floor to another cake - n. a sweet baked food made from a mixture of flour, sugar, and other ingredients ain't - informal. a very informal way to say 'is not' or 'are not'

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Renald Richard Jazz Trumpeter and Bandleader to Ray Charles

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Renald Richard: Music Is In My Blood

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Jakarta Governor Given 2-Year Sentence for Comments on Islam

  Rights groups are worried about religious freedom in Indonesia after Jakarta’s Christian governor was given a two-year jail sentence for his comments on Islam. A five-judge court ruled on Tuesday that Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama was guilty of blasphemy against Islam. Blasphemy is defined as showing disrespect to God or to something considered holy. It is a crime in Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation. Government lawyers had proposed no prison time for the governor. But the judges rejected that suggestion. The governor, best known by the name Ahok, is an ethnic Chinese Christian. He lost in his effort to get re-elected last month. He was leading in opinion studies of likely voters. But his popularity dropped when some Muslim religious leaders said Islam’s holy book, the Quran, barred Muslims from voting for a non-Muslim. Ahok responded by using a verse in the Quran to argue that there is nothing stopping Muslims from voting for non-Muslim candidates. Ahok’s statement was edited in a video, which appeared on social media. Some said the meaning of his statement was changed. But Ahok’s critics likened his comments to blasphemy. That led to the criminal charges against him, and Tuesday’s guilty ruling. In announcing its decision, the five-judge panel said Ahok was “convincingly proven guilty of blasphemy.” Supporters of the governor cried as the panel announced its decision. Members of conservative Islamic groups cheered the guilty finding. Ahok began serving his two-year sentence immediately. He was taken to prison in East Jakarta. His supporters joined together outside the prison to demand his release. Ahok announced plans to appeal the ruling. Human rights groups called the court decision a major setback to the freedom of Indonesians. Charles Santiago is chair of the ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights. In his words, “The verdict is deeply disconcerting not only for Indonesia, but for the entire ASEAN region. Indonesia was thought to be a regional leader in terms of democracy and openness,” he said. Indonesian President Joko Widodo is a supporter of Ahok. He called on the Indonesian people to respect the court ruling, as well as Ahok’s right to appeal the decision. Ahok lost last month’s election for Jakarta governor to Anies Baswedan, a former minister of education and culture. The blasphemy charges against Ahok were a big issue in the election campaign. Anies is to take office in October. Until then, Jakarta’s deputy governor is to serve as governor. Although 87 percent of Indonesians are Muslim, the constitution officially protects six religions, including Christianity. It gives no special protection to Islam. But Phelim Kine, deputy Asia director of Human Rights Watch, said Indonesia’s blasphemy law has been used to attack members of non-Muslim religions. He said the court ruling and prison sentence given to the Jakarta governor is just the latest example. Kine said that the government has also attacked sexual and gender minorities through hateful words and discriminatory rules. On April 20, United States Vice President Mike Pence visited Indonesian President Widodo in Jakarta. He said the two countries share many common values. “As the second and third largest democracies in the world, our two countries share many common values -- including freedom, the rule of law, human rights, and religious diversity,” Pence said. I’m Caty Weaver.   Fathiyah Warada reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted the story. His report contains additional information from Reuters and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. How important is religious freedom to you. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   respond - v. to say or write something as an answer to a question or request edit – v. to change or amend something, such as a document, tape recording or film convincingly - adv. causing someone to believe that something is true or certain setback – n. a defeat; a barrier to progress verdict - n. a ruling disconcerting - adj. disturbing region - n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way diversity - n. the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures or religions in a group or organization

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Improve Your Long-Term Memory by Spacing Practice

Imagine you are trying to develop a skill that you want to remember -- and use -- for a long time. Perhaps you are learning a new language or complex information in a subject like physics or mathematics. What could you do to help you remember what you have learned? What is a good study method to help you reach your goals? One way is to use a method called "spaced practice." This suggestion comes from Mary Pyc. She is a specialist in cognitive science, the study of the mind and its processes. Pyc works for Dart NeuroScience, a company with offices in San Diego, California. In today’s Education report, we explore the idea of "spaced practice." Common study habits If you are like many students, you might study quickly and try to memorize subject material just before a test. You might learn new words in one study session, but then never look at them again. You might feel like you have memorized the new words or terms, but when it comes time to use them – perhaps on a test – you cannot remember them. You will not be surprised to learn that practice -- repeating exercises -- helps you learn. However, the way you practice can influence how well you learn something. What is spaced practice? Cognitive scientist Mary Pyc says that one way to develop a long-term memory of something is to use spaced practice. In other words, studying the new information over time is better for long-term learning. So, instead of practicing in only one session, learners could better spend their time studying the information several times throughout the week. Pyc says that spacing comes in two ways: spacing within a study session and spacing between sessions. Spacing within and between sessions Spacing within a session means occasionally re-examining the information in a single practice session. One way English learners can do this, Pyc says, is by creating flashcards. One side of a card might have the word in English; the other side has the word written in the student’s native language. The more cards you have, the greater the space between each time you see the card. So, spacing within in a session is used to describe the act of building a larger deck of flashcards. Pyc asks “How thick is your deck of flashcards? The bigger the deck of flashcards you have, the better that is for long-term memory.” Spacing between sessions is somewhat different, she notes: "You don't want to do all of your studying in one learning session. You want to space it across time. So, maybe three days a week you come back to this deck of flashcards, and you go until you get items correct." If you do not like having large decks of flashcards, you can create digital tests or quizzes that follow your progress over time. We explored this subject in an earlier education story, which you can find on our website, voalearningenglish.com. What is interleaving? Spaced practice naturally goes with another study method: interleaving. Interleaving means using a mix of study methods during a practice session. The important part is that your brain has to practice changing between different operations. Language learners may study different vocabulary words mixed together in a large deck of flashcards. The brain must remember different meanings of each word. Or students studying math may practice addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems mixed together. The important point, Pyc explains, is that students begin to discriminate between different kinds of problems. This strategy is much more useful than having exercises only for addition problems or only for subtraction problems, for example. The strategy of practicing only one subject is called "blocked" practice. It is commonly used in schools, although Pyc says that it is not as effective as spaced, or interleaved practice. Do not become discouraged You should know one thing about the strategies we have discussed today: they take more time. Mary Pyc and Henry Roediger III wrote an article for the Journal of Applied Research in Memory and Cognition. In the report, they write that some of the best types of learning take place slowly at first. This learning may take more time and be more difficult, but long-term retention is far greater. In other words, you will be able to remember what you learned for far longer. So, the important point is to not become discouraged. The value of regular, effortful practice may not be apparent for some time, but the long-term benefits are great! I'm John Russell.   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   cognitive – n. of, relating to, or involving mental activities (such as thinking, understanding, learning, and remembering) session – n. a period of time that is used to perform activity interleave – v. to organize in or as if in alternative or different levels practice – n. an actual performance; a systemic exercise; the way of doing something occasionally – adj. rarely; not very often digital – adj. of or related to computer technology deck – n. a set of playing cards strategy – n. a careful method or plan retention – n. the act of retaining; something retrained discouraged – adj. feeling less determined, hopeful, or confident  

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Moon Jae-in Wins South Korea’s Presidential Election

  In South Korea, Moon Jae-in, who wants a softer approach to North Korea, has won the country’s presidential election. Moon told supporters, “I will be president for all South Koreans.” He declared victory after the two other major candidates conceded defeat. The East Asian nation has been sharply divided as former president Park Geun-hye faces a trial on corruption charges. Moon won about 41 percent of the vote. Hong Joon-pyo came in second with 23 percent, and Ahn Cheol-soo received 21 percent. In the South Korean election system, the candidate getting the most votes wins the presidency even if it is not a majority. Moon will be sworn-in on Wednesday as soon as the vote count becomes official. The U.S. State Department in Washington said it is looking forward to continuing ‘close, constructive, deep cooperation’ with South Korea’s new leader. A lawmaker and presidential aide Moon Jae-in is a former human rights lawyer. His parents fled North Korea during the Korean War. Moon lost in a close vote to Park in the 2012 presidential election. As a member of the National Assembly, he led the main opposition party during the presidency of Park Geun-hye. Moon gained popularity among supporters by proposing policies such as increasing government spending for jobs and education. However, conservative voters question his policies on North Korea and criticize him as being weak on national security. Moon has called for a two-track policy toward the North. He said he wants to support talks while at the same time continuing pressure on the North Korean government to change. Observers say his proposal is similar to the Sunshine Policy of Engagement started in the early 2000s by then-President Kim Dae-jung. Attempts to build trust between the two Koreas ended with North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests early last year. South Korea answered with sanctions on the North and by closing the Kaesong industrial complex, the biggest economic link between the two sides. South Korea also has increased military exercises with the United States in an effort to pressure the North to stop its weapons program. During the presidential campaign, Moon criticized that policy, saying it resulted in faster nuclear and missile development by the North. On Tuesday, Moon said the next South Korean president should work with the U.S. and China diplomatically. The goal would be to return North Korea to negotiations to solve the nuclear issue, he said. Also, Moon will have to deal with the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system. U.S. President Donald Trump has said South Korea should pay some of the cost of the system worth more than $1 billion. South Korea has said it already has met the conditions of the agreement. Presidential election held early The presidential election was held months earlier than planned this year because former president Park Geun-hye was removed from office. Park has been caught up in a corruption scandal involving a long-time friend and millions of dollars in money from large Korean corporations. After the news was first reported, hundreds of thousands of South Koreans took part in protests last fall, calling on her to resign. Park’s removal from office hurt the country’s main conservative political party. The party split into two groups: one opposed to Park and the other that supports her. Park is the daughter of former South Korean President Park Chung-hee. Many older voters continue to support the national defense policies of the conservative parties. One such voter, Lee bong-ho said this. “I’ve been supporting conservatives because I consider stability. Looking back at previous administrations, conservatives secured stability.” I’m Mario Ritter.   Brian Padden reported this story for VOA News with assistance from Youmi Kim. Mario Ritter adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   concede – v. to accept something exit polls – n. surveys that ask people who have just voted which candidate they voted for scandal – n. an incident that shocks people because it is morally or legally wrong constructive – adj. helping to develop something two-track – adj. to use two methods towards a goal which may be different from the other We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts about South Korea's election. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Now Denies He Was Tortured

In a surprising move, a Chinese human rights lawyer has withdrawn earlier claims that he was tortured while in detention. Lawyer Xie Yang rejected the claims in a court appearance on Monday in the Chinese city of Changsha. He instead admitted guilt to subverting state power and creating disorder in the court. His statements were published on Chinese social media. Xie Yang has worked on some of China’s most sensitive human rights cases over the years. He has long criticized the government and the country’s legal system. Earlier this year, his lawyers reportedly said Xie told them he had been hit and kicked while in jail. Xie said his attackers threatened to leave him physically disabled. After the claims were published, 11 countries sent letters to China. They asked the government to investigate. Chinese officials say Xie’s statements in court support their belief that his earlier claims of torture were “fake news.” Observers say officials may now think his “open trial” will lessen the attention the case has received, both within China and overseas. But experts say it is unlikely people will forget the case. Blow to “rule of law” For rights activists and lawyers, the trial still shows abuse of the legal system by Chinese officials and a lack of respect for the rule of law. Xie’s statements in court have only raised more questions about his treatment and led to calls for his unconditional release. The United States says it remains deeply concerned about the case and Xie’s well-being. The U.S. State Department said his statement to the court “appeared to be given under duress.” It called for his release and for the release of other lawyers being detained in China. Zhang Zhongshi is one of Xie’s lawyers. Zhang says the trial harmed the rule of law in China. “For such a long time, he was disconnected from society without being allowed to meet anyone [from his family] or given any [legal] assistance,” Zhang said. The lawyer said the trial showed how Xie has completely lost his legal rights. Zhang met with Xie in November, more than a year after he was detained. In January, Xie wrote a letter and sealed it in wax. He wrote that if he ever admitted to a crime “that will not be the true expression of my mind. It may also be because I’ve been subjected to prolonged torture.” His lawyer said he knew that Xie was tortured. Zhang said “I personally overheard him being tortured and saw with my own eyes where he had been hit in the head.” Xie is one of more than 300 lawyers to be caught up in a nationwide campaign aimed at those helping dissidents and government critics. Most of the lawyers have been released. But 32 have been charged with crimes and seven are waiting for their trials to begin. Withdrawing claims For most of the past two years, Xie was not permitted to speak to his lawyers. The court appointed a lawyer to represent him at his court appearance on Monday. Xie’s wife Chen Guiqiu fled the country and is now in the United States. She says her husband has not been permitted to speak to his lawyers since February. She says people in the detention center where her husband is being held say he is closely watched and controlled. She said he is barred from using money or speaking with other prisoners. “If others speak with him, they will be punished and if he speaks with others, Xie would be punished. He was also frequently beaten by death row inmates. And now, he has denied all of these facts,” Chen told VOA. “Isn’t that strange?”   Chen said it may be a long time until she learns what happened to her husband. Xie’s trial ended on Monday, but the Changsha Intermediate People’s Court did not announce a ruling. Because of his admission in court, it is likely the court will find him guilty. But it is not known how long his sentence will be. I’m Jill Robbins.   VOA’s Joyce Huang and Bill Ide reported this story from Beijing. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their 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   fake – adj. not true or real duress – n. force or threats meant to make someone do something wax – n. a hard substance that becomes soft when it is heated and that is used to make various products (such as candles, crayons, or polish) death row – n. the part of a prison where prisoners who will be killed as punishment for their crimes live until they are killed inmate – n. a person who is kept in a prison or mental hospital  

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Trump Fires FBI Director

U.S. President Donald Trump has fired FBI Director James Comey. In a statement, Trump says Comey's firing "will mark a new beginning" for the FBI. The White House says the search for a new FBI director will begin immediately. Comey's firing comes days after he testified on Capitol Hill about the FBI's investigation into Russia's election interference. The investigation centered on possible connections between Russia and Trump's campaign.

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