Activists Say Censorship in North Korea Will Not Last

North Korea has increased efforts in recent years to prevent outside information from entering the country. But international activists say technology and outside forces will one day lead to the end of state censorship. North Korea is one of the most disconnected nations in the world. The country has a ban on foreign media. Most people do not have access to the Internet. The Transitional Justice Working Group reports that the government has even executed citizens for sharing media from South Korea. The group researches human rights abuses in North Korea. North Korea is following a similar method to other authoritarian governments, observers in Cuba and Myanmar say. Cuban and Burmese leaders of organizations that have fought censorship in their own countries recently met in Seoul to share their experiences with Koreans doing similar work. Cuba In Cuba, as in North Korea, there is a growing demand for foreign movies and television programs. This has made the business of illegally bringing in outside information increasingly profitable. Rafael Duval is with Cubanet, an independent news organization that fights government restrictions in Cuba. Cubanet uses devices such as USB drives and DVDs to spread a weekly collection of foreign videos and other materials. The collection is called "El Paquete" – "the package" in English. Cubanet delivers the materials through the black market – a system through which things are bought and sold illegally.   Duval says it is the job of some Cuban officials to prevent foreign media from entering the country. But many of them accept illegal payments in exchange for not reporting the sharing of media. And many officials often use foreign media themselves, he adds. Another project helps Cubans who have email accounts find out information from the Internet. About 25 percent of Cubans have access to email. The project, called Apretaste, connects Cubans with volunteers in places like the U.S. state of Florida. Cubans can email questions to the volunteers. The volunteers then send them the Internet search results. The organization responds to more than 100,000 requests for information each month. Myanmar Myanmar is another country where the free exchange of information has increased. Before the country’s democratic reforms in 2011, the military government closely controlled the Internet. But its loose border with Thailand, along with a rise in satellite television receivers in the country, brought change. This change made it easy for exiled opposition groups to get around the government’s restrictions on media. North Korea’s growing black market The North Korean economy has grown in recent years, even with international sanctions placed on the country because of its continued missile tests. In the past year, the country’s gross domestic product rose 3.9 percent. The Bank of Korea in Seoul says the increase was driven in part by the exports of coal and other minerals. But there is also a private market in the country that is driving economic growth. The communist government lets it operate, but does not officially approve of it. A recent study says that most North Koreans now earn about 75 percent of their money from the black market. The study was done by the Beyond Parallel project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. The illegal export of North Korean fish, shoes, cigarettes and cooking oil has given has given people new buying power. This power makes it possible for them to bring in outside information and technology. Nat Kretchun is deputy director of the Open Technology Fund. The project is supported by Radio Free Asia, or RFA. RFA and VOA are each part of the U.S. government-supported Broadcasting Board of Governors. Kretchun says technology like televisions and DVD players are now “ubiquitous” -- or seemingly everywhere -- in North Korea. The number of legal North Korean mobile phone users has also grown in recent years. Many North Korean cell phones were able to spread unapproved media and information. But recent changes to the phones’ operating systems added censorship and surveillance technology. Kretchun says the technology blocks unapproved media files from being used on North Korean phones. However, activists are developing technology of their own in response to government actions. Kim Seung-chul is a North Korean who fled to South Korea. He created North Korea Reform Radio, which sends anti-government messages to the North. Kim feels the South Korean government should offer more support to groups working to get into North Korea’s closed information environment. “The South Korean government, conservatives, veterans and famous people have a lot of money, but they do not use the money for this. They get angry about North Korea’s situation, but they do not act,” Kim said. I’m Pete Musto. And I'm Ashley Thompson.   Brian Padden and Youmi Kim reported this story for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you.  How long do you think it will be before North Korea becomes more open? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   censorship – n. the system or practice of examining books, movies, or letters in order to remove things that are considered to be offensive, immoral, harmful to society authoritarian – adj. not allowing personal freedom black market – n. a system through which things are bought and sold illegally account(s) – n. an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company sanction(s) – 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, by not allowing economic aid for that country gross domestic product – n. the total value of the goods and services produced by the people of a nation during a year not including the value of income earned in foreign countries communist – adj. used to describes a person or people who believe in a way of organizing a society in which the government owns the things that are used to make and transport products  and there is no privately owned property ubiquitous – adj. seeming to be seen everywhere surveillance – n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime veteran(s) – n. someone who fought in a war as a soldier or sailor

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Surprising Origin of 'To Keep at Bay'

  Now, it's time for Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English. On this program, we explore everyday expressions that we use in conversation. Americans often use the first saying we will talk about today. But many people likely do not know where it comes from. To keep something at bay means being unable to move closer while attacking or moving toward someone or something. If you keep something at bay, you appear to be in control of the situation. English speakers say either "keep at bay" or "hold at bay."  For example, when protecting their village, the villagers kept the armed attackers at bay through the night. The villagers did not let them come closer. However, bad people can also hold something at bay. The armed robber held police at bay for about 9 hours before they caught him. So, the robber did not let police get anywhere near him. They didn't catch him until 9 hours later. In these examples, the things being kept at bay -- the attackers and the police -- are real. You can physically touch them. But you can also use this expression about more intangible things -- ones you can't see or touch. For example, if you move to a new city you can keep loneliness at bay by joining a club, playing a group sport or taking a class. You can also invite your old friends to come and explore your new city with you. All these things will keep loneliness away from you, or at bay. You can keep illness at bay by eating healthy food and getting enough sleep and exercise. And I can hold my desire for chocolate at bay by not buying it and keeping it in my house! English learners and native speakers alike may think the term “at bay” has to do with water, perhaps involving a ship unable to reach the shore. After all, one of the many definitions of "bay" is a large area of water that is partly surrounded by land. But language experts will stop them right there. To find out the origin of this expression, let's talk about another definition of "bay." It also means to bark with long, drawn-out sounds, as when a dog cries out at the moon. Those hounds are baying. In the 14th century, barking hounds were said to be "at bay." When dogs are kept at bay, they are kept from attacking. The Phrase Finder website says the first recorded usage of "at bay" is in an English story from the year 1330.  Back to modern times, “at bay” is a common expression. You can use it with friends and strangers. Now, let's hear this expression used at work. Let's say you are the head of a small company that makes toys. Part of your job is to keep open lines of communication between the owner and company employees. Well, when the owner suddenly makes changes to work rules, the employees get angry. And you hear about it. The owner's solution is to throw a party for the employees. You tell her that a party will not keep their anger at bay. They only thing that will improve the situation is fair treatment. Now, there are other ways to keep something from getting worse. You can also ward off something or stave off something. To ward off a danger or illness means to prevent it from affecting you or harming you. We often use "ward off" when talking about mental health, disease or, strangely enough, evil spirits. For example, she knew that, for her, the best way to ward off a bad mood was to see a happy movie. You eat chicken soup to ward off the common cold. And some people say that you can use garlic to ward off vampires and keep them from sucking your blood.   Staving off something sounds much more official. We use "stave off" in fairly serious situations, such as ship-wrecked survivors who staved off starvation by eating coconuts for eight months. Here's another example, “The single mother staved off poverty by working three jobs.”    Now, what if you simply want to keep your distance from a person. You don't want to be near them. In this case, you wouldn’t use “ward off” or “stave off” or even “at bay.” What can you use? Well, we have a great expression for keeping distance. To keep someone at arm's length means you don’t want to be close to that person. Imagine that you are holding your arm straight out in front of you. A person can’t get close. And that’s the point. Let's say, you meet someone. You don't know her very well, but she seems nice -- seems is the important word here. Slowly over time, you learn more about the woman. And you don't like what you see. She is strange and not in a good way. You catch her in some lies. And she appears to be a trouble-maker. So, you decide to keep her at arm's length. When you don't answer her calls and ignore her emails, she will know you are keeping her at arm’s length.   In this case, you could say you kept her friendship at bay. But you were never friends in the first place. So it sounds more natural to say that you kept her at arm's length. We here at Learning English have no desire to keep you at bay or at arm’s length. And we certainly don’t want to ward or stave you off! You’re our audience Without you, well, we wouldn’t be here! I'm Bryan Lynn. And I'm Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   intangible – adj. not made of physical substance : not able to be touched : not tangible origin – n. the point or place where something begins or is created : the source or cause of something boredom – n. the state of being bored mood – n. an emotional state of mind or feeling vampire – n. a dead person who leaves the grave at night to bite and suck the blood of living people coconut – n. a large fruit that has a thick shell with white flesh and liquid inside it and that grows on a palm tree

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Nigeria’s 'Queen of Golf' Helps Others Learn the Game

  About 30 young people gathered on a golf course in the Nigerian capital Abuja recently on a hot Saturday morning to practice their swing. The students were as young as three and as old as 16. For almost a year they have gathered every Saturday at the IBB International Golf and Country Club to learn the rules of the sport. Their teacher is Uloma Mbuko. “Princess, I want to see you hold your swing,” she said to one of them. Mbuko is the top female golfer in Nigeria. She has competed across Africa. She has won about 200 awards. Some people call her the Queen of Golf in Africa. She has played at the highest level of the sport in Africa for 17 years. Few women golfers in Nigeria have reached the Class A level. Chinyere Mbuko is Uloma’s sister. She says Uloma was always ambitious. “She’s always been a sports lady. She started with football, then handball. So when she said she was starting, you know, playing golf, I was like ‘Ah! Serious?” Uloma Mbuko’s family was not wealthy, and golf can be a costly sport to play. “We all know that golf is expensive, even though we try to shy away from it. But it is expensive,” Uloma Mbuko said. “Now, to be a member of a golf club in Nigeria, definitely you’re talking about nothing less than 500,000” naira. That is about $1,640. Mbuko notes that the amount pays only for membership in a golf club. At the IBB club where Mbuko spends most of her time, the membership costs as much as $2,622. And a golfer must pay more money for training, a caddy, clothing, equipment, and to use the club. Some professional Nigerian golfers, like Mbuko, are trying to help young people pay for the cost of playing the sport. Emeka Okatta is the president and founder of the West Africa Golf Tour. He said the government should help make golf more affordable. “For you to walk in here just to have green(s) fees is 10,000 naira (or $32). That’s a lot of money. That’s probably some peoples’ salary in a month,” Okatta said. “But in other parts of the world, the government provides public golf courses, public drive ranges; but here there’s none and so a common man cannot play. That’s why it’s called a rich man’s game.” Okatta founded the West Africa Golf Tour to give young people more chances to play. He said he is looking forward to working with Mbuko’s Ladies Professional Golfers Association of Nigeria to organize tournaments. Mbuko has decided to play in fewer tournaments so that she can help train other Nigerian women to become good golfers. She and the women she trains meet several days a week. Stella Kadiri and Obiageli Ayodele are being trained by Mbuko. They said they hope to become professionals. “I’m here Monday to Friday. I’ve been playing golf since 2011,” the 25-year-old Kadiri said. “I’ve been going to Ladies’ Open, different places, and I’ve been winning. When I see my medal, it inspires me to play more.” The 29-year-old Obiageli Ayodele is one of the few female players whose husband supports her golf training. “In our country, Nigeria, they find it difficult for the ladies to get into sports because of their husbands -- I mean the ones that are married. They don’t want their wives to be out there. They don’t want them to be in the midst of other men. They feel they will not properly take care of their home,” Ayodele said. Mbuko said she wanted to see her students playing internationally in the next three years. “Yes, we are ladies, yes, we are African, but we have what it takes, we have the talent. I want to sit down and watch television and see Nigerian ladies competing in ladies’ Masters and like, ‘Oh yeah, this is my girl, this is my girl.’” I’m John Russell.   Chika Oduah reported this story from Abuja. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Hai Do 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   swing – n. an act of moving something with a quick, sweeping motion; an act of swinging a bat, fist, etc. expensive – adj. costing a lot of money caddy – n. a person who carries a golfer’s clubs on the golf course afford – v. to be able to pay for (something) greens fees – n. a cost golfers pay to play on a golf course salary – n. an amount of money that an employee is paid each year range – n. a place where people can practice hitting golf balls medal – n. a piece of metal, often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor of a special event, a person or an achievement inspire – v. to make (someone) want to do something; to give (someone) an idea about what to do or create

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English in a Minute: Weasel Out of (Something)

A weasel is a small animal. But the word can also be used to describe a person. Learn about this expression in this week's English in a Minute!

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Trump Names John Kelly as New White House Chief of Staff

  In a change of leadership in the White House, President Donald Trump says retired General John Kelly is his new chief of staff. Kelly is currently the secretary of Homeland Security. He replaces Reince Priebus. Trump wrote on Twitter: “I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American and a Great Leader.” ​ Speaking to a crowd on Friday in Brentwood, New York, Trump called Kelly “one of our great stars.” When Trump returned to Washington, he told reporters that John Kelly “will do a fantastic job” and is “respected by everybody.” Trump also called Priebus “a good man.” The announcement comes after days of talk that Priebus no longer had the confidence of the president. Kelly is a retired four-star Marine general. He is now the third general in Trump’s group of top advisers. The others are National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis. Last Friday, Sean Spicer resigned from his job as White House press secretary. That same day, Trump named Anthony Scaramucci the new White House communications director. In an interview published Thursday evening in The New Yorker magazine, Scaramucci harshly criticized Priebus and said that he would “be asked to resign” from his job very soon. Some news reports said Priebus resigned from his position Thursday night. Also this week, the U.S. Senate failed to pass the Republican-backed repeal of the Obamacare health care plan. Repealing and replacing the health care plan was a major Trump campaign promise. Trump took office six months ago. He has had trouble turning some of his campaign promises into legislation. I’m Anne Ball.  Anne Ball wrote this story for Learning English based on materials from the Associated Press and VOA News. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   confidence - n. a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something repeal - v. to officially make (a law) no longer valid

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July 28, 2017

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

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Barbecue: An American Food Tradition

  For some Americans, summertime means visiting the beaches or national parks. For others, it means attending baseball games. And for many, it means cooking, eating, and generally enjoying American barbecue. Barbecue, or BBQ for short, is a style of cooking meat at a low temperature for a long time.  But, not all American barbecue is the same. Mike Sargent recently drove almost 2,500 kilometers from Texas to Washington, D.C., to compete in the National Capital Barbecue Battle. ​ As a Texan, Sargent says his home state makes the best barbecue. But he adds, “The style of barbecue going across the nation is just totally different. And it’s interesting to see, you know, because it’s the culture on what people were raised on.” Barbecue Belt Texas is part of America’s so-called “Barbecue Belt.” The area stretches from Texas to the East Coast. Many people divide it into four main styles of American barbecue: Carolina-style, Memphis-style, Kansas City-style and Texas-style. Each is named after the state or city where the style was formed. But American barbecue is not actually that straightforward. Robert F. Moss is a barbecue expert and historian. He wrote the book Barbecue: The History of an American Institution. Moss says American barbecue is much more than just the four main styles. He says many areas within the Barbecue Belt have their own styles and flavors. The state of Alabama, for example, has its own special white-colored barbecue sauce. And California, a state far from the Barbecue Belt, has its own barbecue style called Santa Maria. “Some people sort of point to like four main regions but it’s really much more.” “Regional pride” David Robbins is with Old Town Smokers, a restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia. He is their pitmaster -- the person who operates the barbecue cooking “pit.” He says that, for people who come from places where barbecue is popular, there is a lot of “regional pride.” “Usually not because it’s the favorite flavor, it’s because it’s the thing they grew up with.” Even Moss, the barbecue historian, says South Carolina’s style of barbecue is still special to him. He grew up in Greenville, in the western part of the state. “These days it’s hard for me to say I have one particular favorite barbecue style, because having traveled around to eat so many, I’ve sort of come to appreciate them all. I still am a little bit partial to the South Carolina style, just because it is my home state.” A brief history of barbecue Moss says American barbecue developed from several cultures in the Caribbean. Early European explorers observed Taino Indians in the Caribbean cooking whole animals over fire and smoke. They called it “barabicu,” or “sacred pit” in the Taino language. Spanish explorers called this cooking method “barbacoa.” As they traveled north, they spread barbacoa into the present-day southern American states, like Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. There, “barabacoa” became “barbecue.” In the 1920s, the restaurant industry grew quickly in the United States. It was this rise in restaurants, Moss says, that helped lead to the creation of regional barbecue styles. Carolina-style Carolina-style barbecue is named after the states of North Carolina and South Carolina. Carolina barbecue today is the closest to the early, colonial-style of barbecue of the 1700s, Moss says. All across the Carolinas, pork is the main barbecue meat. They cook the whole hog over a pit. The pork meat is then shredded or chopped or “pulled.” Pulled pork is meat that is tender - or soft - enough to be pulled from the bone with little effort. Sauce is a key part of American barbecue. Most sauces in North Carolina have a vinegar base. In South Carolina, the sauces are made with mustard. They are yellow in color. The mustard-based sauce is known as “Carolina Gold.” From the Carolinas, barbecue traditions moved west, all the way to Texas. Texas-style While Carolina-style barbecue is all about pork, Texas-style barbecue is all about beef. Texas is especially known for its smoked brisket. Brisket is a cut of meat from the lower chest of a cow, as pitmaster Mike Sargent explains. “It’s the chest and shoulder muscle. It’s a very thick, tough piece of meat. It has to be cooked for long periods of time at lower temperatures.” Most Texas barbecue cooks do not use much barbecue sauce. Instead, they flavor their meat with a mix of herbs and spices called a “rub.” “We don’t put a lot of sauce on anything down here. We’d rather you taste the meat and the seasonings and the woods that we use.” Texas-style barbecue is often cooked over pecan wood. Pecan trees are found across much of Texas. Memphis-style The city of Memphis, Tennessee, is home to another well-known style of American barbecue. Memphis-style BBQ may be best known for its pork ribs. The ribs can be served dry, without sauce, or wet, with sauce. Memphis-style sauce is sometimes very sweet, thanks to molasses – a thick, dark syrup made from raw sugar. Because the city sits along the Mississippi River, it was easy for locals to get molasses from steamboats that regularly carried goods up and down the river. Memphis-style barbecue led to the creation of Kansas City-style barbecue, because of one man, Henry Perry. The Memphis local worked as a steamboat cook. In the early 1900s, he moved north to Kansas City. Perry soon began cooking and serving barbecue for people in his new city. He went on to build a very successful Kansas City barbecue business. Kansas City-style Kansas City is where Carolina and Memphis pork barbecue meet Texas beef barbecue. It is, as some food experts say, the best of both worlds.   While it is best known for its pork ribs, Kansas City also does beef brisket. It is known for its thick, tomato-based sauce that is both sweet and spicy. Barbecue has become serious business in Kansas City. It holds the so-called “World Series” of barbecue every fall. The huge contest is called the American Royal. The fun of barbecue But barbecue is not about the competition. It is about eating. If cooked right, barbecued meat falls off the bone. You do not need to use a fork or knife to eat it. Usually, you can eat with your hands. Rebecca Sansale is from Pennsylvania. At the National Capital Barbecue Battle in Washington, D.C., she said barbecue is one of her favorite kinds of food. “It’s one of the foods that you can eat that’s really messy and it’s okay to kind of get it all over your face and it’s just really fun to eat.” A traditional American barbecue usually includes side dishes like potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans or macaroni and cheese. Chuck Smith is a cook at Smoke Shack, a barbecue restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. “I got potato salad, cole slaw, greens, beans, macaroni and cheese. The macaroni and cheese is off the hook. It’s off the hook. It’s so cheesy and it's good.”  “Off the hook” means really, really good. In summer months, people in the United States often invite friends and family members over for a barbecue. They cook meat outside on a grill and prepare side dishes similar to Chuck Smith’s. Pitmasters like Sargent and Robbins did not learn their trade at cooking schools. Instead, they learned through family barbecues in their own backyards. Sargent says, in Texas, everybody has a grill in the backyard. “That's where I learned my passion [from] it. My dad taught me from an early age how to cook on the grill...and that’s where I found my passion for it.” I’m Ashley Thompson. And I’m Dan Friedell.   Ashley Thompson and Olivia Liu reported and wrote this story. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   barbecue - n. an outdoor meal or party at which food is cooked on a barbecue; food that has been cooked on a barbecue grill  straightforward - adj. easy to do or understand : not complicated pit ​- n. ​ an outdoor area where food is cooked regional - adj. relating to a part of the country that is different or separate from other parts in some way appreciate ​- v. to understand the worth or importance of (something or someone) : to admire and value (something or someone) sacred  - adj. ​highly valued and important : deserving great respect hog  ​- n. ​a pig tender  - adj. ​easy to chew or bite : not tough brisket ​- n. ​ beef from the chest of a cow shred ​- v.​  to cut or tear (something) into long, thin pieces chop ​ ​- v.​  to cut (something) into pieces by hitting it with the sharp edge of an ax, knife, etc. flavor ​- v. ​to give or add taste to something best of both worlds - expression.​ a situation in which you can enjoy two very different things at the same time passion  ​- n. ​a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something

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'The Cop and the Anthem,' by O. Henry

We present the short story "The Cop and the Anthem," by O. Henry. The story was originally adapted and recorded by the U.S. Department of State.   Soapy moved restlessly on his seat in Madison Square. There are certain signs to show that winter is coming. Birds begin to fly south. Women who want nice new warm coats become very kind to their husbands. And Soapy moves restlessly on his seat in the park. When you see these signs, you know that winter is near. A dead leaf fell at Soapy’s feet. That was a special sign for him that winter was coming. It was time for all who lived in Madison Square to prepare. Soapy’s mind now realized the fact. The time had come. He had to find some way to take care of himself during the cold weather. And therefore he moved restlessly on his seat. Soapy’s hopes for the winter were not very high. He was not thinking of sailing away on a ship. He was not thinking of southern skies, or of the Bay of Naples. Three months in the prison on Blackwell’s Island was what he wanted. Three months of food every day and a bed every night. Three months safe from the cold north wind and safe from cops. This seemed to Soapy the most desirable thing in the world. For years Blackwell’s Island had been his winter home. Richer New Yorkers made their large plans to go to Florida or to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea each winter. Soapy made his small plans for going to the Island. And now the time had come. Three big newspapers, some under his coat and some over his legs, had not kept him warm during the night in the park. So Soapy was thinking of the Island. There were places in the city where he could go and ask for food and a bed. These would be given to him. He could move from one building to another, and he would be taken care of through the winter. But he liked Blackwell’s Island better. Soapy’s spirit was proud. If he went to any of these places, there were certain things he had to do. In one way or another, he would have to pay for what they gave him. They would not ask him for money. But they would make him wash his whole body. They would make him answer questions; they would want to know everything about his life. No. Prison was better than that. The prison had rules that he would have to follow. But in prison a gentleman’s own life was still his own life. Soapy, having decided to go to the Island, at once began to move toward his desire. There were many easy ways of doing this. The most pleasant way was to go and have a good dinner at some fine restaurant. Then he would say that he had no money to pay. And then a cop would be called. It would all be done very quietly. The cop would arrest him. He would be taken to a judge. The judge would do the rest. Soapy left his seat and walked out of Madison Square to the place where the great street called Broadway and Fifth Avenue meet. He went across this wide space and started north on Broadway. He stopped at a large and brightly lighted restaurant. This was where the best food and the best people in the best clothes appeared every evening. Soapy believed that above his legs he looked all right. His face was clean. His coat was good enough. If he could get to a table, he believed that success would be his. The part of him that would be seen above the table would look all right. The waiter would bring him what he asked for. He began thinking of what he would like to eat. In his mind he could see the whole dinner. The cost would not be too high. He did not want the restaurant people to feel any real anger. But the dinner would leave him filled and happy for the journey to his winter home. But as Soapy put his foot inside the restaurant door, the head waiter saw his broken old shoes and torn clothes that covered his legs. Strong and ready hands turned Soapy around and moved him quietly and quickly outside again. Soapy turned off Broadway. It seemed that this easy, this most desirable way to the Island was not to be his. He must think of some other way of getting there. At a corner of Sixth Avenue was a shop with a wide glass window, bright with electric lights. Soapy picked up a big stone and threw it through the glass. People came running around the corner. A cop was the first among them. Soapy stood still and smiled when he saw the cop. “Where’s the man that did that?” asked the cop. “Don’t you think that I might have done it?” said Soapy. He was friendly and happy. What he wanted was coming toward him. But the cop’s mind would not consider Soapy. Men who break windows do not stop there to talk to cops. They run away as fast as they can. The cop saw a man further along the street, running. He ran after him. And Soapy, sick at heart, walked slowly away. He had failed two times. Across the street was another restaurant. It was not so fine as the one on Broadway. The people who went there were not so rich. Its food was not so good. Into this, Soapy took his old shoes and his torn clothes, and no one stopped him. He sat down at a table and was soon eating a big dinner. When he had finished, he said that he and money were strangers. “Get busy and call a cop,” said Soapy. “And don’t keep a gentleman waiting.” “No cop for you,” said the waiter. He called another    waiter. The two waiters threw Soapy upon his left ear on the hard street outside. He stood up slowly, one part at a time, and beat the dust from his clothes. Prison seemed only a happy dream. The Island seemed very far away. A cop who was standing near laughed and walked away. Soapy traveled almost half a mile before he tried again. This time he felt very certain that he would be successful. A nice-looking young woman was standing before a shop window, looking at the objects inside. Very near stood a large cop. Soapy’s plan was to speak to the young woman. She seemed to be a very nice young lady, who would not want a strange man to speak to her. She would ask the cop for help. And then Soapy would be happy to feel the cop’s hand on his arm. He would be on his way to the Island. He went near her. He could see that the cop was already watching him. The young woman moved away a few steps. Soapy followed. Standing beside her he said: “Good evening, Bedelia! Don’t you want to come and play with me?” The cop was still looking. The young woman had only to move her hand, and Soapy would be on his way to the place where he wanted to go. He was already thinking how warm he would be. The young woman turned to him. Putting out her hand, she took his arm. “Sure, Mike,” she said joyfully, “if you’ll buy me something to drink. I would have spoken to you sooner, but the cop was watching.” With the young woman holding his arm, Soapy walked past the cop. He was filled with sadness. He was still free. Was he going to remain free forever? At the next corner he pulled his arm away, and ran. When he stopped, he was near several theaters. In this part of the city, streets are brighter and hearts are more joyful than in other parts. Women and men in rich, warm coats moved happily in the winter air. A sudden fear caught Soapy. No cop was going to arrest him. Then he came to another cop standing in front of a big theater. He thought of something else to try. He began to shout as if he’d had too much to drink. His voice was as loud as he could make it. He danced, he cried out. And the cop turned his back to Soapy, and said to a man standing near him, “It’s one of those college boys. He won’t hurt anything. We had orders to let them shout.” Soapy was quiet. Was no cop going to touch him? He began to think of the Island as if it were as far away as heaven. He pulled his thin coat around him. The wind was very cold. Then he saw a man in the shop buying a newspaper. The man’s umbrella stood beside the door. Soapy stepped inside the shop, took the umbrella, and walked slowly away. The man followed him quickly. “My umbrella,” he said. “Oh, is it?” said Soapy. “Why don’t you call a cop? I took it. Your umbrella! Why don’t you call a cop? There’s one standing at the corner.”The man walked more slowly. Soapy did the same. But he had a feeling that he was going to fail again. The cop looked at the two men. “I — ” said the umbrella man — “that is — you know how these things happen — I — if that’s your umbrella I’m very sorry — I — I found it this morning in a restaurant — if you say it’s yours — I hope you’ll — ” “It’s mine!” cried Soapy with anger in his voice. The umbrella man hurried away. The cop helped a lady across the street. Soapy walked east. He threw the umbrella as far as he could throw it. He talked to himself about cops and what he thought of them. Because he wished to be arrested, they seemed to believe he was like a king, who could do no wrong. At last Soapy came to one of the quiet streets on the east side of the city. He turned here and began to walk south toward Madison Square. He was going home, although home was only a seat in the park. But on a very quiet corner Soapy stopped. There was an old, old church. Through one of the colored-glass window came a soft light. Sweet music came to Soapy’s ears and seemed to hold him there. The moon was above, peaceful and bright. There were few people passing. He could hear birds high above him. And the anthem that came from the church held Soapy there, for he had known it well long ago. In those days his life contained such things as mothers and flowers and high hopes and friends and clean thoughts and clean clothes. Soapy’s mind was ready for something like this. He had come to the old church at the right time. There was a sudden and wonderful change in his soul. He saw with sick fear how he had fallen. He saw his worthless days, his wrong desires, his dead hopes, the lost power of his mind. And also in a moment his heart answered this change in his soul. He would fight to change his life. He would pull himself up, out of the mud. He would make a man of himself again. There was time. He was young enough. He would find his old purpose in life, and follow it. That sweet music had changed him. Tomorrow he would find work. A man had once offered him a job. He would find that man tomorrow. He would be somebody in the world. He would— Soapy felt a hand on his arm. He looked quickly around into the broad face of a cop. “What are you doing hanging around here?” asked the cop. “Nothing,” said Soapy. “You think I believe that?” said the cop. Full of his new strength, Soapy began to argue. And it is not wise to argue with a New York cop. “Come along,” said the cop. “Three months on the Island,” said the Judge to Soapy the next morning.   Download activities to help you understand this story here. Now it's your turn to use the words in this story. Do you understand why Soapy wanted to be arrested? Is it good or bad to avoid hard work? Let us know in the comments section or on our Facebook page.   ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   restlessly – adv. done while feeling nervous or bored and tending to move around a lot coat(s) – n. an outer piece of clothing that can be long or short and that is worn to keep warm or dry park – n. a piece of public land in or near a city that is kept free of houses and other buildings and can be used for pleasure and exercise cop(s) – n. a person whose job is to enforce laws, investigate crimes, and make arrests avenue – n. a wide street waiter – n. a man who serves food or drinks to people in a restaurant umbrella – n. a device that is used for protection from the rain and sun anthem – n. a formal song of loyalty, praise, or happiness

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Weak Rules, Little Punishment for Fighting in Taiwan's Parliament

  Taiwan's legislature received world attention this month. It was not, however, the result of laws the parliament passed. Instead, the world watched lawmakers fighting. Weak rules and unspoken agreements in Taiwan’s parliament prevent the violence from being stopped. Over two years, aggressive actions such as pushing, throwing chairs and physically seizing others have not been reported to the parliament's Discipline Committee. Its executive secretary recently said that the committee has the power to suspend lawmakers who take part in such behavior. Liu Yih-jiun is a public issues professor at Fo Guang University in Taiwan. He told VOA, "A dogfight between the members of the house in Taiwan is legal." Liu said the committee never orders any physical or legal actions to try to control the behavior of lawmakers. He said this is true even when people are badly hurt. Taiwan is known for its physical legislative fights. They often start with opposition party members blocking the path of majority party members as they try to reach a podium. When the majority party pushes back, some lawmakers hit, grab, pull neckties and throw objects. Last December, three people were sent to the hospital after a parliamentary fight. Experts say fighting continues in Taiwan partly because political parties are unwilling to share power or accept that they lack power. Also, voters in Taiwan also expect their lawmakers to stand strong on sensitive issues such as Taiwan's relations with China. And, some lawmakers have said the fights are not always real. They say some are planned to get attention. ​Taiwan's legislature in central Taipei lacks a security official, called a sergeant at arms. This official supervises behavior at meetings and can remove people when necessary. In Britain, the parliament's sergeant at arms carries a sword. Liu said the past two legislative leaders, called speakers, have been, in his words, "kind of weak" and lacking in "political wisdom" needed to settle disputes peacefully. This month, opposition lawmakers pushed people and seized the podium to block the finance committee chairman from reaching it. The chairman called a recess. The Discipline Committee official said that neither the speaker nor parliament has honored lawmaker requests to send cases of violence to the Discipline Committee.  Raymond Wu is a director of e-telligence, a research business based in Taiwan that advises companies. He said lawmakers hope to avoid dividing parliament further by punishing individual members. Over five meetings that started on July 13, legislators threw chairs and water balloons, sometimes screaming as they fought. The opposition Nationalist Party had protested the budget for including the first part of a government plan for new infrastructure. The budget item received approval Wednesday. Opposition legislator Lin Wei-chou spoke after the fight Monday. "We will do our utmost to explain to people why we're so intensely blocking this meeting," he said. I'm Caty Weaver.   Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. ­­­­­­­­­Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   discipline - n. control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior​ podium - n. a raised platform for a speaker, performer, or the leader of an orchestra​ grab - v. to quickly take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms​ necktie - n.  a long piece of cloth that is worn by men around the neck and under a collar and that is tied in front with a knot at the top​ recess - n. a usually brief period of time during which regular activity in a court of law or in a government stops​ scream - v. to say (something) in a loud and high voice because you are angry, afraid, etc​ infrastructure - n. the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly​ item - n. an individual thing: a separate part or thing​  

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US Sanctions Bill Goes to Trump, Russia Responds

  The United States Congress has approved a bill placing new sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea. The measure passed both houses of Congress this week. The vote in the House was 419-3, while the Senate approved it 98-2. If President Donald Trump signs the bill, it becomes law. If he vetoes it, Congress is likely to override the veto to allow it to become law. White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci left open the possibility that Trump could reject the new sanctions. He told CNN on Thursday the president might decide to veto, then try to “negotiate an even tougher deal against the Russians.” Top lawmakers from both parties criticized a possible presidential veto. “I think that would be a very bad mistake,” Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, told VOA. “What would be better is if they [White House officials] worked with us on the legislation.” Democratic Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland said the bill gives Trump a better negotiating position with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “If he vetoes it, it means he doesn’t want a stronger hand in dealing with Mr. Putin,” Cardin said. The bill places economic restrictions on many Russian industries. Russia’s economy has already felt the effects from 2014 sanctions placed in response to Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine. The new sanctions are meant to punish Russia for that action. They are also a response to U.S. intelligence findings that Russia took steps to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. President Putin has repeatedly denied his government had any involvement in trying to influence the American election.  In addition to Russia, the bill places sanctions on North Korea for its continued nuclear program. The measure bars North Korean ships from operating in American waters or docking at U.S. ports. The ban extends to ships from nations not following United Nations resolutions against North Korea. The bill bans goods produced by North Korea’s forced labor from entering the U.S. Also, the legislation punishes people involved in Iran's ballistic missile program and anyone doing business with them. It also places restrictions on Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Russia was quick to criticize passage of the bill and answered with its own diplomatic measures. The Russian foreign ministry said the sanctions were evidence of “extreme aggression of the U.S. in international affairs.” Russian officials called in outgoing U.S. ambassador John Tefft in Moscow to inform him of its own countermeasures. Russia ordered the U.S. to cut hundreds of diplomatic positions in the country to match the number of Russian diplomatic workers in the United States. In addition, Russia said it would block entry to two diplomatic properties in Moscow. The European Union expressed its concerns, saying the new sanctions could harm Europe’s energy industry. Several nations – including Germany and France – said the sanctions might harm businesses that carry Russian natural gas through pipelines. Senior Republicans said they had responded by making changes to the bill to deal with some of the European concerns. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter 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   sanction – n. measure taken against a country to cause it to obey international laws or requirements override – v. make something no longer valid annexation – n. the taking over of another country’s territory retaliate – v. respond with action against something countermeasure – n. action intended to stop or prevent something bad or unwanted  

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Trump Chooses Kansas Governor to Lead Religious Freedom Efforts

  President Donald Trump chose the Republican governor of Kansas to lead American government support of religious freedom across the world. If approved by the Senate, Governor Sam Brownback’s new position would be “ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.” Brownback, like Trump, is a Republican. Brownback, who is 60, talked about being selected for the religious freedom job at a news conference on Thursday. "International religious freedom is going the wrong way," Brownback said. "There's more persecution, not less, that's taken place over the last 20 years." On Twitter, he said, “Religious freedom is the first freedom. The choice of what you do with your own soul. I am honored to serve such an important cause.” Brownback was a U.S. senator in 1998 when he was a lead sponsor of the International Religious Freedom Act. The bill was signed into law by then President Bill Clinton, a Democrat. The legislation called on the U.S. government to help people persecuted in foreign countries because of their religious beliefs. The law created the ambassador-at-large position for which Brownback has been nominated. It also requires yearly reports on the state of religious freedom across the world. In 2016, the State Department reported a decrease in religious freedom from the year before. The report blamed a growing refugee crisis, political divisions and economic problems for the drop in religious freedom. It reported barriers to religious freedom in Pakistan, Mauritania, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Angola, Bahrain and the Central African Republican. When the Senate will take up the Brownback nomination has not yet been announced. If he is approved, Brownback will give up his job as Kansas governor. He would be replaced by the lieutenant governor, Jeff Colyer. Colyer is a doctor and, like Brownback, a Republican. Brownback was elected governor in 2010, and later won passage of big cuts in Kansas taxes. But the tax cuts led to cuts in services. The state’s education system was hard hit. In June, the Legislature brought back most of the taxes that were cut. Susan Wagle is president of the Kansas Senate. She has disagreed with Brownback on budget and tax issues. She commented on Brownback’s decision to resign as governor and take a new job in Washington. “This position will be a good fit for Governor Brownback, a staunch defender of religious freedom. I’m sure he will do a great job,” Wagle said. Wagle called on the U.S. Senate to approve Brownback’s nomination quickly -- “so that we can get Kansas back on track with new leadership.” I’m Bruce Alpert.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for VOA Learning English based on reports by the Associated Press, Reuters and other sources.  Mario  Ritter 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   persecute - v. to treat someone cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs soul - n. the spiritual part of a person that is believed to give life to the body and in many religions is believed to live forever challenge - n. issues that test the ability or strength needed to solve problems staunch - adj. very devoted or loyal to a person, belief, or cause on track - phrase. on the way to getting something done  

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