July 31, 2017

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2uRBExn
via IFTTT

Grover Cleveland: Repeated

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Grover Cleveland. When Americans remember him, it is mostly because he makes writing presidential timelines difficult. Cleveland was the nation’s 22nd president, and also its 24th. He remains the only U.S. president to date whose second term did not immediately follow the first. Cleveland is also notable because of his personal life, and because he held office during one of the country’s worst economic crises.   Early life Stephen Grover Cleveland was born in the northeastern state of New Jersey and grew up mostly in New York. He was a middle child in a family of nine children. His father was a minister, and the family did not have much money. As a result, Cleveland had little formal education. He was one of the few presidents who did not go to college. But he was able to become a lawyer. He earned enough money and developed a good professional image. In time, he became a sheriff, a mayor, and the governor of the state of New York.   In his early life, Cleveland did not marry and have children. Instead, he had many friends, with whom he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and eating and drinking in restaurants. But Cleveland did have a relationship with a widow named Maria Halpin. She became pregnant and said Cleveland was the baby’s father. Cleveland said he was not sure if he was. However, he gave the child some financial support, the name of one of his closest friends, and his own family name. The child was called Oscar Folsom Cleveland.    Shortly after the boy was born, his mother was sent to an institution for the mentally unstable. Doctors quickly confirmed that her mental health was fine, but her son was taken from her and raised by another family.   The story about Halpin and the child became an issue in the election of 1884. The Democratic Party had nominated Cleveland as their candidate for president. In general, voters liked his message of limiting federal spending, reducing the power of wealthy interests, and stopping political corruption. Some called him “Grover the Good.” But Cleveland’s opponents said his history with Maria Halpin showed that he was an immoral man. At anti-Cleveland rallies, Republicans chanted, “Ma, ma, where’s my Pa?” Pa is another word for father. But Cleveland did not comment much on the matter. His defenders said Cleveland’s honesty as a public official was more important than his bad judgment as a private citizen. Voters seemed to agree. Cleveland narrowly won the election. His supporters answered the Republicans’ chants of “where’s my Pa?” by saying, “Gone to the White House, ha, ha, ha!” First presidential term Grover Cleveland’s presidency was unusual because he did not want to use the office to propose laws. Instead, he mostly aimed to keep the federal government operating efficiently. He also wanted to limit lawmakers’ power to help special interest groups. As a result, Cleveland vetoed many bills in his first term. He set a record at that time for saying no to proposals from Congress. One of the few ideas that he supported was reducing tariffs. Many of his fellow Democrats liked that idea, too. But a number of Republicans did not. In the next election, their candidate, Benjamin Harrison, defeated Cleveland. Cleveland returned to being a lawyer in New York. In 1892, Cleveland was chosen to run against Benjamin Harrison again. The tariff issue returned: the Republicans’ protective tariffs had hurt some industries, and voters answered this time by voting Harrison out of office. Cleveland returned to the White House. But this time he was not alone. White House Wedding Two years into his first term as president, Cleveland married the daughter of his close friend, Oscar Folsom. The bride’s name was Frances Folsom. She was 21 years old at the time. The president was 49. Cleveland was not the first president to get married while in office. But he was  the first one to be married in the White House. The event captivated the public. What’s more, Americans adored the new first lady. She was known for being social, charming, and beautiful. Historians conclude that she was the most popular first lady since Dolley Madison. She remains the youngest. Second presidential term When the Clevelands returned to the White House, the country was entering a severe economic recession. Some of the country’s biggest businesses were failing, including a railroad and many banks. As a result, investors withdrew their money from the stock market. The withdrawal caused many other businesses to fail. The series of events is known as the Panic of 1893. Soon, more and more Americans were out of work. Many could not afford houses or food. Some begged President Cleveland to intervene. But he declined. He did not think it was the role of the federal government to create jobs in order to reverse the depression. However, Cleveland did use the power of the federal government to intervene during a famous labor strike. In that event, workers in Chicago who helped keep the trains operating walked out of their jobs. They were protesting a major decrease in their pay that did not include a decrease in their living expenses. Since the owner of the company also controlled the price of housing and food, workers appealed to him to treat them more fairly. But the company owner refused even to meet with the workers. Soon, the workers’ boycott grew. Workers at other railyards stopped working. Farmers could not get their goods to market, and others could not get the supplies they needed. Even the mail stopped being delivered.      So Cleveland sent federal troops to break the strike. In the short term, Cleveland’s actions worked. The trains moved again, and both the courts and most of the public agreed with the president’s decision. But in the long term, Cleveland’s handling of the panic, depression, and workers’ strike lost the support of many voters. At the next opportunity, they voted him out of the White House again. Cleveland’s Legacy Cleveland returned to New York, and later settled in a large house in Princeton, New Jersey. There, he wrote, made speeches, sat on corporate boards, became a trustee of Princeton University and enjoyed the respect of the people who lived in the town. He died at age 71 of problems with his stomach, heart, and kidneys. Several people said his final words were, “I have tried so hard to do right.” Then and now, many people agreed with that idea. Cleveland was generally an honest man who worked hard and tried to act independently as president. But he is not considered one of America’s best leaders. He did not have a clear idea about how to guide the country. Yet the opposing party, at least, may have considered Cleveland’s presidency a success. After Cleveland’s final election defeat, six of the next seven presidents were Republicans. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking a listening quiz. Play each short video and choose the best answer. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   widow - n. a woman whose husband has died​ immoral - adj. not morally good or right : morally evil or wrong​ tariffs - n. a tax on goods coming into or leaving a country captivate - v. to attract and hold the attention of someone by being interesting or pretty trustee - n. a member of a group that manages the money of an organization  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2vW8wVO
via IFTTT

Cities Aim to Make Once-Polluted Rivers Safe for Swimming

  Holding hands, people jumped in the water, and floated around in Boston’s Charles River recently. That is something that would not have been possible years ago because the river was so polluted. In the 1960s, the music group The Standells even sang about the river in their popular song, “Dirty Water.” “Well I love that Dirty Water, oh, Boston you’re my home.” The swimmers were getting their once-a-year chance to cool off from the summer heat in the Charles River. It is called “City Splash.”  For a few days each year, the state of Massachusetts allows public swimming on Boston’s part of the nearly 130-kilometer river.  The event is in its fifth year. It is a chance for the nonprofit Charles River Conservancy to show its efforts to build a “swim park.” Their idea is to build floating docks where swimmers can jump safely into the river— without touching the hazardous bottom. These docks would be in areas where the water quality would be tested repeatedly. Nearly 300 people signed up to swim. "It felt refreshing and wonderful,'' said Newton, Massachusetts resident Ira Hart as he got out of the river. "They used to talk about how it was toxic sludge and you'd glow if you came out of the Charles. Well I'm not glowing, at least not yet.'' Boston is one of the cities hoping to follow the model of Copenhagen, Denmark. That city opened the first of its three floating harbor baths in the early 2000s. On sunny days, people swim in the harbor baths surrounded by tall buildings and cars on the highways. At night, the area is filled with people enjoying music and food. Just recently Paris opened public swimming in a once-polluted canal. New York, London, Berlin and other cities are planning similar features for their waterways. In Boston, the Charles River Conservancy still needs to raise several million dollars. It also needs to get approvals from city, state and federal agencies. The group’s spokeswoman, S.J. Port, said the biggest problem has already been taken care of: The Charles is now one of the cleanest city rivers in America. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced this month that the river earned a “B” grade for water quality last year-- an “A” being the best grade. It means the Charles River met the requirement for swimming 55 percent of the time. Here are examples of other cities working to allow swimming again: Portland, Oregon In Portland, Oregon, the city and a local group invited residents to swim in the Willamette River this summer. They opened the first official public beach with lifeguards on the river earlier this month. They have also launched a public information campaign and scheduled events around the water. Among them was the Big Float river parade on July 15. People floated on the river in inner tubes and small boats. About 2,500 people participated in the party. London In London, a group of architects, designers and engineers have plans for a series of pools in the middle of the River Thames. It would be in an area where river water would be filtered, or cleaned, continuously. Chris Romer-Lee, a lead organizer of the Thames Baths project, said the group aims to submit plans to local authorities by early 2018. The group launched an online funding campaign last year that raised about $180,000 to work on their design. Now they are working to raise almost $20 million for the project itself. New York In New York, four local artists and architects launched the idea for +Pool, a floating pool in the shape of a plus sign in 2010. The water would also be cleaned or filtered. Since then, they say they have successfully tested a filtration system that removes bacteria without using chemicals.The group’s deputy director said they have raised nearly $2 million to keep developing the project. They are exploring possible places on the East and Hudson rivers and are preparing to get city approvals. Melbourne, Australia In Melbourne, Australia, the Yarra Swim Co. presented its idea for a floating pool on the city's Yarra River at a show last year. Michael O'Neill is behind the effort. He said the company will reach out to community groups and government agencies in August. They want to know what people think the Yarra Pools project should offer. They also want to support other ideas for use of the river. Berlin In Berlin, the Flussbad project calls for cleaning up a canal off the German capital's Spree River for public bathing. Barbara Schindler is a spokeswoman for the effort. She said the idea has been around since the 1990s, but has made progress in recent years. She said the organization completed a water quality study in 2015. It has received $4.6 million in government funding to hopefully create the project. I’m Anne Ball. And I’m Jonathan Evans.  Anne Ball adapted this story for Learning English from the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit us on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   splash – v. to cause water or another liquid to move in a noisy or messy way dock – n. a structure built out into the water and used as a place to get on or off or tie up a boat. hazardous – adj. involving risk or danger toxic – adj. containing poisonous substances sludge – n. thick, soft, wet mud glow – v. to shine with low light and heat but usually without flame canal – n. a long narrow place that is filled with water and was created by people so that boats could pass through it or to supply fields, crops, etc., with water lifeguard – n. a person whose job is to protect swimmers from drowning inner tube – n. a round tube that holds air inside a tire

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2tVazw8
via IFTTT

Nonprofits Help Elderly Immigrants in New York City

  For five hours a day, three days a week, more than 150 aging Bangladeshis exercise, eat, pray and talk together at the Jamaica Muslim Center in Queens, New York. A few kilometers away, at the Desi Senior Center, immigrants ages 60 and older exercise on a stage with guidance from a teacher. These seniors are taking part in programs that they cannot find - and in many cases cannot pay for - elsewhere in the city. Demographic changes in New York City New York City has seen major demographic changes since 2000. The Center for an Urban Future is a research group based in Manhattan. In a recent report, it said that immigrants make up 49.5 percent of the city's residents who are over the age of 65. In comparison, immigrants made up 38 percent of that same group in 2000. The report says there are now more people over the age of 65 in the city than there are children ages 10 and younger. Older immigrants face language and cultural barriers. They also are likely to face increased isolation and higher levels of poverty than natives. The Center for an Urban Future estimates that 22 percent of foreign-born seniors are in poverty. It says that this is true of about 15 percent of native seniors. Christian González-Rivera is a lead researcher at the center. He said: “Because the needs are now so much more diverse, along with the diversity of the population, we really need to rethink how it is that we serve seniors across the city in new ways.” Jahan Ara Amin's story Jahan Ara Amin is from Dhaka, Bangladesh. She is among the many Bangladeshis at Desi Senior Center who have had problems since coming to the United States. She and her husband first arrived in 2016. She says she did not feel welcomed by extended family members at her daughter’s home in Texas. Dilafroz Nargis Ahmed, the Desi Center’s director, explains this is common situation among Bangladeshi immigrants. Amin spoke through a translator. She became sad as she talked about her problems. She and her husband chose to settle in New York City because of the large number of Muslim-faith Bangladeshis. Amin and her husband have yet to find affordable permanent housing. Her lack of English makes it difficult to use public transportation. She says she worries how she “will go outside the next day.” “When I am home, I feel tension and anxiety,” she said. “But when I come here [the Desi Center], I forget everything.” Recent arrivals such as Amin are among the 31 percent of older immigrants who do not get Social Security and other federal help. At Desi Senior Center, she receives a warm meal. Otherwise, she is   mostly on her own. Burden on local resources Anand Ahuja, is an Indian-American immigrant and a lawyer who works on family and immigration law. He says situations like Amin’s still create an “unnecessary burden” on local resources. Some – but not all - of the money for such senior programs comes from public money. “If your own country members cannot take care of you, that should not be a license for you to be dependent upon the state,” Ahuja told VOA. “If you have a problem of religion, if you have a problem with language…isn’t it better for you then to go back to your home country?” Earlier this year, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton proposed an immigration bill that includes a visa requirement for parents of citizens “in need of caretaking.” The parents would not be able to work or access public benefits in the U.S.  They also “must be guaranteed support and health insurance by their sponsoring children.” Cotton plans to present the bill with some changes later this summer. Are older adults taken care of when they live with their children? Lakshman Kalasapudi is the deputy director of India Home, a nonprofit organization. She says many people mistakenly believe that South Asians who arrive as older adults are “fully taken care of” by their children. She said: “Our people are more conservative, and more religious and family oriented, so they want to be with the family. But it’s very hard to be with the family nowadays because the children who brought them here, maybe [a] son or [a] daughter, maybe they are on [the] poverty line also.” Kalasapudi says this can lead to a real breakdown in the family structure. She says it can have a deeply negative effect on the seniors’ mental health. Social isolation among immigrants is common she adds. That problem is India Home’s primary concern. Subhash Bhasin, 78, and Prabha Bhasin, 74, emigrated from India nearly 40 years ago. They became American citizens. They receive Social Security and government-supported health care. But they too experienced loneliness and depression as they entered old age. “We went back [to India] and we tried three years, but we could not settle so we came again,” said Prabha. This time, they found a community through India Home. “We say our prayers…we sing bhajans,” says Prabha. “We feel like we have an extended family now.” I'm John Russell.   And I'm Ashley Thompson. Ramon Taylor reported this story for VOANews. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story demographic – adj.  of or relating to the study of changes that occur in large groups of people over a period of time : of or relating to demography affordable – adj.  having a cost that is not too high  burden – n.  someone or something that is very difficult to accept, do, or deal with dependent – adj. needing someone or something else for support, help, etc. breakdown – n. the failure of a relationship or of an effort to discuss something isolation – n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate from others : the condition of being isolated benefit – n.  money that is paid by a company (such as an insurance company) or by a government when someone dies, becomes sick, stops working, etc. bhajan – n. Hinduism a religious song of praise

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2uaeLn9
via IFTTT

Lesson 39: It’s Unbelievable!

Summary Anna sees an ad for a hair product on television. Her friend Pete is in the ad, so she believes that the product is a good one. She learns that she cannot believe everything she sees in television ads. Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn about using negative prefixes with adjectives.​ Pronunciation Use this video to learn about the pronunciation of the words "comfortable" and "uncomfortable." Conversation Anna: Hello! Winter weather in Washington, D.C. can be really windy. And wind messes up my hair. It is really windy today. Look at my hair. Will it be windy this weekend? I’ll listen to the news. I am tired of my untidy hair. Pete: Are you tired of your untidy hair? Anna: Yes. Yes, I am. And it’s … uncomfortable. Pete: Is it … uncomfortable? Anna: Yes. Yes, it is! Hey, is that … Pete? Pete: Hi. I’m Pete. And I have the perfect product for you -- Hair Be Good! Pete: Just spray Hair Be Good on your hair … wrap in a towel … and you are done! Hair Be Good works and it’s inexpensive. One can costs only $10! So, go online and order your Hair Be Good today! Anna: Hair Be Good sounds perfect! And I can trust Pete! I am buying some right now. Okay, I will order one can of Hair Be Good for $10. I’ll pay with a credit card. My delivery will arrive in 2 days. Awesome! Anna: It arrived! I'll use it before I go to work. Okay, Hair Be Good, make my untidy hair tidy! No, make it … fabulous! Amelia: Hi, Anna. Anna: Hello, Amelia! Amelia: Anna, you look … different. Anna: Thanks! I used a new product called Hair Be Good. Amelia: Well, it’s not. Anna: It’s not what? Amelia: Good. Your hair does not look good. Anna: Oh, no! This is not good. Amelia: Why don’t you go home and take care of … this. Anna: Good idea. Pete: Hi, Anna! Anna: Hello, Pete. Pete: Is something wrong? Anna: This is wrong! Pete: What did you do to your hair? Anna: Hair Be Good did this to my hair. Pete: Ah, you bought it! Anna: Yes, I bought it. You said in your ad it was a perfect product. This is not perfect. This is imperfect! Pete: It’s unbelievable! Anna: I believed your ad, Pete. It was dishonest! Pete: Anna, you don’t believe everything you see in ads, do you? Anna: No, Pete. Just the ones with my friends. Pete: Your hair will be okay. Just wash it ... a couple of times. Anna: Thanks. Thanks a lot, Pete! Here, here's your product! You should call it "Hair Be Really Bad!" Until next time, Pete! Till next time. Writing In this lesson, Anna believed an ad she saw on television. It was not a good decision. Do you believe the ads you see on television? Why or why not? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice talking about ads. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Asking Questions to Clarify.  When we try to get more information we ask clarification questions. The information may help us to better understand others. In this lesson, Anna asks Amelia to clarify.  Amelia says, "Anna, you look … different." Anna thinks she looks great. She tells Amelia about the new hair product: "Thanks! I used a new product called Hair Be Good." When Amelia says, "Well, it’s not," Anna asks a question to clarify: "It’s not what?" Amelia clarifies, or explains her meaning: "Good. Your hair does not look good." Do you ever ask questions to clarify when you speak English? Write to us about it in the Comments section or send us an email. Teachers, see the Lesson Plan  for more details on teaching this strategy. Quiz Listen to short videos and test your listening skills with this quiz. ______________________________________________________________ New Words can - n.a closed metal container that is usually shaped like a cylinder and that holds food, drink, or other liquids delivery - n. something that is taken to a person or place or something that is delivered dishonest - adj. not honest: such as saying or likely to say things that are untrue imperfect - adj. having mistakes or problems or not perfect fabulous - adj. very good inexpensive - adj. low in price o rnot expensive order - v. to place an order for (something): such as to request (something) from a company product - n. something that is made or grown to be sold or used spray - v. to put a stream of small drops of liquid on (someone or something) tidy - adj. clean and organized or not messy towel - n. a piece of cloth used for drying things unbelievable - adj. difficult or impossible to believe uncomfortable - adj. causing a feeling of physical or mental discomfort untidy - adj. not neat or clean wrap - v. to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of material around it ______________________________________________________________ Free Materials   Download the VOA Learning English Word Book for a dictionary of the words we use on this website. Each Let's Learn English lesson has an Activity Sheet for extra practice on your own or in the classroom. In this lesson, you can use it to practice talking about advertisements. For Teachers ​ See the Lesson Plan for this lesson for ideas and more teaching resources. Send us an email if you have comments on this course or questions. Grammar focus: Adjectives with negative prefixes (in-, un-, dis-, im-) Topics: Shopping online, Interpreting factual statements; Critical thinking about advertisements Learning Strategy: Ask questions to clarify or get more information Speaking & Pronunciation Focus: Using negative prefixes with adjectives; Pronouncing "comfortable" and "uncomfortable."   ____________________________________________________________ Now it's your turn. Send us an email or write to us in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page to let us know what you think of this lesson.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2tPloM0
via IFTTT

Hundreds of Thousands of Somalis Displaced by Drought, Conflict

Drought and conflict have caused a new displacement crisis in the southern part of Somalia. Gerard Waite is chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration Somalia. He said about 800,000 people fled their homes over the past seven months. This is in addition to the 1.1 million people already displaced in the country. “We have a displacement crisis on top of a drought crisis,” Waite said. Poor camp conditions He also said that the newly displaced people have put heavy pressure on existing camps. “These camps are, by and large, not very well managed. They are normally on private land in very cramped conditions. They do not have the basic services in these camps,” Waite said. The displaced people are not living in healthy conditions, and are forced to drink unclean water. This has caused over 71,000 cases of cholera or severe diarrhea in 2017, resulting in nearly 1,100 deaths. “Water shortages have meant that people are drinking higher-risk water, taking water which they know to be contaminated but they drink it anyway,” Waite said. Difficult weather patterns Climate experts say the recent rainy season was well below average this year.  It usually lasts from April to June. The next rainy season is not expected until October, but experts warn there will be heavy crop losses. In addition, climate estimates suggest that there is a 45 percent chance of an El Niño weather event late in 2017. That could cause a further reduction in rain. An El Niño is an irregular weather event usually resulting in warmer-than-average temperatures in some places around the world. Waite said about 6.7 million people in Somalia are either suffering or near suffering from a food crisis. Managing and preparing for drought According to Waite, the International Organization for Migration has learned from Somalia’s drought in 2011. In that period of extremely dry weather, 200,000 people are believed to have died. “The need to deliver health systems to these places is extremely pressing,” Waite said.  However, he said they are also trying to work with the Somali government to create spaces that are better controlled and managed. Somalia’s finance minister, Abdirahman Duale Beyle, told VOA in May that the droughts in Somalia are cyclical.  He also said Somalia has become too dependent on external aid. “We have to change that kind of attitude,” Beyle said. There are projects meant to prepare Somalia for droughts, however.  The IOM, for example, is introducing drought-resistant potatoes. The U.N. Development Program is helping with several projects, including creating below-surface water tanks, wells, and community water storage ponds in Somaliland. Beyle said now is the time for Somalis themselves to take responsibility for solving the problem. “We have the technology, the intelligence and the know-how to break the link between drought and famine,” he said. I’m Phil Dierking.   Salem Solomon reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. How do you think a country can prepare for drought? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   drought - n. a long period of time during which there is very little or no rain​ contaminated - adj. to be made dangerous, dirty, or impure by adding something harmful or undesirable to it​ cramped - adj. not having enough space inside​ cyclical - adj. happening again and again in the same order ​ displace - v. to force (people or animals) to leave the area where they live​ manage - v. to take care of and make decisions about ​ external - adj. coming from outside​ famine - n. a situation in which many people do not have enough food to eat​

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2uONDvR
via IFTTT

Cambodian-Americans to Help Cambodia's Basketball Team

  Cambodia’s National Basketball team is preparing to play in the Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August. Pek Mith is the team’s captain. He told VOA Khmer that the team will “play with a lot of heart.” The Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are held every two years in one of 11 Southeast Asian countries. The SEA Games permit teams to have foreign-born or foreign-raised players compete in events, just like the Olympics. But the athletes must play for a parent’s native country. Many people believe that the Cambodian basketball team would be improved by having taller, foreign players. The team hopes to win a medal in the games.   In a perfect world, the Cambodians imagine that their first medal would be a gold one. But that would mean defeating the team from the Philippines. The Philippine basketball team has won the gold medal since the SEA Games began in 1977, except for 1989 when Malaysia took first place. So Cambodia recruited 10 basketball players — nine from the U.S. and one from Canada. They range in height from 1.65 meters to 1.93 meters. Rayvon Fouché is an associate professor and director of American Studies at Purdue University. He told VOA Khmer that the history of American sports showed that winning teams are driven by individual “effort and desire.” “And I think heart matters a lot,” he said. Fouché’s research showed that teams with mediocre players and a higher purpose often defeat teams that only have talented players. He said, “That’s why culture and community and identity within context of sports is really important.” He added,  “And that’s why people love the SEA Games and Olympics because playing and competing for your nation with people who have the same identity and culture — that makes you play in a way that you probably wouldn’t play before.”  In 2007, Sophean Toun was the first Cambodian-American player on the Cambodian National team. He says players want to compete because of national pride. “I feel like it’s our job to represent our ways in basketball to fulfill that pride that everyone should have being Cambodian,” he said. Austin Koledoye is the team’s head coach. He said that countries regularly seek the best athletes without considering their nationalities. He added that the players he recruited are not “foreigners,” they are Khmer. Khmer are the majority population in Cambodia. Koledoye said their involvement helps Cambodia, which is now getting recognition around the world. Fouché says players coming from the U.S. have clear advantages. They are taller and better trained. He says those issues could lead to low morale in a team with native and foreign-born players. Sok Tour is a Cambodian native who retired after the 2015 SEA Games. He now coaches for the Cambodian Basketball League Under 17 team. He says there was no resentment toward the foreign-born players. “The Cambodian players here are limited in their skills,” he said. “When we compete to represent Cambodia, we want Cambodians from the U.S. because of their expertise in the game. We want experience and we need their help.” Koledoye says that the Cambodian-Americans are role models for local Cambodians. “They leave their jobs and family to come and play,” he said. “That is Khmer spirit.” I’m Jonathan Evans.   Manilene Ek reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   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 mediocre – adj. not very good morale – n. the feelings of enthusiasm and loyalty that a person or group has about a task or job recruit – v.  to form or build a group, team, army, etc. by getting people to join  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2uLgKll
via IFTTT

Everyday Grammar: Uses of Well

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2uLlmHX
via IFTTT

Are Video Games the Next Big College Sport?

New kinds of competitors are joining student athletes at colleges and universities around the country. But not everyone agrees that these video game players are taking part in a sport. Sports are an established part of college life and a source of income for some schools. The football stadium at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, for example, holds over 107,000 people. It is one of the largest sports stadiums in the world! The National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA, organizes and creates rules for most of the major college sports competitions in the United States. Income from television advertisements during the NCAA yearly men’s basketball championships was greater than $1 billion in 2016. Not every college sport involves throwing a ball or swinging a stick, however. More schools around the country are offering new competitions that are growing in popularity. Like most traditional college sports, video game competitions involve two or more teams of students officially representing their schools. Team members wear clothing with their names and school colors. They even have coaches giving them advice on how best to win. However, there is no running or jumping or hitting other players. In fact, these new events are different from any traditional athletic activity. They are called esports, and they take place not in the real world, but in computers or other video game systems. Professional video game competitions have been popular around the world for years. Teams and individuals compete for prize money and awards in strategic military combat games like Starcraft and one-on-one fighting games like Street Fighter. But just as in traditional sports, there is a big difference between professional esports players and those who play for fun, says Michael Brooks. Brooks is the executive director of the National Association of Collegiate eSports, or NACE. NACE is an organization similar to the NCAA. It seeks to support the growth of college-level esports as well as create a system of governing rules for them. Brooks says that three years ago, only about seven colleges and universities in the U.S. had esports programs. Much of the popularity for video game competitions was in Europe and Asia at that time, and still is. That is mainly because the traditional professional sports industry in the U.S. is already so strong. Also, fewer people in the U.S. have high-speed internet connections, Brooks adds. But he says websites like YouTube and Twitch, where people can show videos of themselves competing in video games, have made a big difference. In addition to playing, watching others compete has become much more popular. Now, many more young Americans are looking for a path to professional-level competition, Brooks notes. So in 2016, Maryville University of St. Louis in Missouri and 5 other schools joined together to form NACE. Brooks says this move to treat esports seriously came at just the right time. “Many [schools] had the feeling that esports kind of … came out of nowhere. … But … that’s not necessarily true,” he told VOA via Skype. “It was just that if you’re interested in esports, that was something you had to go find. It wasn’t something put in front of you in the real world… And it’s only till recently that enough organizations have seen that there is a need here.” Currently, 41 U.S. colleges and universities are members of NACE, with esports teams of their own. Brooks argues that the schools do everything they can to treat the esports teams just like their traditional sports teams. The schools provide all the computers and other equipment that is necessary. Also, many schools provide students with some form of financial support in exchange for being on one of its teams. Southwest Baptist University in Missouri, for example, gives its esports team members as much as $10,000 in assistance. Brooks adds that not just anyone can join an esports team, and esports does not include any video game available. NACE only includes video games that enough students play under the same rules for competition. Schools invite the best young players in the country to join their teams just as they do with traditional college sports. These student also must keep a minimum level of academic performance in order to stay on the team. ​However, some experts do not believe colleges or the public should compare video games to soccer or baseball.   ​Brandon Spradley is the director of sports management at the United States Sports Academy. The school provides higher education in sports-related fields. Spradley also was on the competitive running team at the University of Alabama when he was a student there. Spradley says he is glad that schools are offering to help students pay for their education any way they can. But video games are just not as physically demanding as traditional sports, he says. “With esports, I do believe that the preparation is there and I do believe there is…skill to it as well,” Spradley told VOA via Skype. “It’s just…the physical exertion that most athletes [experience]…the practices that we have to do, the skill that we have to demonstrate, day in and day out. That is what I believe separates real sports from esports.” However, Kenneth Lam, the assistant director of the esports program at Maryville University, finds that argument pointless. After all, he says, golf is in no way as physically demanding as football. But people still call golf a sport. Lam also notes that the five members of his school’s team practice one to three nights per week for three hours at a time. That requires a lot of physical and mental energy, he says. And all that effort has paid off since the school started the program in 2015. His team beat eight other North American schools to win the League of Legends College Championships in May. Then, earlier this month they won third place at the League of Legends International College Cup in Wuhan, China. “It’s really exciting to see how much we have [been able to do] for the past two years,” Lam told VOA via Skype. Lam, Spradley and Brooks do all agree on one thing: esports are only going to increase in popularity. The sports media company ESPN began showing esports competitions although its president said in 2014 esports were not actually a sport. In addition, esports may be having a growing effect on schools. The number of new students attending Maryville grew by 45 percent from 2015 to 2016. Lam believes this is because of the success of his team and the attention they have brought to the school. I’m Caty Weaver. And I'm Pete Musto. Pete Musto reported this for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. How popular are esports in your country? Do you consider esports to be “real” sports? Why or why not? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   athlete(s) – n. a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength video game – n. an electronic game in which players control images on a television or computer screen income – n. money that is earned from work, investments, or business football – n. an American game that is played between two teams of 11 players each and in which the ball is moved forward by running or passing to try and get a ball to the goals at each end of a large field stadium – n. a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events or concerts basketball – n. a game in which two teams of five players bounce a ball and try to score points by throwing the ball through one of the raised nets at each end of a rectangular court championship(s) – n. an important competition that decides which player or team is the best in a particular sport or game coach(es) – n. a person who teaches and trains an athlete or performer strategic – adj. of or relating to a general plan that is created to achieve a goal in war or politics financial – adj. relating to money academic – adj. of or relating to schools and education soccer – n. a game played between two teams of 11 players in which a round ball is moved toward a goal usually by kicking to try and get a ball to the goals at each end of a large field baseball – n. a game played on a large field by two teams of nine players who try to score runs by hitting a small ball with a bat and then running to each of the four bases without being put out exertion – n. physical or mental effort practice(s) – n. the activity of doing something again and again in order to become better at it golf – n. an outdoor game in which players use special clubs called golf clubs to try to hit a small ball with as few strokes as possible into each of 9 or 18 holes

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2tT51Cl
via IFTTT

Better Conditions Make for Happier Cows and Farmers

Researchers are finding that better living conditions make for happier cows. And happier cows mean happier farmers, too.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2w9YlfV
via IFTTT

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2uMybjH
via IFTTT