Reports Say N. Korea Can Put Nuclear Weapon inside a Missile

  North Korea may have successfully produced a nuclear weapon small enough to fit inside its missiles. That information comes from a Japanese defense paper and an American newspaper. Japan’s Defense Ministry released its yearly report on Tuesday. The report said “it is possible that North Korea has achieved the miniaturization of nuclear weapons and has developed nuclear warheads.” In a separate story, The Washington Post reported that North Korea has successfully produced a miniaturized nuclear warhead for use in ballistic missiles. The newspaper said its information came from unnamed United States intelligence officials. It said their investigation was completed last month for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. The paper also reported that North Korea has up to 60 nuclear weapons, more than two times greater than earlier estimates. Officials at the agency would not comment Tuesday on the Post report. Over the weekend, the United Nations Security Council approved new sanctions designed to punish North Korea for its latest missile test. Those measures aim to cut about $1 billion from North Korea’s $3 billion in yearly earnings from exports. The North Korean government reacted to the Council’s vote with threats to take action against the U.S. government. North Korea also said through its state-operated media that sanctions will not force it to negotiate over its nuclear program. The United States, Japan and South Korea are considered possible targets for a nuclear-armed North Korea.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on The Washington Post and Associated Press news reports. Gerge Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fit - v. to be the right size achieve - v. to reach a goal miniaturization - n. making something in a very small size  

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Ancient Fish Returns to Illinois Waters

  The Illinois Department of Natural Resources is returning a fish called the alligator gar to the state’s rivers. Some people call the fish a “living fossil.”  Experts believe the fish first appeared during the Early Cretaceous period more than 100 million years ago. Randy Sauer is an Illinois state fisheries biologist. He says the fish disappeared from the state’s rivers in the 1990s, although they have continued to do well in southern states. Sauer says biologists want to bring the fish back to northern rivers “because it is important to have top predators to balance the species below them,” he said. Sport fishermen like to try to catch the alligator gar. Alligator gar are the second-largest freshwater fish in North America. They can grow as large as 2.7 meters and weigh more than 136 kilograms. Sauer says their large size is one reason they disappeared in the 1990s. Experts say alligator gars are “opportunistic feeders.” This means they will eat almost anything -- including small turtles or ducks. They also eat invasive species such as Asian and silver carp. Sauer hopes the re-introduction of the alligator gar will help the state’s efforts to control the carp. Because gar can live up to 60 years, the program will continue to increase for many years. Sauer notes that female alligator gars do “not sexually mature until 11 years, and the male not till 6 or 7 years.” That means the biologists will try to raise and release a lot of fish early in the program to re-introduce them. “We’re probably going to stock more heavily than 10 or 20 years down the road when hopefully these fish will find each other and start doing the job on their own,” Sauer says. Small devices have been placed in 7,000 of the fish so they can be observed after they are released into the waterways of Illinois. As it rains and floods, biologists expect some of the fish will follow the rivers into the states of Louisiana and Texas. I’m Mario Ritter.   Correspondent Erika Celeste reported this story from the Kasaskaskia River State Fish and Wildlife Area in Illinois.  Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fossil – n. something (such as a leaf, skeleton, or footprint) that is from a plant or animal which lived in ancient times and that you can see in some rocks predator – n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals; an animal that preys on other animals species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants; a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus stock – v. to fill something with a supply of things down the road – expression in or into the future

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Breastfeeding May Benefit Mothers Too

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. World Breastfeeding Week is an annual celebration held during the first week in August in more than 120 countries. The celebration aims to raise awareness about the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding. One goal of this year’s event is to encourage governments to support workplace policies that help mothers breastfeed their babies for as long as possible. Another goal is to confirm that breastfeeding is normal and natural. In 2016 The Lancet published a series on breastfeeding. The Lancet claimed that “deaths of 823,000 children and 20,000 mothers each year could be averted through universal breastfeeding, along with economic savings of US$300 billion.” How countries compare The medical journal also reported in 2016 that the United Kingdom had the lowest rate of breastfeeding in the world. In that country, only 1 in 200 mothers breastfeed their babies until the children are 1 year old. That is only about 0.5 percent. ​ Carmel Lloyd is with Royal College of Midwives in the U.K. She says that in the U.K. many people do not accept breastfeeding. Or, as she says, breastfeeding is frowned upon. "Well I think it is about, sort of, like normalizing it. I think it's still very much from, you know, some aspects of society very much frowned upon." In the U.S., 27 percent of mothers were still breastfeeding after one year. The number is 35 percent in Norway and 44 percent in Mexico. The Lancet reported that breastfeeding rates are much higher in much of the developing world: nearly 100% in Senegal, Gambia and Malawi. Health benefits of breastfeeding Many doctors recommend that babies be breastfed because the milk and closeness to the mother provide health benefits for newborns. Experts say breastfeeding allows a mother to share her immune protection with her baby. In countries with poor water quality especially, breastfeeding protects a newborn from dangerous infections. Breastfeeding might benefit not just the child. In recent years, researchers have also been studying the health benefits of breastfeeding for the mother.  A new study found that women who breastfed may have lowered their risk of heart disease or stroke by an average of 10 percent when they became older. The study is a collaboration between researchers at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences at Peking University and the University of Oxford. They studied data on nearly 290,000 women. The average age of these women was 51. The researchers found that women who breastfed had a 9 percent lower risk of heart disease and an 8 percent decreased risk of stroke. These percentages are in comparison to women who had never breastfed. The benefit of breastfeeding was even greater for women who nursed their babies for two years or more. Their heart disease risk was 18 percent lower and the risk of stroke 17 percent less than for those women who did not breastfeed. Cardiologist Nieca Goldberg suggests the cardiovascular benefits may be related to the release of a hormone during breastfeeding. That hormone is oxytocin. Oxytocin is important because it tells a pregnant woman’s body to start contractions when it's time for her baby to be born. Oxytocin also tells her body to create milk to feed the child. Goldberg, who was not involved in the study, explains. "Oxytocin is a hormone that helps the flexibility of our blood vessels. And flexible blood vessels are resistant to the build-up of plaque or the cholesterol in the walls of the arteries." The researchers published their findings in the Journal of the American Heart Association. But what about women who don’t breastfeed? Goldberg, a medical director for the Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health in New York City, points out a possible problem with the study. It was observational, she says. In other words, it used information provided by the mothers many years after they gave birth. Goldberg adds the findings do not prove a clear cause and effect relationship between breastfeeding and heart disease. She says a different type of study is needed. She says health experts need to compare women who breastfeed directly with a control group of those who don't. In this way, they can perhaps confirm long-term heart healthy benefits that come from breastfeeding. In addition, all the reported health benefits for both the mother and baby may give some women who can’t or won’t breastfeed pressure or feelings of guilt. Rebecca Branch, a mother, agrees. "There can be a lot of pressure, you are made to feel quite a lot of pressure to breastfeed and if for some reason you can't or don't want to, I think probably ... you know, that can be a bit ... there can be some negative responses around that." Whether mothers breastfeed or not, cardiologist Nieca Goldberg advises that women can protect themselves from heart disease in other ways, too. "For those women who don't choose to breastfeed, there are other things they can do to prevent heart disease. And that's certainly by exercising -- something as simple as taking a walk -- and eating a healthy diet that's rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat proteins." And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.    For VOA News in Washington, D.C., Jessica Berman reported on the Chinese study and Kevin Enochs reported on the pressure to breastfeed. Anna Matteo supplied additional reported from other studies and several websites. ___________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   encourage - v. to make (someone) more likely to do something : to make (something) more appealing or more likely to happen avert - v. to prevent (something bad) from happening frowned upon - phrasal verb to disapprove of something immune - adj. not capable of being affected by a disease collaborate - v. to work with another person or group in order to achieve or do something : collaboration - n.  hormone - n. a natural substance that is produced in the body and that influences the way the body grows or develops flexibility - n. capable of bending or being bent

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Number of Churches Offering Sanctuary in US Doubles

  Since Donald Trump was elected president, the number of churches in the United States declaring themselves sanctuaries – or safe places – for undocumented immigrants has more than doubled. However, few people are taking refuge in them. After Trump’s victory last November, about 400 churches declared themselves sanctuaries. That brought the total number of sanctuary churches in the country to 800, according to the nonprofit group Church World Service.  The rise came after Trump said he wanted to deport millions of undocumented people from the United States. However, many undocumented immigrants say they consider taking refuge in the churches a risky move. Only 12 people are known to be taking refuge in these churches. Ray Ybarra Maldonado is an immigration lawyer in Phoenix, Arizona. He represents Mexican-born Guadalupe Garcia de Rayos. She was one of the first undocumented immigrants deported under Trump. He says people who choose to take sanctuary in churches are “strong willed.” He calls such a decision a “personal sacrifice to make a larger statement towards immigration law.” “It's not just about an individual staying here; it's something much bigger than that,” he said. Mother granted a stay Nury Chavarria is originally from Guatemala. She has four children. She is the most recent immigrant to publicly take sanctuary in a church. This week, she was given a stay of deportation. That is when an order of deportation is temporarily delayed. She had spent six nights in the Igelsia de Dios Pentecostal in New Haven, Connecticut. Chavarria has no criminal record. She was previously given a stay of removal for humanitarian reasons, says Khaalid Walls, a spokesman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.   Chavarria applied for asylum many years ago, but her application was denied. This June, ICE federal officials told her she had one month to leave the country and return to Guatemala. Undocumented immigrants like Chavarria who take sanctuary never have promises of safety from deportation. However, ICE policy does discourage arrests at “sensitive locations.” This includes churches. Immigrants resist offer The idea of “sanctuary” is an old one. It comes from an ancient Judeo-Christian tradition. Today, some religious communities offer refuge to protest federal immigration policy. Yet, immigrants do not always wish to accept churches’ offer of sanctuary. Garcia de Rayos, for example, decided against taking sanctuary in a church, her lawyer said. Maldonado, the lawyer, said taking sanctuary is “almost like being incarcerated. You can’t live the life you want to live.”   Garcia de Rayos followed the immigration rules. She knew deportation was likely. She was arrested when she arrived at her ICE check-in in February. In the past, many immigrants had regular check-in meetings with ICE. They went to such meetings without fearing deportation. Under other administrations, undocumented people were not likely to be deported if they did not have a criminal record or were important to their community. Attention brings help Chavarria decided to take sanctuary so she could stay with her children, says Kica Matos, the director of immigrant rights at the Center for Community Change. The center represents Chavarria in court. Chavarria received attention from Connecticut's two Democratic senators, Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, as well as Governor Dannel Malloy.  They all wanted to support her. Another undocumented immigrant, Jeanette Vizguerra, also took sanctuary in a church.  She spent 86 nights in a church in Denver, Colorado, before her application for a stay of deportation was approved in May. Colorado Senator Michael Bennet and two other Democratic congressmen introduced a law that permitted her and another immigrant to remain in the United States until 2019.   While Vizguerra was in sanctuary, TIME magazine named her one of the most influential people of 2017. The media attention was helpful for Vizguerra, Maldonado says. “The more high profile you can make your case, the more you can show the government that the rest of the world is watching,” he said.   Vizguerra and Chavarria, however, are exceptions. There are currently 12 immigrants known to be living in churches.  They are all hoping for some form of relief from deportation. But so far, they have not received any. This may discourage others from taking sanctuary. Noel Anderson works on immigrants’ rights at Church World Service. “There's a lot of fear in the community,” Anderson said. “The fear is that they could be stuck in a church for years on end, or if their story is public, they may be more of a target.” I’m Jill Robbins.   Gabriella Borter originally wrote this story for Reuters. Phil Dierking adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you think churches should offer sanctuary?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   attorney - n. another word for lawyer deport – v. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country discourage – v.  to make (someone) less determined, hopeful, or confident incarcerate – v. to put (someone) in prison Judeo-Christian – adj.  relating to both Judaism and Christianity priority – n. something that is more important than other things and that needs to be done or dealt with first high profile – adj.  attracting a lot of attention in newspapers, on television, etc. relief – n. a pleasant and relaxed feeling that someone has when something unpleasant stops or does not happen

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Han Hyun-Min, South Korea’s First Black-Korean Model

  Han Hyun-Min is a 16-year-old South Korean model. He has lived in Seoul all his life and only speaks Korean. But, people in South Korea often think he is from somewhere else. Han’s mother is Korean and his father is Nigerian. He is the first black-Korean model to take part in South Korea’s fashion shows. Agence France-Press news agency spoke with Han and his agent, Youn Bum, last month. An agent is someone who helps models get jobs by contacting fashion designers and magazines.  Youn signed Han as a model after seeing Han’s Instagram photos and his “electrifying” walk, AFP reported. However, he knew that signing Han was a risky move because of his darker skin. “A dark-skinned fashion model like Han was unheard of in South Korea,” Youn told AFP. At first, many Korean fashion designers and magazines dismissed Han and Youn because of Han’s dark skin. But a few designers liked his looks. Since he started modelling, Han has been in more than 30 fashion shows during two Seoul Fashion Weeks. That is a high number for a beginner. Despite Han’s success, people still question whether he is Korean. That is something that many Koreans with dark skin experience. Mixed families   Lily Lee is from South Korea. She has two daughters named Yuri and Dasomi. Her children are biracial. Lee’s husband, James, is from Kenya. Lee publishes videos on YouTube about her biracial family. Lee said James was the first black person that she and her parents ever met. She said her mother did not want her to marry James. “She was always like ‘just date, but don’t think about getting married,’” Lee said of her mother. Lee said her parents worried that if she had children with James, the children would have a difficult life. She said, “The reason that they were being against (our relationship) was (because) our children will be discriminated (against). Definitely. Because the skin color and also (James is) from Africa.” In Korea, people often stared at Lee’s daughters. She said it is “hard since I look different from them.” One of Lee’s daughters once told her that she wished she had a yellow face like her mother. “I don’t think she hates her skin,” Lee said. “It’s just she wanted to be like me.” In 2012, Lee and her family moved to the United States for her husband’s education. What is Korean-ness? Foreigners make up less than 4 percent of South Korea’s population. Africans and African-Americans are a small percentage of South Korea’s foreign-born population.   Khiana Robinson lives in South Korea with her family. She and her husband have taught English in Daejeon for seven years. They are African-American. Robinson said that her family has experienced racism in South Korea. But she said it is usually because of ignorance – or a lack of knowledge and experience. She said the only time most Koreans have ever seen a black person is on television. Because of that, she says, many Koreans view Africans as poor and African-Americans as violent. Robinson said that in Korea, people are considered either Korean or foreign. Lee said that having “Korean blood” is very important in South Korea. Someone who is not Korean by blood is seen as the “other,” she explained. “We’re proud of being just one tribe, one blood,” Lee said. “If you see someone else looking different then he can’t be Korean. He can’t be Korean. They’re just not Korean basically.” South Korean foreign workers South Korea is a very modern country with a strong economy. According to the Financial Times, it also has a highly educated population. This has led to a shortage of unskilled workers in the country. In order to fill factory jobs, South Korea gives visas to workers from Asian and African countries. Lee said foreigners in South Korea with darker skin often work in factories, while foreigners with lighter skin often work as English teachers. She said many Korean people make judgments about people based on their skin tones. Robinson said people with darker skin in South Korea experience discrimination. She said some companies only want to hire people who are lighter-skinned. That gives people with darker skin fewer chances to get a good job. Youn Bum, Han Hyun-Min’s agent, told AFP that many designers and magazines would tell him, “’We don’t do dark-skinned models,’ or, ‘For us, non-Korean models means white models with blue eyes and blond hair’.” Both Lee and Robinson have traveled to many other countries. They both said that South Korea is not the only country where people view darker skin negatively. Looks and beauty Lee is not raising her daughters in South Korea. However, when her family visits South Korea, she said people often bring attention to her daughters’ appearances. They mostly react positively. However, she said, “They don’t think that they can be Korean…Like there has to be something else, you know. Not Korean.” Lee said she hopes people can change their thoughts about what it means to be Korean. And she hopes that the idea of “Korean-ness” can include biracial Koreans, too. Lee said Han Hyun Min, as South Korea’s first biracial model, is leading the way. “I feel like he (identifies) himself more culturally and everything like being Korean,” she said. And she hopes that Han’s Korean identity will cause people to “actually accept more and more biracial people,” she said. I'm Ashley Thompson. And I'm Olivia Liu.   Olivia Liu wrote this story for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fashion - n. a popular way of dressing during a particular time or among a particular group of people electrifying - adj. causing great excitement biracial – adj. a person whose parents are of different races, ethnicities or nationalities date – n. a meeting between two people which may result in a romantic relationship   stared – v. to look at someone or something for a long time hire - v. to give work or a job to (someone) in exchange for wages or a salary​ tones – n. a shade of color  

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US Open to North Korea Talks if Missile Tests Halted

The American Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says North Korea could signal that it is ready for talks by halting its missile tests. On Monday, Tillerson said, “We’ve not had an extended period of time where they have not taken some type of provocative action by launching ballistic missiles.” The top U.S. diplomat went on to say that the strongest signal North Korea could send would be to “just stop these missile launches.” Tillerson spoke in Manilla, the Philippines, where he was taking part in a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). His comments follow a United Nations Security Council vote on Saturday. All members of the council, including China and Russia, voted to place additional sanctions on North Korea for its missile tests on July 4 and 28. China, a North Korean ally, urged the country to halt its missile and nuclear tests saying the North should not “provoke international society’s goodwill.” The vote, Tillerson said, showed that the international community finds North Korea’s actions unacceptable. He said he hoped that North Korea would choose a different pathway that would enable talks in the future. “When the conditions are right then we can sit and have a dialogue around the future of North Korea so that they feel secure and prosper economically,” he said. In a statement late Sunday, the White House said President Donald Trump spoke to South Korea’s president Moon Jae-in by telephone. The statement said the two leaders agreed that they would fully carry out the sanctions. They urged “the international community to do so as well.”  They also agreed that North Korea “poses a grave threat” to their countries and Japan. North Korea voices anger over new UN restrictions On Monday, the North Korean government denounced the new UN restrictions. North Korean state operated media said the North threatened to take revenge on the U.S. Through its media, North Korea also restated its position that sanctions will not force it to negotiate over its nuclear program. The country also threatened to take an “action of justice” although it did not say what that would be. The sanctions approved by the U.N. Security Council aim to cut about $1 billion from North Korea’s $3 billion in yearly export income. The UN Security Council resolution bars North Korean exports of coal, iron, iron ore, lead, lead ore and seafood. It also bans nations from increasing the number of North Korean workers that they permit in their respective countries. The resolution says the move is to punish North Korea for using its economic gains to develop its weapons programs.   The U.S. ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, said the resolution was the “single largest economic sanctions package ever leveled against” North Korea. And the top U.S. diplomat for Asia, Susan Thornton noted the importance of China continuing to carry out the sanctions. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho at the ASEAN meeting in Manila. Chinese foreign minister Wang said that he advised North Korea to seek a “double suspension” plan to ease tensions on the Korean peninsula. Such a plan calls for North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile tests in exchange for a suspension of joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. However, Thornton said the U.S. is not considering ending its training exercises with South Korea. I’m Mario Ritter. Chris Hannas and Ken Bredemeier reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English with additional material from AP. Hai Do was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   Provocative –adj. causing thought, argument or dispute Unanimously –adv. agreed to by everyone Sanctions –n. actions meant to force a country or group to obey international laws usually by limiting trade Dialogue –n. talks or discussions between groups Prosper –v. to be successful Level –v. to direct at or against a person or group We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.  

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Nine-Year-Old Applies for NASA Job

  This is What’s Trending Today. Last week, the American space agency NASA announced it was looking for a “Planetary Protection Officer.” Many people discussed the job on social media. The Washington Post called the job’s title “one of the greatest ever conceived.” Most people thought the job seemed like something out of a movie. Action stars like Bruce Willis in “Armageddon” or Will Smith in “Men in Black” or “Independence Day” seem like they would be good candidates for the job. After NASA published the job description, a nine-year-old boy from the state of New Jersey wrote a letter to NASA. He told the space agency that he believes he is the right person for the job. The boy, Jack Davis, used a pencil and a white sheet of paper to write the letter. In it, he wrote: “I may be nine, but I think I would be a good fit … my sister says I am an alien. Also, I have seen all the space and alien movies I can see.” Because he is still so young, Jack wrote, he can easily learn to “think like an alien.” Jack signed the letter with his official title: “Guardian of the Galaxy.” The job, however, is more about science and biology and less about fighting aliens. The “Planetary Protection Officer” must make sure that NASA does not bring invasive species or plants to other planets, and does not return from trips to space with anything that might harm Earth. Someone has been doing this job for NASA since the 1960s. NASA posted Jack’s letter on its website. James Green is the director of NASA’s Planetary Science Division. He responded to young Jack. He explained that the person with the job protects Earth from “tiny microbes when we bring samples back from the moon, asteroids and Mars.” Green also wrote that NASA is always looking for scientists and engineers. He advised the boy to “study hard and do well in school,” and wrote “we hope to see you here at NASA one of these days!” Jonathan Rall is NASA’s Planetary Research Director. He called Jack to congratulate him on his interest in the job. A physicist named Sophia Nasr commented on Jack’s letter. She wrote on Twitter: “I adore NASA’s response to the young boy…” and included a heart emoji. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think of the boy’s letter to NASA? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   galaxy – n. any one of the very large groups of stars that make up the universe conceive – v. to think of or create (something) in the mind species – n. a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants : a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus microbe – n. a small living thing that can only be seen using a microscope adore – v. to love or admire something very much emoji – n. a small digital image used to express an idea in electronic messages alien – n. a creature that comes from somewhere other than the planet Earth

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US, Japan, Australia Support Rules for Behavior in South China Sea

  The United States, Japan and Australia have expressed "serious concerns" over disputes related to the South China Sea. The three countries are calling for a halt to land development and military actions in the area that could increase tensions or cause permanent environmental damage. The countries released a joint statement Monday after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson held talks with the foreign ministers of Australia and Japan. The talks took place in the Philippines, during a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The three countries called on China and the Philippines to honor an arbitration ruling made last year. The International Court of Arbitration in The Hague denied much of China's territorial claim to the South China Sea. The waterway is also claimed, in part, by Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The statement also appealed to ASEAN members and China. It noted that they have talked about developing rules of behavior for countries with claims to the South China Sea. The statement urged them to make sure such a code of conduct be "legally binding, meaningful, effective, and consistent with international law." The code of conduct would be aimed at avoiding accidents as the claimant countries fish, explore for oil and gas or develop some of the estimated 500 islands. China’s government has resisted calls to make the agreement legally binding. In a statement on Sunday, ASEAN ministers said they "warmly welcome improving cooperation" with China. The ministers also said they are ready to begin substantive negotiations on the code of conduct, but made no mention of making it a requirement for the claimant countries. The ASEAN ministers also noted concerns expressed by some members about land reclamations and noted "the importance of non-militarization." I’m Jonathan Evans.   Chris Hannas wrote this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   arbitration – adj. officially confirmed as real or true binding – adj. forcing or requiring someone to do something consistent – adj. always behaving in the same way; always the sam We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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August 7, 2017

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

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Lesson 42: I Was Minding My Own Business

Summary Anna sees a crime and tries to help find the robbers. She hurts her arm. The news reporter wants to know, "How did she hurt herself?" Speaking In this video, learn how to say the new words. Then learn how to use reflexive pronouns like herself, ourselves, and yourself. Pronunciation Use this video to understand how English speakers pronounce the words "did you" quickly and learn to say them as /didjə/. Conversation Guy: Hello. I'm Guy Newsman with News Channel XYZ. I’m here in Washington, D.C. at the scene of a crime. Guy: We are talking with this woman. Guy: She saw the crime during her lunch break. It looks like she hurt herself while she was trying to stop the crime. Guy: Tell us your name. Anna: Hi, Guy. I'm Anna. Guy: Anna, what did you see and what happened to your arm? Anna: Guy, I was minding my own business. See, I work over there. Guy: Um-hum Anna: I left work to get some lunch. Then suddenly, I heard a woman yelling. She was yelling like this ... “Help! Help!” Guy: Um-hum Anna: Two robbers were grabbing her bag like this. She was hitting them with her umbrella. Guy: Is that when you hurt your arm? Anna: No. At that time, I was not fighting the robbers. Guy: Um-hum. Anna: See. I was too far away and I didn't have my own umbrella. Guy: So, what happened next? Anna: They grabbed her bag and ran away! So, I grabbed her umbrella and ran after the robbers. Guy: Then that is the time that you hurt your arm? Anna: No. I was yelling, “Stop, robbers! Stop!” She was yelling, “Hey, come back with my umbrella!” Guy: Were you afraid? Anna: I had no time to be afraid, Guy. Well, I had time while I was resting on a bench. I had a lot of time. Guy: Then what happened? Anna: The robbers got on a bus. So, I ran after the bus. A VO: While I was running, I tripped and fell. Guy: And that is the time that you hurt your arm? Anna: No. While I was lying on the ground, someone stepped on my arm! Guy: Ouch. That’s too bad. Anna: Yeah. And they didn’t apologize. Well, then the robbers got themselves kicked off the bus. Guy: Why? Anna: They didn’t pay. You've got to pay when you get on a bus. The police came and took them away. Guy: And that’s when you hurt your arm! Anna: No. Guy: Then, when did you hurt yourself? Anna: Well, Guy, by this time, I was feeling very hungry. So, I went to my office to get a snack. C: Anna, I'm calling for help right now. C: (on the phone) Hello? Yes, please come right away. My co-worker is stuck in a vending machine. Guy: You hurt your arm in a vending machine buying a bag of chips? Anna: I was really hungry and the bag was stuck. I had to - Guy: That’s all from News Channel XYZ. This is Guy Newsman saying goodbye. Guy: Okay, we have to find ourselves another story, guys. Anna: Until next time! Hi Mom! Writing In this lesson, Anna hurt herself in the vending machine. Did you ever hurt yourself by accident? What were you doing when you hurt yourself? Write to us by email or in the Comments section. Click on the image below to download the Activity Sheet and practice writing and using the past continuous tense and reflexive pronouns. Learning Strategy Learning Strategies are the thoughts and actions that help make learning easier or more effective. The learning strategy for this lesson is Read Between the Lines. This expression means to find a hidden meaning in something said or written. In this lesson, Guy Newsman asks Anna many questions.  Anna tells him a long story about the crime. But she doesn't explain how she hurt her arm until the end. Guy reads between the lines each time he guesses about how she hurt her arm. Do you ever read between the lines to understand what you hear or read in 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 arm - n. either one of the two long body parts that join the top of your body at the shoulder and that end at the hand or wrist chips - n. thin, hard, and usually salty pieces of food crime - n. an illegal act for which someone can be punished by the government fall (past tense: fell) - v. to come or go down suddenly from a standing position grab - v. (past participle: grabbing) to quickly take and hold (someone or something) with your hand or arms ground - n.  the soil that is on or under the surface of the earth kick off - phrasal verb. (past tense: kicked off) force (someone) to leave  lie - v. (gerund: lying) to be in a flat position on a surface minding my own business - idiom. doing what you normally do and not bothering anyone robber - n. a criminal who steals money or property or a thief who robs people snack - n. a small amount of food eaten between meals step -  - v. to put your foot down — usually + in or on stuck - adj. difficult or impossible to move from a position trip -  - v. (past tense: tripped) to fall or nearly by accidentally hitting your foot on something as you are walking or running umbrella - n. a device that is used for protection from the rain and sun vending machine - n. a machine that you put money into in order to buy food or drinks   Subject Pronouns (Lesson 2) Object Pronouns (Lesson 18) Possessive Adjectives (Lesson 15) Possessive Pronouns (Lesson 37) Reflexive Pronouns (Lesson 42) 1st person I me my mine myself 2nd person you you your yours yourself 3rd person (female) she her her hers herself 3rd person (male) he him his his himself 3rd person (neutral) it it its (not used) itself 1st person (plural) we us our ours ourselves 2nd person (plural) you you your yours yourselves 3rd person (plural) they them their theirs themselves ______________________________________________________________ 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 using the past continuous tense and reflexive pronouns. 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: Reflexive pronouns; While-clauses; Past Continuous Tense, Topics: Describing ongoing past activities; Asking about & giving information about past events; Describing a sequence of events; Expressing concern about someone; Reacting to bad news; Expressing sympathy                       Learning Strategy: Read Between the Lines Speaking & Pronunciation: Reflexive pronouns; Pronouncing /didjə/ ____________________________________________________________ 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.

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Benjamin Harrison: Grandson

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Benjamin Harrison. His family name may sound familiar. That is because he was the grandson of President William Henry Harrison. That situation is unique in U.S. history so far. Harrison played an unusually active role as president at a time when most chief executives saw themselves as simply administrators. As a result, American writer and intellectual Henry Adams said Harrison was the best president since Lincoln. But most Americans remember little about him, except his connection to the previous President Harrison, who himself died after only a month in office. Early life Benjamin Harrison grew up on a farm in the Midwestern state of Ohio as one of eight children. His grandfather was not the only famous political Harrison. His great-grandfather signed the Declaration of Independence. And his father had been a congressman. Young Benjamin Harrison respected these men and believed he had a role to play in history, too. He received a good education, and even outside of school he read many books. His hard work and intelligence carried him to Miami University in Ohio, and then to a career as a lawyer. Along the way, he married a woman he had known since he was a teenager, Caroline Lavinia Scott. The couple settled in another Midwestern city, Indianapolis, Indiana, and had a son and daughter. Over time, Harrison steadily built a career as a public official. But his political path was interrupted by the American Civil War. Harrison rose to the rank of general in the Union Army. He fought under General William T. Sherman, and was one of the first soldiers to enter Atlanta, Georgia after the city surrendered.  After the war, he returned home to Indiana and continued his legal and political career. In 1881, he was elected to the U.S. Senate. But six years later he lost his seat when Democrats came to power in his state.Reports say that Harrison was an excellent soldier. But he did not enjoy fighting or find war romantic. Harrison’s loss of his Senate seat soon turned to a victory. The Republican Party nominated him as their candidate to run against Grover Cleveland in the 1888 presidential election. Cleveland’s economic policies had become unpopular, and Republicans worked hard to support their candidate. They succeeded. Although Cleveland won the popular vote, Harrison won the Electoral College. In 1889, he followed his grandfather’s footsteps all the way to the White House. Presidency Harrison’s election was a major victory for his Republican Party. In addition to winning the White House, Republicans gained seats in the House of Representatives, held a majority in the Senate, and appointed several Republican justices to the Supreme Court. Harrison and other Republican lawmakers used their power to take action on issues at home and internationally. One act was to preserve forests. Harrison identified 17 protected natural areas, and helped create Yosemite National Park in California.  His government also established Ellis Island in New York to make immigration to the U.S. a more orderly process. ​ Internationally, Harrison’s administration sought to build ties with Latin American countries. His government established what would, in time, become the Organization of American States. His administration also increased the United States’ global trade – as well as the country’s navy. But, for the most part, the most pressing issues of the day were economic. The federal government at that time had an unusually large surplus. Some argued that the surplus was hurting business. In answer, Harrison’s government placed a high protective tariff on imported goods. The legislation was known as the McKinley Tariff of 1890. Officials also aimed to limit the power of large corporations to control important markets in the U.S. Finally, they agreed to require the government to buy silver to use as currency. These actions pleased some of his supporters. But, they may have contributed to the severe economic depression that followed Harrison’s term. And in general, voters disapproved of the amount of money Republican lawmakers were spending. Although the country was at peace, the 51st Congress appropriated $1 billion. At the midterm elections, many lawmakers paid for all the spending with their seats. Two years later, voters turned Harrison out of the White House, too. They returned Grover Cleveland to the presidency. Harrison did not express much disappointment. He had worked hard to become president like his grandfather. But he found he did not like being the chief executive. He said when he left the White House, it was like being released from prison. Legacy Among U.S. presidents, Harrison does not have one of the most dramatic biographies. The facts of his life show an intelligent, disciplined man who tried to live by his beliefs. But he was not considered passionate about many things, except perhaps his enjoyment of nature. And he did not have an easy way with people. Even his staff called him “the human iceberg” because he could be aloof and act coldly toward people. Yet Harrison’s family brought some warmth to his administration. His wife, Caroline, was known to be a lively, social person. She was the first to install a Christmas tree in the White House. Some of Harrison’s grandchildren also lived in the White House. Harrison permitted them to play on the grounds with their pet animals. During Harrison’s term, the family kept a goat, which the children called “Old Whiskers.” Harrison’s time in the White House saw sorrow, too. Toward the end of her husband’s term, the first lady became seriously ill with tuberculosis. For months, Benjamin Harrison divided his attention between his wife and his job, and yet in the end lost both. After his term as president ended, Benjamin Harrison returned to his home in Indianapolis. He did some work as a teacher and lawyer, and kept a good public image in his community. He also re-married. His second wife was a widow herself, as well as his first wife’s niece. He and Mary Scott Lord Dimmick Harrison had a daughter together. The child was only four when Harrison died from pneumonia at age 67. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.      Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz Check your understanding by taking a listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   role - n.  a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation interrupt - v.  to cause (something) to stop happening for a time romantic - adj. not realistic or practical : not based on what is real appropriate - v.  to get or save (money) for a specific use or purpose passionate - adj. having, showing, or expressing strong emotions or beliefs aloof - adj. not involved with or friendly toward other people

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