September 7, 2017

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

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News Words: Affordable

Affordable comes from the word, "afford." Anne Ball and Jonathan Evans explains in this weeks News Words.

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Older iPhone Apps Soon May Not Work

  If you have owned an iPhone or iPad for a few years, you may have apps that are outdated. Since 2013, Apple has been asking developers to update their apps. When iOS 11, the next version of the iPhone operating system, is launched soon, older apps may not work on it. Beginning with the iPhone 5s in 2013, iPhones have come with 64-bit processors. Earlier iPhones had 32-bit processors. Apple has been asking app developers to update their apps to 64-bit from 32-bit since the iPhone 5s was launched. In January of this year, users of the 32-bit apps saw warnings when they opened their apps that the apps needed to be updated. More recently, 32-bit apps have started showing another warning: "This app will not work with future versions of iOS."  SensorTower is a business that studies and reports on apps. The company says about eight percent of the apps in the iTunes App Store are 32-bit apps and may not work with iOS 11. Eight percent equals about 187,000 apps out of the 2.4 million apps in the App Store. 32-bit apps that have not been updated to 64-bit have started disappearing already from the iTunes App Store. But people who have these older apps on their iPhone and iPads can still use them for now. When iOS 11 comes out, the 32-bit apps may not work if those devices are updated to iOS 11. Apple is having an event on September 12 that will likely introduce the new iPhone and iOS 11. So, we should learn soon how they might affect 32-bit apps. How to know if you have any 32-bit apps You may be wondering whether you have any 32-bit apps on your iPhone or iPad. There is an easy way to find out. Go to “Settings,” then “General,” then “About,” then “Applications.”                         Tap on "Applications."   If you have any 32-bit apps in need of updating, they will appear on a new screen.                   Those that are 32-bit but can be updated will show at the top of the list.               What to do if you have 32-bit apps on your iPhone or iPad You may not care if some of your older apps are 32-bit and may not work with iOS 11. Maybe you have not used them in a while and did not even know that they were still on your phone. Remove them to make space on your phone. But you may care about these older apps. In fact, some may be favorites. There are several ways to deal with the 32-bit apps you want to continue using. Make sure you have the latest version of the app There may be an update to the app available that you have not downloaded to your phone yet. There is an easy way to check. If the app is at the top of the list under "Update Available," tap on the app to open it in the App Store app. A box should appear that says "Update." Tap on the box to do so. After you have updated, check “Settings” again to see if the app has changed. Do not update to iOS 11 If iOS 11 does make 32-bit apps obsolete and you have 32-bit apps you care about, you should not update to iOS 11 when it is released. But this is not a good long-term solution because iOS 11 may be useful for you. And in time you will probably have to update to iOS 11, especially if you get a new iPhone or iPad. However, this may be a good short-term solution if you have a 32-bit app you really need or want. In fact, do not update to iOS 11 until you have your apps sorted out. Find an alternative to your outdated 32-bit apps With 2.4 million apps in the App Store, iTunes may have alternative apps that you like even better than the 32-bit apps you have been using. Search for best alternative apps. Check out recommendations for newer, 64-bit apps. Also search the App Store to find replacement 64-bit apps. Contact the app developer You can also contact the developer of the 32-bit app and ask for an update. If the developer gets enough requests, it may consider updating the app to 64-bit. Or, the developer may suggest a new and improved app in the App Store. Or one that will be available soon. How to contact the developer You can try to contact the developer through the App Store. Some 32-bit apps are still there. You can find out if you go to back to “Applications” in Settings on your device. Tap on an app in the list to see if it is still in the App Store. A notice will appear if it is not available.                   But if it is, the App Store will open with the app listing. Tap on the “Developer Website” section and you will see the website address for the developer. Look for an email address on the website to contact the developer.     Do this soon because you do not know how long the app will remain in the App Store.             You can also search for the Android version of the app in Google Play. If the app is not available in the App Store anymore, search for the app in Google Play where it may still be available for Android devices. Find the developer's contact information in Google Play to ask for an update to the app. If that does not work, you again can search the developer's website to try to contact them directly. I’m Caty Weaver.    Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Did you know that some apps may not work with iOS 11? Have you checked for 32-bit apps on your iPhone or iPad? Do you have any apps that are 32-bit? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   developer - n. a person or company that creates computer software update - v. to change (something) by including the most recent information operating system - n. the main program in a computer that controls the way the computer works and makes it possible for other programs to function​ processor - n. a part of a computer that that handles data​ introduce- v. to make (something) available for sale for the first time​ download- v. ​to move or copy (a file, program, etc.) to a computer or device alternative - adj. offering or expressing a choice recommendation - n. a suggestion about what should be done​

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South Korean Influence Shrinks With North Korean Threat

  North Korea’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons have frustrated hopes by South Korea to reduce tensions with the North through talks. The nuclear activities have also affected South Korea’s relations with both the United States and China. South Korean President Moon Jae-in took office in May. At the time, Moon said he wanted to balance contacts with sanctions to lower tensions on the Korean peninsula. In comparison, U.S. President Donald Trump has supported using “maximum pressure” on North Korea through economic sanctions and the threat of military action. Conflicting signs Yet after the North’s nuclear test this week, conservatives in South Korea have been criticizing Moon’s call for talks. President Trump also criticized the policy, calling it unworkable “appeasement.” The Moon administration has attempted to play down differences with the United States over how to deal with the growing North Korean threat. It says the two allies continue to support the idea of denuclearization. But Moon has also come out strongly against taking any preventive military action against North Korea — one that could lead to war. Bong Young-shik is with the Yonsei University Institute for North Korean Studies in Seoul. He says “President Trump might have felt frustration about a seemingly softer stance from the South Korean leadership, but at the same time the Trump administration also agrees that military options are way too risky.”   This week Moon seemed to take a stronger stance and one closer to the Trump administration’s position. On Tuesday, he voiced support for new sanctions that would cut off the money North Korea earns from foreign currency income and oil supplies. “If North Korea doesn't stop its provocations, we could face an unpredictable situation in the future,” Moon said. He made the comment on Wednesday at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Russian city of Vladivostok. However, Russian and Chinese leaders might not support new sanctions that have proven to be ineffective in slowing North Korea’s nuclear missile development program. Putin said North Koreans would “eat grass” rather than give in to outside pressure to disarm. He called for talks to settle the crisis. But the North Koreans said the nuclear tests will continue. Han Tae Song, the North's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, noted Tuesday that more North Korean missiles and nuclear tests are planned.​ Trade problems President Trump said over the weekend that he is considering withdrawing from the U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with South Korea. That could also create a problem in the security alliance to oppose North Korea’s nuclear missile program. Trump has repeatedly criticized the five-year-old FTA for creating a $27 billion U.S. trade deficit with South Korea last year. Chinese concerns about anti-missile system The possibility of increased U.S. tariffs comes at the same time the Moon administration is facing Chinese criticism for deploying the American THAAD missile defense system. China strongly objects to the radar system, calling it a threat to the country’s security. China had reportedly ordered informal restrictions on some South Korean imports and travel as retaliation. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Brian Padden reported on this story for VOANews.com. Anne Ball adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   frustrate – v. to make ineffectual; bring to nothing; to prevent from succeeding maximum – adj. the greatest amount or value of something appeasement – n. the act of pleasing someone by giving or something desired stance – n. position currency – n. the money that a country uses income – n. money that is earned from work or business sanction – n. a measure designed to punish someone or something tariff – n. a tax retaliation – n. the act of repaying in kind; taking action against someone  

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Bangladesh Struggles with Growing Numbers of Rohingya Refugees

  Bangladesh says it is struggling to build camps for the huge number of Rohingya fleeing violence in Myanmar. United Nations officials estimate that more than 120,000 people have arrived in southeastern Bangladesh over the past two weeks. Refugees started flooding across the border after violence started in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on August 25. The fighting began after a group called Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army launched attacks on police positions in Rakhine. Myanmar’s military answered the attacks with it calls “clearance operations.” Officials reported last week that at least 400 people have been killed. Myanmar security forces and militias linked to them have been accused of targeting Rohingya civilians in mass killings. Rakhine state is home to most of the Rohingya, many of whom are Muslim. Myanmar’s government considers them illegal immigrants. The Rohingya, however, say they are a minority group and have roots in the country, also called Burma, going back hundreds of years. “They have been coming and coming,” Lt. Col. Ariful Islam, a Bangladeshi border commander, told the BenarNews website. He added, “We are trying to convince them to stay at their homeland, Rakhine, but it is not always working.” Before the latest fighting, at least 400,000 Rohingya who fled earlier violence were already living in refugee camps and settlements in southeastern Bangladesh. Bangladeshi officials said the country plans to set up shelters for arriving refugees. No date was given for opening the new camp, which is to be set up near an established camp that has held more than 50,000 Rohingya since October.   An official with the U.N. refugee agency, Duniya Aslam Khan, said the existing refugee camps in Bangladesh are now “at a breaking point.” “Refugees who are arriving in Bangladesh are arriving in desperate conditions. They have been walking for three days. Many of them have not eaten since they have fled. They need medicine, they need emergency shelter, they need food, they need clean drinking water.” She added that most of the refugees are women, children and older adults. U.N. aid agencies are currently trying to raise at least $18 million to help meet the needs of new refugees. In the past, Myanmar’s leader, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, has condemned attacks on Rohingya. But the Nobel Peace Prize winner has been criticized for not doing more to halt the violence. U.N. officials have urged her to call for a ceasefire. In a statement posted to her Facebook page Wednesday, she said the people of Myanmar know very well what it means “to be deprived of human rights and democratic protection.” She added the government is committed to protecting the rights of all people and also providing “humanitarian defense.” However, Aung San Suu Kyi also said there had been "a huge iceberg of misinformation" about the violence in Rakhine state. Her statement said she spoke with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan about the crisis. It said they talked about a series of photographs posted on Twitter by Turkey's deputy prime minister. The photos – which were later removed - reportedly showed dead Rohingya. But they were later proven to be fake and not related to the current violence.  Rights group Amnesty International condemned Aung Suu Kyi’s statement.   "In her first comments on the crisis, instead of promising concrete action to protect the people in Rakhine state, Aung San Suu Kyi appears to be downplaying the horrific reports coming out of the area,” said Tirana Hassan, the group’s Crisis Response Director. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this for VOA Learning English. His report was based on reports from VOANews.com, Reuters, the Associated Press and Radio Free Asia. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   desperate – adj. in great need of something deprive – v. not allow someone to have something iceberg – n. a large piece of ice floating in the ocean fake – adj. not real, false concrete – adj. related to specific things or actions

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Scientists Develop Pink-Colored 'Ruby' Chocolate

  This is What’s Trending Today… About 80 years ago, food scientists introduced the world to white chocolate. Until this week, it was the last new kind of chocolate to enter the world market. But now, scientists have invented a pink-colored chocolate.   It joins the likes of white, dark, and milk chocolate. A chocolate manufacturer in Switzerland launched the new product Tuesday in Shanghai, China. The chocolate company Barry Callebaut says that the pink color comes from the “ruby” cocoa bean. The color, the company adds, is natural. It has an “intense” and “fresh berry” taste. The Financial Times reports that ruby cocoa beans grow in Ecuador, Brazil, the Ivory Coast and other countries. Scientists worked for more than 10 years to develop ruby chocolate. Barry Callebaut is the world’s biggest supplier of cocoa. Chocolate makers around the world use its cocoa to make candy and chocolate products.  The company said in a statement that it developed the new chocolate with millennials in mind. Millennials are people born in the 1980s or 1990s. Millennials and others around the world reacted to the news of ruby chocolate on social media. Barry Callebaut is hopeful that ruby chocolate becomes popular in China. The company’s chief told reporters that it did research on the chocolate market in China, and explained that “ruby chocolate tested incredibly well in China.” Ruby chocolate products are expected to be available in stores in about six months. And that’s What’s Trending Today…   Ashley Thompson wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter edited it. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   berry –n. a small fruit incredibly –adv. very well, great, hard to believe

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Millions of English-Speaking Students Fail to Attend Class in Cameroon

Millions of school children failed to attend classes in English-speaking areas of Cameroon when the school term began recently. Schools opened after the government released many of the jailed leaders of protests in Cameroon’s English-speaking areas. The protests were called to direct attention to what some people see as the strong influence of the French language in the country. Cameroon has two official languages: French and English. Many English-speakers believe they are discriminated against by those who speak French.  Those sounds are coming from a classroom at the Ntamulung bilingual high school in Bamenda, Cameroon. The teacher taught 20 children on the first day of school. At least 70 students were expected in the classroom. Schools have been closed in the English-speaking northwest and southwest areas of Cameroon since November. That is when lawyers and teachers called for a strike to stop what they believe is the overuse of the French language. After leaders of the strike were arrested, pressure groups called for their immediate and unconditional release before the new school term. Last week, 55 of the 75 protesters were released, while charges against them were dropped. Observers said their release was an important concession to the strikers’ demands. They said it could lead to new talks on ending the crisis. However, separatist groups are asking for President Paul Biya to release 20 other protestors, and to call back those who escaped into exile. They also want him to order the removal of 5,000 soldiers from the English-speaking areas before they will agree to restart negotiations. Finnian Tim is a reporter. He was released from jail after seven months. He says the detainees want to see schools reopen. “We were pleading with our brothers to stop whatever thing they were doing, because what they were doing, like ghost towns, was not helping us in any way...” The government sent officials to the English-speaking areas in an effort to persuade parents to send their children back to school. Fu Calistus is the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Industries, Mines and Technological Development. He visited northwestern Cameroon. “The state cannot sit and fold its hands and see people being prevented from going to school. Such a state becomes an irresponsible state in the eyes of the world community. If you prevent someone from going to school, it cannot be accepted.” President Biya reacted to the strike by announcing reforms. These include a new common law division at the Supreme Court and the appointment of the first English-speaker to lead the judicial bench of the court. But he has said that he will not take part in talks that threaten national unity.  I’m John Russell. Moki Edwin Kindzeka reported this story from Cameroon for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   concession – n. the act of giving up or admitting something plead – v. making an emotional request for something ghost – n. the spirit of a dead person fold – v. to bend; to put one part of something over another We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.  

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Six Differences Between British and American English

For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar. There is an old saying that America and Britain are “two nations divided by a common language.” No one knows exactly who said this, but it reflects the way many Brits feel about American English. My British friend still tells me, “You don’t speak English. You speak American.” But are American and British English really so different? Vocabulary The most noticeable difference between American and British English is vocabulary. There are hundreds of everyday words that are different. For example, Brits call the front of a car the bonnet, while Americans call it the hood. Americans go on vacation, while Brits go on holidays, or hols. New Yorkers live in apartments; Londoners live in flats. There are far more examples than we can talk about here. Fortunately, most Americans and Brits can usually guess the meaning through the context of a sentence. Collective Nouns There are a few grammatical differences between the two varieties of English. Let’s start with collective nouns. We use collective nouns to refer to a group of individuals. In American English, collective nouns are singular. For example, staff refers to a group of employees; band refers to a group of musicians; team refers to a group of athletes. Americans would say, “The band is good.” But in British English, collective nouns can be singular or plural. You might hear someone from Britain say, “The team are playing tonight” or “The team is playing tonight.” Auxiliary verbs Another grammar difference between American and British English relates to auxiliary verbs. Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are verbs that help form a grammatical function. They “help” the main verb by adding information about time, modality and voice. Let’s look at the auxiliary verb shall. Brits sometimes use shall to express the future. For example, “I shall go home now.”  Americans know what shall means, but rarely use it in conversation. It seems very formal. Americans would probably use “I will go home now.” In question form, a Brit might say, “Shall we go now?” while an American would probably say, “Should we go now?” When Americans want to express a lack of obligation, they use the helping verb do with negative not followed by need. “You do not need to come to work today.” Brits drop the helping verb and contract not. “You needn’t come to work today.” Past Tense Verbs You will also find some small differences with past forms of irregular verbs. The past tense of learn in American English is learned. British English has the option of learned or learnt. The same rule applies to dreamed and dreamt, burned and burnt, leaned and leant. Americans tend to use the –ed ending; Brits tend to use the -t ending. In the past participle form, Americans tend to use the  –en ending for some irregular verbs. For example, an American might say, “I have never gotten caught” whereas a Brit would say, “I have never got caught.” Americans use both got and gotten in the past participle. Brits only use got. Don’t worry too much about these small differences in the past forms of irregular verbs. People in both countries can easily understand both ways, although Brits tend to think of the American way as incorrect. Tag Questions A tag question is a grammatical form that turns a statement into a question. For example, “The whole situation is unfortunate, isn’t it?” or, “You don’t like him, do you?” The tag includes a pronoun and its matching form of the verb be, have or do. Tag questions encourage people to respond and agree with the speaker. Americans use tag questions, too, but less often than Brits. You can learn more about tag questions on a previous episode of Everyday Grammar. Spelling There are hundreds of minor spelling differences between British and American English. You can thank American lexicographer Noah Webster for this. You might recognize Webster’s name from the dictionary that carries his name. Noah Webster, an author, politician, and teacher, started an effort to reform English spelling in the late 1700s. He was frustrated by the inconsistencies in English spelling. Webster wanted to spell words the way they sounded. Spelling reform was also a way for America to show its independence from England. You can see Webster’s legacy in the American spelling of words like color (from colour), honor (from honour), and labor (from labour). Webster dropped the letter u from these words to make the spelling match the pronunciation. Other Webster ideas failed, like a proposal to spell women as wimmen. Since Webster’s death in 1843, attempts to change spelling rules in American English have gone nowhere. Not so different after all British and American English have far more similarities than differences. We think the difference between American and British English is often exaggerated. If you can understand one style, you should be able to understand the other style. With the exception of some regional dialects, most Brits and Americans can understand each other without too much difficulty.  They watch each other’s TV shows, sing each other’s songs, and read each other’s books. They even make fun of each other’s accents. I’m Jill Robbins. And I’m John Russell. And I'm Claudia Milne. Now it’s your turn. What style of English are you learning? Why did you choose it? Write to us in the comments section or on our Facebook page. Adam Brock wrote this article for VOA Learning English. ______________________________________________________________ QUIZ ________________________________________________________________ Word in This Story   collective noun – n.  a word which refers to a collection of things taken as a whole. auxiliary verb – n.  a word used in construction with and preceding certain forms of other verbs, as infinitives or participles, to express distinctions of tense, aspect, mood, etc modality– n. expressing ability, necessity, possibility, permission or obligation. lexicographer – n. someone who writes dictionaries inconsistency – n.  the quality or fact of not staying the same at different times exaggerate – v. to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is  

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Kenya to Hold New Presidential Vote Next Month

  Kenya’s electoral commission said Monday that the country will hold a new presidential election on October 17. Kenya’s Supreme Court announced last Friday it was dismissing the results of the August 8 presidential election. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) said in its announcement that current President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga will be the only people on the ballot for next month’s vote, along with each candidate’s running mate. The IEBC has asked the Supreme Court to release a detailed ruling of its decision to dismiss the election results.  They said they need such information to identify which areas need improvement for managing the new election. In last month’s election, President Kenyatta was declared the winner. He was said to have beaten Odinga by 1.4 million votes. Odinga and his opposition party, NASA, rejected the results and appealed to the Supreme Court for a new election. Odinga and his party also said Tuesday that they would prefer the new election take place on October 24 or 31. They say there needs to be enough time to fix problems with the IEBC. "We are saying that we are not ready to participate in elections on the 17th of October without legal and constitutional guarantees because you cannot do a mistake twice and expect to get different results," Odinga said. Odinga also said he believes “a number” of electoral officials should be removed from their positions or arrested. They should not be permitted to take part in another round of elections, he said. "As far as we are concerned, it is not the date, the day," said Odinga. "It is the preparations for these elections which is more important for us, that there must be proper preparations. It must deal with all irregularities which were committed....beginning with the people who committed them, and also rectifying those irregularities." An IEBC official told VOA they would provide a response soon. The Supreme Court said in its ruling Friday that the electoral commission was responsible for "irregularities and illegalities" in the managing and communication of results during the first election.  However, the Court did not order specific action for electoral officials. Chief Justice David Maraga told the electoral commission that, under the constitution, it had 60 days from the ruling to organize a new vote. The full judgment of the court must be released within 21 days of the ruling.   I’m Phil Dierking.   This story was originally written by Jill Craig for VOANews.com.  Phil Dierking adapted it for Learning English using other media. Ashley Thompson was the editor.  Do you think Kenya should have a new election?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    rectify - v. to correct (something that is wrong)​ specific - adj. special or particular​ running mate - n. the person who runs with someone in an election (such as an election to choose a new president) and who is given the less important position (such as vice president) if they are elected​  

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September 6, 2017

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

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World Leaders Consider Answer to North Korea’s Latest Nuclear Test

  North Korea’s latest and sixth nuclear test has brought strong reactions from its neighbors and the United States. But Russia and China question additional moves. On Tuesday, South Korea announced that it plans to expand its own missile abilities. South Korea said it has reached an agreement “in principle” with the United States to increase the payload of its missiles. An agreement reached in 1979 limits the payload and distance of South Korean missiles. The agreement limits South Korean missiles to a payload of 500 kilograms and a distance of 800 kilometers,  according to Reuters. U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in spoke about the change during a 40-minute telephone discussion. In addition, Trump said early Tuesday on Twitter that the U.S. would permit the sale of “sophisticated military equipment” to Japan and South Korea. Nations consider latest North Korean nuclear test At the United Nations, the U.S. has said it will offer a new resolution targeting North Korea. However, Russia and China are questioning whether additional restrictions will improve the situation. After North Korea carried out a long-range missile test in July, the UN placed strong sanctions on the country’s economy. The bans on North Korean exports were aimed at cutting North Korean exports by one billion dollars. North Korea carried out its latest nuclear test as leaders of major developing countries -- Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (or BRICS) -- gathered in Xiamen, a China’s city on the Taiwan Strait. On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said, at the BRICS meeting, increased sanctions would not help. He said such measures would not cause a change in leadership in North Korea. Putin warned of a “global catastrophe” if military tensions continue to increase on the Korean Peninsula. Leaders attending the BRICS meeting condemned the nuclear test. But Chinese president Xi Jinping did not mention the incident at the end of the meeting. Later, at a regular briefing, a foreign ministry spokesman called the situation “highly sensitive and complicated.” He called on both sides to avoid increasing tensions. Concerns about stability of North Korea Bruce Bennett is a defense expert with the Rand Corporation research group. He told VOA that the two nations are unwilling to place additional sanctions on the North. “They are reluctant because they just don’t know how unstable North Korea is.” Bennett said that China worries about a crisis on its border. He said China may consider the North too unstable to increase sanctions. China has also directed state media to control online discussion of the North’s activity, according to Radio Free Asia. The U.S.-based China Digital Times reported that, “All websites are banned from deliberately hyping related topics.” Explosion is largest test yet by North Korea North Korea’s nuclear test on September 3 was its sixth and by far the most powerful. The country said the device was a hydrogen bomb, a more powerful kind of nuclear weapon. The explosion was detected as an earthquake reported to be magnitude 6.3. The test was estimated to equal 100,000 tons of the explosive TNT, or 100 kilotons. On Sunday, a North Korean diplomat attending a UN conference on disarmament in Geneva suggested that North Korea may have another test planned. The official said North Korea is prepared to send “more gift packages” to the U.S. South Korean media reported that North Korea may be moving a long-range missile into position. And South Korea’s defense ministry has warned that the North could launch a missile at any time. Dan Sneider is a visiting scholar with Stanford University’s Walther H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. He said it is not hard to understand why North Korea continues its testing activities. He said the North’s weapons programs have become too important to the country’s leaders to negotiate away for economic gains. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted this story for VOA Learning English from VOA news reports from Steve Herman, Richard Green, Bill Ide, VOA News and Reuters. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   payload –n. the amount of material that a vehicle can carry sophisticated –adj. highly developed or complex sanctions –n. measures taken to force a country to obey international laws usually by limiting or stopping some form of trade with other countries overwhelming –adj. very great in number or effect unstable –adj. likely to change easily or at any time hyping –v. to talk about in a way meant to cause people to get excited or outraged   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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