London is Still Considered World’s Top Financial Center

  A newly released study finds that London is still considered the most attractive financial center in the world. London was followed by New York City. The study showed that the British capital extended its lead over New York compared to past years. Some politicians and economists have suggested that London would lose its top rating because of Britain’s planned withdrawal from the European Union. But the study shows there are few signs of that happening -- at least not yet. The Z/Yen Global Financial Centers Index rates 92 financial centers on things such as public services and the availability of experienced and well-educated workers. New York, in second place, finished 24 points behind London. That is the largest difference between the two cities since the study was first published in 2007. Hong Kong finished in third place, and Singapore finished fourth. New York’s overall rating fell 24 points from its rating the year before. That is the biggest fall among top cities. Study organizers say the large drop probably resulted from “fears over U.S. trade.” Since becoming U.S. president in January, Donald Trump has removed the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. Critics have described his economic policy as isolationist. TheCityUK is the most powerful group working in support of Britain’s financial industry. The group says its members are saying that they do not know enough about what will happen when the country leaves the EU. Miles Celic leads TheCityUK. He says because it is not clear what will happen then, “many firms have already started to activate their contingency plans and others will undoubtedly follow suit if these aren’t confirmed as soon as possible." The survey was completed in June. Since then, talks between Britain and the European Commission about Britain’s planned withdrawal from the EU have become increasingly unpleasant. And in the past two months, most major U.S., British and Japanese banks have said they will open offices in Frankfurt, Germany or Dublin, Ireland. A year ago, Frankfurt finished in 23rd place in the study. This year it rose to 11th. Dublin was 33rd last year. This year it moved up to 30th place. The Reuters news agency reported this story from London and Frankfurt. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   attractive – adj. having a feature or quality that people like index – n. a number that indicates changes in the level of something (such as a stock market) when it rises or falls isolationism – n. the belief that a country should not be involved with other countries; a policy of not making agreements or working with other countries firm – n. a business organization contingency plan – n. a plan that can be followed if an original plan is not possible for some reason follow suit – expression. to do the same thing that someone else has just done  

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September 13, 2017

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

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After Harvey, a Long Road to Recovery for Houston Schools

  Now is the time that students and teachers are supposed to be beginning a new year together. But those affected by Hurricane Harvey, which struck Texas earlier this month, have to change their plans. The hurricane damaged an area more than 480 kilometers along the Gulf Coast. It affected more than 1 million students and 220 school districts. Officials in many of those districts are still examining their properties to see if people can even come on campus. In Houston, the largest school district, the superintendent says he is bringing in crisis counselors to help students traumatized by the storm. The hurricane poured more than 100 centimeters of water on the city. Superintendent Richard Carranza added that employees have also been affected by the storm. "They have lost everything and [are] coming to work and expected to provide support and encouragement to students," Carranza said. He said it does not matter how well you plan for an emergency. "The true impact of a situation of this magnitude is something that no one can really plan for."   ​First steps of action Some school leaders who have survived similar disasters are sharing their advice. Kerry Sachetta is the assistant superintendent for operations in Joplin, Missouri. Sachetta’s school district was destroyed by a tornado in 2011. She says the first priority is safety. “You have to first take care of your own situation before you can help someone else," Sanchetta said. Frank Scarafile is the superintendent of the Little Ferry school district in New Jersey. In late October 2012, most of Little Ferry was underwater after a nearby river overflowed. The flood caused nearly $6 million in damages to the district's two buildings. The district closed for two weeks. Scarafile said that once his students were back in school, teachers looked for signs of trauma. "When you had a really bad rainstorm afterwards, their fear was that they were going to get flooded again," Scarafile said. "They were afraid. That was part of getting displaced…that was part of losing everything. There was a lot of anxiety." Robert Romines is the superintendent in Moore, Oklahoma. He agrees that after a natural disaster, mental health should become a priority for school leadership. Mental health is especially important for communities where children may be experiencing death and trauma for the first time, he said. Coping with fear ​Angela Stallings is the associate superintendent for the Pasadena Independent School District near Houston. One of their high schools was used as an emergency shelter during the storm. Stallings said that she is already hearing about students’ feelings of anxiety. Her district will be offering counselors for a long time, she said. Carol Salva teaches English-language development in the Spring Branch district in Houston. She spent a few tense days at home with two of her children, ages 10 and 13, before finally deciding to evacuate. Her neighborhood did not have an order to leave. However, her home would have been in the "path of destruction" if one of the nearby dams broke. Neighbors were leaving, and helicopters were rescuing some people in nearby neighborhoods. "It's just very scary to live so close to those reservoirs that you're seeing on the news," she said. Salva finally left the neighborhood three days after the storm. She is already thinking about how to discuss the disaster once she returns to school. She is especially worried about how the storm affected some of the refugees who had recently settled in the area.   ​Displaced students Hurricane Harvey will also affect students who do not go to school in places struck by the storm. Their districts will have to accept children who can no longer return to their schools. Last week, the Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio districts were preparing to take in displaced students. People throughout the region were offering services and support to help them. Superintendent Nicholas Gledich, whose district suffered a forest fire in 2012, knows the impact a natural disaster has on all communities.  "You know in your heart and your mind that Houston needs support and resources,” said Gledich. “But let me tell you, those other districts will need resources too." I’m Phil Dierking    This story was originally written by Francisco Vara-Orta and Denisa R. Superville for Education Week (edweek.org). Phil Dierking adapted it for Learning English using other media, with permission from Editorial Projects in Education. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.  What do you think the most important steps are for school districts after a natural disaster?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    displace - v.  to force people or animals to leave the area where they live​ campus - n. the area and buildings around a university, college, school, etc. traumatize - v. to cause (someone) to become very upset in a way that often leads to serious emotional problems tornado - n. a violent and destructive storm in which powerful winds move around a central point anxiety - n. fear or nervousness about what might happen​ encouragement - n. the act of making something more appealing or more likely to happen​ magnitude - n. the size, extent, or importance of something​ prescribe - v. to make something an official rule​ reservoir - n. a usually artificial lake that is used to store a large supply of water for use in people's homes, in businesses, etc.​ superintendent - n. a person who directs or manages a place, department, organization, etc.​ trauma - n. a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time​

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Study: Record Low Numbers of White, Christian Americans

  The number of Americans who identify as white and Christian now represents less than 50 percent of the United States population. A new study says immigrants have driven the decrease along with a growing number of Americans who reject organized religion. The Public Religion Research Institute, or PRRI, did the study. It questioned more than 100,000 people between January 2016 and January 2017. It found that Christianity overall remains a large majority. Nearly 70 percent of Americans identify themselves as Christian. However, white Christians -- once dominant -- now make up only 43 percent of the national population. Forty years ago, about 80 percent of Americans were white Christians. Today, about 25 percent of Americans do not identify with a single religion, the study found. About 17 percent of Americans now identify as white evangelical Christians, compared to 23 percent 10 years ago. In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump, a Republican, received 80 percent of the votes of white evangelicals. The PRRI study found that more than one-third of all Republicans say they are white evangelicals. And nearly 75 percent of Republicans identify themselves as white Christians. By comparison, about eight percent of Democrats call themselves white evangelicals. Almost 30 percent of Democrats identify as white Christians. And 40 percent of Democrats say they have no religious affiliation. The latest PRRI study also provided state-by-state details. It found that New York is the state with the greatest religious diversity. The southern state of Mississippi has the least religious diversity. The northeastern U.S. has long been where most of American Catholics live, and the northeastern state of Rhode Island remains the most Catholic state in the country. However, the Catholic population in the country is shifting, PRRI reports. A majority of Catholics in the U.S. now live in the south or west. The change comes from an increase in Latin American immigrants settling in those areas. I’m Ashley Thompson.   The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dominant - adj. most common evangelical - adj. ​of or relating to a Christian sect or group that stresses the authority of the Bible, the importance of believing that Jesus Christ saved you personally from sin or hell, and the preaching of these beliefs to other people​ affiliation - n. ​ the state of being closely associated with or connected to an organization, company, etc.​ shift - v. to change or to cause (something) to change to a different opinion, belief, etc.​  

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Will New UN Measures Get North Korea to Change?

  Nations are expressing support for new United Nations restrictions placed on North Korea in reaction to its sixth nuclear test. The U.N. Security Council voted 15-0 to approve new sanctions. The Council hopes the measures will force North Korea to observe existing U.N. resolutions. South Korea’s presidential office said the vote showed that the U.N. was sending a united message. “The only way for it (North Korea) to get out of diplomatic isolation and economic pressure is the come back to the dialogue table,” said Park Soo-hyun, a presidential spokesman. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also welcomed the new sanctions. He said it was important to use pressure to change North Korea’s weapons development policy. The United States Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, praised the vote. She said the world would not accept a nuclear-armed North Korea. Haley said the world would act if North Korea failed to disarm itself. Sanctions target resources, trade U.N. Security Council resolution 2375 aims to punish North Korea for its September 3 nuclear test. The test was recorded as a 6.3-magnitude earthquake. North Korea says the test was of a hydrogen bomb, a weapon far more powerful than those tested earlier. In reaction, the Security Council agreed to target North Korea’s trade and fuel imports. The resolution calls for cutting North Korea’s oil imports by one-third. Haley called oil the “life blood” of the nation’s effort to develop a nuclear weapon. North Korean imports of other fuels, including gas, are to drop by more than one half. The resolution also targets sources of income. It bans sales of textiles, meaning cloth or clothing, by North Korea. Haley said this ban would cost North Korea nearly $800 million a year. The resolution seeks to bar new work permits for North Korean workers employed in other countries. North Korea has long been accused of using money paid to its overseas workers to support its weapons programs. In addition, the Security Council called for freezing the assets of three powerful groups linked to the government. China and Russia oppose stronger measures The United States had sought stronger measures against North Korea. At first, the U.S. called for a complete oil embargo and a freeze on the assets of leader Kim Jong Un. It also sought to permit military force, if necessary, to stop ships supplying banned goods. However, China and Russia pushed for the compromise version that the U.N. Security Council approved. Both China and Russia are permanent Security Council members and hold veto power on resolutions. Both countries say that discussions are the only way to solve the North Korean issue. On Tuesday, China’s official Xinhua news agency called for talks. It described the dispute as a situation where “nuclear and missile tests trigger tougher sanctions and tougher sanctions invite further tests.” China and Russia also have urged the United States to suspend its joint military training with South Korea in exchange for a North Korean nuclear freeze. However, supporters of the Trump administration’s policy of “maximum pressure” on North Korea say the most recent sanctions are not enough. Grant Newsham is a researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo. He says if these U.N. restrictions do not work, the U.S. could punish Chinese banks that do business with North Korea. On Tuesday, reports say some of China’s major state-owned banks have stopped providing financial services to North Koreans. That could be a sign of increased enforcement of existing sanctions. But critics of North Korea sanctions say that approach will not cause the country to disarm. I’m Mario Ritter. Margaret Basheer and Brian Padden reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.​ _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sanction –n. measure put in place to cause a country to obey international law, usually by limiting or banning trade isolation –n. apart alone dialogue –n. talks and discussion between two or more parties asset –n. something of value maximum –adj. the most trigger –n. something that causes an action or process to begin  

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US Military Preparing for Digital Arms Race

  In the controlled environment of the United States military, the big room with shiny white paint stands out. The room has computer work stations, overhead projectors and a digital clock that shows the current time in cities around the world. But what captures the attention of many visitors are the walls. They are covered from top to bottom with questions, mathematical notations, pictures and ideas. These markings represent the best thinking of some of the greatest minds in the military. "There are precious few places in this building where you can write on a wall," said Albert Bolden. His claim is not too surprising since this area, the Innovation Hub or iHUB, is part of a military base. Bolden is director of innovation at the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA). "People from across the agency can come into this space and figure out how to solve our problems," he said. 'Relevant in this digital age' This might seem like a feel-good story of military structure mixing with Silicon Valley creativity to make life easier with technology. But it is about much more. Marine Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart has served as the DIA’s director. He said, “The fight for remaining relevant in this digital age is what keeps me awake." Stewart made clear that it is, in many ways, an arms race. "Our adversaries have been modernizing," he warned, speaking to a small group of reporters and others at the iHUB in August. The agency had invited business representatives and academic experts there for a series of what were called Industry Days. Such meetings between top thinkers at the DIA and those outside of government are an important part of iHUB’s planning. U.S. officials want to know if commercial technologies could help solve problems that agency experts have identified. One company seeking to be part of this effort is a Texas-based start-up business called SparkCognition. It specializes in artificial intelligence: making computers perform work that normally requires human intelligence. The U.S. Air Forces has already shown an interest in SparkCognition. Also, large companies like Verizon and Boeing are now investing more than $30 million in the small start-up's neural network effort. It is designed to copy the operations of a human brain in order to predict results. "What we've done is automate that research that a data scientist would do," said SparkCognition's Sam Septembre. Instead of taking weeks or days, however, Septembre said his company's systems can provide results in hours or even minutes. SparkCognition says its platforms already have succeeded in predicting some major world events, although the test cases still leave room for improvement. "The human factor got involved and skewed it," said Timothy Stefanick, director of business operations at the company. He explained that some predictions were found to be wrong after human experts did not trust the results from the artificial intelligence. AI for video Another company seeking to work with the DIA is Percipient.ai. It is exploring how to make artificial intelligence useful in video work. "This is a kind of capability that helps you get into productive analytics and helps you protect forces," said company cofounder Balan Ayyar. "You can check any person in any video," he said. Ayyar is a retired Air Force Brigadier General. He and fellow Percipient.ai co-founder Raj Shah say their platform can save experts considerable time. For example, the AI could quickly search for terror suspects in hundreds of hours of video from a terror attack. Even mobile phones could be used to follow possible threats, programmed to shake if a person of interest turns up in a "selfie." "With this kind of system, the [terror] watch list could be much, much bigger," said Shah, who formerly was chief of Google Maps. Ayyar and Shah say Percipient.ai's systems can already identify suspicious activity or equipment. Handwriting is on the wall For DIA, the early results have been promising. "We've seen examples when machines are able to provide insights to the analysts that they haven't had," said Randy Soper, a DIA expert on analytics modernization. To speed up the process, DIA even provides money — up to about $250,000 — to projects that have shown the most promise. Two have already been approved. Four others are on a list to receive money as soon as it is available. More projects could soon be added. DIA's Innovation Hub continues considering proposals from industry and academia. But the success in reaching out to industry and universities also has brought some changes to the program. On August 22, the DIA opened up a new Innovation Hub. At first look, it is smooth and modern: a line of computers screens and a digital world clock. A large conference table is the center of the room. But, much of the room is covered in that white, shiny paint. "You can still write on the walls," said one official. I’m Caty Weaver. And I'm Jonathan Evans.   VOA’s Jeff Seldin reported this story for VOANews.com. Caty Weaver adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   projector – n. a machine for producing images on a flat surface precious – adj. of great value or high price innovation – n. a new idea or method relevant – adj. having something to do with the subject being considered adversary – n. opponent; enemy academic – adj. of or relating to a school or education commercial – adj. related to or used in the buying and selling of goods automate – v. to operate by using machines or computers analytics – n. the careful study of something insight – n. the act of understanding the inner nature of something  

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Apple Reveals New iPhones

  This is What’s Trending Today. The most popular topic on social media on Tuesday was the big Apple “event” in California. The event took place at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple’s new headquarters in Cupertino, California. People all over the world wanted to know about the new iPhone. The main trending hashtags and topics related to Apple’s announcement were: #AppleEvent, iPhone 8, Steve Jobs Theater, and Apple TV 4K. Others appeared on social media during the event, which continued for over two hours. Before Apple chief Tim Cook came on the stage to start the event, one Twitter user wrote that he had fallen asleep waiting.   The big news of the day was the iPhone 8 and the chance that an even more advanced iPhone would be revealed. But first, several Apple executives spoke with the audience. One spoke about Apple stores. She said the stores will now be called “town squares.” Lily Rugo is a writer in Boston. She responded to this idea with a joke, saying she will continue to call the place where people go to buy Apple products “a store.”     Apple spoke to its audience about changes to Apple TV and the Apple watch. The leaders also spoke about how its new campus was built with a number of environmentally friendly features. Paul Haddad wrote: “Apple Park, the reason the iPhone is now $1200.”     And after 55 minutes, Apple CEO Tim Cook finally mentioned an iPhone. The audience cheered and many people watching the event online were relieved. The waiting paid off as Philip Schiller came out to talk about the new phones: iPhone 8 and 8-plus. About 20 minutes later, when Schiller was done, Tim Cook came back on the stage. He said: “But we’re not stopping there. We do have one more thing.”   After a short music video, Cook presented the iPhone X, and he pronounced the “X” as the number 10. Schiller returned to discuss the iPhone X. He said the main difference from earlier versions of the iPhone is that the screen has no outside border. There is also no “home” button. For many years, owners used the button at the bottom of the phone to unlock it and get to the main screen. Now, there will be a feature called “Face ID.” The phone will recognize its owner and open the home screen. People will be able to order the iPhone X in late October. It will be available about a week later. It will cost $999. Some people wondered why there will not be an iPhone 9.     Others pointed out that the price of Apple stock on the NASDAQ stock exchange fell as soon as Cook announced the new phones.    And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Will you buy one of the new iPhones? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   reveal – v. to make (something) known audience – n. a group of people who gather together to listen to something feature – n. an interesting or important part, quality, ability, etc payoff – n. the advantage or benefit that is gained from doing something border – n. a decorative design along the edge of something

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September 12, 2017

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

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Dealing with Back-to-School Stress

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. It is back-to-school time in the United States, which for many is bittersweet. The bitter part is for saying goodbye to carefree, unscheduled summer days. The sweet part is saying hello to a new school year and school friends. This exciting time is filled with smells of new books, paper and pencils. Children might dress in a new set of clothes and wear new shoes. And of course there are the first-day-of-school pictures that parents share with family and friends.  However, going back to school can also be a stressful time for children and families. Everyone must make the transition from easy summer life to routines, schedules and homework. Families might also stress about spending extra money for a new school year. Parents often need to pay school fees or to buy new school clothes, sports equipment, musical instruments and school supplies. When parents are stressed, children feel the tension. What stresses out children in the U.S.? Back-to-school stress is different for different ages. Younger children may feel scared to leave their families. Making new friends and dealing with bullying can also cause stress for students. Older students may stress about their appearance, grades and getting into college. With teenagers in the United States, stress is a serious and growing problem. A 2013 survey by the American Psychological Association found that teens in the U.S. are now as stressed as adults. A high percentage of the teens surveyed say they are stressed about: school (83%) getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school (69%) and financial concerns for their family (65%) Two years ago, Danielle Lanteri began going to high school. It is a private Catholic school that she attends on a scholarship. She said the demands of the scholarship keep her very busy…and stressed. “What stresses me out most at this point in my life will have to be the amount of work that I get from my teachers and the expectation that I am supposed to, that I have. With my scholarship for high school, I’m expected to be on a sport, participate in clubs, get an above 100 average in all my classes. And I feel that it’s a little impossible. Very few people end up keeping this scholarship because it’s just too hard to do everything.” Helping stressed out children However, parents, teachers and children can all help to make the transition back to school easier. Lori Bambina has been a teacher for over 20 years. She currently teaches first grade in Brooklyn, New York at Public School 229. Her students are 5- and 6-years-old. Routines and knowing what to expect, or predictability, help to reduce stress in children, says Ms. Bambina. So, she focuses on the class routine during the start of the new school year. “Well, for the students, I have my classroom set up with a very clear system. So, I will introduce the system. Then I will revisit the system because at this young age they enjoy structure and predictability. And that routine is very comforting and will not cause them stress if they know exactly where things are located and what type of behavior is expected of them. So, that really reduces the stress and the anxiety because they have their own comfort level now.” Whether you are in first grade or 10th grade, knowing the teachers and what they expect is a good way to reduce stress.   ​The "unknown" can be stressful At her new high school, Danielle did not know her teachers. She did not know the best way to build relationships with them. Also, the teachers did not know her learning style. All of these unknowns caused Danielle a lot of stress. “It was the not knowing the teachers. They didn’t know me; so they don't know how I work. That stressed me out. I didn’t know what type of relationship I should have with my teacher. And to cut down the stress, I will email my teachers if I have a problem and try to, like, get to know them better.” Knowing what a teacher wants in the classroom is a good way to cut down on stress. But there are things you can do in the home, too. Mary Anne Aidala began teaching in the New York school system in 1962. She retired 39 years later, in 2001. She is an award-winning teacher and is also the mother of Lori Bambina, the teacher we heard from earlier. Ms. Aidala advises parents to focus on the basics – get enough sleep, eat healthy foods, and turn off electronics before bedtime. “Well, the first thing they (parents) have to do is to get them (children) on a schedule of sleep habits. And they should also make sure they have a good breakfast to keep their brains alert. And maybe before they go to sleep every night they should start to read them a story or do something educational; so, they can start to reactivate their brains into using them.” The American Psychological Association makes the same suggestions on its website. They add that getting organized is also very important – for parents, children and teachers. For example, parents should keep their wallets and car keys in the same place. This way they do not have to look for them during a busy morning. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Alice Bryant.   If you are a student, teacher or parent, how do you reduce your stress during back-to-school time? Let us know in the Comments Section. Anna Matteo wrote this report with additional material from the American Psychological Association. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   bittersweet – adj. combining sadness and happiness transition – v. to make a change from one state, place, or condition to another; n. a change from one state or condition to another stress - v. to feel very worried or anxious about something stress - n. s state of mental worry caused by problems in your life routine – n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order bullying - n. abuse of someone by stronger, more powerful individuals  

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US Congress Rejecting Cuts in Foreign Aid, Diplomacy

  United States congressional committees have rejected proposals to sharply cut spending for U.S. diplomatic and foreign assistance programs. In his first budget, President Donald Trump called for a reduction of nearly one third in the State Department’s budget. The State Department directs U.S. diplomatic and foreign assistance efforts across the world. On September 7, a Senate committee voted to continue most State Department spending at current levels. A House committee earlier also rejected many of the proposed cuts. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, chairs the Senate subcommittee that oversees State Department spending. Graham said that America faces major problems, such as the conflict over North Korea’s nuclear weapons, disputes with Russia and China, and threats from Islamic State militants. “Now is not the time for retreat, now is the time to double down on diplomacy and development,” Graham said. By double down, he means to increase efforts rather than cut spending. Heather Nauert is the official spokesperson for the State Department and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. She defended the spending cuts proposed by the Trump administration. “Just because a budget reflects a smaller number on the part of the administration does not mean that diplomacy is not important. This administration values that. We all value that. The 75,000 people who work here each and every day here and around the world value that, and we keep pushing forward with it.” Tillerson is expected to announce a reorganization plan for the State Department on September 15. It is expected to suggest ways the department could carry out diplomatic and other responsibilities at a lower cost. One idea Tillerson may be considering is to move the processing of passports, visas and other travel documents from the State Department to the Department of Homeland Security. A study found the change would save money and improve security, the Reuters news agency reported. The study was done for a company that is advising Tillerson on the State Department reorganization plan. Last month, Tillerson told senators that he plans to eliminate some special envoys that work on foreign policy issues for the government, Foreign Policy Magazine reported. Special envoys work on international issues considered important by government officials. Among the positions proposed for cancellation are those working for the rights of disabled persons and promoting peace in Africa. Some of the work done by envoys will be given to other State Department offices, Tillerson said. He added that other envoys are no longer needed because their work was already completed. Money to deal with militants The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a bill that would provide $500 million to hold, repopulate and establish government services in areas freed from Islamic State rule in Iraq and Syria. The bill would also provide $3.1 billion to support refugees affected by conflict and “other natural and man-made disasters,” with another $3.1 billion for international disaster assistance. About $19 million would be provided to help women and girls at risk from extremism in majority Muslim nations and other countries. The bill would also provide $8 million for programs “to promote human rights” in North Korea and another $15 million to support “democracy and rule of law” in Venezuela. Both House and Senate spending bills provide no money for the Green Climate Fund. The Senate committee’s spending report notes that President Trump did not request any money for the program. Trump has withdrawn the United States from the 2016 Paris climate agreement. Under the deal, 165 nations agreed to work together to stop rising temperatures in Earth’s atmosphere. Earlier this month, Congress approved a “continuing funding resolution,” which provides money for most federal spending through December 31. Final congressional votes on funding for the State Department and other agencies for the remaining nine months of the 2018 fiscal year will come later. I'm Bruce Alpert. Cindy Saine reported on this story for VOANews.com. Bruce Alpert adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and share your views on our Facebook Page. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   retreat - v. the act or process of moving away pushing - v. to move forward recommendation - n. a suggestion about what should be done eliminate - v. to get rid of a position promote - v. to advance a cause or outcome fiscal year - n. a 12-month period used by a government, business, or organization to calculate how much money is being raised and spent  

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UN Official: Rohingya in Myanmar Facing 'Ethnic Cleansing'

  The United Nations’ human rights chief has joined a growing group of international voices condemning the government in Myanmar. The group blames the government for the wave of violence that has forced thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. The United Nations official, Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, spoke on Monday to a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. He said his office has received many reports and satellite images of the violence. He said they provide evidence of Myanmar security forces and militias carrying out extrajudicial killings and burning entire Rohingya villages. Zeid also noted reports of Myanmar troops placing landmines along the border with Bangladesh. "Because Myanmar has refused access to human rights investigators, the current situation cannot yet be fully assessed," he told the council, "but the situation seems a textbook example of ethnic cleansing." On Sunday, Amnesty International accused Myanmar of placing landmines along the roads that Rohingya refugees use to enter Bangladesh. The group reported two landmine explosions on Sunday. One explosion reportedly blew off a young man's leg while he was guarding cattle near the border. Zeid made his report a day after Rohingya fighters called for a month-long cease-fire. The fighters said they want humanitarian aid to be able to reach all victims of the conflict. The rebels are calling themselves the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. They launched an attack on several police positions and an army base late last month. The attacks and resulting fighting led to the displacement of more than 300,000 people. The U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley, sent a message to Myanmar last Friday. It said the U.S. government supports the fight against violence in Rakhine state. But the statement added that humanitarian aid must reach those in need. Fleeing violence Myanmar is a Buddhist-majority nation. The Rohingya are one of the country’s many ethnic minorities. The government considers the Rohingya to be economic migrants from Bangladesh. It has never given them citizenship. Yet most Rohingya can prove their families have lived for generations in the country, also called Burma. The latest violence and a military campaign killed at least 400 people. It also led to the latest mass movement of Rohingya villagers to Bangladesh. Vivian Tan is the U.N. Refugee Agency Asia Director in Bangladesh. She told VOA Burmese that aid workers believe there are about 164,000 new arrivals in Bangladesh. The United Nations reported that about 146,000 people have crossed the border into Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazaar district since August 25. Officials with the World Food Program said they have provided tens of thousands of people with food. The U.N. agency added that it needs $11.3 million to support the new arrivals, as well as the refugees already living in camps. Criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi Aung San Suu Kyi is the de facto leader of Myanmar and the winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize. But critics have condemned her reaction to the violence. Many observers say Aung San Suu Kyi has tried to dismiss reports of the Burmese military's violent treatment of Rohingya civilians. She says there has been a lot of misinformation about the Rohingya crisis and violence in Rakhine following the attacks on security forces. Aung San Suu Kyi used the word “terrorists” to describe the Rohingya fighters. And she said “fake information” was used to support their interests. A number of other Nobel Prize winners have made statements asking her to personally intervene and end the violence. They include the exiled Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai. Every year, the U.S. Department of State lists all the crises that it considers the most important human rights issues around the world. In 2016, it listed abuses against and restrictions on members of the Rohingya population as one of the leading human rights problems in Myanmar. I’m Caty Weaver. And I'm Ashley Thompson.   Joshua Fatzick and Richard Green reported this for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. How should Aung San Suu Kyi respond to the violence against the Rohingya? Are there any ethnic minorities that the government treats poorly in your country? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   extrajudicial – adj. not legally authorized access – n. a way of being able to use or get something assess - v. to make a judgment about (something)​ textbook – adj. very typical cattle – n. cows, bulls, or steers that are kept on a farm or ranch for meat or milk migrant(s) – n. a person who goes from one place to another especially to find work district – n. an area or section of a country, city, or town de facto – adj. used to describe something that exists but that is not officially accepted or recognized fake – adj. not true or real

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