The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe, Part Four

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U.S. Defense Secretary: For the First Time, Afghan Military Fully Involved in Conflict

United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has announced that, for the first time, the Afghanistan military is fully involved in the war with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Mattis spoke with members of the U.S. Senate this week about the Trump administration’s Southeast Asia strategy. He said, “For the first time in 16 years, we have all six Afghan army corps on the offensive at the same time.” Mattis admitted that the Afghan forces have taken heavy losses in the fighting. But he said they are suffering fewer losses than they did last year. The decrease in losses could be a sign suggesting that the forces are improving their combat abilities, he said. Trump administration strategy Mattis also noted that under President Trump, international forces have launched more airstrikes against enemy forces than in any other year since 2012. One reason is because restrictions preventing strikes on insurgents beyond a certain distance from American or Afghan forces have been lifted. The Trump administration announced its new Afghanistan strategy in August. The plan added about 3,000 American troops and additional NATO coalition partners to the Afghan fight. Most of those troops will advise and assist Afghan forces. “Afghan special forces that have our trainers, they have won every time they fought the enemy,” said Mattis. “Those without have not won.” He added that American and NATO airstrikes will let Afghan forces be “bolder” in combat. “When they go into the fight, no longer will they worry about the high ground,” Mattis stated. “Having fought in mountainous country, it’s unpleasant to have the enemy above you … NATO airstrikes overhead denies the enemy ever having the high ground." Still not enough? But the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Joseph Dunford, told lawmakers at the hearing that the progress that has been made is still not enough. He said military pressure from Afghanistan and its international partners is not close to bringing a “successful political solution.” Dunford argued that the international effort must be “long-term,” taking at least six or seven years. That is the time required to fully train the Afghan air force to fight the enemy forces in the country. Republican Senator and Vietnam prisoner of war John McCain has also criticized the lack of progress in Afghanistan. He said, “After 16 years, should the taxpayers of America be satisfied that we are still in a stalemate? I don’t think so.” McCain was talking about a comment the top commander on the ground made earlier this year. U.S. Army General John Nicholson asked for more troops to help break what he called the “stalemate” in America’s longest war. Mattis said that political reconciliation with the Taliban is still the goal. As long as the Taliban stops killing people, lives by the Afghan constitution and breaks with international terrorists there will be no more conflict, he added.​ Other powers The United States’ new Afghan strategy aims to focus on the major powers in the area, including India, China, Russia, Iran and Pakistan. For example, U.S. leaders want Pakistan to prevent terrorists from using their territory to escape pressure in Afghanistan. Mattis said this week that places where terrorists feel safe must be removed. Otherwise keeping the area in good condition will be "highly difficult." Members of Congress also asked Chairman Dunford about the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence Agency, or ISI. Dunford told the Senate committee that it was "clear" that the ISI has connections with terrorist groups. So far, the U.S. has been working alone to push Pakistan toward removing its areas that are safe for terrorists. But Dunford suggested that America should use the nearly 40 nations of the coalition in Afghanistan to do so. Also it should ask other powers in the area, such as China and India, to better urge Pakistan to do more to fight terrorism, he said. Mattis expressed concern that Russia is also acting in ways that work against the coalition's fight to defeat the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaida. “If there's an opportunity to, you know, poke us in the eye, they'll do it,” Mattis said. “Even if it's against their own interest.” I’m Alice Bryant. And I’m Pete Musto.   Carla Babb reported this for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. What do you think the best action the United States can take in Afghanistan is? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story strategy – n. a careful plan or method for achieving a particular goal usually over a long period of time corps – n. a large military group consisting of two or more divisions airstrike(s) – n. an attack in which military airplanes drop bombs insurgent(s) – n. a person who fights against an established government or authority certain – adj. used to refer to something or someone that is not named specifically bolder – adj. less afraid of danger or difficult situations than before stalemate – n. a contest, dispute, or competition in which neither side can gain an advantage or win reconciliation – n. the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement opportunity – n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done poke – v. to push your finger or something thin or pointed into or at someone or something

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China Orders North Korean Businesses to Close

China has ordered all North Korean-owned businesses in the country to close by early January. The decision supports sanctions placed by the United Nations on North Korea for its continued development of nuclear weapons and missiles. The move was announced in late September. It is expected to sharply limit the flow of money to North Korea. China’s commerce ministry said that North Korean companies -- including joint operations with Chinese companies --must close within 120 days of September 11. That is the date the U.N. resolution was approved. The decision is expected to affect about 100 restaurants operated by North Koreans. About one fourth of them are in Beijing. U.S. President Donald Trump will travel to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines from November 3 to November 14. Last week, the Trump administration released a statement on the trip. It said, “The president’s engagements will strengthen the international resolve to confront the North Korean threat and ensure the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” Trump will take part in meetings with leaders in the area. He is expected to talk about trade and the North Korean nuclear threat. US seeks China's help in dealing with North Korea U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Chinese leaders last weekend. He called on the ruling Chinese Communist Party to take steps to limit oil supplies to North Korea. He also pressured officials to put in place all parts of U.N. Security Council sanctions. U.S. officials say that North Korea will lose almost all of its export income if restrictions on trade in textiles, coal and some metals are enforced. About 90 percent of North Korea’s foreign trade is with China. The United States believes China’s support is necessary to pressure North Korea to ends its nuclear program. U.S. officials have praised recent actions by China. Trump recently said China had ordered its banks to stop dealing with North Korea. No public announcement, however, appears to have been made by China. Wu Fei is a senior fellow at the Charhar Institute, a Chinese public diplomacy and international relations research group. Wu says there may be limits to the pressure sanctions can place on North Korea. Wu says North Korea has “no industrial products to speak of, and their harvest is pretty much gathered in now. Their demand for basic resources will be pretty low for the next six months or so.” Wu adds that North Korea’s need for outside resources is limited. “They don’t rely on the outside world for much, and that includes China. North Korea wants to show the rest of the world how independent it is; this is the impression they want to create,” he says. He believes North Korea can wait for six months before they must negotiate. Chinese reporter Xu Xiang said public opinion in China is beginning to change. He said Chinese increasingly do not support North Korea. Xu said, “This policy of opposing the U.S. and supporting North Korea: What have we gotten in return for the blood spilled by our fathers’ generation [in the 1950-1953 Korean War]?” Xu also said Chinese are saying, “All it’s done is turn the Kim dynasty into even worse bandits than they were before. As Chinese citizens, we feel pretty unsafe.” But Xu said China does not believe it can solve the North Korean nuclear crisis. Ran Bogong is a retired professor from Toledo University. He says the ruling Chinese Communist Party is still hoping to force North Korea to make changes. “China is hoping now to force Kim Jong Un into making some kind of compromise vis-à-vis the U.S.,” Ran said. “The U.S. and China need to work closely to ensure that when Trump visits, there is some kind of definite result. Neither Beijing nor Washington wants to see the North Korean issue create further conflict between them.” I’m Mario Ritter. This story was reported by Lin Ping and Yang Fan for the Mandarin Service of Radio Free Asia and by the RFA’s Cantonese Service. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the RFA reports 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 sanction –n. measure put in place to cause a country to obey international law, usually by limiting or banning trade engagements –n. Meetings or events that someone plans to attend resolve –v. to find an answer to a problem verifiable –adj. able to be proven true or correct dynasty –n. a family that rules over a country for a long period of time bandits –n. outlaws who steal from travelers vis-à-vis –adv. in relation to, face to face with

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English Writer Kazuo Ishiguro Wins Nobel Prize in Literature

  Kazuo Ishiguro, the Japanese-born English writer, has won the 2017 Nobel Prize in Literature. The Swedish Academy made the announcement Thursday in Stockholm. Sara Danius, the academy’s secretary, praised the work of Ishiguro. She said, “He’s a very interesting writer in many ways.” “If you mix Jane Austen and Franz Kafka, then  you have Ishiguro in a nutshell.” Danius described him as “one of the most exquisite novelists in our time.” His best-known work is “The Remains of the Day,” which was published in 1989. It tells of a man who worked as a butler, the main male servant in the home of a rich person. He looks back on a life in service to the wealthy. The book deepens into a darker story of the repressed emotional and social environment of 20th-century England. The work earned Ishiguro the Man Booker Prize in 1989. The 1993 film version of “The Remains of the Day” starred Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards. The choice of Ishiguro for the Nobel Prize marked a return to traditional literature following two years of unconventional choices by the Swedish Academy. Last year, the literature prize went to American singer and songwriter Bob Dylan. In 2015, it went to Svetlana Alexievich of Belarus, an investigative journalist. Ishiguro was born in Nagasaki, Japan. He moved with his family to Britain when he was five years old. Although he did not return to Japan until he was in his 30s, Japanese characters were important in his first two novels: “A Pale View of Hills” and “An Artist of the Floating World.” The writer will receive $1.1 million in prize money for winning the literature award. I’m Jonathan Evans. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ___________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story   exquisite - adj. finely done or made unconventional - adj. very different from the things that are used or accepted by most people : not traditional or usual butler - n. the main male servant in the home of a wealthy person journalist - n. a person who has the job of collecting, writing, and editing news stories for newspapers, magazines, television, or radio

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Good and Nice: Common Adjectives with Many Uses

  The 2014 film Whiplash tells the story of a young man who wants to be a great jazz musician. He has a music director who often says cruel things to him. At one point in the film, the music director makes this statement to the young man: There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "Good Job.'' Today's report will be much nicer than the lines of the film suggest. We will not be learning about mean music directors (at least, not today). Instead, we will talk about two very common adjectives: the words "nice" and "good." We will show you how Americans use these words in everyday speech. We will also show you how they are used in social situations. But first, we have to give you a few definitions. What are adjectives? Adjectives are words that help describe or provide information about nouns. Speakers generally use adjectives before a noun or after a non-action verb. Such verbs are sometimes called linking verbs. In everyday speech, Americans often use the adjectives "good" and "nice." These words have a positive, but inexact meaning. Here are two examples: She is a good person. He is a nice man. In the examples, the adjectives "good" and "nice" come before a noun – the words "person" and "man." These are pleasant, respectful ways to describe people. Not very good and not very nice Americans use the adjectives "good" and "nice" in other ways. They use them in a few common expressions. Terms like "not very nice" and "not very good" are generally used to describe people and their behavior. These indirect expressions show an undesirable or bad opinion, but they have a softer meaning than direct speech does. Consider our next example. Listen to this exchange that two students might have: 1: Have you finished your math homework? 2: No, I'm not very good at math. 1: Well, the teacher doesn't help much... 2: Yeah, he gave me an F on the last test. He told me my grade in front of the entire class… that wasn't very nice of him... In this example, you heard two uses of not very + an adjective: not very good and not very nice. Americans often use these expressions in place of direct language. Instead of saying "I'm not very good at mathematics," the student could have said, "I'm bad at math." Instead of saying, "that wasn't very nice of him…," the other student could have said, "that was a mean thing to do." The two speakers used "good" and "nice" in indirect expressions because they are considered to be more polite. Social Uses of Good and Nice Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are experts on English grammar. They say English speakers often use "good" and "nice" for social reasons. They use these words to give praise, express approval, and show appreciation. They also use them to show a positive reaction. We are not able to give you examples of all of these uses. However, we can show you how Americans use them in a few situations. #1 Good and nice – Expressions that give compliments on possessions or achievements. Speakers often use "good" and "nice" in expressions that praise people for their possessions or successes. A friend might comment on your new shoes by saying, for example, "Those are nice shoes. Where did you get them?" Or a teacher might congratulate a student by saying, "You did a very good job on the test." Think back to the film Whiplash. You heard the music director tell his student: 'There are no two words in the English language more harmful than "Good Job.'' By saying that the words 'good job' are harmful, the music director means that words of praise are bad. He believes that true artists will never become disheartened – no matter how mean people are to them! #2 Showing approval for ideas Another use of good is to show approval of an idea. One speaker presents an idea and another speaker reacts in an approving way by saying, "Good idea," for example. In an office, a supervisor might tell an employee, "That's a good idea. I like that." Friends eating at a restaurant, for example, might say the following words: 1: Do you want dessert? 2: Sounds good to me! Here, the second speaker is showing approval at the first speaker's idea – getting something to eat after the meal. This is an easy-going, friendly way to agree with another person. What can you do? The next time you are watching a film or listening to music in English, try to find examples of "good" and "nice." Ask yourself how the speakers use these words. Do they have a social use? Are they replacing direct speech that might be considered rude or uncultured? Learning how to use good and nice can be difficult. But with hard work and effort, you will make good progress. I'm John Russell. And I'm Dorothy Gundy. John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story cruel – n. causing or helping to cause suffering : terrible and unfair appreciation – n. an ability to understand the worth, quality, or importance of something : an ability to appreciate something positive – adj.  thinking about the good qualities of someone or something inexact – adj.  not completely correct or precise : not exact polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people grammar – n. the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language dessert – n. sweet food eaten after the main part of a meal rude – adj. not having or showing concern or respect for the rights and feelings of other people : not polite

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Cambodian Opposition Leader Urges Action to ‘Save Democracy’

  A Cambodian opposition lawmaker says she fled the country to avoid arrest. She accuses the government of continuing a campaign of repression against her party’s leadership. Mu Sochua told Reuters news agency she decided to leave Tuesday after learning she might be arrested. It is not clear where she has gone. Monday, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen warned of strong action against any politicians linked to a treason case against opposition leader Kem Sokha. Sokha leads the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). He was charged with treason and detained. Cambodian officials accuse Sokha of planning to overthrow the government.  ​CNRP officials accuse Hun Sen of ordering the arrest of its leaders and taking steps to prevent the party from operating. Hun Sen is a member of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP). The 65-year-old ruler has led the country for 32 years. A general election is planned for next July. The CNRP says almost half of its opposition party lawmakers have either left Cambodia or are in jail. A recent legislative amendment permits the government to end political parties for national security reasons. Mu Sochua wrote Wednesday in a note to The Associated Press, “The situation is very serious and has direct impact on 2018 elections.” She continued, “I no longer feel safe inside the country. My voice needs to be heard inside and outside.” She told Reuters she thinks the international community needs to act to “save democracy” in Cambodia. She said, “The time for statements has passed. It’s time for sanctions, targeted sanctions. Also suspension of technical aid to the government of Cambodia.” The lawmaker suggested sanctions could include visa restrictions on top Cambodian officials. But she added that any restrictions should not target the exports of clothing. Those exports – most of which are sent to the U.S. and European Union – provide work for hundreds of thousands of Cambodian workers. In answer, a government spokesman said there was no reason for any country to place sanctions on Cambodia. “This is a sovereign state and it will protect its sovereignty,” the spokesman said. He said he could not comment on possible future arrests because they are handled by the judiciary.   Human rights groups say Hun Sen’s government uses its control over the judicial system to frighten its political opponents and activists. The U.S. State Department reported in 2016 of major human rights problems in Cambodia. Phil Robertson is deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch. He commented on the situation in a statement released Wednesday.  He said if CNRP leaders are forced out of Cambodia before next year’s election, it would, in his words, “effectively mean the death of Cambodian democracy.” He said no one doubts that Hun Sen can order immediate violence by the military and police. In his words, Hun Sen, “controls all the levers in Cambodia’s kangaroo courts. The 2018 election is going to be neither free nor fair under these circumstances.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press, Reuters and Radio Free Asia. 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 impact – n. the effect a person, event or situation has on someone or something sanction – n. action taken to make a country obey a rule or law sovereign – adj. having independent power to govern judiciary – n. all the judges in a country doubt – v. to be unsure about something lever – n. device used to control something kangaroo courts – n. a court that uses unfair methods or is not a proper court of law circumstances – n. facts or events that make a situation the way it is  

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October 5, 2017

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

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Can A Computer Teach Children to Read and Write?

  The Global Learning XPrize competition is looking at ways in which children can teach themselves reading, writing and mathematics with only a tablet computer. The XPrize Foundation and its supporters are offering $15 million for computer programs that teach simple skills to people who have never attended school.  Matt Keller is senior director of the competition. He described the goal of the prize this way: “It’s a little bit out there. It’s a little bit of a crazy idea.” The first Global XPrize competition is awarding millions of dollars to the team or company that develops the best educational app. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or UNESCO, estimates that 263 million children around the world are not in school. Teaching these boys and girls is a problem that researchers are trying to solve. Keller spoke to VOA about the prize. “Can you develop something that’s so intuitive, so inferential, so dynamic that you  give it to a child who is illiterate in a very remote part of the world – she picks it up, she touches it and she begins to learn how to read? And that's the challenge that we put out to the world.” About 200 teams entered the competition. From that group, judges chose five finalists. Each was given $1 million. From the five, the judges will choose a winner to receive a $10 million grand prize. The finalists will begin testing their computer applications in November. The testing will involve nearly 4,000 children from the Tanga area of Tanzania. The apps will be loaded on tablet computers donated by the American technology company Google. The children will try to teach themselves basic educational skills with only the tablets. A smaller group of children will be tested on their understanding of reading and math. After 15 months, the same students will be re-tested. The top prize will go to the developer team whose programs provide the highest proficiency gains among the students. The XPrize group also is working with UNESCO, the World Food Program and the government of Tanzania. They will give out and provide support for the tablet computers. Keller told VOA that the plan suggested by the XPrize competition is different from other methods of education. “Most development organizations and most aid agencies and most governments are focused on building new schools and training new teachers,” he said. Keller said there are many children who do not go to school. Some researchers, he said, are asking the question: "Can you give technology to a child that’s so good that it doesn’t supplant, but supplements a learning process that she may or may not have?” The competition is partly a reaction to a growing education problem. The United Nations has set a goal of providing universal primary and secondary education by 2030. This is one of the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. A UNESCO report estimates that the world will need almost 69 million more teachers to meet that goal. “That’s simply not possible,” said Jamie Stuart, who helped launch the non-profit group Onebillion, which is one of the XPrize finalists. He told VOA, “We have to look for radical alternatives in terms of children’s learning.” Developers at Onebillion have tested their app, called Onecourse, for the past 10 years in Malawi. The program is designed so that children can use it with little or no adult assistance. It teaches reading and number skills with an electronic teacher that “speaks” in the children's language. However, there are many problems to overcome in making a successful app. One, is making a program that works with people who have never before used a tablet computer. Stuart said what is most important is “keeping it simple, keeping it focused on the individual needs of the child.” Other finalists use different ways to teach children.  Curriculum Concepts International created an app that combines games, videos and books. Another finalist, Chimple, educates children through play and discovery-based learning. Another app, called Kitkit, was designed for children with learning disabilities. And a fifth, called RoboTutor, involves artificial intelligence and machine learning. I’m Caty Weaver. Tina Trihn reported this story for VOANews.com. Mario Ritter 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 visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   app – n. a computer program intuitive – adj. to know something without proof or evidence inferential – adj. to reach a conclusion based on facts or evidence dynamic – adj. moving and changing, not fixed remote – adj. distant proficiency – n. the ability to do something well supplant – v. to take the place of supplements – n. things that are added universal – adj. including or covering all; present of taking place everywhere radical – adj. not normal, very unusual alternatives — n. other choices or possibilities

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Not All See China’s 'Great Power Diplomacy' as Great Success

  The Chinese Communist Party is preparing for its National Congress. The event takes place every five years. The 19th National Congress opens in Beijing on October 18. China watchers say the country’s recent foreign policy successes are likely to be noted at the meeting. China is the world’s second largest economy. Since Xi Jinping became president in 2012, Chinese influence has been expanding in many areas. The Chinese government is active in international diplomacy. And the government is seeking to play a more important diplomatic role, while creating its own initiatives. These efforts include the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road trade program.   Xi Jinping has visited five continents, and nearly 30 countries. He has worked toward what some Chinese are calling “Great Power Diplomacy." Supporters of this idea say that, as a rising great power, China should do what it feels is right any time and whenever it wishes. Xi has also pushed for what he calls the “China Solution.” That means campaigning for Chinese proposals and answers to the world’s biggest problems. Some observers say that China’s desire to become more active in world affairs may even be added to the Communist Party’s constitution during the congress. Party delegates are not as likely to discuss some of the problems China has faced over the past five years. These difficulties include territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and troubles with North Korea, South Korea and other countries. Shen Dingli is a political science professor at Fudan University in Shanghai. He told VOA, “China has failed in all of the South China Sea, East China Sea, China-India border dispute(s), its relationship with South Korea, with North Korea…” Shen noted that China has been unable to get North Korea to stop its nuclear and missile development programs. It has also not been able to stop deployment of the United States-based Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, in South Korea China’s attempt to establish an Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea has been ignored by the United States, Japan and Russia, Shen adds. And last year, the International Tribunal at The Hague ruled against China’s claims to all of the South China Sea and its land reclamation projects there. “Xi Jinping must understand China has failed. So China has made compromises,” Shen said. Shen is not alone in his criticism of how some of China’s policy measures have failed to reach their goals. Shen Zhihua is a professor at East China Normal University. He has argued that Beijing’s North Korea policy is both contradictory and ineffective. Shen wrote earlier this year that China’s decision to punish South Korea for its deployment of THAAD has pushed Seoul closer to Japan and the United States. And while many Western leaders talk about China’s political influence over North Korea, Shen told VOA that no longer exists. “North Korea sees China as one of its key enemies,” he added. “If nuclear war breaks out or there are big changes, the first victim will be China.” Observers say the Chinese Communist Party is not likely to include any foreign policy criticisms in the official Congress report next month. But one important thing to look for will be whether it offers any defense of Xi’s foreign policy successes and setbacks. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story initiative - n. a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem​ role - n.a part that someone or something has in a particular activity or situation​ contradictory  - adj. involving or having information that disagrees with other information​  

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Animal Lovers Celebrate World Animal Day

  This is What’s Trending Today… World Animal Day has been celebrated on October 4 for many years. The World Animal Day website says it was first celebrated in 1925 in Berlin, Germany on a different date. It moved to October 4 in 1929. October 4 is the day Roman Catholics honor Saint Francis of Assisi, who was the patron saint of animals.  What happens on World Animal Day? Aside from Twitter getting filled up with lots of cute photos of animals, the day is designed to promote the rights of animals. The group that organizes the day wants to make sure animals are treated well around the world. In honor of the day, many organizations held special events. For example, some shelters held adoption events. Other organizations held workshops to make sure owners learned the best way to take care of their animals.  One Twitter account called TheDodo has almost 500,000 followers. The account owners made a video showing people treating animals "with love." The video showed a man taking a beached dolphin back to the water, a police officer helping free a deer from a backyard volleyball net and a driver stopping to move a kitten off a busy roadway.    The television channel Nat Geo WILD posted a video of a baby elephant taking its first steps.  The actor Ricky Gervais presented a photo of himself with his dog, writing: “Happy #WorldAnimalDay. We’re nothing without them.”  Al Jazeera English made a video celebrating the work of a man in Kenya. He drives a truck over 70 kilometers more than once a week to transport water to thirsty animals. His truck holds 12,000 liters of water. He said some of the animals recognize him. While animal welfare is a serious issue, many people had fun with the day.  One sports organization, the UEFA Champions League, wrote a story highlighting the soccer players with animal-oriented nicknames.  Over the years, some players have been known as “The Eel,” “The Mosquito,” “Snake-man” and “The Trout.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. What did you do to mark World Animal Day? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   patron saint – n. a saint who is believed to protect a particular place or type of person cute – adj. having a pleasing and usually youthful appearance promote – v.  to make people aware of something workshop– n. a class or series of classes in which a small group of people learn the methods and skills used in doing something beached– v.  when a large ocean animal has come out of the water onto land and is unable to return to the water.

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Cameras in Istanbul Taxis Causing Concerns

  Cameras are being put in taxis in Turkey's largest city, Istanbul. Turkish officials say the cameras will provide security for taxi drivers and their passengers. But some people fear the devices are part of a government effort to expand surveillance and control over the population. They note that more than 60,000 Turkish citizens have been detained since the failure of an attempt to overthrow the government last year. In addition, nearly 200,000 people have been dismissed from their jobs over this period. Recently, people in Turkey have been hearing announcements advertising the arrival of Istanbul’s new taxis, called Itaxis. The ads say the taxis are equipped with global positioning system equipment to help drivers find the quickest way, at the lowest cost. The vehicles will also have equipment so that riders can pay with credit cards. However, the Itaxis have one object that is a subject of debate: a large digital camera. When you sit down inside a taxi, the camera is clearly visible. What is unclear is whether it records sound as well as images. It is also unclear where the images go. One driver who spoke to VOA is happy with the device, although he says he does not know who is watching. "The new system is what is needed. I had an incident on Sunday night. I was attacked by a customer. If this system had been active, I would have been saved right away or the attacker wouldn't have dared to attack. There is a camera system and a panic button now." Not everyone in Istanbul agrees that the camera is a good thing. Another person who spoke with VOA questioned the reasoning behind the cameras. "A witch hunt is happening in Turkey now. So if they use it [the camera] for things like that [surveillance], then of course it's not a good idea to have these kind of things in the cabs." Nearly every week, Turkey has trials for people suspected of being involved in the failed overthrow attempt. Last year, some 4,000 people were tried for insulting the president. Under emergency powers enacted after the overthrow attempt, Turkish officials have introduced new electronic surveillance. That information comes from Yaman Akdeniz of Bilgi University in Istanbul. He has been studying the rise of surveillance culture. He says there may be good reasons for the concerns over the new taxis. "Because increasingly people are under surveillance and people don't know what sort of technology or what sorts of things are deployed by the government authorities to monitor the citizens. And it will get worse." A growing sense of concern is creeping into Turkish society because of surveillance activities. With the campaign against government critics, any new development involving surveillance technology seems likely to be watched with suspicion. I'm John Russell. Dorian Jones reported on this story for VOANews.com. John Russell 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   visible – adj. of or relating to something that can be seen credit card – n. a small plastic card that is used to buy things surveillance – n. keeping close watch over someone panic – n. a state or feeling of extreme fear that makes someone unable to act or think normally witch hunt – n. the act of punishing people who are accused of having dangerous or evil ideas introduce – v. to offer or propose monitor – v. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time creep – v.  to appear gradually and in a way that is difficult to notice

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