October 11, 2017

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

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What Are the Best US High Schools? It Depends

Sometimes, deciding the best is difficult. For example, deciding the 10 best public high schools – out of 24,000 – in America. Two publications put together lists of the top 10. But the website Niche.com and the magazine U.S. News and World Report could agree on only one. Both named Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology of Fairfax County, Virginia. Many people call it just “Thomas Jefferson.”    Niche ranked Thomas Jefferson number four. U.S. News put Thomas Jefferson at six. But the two publications could not agree on their other top nine high schools. Chicago has it? In Niche.com’s latest ratings, three of the top public high schools are located in Chicago, Illinois, America’s third most populated city. The Chicago schools are Walter Payton College Prep, rated Number 1; Northside College Preparatory High School, Number 2; and Young Magnet High School, Number 6. The top ratings for Chicago schools come at a time when violence among young people remains a problem. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel welcomed the good news for his city. “I am so proud of the great work by principals, teachers and students in these high schools,” Emanuel said. Or do charter schools? In contrast, U.S. News and World Report gave its top ratings to charter schools. Charter schools receive public money, but operate independently of many local and state education rules. Three charter schools in Arizona took the highest positions at U.S. News and World Report. They are all operated by a private company called BASIS Education Group LLC. BASIS also operates charter schools in Texas, Louisiana and Washington D.C. The BASIS school in Scottsdale, Arizona was rated Number 1 nationally, followed by BASIS Tucson North and BASIS Oro Valley.   Another BASIS Arizona charter, BASIS Peoria, was ranked Number 5. U.S. News said it made a change in its ratings this year, giving more weight to high schools where students take and pass college-level courses and exams. Preparing high school students for college-level classes and tests is a major part of BASIS’ education plan for its students. Robert Morse worked on the best high school rating system. He said that U.S. News wanted to give credit to schools that “that make an effort to challenge their students.” How should parents look at school ratings? Laura Owen is director of the American University School of Education’s Center for Postsecondary Readiness and Success. She said that all schools want to be rated highly. But just because a school is ranked highly does not mean it is the best school for every child, Owen said. Parents have to decide which schools offer the academics and support that will help their children learn and reach their potential. Elise Hauptman has two children at Stevenson High School in Illinois, the number-three rated public high school according to Niche.com. She said Stevenson does something many schools fail to do: make changes to meet the needs of current students. “They were among the first in the area to delay the start time of the school day, acknowledging sleep studies done on teens,” Hauptman said. “The day starts half an hour later, but both of my kids said it makes a huge difference.” She also points to the school’s willingness to meet the needs of a variety of students -- not just those with the highest grades. Their efforts include adding new subjects, such as “writing for college,” and starting a new club to deal with drug and alcohol abuse. How did the publications rank the best high schools? When considering rankings, U.S. News said it looks at whether a school’s students do better than expected on reading and math tests. U.S. News also says that it looks at how “disadvantaged students,” including black and Hispanic students, perform on tests. Niche says it bases its ratings on students’ performance on standardized tests, racial and economic diversity of the school population, and comments from a school’s students and their parents. Six of the ten top high schools rated by Niche.com select their students. That means they can choose the brightest middle and junior high school students for their schools. But the BASIS schools in Arizona that scored so high in the U.S. News and World Report's ratings do not have admission requirements. School officials say they hold a lottery when they have more students than they can accept. Kristen Jordison is Head of School at BASIS Scottsdale, which was ranked Number 1 in the latest U.S. News and World Report survey. She said the school is successful because it has excellent teachers and demands a lot of students, including college-level assignments. “Our students and teachers work very hard,” Jordison said. Teachers and fellow students work with children individually who are struggling with classes, Jordison said. Audrey Amrein-Beardsley is a professor at Arizona State University’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. She said that BASIS schools in Arizona are open to everyone. But by not offering transportation and free lunch programs, the schools can be difficult for low-income parents to send their children to, Amrein-Beardsley said. The result is that BASIS schools take in fewer minority students and fewer students from poor families than regular public schools, she said. Joe Thomas is president of the Arizona Education Association, a union that represents the state’s public school teachers. Thomas said that every school, public or private, will lose students each year. But he said that BASIS schools lose a lot more students than other schools because not all students are ready to take college-level classes. I'm Bruce Alpert. And I'm Jill Robbins.   Bruce Alpert reported on this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly 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   proud - n. very happy and pleased because of something that was done principal - n. the leader of a school challenge - v. to test the ability, skill, or strength of someone potential - n. a quality that something has that can be developed to make it better diversity - n. the state of having people who are different races or who have different cultures in a group lottery - n. a system used to decide who will get or be given something by choosing names or numbers by chance

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American Wins Nobel Prize in Economics

  American economist Richard Thaler has won the 2017 Nobel Prize for Economics. Thaler was recognized for his work as a behavioral economist. That means he studies the reasons behind the economic decisions people make. Thaler received the prize partly for his research into why people often make irrational financial decisions. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced the $1.1 million prize on Monday. Speaking of the prize money, Thaler told reporters in Chicago after the announcement, “I will spend it as irrationally as possible.” Things people do to make financial decisions The award committee said Thaler explored “the consequences of limited rationality, social preferences, and lack of self-control.” It said the American economist’s work has shown how human qualities affect people’s individual decisions and the movements of financial markets. Thaler developed the theory of “mental accounting.” It describes how people create separate accounts in their minds to try to simplify financial decision-making. He described how this can lead to less rational financial decisions like saving for a vacation while paying high credit card interest. His research, Bloomberg noted, showed that people often choose short-term pleasures, “which is why many people fail to plan and save for old age.” The Reuters said Thaler’s research showed that such traits “as lack of self-control and fear of losing what you already have” can cause people to make bad short-term decisions.  One of those, Thaler noted, was keeping stock shares that have lost value or selling them too soon when they have gained value. Thaler helped develop the “nudge” theory. It is the idea that small incentives can influence people to make good decisions. He said people should be permitted to make their own choices, but society “should actively try to guide individuals in the right direction.” Cass Sunstein and Thaler wrote about the idea in the 2008 book “Nudge.” The theory has been used by political candidates as they work to influence voters and government officials seeking to make changes in society. Other areas also interested Thaler. He studied fairness. He found that people can accept increasing prices if the costs of many things are going up. But he found that they strongly disapprove of companies that raise prices simply because of high demand for one product. Bloomberg called Thaler’s Nobel Prize “a reward for 40 years of work spent studying human bias and temptation.” Thaler is considered one of the first behavioral economists. His field, once criticized, has grown in popularity among economists over the last 10 years. The economist even briefly appeared in the 2010 movie, “The Big Short,” about the global financial crisis. Thaler is a professor of behavioral science and economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. The economics prize was created in 1968 in memory of Alfred Nobel after his death. Since then, 79 individuals have received the prize. The first woman winner was Elinor Ostrom in 2009. American have received about half of the Nobel Prizes for economics. I’m Mario Ritter. VOA News Writer Isabela Cocoli wrote this story from Washington. We also used reporting by the BBC, the Reuters news agency, PBS and Bloomberg. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the reporting 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   irrational – adj. not rational, not based on good judgment or reason consequences – n. the results of an action preferences – n. things that are liked or preferred more than others account – n. a record of money paid, owed or received incentives – n. reasons to do something bias – n. believing in one side of an idea at the expense of the other temptation – adj. the desire to have something

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North Korean Art Market Growing

Seated under tall windows and wearing simple clothing, North Korean painters are hard at work in China. The nine artists are putting canvases on picture frames and copying landscape images from computers. One artist listens to an electronic device as he paints a group of running horses onto his canvas. The artists, all of them men, have come to the Chinese border town of Dandong from Mansudae Art Studio. That art studio is North Korea's largest producer of art. Other North Korean artists work in similar businesses along the border. "Chinese have begun collecting art, and North Korean art is much easier and cheaper for them to obtain," said Park Young-jeong. He is with the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, a group based in the South Korean capital, Seoul. Mansudae art studio The North Korean government operates Mansudae. The art studio creates statutes, wall posters and more. United Nations experts say it has built statues and markers in at least 15 African countries. The experts reported in February that a part of the business, called Mansudae Overseas Projects, helps the North Korean government raise money. A diplomat at the North’s diplomatic office in Geneva said Mansudae had nothing to do with financing for weapons manufacturing. The Reuters news agency reported that no one from the arts studio could be reached. The U.N. Security Council banned Mansudae's statue business in 2016. Two months ago, Council members blacklisted the art studio after the North Korean government carried out weapons tests. Diplomats say the U.N. action will prevent the studio from doing business. "With this listing, anything Mansudae produces cannot be bought and should be frozen per the asset freeze," said a Security Council diplomat who did not want to be identified. What do the Security Council's measures mean for existing Mansudae art? In Beijing, a business called the Mansudae Art Gallery claims to be the studio's official overseas gallery. Its head said the U.N. sanctions have had no effect on his business. The Dandong Center, on the Chinese border, works with Mansudae, said its chief, Gai Longji. Asked on the day the sanctions took effect if they would hurt the art studio, he did not answer directly. "We don't do politics," he said. "We do art." The Reuters news agency spoke to at least 30 art experts and people who have sold North Korean art. Many said that the market for such art does not earn much money – especially in comparison to the possible billion dollars North Korea raises each year by selling coal and other minerals. Growing demand in China In China, the demand for North Korean art has been growing. Dandong is a popular attraction for travelers. Visitors try North Korean food, watch North Korean women sing and dance, and buy North Korean paintings. Koen De Ceuster teaches Korean studies at Leiden University in The Netherlands. He said Mansudae is not the only business selling North Korean artwork. "There's studios all across the country," he said. Other famous studio names include Paekho and the Central Arts Studio. Even with the sanctions, the art studios are still able to do business, Dandong traders say. Paintings from Mansudae could be sold under the name of an art studio that is yet to be named in U.N. sanctions. Two businessmen said paintings have long been accepted instead of money in the region. In the Chinese city of Yanjing, antiques dealer Zhao Xiangchen said people usually roll up one or two paintings and carry them across the border to him. Since the sanctions were announced, Zhao said, Chinese customs officials have become more watchful. "But I'm playing the long game," he said. "I still think there's a huge latent demand for North Korean art in the Chinese market, that's only set to grow." I'm Lucija Millonig. And I'm John Russell.   Sue-Lin Wong, Giselda Vagnoni, and Fanny Potkin reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted their report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   canvas – n.  a specially prepared piece of cloth on which a picture can be painted by an artist landscape – n. a picture that shows a natural scene of land or the countryside studio – n. a place where people go to learn, practice, or study an art (such as singing, dancing, or acting) cheaper – adj. less costly obtain – v. to gain or get something blacklist – v. to say something or someone should be avoided asset – n. something that is owned by a person or company sanction – n.  an action that is taken or an order that is given to force a country to obey international laws by limiting or stopping trade with that country, by not allowing economic aid for that country, etc. — usually plural​ antique – n. an artwork or object made during an earlier period region  – n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way​ latent – adj. used to describe something (such as a disease) that exists but is not active or cannot be seen

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High Numbers of Uyghurs Targeted for Re-Education Camps

  Reports from China say officials in part of the Xinjiang area have been ordered to send almost half of its population to re-education camps. Most residents living in the area are Uyghurs, a mostly Muslim ethnic minority. Officials from villages in Hotan, in southern Xinjiang, told Radio Free Asia, or RFA, that the orders came from higher-level officials. Xinjiang Communist Party chief Chen Quanguo was appointed to lead the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in August 2016. He has since announced several policies targeting the religious freedom of Uyghurs. The order to send residents to re-education camps appears to be Chen’s latest measure aimed at assimilating ethnic Uyghurs. An officer from Aqsaray’s No. 2 village in Hotan told RFA that his police force was told to detain 40 percent of the local population. He was informed of the target number during an “online conference” in June. He said that officers are to “target people who are religious...for example, those who grow beards despite being young.” The officer spoke on the condition that he not be identified in the report. He added that 82 people from the village have been placed in re-education camps since the order was announced. Sixty-one of them were later imprisoned. Based on the orders, however, those numbers are not nearly high enough. The officer said No. 2 Village is home to 2,060 people. That means the officer's department had so far sent less than four percent of the population to re-education camps. The police officer told RFA that, “...compared to other districts in the township, we have the best rate in achieving our target.” The department had planned to send an additional 85 people for re-education by the end of September, he said. ‘Severely punished’ An officer at the Shaptul township police station in Kashgar told RFA that he had not been given a target percentage of people to detain for re-education camps. However, he was informed at an online meeting in June that 80 percent of those arrested were to be “severely punished,” including those with “extreme views.” The officer, who asked to remain unnamed, said 46 people had been detained in Shaptul since the order was given. Thirty-three of them were imprisoned. The officer said that the remaining 13 people had been placed in re-education camps. They may be sent to jail at a later date. “If we find any evidence against them during re-education, they will be transferred to prison,” he said. Vast network The ruling Chinese Communist Party blames some Uyghurs for violent attacks in China in recent years. Critics, however, say the government has exaggerated the threat. They also say that repressive policies are responsible for violence that has left hundreds dead since 2009. Investigations by RFA have found there is a large number of re-education camps throughout Xinjiang. Sources told RFA there are almost no majority ethnic Han Chinese held in the Xinjiang camps. RFA and the Voice of America are each part of the U.S. government-supported Broadcasting Board of Governors..   Radio Free Asia reported on this story. It was adapted for VOA Learning English. The editor was George Grow. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   assimilate - v. to cause (a person or group) to become part of a different society, country, etc. online - adj. ​connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet beard - n. ​the hair that grows on a man's cheeks and chin achieve - v. ​to reach a goal​ view - n. ​an opinion or way of thinking about something​to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is​ exaggerate - v. ​to think of or describe something as larger or greater than it really is​  

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Study: US Immigration Policies Will Hurt Michigan’s Economy

Around the year 2000, a Bangladeshi immigrant named Shaker Sadeak left New York City. Sadeak moved west to the American state of Michigan. He told VOA that Michigan gave him the chance to hold a job while going to school. In 2007, he opened his own retail store in Hamtramck, Michigan -- a town with many immigrants from Bangladesh. The store, specializing in cloth, is next to Bengali restaurants and food stores. His business has grown over the years. This past summer, new and established stores were replacing empty spaces along Conant Street, the main commercial street in Hamtramck. Sadeak told VOA “Back in 2000, you used to see one car in two minutes. Now we have thousands of cars driving on the streets. All the immigrants came into this town and rebuilt the whole thing,” he said. In old industrial areas across the United States, immigration is the basis for economic growth, says Steve Tobocman, Executive Director of Global Detroit. His nonprofit group works to bring international investment and business to southeast Michigan. Tobocman told VOA that the immigration issues are real and important to the community. “They have a real impact on family budgets, and jobs, and incomes,” he said. Damage to America’s brand New research shows that after the 2008 Great Recession, a growth in Detroit’s immigrant population helped to fight population decline and energize the economy. Global Detroit reported the findings. Tobocman said that since the beginning of Donald Trump’s presidency, anti-immigrant language and policies have been costly for Michigan. “We have done some damage to America’s brand as the world’s most welcoming economy, most innovative economy, and a place where anybody can come and contribute to our growth and prosperity and live the American Dream,” he said. Trump’s top advisor for policy, Stephen Miller, told reporters in August that the president’s policies will prevent an increase in low-wage labor and protect American workers. Miller believes that unskilled immigrants hurt the economy, and are partly to blame for unemployment in the country. The U.S. Labor Department reported in early September that the jobless rate was 4.4 percent. Comparing Michigan with nine other industrial states, Global Detroit estimated the economic loss that resulted from decreases in international travel and international students. The study also considered effects from Trump’s cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and losses in agricultural production. The group predicted a combined $1.157 billion in yearly losses in statewide economic activity. It estimated $418 million of that amount coming from the announced cancellation of DACA. About $261 million in losses were tied to an estimated 16 percent drop in foreign visitors to the United States. Weighing costs and benefits In areas of the U.S. where population is falling, immigrants are “part of what is keeping those communities vibrant and growing,” says Kim Rueben, a Senior Fellow at the Urban Institute. Rueben was a member of the National Academy of Sciences panel that wrote a report on the effect of immigration on American workers and economic growth. The group reported its findings in 2016. Rueben noted that there are costs to state and local governments, such as educating the children of immigrants. But, she said, those same children become adults who “end up paying the most in taxes and using the least in services.” Any decision to cut immigration numbers and the overturning of DACA will hurt the economy, Reuben said. She noted that the children of lower-wage, first generation immigrants have shown an ability to exceed education level expectations. A recent opinion study found that 38 percent of voting Americans approve of President Trump’s immigration policies, while 59 percent disapprove. The Quinnipiac University poll was released last month. I’m Bryan Lynn. And I'm Alice Bryant.   Ramon Taylor reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   retail - n. the business of selling things directly to customers income – n. a gain, usually measured in terms of money commercial – adj. related to the buying and selling of goods and services retail – adj. selling products directly to buyers for their own use decline - v. to become lower in amount or less in number innovative - adj. introducing or using new ideas or methods prosperity - n. being successful usually by making a lot of money vibrant - adj. having or showing great life, activity, and energy exceed – v. to be greater than

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October 10, 2017

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

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Explainer: First Amendment

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A Day in US Immigration Court

  Suzan stood before Immigration Judge John. M. Bryant last month at a courthouse in the American state of Virginia. The El Salvadoran national asked the judge for more time in her case, which is already more than a few years old. Immigration officials say Suzan entered the United States illegally. The government wants to send her back to El Salvador. Suzan, a transgender woman, does not want to be identified in this story by her real name. She says she came to the United States as a teenager 20 years ago to flee oppression. She was immediately detained at the border, but later released. Suzan avoided deportation. For a while, she was homeless and sleeping on the streets. Six years ago, she was at a nightclub when people started fighting. She was not charged, but the police called immigration enforcement. “They were about to deport her when her boyfriend called me and said, ’look we’ve got this situation,’” Suzan’s lawyer Xavier Racine told VOA. Suzan has since married her boyfriend, an American, and is asking for time to prepare documents requesting a legal pardon. The lawyer claims that if she returns to her home country, she faces the risk of punishment or death. Judge Bryant hears the argument and gives Suzan a new court date. Her lawyer has until February 2018 to make the appeal. This was one of the 233 cases planned for September 19 at the immigration court in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington D.C. Case Backlog Outside the courtrooms hang eight lists where defendants must search for their names to find the number of the room where their case will be heard. Each courtroom has white walls, no windows and 10 wooden benches that can seat about 40 people. If no seating is available, a person must wait outside the room. The legal motions are settled quickly. Each one is settled in five to ten minutes. Because immigration cases are civil actions, and not criminal, immigrants facing deportation do not have a right to a fast trial or free legal advice. If immigrants cannot find a lawyer willing to work for free, they are advised by the judge to hire an attorney. In Arlington, judges were setting trial dates or hearings from 2018 to 2020. The immigration data tracker website TRAC reports the backlog in immigration cases has risen to 632,000 nationwide. Cost of Delay Dana Leigh Marks is president of the National Association of Immigration Judges. She told VOA the organization has been critical of the immigration policies of both President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama. Delays can have harmful effects, Marks said. “What do you do if something happened to that person’s life, or the evidence becomes stale (and) it has to be done again? Their attorney could retire or become ill or no longer be able to take cases and they may have to get a new attorney.” The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) says the United States has 334 immigration judges. In August, EOIR swore-in nine judges to fill positions in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and Texas. President Trump’s 2018 budget called for hiring 75 more EOIR judges. It takes two years to hire an immigration judge, according to a Government Accounting Office report. The Land of ZAR Asylum seekers from a number of countries were among those appearing in Arlington immigration court on September 19. They came from Central America and the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and South Asia. Immigration lawyer Lysandra Pachuta was representing a 16-year-old. Federal law gives immigration officers primary jurisdiction over asylum claims that come from young people without a guardian. That is because it seems less frightening for a child to sit down and tell his or her story to an officer in a small office than to present a case in a courtroom. ZAR is a term for the Arlington Asylum Office. Judge Bryant called it “Land of ZAR” as a way to make children less afraid. He is firm with his rulings, but respectful with each person. Bryant asked each child how they are doing in school and wished them “the best in life.” Senorita Verde Bryant set aside the last two hours of the day for children who were having their first hearing that day. The court’s clerk began to call cases. About six children were in the room, some with parents and others with legal guardians and attorneys. An eight-year-old girl, wearing bright green clothing, stood up and walked to the respondent’s chair. She was with her mother and her younger brother. Judge Bryant remembered that the Spanish word for green is verde. “Senorita Verde, how are you today?” he asked. The girl said that she was fine. Judge Bryant got the most recent information on her case and set a new court date. He wished the girl and her brother a great school year. The family will return to court in 2018. Alice Barros reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted her report for Learning English. The editor was George Grow. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   transgender – adj. of or relating to people whose gender identify differs from the sex the person had at birth gender – n. the behavioral or cultural qualities normally connected with one sex deportation – n. the removal of expulsion of someone from a country nightclub – n. a business providing music and space for dancing hire – v. to employ the services of someone backlog – n. unfinished or incomplete work stale – adj. no longer new; getting old jurisdiction – n. the power or right to govern something

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Philippines Seeks to Improve Relations with US

  The Philippines appears to be seeking a return to stronger economic relations with the United States. Experts say the change may be designed to balance the Philippines’ increasing dependence on China. The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs said it is “seeking to intensify economic cooperation” in an effort to improve relations with the U.S.  The department posted the message on its website. It also said stronger economic ties would “go beyond security issues.” The two nations have been strong allies since the Philippines became independent in 1946. But relations have worsened since Rodrigo Duterte became Philippine president last year. Duterte has reacted strongly to American criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign. One example: He reduced the number of joint naval guard activities. The Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Peter Cayetano met in Washington with U.S. Senator Cory Gardner. He leads the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia. Cayetano suggested deepening the economic relationship between the two countries. President Duterte has made major changes to his country’s foreign policy. These include searching for economic aid from China although the countries dispute territorial rights in the South China Sea. Duterte has also sought help from Russia and Japan. Japan and China are helping the Philippines with its $167 billion, five-year plan to improve public works. Dexter Feliciano is a Filipino and founder of a new company in Manila. He says “we won’t want to distance ourselves (from) the U.S. because we are really trade partners and culturally we are connected.” The United States has long permitted Filipinos to work in the U.S. as teachers and nurses. About 3.4 million do so. More work in the U.S. than in any other foreign country. These workers then send money to their families in the Philippines. About 10 million Filipinos work in other foreign countries. The United States is among the top foreign investors in the Philippines. A U.S. embassy official in Manila says the United States has made more than $4.5 billion in direct investment in the country. It is also a top trading partner, she said: the two sides exchanged more than $17 billion in goods last year. Americans own Convergys, the Philippines’ largest private employer. The embassy says the information management company employs more than 60,000 Filipinos. Duterte and some Filipinos have complained that the U.S. economic aid comes with conditions. For example, last year the U.S. government stopped planned sales of 26,000 firearms to the Philippines. The U.S. also said it would redirect $9 million in aid away from the Philippine anti-drug training. The American government criticized Duterte’s anti-drug campaign, which included killing drug crime suspects without trial. Businessman Feliciano says, “Aid given by the U.S has strings attached. We have to do this, we have to do that. But what if the government doesn’t want to do it?” Experts say military and public pressure may have pushed Duterte to try to strengthen the Philippines’ relationship with the United States. Early this year, a research company in Manila, the Social Weather Stations, found that about 70 percent of Filipinos place “much trust” in the United States. Carl Thayer is a retired professor at the University of New South Wales in Australia. He has studied Southeast Asia for many years. He says Duterte’s position as chairman of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations could be influencing his actions as well. Thayer says much of Southeast Asia depends upon the United States for trade and defense support. Experts note that Chinese aid also has limits. Thayer says, “You get an impression that the leaning to China has had its limits and constraints.” It’s resulted in a lot of promises and some delivery,” he said, “but not completely.” Thayer says a return to close ties with the United States shows that the Philippine government is becoming more realistic. I’m Anne Ball. Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOANews.com. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for VOA Learning English. Caty 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 access – n. permission or ability to enter something; freedom to make use of something complain – v. to criticize; to accuse a person of something strings attached – expression something with special demands or restrictions impression – n. an effect, influence or improvement of something constraint – n. control that restricts or limits

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5 Habits of Very Successful People

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Having success and being able to meet one’s goals requires knowledge, a sense of direction, hard work and resources. Some people might add to that list luck, connections and perhaps a strong belief in yourself. We accomplish our goals one step at a time, doing a little each day. So, using your day effectively is important. On many websites -- from Forbes magazine and Fast Company to health and physical fitness sites -- productivity experts share advice on how to achieve your career and life goals. Most of the experts agree on one thing: Starting your day on the right foot is most important. Collected from these websites, here are five ideas on how to start your day off right. 1. Get up an hour early. People who get up early in the morning have a jump on the day. For starters, they’re awake! And some studies show that our willpower and attention span are strongest in the morning. In fact, the morning may be the most productive part of your day. In American English, we like to say, “The early bird gets the worm.” Here, if you’re a bird, the worm is the reward. So, this expressions means that people who rise up early have a head start and, therefore, are more likely to succeed. Inventor, philosopher and writer Benjamin Franklin would probably agree. Americans like to use Franklin’s memorable expressions. One of them is “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Of course, there are exceptions. People who are “night owls” do their best work and their best thinking at night. 2. Drink a glass of water with lemon juice. While your coffee is being prepared or waiting for your tea water to heat up, drink a glass of water with lemon juice. Why? Health experts say that drinking a combination of lemon juice and water first thing in the morning jump-starts the body’s metabolism. Not only does it jump start your body’s cells, but this kind of drink keeps them moving throughout the day. 3. Don’t answer email or jump into social media as soon as you get up. Your coffee or tea is ready. So, you decide to look at your email quickly or open up your Facebook account. Well, don’t. This is a great way to forget about the day ahead. We’ve all done it. You see a Facebook post from a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. He is angry about some political issue and the heated discussion pulls you in. Before you know it, an hour has passed, you’re angry with lawmakers and it’s not even nine in the morning yet! You hurry out the door so as not to be late for work. This is not the best way to start your day. 4. Exercise! Some people may disagree with this one. Exercising in the morning may not be for everyone. Some people like to exercise after work or at night.   Physical fitness experts and trainers often suggest some form of exercise in the morning because the middle of the day is a busy time for most people. By the day’s end, you may not have the time or energy to exercise. How many times have you finished work and said to yourself, “I’m too tired to exercise! I’ll do it tomorrow.” Exercising in the morning prevents that from happening. 5. Think about your day ... at night. Meditate, visualize -- whatever you call it -- take time at the end of the day to think back on all the things that have happened. Give thanks, if you want. And spend a little time to think about tomorrow. Some people who talk about “living in the present” may criticize this. But it may you help to prepare if you take a few minutes to think about what you need to do the next day.   Also, know that your day will probably change. You probably won’t have time to do everything you planned. But that’s fine. If you did one thing, that means you are one step closer in reaching one of your goals. And if you follow this advice, at least you’ve already gotten your exercise out of the way! And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo. Which of these tips do you agree with? Which ones do you disagree with? Do you have other tips or advice on making the most of your day? Let us know in the Comments Section.   Anna Matteo wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Her report was based on a collection of online articles and stories. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   resource – n. a supply of something (such as money) that someone has and can use when it is needed worm – n. a long, thin animal that has a soft body with no legs or bones and that often lives in the ground accomplish – v. to succeed in doing (something) willpower – n. the ability to control yourself : strong determination that allows you to do something difficult (such as to lose weight or quit smoking) jump on the day – informal phrase : to start doing something before other people start, or before something happens, in order to win an advantage for yourself metabolism – n. the chemical processes by which a plant or an animal uses food, water, etc., to grow and heal and to make energy meditate – v. to spend time in quiet thought for religious purposes or relaxation : to think about (something) carefully visualize – v. to form a mental picture of (someone or something) journal – n. a book in which you write down your personal experiences and thoughts

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