November 1, 2017

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

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A Face Can Unlock iPhone X, But Can It Be Fooled?

  Apple’s well publicized iPhone X finally went on sale in pre-orders last week. The device will be available in Apple stores this Friday, November 3. With a starting price of $999, the iPhone X has the highest-price of any iPhone ever offered. Yet Apple said demand for its latest smartphone has so far been “off the charts.”   One of the most-talked about features of the iPhone X is the new front and back-facing cameras. Apple says its TrueDepth technology greatly improves performance for photographs and video. The camera is also trained to recognize faces and expressions. The company says this gives users power to open up the phone just by looking at it. The new Face ID recognition system replaces the Touch ID on other Apple devices that used a fingerprint to unlock the phone. Other smartphones – including the latest Samsung Galaxy models – also use facial and eye recognition technology to start up the devices. But Apple says its Face ID system operates differently. It works by projecting more than 30,000 dots on the face of users to create a kind of map. An infrared camera then reads these marks to create an image that can be confirmed as having the same appearance. Apple says the system is also designed to continually learn. Each time the face is used to unlock the phone, it is supposed to note any changes, such as facial hair or the person getting older. The system can then remember the changes to keep recognizing the person over time. The company claims its facial recognition is even secure enough to process payments through its Apple Pay service. Many reviews of the iPhone X have been published recently. Some of them included tests of the Face ID system. Reviewers reported successful tests in which the phone recognized the face in different situations and unlocked the device. But most reviewers also said the feature did not work perfectly all the time. ​ One fairly common failure was that the Face ID sometimes did not unlock the iPhone X if the user wore a certain kind of sunglasses. Not surprisingly, wearing any kind of disguise – even one covering just part of the face – caused Face ID to fail. It was found to work correctly when the user was wearing headphones or a hat. The Associated Press’s Anick Jesdanun reported that Face ID also worked in most bright sunlight, although not every time. “It also worked in the dark, thanks to the use of infrared sensors rather than just the standard camera,” Jesdanun wrote. “That’s important when you wake up in the middle of the night.” Several attempts were made to trick Face ID into unlocking the phone with a photo of a person instead of a real face. The iPhone X was able to pass these tests by knowing the difference between a photo and a face. Wall Street Journal reporter Joanna Stern tried something a little different. She went to a mask maker and asked for a recreation of her face to see if the iPhone X would be fooled. It was not. “Face ID knew it was somebody’s face, but it wasn’t duped into thinking it was me,” she wrote. However, Stern carried out another test involving 8-year-old identical triplets. In this case the phone was tricked. After just one of the boys registered his face, his two brothers were happily able to unlock the phone. Apple has admitted that Face ID could fail when used with young people who look very much alike. The company says the phone can also be fooled by faces of children under 13 years old. Wired magazine’s David Pierce noted that Face ID does not seem to recognize a face from all positions. “My phone's about an arm's length away on my desk, and I have to lean in and stare every time I want it to turn on,” he wrote. This can make it impossible for a user to quickly and quietly unlock a phone without being seen by others. This is one reason some reviewers suggested Apple could have kept the fingerprint unlocking system on the latest iPhones. But Pierce found a favorite part of the Face ID was one of its privacy tools. When someone held the phone, it hid any messages until the device could confirm the user’s face. Apple says its research shows there is only a one in a million chance of another person being able to unlock someone else’s iPhone X with Face ID. The company has promised the system will become “the new gold standard” for all facial recognition. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His story was based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and wired.com. 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   off the charts – idiom. extremely popular or successful feature – n. an interesting or important part of something unlock – v. to free from restrictions; to make available for use project – v. to cause something to appear on a surface review – n. media report in which the writer gives an opinion about something disguise – n. clothes or other things people wear to not be recognized mask – n. covering that hides or protects the face dupe – v. to trick or fool someone into doing something lean – v. move the body in a particular direction stare – v. look at something continuously  

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South Korean President Says No to Nuclear Weapons

South Korean President Moon Jae-in says his country will not develop nuclear arms or own nuclear weapons. The president made the statement in a speech Wednesday to South Korea’s National Assembly. Moon added that both South Korea and North Korea should observe a joint declaration from 1992. In that statement, both countries said the Korean Peninsula should be free of nuclear weapons. Observers noted that Moon’s position on such weapons remains unchanged. The president’s statement comes as opposition lawmakers have called for a redeployment of American tactical nuclear weapons in the South. They want to defend against the threat of North Korean efforts to develop nuclear weapons. Some South Korean lawmakers say their country should have its own nuclear weapons. On September 3, North Korea tested its sixth and most powerful nuclear device yet. North Korea’s nuclear and long-distance missile tests have led to strong language from United States President Donald Trump. He has threatened to launch military action against the North if it continues testing barred by the United Nations Security Council. However, in his speech on Wednesday, Moon stated that no military action will be taken on the Korean Peninsula without the permission of South Korea. He also said that his country would control its own future. Trump to visit South Korea for talks South Korea will be the second country that Trump visits on his trip to Asia later this month. North Korea’s nuclear and long-range missile development is expected to be one of many issues to be discussed. After his visit to South Korea, Trump will then travel to Beijing for talks with Chinese officials. As preparations for the visit continue, members of his cabinet have visited Asia and discussed the situation in Korea. Last month, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said, “Our goal is not war, but rather the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.” The Reuters news agency reports that the United States is carrying out direct, secret negotiations with North Korea. The report was published on Wednesday. The story said that an unidentified State Department official told Reuters that the U.S. special diplomat for North Korea has been speaking with North Korea’s U.N. mission. The U.S. does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea. But, special diplomat Joseph Yun, the report says, has been in contact with the North through what is known as the “New York channel.” That term suggests North Korea’s diplomatic contacts with the U.N. The unidentified official said the discussion “has not been limited at all, both (in) frequency and substance.” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said last month that the United States is extending diplomatic efforts toward North Korea. President Trump, however, has voiced anger over nuclear and long-range missile tests carried out by the North. I’m Mario Ritter.   Richard Green and Steve Herman reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter wrote a story based on their reports for VOA Learning English. His story includes information from Reuters. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   tactical – adj. something specific that works toward a large plan or goal verifiable – adj. something that can be shown to be true mission – n. a group of people who are sent to a foreign country for specific reason or purpose frequency – n. how often something happens We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Artist Gives New Life to Unpopular Plants

We do not usually think of plants as destructive. But some plants are exactly that. By definition, invasive plants are not native to an area. They can grow and spread quickly, often harming or killing other plant life. Invasive plants can damage and even destroy ecosystems. This sometimes happens because the plant and animal species that keep them under control are no longer present in an area. Patterson Clark has worked as a volunteer for the United States National Park Service for almost 15 years. He goes through forests, and removes non-native plants. He knows how harmful these weeds can be. They can kill trees, increase soil loss, and cause major damage to waterways and wetland areas. Clark had developed an unfriendly relationship with invasive plants. But then he decided something needed to change. “One day, when I was pulling a plant, I thought, how can I change my relationship with this plant so that it’s not just eradication, taking something's life? Since then, I’ve been harvesting invasive plants, rather than just killing them." Some people who volunteer to pull weeds are called warriors. Yet Clark says he doesn't consider himself a warrior. "I’m more of a gatherer.” And now Clark, who is an artist, gives these plants a new life – as art work. “When I first work with a plant, I call that prospecting. I’ll sit with the plant, study its nature, cut it, bring it back into the studio and then start running tests." He begins to test the plant to see it can produce color or paper or other materials.   White mulberry produces paper Over the years, Clark has developed a liking for some invasive plants, like the white mulberry tree. “I like white mulberry. It offers paper, the strongest, whitest paper." The paper-making process takes long hours of work, and a lot of patience. Clark estimates it takes 20 minutes to cut down the plant, 30 minutes to steam it and five minutes to remove the outer covering. Then, it takes three hours to scrape it, an hour more to cook it, 20 minutes to wash it and another hour to beat it. After all of that work is done, he flattens the mulberry sheets and lets them dry overnight. The result is pieces of paper that will become art. Bushes offer colors Clark also gets the ink coloring for his paintings and prints from invasive plants. For example, he takes leaves from ivy plants and puts them in alcohol to make green ink. For red ink, he uses multiflora rose. The inner bark of bush honeysuckle gives him aqua blue. And the bark of leatherleaf mahonia offers bright yellow. Each print that Clark creates includes images of all of the plants he has collected. Sometimes, the images show a volunteer pulling plants or a tool used to process the plants. Creating art First, Clark creates digital designs of his art on the computer. Then, he cuts his design into a block of wood by laser. Next, he places the ink onto the block and presses it onto the paper. He repeats the process for each color. Clark shows the prints and paintings in art exhibits. “I do appreciate the compliments but one thing I have heard some concern about is the archival quality of these prints." He says some of the plant-based coloring will last for a long time, but the brighter colors do not last as long if they come in contact with bright light. So, he suggests that people keep his prints in low light or in a protective covering. "So, that’s how I’d like these things to be treated.” With his artistic treatment of invasive plants, Patterson Clark is turning these unpopular plants into something valuable. I'm Alice Bryant.   Faiza Elmasry reported this story for VOANews.com. Alice Bryant adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   ecosystem – n. everything that exists in a particular natural environment, including plants, animals and non-living things such as stream – n. a natural flow of water that is smaller than a river eradication – n. to eliminate or destroy something steam – v. to cook, heat, or treat something with steam scrape – v. to remove something from a surface by rubbing an object or tool against it ink – n. colored liquid that is used for writing or printing digital – adj. using or characterizing computer technology archival – adj. the quality of being able to be stored for a long period

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Conservative Movement in Brazil Challenges Art Shows

  Brazil is famous for its beaches, bikinis, and parties. But an increasing conservative movement is challenging the idea of Brazil as a country that has relaxed ideas about everything. Recently, conservatives have strongly criticized several modern art shows and a play in which Jesus is presented as a man dressed as a woman.  The latest cultural clashes could help shape next year’s election. Conservative groups have protested against two art exhibits. One, at the Sao Paulo’s Museum of Modern Art, is called “La Bete.” Visitors to the show, including a child, were invited to touch a nude man. Critics accused “La Bete” of encouraging sexual interest toward children, or pedophilia. Some protestors waved a Brazilian flag and shouted “No! No! Not our children.” And the conservative Brazil Free Movement argued on its Facebook page that “left-wing artists” had gone too far. The other disputed art exhibit is in the southern city of Porto Alegre. It was from the Queermuseu but shown by Santander Bank’s cultural center. The show explores different types of sexuality. Some parts of the show are explicit. The Santander cultural center shut the show early. But there was talk that it would be re-opened in Rio de Janeiro. However, the mayor of Rio de Janeiro said in a Facebook video that his city did not want the show. He said it assisted pedophilia. Sao Paolo’s mayor also made a video saying both disputed art exhibits are bad. In the end, the Santander Cultural Center closed the exhibit. But it said in a statement that refusing to have uncomfortable discussions is the same as hiding from society. Then the state prosecutor’s office asked that the exhibit be reopened. He compared the cancellation to Nazi Germany’s ban on “degenerate art.” There is also a fight over the play in which Jesus is portrayed as a transgender woman who tells Biblical stories of accepting others. “The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven” has been performed more than 60 times during a tour of Brazil. Conservatives have called it offensive to Christians and asked the courts to ban its performances. One petition compared the play to the events in ancient Rome in which Christians were eaten by wild animals for entertainment. One judge ordered the performance to stop, calling it “disrespectful,” ″aggressive” and “in bad taste.” But another court ruled the play could continue. Omar Encarnacion is a professor of political studies at Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York. He studies gay and transgender rights movements. Encarnacion says that since becoming independent, Brazil has never had an official anti-gay law. Many people, including the gay community, believe it to be a very tolerant nation, he said. Still, he adds, as with so many social issues in Brazil, there is some confusion. Sao Paulo hosts the largest gay pride parade in the world, but Brazil also has some of Latin America’s highest rates of violence against gay and transgender people. Renata Carvalho is the actress in the play “The Gospel According to Jesus.” She says Brazilians like to hide ugly things. ″This just sheds light on what people think,” she said. “I think it’s excellent that the masks are falling.” Liberal activists have struggled to make Brazil a more open place for gays and women. They had some success during the left-leaning Workers’ Party governments that led the country between 2003 and 2016. But some residents think that most people in the country are more conservative than many believe. And the conservative movement in Brazil has been becoming more important. One of the reasons is the increasing number of religious evangelicals. People who are evangelical usually follow the Bible closely and support social reform efforts based on its teachings. About 20 percent of the nation is now evangelical, up from 5 percent a few decades ago. They have been inspired by the large number of corruption cases in the government. Many Brazilians believe the country needs stronger moral leadership. Although Brazil is still the most heavily Catholic nation in the world, evangelicals turn out to vote in large numbers. A recent poll found that a far-right congressman named Jair Bolsonaro is running second among possible presidential candidates. Bolsonaro once said that if your son is gay, that means you didn’t hit him enough when he was a child. In recent weeks, Bolsonaro has given his opinion on the disputes about the art shows and the play. Speaking of the “La Bete” exhibit, Bolsonaro said those who put on the show were just awful people. I'm Susan Shand.   Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English based on an Associated Press story by Sarah DiLorenzo. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   controversial – adj. relating to or causing much discussion, disagreement, or argumen Gospel – n. Any one of the first four books of the Christian Bible. Evangelical – adj. of or relating to a Christian sect or group that stresses the authority of the Bible, scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong pedophilia - n. sexual feelings or activities that involve children explicit - adj. showing or referring very openly to nudity, violence, or sexual activity degenerate - adj. having low moral standards : not honest, proper, or good  

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Police: New York Attacker 'Did This in the Name of ISIS'

  Police have confirmed that the Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight and injuring 12 in New York City carried out the attack in the name of the Islamic State terror group. “He did this in the name of ISIS,” New York deputy police commissioner John Miller said Wednesday. Miller added that the suspect “had been planning this for a number of weeks.” The attacker is identified as 29-year-old Sayfullo Saipov, an immigrant from Uzbekistan. He came to the United States in 2010 through the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program, also known as the lottery diversity immigration program. Officials say Saipov drove a pickup truck down a bicycle path in New York City on Tuesday. Eight people died and 12 others were injured. He then ran down a highway, holding fake guns and shouting “God is great” in Arabic. Police then shot the man. He remains hospitalized in critical condition. Miller said that police found notes written in Arabic in Saipov’s truck that said the Islamic State “would endure forever.” Speaking from the White House on Wednesday, President Donald Trump called the attacker an “animal.” He asked Congress to end the lottery program immediately and replace it with a merit-based immigration program. The diversity visa program provides up to 50,000 visas each year by lottery. Applicants must have completed high school or meet work experience requirements. The program was created as part of a bipartisan immigration bill introduced by the late Senator Ted Kennedy, a Democrat. It was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican, in 1990. Trump blames lottery program and Democrats Earlier on Wednesday, the president called the diversity lottery program “a Chuck Schumer beauty.” Schumer is a New York senator and the Democratic leader of the U.S. Senate. Trump also noted what an expert said on Fox News Wednesday, tweeting, “Senator Chuck Schumer helping to import Europe’s problems.” Shortly after Trump published his tweets, Sen. Schumer replied with his own: “I guess it’s not too soon to politicize a tragedy.” Schumer said in a statement that he has “always believed and continue to believe that immigration is good for America.” He added, “I’m calling on the president to immediately rescind his proposed cuts to this vital anti-terrorism funding.” Trump said on Tuesday that he ordered the Department of Homeland Security “to step up our already Extreme Vetting Program.” Trump’s extreme-vetting policy on immigrants aims to identify those who may sympathize with extremists or pose a security risk to the United States.   Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English with additional reporting from the Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   fake - adj. not real endure - v. to continue to exist in the same state or condition merit - n. value and worth lottery - n. a system to decide who will get something by chance bipartisan - n. involving members of two political parties politicize - v. to relate (an idea, issue...) to politics in a way that makes people less likely to agree rescind - v. to end a law, contract, agreement... vet - v. to investigate someone thoroughly sympathize (+ with)- v. to feel or show support for or approval of something

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Rescued Sailors' Report of Their Experience Questioned

There appears to be something fishy about the story of two sailors who say they were lost at sea for five months. A U.S. Navy ship rescued Jennifer Appel and Tasha Fuiava Friday in the Pacific Ocean and they landed in Japan Monday. They and their two dogs had left Hawaii May 1 on their sailboat, the Sea Nymph. They said their boat was severely damaged in storms and they were floating aimlessly for months. However, a U.S. Coast Guard examination has found that the women never used their emergency beacon. Weather experts also say there were no storms as described by the women.   The women earlier told The Associated Press that they had radios, satellite phones, GPS and other emergency gear. However, they did not say they had an emergency position indicating radio beacon. The device communicates with satellites. It sends position information to officials in minutes. Appel said Tuesday that they had the device on their sailboat but never turned it on. She added that in her experience, the beacon should be used only when facing physical danger and death in the next 24 hours. “Our hull was solid, we were floating, we had food, we had water, and we had limited maneuverable capacity,” Appel said in Japan. “All those things did not say we are going to die. All that said it’s going to take us a whole lot longer to get where we’re going.” Experts are questioning the truth of other main elements of the women’s story. It is not consistent with weather reports or basic geography of the Pacific Ocean. The pair said they faced a fierce storm on May 3 off the Hawaiian island of Oahu with 97 kilometer an hour winds and 9-meter high waves. But the National Weather Service in Honolulu said no organized storm systems were in or near Hawaii that day or near that day. NASA satellite images confirm that finding. Appel said they received a Coast Guard storm warning May 3. And she expressed surprise Tuesday that there was no record of the storm. The women said they thought about turning back, but the islands of Maui and Lanai did not have harbors deep enough for their sailboat. The Sea Nymph is 15 meters long. Both islands have harbors that can accept boats of that size. But Appel said she had made changes that increased the size of her sailboat. Several days later, Appel said, parts of their mast and rigging failed but their motor still worked. The two decided against trying to land on another small island. They believed it was mostly unpeopled with no protected waters. But Christmas Island, part of the island nation of Kiribati, is home to more than 2,000 people. It also has a port that welcomes huge ships. The pair then set sail for the Cook Islands, about 1,600 kilometers away and a few hundred kilometers beyond their original target destination of Tahiti. Then, they said another storm killed their engine at the end of May. At one point in June, the Coast Guard said it made radio contact with a vessel identifying itself as the Sea Nymph near Tahiti. The Coast Guard reported the captain said they were not in distress and expected to make land the next morning. It is not clear if that communication was from Appel and Fuiava, who told the Coast Guard they were  more than 2,000 kilometers away, near Christmas Island. I’m Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Words in This Story maneuverable – adj. able to be moved quickly, easily, or in small spaces​ consistent – adj.  in agreement with something​ harbor – n. a part of the ocean, a lake, etc., that is next to land and that is protected and deep enough to provide safety for ships​ original – adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning​ destination – n. a place to which a person is going or something is being sent​ vessel – n. a ship or boat​ We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Program Offers Job Experience, Pay for High Schoolers

  At the start of the school year, Aelina Pogosian could not wait to tell her friends about the most interesting thing she had done over the summer. The 16-year-old did not want to talk about a trip she took somewhere. She wanted to talk about a paid internship that she had at a biology laboratory at Montgomery College in Maryland. The internship was made possible by the RISE program, which gives real job experience to high school students in Montgomery County. “A lot of the materials and machinery we used is not given at most high schools,” Pogosian said. She added, “I got to learn a lot at the same time I was able to have a lot of fun. And I met some new people.” Jennifer Sengbusch is the Instructional Lab Coordinator who worked with Pogosian. She said her first task is to teach the high schoolers about safety rules to avoid injury. She said, “We also went through working with chemicals, making solutions, doing calculations. Then we progressed into doing more complicated things (such) as measuring protein concentrations and doing DNA tests.” The internship was not just about tests in the laboratory. There also was training in how to take care of animals, such as snakes and tortoises, kept in the lab. RISE program gives real job experience More than 400 students from Montgomery County’s 25 high schools took part in the RISE program. RISE stands for Real Interesting Summer Experience. The “experiences” may be at construction companies, police stations, marketing companies, fire stations and other places. More than 140 businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations hosted students for paid internships. Will Jawando, a local activist, is the program's director. He says RISE has two main goals: “The first goal is to expose our students to career opportunities early on so they can inform their education or training after high school.” The second goal is improving the local economy. “We said there's 30,000 middle-skill level jobs here in Montgomery County that are not filled. So how do we also expose them to that there's jobs here in the county that they could be doing in a year or two that pay well and are on career track.” He said the program does not only benefits the students. It can also help the county and the region. If students involved in the program stay in the area after graduating from high school, they can become productive citizens. Local government supports the program The program received some support from the Montgomery County Council. Councilman Craig Rice helped provide some of the money. Rice said that, while government often pays attention to immediate needs like roads and building, the RISE program provides for future generations. He said spending money on young people is a way to show that government is serious about being competitive in the world. Sengbusch said RISE gave her the chance to work with high school student who might apply to Montgomery College. She described the students as curious and eager to learn. She said high schoolers might be more “inquisitive” than college students. She said, “The high school students really ask a lot of great questions." Pogosian, she said, was engaged and always on time. She noted that she was surprised to learn that the 16-year-old arrived an hour early just to make sure she would be on time, saying ‘I just didn’t want to be late.’ Organizers say the RISE program had a successful summer in 2017. They want to expand the program next year. They also hope that other counties in the area will offer similar Real Interesting Summer Experiences for their students. I’m Anna Mateo. And I'm Ashley Thompson.   Faisa Elmasry reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   calculations –n. the process of using math to find an answer internships –n. a position meant to give a young person experience in doing a job career –n. a job or profession that someone does over a long time benefit –v. to cause a good result curious –adj. having an interest in find out new things eager –adj. being excited and interested to do something inquisitive –adj. having many questions, interested in finding out more engaged –adj. involved in something deeply We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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500 Years Since Martin Luther Launched Christian Reformation

Here's What's Trending Today... Martin Luther and his 95 Theses were trending on Google Tuesday. It is a strange place to find Luther, who lived 500 years ago in what is now Germany. He was a Roman Catholic religious worker, who became a professor of theology. Luther disagreed with some of the Catholic Church’s teachings. He especially disliked the custom of selling indulgences. It enabled wealthy people to pay the church to free themselves of their sins. In other words, clergy could clear them of any wrongdoing or violation of Catholic teachings. On October 31 in the year 1517, Luther reportedly left his 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in the town of Wittenberg. His writings disputed the Catholic Church’s power over believers. He said that one’s trust in God, not actions, would lead to salvation. Luther wrote “Why does not the pope, whose wealth today is greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build the basilica of Saint Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?” Some historians question whether Luther actually did nail his theses to the door of the church. But all agree that his writings spread with the help of the printing press. His Theses became a kind of 16th century trending topic across central Europe. The Pope condemned them as conflicting with the Church’s teachings. The incident launched what became known as Reformation and led to the Protestant movement to break away from the Catholic Church. On the 500th anniversary of Luther’s act of resistance, members of German youth organizations nailed their own theses to the doors of 300 churches around Berlin. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and others attended a religious service at Castle Church in Wittenberg. And October 31, Reformation Day, was a public holiday in all of Germany. And that is What’s Trending. I’m Jill Robbins.   Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   thesis - n, plural theses a long pice of writing on a particular subject trending - n. something that is popular indulgence - n. in the Catholic Church, putting aside part or all punishment that is due for committing sins salvation - n. the act of saving someone from sin Crassus - n. Marcus Licinius Crassus was the richest man in Roman history nail - v. to attach with a nail

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Saudi Arabia to Sell Shares of New Mega-City

  Saudi Arabia has announced it will sell shares of its planned $500-billion mega-city on financial markets. The city, called NEOM, is a 26,500-square-kilometer zone that will stretch into Jordan and Egypt. Saudi Arabia is also selling shares of its national oil company, Saudi Aramco. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the announcement during the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh. The prince told the Reuters news agency that the move is part of the country’s push to invest its economy in industries other than oil.  Prince Mohammed explained that the name “NEOM” comes from combining “neo” --meaning new -- with M, the first letter of the Arabic word for future. The 32-year-old prince is next in line to be king of Saudi Arabia, the largest Arab economy and an absolute monarchy. Bringing growth with NEOM The NEOM zone will be located next to the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, near trade routes that use the Suez Canal. The zone will serve as a gateway to the future King Salman Bridge, which will link Egypt and Saudi Arabia. NEOM will be owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, or PIF until the selling of shares begins. The PIF has said it hopes that NEOM will bring investments from companies in renewable energy, biotechnology, manufacturing and entertainment. Prince Mohammed said NEOM would not be listed in the markets until “the idea is mature enough.”  “It might be after 2030, it might be before, but the idea and the strategy is to float it eventually,” he said. Prince Mohammed said the city could select a board of directors and government. NEOM’s leaders’ only responsibility would be to increase economic activity. “In New York, the governor is appointed to meet certain needs, including growth, but in NEOM the governor doesn’t have to deal with any of those problems,” he said. NEOM is part of the crown prince’s plan called “Vision 2030.” Its aim is to reform the economy of Saudi Arabia and provide more jobs for the country’s large population of young people. “The idea is not to restructure the economy as much as to seize the opportunities available that we didn’t address before,” Prince Mohammed said. The kingdom’s growth has slowed since the price of oil fell in 2014. Some fear the Saudi economy may shrink again this year. A changing Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia follows Sharia law, which based on a strict interpretation of Islam. However, NEOM will not follow those rules. Instead, it will offer residents a more liberal lifestyle, permitting such things as musical performances and entertainment.  Saudi Arabia has started relaxing some of its long-standing rules.  It recently permitted women to drive cars. Prince Mohammed calls these reforms important for economic survival.  Prince Mohammed became next in line for the throne in June after the king, his father, removed a more senior prince from the line of succession. The prince has promised to transform Saudi Arabia economically and socially. I’m Phil Dierking.   This story was originally written by Samuel Petrequin, Brian Rohan and David Rising for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   gateway - n. a means of access or entry to a place.​ invest - v. to use money to earn more money​ liberal - adj. believing that government should be active in supporting social and political change​ mature - adj. based on careful thought monarchy - n. a country that is ruled by a monarch (such as a king or queen)​ relaxing - adj. helping you to rest and to feel less tense, worried, nervous, etc.​ sharia law - n. is a set of religious principles which form part of the Islamic tradition. ​ seize - n.  to use legal or official power to take something) succession - n. the act of getting a title or right after the person who had that title or right before you has died or is no longer able or allowed to have it​ throne - n. the position of king or queen​  

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Southeast Asian Leaders Go Soft on China Over Disputed Sea

  China and a group of countries in Southeast Asia are likely to talk briefly about a territorial dispute when their leaders meet next month. But some observers say the discussions will be without language that would anger the Chinese government. Chinese officials will meet with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) from November 10 through 14 in Manila. The Philippines, an ally of China for the past year, will be chairing the meetings. ASEAN gatherings usually aim to strengthen general agreement, not publicize differences. Observers expect statements from the meetings to note this dispute, over sovereignty in the South China Sea, without blaming any country. Oh Ei Sun teaches international studies at Singapore Nanyang University. He expects the dispute to be noted at the ASEAN talks, but with very general language urging all sides to act responsibly. China claims more than 90 percent of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea. Since 2010, China has expanded its coast guard and military presence in the waterway, which is valued for its oil and fisheries. This expansion has angered four ASEAN members. Parts of the sea also are claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. The talks in Manila may be peaceful because China and ASEAN may be close to an agreement. Foreign ministers from the two sides agreed in August to language that would avoid sovereignty issues and work to avoid accidents at sea. The agreement, called a code of conduct, had been stopped for five years largely because China didn’t like it. Then China’s occupation of a shoal in 2012 caused the Philippines to bring the territorial dispute to a world arbitration court. In July 2016, the court agreed with the Philippines. Since then, China has sought stronger relationships with ASEAN countries by making economic agreements. ASEAN and China are expected to begin expanding the language of the code of conduct next year. Usually, China avoids negotiating with groups of countries because such discussions lessen China’s power. ASEAN countries are home to 630 million people. Many of these nations receive support from the United States military. China wishes to call the code of conduct talks “discussions” to avoid the more formal word “negotiations,” said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor at The University of New South Wales. The Chinese government also put a condition that gives it a right to leave the talks, he noted. China may be urging ASEAN not to let the United States or any powerful country get involved in the dispute while the talks continue, Thayer said. But observers say ASEAN and China must recognize the deep sea dispute during the meetings in Manila. ASEAN always discusses the South China Sea, Thayer noted. “They want progress,” he said. Vietnam and the Philippines had already softened their positions toward China since the world court ruling, said Nathan Liu, international affairs professor at Ming Chuan University in Taiwan. Last year, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte made a friendly visit to Beijing. He received Chinese promises of $24 billion in development-related aid. Vietnam promised in May to increase maritime cooperation with China, noted China’s official Xinhua News Agency. The pledge followed Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s meeting in Chinese Premier Le Keqiang. Brunei and Malaysia, which had strong economic ties with China even before the court ruling, rarely speak about China’s maritime activities. “The South China Sea issue is already gone,” Liu said. He believes that with the Philippines and Vietnam seeking agreement, no other country will raise the issue. China has worried other countries since 2010 when it began developing man-made islands, some apparently for military use. Other worries for ASEAN include passage of Chinese coast guard ships and deployment of oil pumping stations in the sea. I'm Susan Shand.   Ralph Jennings reported on 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   maritime – adj. relating to sailing on the sea or doing business (such as trading) by sea sovereignty - n. an area’s right to govern itself shoal - n. an area where the water in a sea, lake, or river is not deep arbitration - n. a process of settling an argument or disagreement in which the people or groups on both sides present their opinions and ideas to a third person or group emeritus – adj. retired with an honorary name from an office or position, especially in a university pledge - v. to make a serious promise formal – adj. involving or related to som

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