More Americans Setting Records for Physical Endurance

  American Tim Freriks remembers visiting the world famous Grand Canyon as a child. He recalls looking up from the very bottom of the Grand Canyon at the huge walls of rock hundreds of meters above his head. At the time, Freriks was not excited about the long walk back to the top. And he never imagined he would one day run up the trail along the side of the canyon’s walls. Freriks had that childhood memory after he ran from the canyon’s North Rim to the South Rim. He finished the 34-kilometer “rim-to-rim” run with what is called the “fastest known time,” or FKT. There was no prize -- only the unofficial record for the fastest race time. This kind of award has become a goal for athletes in all kinds of activities on trails, mountains and mountain cliffs. A growing athletic movement Endurance events have captured the imagination of an increasing number of trail runners, climbers and mountaineers. Social and traditional media have helped create attention for these men and women. In the past, the competitors may not have been well known, but now they can earn money from company sponsorships. The Associated Press reports that Freriks’ run, completed in under 2 hours and 40 minutes, was one of several notable records set in October. Two rock climbers made history at Yosemite National Park in California. They set a speed record for climbing up the huge wall of El Capitan in under two hours 20 minutes. Normally, this climb takes experienced climbers three days.  Shawn Bearden is a trail runner and a physiology professor at Idaho State University. He says endurance events have been influenced by a number of things. They include the development of lighter equipment, growing interest in long-distance running and the ability of people to follow athletes’ progress online. Some people are refusing to wait for traditional races and compete whenever they want. “The FKT stuff is a cool dynamic,” said Tim Freriks, “You’re out there alone a lot of the time. There isn’t much publicity. It feels more pure.” There is a long history of people setting out to set speed and distance records. For years, sailors have attempted to set records for sailing around the world. Swimmers have successfully crossed the English Channel since 1875. And now simply climbing to the top of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, is not enough. Some climbers want to see if they can be the fastest at reaching the top. “I think it’s a natural human tendency to keep pushing back the human boundaries of what’s perceived to be possible — like trying to set a world record,” said Peter Bakwin, a Colorado native. Bakwin, a trail runner, created a website for listing fastest times. Runs and climbs that once took months, weeks and days are now being completed in only weeks, days and hours. As one of the few people keeping unofficial records, Bakwin is now seen as a judge of whether a claim is true. In the past, people self-reported their successes on the honor system. Now, modern technology can prove if the claims are true using global positioning system records, digital photographs and social media posts. Record competition Sometimes, it is difficult to keep records. Bakwin was the first person known to run the Muir Trail in under four days. The Muir Trail travels along some of the most beautiful parts of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. On foot, the trip normally takes two to three weeks to complete. Bakwin said he would run about 80 kilometers a day, and only take short breaks to sleep. However he also took time to enjoy nature. He remembered being tired one night and decided to climb to the top of a mountain under a full moon. “It was magical,” he said. “It’s hard to explain the attraction of pushing your limits of endurance in nature. Some people get it and some people think it’s totally crazy.” However, his best time from 2003 did not last even a year before someone broke his record. In October, Americans Brad Gobright and Jim Reynolds broke the speed record for climbing up El Capitan. They climbed the 884-meter vertical wall in 2 hours and 19 minutes. Their time beat the record set five years earlier by Americans Hans Florine and Alex Honnold. To set the new record, they took a risk by bringing very little equipment with them as they climbed. This helped them go faster, but also meant they had little protection from falling. They also did not carry any water. Florine has held the speed record for climbing El Capitan eight separate times.  Florine said many people have asked him if he would try to set the record again. But at the age of 53, he said he feels too old. Freriks, who is 26, is the same age as Florine when he set his first record on El Capitan. Freriks imagines his “rim-to-rim” run record will be broken, but if so he will try to reclaim it again. I’m Phil Dierking.   The Associated Press reported this story. Phil Dierking adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Are there any physical challenges you would like to set a record for? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   athlete - n. a person who is trained in or good at sports, games, or exercises that require physical skill and strength​ crazy - adj. unable to think in a clear or sensible way​ endurance - n. the ability to do something difficult for a long time​ sponsorship - n. an arrangement in which a sponsor agrees to give money to someone or something​ online - adj. connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet​ dynamic - adj. always active or changing​ tendency - n. a quality that makes something likely to happen or that makes someone likely to think or behave in a particular way​ post - v. to add (a message) to an online message board​ vertical - adj. going straight up​

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Scientists Find Large Amounts of Precious Metals in Wastewater

  In recent months, stories about sewers getting clogged have made international headlines. For example, a so-called "fatberg," a mass of grease and diapers, clogged London's sewers. A new study has found stranger materials in a wastewater system: large amounts of rare and precious metals. Researchers examined 64 wastewater treatment centers across Switzerland. A government press release says it was the first study on trace elements in wastewater in an industrialized country. The researchers found 3000 kg of silver and 43 kilograms of gold in effluent and sludge from the centers. The value of the materials was somewhere around $3.1 million dollars. The silver and gold were in the form of tiny particles. The researchers said the particles were most likely released during manufacturing of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, or watches. Bas Vriens is one of the researchers. "You hear stories about an angry man or woman throwing jewelry down the toilet, but we didn't find any rings, unfortunately," he said. "The levels of gold and silver were very small, in the micrograms, or even nanograms, but when you add them up it's pretty substantial." The researchers also found large amounts of rare earth minerals. The level of metal concentrations did not violate Swiss laws. They were removed before the water entered the drinking water system. Vriens cautioned people against trying to find precious metals in drinking water. "It wouldn't make sense for people to boil their tap water to recover gold or silver because it has already been filtered out before it re-enters the drinking water supply," Vriens said. I'm John Russell.   John Revill reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   clog – v. to slowly form a block in (something, such as a pipe or street) so that things cannot move through quickly or easily diaper – n. a piece of cloth or other material that is placed between a baby's legs and fastened around the waist to hold body waste grease – n. an oily substance trace – n. a very small amount of something effluent – n. liquid (such as sewage or industrial chemicals) that is released as waste sludge – n. a soft, thick material that is produced in various industrial processes (such as in the treatment of sewage) toilet – n. a large bowl attached to a pipe that is used for getting rid of bodily waste and then flushed with water unfortunately – adv.  used to say that something bad or unlucky has happened

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November 7, 2017

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

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Trump in China: How Does America Fit into Xi’s ‘Chinese Dream?’

United States President Donald Trump will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing soon after Xi was named to a second term as China’s leader. Trump is on a major trip to Asia visiting Japan and South Korea to build ties before coming to China. The two leaders have expressed notably different international policies. Xi has often talked about his goal of carrying out the “Chinese Dream” since taking office in 2012. Xi says the dream is aimed at building a “modern socialist country.” He has promised to make China a leading world power by 2050, while improving the quality of life for all its citizens. The “Chinese Dream” has also been a major slogan for the country’s ruling Communist Party. It appeared on many signs across Bejing last month during the party’s 19th Party Congress. Speaking to the Party Congress, he said he was committed to reaching out to the rest of the world to lead China into an important new period. “No country can alone address the many challenges facing mankind,” he said. “No country can afford to retreat into self-isolation.” Some experts considered those statements as an indirect answer to U.S. President Donald Trump’s “America First” policies. One example of this policy was Trump’s decision earlier this year to withdraw the U.S. from the 2015 Paris climate change agreement. Trump said the agreement – signed by nearly 200 countries – would hurt the U.S. economy and American workers.   Many nations criticized the U.S. move. President Xi has since voiced support for the Paris agreement. China has taken steps toward reaching its anti-pollution goals. It also is seeking to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and increase its use of renewable energy sources.   Climate change is one example of where Xi is seeking to expand China’s international influence. Denny Roy is a senior fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. He says Xi has also been building up China’s control closer to home. "The countries that are near China are deferential to China. They don't make foreign policy choices that are at odds with Chinese goals. That would also help to establish China as the preeminent country in the region, which I think has been a Chinese goal for a long time." Another example of China’s foreign policy is the “Belt and Road” project. The proposal seeks to connect China by land and sea to other parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. China has invested billions of dollars in nations involved in the project. Roy says the “Belt and Road” project shows China can put a lot of resources toward a single, long-term goal. He notes that this is possible without a two-party political system getting in the way. “It also emphasizes the image that the Chinese want to project, that as China grows, the rest of the world will grow along with it.” David Lampton is the director of China Studies at the Johns Hopkins University of Advanced International Studies. He says Xi is attempting to expand China’s part in world issues. Some experts suggest the U.S. and China could team up to share leadership on major international issues. But Lampton says he does not think conditions are right for such a partnership. “Right at the moment, I don't think the political and strategic stars are aligned in either China or in the United States.” Before heading to China, Trump visited Japan and South Korea as part of his Asian trip. Among the top issues expected to be discussed in Beijing will be trade relations and North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. Both were issues discussed with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in. Trump has called on China to fix an imbalance in trade and to open its markets to more US investments. In South Korea, Trump called North Korea’s nuclear program a "worldwide threat that requires worldwide action.” “It makes sense for North Korea to come to the table and make a deal that is good for the people of North Korea and for the world,” Trump said. Trump has repeatedly urged China to help pressure North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons and to end missile tests. But Lampton says Trump’s trip is not likely to change China’s position that it has limited influence over North Korea’s actions. ”So I think this trip we're going to see China resisting what it would call undue pressure from the United States to engage in an unrealistically coercive policy towards North Korea, and instead Beijing would argue that we should negotiate more.” However, Lampton says as Trump continues to face political pressures at home, he will seek some kind of victory in China. “So, I think for him to be seen as effective in dealing with China is very important, not only to the future of Asia, but also to his political standing in the United States.” I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn reported this story for VOA Learning English, with additional material from the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter 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 slogan – n. word or phrase that is easy to remember and used by a group or business to attract attention challenge – n. a difficult task or problem : something that is hard to do afford – v. be able to do something without difficulties retreat – v. to move backward deferential – adj. acting in a particular way in response to the opinions or influence of others at odds – adj. not agreeing with each other preeminent – adj. more important, skillful, or successful than others: better than others align – v. to line up in a row coercive – adj. using force or threats to make someone do something  

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US Stands Alone on Paris Agreement

This is What’s Trending today… The United States is now alone in the world in its rejection of the Paris climate agreement. Syria announced it would sign that agreement Tuesday in Bonn, Germany at the United Nations yearly climate change conference. The treaty calls for individual limits on greenhouse gas releases among participating countries. It is not binding nor does it provide any enforcement mechanism. Barack Obama signed the treaty in his second term as U.S. president. However, in June, President Donald Trump withdrew the nation from the agreement. He said the agreement hurts the U.S. economy and American workers. At that time, Syria and Nicaragua were the only other countries that had not signed. Nicaragua signed the agreement last month. Environmental organizations around the world praised Syria’s decision. But comments on social media were directed more at the United States and Donald Trump. Senator Michael Bennett is a Democrat from the state of Colorado. He tweeted, “Even Syria will join #ParisAgreement. This doesn't make America great. It makes us the only country denying the reality of #climatechange.” A user with the name Curious Doubter replied to Bennett, “It’s 30 degrees, windwills are never going to heat our houses, and the seas have been rising and the climate warming since the last Ice Age. On Facebook, user Brian McNoldy noted that Syria took action even though it is currently involved in a civil war. He described the U.S. as “left in the dust behind industrial giants, third-world developing countries, and everyone in between.” Twitter user Achille disagrees however. Achille tweeted, “All of you pseudo intellectuals that haven't read the #ParisAgreement yet are nevertheless outraged should probably move to a country in it!” And that’s What’s Trending Today. 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   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Study: Netherlands Rates Highest for English Proficiency

A new report says Europe leads the world in English language proficiency, followed closely by Asia.   The Netherlands continues for the second year to have the best non-native English speakers, while Laos had the lowest English proficiency rate of any country. These are just some of the findings from the 2017 English Proficiency Index report. The private education company Education First, or EF, released the findings on Wednesday.  This is the seventh such report produced by the business. It examined the English language knowledge and ability of adults in 80 countries. The results do not represent the English ability and language skills of everyone living in a country. They are instead the results of an online test, called the EF Standard English Test or EFSET. More than one million people took EFSET during 2016. You can take it online for free. The company has offices and established partnerships around the world. “We have 500 schools and offices in 54 countries,” noted Minh Tran, EF’s director of research. “And in countries where we don’t have a local office we have a team of worldwide agents that help us recruit test-takers.” Europe still strong, but not growing​ In the latest study, Europe had the highest overall average of English language proficiency for any area. The Netherlands was at the top of EF’s list, followed by Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. They each earned a “very high” proficiency rating and were among the top five countries in the world. The report said that European countries with high English proficiency ratings are alike in a number of ways. Often their students are required to take English as a foreign language, beginning at the primary school level. The countries also use teaching methods that emphasize speaking over memorization of grammar rules. Finally, citizens of these nations are more likely to meet up with English speakers, through travel or media contact, than other areas. However, while Europe had the highest overall proficiency average, that average is not improving. The report notes that in many places, English proficiency levels are too low to be used effectively in the workplace. It adds that the rise of nationalist politicians and ideas may have an effect on how much effort European countries put into English learning in the future. Singapore leads Asia Adults in Asia rated strongly in English proficiency, which is why the area rated second highest in the latest study, after Europe. The most notable result is Singapore, which was the highest-rated country for English proficiency in Asia, and had the fifth highest ranking in the world. This was Singapore’s first time to rank in the top five. It was among the most improved Asian countries over the past year. According to Minh Tran, one reason the rating for Singapore improved was the education system. “Singapore is hailed as one of the best education systems in the world, and they’re able to get their students to do some of the most difficult things in schools academically.” He added that while all countries have some students who perform well, the difference with Singapore is that nearly all of its students perform at a very high level. In East Asia, Malaysia and the Philippines also rated high in English language proficiency, while Laos and Cambodia received low rankings. A first look at Africa This is the first year the EF report has had enough information to rate English proficiency in Africa. As a whole, Africa ranked just below the world average, but higher than both Latin America and the Middle East. South Africa ranked first on the continent, and was the only country at the “very high” proficiency level. Libya had the lowest proficiency rating in Africa. One interesting finding was that women outperformed men on the test in Africa at higher rates than in any other part of the world. African women also had higher proficiency ratings than the global average for women. Minh Tran noted that EF researchers examined data from only five North African countries and four countries south of the Sahara. He said they hope to gather data from more African countries next year. Latin America improving slowly Latin America continues to rank low on the English proficiency index, with most countries falling into the “low” proficiency rating. Argentina is the only South American country with a “very high” rating. Yet its proficiency levels were lower than last year. The EF report says that teachers in Latin America generally have low English proficiency levels. It says this lack of proficiency has an effect on their students. To increase understanding of English in the area, the report has two suggestions: provide more training and resources to teachers and offering employment to teachers with a better understanding of English. The one promising result the study found was that the proficiency ratings for most Latin American countries improved from 2016 levels. Middle East still struggling despite investment The new report says the Middle East continues to be the lowest performing region in English proficiency. It was the only area to rank in the “very low” proficiency grouping -- well below the world average. The United Arab Emirates was the highest scoring country in the area, and the only Middle Eastern country in the “low” proficiency category. But it was rated 57th in the 80-country survey. Iraq had the lowest rating for English proficiency in the area.  However, almost every country improved over the past 12 months, with Saudi Arabia having the highest improvement rate of any country in the world. The report identified several reasons for the Middle East’s low ratings. It noted that violence or conflict in some areas makes it impossible to develop or provide a strong education system for students. EF’s Minh Tran says even in countries without conflict, the local education systems are not strong enough to provide quality English teaching. “While it’s great to be able to send so many students abroad, the vast majority of students in your country are still going to be trained locally through the public school education system. What we’ve seen is so much of the country’s English levels have to do with the quality of the public school education system...” He noted that EF has found a very clear link between the country’s English level and the average number of years that a student spends in public schools.  English rises with Development The study had other interesting findings. In general, English proficiency levels among women were higher than those for men. On average, women in most countries were more educated than men, and more likely to complete secondary school and attend college. However, the differences between the sexes appear to be getting smaller from year to year.   Also, EF officials say English proficiency levels appear to be linked with innovation and economic development. Countries with better internet connections, investment in research, and service exports all have higher English levels. In addition, the higher a country ranks on the Human Development Index, the higher its English proficiency score was, on average.            I’m Phil Dierking. And I'm Caty Weaver.   Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  For those interested in taking the EFSET English Proficiency Test, you can find it on the EF website here. How well does your country speak English?  Do you agree with the report’s findings? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.   _______________________________________________________________  Words in This Story    proficiency - n. being good at something innovation - n. a new idea, device, or method​ academic - adv. of or relating to schools and education​ according (to) - prep.  as stated, reported, or recorded by ​ primary - adj. most important​ emphasize - v. to give special attention to something) overall - adv. with everyone or everything included​ online - adj. connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet​ recruit - n.  to find suitable people and get them to join a company, an organization, the armed forces, etc.​

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Many Monarch Butterflies Not Flying South for Winter

  For many Americans, monarch butterflies are a sign of changing seasons. In the late summer and early autumn, the butterflies fly south, from Canada and the United States’ mainland to Mexico. But Darlene Burgess still keeps seeing the bright, colorful insects – and she lives in Canada. Burgess keeps counts of Monarch butterflies at Point Pelee National Park in Ontario. "As nice as this [the large numbers of Monarchs] is to see, I really wish I wouldn't see it because they're running out of time," she said. "It's really not good for them." Monarchs are not just staying in Canada. Groups of them have been seen north of the Mexican border, such as the American state of New Jersey. Their large numbers are not normal for late October. Monarchs normally arrive in Mexico around November 1st. The number of "stragglers" in Canada and the U.S. is "definitely new territory for us," said Chip Taylor, a biology professor at the University of Kansas. He also is the director of Monarch Watch, an organization that studies the butterflies. There are a few reasons why the monarchs did not fly south when they were supposed to. Some monarchs were born late. Some did not move south because of warm weather. Others could not fly south because of strong winds that lasted for weeks. Now, they may be stuck because temperatures are starting to fall. Elizabeth Howard is a biologist and director of a non-profit group called Journey North. She said the Monarch's muscles do not work well when temperatures go below 15 degrees Celsius. If the butterflies do not freeze, they are likely to starve to death because many of the plants they eat are gone for the season, Howard noted. Monarchs have faced a number of problems in recent years. Habitat loss, climate change, and chemical pesticides have hurt the butterfly population, said Lincoln Brower, a biology professor at Sweet Briar College. Brower has been studying the butterflies since 1954. The colorful creatures also have a decreasing food supply – especially in the form of milkweeds, which are the only food they can eat when they are caterpillars. Taylor notes that this year may not be as bad as some of the most recent years. The 2013-2014 season was especially bad. "Not all is lost," he said. I'm John Russell.   Seth Borensten reported on this story for AP. John Russell adapted his 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   straggler – n. a person or animal that moves slower than others and becomes separated from them habitat – n. the area where a plant, animal or insect normally lives pesticide – n. a product that kills animals or insects that damage crops milkweed – n. a type of North American plant that has white juice caterpillar – n. a small creature that is like a worm with many legs and that changes to become a butterfly or moth  

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Mexico City Now Sends Earthquake Warnings to Phones

  Mexico City has made changes to its emergency announcement service known as 911 CDMX. The service now sends messages to people’s smartphones warning them of earthquakes. The changes come after a magnitude 7.1 earthquake hit Mexico’s capital on September 19. The quake killed 369 people and caused 38 buildings to collapse. Officials announced the new smartphone program last week. Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said users of the free 911 CDMX program will receive messages for any earthquake strong enough to damage the city. The program will send sound messages and cause the smartphone to vibrate. The governmental center known as C5, for Command, Control Computing, Communications and Contact developed the program. It is available for both iOS and Android smartphone operating systems. Mancera said at a news conference there would be no demonstration of the system to avoid causing any unnecessary worry. “We are not interested in having anyone hear it who does not know the context in which it is being presented,” he said. More than 20 million people live in the capital and surrounding area. Many buildings there are built on a former lake bottom. Its soil can increase the effects of earthquakes which are centered far away. Shockwaves from such earthquakes may arrive at the city later. Early in September, an earthquake that was stronger than the one that hit Mexico City was centered hundreds of miles away. The United States Geological survey recently changed the record of its magnitude from 8.1 to 8.2. And many people in the capital felt it strongly. Mexico City already has a system of loudspeakers that give out a warning whenever a serious earthquake is detected. Idris Rodriguez Zapata is the general coordinator for C5. He urged residents to put the new 911 CDMX program on their smartphones. He also said they should pay attention to earthquake instructions at the moment they hear announcements on the loudspeakers or their phones. Mancera said there had been reports of people setting their smartphone ringtones to the sound of the new earthquake warning. He urged them not do so to avoid causing worry. The 911 CDMX program has other uses. It lets users see messages about earthquake activity on the website Twitter. It also can put them in contact with an emergency worker and lets them register their blood type and medical history. I’m Pete Musto.   Peter Orsi reported this for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. What systems does the government in your city have in place to warn you about disasters? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   smartphone(s) – n. a mobile telephone that can be used to send and receive e-mail, connect to the Internet, and take photographs magnitude – n. a number that shows the power of an earthquake vibrate – v. to move back and forth or from side to side with very short, quick movements context – n. the situation in which something happens loudspeaker(s) – n. a device that is used to make sound, such as music or a person's voice, louder and to send it out so that many people can hear it in a public space ringtone(s) – n. the sound that a cell phone makes when someone is calling

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How Catalonia’s Independence Efforts Raise Tensions in Belgium

  Catalonia’s effort to separate from Spain became more complex Sunday when the former president of the region, Carles Puigdemont, surrendered to police in Belgium. Puigdemont had fled to Brussels from Spain last week. Spain ordered the arrest of Puigdemont and other Catalan leaders. They are accused of rebellion. As Madrid seeks to stop the drive toward Catalan independence, similar movements, such as in Scotland, are watching with interest. On the streets of Scotland’s biggest cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Scottish flag has flown alongside the Catalan flag to show support for the separatists. Sonja Coquelin, a French student, joined the protests in Edinburgh last month. "Whether it’s the Basque Country, Catalonia, Scotland, and then going elsewhere to Palestine, to Kurdistan, they all have the right to exist as nations,” she said. Scotland already enjoys some autonomy from Britain. The British government approved Scotland’s plan to hold an independence vote in 2014. The Scottish people chose to remain part of Britain. Scottish independence supporter Chris Bambery is the writer of the new book, Catalonia Reborn. He said Spain’s government should have treated Catalonia the way Britain treated Scotland. Bamberry said the Spanish Prime Minister may have been able to dissuade Catalans from seeking independence had he been more respectful of them. He said the government acted too strongly. That angered Catalans and intensified their support for independence. James Ker-Lindsay, a professor at St Mary’s University in London, agrees. “If Scotland had voted for independence, we know that Britain would have allowed it...But Spain said absolutely no way, we’re not even going to give that vote," he said. And, he said, the international community supported Spain’s government because it did not want to deal with European problems. Independence movements are taking place elsewhere in Europe. Italy, for example, saw two of its richest areas vote last month for more autonomy from Rome. In Belgium, tensions between the Flemish-speaking north and French-speaking south also may threaten the country. Ker-Lindsay said that other movements are troubled by events in Spain. The violence following the vote, and the reaction of the international community, demonstrate the difficulty in gaining independence. The European Union supported the Spanish government. However, Chris Bambery argues, history shows it is better to be sympathetic to people who seek independence. He said, “The EU can look back in 1989 and say when the Soviet Union collapsed, actually the Baltic states and other countries got their independence peacefully.” Both Catalonia and Scotland are wrong to believe the EU will help them become independent, argues Ker-Lindsay. He said the EU does not have the power to decide questions of independence. Ker-Lindsay added that the EU is already worried about the British decision to leave the EU, and the migrant crisis. E.U. worries may grow: The Scottish National Party is proposing to hold another independence vote after Britain leaves the EU. If it succeeds, it may inspire the Catalans to fight harder to separate. I’m Jill Robbins. And I'm Susan Shand.   Reporter Henry Ridgwell wrote this story for VOANews. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   autonomy – n. the power or right of a country, group, etc., to govern itself allow – v. permit absolutely – adv. completely or totally inspire – v. to cause someone to have a feeling or emotion

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'Paradise Papers' Show Secret Wealth of Officials, Famous People

  Many famous people and a top United States official are among those on a list of people shown to have money in foreign banks to avoid taxes. The financial documents have been called the “Paradise Papers.” They are mainly from the legal company Appleby in Bermuda.  Millions of documents were leaked to Germany’s Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper on November 5. The newspaper shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.  The documents give financial details of many famous people, officials and leaders. The information includes how much money these people have secretly kept in offshore accounts. Appleby advises wealthy people on international financial transactions. These deals can help people avoid paying some taxes in their home countries that are tied to their investments. Appleby says it has investigated all the accusations and found “there is no evidence of any wrongdoing, either on the part of ourselves or our clients.” Commerce secretary’s business ties are questioned The documents show that U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has business connections with Russian business executive Kirill Shamalov.  Shamalov is executive and part-owner of the Russian energy company Sibur. He also is the son-in-law of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The 79-year-old Ross is a former businessman and a billionaire. He has an investment in partnerships valued between $2 million and $10 million in the shipping company, Navigator Holdings. Navigator Holdings earns millions of dollars a year transporting natural gas for Sibur. The documents also say Sibur is co-owned by Gennady Timchenko. He is a Russian billionaire who was tied to a large state-run company before the fall of the Soviet Union.  Timchenko is subject to U.S. sanctions because of Russia's 2 014 occupation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula.  The occupation was followed by conflict between pro-Russian separatists and government forces in Ukraine. Ross sold many financial investments when he joined the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this year. Ross sold them to avoid a conflict of interest.  However, Ross kept his Navigator investment. He put it into a series of partnerships in the Cayman Islands, an offshore tax haven.  Much of Ross’s estimated $2 billion in wealth is in the Cayman Islands the documents say. Ross did not disclose the Russian business link when the U.S. Senate confirmed him as commerce secretary.  The link was discovered this weekend after the Appleby documents were leaked. A Commerce Department spokesman said Ross has removed himself as secretary from matters related to trans-oceanic shipping. The report of Ross' financial connection to Russia comes as a special prosecutor, Robert Mueller, and three congressional groups carry out separate investigations. They are investigating efforts by Russia to interfere in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.  The U.S. intelligence community says that Russian President Vladimir Putin led an effort to harm U.S. democracy and help Trump win the election. The release of tax-related documents also comes as the U.S. Congress considers new tax laws. The far reaches of the “Paradise Papers” The documents show financial information about individuals outside the US. The Associated Press reports that the papers show Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II has invested about $13 million of her private money in tax havens in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. Duchy of Lancaster, which oversees her finances, confirmed these activities but said that all their investments are legal.  The papers also say the musician Bono, of the rock band U2, used a company based in Malta to buy part of a shopping mall in Vilnius, Lithuania.  Bono’s spokeswoman confirmed to The Guardian newspaper that the musician invested in the Maltese company Nude Estates Ltd. The company sold its assets in 2015. Putting pressure on the world leaders The new disclosures may put pressure on world leaders. The European Union will discuss plans for a tax haven “blacklist” Reuters news agency reported. E.U. countries had been trying to reach an agreement on tax havens by the end of 2017. European officials are seeking to deal with the problem of tax avoidance that received attention after the release of the “Panama Papers.” The so-called “Panama Papers” were millions of financial documents leaked last year. The documents gave information of tax-avoidance activities of many famous people and officials. The European Commission wants to make a list of tax free or low-tax countries including those that do not cooperate with the EU. The EU hopes the threat of being on a blacklist would discourage individuals and companies from putting their money in those countries or territories. Currently, Reuters reports that the proposed EU blacklist would apply only to non-EU countries. Low-tax countries such as Luxembourg, Malta and Ireland would not be included. I’m Phil Dierking.   This story was originally written for VOANews by Ken Bredemeir. Phil Dierking adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. Do you think wealthy people or companies should be allowed to invest money in offshore accounts? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   blacklist - n.  a list of people, organizations, etc., that are disapproved of or that are to be punished or avoided​ clients - n. a person who pays a professional person or organization for services​ disclose - v. to make something known to the public​ discourage - v. to make someone less determined, hopeful, or confident​ offshore - adj. located in a foreign country​ transactions - n.  business deal​ tax haven - n. a country or independent area where taxes are levied at a low rate.​ 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.

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Researchers Shocked at 'Pain Gap' Between Rich and Poor

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. A new study on pain management around the world has shocked researchers. The study found that many people in poor and middle-income countries suffer unimaginable pain without any help. They lack even the cheapest painkillers to manage severe pain. The results of this study has led to action. Researchers now want to find ways to help the millions of people who suffer needlessly. Felicia Knaul is one of the researchers involved in the study. She is a professor at the University of Miami’s School of Medicine. She says that around 61 million people worldwide live and some die in great pain because of a lack of pain medicine and proper care. Knaul says she became interested in global pain management after her own surgery for breast cancer. "I woke up from a mastectomy and I remember the horror of the pain, of not being able to breathe. And yet, I got access almost immediately to pain relief, which allowed me to push through it much more easily." She says that when she realized how inexpensive it could be to help people suffering in pain, she felt the need to act. "When I thought about other women going through this, when I thought about children, burn victims and having their wounds dressed and cleaned, and the agony of that without pain relief, and then when I found out how inexpensive it is to solve this problem, a real win-win in global health --- that was when we really decided to move forward." Knaul led the international study on pain relief published in The Lancet. She explains that the researchers looked at worldwide access to a common pain medication, morphine. "We looked across the world using, as a tracer, access to morphine. And more than 100 countries could satisfy less than 30 percent of need for pain relief just for palliative care alone. And, in fact, the vast majority have almost nothing." In the United States, morphine costs three cents per dose. In low-income countries, it costs five times as much. However, it is usually not available. If the cost of morphine were the same for all countries, the study found that it would cost $145 million to make pain relief available for all. Developing countries can work to close -- what researchers are calling -- the “pain gap.” Uganda is one example. Its government makes and distributes morphine for the country's hospitals. Doctors are trained in giving the drug and patients are monitored. Knaul has asked the World Bank to help end the pain gap. Experts are still developing plans. But the goal is clear: to provide pain relief for the millions of people who truly need it. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.   Carol Pearson reported this story for VOA News in Washington. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson edited the story. ______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   palliate – v. to moderate the intensity of : palliative – adj. mastectomy – medical n. : surgical removal of all or part of the breast and sometimes associated lymph nodes and muscles horror – v. the quality of something that causes feelings of fear, dread, and shock : the horrible or shocking quality or character of something agony – v. extreme mental or physical pain tracer – medical n. : a substance that is put in a patient's body so that doctors can watch a biological process (such as digestion) or see how a condition (such as cancer) is progressing access – n. freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something vast – adj. very great in size, amount, degree, intensity, or especially in extent or range dose – n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time distribute – v. to give out or deliver especially to members of a group

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