Bill Gates Gives $100 Million to Fight Alzheimer's Disease

  This is What’s Trending Today… Billionaire Bill Gates has made a $100-million investment to help researchers find a cure for Alzheimer’s. The brain disease causes people to slowly lose their memory and mental abilities as they grow old. Gates, the co-founder of Microsoft, said Monday he has given $50 million to the Dementia Discovery Fund. The London-based fund aims to bring business and government together to seek treatments for the brain-wasting disease. Another $50 million will go to start-up groups working in Alzheimer’s research, Gates said.   The money is a personal donation and not from his charitable organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “Bill Gates” trended worldwide on social media Monday. ​ Dementia, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common form, affects close to 50 million people worldwide. It is expected to affect more than 131 million by the year 2050, the Alzheimer’s Disease International group says. “It’s a huge problem, a growing problem, and the scale of the tragedy - even for the people who stay alive - is very high,” Gates told the Reuters news agency. Despite many years of research, scientists have not found a treatment that can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Current drugs can do no more than ease some of the effects.   But Gates said he is hopeful that treatments can be found, even if they might still be more than 10 years away. Gates’ usual health focus is on helping fight infectious diseases in poorer countries. He said Alzheimer’s became his mission partly for personal reasons, and partly because it has been so difficult to find effective treatment. Some men in his family have suffered from Alzheimer’s, he said. In a blog post about the investments, Gates wrote, “I know how awful it is to watch people you love struggle as the disease robs them of their mental capacity. It feels a lot like you’re experiencing a gradual death of the person that you knew.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today… I’m Ashley Thompson.   Reuters reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.   _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   dementia - n. a mental illness that causes someone to be unable to think clearly or to understand what is real and what is not real fund - n. an amount of money that is used for a special purpose start-up - adj. a new business charitable - adj. done or designed to help people who are poor, sick, etc. scale - n. the size or level of something especially in comparison to something else capacity - n. the ability to do something : a mental, emotional, or physical ability gradual - adj. happening in a slow way over a long period of time

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Foods for Better Mental Health

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. There is an old saying: “You are what you eat.” When you eat the right foods, you feel better physically. But what you eat can also make you feel better emotionally and mentally. American Leslie Korn is a mental health expert. She has been treating people for trauma and depression for more than 40 years. Korn noticed that some of the foods her patients were eating seemed to affect their mental health. She noted that eating foods like dark chocolate, sweet potatoes, eggs and cherries seemed to lower pain levels and ease signs of depression in the patients. She likens the human body to an automobile – a car that needs the right fuel to run. "I think about our body in some ways like a car engine. We need to give it the right fuel. And each of us have a need for a particular combination of proteins, and carbohydrates and fats." Leslie Korn was so sure of what she observed in her patients that she wrote about it. Her book is called “The Good Mood Kitchen: Simple Recipes and Nutrition Tips for Emotional Balance.” In it, she explains the importance of specific foods -- like fats. "The brain is made up of fat. It's made up of chemicals that talk to each other and that are lubricated by the fat in order to communicate across the synapses, and contribute to our ability to focus, to apply attention and to lift our mood.” She adds that the United States military is studying the effects of Omega 3 fatty acids on human health. These fatty acids are mainly found in fish oil. But they are also in some vegetable oils and foods like walnuts. Korn said that researchers suspect Omega 3 fatty acids are helpful not only in treating depression and anxiety, but also for suicide prevention. “Indeed, there is some very good research going on in the military looking at the role of Omega 3 fatty acids for not only treatment of depression and anxiety, but also for suicide prevention." Wild salmon is rich in these fatty acids, and Korn includes easy directions for cooking salmon. Baked Wild Salmon Sprinkle sea salt and a little olive oil on the salmon and place it on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, then place it under the broiler for at least 5 minutes. Keep an eye on the salmon. It should be pink on the inside. However, the health website Prevention notes that all fish contain mercury – some more than others. America’s National Resource Defense Council warns that even small amounts of mercury can interfere with brain development. To avoid mercury, experts suggest eating wild Pacific salmon, shrimp, farmed catfish and haddock or smaller fish, such as sardines and anchovies. These all contain Omega 3s, but are low in mercury. But eating healthy fats is not enough. Korn says we also need to eat foods that break down the fat. She suggests eating dark green vegetables. "For example, if your liver and your gallbladder isn't working, you can't break down the fats that are then absorbed into the blood stream and then support brain function. What we know is that the greens, in particular the bitter greens, help us digest fats and send those fats to the brain where we need it." Those vegetables are part of what Leslie Korn calls the "Brainbow" diet. Many health experts say we need to eat a rainbow of foods -- in other words, vegetables of all colors. She adds the letter “b” for “brain,” meaning this diet is good for the brain. "I call this the "Brainbow" diet because the colors in food represent different nutrients. And so your orange, and kind of yellow foods provide lots of vitamin A, and lots of vital nutrients. The variety of greens are very good for our digestion. Your purple foods and your red foods are very anti-inflammatory. Those are beets and are eggplants and are berries." The "Brainbow" Food list also includes: Red foods: red cabbage, radishes, watermelons Orange foods: carrots, sweet potatoes, oranges, pumpkins Yellow foods: lemons, bananas Green foods: kale White foods: garlic, onion, nuts Every country, she notes, has specific foods that are good for mental well-being. In her book, she provides directions on how to prepare them. For example, plantain is a popular food in India, Mexico and countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Korn lists steps for making Plantain Soup. "Plantain are a large banana, very starchy and a little bit of sweet. And I add some lemon and butter and chopped onion and garlic. And you make it with either a vegetable broth or a chicken broth. And then you add coconut milk and blend. And then I top it with a cilantro, a Chinese parsley, garlic, and grated orange peel and lime juice." Leslie Korn reminds us that it is just not about the food. Once you have made a treat designed to improve your emotional health, it is important to slow down and enjoy the meal. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.   Faiza Elmasry reported this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow edited the story. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trauma – n. a disordered psychic or behavioral state resulting from severe mental or emotional stress or physical injury specific – adj. special or particular : clearly and exactly presented or stated : precise or exact lubricate – v. to make smooth or slippery synapse – n. the point at which a nervous impulse passes from one neuron to another anxiety – n. fear or nervousness about what might happen rainbow – n. a curved line of different colors that sometimes appears in the sky when the sun shines through rain vital – adj. extremely important

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South Korea Says North Shot at Soldier Trying to Defect

North Korean soldiers shot at and wounded another soldier who was crossing the border between the North and South. The South Korean military said Monday the soldier was trying to defect in the Joint Security Area of the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ. North Korean soldiers have crossed the border to defect at times. But it is rare for a North Korean soldier to defect by crossing the DMZ. North and South Korean soldiers stand meters away from each other. The North Korean soldier left from a guard post at the northern side of Panmunjom village to the southern side of the village. He was shot in the shoulder and elbow and was taken to a South Korean hospital, said the South’s Defense Ministry. It was not immediately known how serious his injuries were or why he decided to defect. South Korean troops found the injured soldier south of the border after hearing the sound of gunfire. South Korean troops did not fire at Northern soldiers, a South Korean Defense Ministry official said. The defection came at a time of heightened tension over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program. North Korea has normally accused South Korea of enticing its citizens to defect, something the South denies. Panmunjom and other DMZ areas are guarded by hundreds of thousands of troops from North Korea and the United Nations Command. The command includes troops from the United States and South Korea. The area is a popular stop for visitors from both sides. American presidents often visit the DMZ during their trips to South Korea. President Donald Trump planned to visit the DMZ during his visit to South Korea. But bad weather prevented his helicopter from landing near the border area. It is estimated that about 30,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953. But most of them travel through China. In 1998, a North Korean soldier fled to the South through the DMZ, but there have been few incidents in recent years. Earlier in 1976, North Korean soldiers with axes and knives attacked a group of soldiers in the DMZ, killing two American soldiers and injuring five South Korean soldiers. The U.S. then flew nuclear-capable B-52 bombers toward the DMZ as a warning to North Korea. In 1984, North Korean and U.N. Command soldiers exchanged gunfire after a Soviet citizen defected by sprinting to the South Korean side of the village. Three North Korean soldiers and one South Korean soldier died in the gunfire. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   defect –v. to leave a group or country and go to another one that is a competitor or enemy entice –v. to attract someone by offering something or showing something that is appealing or interesting    

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Deadly Earthquake Strikes Iran and Iraq

  Iranian officials say more than 400 people are dead after a powerful earthquake struck along the country’s border with Iraq Sunday night. A spokesman for Iran’s crisis management headquarters spoke to reporters on Monday. He said that about 6,700 people were injured in the earthquake. At least seven people were killed in Iraq, the Associated Press (AP) reported. In the United States, scientists described the quake as being 7.3 in magnitude – a measurement of its relative size. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake was centered near the city of Halabja in eastern Iraq. But small tremors were felt as far west as the Mediterranean coast. Reports say the worst damage appeared to be in Iran’s western province of Kermanshah. Damage spread over a large area In Iraq, health officials said that, in Kurdish areas, the quake killed seven people and injured more than 500 others. The quake also is believed to have damaged a dam on the Diyala River in Iraq. The dam’s director told the AP that the dam was built in 1961. He said it was very strong, but had very clear damage. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said he has directed health and aid agencies to provide assistance. Electricity and water were cut off in several cities in both Iraq and Iran. Media reports from Iran say the quake has affected at least 14 provinces. Iranian state media appealed for blood donations. In Iran, blocked roads have made it difficult for rescue workers to reach distant villages. Officials say rescue efforts have been slow. The head of the Iranian Red Crescent said that more than 70,000 people need emergency shelter. International aid efforts have begun. The vice president of the Turkish Red Crescent told the AP that 33 aid trucks were being sent to the Iraqi city of Sulaimaniyah. Three thousand tents and heaters, 10,000 beds, blankets and food are among the aid items being sent. Turkey also said it would help Iran if aid is requested. Major earthquake fault lines run through Iran, causing quakes. Some of them are very powerful. In 2003, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake destroyed the historic city of Bam and killed 26,000 people. More recently, in 2012, a major earthquake centered in East Azerbaijan province killed 300 people. I’m Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter adapted his report for Learning English with information from VOA, the Associated Press, and Reuters news agencies. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   management – n. the process of dealing with and controlling a group or organization tremor – n. shaking movement of the ground items – n. a thing of a certain kind, usually among a group or list fault – n. a break in the earth’s crust We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Burundi Refugees Fear Returning

  More than 400,000 people have fled Burundi to neighboring African countries because of political unrest and violence. The refugees have relocated mostly to Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania. Burundi and other central African countries have asked the refugees to leave their camps and return home.  But Burundian political refugees say it is not safe. Refugees who spoke to VOA said they fear they will be harmed by the government of Burundi’s President Pierre Nkurunziza. In 2015, Nkurunziza began his third term as president although local and international organizations called on him to step down. Jacqueline Nduwayezu is a former school teacher who lives with her six children in the Mahama refugee camp in eastern Rwanda. She spoke to a VOA reporter who recently visited the camp. She said, “We are here because there is no security in our country.” She added that the threat of violence was real. “People were being killed and are still being killed and dumped in mass graves and rivers." Eloge Rugemangabo is the head of the refugee community in Mahama. He said men from the Pro-government Imbonerakure militia beat him because he was a member of the opposition MSD party. "I was tortured and discriminated against at work. I slept outside for three days for fear of being killed," he said. He said things must change before refugees will return. "We left our parents, houses, brothers and sisters,” he said. He added that he will return when he is sure conditions are safe. On a visit to Nakivale refugee camp in Uganda, Burundi’s Home Affairs Minister asked Burundian refugees to come back. The country, he said, was ready to welcome back its citizens. He also said many of the refugees are afraid or fled rumors of violence. President Nkurunziza made the same request on a visit to Tanzania in July. “Today I want to tell Tanzanians and Burundians that Burundi is now peaceful, and I am inviting all Burundi refugees to return home,” he said. Tanzanian President John Magufuli called Burundi “calm.” However, Amnesty International disagrees. The human rights group released a report in September that said returning refugees are at risk of violence or death from security forces and pro-government militia. The report also said the Imbonerakure continues to commit human rights crimes against anyone believed to oppose the president’s party, the CNDD-FDD. One man told Amnesty, “If you are not CNDD-FDD, you are considered their enemy.” Amnesty's Burundi researcher, Rachel Nicholson, said in the report that “Burundi has not yet returned to normality.” She also said that attempts to deny abuses should not be believed. The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, warns that political and human rights conditions in Burundi continue to cause increasing numbers of refugees to flee to neighboring countries in search of asylum. Earlier this year, UNHCR and other human rights agencies made an urgent appeal for $429 million to meet the needs of Burundian refugees across the area. But, less than $85 million has been provided. In camps like Nakivale, refugees live in overcrowded shelters and there is not enough food, water or health services. Felicien Habumugisha has lived in Nakivale for nearly 10 years, after fleeing an earlier time of difficulties in Burundi. He explained there was not enough food, no education for the children, no assistance and no chance of leaving. The 52-year-old said he will not go back to Burundi until it is safe. His parents were killed after being involved in politics, and he was arrested several times before he left. “The politics of Burundi itself is not stable. We don’t feel that Burundi is safe today for us to go back," he told VOA. I'm Susan Shand. And I'm Dorothy Gundy.   Susan Shand adapted this story for Learning English based on a story VOA Story by Edward Rwema. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   relocate - v. to move to a new place abandon - v. to leave and never return to rumors --n. information passed from person to person that is not proved to be true overcrowded – adj. filled with too many people stable – adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change

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November 13, 2017

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

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Unit 10: Collaboration Through Persona Poems

​Welcome to Let's Teach English. This series offers free online training for English language educators worldwide. Voice of America and the University of Oregon are partners on this project.   Summary In this lesson, students learn how to write a poem. They use a format the teacher calls a “persona poem.” Students ask each other questions. The answers to those questions become the poem. Students learn that not all poems have to rhyme. This activity asks students to use English creatively to develop poems about their classmates. They now have a product that they can proudly show to their friends and family. At the end of the class, the students display their work on a wall and do a "gallery walk" – they walk around and view and read one another's persona poems.   Teacher Preparation Video Transcript This episode shows a model of teaching through collaboration on persona poems. Click on the image below to download a pdf of the transcript. Women Teaching Women English Text Click on the image below to download a pdf of the student text and teacher manual. In the next unit, the whole book will be available for download. Women Teaching Women English Listening These audio files go with Unit 10 of Women Teaching Women English. Click on the "Direct Link" button to the right of the player to download them. Conversation: Women at Work   Reading: American Woman Breaks NASA Space Orbit Record   What Do You Think? Let us know what you think about this course. Email us or write your comment in the comments section below.   Poll

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Richard Nixon: Resigned

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Richard Nixon. Nixon is well-known to many Americans for one reason: he was the only president to resign from the position. Facing possible legal action by Congress, Nixon left office early in his second term. Nixon’s early political career was marked by success. He also had some noteworthy achievements during his White House years. And he attained his goal of moving the government in a more conservative direction.   In his later years, Nixon and his supporters tried to reclaim his place as an expert on international affairs. But for many Americans, the name “Nixon” remains linked to distrust of national leaders, abuse of power, and political wrongdoing.    Early life Richard Nixon had a difficult early life. He was the second of five sons in a Quaker family. His parents owned a lemon ranch in California, near the city of Los Angeles. But the family struggled financially. And two of Richard’s brothers died – one as a small child, and one as a young adult.  In time, his parent’s business failed, and the Nixons moved to a nearby town. The parents and children all worked at a filling station that sold fuel and other products. Despite the many hours he worked at the store, Richard Nixon was a top student in high school. He was offered financial aid to attend Harvard University, but the family needed even more money to send him there. Instead, he attended a local college, where he became the student body president, joined a debate team, acted in the theater, and played football. Nixon went on to law school at Duke University in North Carolina. Even with his impressive background, he did not get the jobs he sought at the Federal Bureau of Investigation – the FBI – or top law offices. So he returned the California town where he grew up and began working as a lawyer. There, he married another actor at the community theater. Her name was Thelma Ryan, but she was called Pat. The Nixons went on to have two daughters, Tricia and Julie. In 1942, Nixon accepted a job with the federal government in Washington, DC. He did not stay in the position long. After the United States entered World War II, Nixon joined the Navy. He served as an officer in the Pacific. When he returned to the U.S., Republican Party officials asked him to be a candidate for Congress. Nixon agreed. He won two terms in the House of Representatives, and then a seat in the U.S. Senate. Two years later, Dwight Eisenhower, the Republican presidential candidate, asked Nixon to be his vice president. The two men won in an electoral landslide, and in 1953 Nixon took office as vice president. He was only 40 years old, the second-youngest vice president in U.S. history.      Early political career Nixon’s early political career is remembered for several reasons. One is how quickly he rose to high government office. Another is for his part in the Alger Hiss case in the late 1940s. Hiss was a top official in the State Department. He was accused of being a Communist in the 1930s and 1940s, and of passing information about the U.S. government to Soviet spies. Hiss denied the accusations. The case was big news in the United States. It showed the clash between people who believed Hiss was falsely accused as a way to discredit liberal policies, and people who believed the government was protecting communist sympathizers. Nixon was in the second group. He was part of the investigation against Hiss and pushed for his indictment. Nixon’s efforts succeeded, and Hiss went to jail for almost four years. Later, Nixon said that the case was one of the reasons for his rise to power. Nixon also earned national attention with an event that has become known as the Checkers speech. It happened in 1952, when Nixon was running for vice president. Some reporters accused Nixon of corruption. They said he was accepting money and gifts from wealthy donors in exchange for his political support. Nixon went on television to deny the claims personally. At the time, Americans were not used to seeing politicians speaking directly to the public. Yet Nixon spoke informally and emotionally, from what appeared to be a home. He explained his family’s finances. He said he did not accept campaign donations for personal benefit. But, he added, there was one exception. A supporter had once given the Nixon children a black and white dog they called Checkers. Nixon said he refused to return his daughters’ pet. The public – and Republican Party officials – loved the speech. Nixon appeared warm and likable. Middle-class Americans especially said they could relate to him. Most forgot the claims against him. And Nixon’s political career was saved. During the following eight years, he served as vice president in the Eisenhower administration. But then Nixon’s luck turned. In 1960, Nixon lost as a presidential candidate to John F. Kennedy. He blamed, in part, the media. Then in 1962, he lost his efforts to be governor of California. Nixon said he was retiring from politics. He famously told reporters, “You won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore.” Yet seven years later, he was in the White House. It was one of the most memorable comebacks in U.S. political history. Presidency When Nixon took office in 1969, some Americans thought the country was in crisis. The economy was not doing well. Race riots had been erupting in big cities. Many people were still trying to recover from the violence of a year earlier. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King Junior and President John F. Kennedy’s brother Robert had both been shot and killed. Pollution of the environment was becoming a major political issue. Women were pressing for equal rights. And many Americans continued to protest American involvement in Vietnam. Nixon took action. During his first years in office, he supported reforms and rules to improve the economy; protect the environment; increase workplace and other opportunities for women; support civil rights; and, in his words, bring “peace with honor” in Vietnam. But, for the most part, Nixon did not have the support of Congress to enact legislation. So he expanded the power of the presidency to carry out his goals. He is remembered especially for three foreign policy moves. In 1972, he visited China, with which the U.S. government had tense relations since the Chinese Communist Party took power. As the Alger Hiss case showed, Nixon was strongly anti-communist. But he made establishing diplomatic relations between the two sides possible again. He also visited the Soviet Union, and was the first U.S. president to visit Moscow. Nixon and the Soviet leader, Leonid Brezhnev, agreed to limit the growth of nuclear arms. Their actions helped ease tensions at a time when U.S. officials were worried about the expansion of communism. And Nixon did succeed in reaching a peace agreement with North Vietnamese leaders. In 1973, American troops slowly began to leave the country, although fighting there continued. Nixon’s foreign policy achievements helped him in the 1972 election campaign. His first presidential election had been extremely close; the second he won by one of the widest electoral vote margins in U.S. history. ​ Watergate Even though he was popular with voters, Nixon had been concerned about his political future. Nixon was so worried that, before the election, he created a secret team to prevent any damaging information from reaching the media. Later, its job expanded to include investigating any information that might hurt his public image. About five months before Election Day, five men broke into the opposition party’s headquarters at the Watergate, a hotel and office complex, in Washington, DC. The team had already stolen copies of secret campaign documents. Now, in the middle of the night, the men were trying to add listening equipment to the telephones – in other words, spy on the opposition. But a security guard became suspicious and called the police. The men were caught and arrested. When the story came to light, Nixon publicly denied that any White House officials were involved in the crime.   But in time, the public learned that Nixon was lying. In fact, he assisted with payments to the men who were arrested. And he tried to use the Central Intelligence Agency to block an FBI investigation of the crime. Nixon knew that the Watergate break-in was only part of the illegal or questionable acts he could be held responsible for. Later, people connected with Nixon told investigators that the president had taped everything that happened in his office. Investigators demanded the tapes. They would prove how much Nixon knew about the illegal operations. The president refused. He dismissed the lead investigator. Two other Justice Department officials resigned in protest. A new investigator was appointed, and the U.S. Supreme Court ordered Nixon to release the tapes. At the same time, the House of Representatives voted to remove Nixon from office. They charged him with obstructing justice, abusing his power, covering up a crime, and violating the Constitution. Finally, Nixon released the tapes. But before the Senate could hold a trial – in which the president would almost certainly be found guilty – Richard Nixon resigned. He left the White House the following day. Legacy Nixon lived for 20 more years. He wrote a number of books, traveled, spent time with his family, and offered foreign policy advice to other leaders. He continued to deny that he had done anything criminal as president; instead, Nixon said he had made bad decisions. And he did not go to trial. The next president, Gerald Ford, used his power to pardon Nixon “for all offenses against the United States.” But Nixon’s image was permanently damaged. Most people found evidence in the tapes that Nixon knew about a related series of crimes commonly known as “Watergate.” They also found that some of his public statements were dishonest. They said he made them to forward his own political goals, not to further the public good. As a result, Nixon’s place in U.S. history is generally thought to be a troubled one. To be sure, he made a number of positive accomplishments, both within the U.S. and internationally. But his presidency left the country shaken. When Ford replaced him as president, he said to Americans, “Our long national nightmare is over.” I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   attain - v. accomplish or achieve Quaker - n. a member of a Christian religious group whose members dress simply, are against violence, and have meetings without any special ceremony or priests impressive - adj. deserving attention, admiration, or respect : making a good impression landslide - n. an election in which the winner gets a much greater number of votes than the loser indictment - n. an official written statement charging a person with a crime comeback - n. a new effort to win or succeed after being close to defeat or failure erupt - v. to happen or begin suddenly or violently obstructing - v. to slow or block the movement, progress, or action of positive - adj. good or useful nightmare - n. a very bad or frightening experience or situation

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New Orangutan Species Discovered in Indonesia

  Scientists say they have discovered a new species of orangutans on Indonesia’s island of Sumatra. The population differs in several ways from the two existing orangutan species found in Sumatra and the neighboring island of Borneo. The orangutans were found inside North Sumatra’s Batang Toru forest, the science publication Current Biology reported. Researchers named the new species the Tapanuli orangutan. They say the animals are considered a new species because of genetic, skeletal and tooth differences. Michael Kruetzen is a geneticist with the University of Zurich who has studied the orangutans for several years. He said he was excited to be part of the unusual discovery of a new great ape in the present day. He noted that most great apes are currently considered endangered or severely endangered. Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos also belong to the great ape species. Orangutan – which means person of the forest in the Indonesian and Malay languages - is the world’s biggest tree-living mammal. The orange-haired animals can move easily among the trees because their arms are longer than their legs. They live more lonely lives than other great apes, spending a lot of time sleeping and eating fruit in the forest. The new study said fewer than 800 of the newly-described orangutans exist. Their low numbers make the group the most endangered of all the great ape species. They live within an area covering about 1,000 square kilometers. The population is considered highly vulnerable. That is because the environment which they depend on is greatly threatened by development. Researchers say if steps are not taken quickly to reduce the current and future threats, the new species could become extinct   “within our lifetime.” Research into the new species began in 2013, when an orangutan protection group in Sumatra found an injured orangutan in an area far away from the other species. The adult male orangutan had been beaten by local villagers and died of his injuries. The complete skull was examined by researchers. Among the physical differences of the new species are a notably smaller head and frizzier hair. The Tapanuli orangutans also have a different diet and are found only in higher forest areas. There is no unified international system for recognizing new species. But to be considered, discovery claims at least require publication in a major scientific publication. Russell Mittermeier is head of the primate specialist group at the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. He called the finding a “remarkable discovery.” He said it puts responsibility on the Indonesian government to help the species survive. Matthew Nowak is one of the writers of the study. He told the Associated Press that there are three groups of the Tapanuli orangutans that are separated by non-protected land.   He said forest land needs to connect the separated groups. In addition, the writers of the study are recommending that plans for a hydropower center in the area be stopped by the government. It also recommended that remaining forest in the Sumatran area where the orangutans live be protected. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on reports from Current Biology, 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. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ​______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   species – n. group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants; a group of related animals or plants that is smaller than a genus endangered – adj. used to describe a type of animal or plant that has become very rare and that could die out completely vulnerable – adj. easy to hurt or attack physically or emotionally extinct – adj. no longer existing frizzy – adj. very tightly curled hair primate – n. any member of the group of animals that includes human beings, apes, and monkeys remarkable – adj. unusual or surprising; likely to be noticed  

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In Lebanon, Musician Helps Voices of Children Rise Above Poverty

In the coming months, about 300 children across Lebanon will escape their daily struggles and learn to sing from an expert. Selim Sahab is an internationally celebrated Lebanese musician and orchestra leader. Sahab is giving children a chance to hope through song. He is teaching a large group of Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian young people to be part of a singing group, or choir. Some of the children are refugees. Many already have jobs and work as many as 12 hours a day. The choir will hold a major performance in six months with an orchestra and large audience. Sahab created a similar children's choir in Egypt. It has performed in front of international leaders. With help from the International Labor Organization, or ILO, and Beyond Association, a local nonprofit, Sahab held auditions across Lebanon. Around 2,000 children tried out for the choir. The musician said he found it difficult to choose from the many children. However, he said, in the end, the choice was not about how well they learned to sing. “I was determined to learn [teach] them how to dream about the future. They hadn't any idea about the future, about what they can be in the future." Hope for the future Among those who made it through the auditions is 14-year-old Syrian refugee Raed Abdo. He loves famous Arabic singers like Fairuz and Umm Kulthum. “I was afraid the maestro would not accept me, and I was so happy when he said he liked my voice,” Raed said. “Singing gives me hope for the future. If I go and sing maybe I’ll become famous….and people will listen to our songs and play them in the car.” Five groups across the country will take lessons from Sahab before coming together for a joint rehearsal in December. Working to live Raed is from Homs, Syria. In Lebanon, he works 12-hour days as a builder to help his family pay for their small apartment. He has a dream, however, that remains distant: attending school full time. Child labor has been a problem in Lebanon for some time. The Syrian conflict and the arrival of more Syrian refugees has worsened the situation. This summer, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) estimated that in addition to Lebanese and Palestinians, 180,000 Syrian children were working in the country. This includes things like selling flowers in the streets, fixing cars or digging for potatoes in the Bekaa Valley. Hayat Osseiran works on child labor issues for ILO. He says the choir offers not only a break from the stress of such work but “a means of advocacy” -- through the public performances -- “that shows all these forgotten children need is a chance.” United by singing As the children work with Sahab at the Beyond Association center, for a little time they can forget the social differences that divide the country. Tensions over the Palestinian refugee population are common in Lebanon. And, more recently, there have been increased calls by some politicians to send Syrians back to Syria. But, for now, choir members like Lebanese boy Jibril Latach can center their attention on the big performance to come. The 16-year-old wants to be singing next to his friend Raed. Jibril is from the city of Tripoli. His neighborhood has been damaged by violence. He said he started working after his school closed during conflict a few years ago. “When I went to work I was happy, in the beginning, because I was trying something new and felt like I was becoming an adult,” he said. “But then I got tired doing my job, and I regret leaving the school.” Jibril prefers hip-hop music to the traditional Arabic singers that his friend Raed loves. But Jibril says it is not just his singing voice that is improving. “This experience has allowed me to meet people I’ve not met before,” he added. I'm Alice Bryant.   John Owens reported this story for VOA News. Alice Bryant adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   orchestra – n. a group of musicians who play usually classical music together and who are led by a conductor refugee – n. someone who has been forced to leave a country because of war or for religious or political reasons audition – n. a short performance to show the talents of someone who is being considered for a part in a film, play, choir or something else maestro – n. the title of a person who is an expert at writing, conducting, or teaching music  stress – n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life advocacy – n. the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal : the act or process of advocating something

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Many North Koreans Depend on Informal Markets

Called injogogi in Korean, “man-made meat,” is a popular street food in North Korea. The food comes from taking leftovers from making soy bean oil, pressing it and rolling it into a paste. The result is then filled with rice, and topped with chili sauce. Injogogi is traded in North Korea with other goods and services on informal markets, known as jangmadang. Defectors from North Korea say there are hundreds of these markets. They are part of the country’s “barter economy.” This informal market system has helped people survive through years of sanctions and separation from the rest of the world. “Back in the day, people had injogogi to fill themselves up as a substitute for meat,” said Cho Ui-sung, a North Korean who defected to the South in 2014. “Now people eat it for its taste.” After World War II, North Korea was established with support from the Soviet Union as a socialist country. The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 severely hurt the North Korean economy. It also led to the breakdown of the centralized food distribution system. It is estimated that as many as three million people died in the following years. People were forced to negotiate for food any way they could. Since then, studies have found that person-to-person dealings have become a way for millions of North Koreans to find basic needs such as food and clothing. The popularity of informal markets, however, also makes it difficult to know what is going on in the North Korean economy. The informal markets also make it harder to measure how sanctions are affecting the North Korean people. The U.N.’s World Food Program, or WFP, says the Public Distribution System for food was brought back in 2006. The North Korean government says 70 percent of North Koreans still use the state’s system as their main source of food. This is the same percentage of people that the U.N. estimates are “food insecure.” The WFP says the system regularly provides lower food rations than the government’s daily target. The WFP and the U.N.’s other main food aid agency, the Food and Agricultural Organization, said the U.N. uses all available information, including official statistics. The agencies have an office in Pyongyang and make regular visits to North Korean Public Distribution Centers, farms and occasionally markets. In a joint statement, the U.N. agencies said, “We recognize that the data and their sources are limited but it’s the best we have available at present.” The agencies said that the biggest concern is the lack of different foods.  The statement says main foods include rice, maize, kimchi and bean paste. These lack important fats and protein. Local markets support the people Last year, North Korea’s economy grew by 3.9 percent – its biggest increase in 17 years. The increased activity came from mining, market reforms and business with its neighbor China. Reporters saw signs of hunger in North Korea as recently as 2013. The WFP says one in four children do not grow as tall as children in South Korea. However, defectors say the food supply has improved in recent years. Eight defectors told Reuters they ate similar things to South Koreans. They said most families had privately grown vegetables, locally made snacks, rice, and corn in their homes. Younger and wealthier defectors say they had meat, such as pork, dog, rabbit or badger.  However, they said the meat supply was seasonal because electric power is not dependable enough to power refrigerators. Defectors also say that North Korean president Kim Jong Un has quietly relaxed the rules on private trade. Some markets in North Korea are known as “grasshopper markets” for the speed that traders set them up and take them down.  Many are illegal, but there are also officially approved markets. Food such as injogogi are popular at these markets. It is low in calories but has protein and fiber, said Lee Ae-ran, a chef from the North Korean town of Hyesan. The website Daily NK, which is based in Seoul, South Korea, reports on jangmadang markets. It is operated by North Korean defector journalists. In a report released in August, it said there are 287 official markets in North Korea, including more than half a million stalls. Over 5 million people are either “directly or indirectly” depending on these markets for food. This means the markets are necessary for people’s survival, the report said. In 2015, a survey of 1,017 defectors by Seoul University professor Byung-yeon Kim found that official food sources only make up 23.5 percent of North Korean’s food. Around 61 percent of people asked said private markets were their most important source of food.  Fifteen-point-five percent said they rely on self-grown food. More options for the wealthy However, wealthy people in North Korea have more choice. In the capital, people can order a pizza in one of Pyongyang’s hundreds of restaurants, visitors say. Many of the restaurants are owned by the state.  Some used to be only for tourists, but now they have local customers, who sometimes pay in euros or dollars. There are also other ways North Koreans can support their diets. “My dad often received bribes,” said one 28-year-old defector. She said he was a high-ranking public official, and the bribes he received included goat meat, dog meat and deer meat, she said. I'm Jill Robbins.  And I’m Phil Dierking. This story was originally written for Reuters by James Pearson and Seung-Woo Yeom. Phil Dierking adapted the story for VOA Learning English using other media. Mario Ritter was the editor. How do people get their food in your country? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story data - n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something​ distribution - n. the act of giving or delivering something to people​ informal - adj. relaxed in tone; not official defector - n.  people who have left a country, political party, organization, etc., and go to a different one that is a competitor or an enemy​ barter - v. to exchange things (such as products or services) for other things instead of for money​ 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. ​ substitute - n. a person or thing that takes the place of someone or something else​ paste - n. a soft, wet mixture of usually a powder and a liquid​ ration - n. a particular amount of something (such as gasoline or food) that the government allows you to have when there is not enough of it​ statistic - n. a number that represents a piece of information (such as information about how often something is done, how common something is, etc.)​ regular - adj. happening over and over again at the same time or in the same way : occurring every day, week, month, etc.​ occasionally - adv. sometimes but not often​ refrigerator - n. a device or room that is used to keep things (such as food and drinks) cold​ relax - v. to become or to cause (something, such as a rule or law) to become less severe or strict​ journalist - n. a reporter; a member of the press stall - n.  a small open counter or partially enclosed structure where things are displayed for sale​ survey - n. an activity in which many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to gather information about what most people do or think about something​ rely - v. depend tourist - n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure​ customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business​ diet - n. the food that a person or animal usually eats​ bribe - n. something valuable (such as money) that is given in order to get someone to do something​ high-ranking - adj. having a high rank or position​; important

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