November 20, 2017

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

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Charles Manson, Leader of Murderous Cult, Dies

  Charles Manson, one of the most infamous killers in U.S. history, died Sunday at the age of 83. He had spent the last 45 years in prison. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation said Manson died of natural causes at a hospital in Kern County. Manson led a small cult group and persuaded his followers to carry out murders of powerful people in the Los Angeles area in 1969. Manson and six of his followers were sent to prison in 1971. Three additional followers were later jailed for crimes linked to Manson. Manson's most well-known victim was the American actor Sharon Tate. She was 26 years old and eight and a half months pregnant when the Manson group stabbed her to death at her home. Her husband, film director Roman Polanski, was not home at the time. Also killed at their house that night were three of Tate's friends as well as a friend of the caretaker of the house. The attack included stabbing, shooting, and hanging. The murderers also wrote the word "pig" in blood on the front door.  The following night, six members of the Manson gang broke into the home of a wealthy supermarket official. They killed the official, Leno LaBianca, and his wife, Rosemary. The murders there were equally vicious and included messages written in the victims’ blood. Investigators did not connect the two sets of murders until weeks later. Manson was born to a single mother in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1934. He never knew the identity of his father. His mother was severely neglectful. Manson spent most of his life in detention. He started in his teenage years with sentences for armed robbery and other crimes. As an adult, Manson was usually unemployed and only partly literate. In the mid-1960s he became the leader of a small cult known as the Manson Family, whom he led to commit the murders of August 1969. Manson claimed to be influenced by the Beatles' song "Helter Skelter." He said he believed the song was about a race war. He said he ordered the murders to cause that race war to start. The Manson family believed blacks would defeat whites in such a war but fail to lead themselves after. The family believed that the victors would ask Charles Manson to lead them. Law enforcement officials used fingerprints to identify the Manson group members as the attackers. Manson and his followers went to trial the following year. When he was not permitted to serve as his own lawyer Manson carved an “X” on his face in protest. His followers did the same soon after. Manson later changed the "X" on his face to a swastika, the symbol of the Nazi Party of Germany. Manson and his followers were found guilty and sentenced to death in 1971. However, the state of California banned punishment of death the following year. Most of the Manson family members have remained behind bars through many parole hearings. Manson himself had been denied parole 12 times. Manson's death leaves five members of the Manson Family still in prison: Robert Beausoleil, Bruce Davis, Charles "Tex" Watson, Leslie Van Houten, and Patricia Krenwinkel.  All are serving life sentences and are in their 60s and 70s. A sixth member, Susan Atkins, died in prison of brain cancer in 2009. At least three other Manson group members have been paroled after serving time for crimes linked to Manson.  Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme was paroled in 2009 after serving 33 years for a murder attempt against American President Gerald Ford.  Sandra Good was paroled in 1985 after serving nine years for sending threatening letters to more than 150 corporate executives. And Steve Grogan, convicted for helping Manson and Davis kill a ranch hand in 1969, also was paroled in 1985. He drew a map that helped investigators find the body of the victim, eight years after the murder. I'm Caty Weaver. And I'm Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cult - n. a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion and that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous​ gang - n. a group of criminals​ neglectful - adj. not giving enough care or attention to someone or something literate - adj. able to read and write​ symbol - n. a letter, group of letters, character, or picture that is used instead of a word or group of words​ ranch hand - n. a temporary worker on a farm  

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Coffee to Help Power London's Buses

  This is What’s Trending Today… Britain has long been known for its love of tea, but people in London also drink a lot of coffee. In fact, the average Londoner reportedly drinks 2.3 cups of coffee every day. And now, waste coffee grounds will be used to help fuel part of the city’s transportation system. A technology company announced on Monday that some buses will be using a biofuel that contains coffee oil. The company, Bio-bean, and its partner, Argent Energy, say they have made enough coffee oil to power one of London’s famous double-decker buses for a year. The announcement made Bio-bean a trending story on social media. The government agency Transport for London has been turning to biofuels to cut production of carbon emissions. A carbon emission is a gas produced by the burning of carbon. The gas is released into the atmosphere. London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said last month that his city has a “health crisis….caused directly by poor-quality air.” The government has taken steps to discourage people from driving cars that do not meet European Union emissions requirements. Bio-bean said Londoners produce over 200,000 tons of coffee ground waste a year. The company said it collects waste grounds from chain coffee shops and factories. The grounds are dried and processed to remove the coffee oil. “It’s a great example of what can be done when we start to reimagine waste as an untapped resource,” said Bio-bean founder’s Arthur Kay. The coffee fuel technology has been received support from the oil company Royal Dutch Shell. And that’s What’s Trending Today…. I'm Ashley Thompson.    Reuters reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   cup - n.  a small round container that often has a handle and that is used for drinking liquids (such as tea and coffee) emissions - n. something sent out or given off chain - n. a group of businesses (such as stores, restaurants, or hotels) that have the same name and basic appearance and sell the same products or services untapped - adj. available but not used (untapped resources) discourage - v. to try to make people not want to do (something)

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Health Benefits of Pumpkins

Tesla Presents Electric Truck, Updated Sports Car

American electric carmaker Tesla hopes its electric-powered trucks will replace today’s diesel-fueled ones. Tesla founder Elon Musk showed off the new truck, called the Tesla Semi, during a launch event Thursday in Los Angeles. The company also announced a new sports car model. Musk said the truck can travel 800 kilometers on a single electric charge while pulling a full load of 36,000 kilograms. Musk did not give an exact price for the new trucks. Instead, he said the cost of operating the Tesla truck will be less than diesel trucks because of fuel savings and lower maintenance costs. He even claimed that moving goods with the Tesla Semi would cost less than transporting them by train. Musk said production will begin in 2019. The company says interested buyers could pay $5,000 to reserve a truck.  Musk told a crowd gathered to see the launch he believes the new truck’s features are “better in every way” than any current transport trucks on the road. The trucks will be equipped with the same driver-assist system built into some of Tesla’s other vehicles. The Autopilot system can keep vehicles at a set speed and is capable of slowing them down automatically. It can also keep vehicles within traffic lanes. Musk said he can imagine that someday, several Tesla electric trucks will autonomously follow each other down the road. He added that the company plans to build a worldwide system of solar-powered “megachargers” to provide electrical charges for the trucks. He said the system could power trucks for another 640 kilometers after charging for as little as 30 minutes. ​ Tesla and other major manufacturers are making big investments in electric vehicles in a worldwide shift to energy-saving technologies. U.S. government information shows that trucks create nearly one fourth of all transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases are blamed for trapping heat and warming the Earth’s atmosphere. Tesla faces competition in the electric truck market however. German carmakers Volkswagen and Daimler AG are designing their own versions. Daimler recently showed off its first all-electric zero-emission transport truck in Germany.  In the U.S., Nikola Motor Company is developing electric transport trucks powered by hydrogen. It says the trucks will be able travel up to 1,900 kilometers, with a refill time of just 15 minutes. ​ A record-setting sports car also introduced At the publicity event, Musk surprised the crowd with a new model of Tesla’s Roadster. The car unexpectedly drove out of the back of the Tesla Semi. Musk said he was pleased to announce that Tesla was launching the second-generation Roadster, a new version of the first car the company made. Tesla said its updated Roadster will break several world records. Musk said the sports car will be the first vehicle in regular production to reach 100 kilometers an hour in just 1.9 seconds. Musk added that the car will have a travel range of 1,000 kilometers on a single charge, which he said would be a new record for an electric vehicle. “You’ll be able to travel from LA to San Francisco, and back, at highway speed without recharging,” Musk said. Tesla says it plans to begin selling the new Roadster in 2020. However, the car is probably not for everyone. Its starting price, which is for the least costly model, is $200,000. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports 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 maintenance – n. act of keeping property or equipment in good condition by making repairs, correcting problems, etc. reserve – v. make arrangements to be able to use or get something at a later time automatic – adj. having controls that allow something to work or happen without being directly controlled by a person​ lane – n. part of a road marked by painted lines and used for a single line of vehicles autonomous – adj. engaging in an activity separately from other things emission – n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source​ second-generation – n. a second line of a product or products that represent improvements over the first regular – adj. happening or done very often​  

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London Show Looks Back at Prince’s Career

An exhibit in London is offering music lovers a chance to see over 200 items once owned by the recording artist known as Prince. The show is called “My Name is Prince.” It follows his long career in the music industry. Among the personal possessions are special made-to-order guitars, notepads of handwritten song lyrics and some of the clothing Prince wore in his music videos and films. The musician died of an accidental drug overdose of powerful painkilling drugs in 2016. He was only 57 years old. But organizers said he had played a part in making preparations for the exhibition. Angie Marchese is director of archives at Paisley Park, Prince’s home and production house in the American state of Minnesota. She said, “Prince started planning back in the early 2000s to open Paisley Park up for tours – literally writing the first script.” Marchese added that organizers hoped to give visitors a chance to see more of the musician’s private side. “Who he was as the friend, the bandmate, the brother. We hope to kind of tell a little bit of that story as well,” she said. Among the items on display is the purple suit that Prince wore on the cover of his 1984 album “Purple Rain.” His famous “cloud” guitar and a large collection of high-heeled shoes are also part of the show. The exhibit can be seen at The O2 Arena in South-East London. In 2007, he performed 21 times in the arena. A total of about 450,000 people attended those performances. The exhibition has the approval of Prince’s surviving relatives. His sister, Tyka Nelson, had an emotional experience on her first visit. “I didn’t make it 10-15 steps before I started crying and had to go back out,” she said. “It was hard.” Prince sold over 100 million records during a 40-year career. He won seven Grammy Awards from the recording industry. He also won an Academy Award for writing the music heard in his 1984 film “Purple Rain.” The exhibition continues until January 7, 2018. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Mark Hanrahan reported this story for the Reuters news agency. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   exhibition – n. an event at which objects such as works of art are put out in a public space for people to look at; a public show of something lyrics – n. the words of a song overdose – n. an unusually large amount of something archives – n. a place where historical materials are kept tour – n. a series of related performances or appearances display – n. a setting or presentation of something

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Teacher Tools and Resources

In this final appearance of Let's Teach English, we present a collection of classroom management tools for teachers as well as the complete set of teacher and students texts. Thank You to Our Actresses We are grateful to the hard work and patience of our actresses in these videos. Some of the 'students' were international students and Voice of America interns, who spent two weeks working with us and trying to keep up with their other duties, too. Our teacher, Alice Bryant, contributed many wonderful ideas for the series. We also wish to thank Leslie Opp-Beckman and Linda Wesley, who edited all of the documents and course materials, helped to write the scripts, and directed the filming. Examples of Classroom Management In our final video, we explain methods for managing your communicative language classroom. These methods help you to group and organize students, get feedback, reduce teacher talk time and “flip” your classroom Teacher Preparation Video Transcripts Each video transcript for the teacher preparation units is linked below. See the student text section for graphics and handouts used in the videos. Introduction Unit 1: Learning Strategies Unit 2: Listening Unit 3: Speaking Skills and Pronunciation Unit 4: Reading Skills  Unit 5: Role Plays Unit 6: Group Projects Unit 7: Critical Thinking Skills Unit 8: Teaching Visual Literacy Unit 9: English for Specific Purposes and Vocational Language Unit 10: Collaboration Examples of Classroom Management Women Teaching Women English Complete Text Click on the links below to download the student texts.​ Introduction Unit 1: Family (Family Tree Poster) Unit 2: Food Unit 3: Health & Beauty Unit 4: Home & Community Unit 5: Shopping Unit 6: In a Restaurant Unit 7: How Others See the World Unit 8: Plans & Dreams Unit 9: Women at Work Unit 10: Paths to the Future   ​ Women Teaching Women English Listening Files   Conversation Reading Conversation Reading 1: Triplets 1: Mother of Triplets 6: In a Restaurant 6: Celebrating a New Year 2: The Birthday Party 2: How Much Do Healthy Foods Cost? 7: Reading a Coffee Cup 7:Mystery #1 7:Mystery #2 3: Makeup 3: The Dangers of Skin Lightening 8: Prize Winner 8: Girls Ride to School on Bicycles 4: Home and Community 4: Library in a Box 9: Women at Work 9: Women Starting Businesses 5: At The Women's Cooperative 5: Spaniards Shop at Secondhand Stores 10: Paths To The Future 10: US Woman Breaks NASA Space Orbit Record What Do You Think? This is the final episode of this course. Please share it with others who want to teach English.  Email us or write your comment in the comments section below. Poll

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Gerald Ford: Unelected

VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Gerald Ford. Ford was the 38th president, but he was never elected to the position. Instead, an unusual series of events brought him there. Many historians have described Ford as a good man facing a difficult situation. He tried to fix a troubled economy, end United States' involvement in Vietnam, and show people that the U.S. government could continue to operate after a crisis.    Critics from the two main political parties had problems with Ford’s efforts. And voters did not elect him president when they had the chance in 1976. But he is remembered in American history for making many voters feel better about their elected officials.    Early life When he was born, the future president was given his father’s name: Leslie Lynch King. But the boy’s father was abusive. His mother separated from him a short time after their son was born. She asked a court for permission to cancel their marriage. Her request was quickly approved. She and the boy moved from the Midwestern state of Nebraska to Michigan. In a few years, the mother married a man named Gerald Ford. The couple had three sons together. The new family was warm and loving. In time, the oldest boy officially took his step-father’s name and became Gerald Rudolph Ford, Junior. He was called Jerry for short. Growing up, Jerry Ford was a well-liked person and a good student. He was also a top football player. He was named the most valuable player on his team at the University of Michigan. After finishing college, he was offered work with professional football teams. But Ford wanted to continue his education instead. He accepted coaching positions for the football and boxing teams at Yale University in Connecticut. In time, he attended the law school there. Ford’s path to politics was similar to that of other presidents during that period. He worked at a law office in his home state. He fought in World War II. He married. Ford’s wife was Elizabeth Bloomer. Her friends called her Betty. She had been a dancer and worked as a fashion model. The Fords went on to have four children. When Gerald Ford was 35 years old, he launched his political career. The Republican Party chose him as its candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Ford was elected to represent his home area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. But unlike many other politicians, he did not move on to the Senate or become governor of a state. Instead, he stayed in the House of Representatives for 25 years. The job of congressman was, in many ways, a good choice for Ford. He was well-liked by many voters and other lawmakers. He could help different groups come to agreement. He took increasingly important positions on political issues, and in time became the top person in his party in the House. Ford was a strong supporter of Republican presidents. In the 1968 election, Ford advocated for Richard Nixon. Ford liked Nixon’s plans for the United States, as well as his efforts to improve relations with China and the Soviet Union. Both Ford and Nixon were re-elected to their positions in 1972. But by then, major problems had come to light in Nixon’s administration. An unusual path to the White House One problem in the early 1970s related to Nixon’s vice president, Spiro Agnew. Agnew had been vice president since 1969. Five years later, officials found evidence that he had accepted money from contractors, both while Maryland’s governor and as vice president. In answer, Agnew resigned from the vice presidency. Normally, voters elect a vice president along with a president every four years. But by coincidence, the U.S. Constitution had recently been updated to say what happens if the country needs a vice president unexpectedly. It states that the president has to nominate someone for the position. Then, a majority of lawmakers in Congress must agree. So, in 1973, Nixon nominated Gerald Ford to take Agnew’s position. Nixon was not especially close to Ford. But, he knew a majority of lawmakers would likely accept him as vice president. They did.   However, Ford did not serve in the position long. In eight months, another unexpected event put him in the Oval Office. Presidency In August 1974, President Richard Nixon resigned from office. He was the first president to do so. As a result, the vice president, Gerald Ford, became president. Ford was sworn-in as president on August 9, 1974. Then he spoke to the nation on television. He said, “My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.” He told people, “Our Constitution works. Our great republic is a government of laws and not men.” The public had understandably lost a good deal of faith in government officials, and especially in Richard Nixon. Ford wanted to re-establish their trust. But a few weeks after taking office, Ford used his presidential powers to pardon Nixon. The pardon meant that Nixon would never face a criminal trial or, if found guilty, punishment for his actions. Ford said he believed pardoning Nixon would help Americans begin to recover from their painful experience with the former president. But instead, the move angered many people. They believed that Nixon should be held responsible. They also lost some of their trust in Ford. In addition to these political troubles, Ford faced other difficult issues. The American economy was struggling. His administration had to deal with unemployment, inflation and the lasting effects of an energy crisis. The high price of oil imports came at a time when Americans were using more and more gasoline. Ford took steps aimed at improving the economy. But critics said he was not consistent. Some criticized him for increasing government spending and cutting taxes; others criticized him for reducing government spending and raising taxes. Ford also oversaw the withdrawal of Americans from Vietnam. An earlier agreement had brought a ceasefire to groups in South Vietnam, North Vietnam, and Communist forces. The U.S. officially withdrew its combat troops in 1973. But the fighting restarted. Ford asked Congress to approve military and humanitarian aid for the area. But U.S. lawmakers did not approve the full amount. And in time, they cut military aid. In 1975, Communist forces began to take control of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam. Ford ordered all remaining Americans in the country to leave, along with any South Vietnamese who were connected to the United States. He said that, as far as Americans were concerned, the Vietnam War was finished. Americans did not appear to blame Ford for the troubling end of the country’s involvement in Vietnam. And some recognized that the country’s economic and energy problems had started long before he became president. But, in general, Ford did not have the support of Congress. And many voters did not forgive him for pardoning Nixon. In 1976, Ford officially campaigned for president for the first time. He won his party’s nomination in a close race against Ronald Reagan, the former governor of California. But he lost the general election to the Democratic candidate, who said one of his best qualities was that he did not have experience in the federal government. The argument appeared persuasive to many voters, who still did not appear to be enthusiastic about the government. In the 1976 election, nearly half of all people who were legally able to vote chose not to. Ford left the presidency graciously. He said that, because he had not planned to be president, he was thankful for the unexpected opportunity.         Legacy Although Ford said he was ready to retire from politics, he continued to be active in public life. He advised others on government affairs, published books, and sat on boards and committees. His wife, Betty Ford, also left a lasting effect on the public. As first lady, she had spoken about her experience with breast cancer. After her husband left the presidency, she also spoke openly about her battle with alcohol and drug abuse. In 1982, Betty Ford co-founded the Betty Ford Center in California to help people get treatment for drug addiction.    She announced her husband’s death in 2006. Gerald Ford died of heart disease at the age of 93. By that time, most the public had accepted that one of Ford’s biggest achievements was to help the country recover after Nixon resigned. President Bill Clinton gave Ford a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his efforts. And even Jimmy Carter, who beat Ford in the 1976 presidential election, began his inauguration speech by thanking Ford. Carter said, “For myself and for our Nation, I want to thank my predecessor for all he has done to heal our land.” 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 the video, then choose the best answer. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   professional - adj. paid to participate in a sport or activity advocate - v. to support or argue for contractor - n. a person who is hired to perform work or to provide goods at a certain price or within a certain time coincidence - n. a situation in which events happen at the same time in a way that is not planned or expected responsible - adj. used to describe the person or thing that causes something to happen consistent - adj. always acting or behaving in the same way enthusiastic - adj. feeling or showing strong excitement about something graciously - adv. in a way that is very polite and shows respect achievement - n. something that has been done or achieved through effort : a result of hard work  

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American Women Try to Break Barriers in Show Business

  Chelsea Shorte is telling jokes on a cold Wednesday night at an eatery in Alexandria, Virginia. Shorte tells the restaurant-goers, many of them women, about her decision to perform stand-up comedy instead of improvisational humor. "I got tired of being cast as people's moms even though I was 23 years old, she says. Shorte adds that men doing improve comedy think all women are mothers. The women gathered at the restaurant understand her statement. Most of them hope to work as comics. They believe that by working with other women, they can get around the barriers set up by men in show business. Long before the reports of sexual abuse by comedian Louis C.K., reporter Nell Scovell wrote a story for Vanity Fair magazine in 2009. Her story noted accusations against her former employer, television personality David Letterman. "At this moment," her story began, "there are more females serving on the United States Supreme Court than there are writing for Late Show with David Letterman, [and competitors] The Jay Leno Show, and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien combined.” She added that 50 writers were working for these TV shows, and none were women. Comedian and businesswoman Victoria Elena Nones set up the Women in Comedy network, which provided support for the Alexandria restaurant event. "I thought it was really important to provide a space for women to get together," Nones says. She founded the network in Chicago in 2015. It now has groups in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. Nones says she hopes the group will help women find and support each other as they make their own places in an industry that is often hostile to women. Actress and comic Diane Chernansky says she was surprised to realize one of her own jokes talked about the way women are treated in standup comedy. She often finds herself the only woman telling jokes in a room where all the other performers are men. "It's very difficult to sit there and listen to lots of men joke about women in general, and how horrible we are," Chernansky says. The number of female writers on the top 250 films of any year from 1998 to the present has stayed about the same, at 13 percent. Of directors on the top 250 films of 2016, only seven percent were women. Only two percent of those top 250 films employed 10 or more women, noted the Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University. Minorities do not rate much better. The heavily male culture of show business has a strong effect on what is expected of women -- and minorities -- in the industry. Promises are an important part of Hollywood, says E.C. McCarthy.  She recently wrote a story for The Washington Post newspaper. It noted that bad behavior in show business is not limited to sexual abuse, or to performers. The promise of support often opens the possibility for other abuses of power. Harassment is one way to keep people feeling insecure and willing to work for free, McCarthy explains. She detailed one of several times that a male producer tried to take her writing and claim credit for it. McCarthy wrote that when she first became a writer in Hollywood, she thought sexism would end when younger writers entered the industry, but that did not happen. Instead, she discovered, the younger male writers learned to be sexist from the older men. Minka Wiltz says she gets angry when “I walk into a room and feel like a piece of meat.”  Wiltz is a black actress and activist from Atlanta, Georgia. She has a problem with being asked again and again to play black women. Wiltz says abuse is a serious problem in today’s show business culture. She says the way to improve the situation is for women, people of color and other minorities to help each other tell their stories. For example, Atlanta, a city where the majority of the population is African-American, did not have a black theater group until Wiltz and some friends started one. In the past, there have been specialized groups in show business. For example, North Hollywood’s Deaf West Theater sent productions of two musicals to Broadway theaters, where they won awards. The small Ivy Theatre Company in New York chooses women and minorities to perform in shows with stories about their lives. The Ivy show "A Real Boy," is about two puppets who raise a boy as their own son. The show is written by Stephen Kaplan, a gay man who is raising an adopted son with his husband. In Chicago, the popularity of improv comedy means there are many groups of performers, including an Asian-American group called "Stir-Friday Night."  This group has helped the careers of Korean-American actor Steven Yeun and Indian-American Danny Pudi. One of their recent shows made fun of Hollywood for casting of white actress Scarlett Johannsen as a Japanese cyborg in The Ghost in the Shell. The name of the show: 8 Angry Asians, Starring Scarlett Johansson. Wiltz, the Atlanta-based actress, says these groups and many others are supporting the work that the American entertainment industry ignores. "I really hope that people realize you have no more excuses for your own success," she says. "I want people to realize that the Hollywood myth, like the American myth, is just that. You can create your own story." I’m Dorothy Gundy. And I'm Susan Shand   Marissa Melton reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   improvisation (improv) - n. speaking or performing without preparation cast - v. to choose or appoint actors for parts in a play or movie network - n. a group of people or organizations that are closely connected and that work with each other harass - v. to make offensive comments or behave badly; to criticize or make repeated attacks on someone comedy – n. a performance or shot that is meant to make people laugh myth – n. a story that was told in ancient times to explain a belief or natural event puppet – n. a play-thing that is moved by putting your hand inside or by pulling wires that are connected to it gay – adj. showing a sexual interest in someone of the same sex cyborg – n. a person whose body contains electrical or mechanical devices

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Scientists: CO2 Levels Will Rise This Year

International scientists think the amount of carbon dioxide emissions released into Earth’s atmosphere will rise by two percent in 2017. The number represents the first increase in worldwide carbon emissions in three years. The amount produced was unchanged from 2014 to 2016. Carbon dioxide, known by the chemical expression CO2, is a colorless gas found in nature. Many scientists believe that it and other gases released by factories, vehicles and other human activities are responsible for a general warming on our planet. They believe these gases trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere. This effect is known as global warming. Last week, scientists with the Global Carbon Project reported that China, the world’s largest producer of CO2, is the main reason for the increase in emissions. China’s emissions are predicted to rise by over three percent this year. As a result, the scientists warn that emission goals set by the Paris Agreement on climate change will be more difficult to reach. Corinne Le Quere is the lead researcher for the Global Carbon Project. In a statement, she said, “With global CO2 emissions from all human activities estimated at 41 billion tonnes for 2017, time is running out on our ability to keep warming well below 2° Celsius (C), let alone 1.5°C.” The group’s report came as representatives from more than 190 countries met in Germany to discuss details of the climate agreement. Scientists: Paris Agreement goals harder to reach The Paris Agreement on climate change is an international deal meant to keep the Earth’s atmosphere from warming too much. Governments agreed in 2015 on a long-term goal of keeping the global average temperature “to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.” The United Nations website for Paris Agreement issues notes that 170 parties have approved the deal. The United States signed the Paris Agreement in 2016, but President Donald Trump has announced plans to withdraw the U.S. from the deal. He said it does not treat all parties equally and could hurt America’s economic growth. In 2017, U.S. carbon emissions are predicted to decrease by 0.4 percent from the year before. American emissions have been falling for several years, although the decrease is expected to slow in 2017. The Global Carbon Project report blames the increased use of coal for China’s increased emissions and slowing declines in the United States. Little U.S. presence at climate change conference The scientists released their findings in the Global Carbon Budget as the U.N. was holding a conference on climate change in Bonn, Germany. The international gathering was the first of its kind since the U.S. said it plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. However, U.S. State Department officials attended the Bonn conference. So did some U.S. lawmakers and the governor of California, Jerry Brown. The conference is part of a 1994 U.N. convention that sets goals for reducing carbon emissions. The idea of the U.N. effort is to limit temperature increases in the Earth’s atmosphere and the risks tied to climate change. Many of the delegates in Bonn were negotiating details of the Paris Agreement. These include emissions targets for countries that have signed and approved the deal. The agreement, however, is non-binding, meaning it does not have the force of law. Developing nations want rich ones to pay for some of the effects of climate change. Many poor countries have added little to carbon emissions but say they face high costs linked to environmental and pollution controls. Crop loss, drought, floods and rising sea levels are a few of the costly problems tied to climate change. Rich countries say they are already paying billions of dollars to help developing nations with useful technologies, such as renewable energy. Other reports describe possible changes to climate Earlier this month, the U.S. government released its own report on climate research. The study was overseen by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It found that the average temperature worldwide increased by one degree Celsius over the past 115 years. The government report said: “It is extremely likely that human activities, especially emissions of greenhouse gases, are the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century.” The report warned of risks linked to rising temperatures, such as shrinking arctic ice cover and rising sea levels. It noted that, on average, sea levels have risen between 16 and 21 centimeters since 1900. About seven centimeters of that increase has taken place since 1993. That is the first year that satellites were used to measure sea levels. I’m Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter reported this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on stories from VOANews.com, Reuters and the Associated Press. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   emissions – n. a material that is given off or released party – n. a person, group of country taking one side of an issue or dispute decline – v. to go down, to be reduced in number or amount convention – n. a formal agreement between two or more groups greenhouse gases – n. a group of gasses that trap heat and are linked to increased temperatures in the atmosphere including carbon dioxide and methane dominant – adj. more important, the most common We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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North Korea Slowly Goes Online

Slowly, North Korea is entering the online world. Thanks to technology, North Korean doctors can talk to patients through online video conferencing. Speeches given at Kim Il Sung University in Pyongyang, the capital, can be seen at faraway factories. North Koreans send text messages to each other on their smartphones. People are even buying products and doing their banking online. Yet North Korea is still among the least internet-friendly countries on Earth. For most citizens, having a connection to the World Wide Web is unimaginable. Hardly anyone has a personal computer or an email address that is not shared. But for Kim Jong Un, the country’s first leader to grow up in the internet age, the idea of a more wired North Korea is also appealing. It comes with the promise of new forms of social and political control, and the possibility of cyber-attacks on the West. The North Korean government’s solution is a two-level system where the upper class can use the internet more freely while others use a national intranet. The intranet system is cut off from the outside world and closely watched by the government. Using the intranet in North Korea Pak Sung Jin is a 30-year-old postgraduate student in chemistry. He goes to the Sci-Tech Complex, on Ssuk Island, to do his school work. The large building, a science and technology center, houses North Korea’s largest e-library. It has more than 3,000 computers where people can do research or study subjects. Pak has some experience with the internet, but on a supervised, need-only basis. If he needs anything from the World Wide Web, university officials will find it for him. One recent day, Pak used North Korea’s national intranet called “Kwangmyong.” An official at the Sci-Tech Complex said the intranet has 168 sites. Pak also uses a browser called “Naenara”, which means “my country” in Korean. It is like a version of FireFox, except only North Koreans can use it. North Korea’s national intranet is unusual, even compared to other countries with internet restrictions. Countries like China and Iran, for example, control what their citizens see online, but through censorship and blocking, not complete separation. A protected system Most North Korean computers use the “Red Star” operating system, developed from Linux open-source coding. Red Star 3.0 has the usual software like the Naenara browser, email, and even “kPhoto”. Many of the programs look like Apple products. Any attempt to change its operations or remove virus checkers results in the computer restarting. Files downloaded from USBs are marked so that officials can identify criminal activity. This prevents the spread of information from other countries. Red Star also takes screenshots of what is being shown on computer screens. The images cannot be removed and are only available to trained government officials. Nat Kretchun is with the U.S. government-financed Open Technology Fund. He says the software in Red Star and the mobile operating systems of phones and tablets show a new way for the North Korean government to control information. In the past, information in North Korea was mainly controlled through government agents, such as the State Security Ministry’s “thought police.” But in the internet age, North Korean officials have learned to use online devices as another tool for gathering information. North Korean smartphones The most common online experience for North Koreans is on a smartphone. Ten years ago, only a small number of military officials had such devices. Now, the main phone provider says there are 2.5 to 3 million mobile phones in North Korea, a country of 25 million people. The spread of mobile phones is one of the biggest success stories during the rule of Kim Jong Un. It began in 2008 under former leader Kim Jong Il, and has risen quickly over the past five years. It is easy for North Koreans to buy telephones, but the phones must be registered and approved. With local phones, North Koreans are able to call, text, play games, go on the national intranet, and use other services. But they cannot receive or make calls to numbers outside that network. Wi-fi use is also banned for North Koreans. Foreigners in North Korea must use a different system and cannot make calls to, or receive calls from, local numbers. They can buy local phones if they want, but the apps and normal software will be removed. It will also be coded so that the apps cannot be added later. Internet access for cyber-attacks While blocking most North Koreans from the internet, the government gives access to a small group of people, including North Korean leaders and the upper-class. There is strong evidence that the government gives people involved in cyber-attacks the access they need. U.S. officials say the North launched the WannaCry attack, which infected hundreds of thousands of computers in May and damaged parts of Britain’s National Health Service. North Korean hackers have been linked to attacks on the Bangladeshi central bank last year and on South Korean banks going back to 2013. There was also the 2014 hack of Sony Pictures over the release of the “Interview,” a film dealing with a plot to kill Kim Jong Un. The North Korean government has denied hacking accusations. Beau Woods of the Cyber Statecraft Initiative at the Atlantic Council warned that a more cyber-active North Korea could be very dangerous.   Eric Talmadge reported this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What is internet access like 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   censorship – n. the suppression or prohibition of any parts of books, films, or new reports that are considered politically unacceptable or a threat to security. code – v. to write a computer program basis – n. something on which something else is based cyber – adj. relating to the culture of computers and information technology e-learning – n. learning through electronic media, usually on the Internet intranet – n. a local or restricted communications system, especially a private network created using World Wide Web software Linux – n. an open-source operating system online – adj. controlled by or connected to another computer or to a network feature – n. a part or the appearance of something

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