Can Cameras and Machines Recognize Lying in Your Face?

  One of the most popular tools on Apple's new iPhone X is its facial recognition system. This latest iPhone gives users the power to open the device just by looking at it. The smartphone has performed well in tests set up to trick it into opening for an unapproved user. The same kind of facial recognition system is also used for other purposes. One area that will depend heavily on the technology in the future is lie detection. Traditional lie detection machines, called polygraphs, use sensors connected to the body to measure physical changes in the body. These include blood pressure, breathing and heart rates and the amount of perspiration on the skin. The person is asked a series of questions during the test. Any physical changes are studied to see which questions caused the reactions. The operator of the test then makes a decision about whether the results suggest the individual was lying or not. In the future, experts say, lie detector tests will be carried out by systems that use video and machines. Researchers have a term for the intelligence shown by computers and other mechanical devices: artificial intelligence. One company developing this kind of system is SilverLogic Labs in Seattle, Washington. SilverLogic Labs calls its high-tech lie detector a “passive polygraph.” The most important piece of equipment is a video camera, which captures all a person’s visual and spoken reactions. Jerimiah Hamon is the company's chief executive officer. He says the video images gather data that is then processed to make a decision about truthfulness.  “We’re breaking it (footage) down into data and then using quant methods, or quantitative math, and deep learning from the videos to determine how a person’s emotional responses are tied to some stimulus. So in this instance, it was questions.” This technology is not new. It was first developed to measure the reactions people had while watching movies and television shows. Earlier studies showed this method was more exact in learning the true feelings of individuals who might try to suppress their honest opinions when answering questions. SilverLogic Labs uses an algorithm to study the video of facial reactions of test subjects. It seeks to identify emotions, including anger, happiness and fear. Rabia Piacentini is the company’s operations manager. She says the camera can gather detailed information to measure a number of emotional reactions. The data is processed by the machine, which then decides how truthful the subject is being. In a demonstration of the system, the machine detects sadness. “Have you ever hurt someone intentionally?” “Yes.” The tester says this suggests the subject is lying since many people show visual emotions when not telling the truth. The idea of a video camera recording emotional responses and testing truthfulness – possibly even secretly - raises questions about privacy.  But SilverLogic Labs rejects those concerns. It says privacy only becomes a problem when the technology is misused. The company’s Jerimiah Hamon said he also believes a machine lie detector can be a better judge than a human tester. “I think this is actually a super enhancement to civil rights, because cameras and computers aren’t biased to race, ethnicity, age, gender - any of that." In another use of the technology, the United States and Canada have studied how facial recognition systems might be used to detect lying at the border. The system is called the Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real Time, or AVATAR. It uses a computer-generated face that asks travelers a series of questions. A camera inside the machine studies how the person reacts. It can recognize changes in the eyes and voice, as well as any body movements. If the system identifies a traveler as possibly lying, that person could be stopped and asked to complete additional security testing. Developers of this technology say it could be used for other purposes as well. They believe it could help police detect untruthfulness and might be used by companies interviewing people for employment.    I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His story was based on reports from the Reuters news service and other sources. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sensor – n. a device that detects or senses heat, light, sound, motion and then reacts to it in a particular way perspiration – n. clear liquid that forms on skin when a person is hot or nervous passive – adj. something that happens without specific action being taken visual – adj. related to seeing quantitative – adj. relating to how much there is of something stimulus – n. something that causes something else to happen algorithm – n. set of steps that are followed in order to solve a mathematical problem or to complete a computer process enhancement – n. an improvement in something detection – n. the act of identifying the presence of something data – n. facts, numbers and other information  

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Former Bosnian Serb Commander Found Guilty of Genocide, War Crimes

  A United Nations’ Yugoslav war crimes court has ruled against former Bosnian Serb army leader Ratko Mladic. Mladic was found guilty of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for actions during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia during the 1990s. The court found him guilty on 10 of the 11 charges he faced, including persecution, extermination, murder, terror and unlawful attacks on civilians. He was sentenced to life in prison. The court said Mladic tried to destroy the Bosnian Muslim population in the town of Srebrenica. And it said that, in Sarajevo, he personally directed a campaign of shelling and sniping meant to spread terror among civilians. It noted that Mladic had talked about a desire to create an ethnically homogenous Bosnian Serb republic. Mladic was in the courtroom on Wednesday, but was not present when a judge started reading the court’s findings. He asked to go to the restroom for five minutes, but did not return for 45 minutes. His lawyer said Mladic’s blood pressure was dangerously high. He asked the judge to either stop reading the verdict or go straight to the judgment. When the judge refused, Mladic began shouting until he was removed from the courtroom. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein is the United Nations’ human rights chief. In a statement, he called the court’s ruling a “momentous victory for justice” and the “epitome of what international justice is all about.” He also said the “verdict is a warning to the perpetrators of such crimes that they will not escape justice, no matter how powerful they may be nor how long it may take.” Mladic is the last former military leader to face war crimes charges in the court, which was set up to deal with the crimes that took place during the Bosnian war. The fighting lasted from 1992 until 1995, when the Dayton Peace Accord was signed. The agreement kept Bosnia as one country divided into two parts: the Serb Republic and the Bosnia-Croat Federation. Mladic was charged with leading sniper campaigns in Sarajevo and with the 1995 killings of more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica. In 1995, at the end of the war, Mladic lived in Serbia, protected by family members and members of security forces. Many Serbs consider him to be a war hero. He was able to avoid arrest for almost 16 years. He was arrested at the home of a family member in rural northern Serbia in 2011. He has been in jail for more than five years. Radovan Karadzic was the political leader of the Bosnian Serbs. In March, 2016 he was found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to 40 years in prison. I’m Bryan Lynn. VOA’s Chris Hannas reported this story from Washington. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   persecute – v. to treat (someone) cruelly or unfairly especially because of race or religious or political beliefs exterminate – v. to destroy or kill (a group of animals, people, etc.) completely snipe – v. to shoot at someone from a hidden place homogenous – adj. made up of the same kind of people or things momentous – adj. very important; having great or lasting importance epitome – n. a perfect example; an example that represents or expresses something very well  perpetrate – v. to do (something that is illegal or wrong)

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The Problem with Long-Term Leaders

  Many countries place limits on the amount of time a leader can serve in office. The need to change leaders after a limited number of terms in office is written into the laws of a number of countries. This is often because many people believe that leaders with too much power for too long become corrupt. Limiting a person’s time in office is seen by many as a way to improve governance. Some leaders, however, do not agree. There are leaders who go so far as to change their country’s constitution to remain in power. A wealthy Sudanese businessman, Mohamed Ibrahim, thought of a way to influence leaders to willingly give up power. He promised a reward of $5 million for any African leader who led his country well and who observed term limits in the interest of democracy. Since 2007, only four presidents have received what is known as the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. A number of leaders of African countries have been in power for generations. Paul Biya of Cameroon is the longest-serving leader in the world. His 42 years as either prime minister or president have been marked with election fraud and human rights abuses. Biya spends a lot of time in Switzerland at the Hotel InterContinental in Geneva. He has been criticized as one of the world’s worst dictators. He also convinced the National Assembly to change the Constitution to remove term limits. The BBC reported in 2012 that Biya spent a vacation in France three years earlier in which he spent $40,000 a day on 43 hotel rooms. Teodoro Obiang Nguema became the president of Equatorial Guinea in 1979, after deposing his uncle. At every election, with or without an opponent, Obiang wins over 90 percent of the vote. Last year, he appointed his son, Teodorin Obiang, as the vice president. In February 2012, French police raided a mansion in Paris belonging to Obiang and they discovered luxury goods inside worth millions of dollars. In July 2012, the French issued an arrest warrant for Obiang. Police seized the mansion, and Obiang was found guilty of money laundering, although he was not present for the trial. Long-serving leaders are not only in Africa, however. Nursultan Nazarbayev has been the president of Kazakhstan for 33 years. In May 2007, the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved a constitutional amendment. The law permits Nazarbayev to seek re-election as many times as he wishes. This amendment applies only to Nazarbayev. It states that the first president will have no limits on how many times he can run for office. Subsequent presidents, however, will be limited to a five-year term. Opposition members often claim he has hidden more than $1 billion in a Swiss bank. Kim Il-sung was the leader of North Korea from 1948 until 1994, serving as either a prime minister or president. He passed power to his son, Kim Jong-il and then to his grandson, Kim Jong Un. These three generations are considered responsible for creating a “cult of personality” in the country. However, North Korea’s economy has declined in the last 50 years. United Nations experts on North Korea say this economic weakness led to a four-year famine in the mid-1990s that caused the deaths of up to 3 million people. Leaders who serve without limits are often called dictators. They often attack opposition members. Another result of having an unlimited leader is that often economic and technological development slows. For this reason, many western democracies have put limitations on their leaders, including the United States. America’s 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, was elected to four presidential terms, serving from 1933 until his death in 1945. After the death of the only American president to serve more than two terms, the U.S. Congress approved the 22nd Amendment to the Constitution. The amendment says “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” I’m Susan Shand Susan Shand wrote this story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________   Words in This Story   depose - v. to remove (someone) from a powerful position mansion - n. a large and impressive house : the large house of a wealthy person luxury - n. a condition or situation of great comfort, ease, and wealth money-laundering - v. to make money acquired through corruption appear to be honest subsequent - adj. happening or coming after something else cult –n.  a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone very much or too much  

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How Did Thanksgiving 'Turkey' Get its Name?

  The U.S. Thanksgiving holiday is symbolized by its traditional food, a large bird we call a turkey. But turkey is certainly not from Turkey. In fact, its English name is based on one big mistake. We could say it is a case of mistaken identity. Let’s set the record straight. The word “Turkey” has meant “the land of the Turks” since ancient times. The word “turkey” as it refers to the bird first appeared in the English language in the mid-1500s. The misunderstanding over the word happened because of two similar-looking kinds of birds. There is an African bird called the guinea fowl. It has dark feathers with white spots and a patch of brown on the back of its neck. Portuguese traders brought the guinea fowl to Europe through North Africa. This foreign bird came to Europe through Turkish lands. So, the English thought of the bird as a “Turkish chicken.” When Europeans came to North America, they saw a bird that looked like the guinea fowl. This bird was native to the North American continent. Orin Hargraves is a lexicographer, someone who writes dictionaries. Hargraves explains what happened. “Some Europeans saw an American turkey, thought that it was the guinea fowl, which at that time was called the ‘turkey cock,’ and so gave it the same name." Hundreds of years later, we continue to call this North American bird “turkey,” even though it has no connection at all with the country Turkey, or even with Europe. But English is not the only language with interesting -- and even questionable -- names for this North American bird. The Turkish, for their part, call turkey “hindi,” the Turkish name for India. The reference to India probably comes from the old, wrong idea that the New World was in Eastern Asia. The French call it “dinde,” a name that also connects the bird to India. “D’Inde” means “from India” in the French language. “Turkey” has similar names in several other languages. So, what do they call this North American bird in India? Well, in the Hindi language, “turkey” is “tarki.” But wait, there’s more. In Portuguese, the same bird is called “Peru,” after the South American nation. Thanks to our VOA Learning English Facebook friends, we have a few more names for “turkey” to share with you. The Vietnamese word for the bird is “gà tây” or western chicken. Our Facebook friend Nguyen Duc explains that “local chicken is smaller than western chicken.” A Facebook friend in Myanmar explained that the Burmese word for “turkey” is “kyat sin.” The name translates to “elephant chicken” in English. “That animal looks like a big chicken,” Zaw Myo Win explained. The Dari language name for the bird, "fel murgh" also translates to “elephant chicken.” Abdulla Kawer explained to us that “here in Afghanistan this name represents the size of this delicious meal.” He adds that he thinks the descriptive name “elephant chicken” is “better than a country name.” I’m Ashley Thompson.   Ashley Thompson wrote this report, based on an earlier Learning English report by Anna Matteo. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.    How do you say 'turkey' in your language? Let us know in the comments section! ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   symbolize - v. to represent or express a particular idea or quality translate - v. to change words from one language into another language​

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November 22, 2017

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

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Europe's Roma Do Not Have Equal Education

  The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority. Official reports say the group, also known as Romani people, has up to 12 million members in Europe. The Roma are among Europe's most disadvantaged populations. Across the continent, a high number of Roma experience social exclusion: They are often treated differently from other Europeans in the workplace, in housing and education. In several countries, Roma children attend the poorest schools or face discrimination in schools where they are the minority. Some children are unfairly sent to "special education" centers for students with learning difficulties. In other cases, the children may be denied access to education because they lack documentation. Or they are simply unable to attend classes because they live far from the nearest school. As a result, Roma communities often suffer from low levels of education. International experts say this has created a form of inter-generational poverty. ​Low registration and high drop-out rates Throughout Europe, Roma children have lower school registration and attendance rates and higher dropout rates than the general population. In central and southeastern Europe, only about 20 percent of the children complete primary school compared to 90 percent of non-Roma youngsters. And a 2012 study of 11 European Union, or EU nations found that only 15 percent of Roma children finish upper-secondary school or job-related training. Nora Shabani is an education specialist for UNICEF -- the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. She told VOA that many Roma children have a number of needs, and school access alone is only one. "They lack food. They lack clothing. They lack documents. They have problems with the language of instruction, and these needs really require engagement from many partners and service providers." In addition, experts say, Roma children face discrimination and even racism in some schools, one reason they leave school at a higher rate than non-Roma children. Language, too, is a barrier. And, some stop attending classes to help the family earn money, take care of the home, or because they are expected to marry. Realities of Roma life in Europe Even with these realities, Romani people are not a homogenous group. A growing Roma middle class exists. Some Roma communities have remained settled in parts of Europe for hundreds of years, while other Roma are more nomadic. The ancestors of modern Roma came from Northern India. They migrated to the continent about 1,000 years ago. Most live in central and eastern Europe, but for centuries, smaller communities of Romani have existed in Western Europe. In recent years, more Roma have been moving to Britain, France and other countries in search of a better life.   For a long time, Roma have been the subject of myths about their culture, like that they prefer stealing or asking for money from strangers to working hard. Today, fewer than 1 in 3 Roma in 11 EU countries have a job, and 90 percent live in poverty. In central and southeastern Europe, Roma unemployment rates are more than five times that of the general population. But extreme poverty was not always the case. A European Commission report notes that, for years, Roma were well-established in rural areas. They worked mainly in trade occupations, such as blacksmithing and craftsmanship, or as musicians. But industrialization, the end of communist rule in Eastern Europe, and the Balkan wars of the 1990s combined to cause intense hardship for Roma. ​Six million Roma live in the European Union, and most are EU citizens, which means they have the right to live in any EU member country. Yet many people in Western Europe often think of Roma as foreigners or outsiders. Indeed, a number of European leaders speak openly of the "Roma problem" and ways to slow their migration.​ Housing and school access In Western Europe, many Roma migrants live in informal camps. They have little access to running water and waste removal systems. In France, for example, between 15,000 and 20,000 Roma live in informal camps and face threats of eviction. And, two-thirds of the children rarely go to school or do not attend at all. Radost Zaharieva is from the European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC) – a public interest law group. She is the country representative for France.   Zaharieva says that access to education for Roma children in France is tied to their housing. “These families face repeated forced evictions, some of them many times per year, which is a real barrier for them to settle in one place and to have the needed time for doing every administrative procedure to get access (to) their rights.” Most French cities require a residency permit for school enrollment. Some non-governmental organizations and community centers do provide families with mailing addresses. But it is each city’s mayor who decides whether to accept them. ​Evictions from camps are also common for Roma in Italy. Rosa Mangiacavallo is the Italian representative to the ERRC. In an email, she noted children in informal camps there can enroll in school but said the evictions prevent enrollment and regular attendance. In addition, she said, the camps are often set up in industrial areas, far from schools. In a 2016 statement, the Council of Europe, the United Nations and other agencies warned European officials that they are required to offer housing options to homeless individuals. They also said that continued evictions prevent Roma children from accessing education and healthcare. Roma children face continued segregation For the majority of children in non-EU member countries, there are three fairly common situations: poorly financed schools where most students are Roma; schools where Roma are the minority; and special education centers for children with learning disabilities. In areas where most students are Roma, UNICEF’s Nora Shabani notes, the schools are overcrowded, buildings are in poor condition, and teacher quality is low. In schools where Roma children are the minority, she says, they can face discrimination from administrators, teachers and students. They often are sent to separate classes or kept separate from other children within the classroom. The Open Society Institute found that negative beliefs about the academic ability of Roma children are common throughout Central and Eastern Europe. Sometimes, Shabani adds, Roma are given academic placement tests. “Very often, because of discrimination, Roma children are not accepted and, even worse, they often have to go (take) entry tests and during these tests, they are often given qualification (the result) as they are not eligible to attend regular education and they are directed toward 'special' schools.” The system of sending Romani children to special education schools is now being fought in courts throughout Europe.   Closing the achievement gap A 2011 study by Central European University and Hungarian Academy of Sciences looked at reading and mathematics tests. The study found that the achievement gap between Roma and non-Roma children is the result of social disadvantages, such as poverty and the parents' lack of access to the labor market. Between 2005 and 2015, a 12-country program called the Decade of Roma Inclusion sought to address social inclusion and the socio-economic condition of the Roma. Shabani says that the Roma Decade was successful in increasing access to school for Roma children. But, she notes, access alone does not keep children in school. She says early childhood education will address most of the social and economic disadvantages Roma children face. Both UNICEF and the World Bank note that access to preschool would lower the chances of Roma children being sent to "special" schools and increase their chances of completing secondary schools. Beyond grade school, non-governmental organizations such as the Roma Education Fund offer a number of university scholarships to Roma students. In addition, some European universities now have admissions policies designed to support Roma student. Others offer programs that help the students prepare for college. I'm Alice Bryant. And I’m Bryan Lynn.   Alice Bryant wrote this story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   disadvantage - n. something that makes someone or something worse or less likely to succeed than others access - n. a way of being able to get or use something primary school - adj. a school in which children receive primary education, usually between ages 5-12, coming after pre-school and before secondary education homogeneous - adj. made up of the same kind of people or things nomadic - adj. a member of a group of people who move from place to place instead of living in one place all the time myth - n. an idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true informal camps - n. a place where people build temporary shelters to live eviction - n. the act of forcing someone to leave a place procedure - n. a series of actions that are done in a certain way or order enrollment - n. the act of registering a child for school negative - adj. harmful or bad eligible - adj. able to do or receive something achievement gap - n. differences in educational performance or attainment among different groups of students

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What is the History of the Presidential Turkey Pardon?

  Every year, at a ceremony at the White House, the American president "pardons" a turkey. Instead of becoming part of a Thanksgiving dinner in the United States, the bird's life is saved. Stories on the origins of the presidential turkey "pardon" are numerous. Some of these stories date back to the presidency of Abraham Lincoln during the U.S. Civil War. Edward Lengel is the chief historian of the White House Historical Association. "He (the president) had a son named Ted, who joked with Abraham Lincoln about his pet turkey that he had, who was strolling around the voting booths in 1864. And Abraham Lincoln asked why he was strolling around. Is he (the turkey) here to vote?” The boy answered that his turkey could not vote because he was too young. "Therefore," Lengel said, "Abraham Lincoln pardoned his turkey and forgave him the possibility of being killed for the Thanksgiving table." Some people say a later president, Harry Truman, was the originator of the modern-day turkey pardon. But the Truman Library and Museum disputes this claim. According to the library's website, workers have found no evidence of "Truman pardoning a turkey that he received as a gift in 1947, or at any other time during his Presidency. " Almost 20 years after Truman's presidency, President John F. Kennedy decided to spare a turkey brought to the White House for the Thanksgiving meal. He reportedly said: ‘No, I think I’ll pardon this turkey and let it grow.’ Edward Lengel notes that Kennedy was the first president to give an official pardon. “We know that John F Kennedy definitely began this tradition and it has continued on and off ever since.” After 1981, the custom of sending the pardoned turkey to a farm became accepted practice during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Even if the presidents pardon turkeys before Thanksgiving, they generally still eat a different turkey on the holiday. The bird cooked for the president’s meal is bought with his own money and prepared according to his taste and that of his family. I'm John Russell. Nikoleta Iliclreported on this story for VOA News. John Russell adapted the report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in the Story   turkey – n.  a large American bird that is related to the chicken and that is hunted or raised by people for its meat stroll – v. to walk slowly in usually a pleasant and relaxed way. The verb can be followed by along, down, across, or around. origin – n. beginnings or roots booth – n. a temporary structure for shelter or some other purpose originator – n. the person who began something; the person who created something spare – v. to choose not to punish or harm (someone)

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More Powerful Men in Media Accused of Sexual Abuse

  Well-known men in media and entertainment continue to be publicly accused of sexual wrongdoing. Two of the latest are Charlie Rose and Glenn Thrush. Rose is a longtime American reporter and television host. Thrush is the White House reporter for the New York Times newspaper. Eight women came forward with allegations against Rose in a Washington Post report Monday. The women, who all worked for or sought work with Rose, accused him of touching them and walking naked in front of them. One woman said Rose told her he had dreamed about her swimming naked. Rose, who is 75, said in a statement that he was “deeply embarrassed” and apologized for his actions. Rose hosts a nightly interview show that airs on the Public Broadcasting Service. The show could be seen in 94 of the United States on PBS television stations. He was also on a popular morning show on CBS News. CBS fired Rose Tuesday. PBS has announced it would stop distributing Rose’s interview show. Three women permitted the Post to use their names in the deeply reported story, including Reah Bravo. She started working for Rose in 2007, first as an intern and later as a producer. She told the newspaper: “He was a sexual predator, and I was his victim.” She said Rose groped her several times. She said he also once asked her to come to his hotel room, and when she arrived, he appeared before her naked. Another accuser, Kyle Godfrey-Ryan, served as Rose’s assistant in the mid-2000s when she was 21. She said Rose repeatedly called her in the morning and late at night to describe his dreams of her swimming naked in the pool at his home. Godfrey-Ryan said she was dismissed from her job after Rose learned she had spoken about his behavior to a friend they both knew. The third identified woman, Megan Creydt, worked for Rose’s interview show in 2005 and 2006. She said he put his hand on the upper part of her leg when they were in a car together in New York City. Five other women told the Post similar stories. They said Rose appeared to be testing them for reactions when he touched them. Rose described his behavior as insensitive at times and he said “I accept responsibility for that, though I do not believe that all of these allegations are accurate.” Two hours after the Rose story was published, a Post reporter tweeted “sadly, my inbox is already flooded with women who have had similar, disturbing encounters with Charlie Rose.” New reports of sexual wrongdoing have continued since The New York Times first reported about Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein’s behavior in early October. On Monday, The New York Times suspended its own White House correspondent for reports of similar wrongdoing. The paper says it is investigating accusations that Glenn Thrush touched women against their will. Laura McGann worked with Thrush at the news media company Politico. She wrote on Monday that Thrush kissed her and placed his hand on her upper leg one night in a bar. Thrush worked at Politico from 2009 until 2016. He joined the Times in January of this year. In a statement the Times called the reported behavior “very concerning.”   I’m Ashley Thompson. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   naked  - adj. not wearing any clothes : not covered by clothing embarrassed - adj. feeling confused and foolish in front of other people​ interview - n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information for a news story​ fire - v. to dismiss from employment distribute - v. to give or deliver (something) to people​ intern - n. a student or recent graduate who works for a period of time at a job in order to get experience allegations - n. ​a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal​ accurate - adj. ​free from mistakes or errors​ grope - v. to touch (someone) in an unwanted and unexpected sexual way predator  - n. a person who looks for other people in order to use, control, or harm them in some way bar - n. ​ a building or room where alcoholic drinks and sometimes food are served​ inbox - n. ​an electronic folder in which emails received by someone are held. disturbing - adj. ​causing nervousness; worrying. encounter - n. ​a usually brief experience with another person​ correspondent - n. a person whose job is to send news to a newspaper, radio station, or television program often from different places around the world

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US Renews State Terror Declaration for North Korea

  The United States has again listed North Korea as a state supporter of terrorism. The move permits new sanctions to pressure North Korea to end its banned nuclear and long-distance missile activities. The U.S. decision was welcomed by South Korea and Japan. In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters Japan supports the step as a way to increase pressure on North Korea. South Korea’s foreign ministry said it sees the decision "as part of the international community's joint efforts to take North Korea to the path of denuclearization." China reacted carefully to the decision. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang called the current situation “highly sensitive.” He said it would be “helpful to bring all parties back to the negotiation table, instead of doing the opposite.” The U.S. move returned North Korea to a State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism. The only other countries on the list are Iran, Syria and Sudan. North Korea was first placed on the list in 1988 after agents of the government destroyed a South Korean passenger airplane, killing 115 people. The U.S. removed North Korea from the list in 2008 when the country met international requirements for limiting its nuclear program. President Donald Trump spoke about the decision Monday. He said the terror declaration “should have happened years ago.” Trump also called the North Korean government “a murderous regime.” A State Department official told VOA the U.S. had determined that North Korea had “repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism," including assassinations on foreign soil. Placing North Korea on the list is part of a campaign by the Trump administration to pressure North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program. That campaign already includes a series of United Nations Security Council sanctions meant to punish North Korea for its nuclear and missile tests. North Korea has said it will never end its nuclear weapons program, which it considers necessary for its defense against a possible U.S. attack. Trump said the new measures announced “will be the highest level of sanctions” put in place so far against North Korea. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters the sanctions already in place are having an effect. He said there is evidence that the restrictions have led to fuel shortages and less income for North Korea. Tillerson urged China to take more steps to cut fuel supplies to the North. About 90 percent of North Korea's trade is with China. But China has resisted major economic measures that could cause North Korea to collapse. Tillerson said he still hopes for a peaceful solution. With the new sanctions in place, he warned North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, “This is only going to get worse until you're ready to come and talk.'' I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 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   sanction – n. measures taken by countries to force other nations to obey international law, usually by limiting trade or finance sensitive – adj. easily upset by things people say or do regime – n. form of government determined – adj. wanting to do something very much without letting anything stop it assassination – n. the killing of someone, usually for political reasons  

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November 21, 2017

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

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Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe Resigns

  Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has resigned after 37 years in office. Parliamentary speaker Jacob Mudenda read Mugabe’s resignation letter to Zimbabwe’s Parliament Tuesday. Mugabe wrote, “My decision to resign is voluntary on my part and arises from my concern for the welfare of the people of Zimbabwe and my desire for a smooth, non-violent transfer of power.” The letter said the resignation was effective immediately. Celebrations broke out in parliament. Lawmakers had gathered to begin legal action to remove the 93-year-old Mugabe from office. People also danced in the streets of Harare and blew car horns in reaction to the announcement. The Zimbabwean military placed Mugabe under house arrest on November 15. The military took action a little more than a week after Mugabe dismissed Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa. That dismissal appeared to put Mugabe’s wife, Grace, in a position to become the next leader. Pressure to resign increased after statement Mugable’s ruling ZANU-PF party had been pressuring him to resign since his house arrest. Hundreds of thousands of Zimbabweans publicly demonstrated in protest of the ousted president. On Sunday, Mugabe spoke to the nation. He said he would remain in office and lead the ZANU-PF meeting in December. His statement led lawmakers to take action to remove him from office. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC party spoke Tuesday before the resignation announcement. He said the culture of the ruling party “must end” and everyone must work together toward free and fair elections. Mugabe has led Zimbabwe since it became a fully independent and recognized country in 1980. But the country’s economy had weakened severely, leading to calls that Mugabe step down. I’m Caty Weaver. Caty Weaver wrote this story for Learning English based on VOA, AP and Reuters news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story welfare – n. the state of being happy, healthy, or successful​ transfer – v. to move (someone or something) from one place to another​ horn –​ n. a device that makes a loud noise​  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2zWOXBK
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