Militants Kill More Than 230 in Sinai Mosque Attack

  Egyptian media say suspected militants have killed more than 230 people in an attack on a mosque in the northern Sinai Peninsula. Egypt’s state-operated news agency reported that officials said the attack took place in a town west of the provincial capital, el-Arish. The officials said extremists targeted the al-Rawdah mosque during Friday prayers. Arab media reported that militants in four-wheel-drive vehicles opened fire on people inside the mosque after an explosion. Media reports said this information came from a man who claimed he was inside the religious center at the time of the attack. Eyewitnesses said the militants fired on emergency rescue vehicles as workers tried to take the wounded to hospitals. Egyptian military airplanes reportedly attacked suspected terrorist targets in the Sinai following the mosque attack. The Egyptian government has declared three days of mourning. Shortly after the attack, Israel expressed its condolences to Egypt. Israel and Egypt signed a peace treaty in 1979 and have cooperated closely on security issues since then. In the United States, President Donald Trump denounced the attack. He said, “The world cannot tolerate terrorism, we must defeat them militarily and discredit the extremist ideology that forms the basis of their existence!” Trump’s comments appeared in a statement on Twitter. Egypt's security forces have been fighting supporters of the self-declared Islamic State group, mostly in the northern Sinai. Militants have killed hundreds of police officers and soldiers since fighting there intensified three years ago. In July, more than 20 soldiers were killed when vehicles carrying bombs exploded at two military positions in the Sinai. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for those attacks. The militants have also carried out attacks beyond the Sinai, striking Christian religious centers and civilians in other parts of Egypt. In May, gunmen killed 29 people in an attack on a Coptic Christian group as it was traveling by bus to a remote desert monastery. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Isabela Cocli reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted her report for Learning English, with additional information from the Reuter news agency. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   condolence – n. sympathy tolerate – v. to accept or permit beyond – adj. outside; away from monastery – n. a home or center for religious workers remote - adj. far from someone or something  

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English @ the Movies: 'Pick A Fight'

"Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" is about two action super-heroes. Batman and Superman end up in a fight. Our English @ the Movies phrase we are talking about is "pick a fight." What do you think that means? Listen and find out.

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America's Presidents - Jimmy Carter

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Thanksgiving and English Verbs

  Every year around the Thanksgiving holiday, a strange ceremony happens in Washington, DC. The president stands outside the White House, gives a brief speech and then officially pardons a turkey. A pardon is a declaration that someone will not be punished. In this ceremony, President Donald Trump Thanksgiving promises not to cook and eat a certain turkey, even though turkeys are the traditional Thanksgiving meal. ​You might be asking yourself, "What is the connection between turkeys, Thanksgiving and grammar?" In today's report, we explore what turkeys can teach you about English verbs. In particular, we will show you how Thanksgiving can teach you to use stative verbs. We will also show you the difference between stative and progressive verbs. What is a stative verb?                   The term stative verb refers to a verb that has a stative meaning. In other words, these verbs show or describe conditions or situations that do not do anything but exist. Verbs that commonly have a stative meaning include: verbs that show emotional states, such as love and dislike; verbs that describe sense perceptions, such as smell or taste; verbs that show existence, such as seem or look. In the present tense, a verb with a stative meaning is generally used in its simple form. "I love turkey," or "Americans like turkey" are two examples. Verbs that have stative meanings are generally not used in the progressive tense. So, you will probably not hear a native speaker say, "I am loving turkey," or "Americans are liking turkey." Thanksgiving and stative verbs Do not fear: we can use our Thanksgiving example to make the point clearer. Imagine you are at an American store. You hear a conversation between a customer and a store employee. The customer wants to buy a turkey that weighs 10 pounds, or 4.5 kilograms. Unlike the turkey from the pardoning ceremony, this turkey will have a sad fate: the dinner table. The conversation you hear might go like this: Customer: How much does that turkey weigh? Butcher: It weighs 10 pounds. Customer: How much does it cost? Butcher: It costs 20 dollars. In the dialogue, you can hear two examples of stative verbs: weigh and cost. The butcher said, "The turkey weighs 10 pounds,” and "The turkey costs 20 dollars." In both cases, the verbs have a stative meaning: The butcher is describing a condition or situation that simply exists – the weight and cost of the turkey. Now imagine you are eating Thanksgiving dinner with an American family. You might hear any one of the following sentences: "I love turkey!" "I dislike turkey." "The turkey smells wonderful!" "The food tastes great!" "The turkey seems undercooked." "The turkey looks awful." All these sentences include stative verbs. You might notice that the verbs are also in the simple present form. Why not use a progressive verb? So, why would an English speaker not say, "The turkey is seeming undercooked," or, "I am disliking turkey?" Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber are two English grammar experts. They say that, in general, English speakers use the progressive tense only when the subject of the verb actively controls the state or action. In addition, English speakers generally use the progressive only when the verb describes an action or state that happens over an extended period of time. So, you would not hear an English speaker say, "The turkey is seeming undercooked" because the subject of the verb, the turkey, does not control its state – being undercooked. For the same reason, you would not hear an English speaker say, "I am disliking turkey," because the verb's subject, I, probably does not have control over the action of disliking turkey. Now, some verbs can have stative and progressive meanings. Consider these examples: "The food tastes good." "President Trump is tasting the food." In the first sentence, the food does not control whether it is good or bad. As a result, the verb taste has a stative meaning because it simply describes the condition of the food. In the second sentence, "President Trump is tasting the food," the subject of the verb, President Trump, has control over his action. In addition, the action takes place over an extended period of time: Trump must think about tasting food, then raise the food to his mouth, then consider its quality. So, you could say that the verb "taste" in this example has a progressive meaning. What can you do? The next time you are reading or listening to the news, pay special attention to the verbs. Notice when the progressive form is used, and when the simple form is used. Then ask yourself why. Does the verb's subject control the action? Does the action occur over an extended period of time? Or does the verb simply describe a condition that exists? If you are still confused about whether you should use a simple or progressive verb in your own conversations, Conrad and Biber have one tip that might help you. They say that in conversations, English speakers use simple verbs around 120 times in every 1,000 words. Progressive verbs are much less common: they appear fewer than 20 times in every 1,000 words.* I'm Alice Bryant. And I'm John Russell.   John Russell wrote this story for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. * See Conrad, Susan and Biber, Douglas. Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English. Pearson-Longman. 2009. Pgs. 4-6 _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   stative – adj. expressing a state, condition, or relation progressive – adj. of or relating to the progressive tense of a verb dislike – v. to not like (something or someone) undercooked – adj. not cooked enough

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Sheep Can Recognize Human Faces

  University of Cambridge scientists have trained sheep to recognize the faces of famous people. The scientists hope facial recognition may help with their understanding of neurodegenerative diseases. The researchers showed the sheep pictures of people on two computer screens. One screen had an unknown person and the other had one of four famous people. The animals were given food for choosing the photograph of the famous person. They chose the correct photograph by breaking an infrared beam near the flat surface showing the photo. If they chose the wrong image, an electric signaling device would make a sound, and the sheep would receive no treat. The sheep eventually were able to identify the famous face eight times out of every ten tries. The group of famous personalities included actors Emma Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal, and former American president Barack Obama. Professor Jenny Morton was the leader of the study. "We've shown that sheep have advanced face-recognition abilities, comparable with those of humans and monkeys," she noted. The sheep were less successful when presented with the faces at a new angle or from a different direction. However, the researchers said the performance of the animals on this test was similar to the levels seen when humans took the test. Scientists aim to use the sheep as models to study disorders of the brain, such as Huntington's disease. This disorder develops over a long period of time and affects the brain's ability to work. I'm John Russell.   Mark Hanrahan reported on this story for the Reuters news agency. John Russell adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   infrared – adj. producing or using rays of light that cannot be seen and that are longer than rays that produce red light beam – n. a line of light coming from a source (such as the sun or a headlight) screen – n. the surface on which the image appears on an electronic device angle – n. the difference between the direction of two lines that come together

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Stopping Debt Payments Could Worsen Venezuela's Crisis

  Venezuela is struggling to pay back an estimated $150 billion in debt. The country’s financial crisis only makes life worse for people like Luber Faneitte. Faneitte lives in a run-down building in downtown Caracas. She receives disability payments from her job and survives on less than $9 each month. Faneitte lives with a daughter and four grandchildren. They all depend on her small income. She struggles to have enough food to eat and to pay her bills.  She depends on food the government sells once a month at reduced prices. Health problems add to her worries. Faneitte has lung cancer.  Doctors say she needs chemotherapy to treat her cancer. But Faneitte stopped chemotherapy in January because of the severe shortage of medicine. Instead, she prepares a homemade mixture of liqueur, honey and aloe vera. “I leave it outside for two days, then I take a spoonful in the morning and another at night. I think I breathe much better when I take it,” she said. The poor in the South American nation are especially suffering because of the economy. The International Monetary Fund predicts that inflation will reach 2,300 percent in 2018. A member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, Venezuela depends on oil for almost all of its export income. But oil prices remain low. That means Venezuela has less money to import many goods that it needs. The decrease in imports has worsened the seemingly endless shortages of basic supplies such as soap and toilet paper. The idea of Venezuela ending its debt payments is seen as a possible short-term political gain for the country’s largely unpopular President Nicolas Maduro. He is expected to seek re-election in 2018. If Maduro stops debt payments, or declares default, the money could be used to buy imports and do election campaigning. It would also decrease the risk of street protests. But experts say the long-term effect of defaulting would be extremely bad. Alejandro Grisanti is with the group Ecoanalitica which provides business advice. He says Venezuela would face legal action from its creditors. It would also have its property held in foreign countries seized as a result. Maduro has said he wants to refinance and restructure Venezuela's debt. But the idea of default is a looming concern for people who could be affected.   I’m Jonathan Evans. This story is based on a report from Agence France-Presse. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   run-down – adj.  being in poor repair chemotherapy – n. the use of chemicals to treat or control a disease such as cancer liqueur – n. a sweet, strong alcoholic drink that is usually flavored with fruits or spices and drunk in small glasses after a meal default – n. a failure to make a payment, such as a payment on a loan looming – adj. something close to happening, used especially of unpleasant or frightening things

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Frances McDormand Means Business in New 'Three Billboards' Film

  In the new movie, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and everywhere else, Frances McDormand means business. McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, a woman filled with anger over the unsolved rape and murder of her daughter. She begins a noisy, public campaign to hold the town's sheriff responsible for not finding the killer. Mildred puts up billboards near the sleepy Missouri town where they live. The signs’ messages insult the sheriff and demand action. In some ways, it is hard to separate the character of Mildred from the equally uncompromising McDormand. In the film, Mildred is a strong and determined force because McDormand is one, too. Mildred seems like the heroine we need in real life, at this moment especially. The darkly humorous and violent spirit of outrage in Three Billboards has touched a nerve with moviegoers, perhaps more than any other film this fall. The movie opened in New York and Los Angeles last weekend. It also showed at the 2017 Venice film festival where it won the award for movie writing. Three Billboards also won the audience award at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada. The movie’s director, Martin McDonagh, talked about the timing of the movie.  “It’s great to be putting out a film with such a strong woman lead character,” he said. “Even just two months ago before anyone had seen it, I wasn't sure how it was going to be taken. We thought it was a good film with great performances but we worried that the darkness in the story might not allow people to laugh,” he said. The Irish playwright and filmmaker wrote the part for McDormand after meeting her at a party several years ago. He praised McDormand for her film work and as a person. He said she is “not toeing the Hollywood line, and not doing what's expected of her.” Her Three Billboards co-star, Sam Rockwell, agrees. “She has to do it a certain way. It's part of who she is and it's part of who Mildred is. There's something burning in her, just like those billboards. There's something burning in Frances,” he said. The performance places McDormand in an early lead for an Academy Award next year. She won a best actress Oscar for her 1997 performance in Fargo. She has been nominated for three other Academy Awards, as well. Anita Katz of the San Francisco Examiner called McDormand’s Mildred “a raging force of purpose with a caring heart.” McDormand says what moves her these days is a strong, new interest in work, now that her son has reached adulthood. McDormand, who is 60 years old, says the chance to play a protagonist was a gift at her age. In her words, “I was ready for it.” She says she seeks women characters who, in her words, “stand on their own in the dramatic arc of the storytelling.” The movie also has an excellent performance by Rockwell. In his character’s story and others’, Mildred's campaign unsettles the established order.  “It's timely,” Rockwell says of the film. “It's speaking to a lot of things that are going on in this country. It's talking about racism and misogyny. Ultimately I think it's about love and redemption, but I think it has a lot of anger in it -- a healthy amount of anger.” McDormand herself does not exactly share Mildred's rage. But she does connect with the film's demand for truthful discussion of issues and change.  “Like everything in our culture, the more women that wield power, the more stories will be told,” says McDormand. She says America lags “behind the international landscape of women being in power.” So, she says, “it's time for us to catch up.” I’m Ashley Thompson. And I'm Caty Weaver. Jake Coyle of the Associated Press wrote this report. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English.  Ashley Thompson 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   mean business - expression. to be very serious; to be earnest sheriff - n. an elected official who is in charge of enforcing the law in a county or town of the U.S.​ billboard  - n. ​a large sign, usually for advertisements, that is next to a road, on the side of a building, etc.​ outrage - n. ​extreme anger : a strong feeling of unhappiness because of something bad, hurtful, or morally wrong​ toe the line - expression.​ to follow rules; to do what is expected raging - adj. very wild and violent​ misogyny - n. ​a hatred of women  wield - v.​ to have and use (power, influence, etc.)​ lag - v. to move more slowly than others : to fail to walk or move as quickly as others​ landscape - n. ​a particular area of activity​

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US to End Protected Status For Haitians

  Tens of thousands of Haitians will soon lose their protection from expulsion from the United States. Many were permitted to come to the U.S. after a powerful earthquake shook the nation in 2010. The quake caused billions of dollars in damage and killed 300,000 people. About 1.5 million were injured and an equal number were displaced. This week, a Trump administration official told reporters that the conditions in Haiti had improved, in her words, “such that they no longer prevent nationals of Haiti from returning safely.” Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, will be cancelled for almost 60,000 Haitians living and working in the U.S. on July 22, 2019. They must either return to Haiti by that date or request permission to stay in the U.S. permanently. Opponents of the administration’s decision note that Haiti has been hit by three damaging hurricanes recently. They also say it continues to suffer from a deadly spread of cholera. And, last week, the Office of Civil Protection confirmed that at least five people had died and 10,000 homes were flooded after days of rain. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Many Haitians live in the part of South Florida that she represents. She sharply criticized the administration’s decision. On Twitter, she wrote: “I traveled to Haiti after the earthquake in 2010 and after Hurricane Matthew in 2016. So, I can personally attest that Haiti is not prepared to take back nearly 60,000 TPS recipients under these difficult and harsh conditions.” Activists are asking Congress to create a permanent solution for the Haitians who have lived in the United States since 2010. Lys Isma spoke to reporters this week. Her family fled to the United States from Haiti when she was nine months old. She said her community, in her words, “is tired of living 18 months at a time. We need a permanent solution.” In May, the Department of Homeland Security extended TPS for Haitians for six months. The Haitian government had asked for a one-year extension. The department said the extension would permit Haitians with TPS the time to get travel documents and make plans to leave the United States. The department also said the extension gives the Haitian government time to prepare for the return of their people.” Paul Altidor is Haiti’s ambassador to the United States. He told VOA that his country would welcome the return of those he called “our brothers and sisters.” But he said Haiti was not ready to accept the immediate return of tens of thousands of citizens. Several thousand Haitian immigrants illegally entered Canada from the U.S. in the summer. They have asked for asylum there. The Center for Migration Studies says most Haitians who are part of the TPS program have been living in the United States for 13 years and have 27,000 children who are U.S. citizens. More than 80 percent have jobs and 6,200 have home loans, the research group says. Haitian immigrants live mostly in South Florida, New York, New Jersey and eastern Massachusetts. TPS was ended for Sudan in October. On January 8, the Trump administration is to decide what to do about the more than 130,000 people from El Salvador also under TPS. Earlier this month, the administration cancelled protection for thousands of Nicaraguans who fled to the U.S. after Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The Trump administration said it would decide in July whether to cancel protection for 57,000 Hondurans who also fled the hurricane. Elaine Duke, the acting Secretary of Homeland Security, admitted that families would face “difficulties” if their protections are cancelled. She called on Congress to find a permanent solution. I’m Phil Dierking.   VOANews.com reported this story. Additional reporting was provided by the VOA Creole Service. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver 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   attest - v.  to show, prove, or state that something is true or real​ harsh - adj. severe or cruel  

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News Words: Desperate

This news word is about the effect of violence in Myanmar.

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Former US Gymnastics Doctor Admits Guilt in Sex Abuse Case

  A former USA Gymnastics doctor has told a court in the United States that he is guilty of sexual assault connected to his work with the national gymnastics organization and Michigan State University. The man, Larry Nassar, now faces at least 25 years in prison. He admitted to abusing seven girls at his home and in a Michigan State medical office. Six of them were gymnasts under his medical care. The abuse took place during what Nassar had called pain-relieving treatments. Nassar faces similar accusations in other cases in criminal and civil courts. More than 125 women and girls are taking legal action against him. A federal court is also considering what to sentence Nassar for a child pornography conviction. In April, American medical officials permanently barred Nassar from serving as a doctor. American Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Gabby Douglas are among the women who have publicly said they were Nassar’s victims. All three women were on the gold medal-winning Olympic team in 2012. Raisman and Douglas also won gold with the team in the 2016 games. Douglas, who also won the 2012 Olympic all-around gold medal, confirmed on Tuesday that she was among Nassar’s victims. Raisman discussed the abuse earlier this month in a television interview on the news program 60 Minutes. She was highly critical of the way USA Gymnastics dealt with reports of sexual abuse. USA Gymnastics is also facing legal action, as is Michigan State and the United States Olympic Committee. Maroney wrote about her abuse last month on Twitter, as part of the #MeToo social media movement. In a statement Wednesday, USA Gymnastics said “We admire the strength shown by Gabby and her teammates in speaking out publicly to hold a predator accountable….We are very sorry that any athlete has been harmed during her or his gymnastics career.” On Wednesday, Nassar admitted to putting his fingers inside of the victims. He said his actions had no real medical purpose and that he did not have the girls’ permission. The decision at the court in Ingham County, Michigan, requires a prison sentence of at least 25 years. A judge could sentence Nassar to as many 40 years, however. Sentencing is set for January 12. Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar Wednesday: “You used your position of trust ... in the most vile way to abuse children.” She called the accusers “superheroes for all of America, because this is an epidemic.” By epidemic, she means childhood sexual abuse affects a large number of people. After the hearing, one of the accusers, Larissa Boyce, said it was “really hard” to look at Nassar in the courtroom. “This was a man we trusted. He’s admitting what he did was wrong and evil,” Boyce said.   The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story    relieve - v. to reduce or remove (something, such as pain or an unpleasant feeling) pornography - n. movies, pictures, magazines, etc., that show or describe naked people or sex in a very open and direct way in order to cause sexual excitement admire - v. to feel respect or approval for (someone or something) predator - n.  a person who looks for other people in order to use, control, or harm them in some way accountable - adj. required to be responsible for something vile - adj. evil or immoral  

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Thanksgiving: An American Tradition

  The American holiday of Thanksgiving is celebrated every year on the fourth Thursday in November. The holiday is during autumn -- the main season for harvesting crops. Thanksgiving is an autumn harvest festival like those found in many cultures around the world. On this day, most Americans gather with friends and family. Many take time to think about what they are thankful for, cook up a storm, and eat. A lot. The star of most Thanksgiving dinners is a roasted turkey. Turkeys are large birds native to North America. The turkey is cooked in an oven for many hours, often with a mix of celery, bread, onions and spices inside the bird. This mix becomes stuffing -- another star of the Thanksgiving dinner table. Anna Matteo here at Learning English says the smell of turkey and stuffing roasting together is the quintessential smell of Thanksgiving. “Quintessential” means the perfect example of something. After the bird is cooked, the stuffing is taken out and served as a side dish. One of many side dishes. Families often make other foods like mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and vegetable casseroles. A casserole is a dish that cooks slowly in an oven. And do not forget about the gravy. This rich sauce is made from the fatty liquid that comes off the turkey as it cooks. People cover their turkey meat, stuffing and mashed potatoes with gravy. The meal does not end with the turkey, stuffing, and side dishes, though. For some people, the best part of the meal is dessert. The quintessential Thanksgiving dessert is pie. Pumpkin, cherry, apple or pecan pie are all great ways to finish off a Thanksgiving meal...if you are not too full of food by that point! Thanksgiving Travel Some Americans must travel long distances to be with their families. In fact, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the entire year. This is usually when people return home from family gatherings. Not everyone can make the return home each Thanksgiving. So, young people living in cities away from their hometowns sometimes celebrate “Friendsgiving” -- a Thanksgiving meal with their friends instead of their family. They gather at someone’s apartment or house and have a “potluck.” This is a meal where everyone who is invited brings food to share with others. Beyond the Table Thanksgiving is a big day for television, games and other entertainment. One tradition is the television broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. It takes place each year in New York City. Workers of the Macy’s store on Herald Square organized the first parade in 1924. Many of the workers were immigrants and wanted to hold a big parade like the ones in Europe. So, they dressed in costumes and borrowed some animals from the zoo. They also carried small balloons that floated just overhead. Many professional American football games are also played on Thanksgiving. Fans of the sport enjoy relaxing and watching a game or two after eating a big Thanksgiving meal. Some start Thanksgiving Day early - and in a healthy way. So-called “Turkey Trot” races take place in many towns and cities. These events involve runners dressing up in a Thanksgiving-related costume and running a short distance -- usually five kilometers.  Many Turkey Trots urge runners to bring canned food to donate to local food banks -- non-profit organizations that give food to poor people in a community.   Serving those less fortunate Certainly, not everyone in America has an easy Thanksgiving. The United States is home to many poor and homeless people. Some cannot afford a Thanksgiving dinner. Others are without friends or families. Many religious and service organizations around the country try to fill these needs. Some provide community dinners at churches and other centers. Some groups also deliver Thanksgiving meals to people too sick or old to leave their homes. The writer O. Henry called Thanksgiving the one holiday that is purely American. It is not linked to a religion or a certain group. Anyone in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November is welcome to celebrate Thanksgiving. I'm Caty Weaver.  And I'm Ashley. Thompson. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   festival - n. a special time or event when people gather to celebrate something up a storm - idiom. used to say that something is being done with a lot of energy or enthusiasm roasted - adj. cooked with dry heat in an oven or over a fire stuffing - n. a seasoned mixture of food that is put inside another food and cooked​ potluck - n. a meal to which everyone who is invited brings food to share

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