Pope Meets Myanmar’s Military Chief

Pope Francis met Monday with Myanmar’s military chief before the official start of his visit to the Southeast Asian country. The Vatican did not provide many details of the Pope’s 15-minute “courtesy visit” with General Min Aung Hlaing. The general oversees security in Rakhine state, where the military has conducted so-called “clearance operations” against Rohingya Muslims. Vatican spokesman Greg Burke said the Pope and the general “spoke of the great responsibility of the authorities of the country in this moment of transition.” The meeting took place in the residence of Cardinal Charles Bo, the archbishop of Yangon. He has resisted international pressure to condemn Myanmar’s military operations against the Rohingya as “ethnic cleansing.” After the meeting, the general's office said in a statement on Facebook “Myanmar has no religious discrimination at all.” It also said the military “performs for the peace and stability of the country.” The meeting was originally planned for Wednesday, after the Pope’s scheduled meeting with the country’s civilian leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. The Vatican did not say why the meeting took place earlier than planned. Myanmar’s Catholic Church has publicly urged the Pope to avoid using the term “Rohingya” because the group is not a recognized minority in the country. The Pope’s spokesman did not say if the Pope used the term in his meeting with the general. The leader of the Roman Catholic Church, however, has previously prayed for the Rohingya Muslims, calling them his "brothers and sisters.” He has also spoken out against violence in Rakhine state. Pope Francis’s visit was planned before the latest wave of violence in August, in which a group of Rohingya militants attacked security positions in Rakhine. Myanmar’s military responded with brutal attacks that resulted in hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh. More than 620,000 Rohingya have since fled to Bangladesh, the next stop on the Pope’s Asian trip. The Pope’s schedule does not include a visit to a refugee camp. But he is expected to meet with a small group of Rohingya in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. I'm Jonathan Evans.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA and AP news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   courtesy - adj. done to be polite clearance - n. the act or process of removing (people)  

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South Korea Looks to Compete with China in the Philippines

  Development projects in the Philippines may increase competition between South Korea and China. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is seeking partners to develop his country which is in need of improved roads, ports and railways to attract investment. South Korean President Moon Jae-in appealed to members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this month at its meeting in Manila. He told members, including The Philippines, that his country was “the best partner to share the experience” of economic growth. South Korea is offering to help with technology projects, railways, clean energy development and water management. The Philippines wants to attract development assistance. Since Duterte took office last year, the country has increasingly turned to China. China promised $24 billion in aid in October of 2016. Earlier this month, China and the Philippines signed 14 economic cooperation agreements including one on railways. In October, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced $8.8 billion in economic support. South Korea does not want to lose ground in the Southeast Asian nation of more than 100 million people. Herman Kraft is with the University of the Philippines Diliman. He says that the United States, Japan and South Korea traditionally have worked together in the region. “I think one of the things that Korea might actually be concerned about right now is of course, in a similar groove with Japan, they’d like to make sure that the Philippines doesn’t just turn around in terms of its relationship with the United States.” Duterte improved relations with China last year. He eased tensions with China after about four years of disputes related to territory in the South China Sea. China claims almost all of the South China Sea as its territory. The Philippines claims many land formations and islands in the eastern part of the sea. At the same time, Duterte appeared to seek less American support of his country’s armed forces. Korea extends aid to The Philippines This month, local media reported that South Korea offered $1.7 billion in credit and financial aid to help the Philippines. The money, the report said, was aimed at developing transportation and energy projects.   Duterte is seeking $167 billion to build public infrastructure, such as roads, rail lines, ports and power centers. But The Philippines needs foreign investment. Manila’s seaport, for example, is crowded. Electricity costs in the country are high for the region. Also, the Philippines has few railways to link cities on its larger islands. The Philippine National Economic and Development Authority keeps records of development aid in the country. The agency says that South Korea provided more than $600 million dollars in aid to the Philippines in 2013. Song Seng Wun is an economist specializing in Southeast Asia with the internet banking group CIMB in Singapore. He said South Korea wants its aid efforts to lift its national “brand.” Chinese brands could become competitors in the Philippine market where South Korean electronic household machines and other products are popular. Consumer spending is an increasingly important part of the Philippine economy which grew 6.9 percent in 2016. The total value of trade between South Korea and the Philippines increased from $10 billion in 2011 to $13.4 billion in 2014. South Korean leaders hope to increase ties with Southeast Asian countries to avoid investing too much in China. Problems with over-investing in China became clear earlier this year. South Korean companies faced boycotts and other problems in China and the number of Chinese travelers dropped sharply. The trade difficulties took place as South Korea permitted the U.S. to deploy the missile defense system known as THAAD. South Korea and the U.S. have said the system is to guard against missile attacks from North Korea. But China, strongly opposes deployment of the system on the Korean Peninsula. Jonathan Ravelas is a market expert with Banco de Oro UniBank in Manila. He says The Philippines probably welcomes the help from South Korea as a way to diversify economic support without angering anyone. I’m Mario Ritter.   Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   region –n. a large, separate area of the world or a country groove –n. a ways of doing things or a way of thought brand –n. something, like a product, that is easily recognizable and causes people to seek it out diversify –v. to make something more diverse, to increase the number of possibilities available We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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November 27, 2017

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

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Prince Harry to Marry American Actress Meghan Markle

  This is What’s Trending Today… Britain's Prince Harry and American actress Meghan Markle are getting married. Harry's father, Prince Charles, made the announcement in a statement Monday. It read: "His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms. Meghan Markle." The statement said the wedding will take place next spring. It added that Harry, who is 33, and Markle, who is 36, became engaged in London earlier this month. Markle is best-known for her work in the television show Suits. She is also a Global Ambassador for World Vision Canada, which campaigns for better education, food and health care for children around the world. Along with her humanitarian work, she is known for campaigning for gender equality. Markle was married to film producer Trevor Engleson from 2011 to 2013. Markle's parents released a statement, saying "We are incredibly happy for Meghan and Harry. Our daughter has always been a kind and loving person. To see her union with Harry, who shares the same qualities, is a source of great joy for us as parents." Harry’s brother, Prince William, and his wife Kate welcomed Markle to the royal family. They said in a statement, “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.” Prince Harry will become the first member of the British royal family to marry an American actor. The prince and Markle briefly appeared before photographers Monday at Kensington Palace. Harry said he was “thrilled” and said details about how he asked Markle to marry him will come out later. When asked if the proposal was romantic, he answered, “of course it was!” Markle said she was “so happy” and wore her new engagement ring for the first time in public. ​ The ring includes two diamonds that belonged to Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, who died in 1997. Royal officials say Prince Harry designed the ring himself. The diamonds from his late mother’s collection sit on either side of a diamond from Botswana. The prince has visited the African country many times, and has spent time there with Markle. And that's What's Trending Today.  VOA News and the Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   wedding - n. a ceremony at which two people are married to each other engaged - adj. promised to be married incredibly- adv. extremely good, great, or large joy  - n.  a feeling of great happiness royal - adj.  of or relating to a king or queen thrilled- adj.  very excited and happy romantic - adj.  making someone think of love  

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Prince Harry to Marry American Actress Meghan Markle

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Jimmy Carter: Outsider

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Jimmy Carter. His given name was James, but he liked to be called Jimmy. Carter was elected president in 1976. Until he campaigned for the office, few Americans knew who he was. But Carter said his lack of experience with the federal government made him the best candidate. After witnessing years of problems in the White House, many voters appeared to agree with him. However, Carter’s inexperience also became a problem. Some of the issues he faced were complex and, at times, they seemed overwhelming. After only one term, Carter failed to get re-elected. But in time, his public image improved. His years after leaving the White House are generally considered more successful than his time in office. Early life Jimmy Carter was born in the southern state of Georgia. He was the oldest of four children. His father was a businessman. His mother was a nurse. The family owned a store, as well as a peanut farm and warehouse. Although the businesses did well, Jimmy Carter grew up very modestly. His family’s house did not have electricity or running water. But he was hardworking and wanted to be successful. As a boy, he saved enough money to buy four houses. He earned more money by renting them to other people. He also decided to attend college at the United States Naval Academy. And in time, he did so. Carter was an excellent student. And he became a fine Naval officer. As a midshipman, Carter worked on one of the country’s first nuclear submarines. He later taught nuclear engineering to other crewmembers.  But Carter’s promising career in the Navy ended after only seven years. His father was dying. And the family farm was in trouble. Carter, his wife, Rosalynn, and their three sons, decided to return to Georgia and try to save it. The first years back on the farm were difficult. But in time, the business became successful again. Carter began to turn his attention to other issues. He became involved in his church, local school, hospitals and libraries. When he had a chance to compete for a position in the state senate, he took it. As a politician, Carter developed an image as an independent thinker who tried to save the government money. He also acted and spoke strongly against racial discrimination. In Georgia at the time, many voters did not agree with Carter’s support of racial equality. In 1966, even his own Democratic Party did not choose him to be its candidate to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate. So Carter began campaigning for the office of state governor instead. In 1970, he was elected. As Georgia's governor, Carter was known as a social and political reformer. However, historian Robert Strong notes that Carter did not always work well with others in his party. Strong teaches at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. He writes that some Georgia lawmakers believed Carter was “arrogant.” He could appear to think he was morally right, and they were morally wrong.  Carter’s difficulty in getting along with other officials proved to be one of the problems he would later face. But in the presidential election of 1976, many Americans seemed to like this quality. The little-known governor from Georgia defeated the sitting president, Gerald Ford. Carter won, in part, by saying that he was different than other politicians. He was, he said, a Washington outsider. Then suddenly, Carter was the biggest insider of all: the American president. Presidency One of the things Carter wanted to do was change the image of the president. Earlier leaders, such as Richard Nixon and Lyndon Johnson, had increased the power of the presidency. Nixon had also been shown to be dishonest, and resigned from office. Carter promised never to lie to the American people. And on the day of his swearing-in as president, he purposefully tried to keep things simple. He walked to the White House from the U.S. Capitol building instead of riding in the back of an automobile. His wife, Rosalynn, wore clothes that she had worn in public before. The National First Ladies’ Library notes that her choice of clothing sent a message of "an old American value of thrift – or respecting money, and not spending it needlessly.” What she wore was meaningful because the country was going through difficult economic times. The Carters wanted to show that the new government would work to cut costs. They also wanted to show that they were there to help the American people, not enjoy the powers of the White House. But in the end, the Carter administration received poor ratings in surveys of public opinion. President Carter had trouble dealing with U.S. lawmakers, even when his party was in control of Congress. One result was that Carter could not advance many of his ideas for legislation. He appeared ineffective. Many historians point out that, in fact, Carter had a number of successes. He helped reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil. He took steps to make the federal government more efficient, and to improve the environment. He appointed a number of women and racial minorities to top government jobs -- an important move at a time when many were pressing for women’s rights and civil rights. And, in many cases, Carter supported human rights causes, both in the United States and around the world.   But the public generally did not see Carter for his successes. Instead, many Americans blamed him for the country’s economic problems. Some also disliked the way he spoke to them. In one speech, Carter blamed the country’s troubles on what he called a crisis of confidence. Some listeners were offended. He also decided that the U.S. would not attend the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow. The move was meant to punish the Soviet Union for its involvement in Afghanistan. But many Americans believed the move mostly hurt young American Olympians.  The administration also faced other problems. The president was never accused of wrongdoing. But other high-level officials were. So was the president’s brother, Billy. As a result, Jimmy Carter’s public image for honesty suffered.  Then came the Iran hostage crisis. Iran hostage crisis The conflict between the United States and Iran had a long history. One part involved the Shah of Iran. The U.S. government had supported his rise to power, partly because American interests wanted to control Iran’s oil. But the Shah severely abused his power. Many Iranians resisted. Some wanted a leader who would more closely obey Islamic teachings. In 1979, under pressure from those Iranians and others, the Shah fled the country. By now, he was suffering from cancer. So, as a humanitarian act, President Carter permitted the Shah to come to the United States for medical treatment. The move made many Iranians angry. In protest, a group of students seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran, the capital of Iran. They took 90 people, including 66 Americans, hostage. Carter worked hard to get the hostages released. He tried diplomatic negotiations and economic restrictions. But his efforts did not work. Finally, he tried a secret military operation. He sent eight helicopters and a team of special forces to enter the embassy and rescue the hostages. But that operation failed, too. The weather was bad. Three of the helicopters crashed. Eight Americans were killed. And the public’s approval of Jimmy Carter dropped even more. After 444 days, the remaining hostages were released. In exchange, the U.S. government agreed to end some of its economic sanctions against Iran and promised not to interfere in the country’s affairs. None of the hostages had been seriously hurt. But the crisis was the final blow to Carter’s presidency. A few months before they were released, his effort to seek re-election failed. Legacy As president, Carter did not meet the high expectations he had set for himself. And he faced some unusually difficult situations. His presidency also suffered from his problems communicating effectively with Congress, the media, and the American people. But his four years as president did leave several marks on the office. For one, he showed that the U.S. president could help other nations and sides resolve their disputes. Carter’s best-known success as president was his help negotiating the Camp David Accords. The accords were a peace agreement between Egypt and Israel. Carter led the talks at Camp David in Maryland. Carter’s efforts to protect human rights overseas also influenced the foreign policy of later presidents. In time, his work as a defender of human rights has become his most important legacy. Several years after leaving the presidency, he founded the Carter Presidential Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The center “seeks to prevent and resolve conflicts, enhance freedom and democracy, and improve health.”  In addition to his work there, Carter has helped build houses for people who need them, written books, and negotiated with world leaders to take steps toward peace. In 2002, Carter received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this story for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each short video, then choose the best answer. ​ ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story overwhelming - adj. something that is so confusing or difficult that you feel unable to do it nurse - n. a person who is trained to care for sick or injured people rent - v. to allow someone to use (something) in return for payment advance - v.  to move forward confidence - n. a feeling or belief that someone or something is good or has the ability to succeed at something

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Afghanistan's Local Police Provide Security, But Also Create Problems

  Bilal Bacha leads a group of men who have long hair, wear non-traditional military clothing, and drive white trucks around eastern Afghanistan. The men look just like the militants they have promised to fight. Bacha is the commander of the Afghan Local Police, or ALP, in the district of Achin. The area was once a base of operations for the self-declared Islamic State group, also known as IS. Most of Achin has been cleared of IS fighters. But the day Bacha spoke to VOA, military airplanes were dropping bombs on the surrounding mountains. It was clear that the conflict was continuing. People living in Achin described Bacha and his men as some of the fiercest fighters against IS militants. They have good reason to be: their families were among the victims of IS attacks. “We’ve picked up these guns to protect our women and children,” Bacha said. “We are not doing this for money. The $100 or $150 we get per month is nothing. We can earn that doing anything else.” Bacha’s ALP force in Achin is part of a project started in 2010 with American money and support from U.S. Special Operations Forces. The plan was to create, train and arm local units that could defend their own communities against the Taliban and other militant groups. The idea was these units would be especially useful in areas where the Afghan government’s security efforts were weak. Many people, including the then-Afghan President Hamid Karzai, resisted the idea at first. They argued that local military units without the authority of the central government would be similar to the militias of the past. These militias helped start Afghanistan’s civil wars of the 1990s. But in the end, Karzai accepted the proposal to create a 10,000 member temporary force. Under the plan, the force would either break up or join with traditional Afghan security forces in a few years. Since then, the ALP has grown three times its original size. And it now operates in 31 of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces. The U.S. Special Inspector General of Afghanistan Reconstruction described the strengths of the ALP in one of his reports. The report noted that one strength was the ability to know the difference between local residents and resistance fighters. Also, it said, the ALP’s members have greater knowledge of villages, and local residents consider them to be more trustworthy than outside forces. However, what makes the ALP strong in some communities is exactly what makes them a problem in others. Having local contacts made the men more invested in the security of the local communities. But it also made them more likely to react to pressure from local influences, including powerful leaders. In several cases, local leaders have used the ALP as a way to employ their followers. This has helped those leaders extend their control over the population. The Afghanistan Analysts Network is an independent group of researchers. They reported evidence of abusive behavior from the ALP, and the capture of units by local strongmen and the older militias, known as “tanzims.” The group also noted that, “political connections between ALP and figures in central government often [makes] control of abusive forces impossible.” The rights group Human Rights Watch released a statement on the ALP in September. It noted that, “In many localities, these forces have been responsible for … abuses against civilians, as well as … executions of captured combatants and other violations of international humanitarian law.” The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission is the country’s own human rights organization. It reported that the ALP does not always follow the rules when recruiting members. Criminals, members of illegal armed groups, even the Taliban in some cases, have been able to find their way in. The Afghan government has reacted to these criticisms. It said its Afghan Local Police Directorate would require the ALP to better explain its actions. The United States has also said it would only continue to support the ALP if it made reforms to its system. Currently, all of the money for the force comes from the U.S. government. Even with the reported problems, almost everyone seems to agree that breaking up the ALP quickly is not a good idea. There is general agreement that this would weaken security and likely help the Taliban. That is why many observers suggest carefully combining the ALP with the traditional security forces, or returning the men to civilian life. While the government considers these ideas, Bilal Bacha’s men care for the trees they have planted near their shelter. The men are hoping to watch the trees grow and someday enjoy their fruit. I’m Susan Shand. And I'm Pete Musto.   Ayesha Tanzeem reported this for VOA News. Pete Musto adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. How should the Afghan and American governments deal with the ALP? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   district – n. an area or section of a country, city, or town authority – n. the power or right to direct or control someone or something original – adj. happening or existing first or at the beginning province(s) – n. any one of the large parts that some countries are divided into resident(s) – n. someone who lives in a particular place figure(s) – n. a person who has a specified status or who is regarded in a specified way combatant(s) – n. a person, group, or country that fights in a war or battle humanitarian – adj. concerned with or seeking to promote human life and happiness recruit(ing) – v. to find people and get them to join a company, an organization, or the armed forces

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Popular American Hobby Bird Feeding Connects People to Nature

  Many Americans enjoy spending time with nature, and one popular activity is feeding wild birds. As many as 53 million Americans feed birds as a hobby each year. One of them is Sumner Askin, from Arlington, Virginia. His interest started a few years ago, when he was in college and studying wildlife science. "I had just taken this class, ornithology, the study of birds, and I was just super into it. And originally I got one feeder and I put it all the way up in this tree, I probably climbed like 30 feet so I could hang it right outside my window. And I got some cool stuff and I just wanted to keep going with it, see what else I could get." His plan was successful, and many wild birds visited his bird feeder. He recalls seeing downy woodpeckers, northern cardinals, mourning doves, and other birds. Watch and learn Askin says you can learn a lot from bird watching. "You learn about just how each species is designed differently, like the way their toes are shaped so they can grip things differently." Askins adds that most bird watchers develop a dislike for a lot of invasive, or non-native, species because they often chase around the other birds. One example is the blue jay, a bird Askin says he actually likes. Askin says, “Some people don't like the big blue jays because they're loud. But I like them. They are just big." Askin says he uses several kinds of bird feeders around his home. "Most birds like a small sparrow can't exactly stand on the side of a tree like a woodpecker can, because (the woodpecker) gets its toes there and just climbs up. The low-hanging feeder, a normal feeder, they sit on it and they turn sideways and they eat, but that one, they have to hang upside-down. So you can watch them just pivot completely upside down. And only two species can do that. So it's just for them instead of the non-native sparrows," Askin says. Why feed birds? Askin works part-time at a store called Wild Birds Unlimited. It sells seed, feeders and other supplies for people who like to feed birds. Michael Zuiker has operated the store for 26 years. He says feeding birds is good for everyone. "Birders," people who like the animals, enjoy watching the birds, while the birds get food to survive in big cities and expanding population centers. Zuiker is not surprised the hobby is so popular. "Gardening is the first," he noted, "backyard bird feeding second." He added that a lot of teachers have programs where they create environments for birds in their schools. They do this to teach students about different bird species, how they make their homes, and how to follow them. Zuiker says people like to feed and watch wild birds for many reasons. "I think one of the most important reasons is that it's a very, very peaceful emotional experience. You put the food out there, you spend time on your deck in the nice weather, in winter you're indoors watching birds. And you never know what's going to show up. Most of the yards around can easily get 30 different species of the birds in their backyards." Birds for company Paul Starzynski started feeding birds as a hobby after he retired three years ago. "If you sit quietly, they come real close and you don't bother them; you can watch them," he said. "You can even see the little seed in their beak before they swallow it. It's kind of fun. Besides, I like them flying over my head. I would be alone out there if I didn't have the birds." Starzynski also says that some birders are very serious about their hobby. They are able to identify many different species, even ones that look similar. Even without knowing every bird species or where they come from, Starzynski loves bird watching. He's just one of millions of Americans who enjoy the colorful beauty and sounds that birds bring to their homes. I’m Phil Dierking.   Faiza Elmasry reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you enjoy birds? What kinds of hobbies are popular in your home country? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   backyard - n. an area in back of a house​ bother - v. to cause (someone) to feel troubled, worried, or concerned​ deck - n. a flat surface that forms the main outside floor of a boat or ship​ hobby - n. an activity that a person does for pleasure when not working​ pivot - v. to turn on or around a central point​ species - n.  a group of animals or plants that are similar and can produce young animals or plants​ toes - n. any of the five digits at the end of the human foot.​  

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Metal Recycling Businesses Prepare for More Electric Cars

  Recycling businesses are improving processes to remove metals from old batteries. Their hope is to take advantage of an expected shortage of materials, such as cobalt and lithium, when sales of electric cars start rising. The main problem that companies face now is a shortage of used batteries to recycle. But leaders of the recycling industry are sure that the supply, and profits, will come. Albrecht Melber is co-managing director of the German recycling company Accurec. "The value of lithium carbonate and natural and synthetic graphite has doubled or tripled in the last three or four years, becoming the most valuable materials besides cobalt in the automotive battery. There are big values that can be recycled in the future,” he told the Reuters news agency. Automobile manufacturers currently sell less than one million electric-powered vehicles every year. However, some experts expect electric vehicle sales to pass 14 million a year by 2025. Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is a data specialist group. It predicts the auto industry will need an extra 30,000 tons of cobalt and 81,000 tons of lithium a year to meet demand by 2021. Larry Reaugh is head of American Manganese, a Canadian recycler of metals. He notes that large lithium cobalt batteries contain high amounts of valuable minerals.  "If this equated to mining, you would have a very high-grade feedstock," he said. "We're mining batteries, you might say." Supply constraints Mining enough cobalt is a concern for battery manufacturers. Most of the world’s cobalt supplies come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where armed groups operate in areas close to mines. This year, the price of cobalt has more than doubled. Supplies of lithium, mainly mined in Chile, are under far less pressure at this time. Argentina and Australia are likely to increase cobalt production in the near future. However, business leaders are concerned about having enough lithium for use in batteries. Most recyclers heat old batteries to high temperatures to recover metals, a process known as pyrometallurgy. But this generally only produces cobalt, and sometimes nickel, while lithium is more difficult and costly to collect. New technology is helping to recover more waste metal from used batteries. Some companies, such as Umicore and Retriev, say they have developed ways to get lithium once more spent, or used, batteries are available for recycling. Steady supply of spent batteries The lack of a steady supply of spent batteries is one of the largest barriers to commercial development, recycling companies say. While sales of electric cars are growing fast, lithium ion car batteries last eight to 10 years, on average. This means it will be almost 10 years before the supply of spent batteries is big enough to make the process profitable. American Manganese says it is planning to direct its attention on recovering minerals from faulty batteries. This will help the company get around the wait time for working batteries to lose power. Even if supplies are low, companies seem hopeful about the future. Todd Coy is the vice president of Retriev. "At current commodity prices we need approximately 4,000 tons per year of batteries to justify the estimated capital costs,” he said. That number is more than three times its current processing volume. “We are confident this volume will be coming in the future - beyond 2023 - but the market is not there yet,” Coy added. Umicore says it expects volumes of spent batteries to rise above 100,000 tons a year over the next 10 years, with “massive volumes” coming onto the market around 2025.  Once that happens, the chances for the recycling industry to capitalize will take off. I'm John Russell. Jan Harvey reported on this story for the Reuters news agency. John Russell adapted the story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. __________________________________________________________________ Words in the Story   recycling - adj. of or related to reclaiming materials for future use battery - n. an instrument or device for making electric current data - n. the information operated from a computer program feedstock – n. unprocessed material to supply or fuel a machine or industrial process steady - adj. not able to move; not easily excited commercial - adj. of or related to business faulty - adj. having a mistake, fault, or weakness commodity - n. unprocessed products; a measure of economic wealth volume - n. an amount of total capitalize – v. to sell (something valuable, such as property or stock) in order to get money; to convert (something) into capital

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Scientists Developing Machine to Identify Diabetes-related Ulcers

  Diabetes mellitus is the name for several disorders with one thing in common: there is too much glucose, or sugar, in the blood. The body uses a natural hormone, called insulin, to change sugar and other food into energy. Diabetes develops when the body does not produce enough insulin or produces none at all. Or it develops when the body cannot use insulin. People living with diabetes often suffer from other health problems. One complication can be damage to tissue on the feet. These foot ulcers can worsen if left untreated. Doctors may decide to remove the damaged area in an operation called an amputation. In some cases, the patient could die. But a device being developed in Britain could help doctors recognize when ulcers are about to form. Using a relatively simple temperature sensing device, doctors scan a patient’s feet for signs of an ulcer. The information may help them prevent ulcers from forming, as well as improve the condition of the patient. The scanning device is called the DFirst. It works by looking for hot spots, or places of higher than normal temperature, on the feet of people with diabetes. Doctors believe that hot spots help identify areas of inflammation, which could lead to foot ulcers. Untreated ulcers are a leading cause of diabetes-related amputations. Robert Simpson is a researcher with the National Physical Laboratory near London. He notes that studies have shown a link between amputations and patient survival rates. “If you have an amputation, then unfortunately the outlook is up to 50 percent of those who have an amputation are dead within two years, and up to 80 percent are dead within five years.” How ulcers lead to problems Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves of the patient. Nerve damage can limit the patient’s ability to feel pain. People living with diabetes may not feel an ulcer developing in its early stages. Using the new scanner, Simpson said, doctors can clearly see areas of inflammation in what he likens to a temperature map. “So what we have here is a thermal imaging camera core. This is sensitive to the infrared which has a strong relationship with temperature; so this provides you with a temperature map.” The problem of foot ulcers could be bigger than health experts have recognized. A 2014 study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that 400 million people live with diabetes. Some estimates say that 25 percent of patients will develop foot ulcers. Simpson said, in Britain, the problem has led to an increase in the number of amputations. “There are 140 amputations every single week, so that is nearly one every hour,” he noted. He added that 80 percent of these were “driven by foot problems.” Researchers say that until recently doctors looked for hot spots with scanners that could not observe the whole foot. Because of this, problem areas could easily be missed. Simpson said about 100,000 people in Britain have a foot ulcer. He said these people also are likely to develop another ulcer. He said it is important to help them better manage their health problems. The current version of the DFirst is held with two hands. Researchers have been testing the scanner for two years. Designers hope that later versions of the DFirst will be as small as a smartphone. I’m Mario Ritter. Kevin Enochs reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter 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, and visit our Facebook page.​ _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ​ __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   hormone – n. a natural substance that influences the way in which the body grows complication – n. a health condition or conditions often caused or brought on by another condition or a medical procedure scan – v. to use a special camera to make an image of something so that it can be studied closely inflammation – n. a condition where tissue becomes red, painful and swollen stage – n. a period in the development of something thermal – adj. related to heat infrared – n. a form of electro-magnetic radiation closely related to heat manage – v. to direct; to take care of; to have control of  

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Everyday Grammar: Discovery Verbs (Present Perfect Tense)

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