From Monkeys to Potatoes: Common But Strange Expressions

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November 30, 2017

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

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A Traditional Holiday Look for This White House

Thursday night, President Donald Trump and his wife Melania will light America’s national Christmas tree in a park near the White House. A crowd will gather around the tree for the lighting ceremony. Many Americans also are planning to visit the White House in the coming weeks to see its decorations for the holiday season. “The decorations are up!” Melania Trump tweeted Monday morning. “@WhiteHouse is ready to celebrate! Wishing you a Merry Christmas & joyous holiday season!” The theme for the White House decorations this year is “Time-Honored Traditions.” Traditional Christmas wreaths are hanging outside every window of the White House, the official home of presidents, in Washington, D.C. On top of each wreath is a bright red bow. Inside the building, visitors find a hallway lined with long, snow-white tree branches and shining lights. That hall leads to a tree with the Trump family’s official Christmas ornament. The gold-colored metal decoration shows the presidential coat of arms surrounded by a wreath of holly.   ​On Monday, first lady Melania Trump welcomed students from a military base in Maryland to see the White House. They also got to make a few holiday decorations with her. “Are you the first lady?” asked one little boy, who then moved in for a hug. Classmates quickly followed for hugs of their own. Ballet dancers performed at the White House as part of the official start of the holiday season. The first lady wore a white dress and gold-toned shoes for the event. The dancers looked similar to those at the first themed Christmas at the White House in 1961. At that time, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy had dancers performing to Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s famous “Nutcracker Suite.” ​“Surprise,” Melania Trump said on Tuesday, as she later entered the Red Room, where children were working on Christmas decorations. “So you want to show me how to do it?” she asked after sitting at a table with four students. A boy showed her how to make them. Nearby was the Trump family Christmas card, along with cards from past presidents. “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year,” says the Trumps' card, signed by the president, the first lady and Barron Trump, their 11-year-old son. That greeting is a change from the years when Barack Obama and his family were living in the White House. During his presidency, the cards offered more inclusive messages, such as “Season’s Greetings” or wishes for happy holidays. Donald Trump has promised to put “Christmas” back at the center of the winter holidays. During his presidential campaign, he argued that saying “Happy Holidays” was a way of “chipping away at Christianity.” Among the Christmas decorations this year is a 5.5-by-1.8-meter Balsam fir from Wisconsin. The tree occupies the center of the White House’s Blue Room. Decorations representing every state and U.S. territory hang from its branches. A separate tree near the East Wing entrance honors military families who lost loved ones. In the State Dining Room, a 160-kilogram gingerbread house offers a view of the White House from its South Lawn. Candy-covered wreaths hang from every window and a U.S. flag flies from its sugary housetop. Jennifer Pickens, an expert on White House traditions, predicted that this year's window wreaths will become a tradition for future first ladies. More than 150 volunteers from 29 states spent 1,600 hours over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend getting the White House ready for the holidays. The White House said Melania Trump chose every detail of the design. The holiday celebrations began Monday with a party for the volunteer decorators. Receptions and parties — sometimes two a day — will continue for the next several weeks. More than 25,000 people are expected to visit the White House over the next few weeks. Plenty of food is ready and waiting for them. Workers have baked 31,000 cookies, including 15,000 sugar cookies. Many of those are expected to go home with visitors. I'm Pete Musto. The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   decoration - n.something that is added to something else to make it more attractive​ wreath - n. an arrangement of leaves or flowers in the shape of a circle that is worn or placed as a sign of honor or victory​ ornament - n. a small, fancy object that is put on something else to make it more attractive​ bow - n.  a knot that is made by tying a ribbon or string into two or more loops and that is used for tying shoelaces or for decoration​ hug - n. the act of putting your arms around someone or something as a way of showing love or friendship​ chipping away - expression to slowly make something weaker, smaller, or less effective. ​ gingerbread - n. a cake or cookie made with molasses and ginger — often used before another noun​

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Facebook Uses Artificial Intelligence to Fight Suicide

  Facebook says it has successfully tested a computer program that can help keep users from taking their own lives. The social media network now says it will expand the use of the pattern recognition software to other countries. Facebook began testing the software in the United States in March. The software is considered an example of artificial intelligence. In February, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a statement that artificial intelligence could be used to help keep people safe. The software scans messages on Facebook for comments that could be signs that a person intends to harm themselves. Facebook has not released any of the technical details about the program. But, the company did say that it looks for phrases such as “Are you ok?” and “Can I help?”   If the software finds the signs it is looking for, it alerts a team of Facebook workers who specialize in dealing with such reports. The system suggests resources to the user or to friends of the person such as a telephone help line. Facebook workers sometimes call local officials to take action. Facebook said it tries to have specialists available at any hour to call officials in local languages. Guy Rosen is Facebook’s vice president for product management. He posted a description of the program on the Facebook website on Monday. He said the company was expanding use of the software because the tests were successful. He said first responders checked on people more than 100 times after Facebook’s software raised alarms. Reuters reported that Rosen said, “Speed really matters. We have to get help in real time.” An answer to live video incidents Facebook started to use the new software after the launch of live video broadcasting in 2016. A number of incidents took place in which people were live broadcasting violent acts including suicides and murders. In May, the company said it would hire 3,000 people to monitor video and other content. Rosen did not say where Facebook would use the software outside the U.S. He said, in time, it would be used around the world except in the European Union where privacy laws would likely place limits on its use. Google is another technology company that tries to prevent suicides by monitoring users. The Google search engine will show a hot line telephone number if certain searches are made. Facebook uses information from its users to target advertising. The company has not announced in the past that it scans messages for harmful behavior. However, the company says it does look for suspicious comments between children and adult sex criminals. Facebook says sometimes it contacts officials when it finds targeted discussions. Ryan Calo is a law professor at the University of Washington. He says scanning people’s discussions is harder to justify in other situations. Calo said, “Once you open the door, you might wonder what other kinds of things we would be looking for.” Rosen declined to comment about whether Facebook is considering pattern recognition software to fight non-sex related crimes. The company announced that it was using technology and other resources to help save lives on September 7, World Suicide Prevention day. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter wrote this story for VOA Learning English with information from Reuters and Facebook. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pattern –n. something that takes place in a repeated and identifiable way software –n. a computer program, digital instructions that tell a computer or machine to do something artificial intelligence –n. the ability of computers to copy human behavior such as making recommendations or decisions scan –v. processing digital information such as messages or pictures to look for something check on –v. to make sure nothing is wrong with something or someone monitor –v. watch for signs of some activity We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Young Students Plant, Harvest, Learn about Farm Life

  For students at The Farm School in Hamilton, Virginia, the classroom is outside – every day. Jaclyn Jenkins is a founder of the school. "The number one question immediately we get from parents is 'What happens if it rains?' And we say, 'Bring an extra pair of clothes!'” Jenkins adds that “We still educate them. They also get energy. Their brains are working, when they're moving. So, our goal is to always be outside." The Farm School is a preschool -- a place for three- and four-year-olds to learn and play. Teacher Alison Huff has taught at other schools. She says The Farm School gives its students more of a hands-on learning experience. For example, children use pumpkins to learn about colors and counting. They learn about measurements by planting seeds 30 centimeters apart. Huff says “We can use everything a regular preschool uses, but out in the garden.” In addition to planting vegetables and fruits, youngsters help prepare food and clean up afterward. The school teaches the children to cook using the food they have grown. “They can see the benefits of what they have in the garden and taste it then instead of going to the grocery store and buying it," Huff says. The preschoolers also learn words in languages other than English. Huff speaks in both English and Spanish. Her assistant speaks French and Arabic. She adds that a 3-year-old in her class speaks four different languages. Farm animals are also an important part of the education program. Jaclyn Jenkins says the youngsters learn about a different animal every month. Two months ago, she says, that animal was a cow. "We do actually have a cow that we bring to the school. They get to see what the cow is like, and we learn what cows eat. We use little gloves and they pretend to actually milk a cow. They make butter. We make yogurt.” The children spent another month with a large bird -- a turkey. The idea for a school like this started after Jenkins and her husband Kenny bought a farm in Hamilton, with a late 18th-century house on the property. They called it "One Day Farm," because years earlier they had hoped that ‘one day’ they would have a farm. Kenny Jenkins explains. "Jac and I have been together since we were seniors in high school. And we always said one day we'll have an old house and a small farm. This was a goal, that once we reached retirement that we would find this farm. And we weren’t looking to move, and were not looking to purchase a farm. It just popped up on the internet. We came and looked at this place and we didn’t want to leave…” Family and friends started to visit to learn about farming and to see the animals. "That's when it started, the spark of a farm school," Jaclyn said. The Jenkins believe children need a school like The Farm School instead of learning from electronic devices. Courtney Williams liked the idea, so she asked the school to admit her 3-year-old son Ken as a student. "For me, it’s the best of all worlds. He is learning to count, his colors, all the things to keep him competitive in this education competition, but he gets to be a kid. He gets to jump in puddles. And he gets to try to climb trees and run and roll down hills. And he is able to get experience some things that because I work and because my husband works, that we're not able to give it at home...” The children come home with new experiences, new knowledge and sometimes a few vegetables. The Farm School wants to teach the entire family and bring the natural world great back into the classroom. I'm Susan Shand   Faiza Elmasry reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pumpkin – n. a large, round, orange vegetable used as food and sometimes as a decoration — often used before another noun garden – n. a piece of ground where fruits, flowers or vegetables are grown benefit – n. something that produces good effects of results spark – v. to set off or incite activity puddle – n. a small amount of water or mud on the ground

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Scientists Watch Robotic Fish, Plants Acting 'Naturally'

  Scientists are using robotic devices to study the health of waters in and around Venice, Italy. The robots are designed to act like fish, other underwater creatures and plants. The scientists are working with several universities and research centers as part of a group called subCULTron. The European Union gives money to the project as part of its Horizon 2020 program. The aim of Horizon 2020 is to "take great ideas from the lab to the market" and support world-class science and innovation in Europe. Francesco Barbariol is with the Institute for Marine Sciences in Venice. He says the goal is to use the artificial intelligence of the robots to help humans understand what is happening under the water of the Venice lagoon. "SubCULTron is a collective artificial intelligence project whose aim is to create the biggest shoal of robot fish in the world. The aim of the project is to improve knowledge of the seabed, and, from a technological point of view, to try to transfer human abilities to hi-tech items." The robot swarm As part of the project, the scientists created three kinds of robots: the aMussel, the aFish and the aPad. An aMussel sits on the bottom of the sea and gathers information about the plants, bacteria, and animals around it. It also collects information from the other robots and helps them communicate with each other. An aPad floats on top of the water like a lily pad. It communicates with people about the ships on the water and gets information from satellites orbiting the Earth. The aFish moves around between the aPads and aMussels. It explores the water and shares information with the aMussels and aPads. Together, the robots form a swarm, like a group of bees going about their jobs, or birds moving together as one in the sky. As the robots work together, they appear to be learning to organize themselves in the same way living things do. Alexandre Campo is a computer scientist at the Université Libre de Bruxelles. He says the scientists looked at the way animals learn to work in groups to understand how robots can learn to work together. The subCULTron project wants its robots to learn to work together so they can watch for changes and new problems in the water. Overcoming problems underwater One problem the researchers had in the beginning was how the robots would communicate with each other. Wi-Fi and GPS equipment do not work underwater. Instead, the robots can use sonar and an electric field. Thomas Schmickl is a biologist at the University of Graz in Austria. He says the robots cannot see in the water because it is not clear. So, they act like some fish in South America and Africa. The electric field the robots send out lets them sense what is near them and react to it. Another problem was charging batteries. The robots come up to the water's surface and can charge by staying near a boat or a power station to charge without any electrical cables. The water is not clear, but it is getting better. Fabrizio Bernardi Aubry is with the Institute for Marine Sciences. He says, "The health status of the lagoon is pretty good. There are no industrial polluters, and the city now has a modern sewer system. It's not like before when all the sewers flushed directly in the water." Other projects in Europe use robots to watch water quality. The robots in Venice will continue their work until 2019. The subCULTron project hopes they develop into "an artificial society underneath the water-surface" that serves "a human society above the water." I'm Jill Robbins.   Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Her story was based on reports from VOANews.com, CBS News and other sources. George Grow was the editor. What do you think of these robot fish? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. __________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   lagoon - n. an area of sea water that is separated from the ocean by a reef or sandbar shoal - n. a large group or number of fish lily pad - n. a large, floating leaf of a plant (called a water lily) that grows in the water of a pond or pool swarm - n. a very large number of things moving together society - n. the people of a particular country, area, time, etc., thought of especially as an organized community innovation – n. an intention; a new method or device artificial intelligence – n. the power of a machine to copy intelligent human behavior sonar – n. a communications and position-finding device used in underwater operations battery – n. a device able to provide electrical current sewer – n. a pipe or underground system used to carry away waste products and liquids  

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Turkey, Iran Sign Trade Deal with Qatar

Turkish and Iranian ministers have signed an agreement with Qatar aimed at increasing the flow of goods to the Gulf state. Qatar faces trade restrictions from its Middle Eastern neighbors, including Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government has said it wants to punish Qatar for its ties with Iran and suspected links to terrorist groups. Turkey, however, has increased cooperation with Iran on some issues, especially those connected to the conflict in Syria. For example, both Turkey and Iran oppose the formation of an independent Kurdish state. AFP reports that the agreement signed Sunday is meant to increase commercial ties and the movement of goods between Turkey, Iran and Qatar. Turkey increasing ties with Iran Earlier this month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Russian and Iranian leaders increasingly would meet to discuss Syria. Some experts say that Turkey’s growing ties with Iran show there is disagreement with the Saudis. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman has strengthened Saudi Arabia’s efforts to influence its neighbors in the Middle East. Huseyin Bagci is an international relations professor at the Middle Eastern Technical University in Ankara. He said, “Prince Salman has more aspiration(s) in the region, even to cooperate with Israel and Egypt.” He said that Saudi diplomatic efforts have acted to reduce Turkey’s influence. Some experts say that Saudi Arabia’s increased foreign relations efforts have been especially hard for President Erdogan. For more than 15 years, he has sought to build ties with the Saudis in an effort to expand his country’s influence in the Middle East. But the overthrow of Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi in July of 2013 weakened those efforts. Morsi had been a close ally of Erdogan. Many in Turkey blame the Saudi government for supporting the Egyptian military’s move to seize power. Morsi is currently in jail serving a life sentence for supporting violence against protesters opposed to his presidency. Turkey and Saudi Arabia now compete in some cases for influence in Middle East issues. But, Turkey also has strong economic ties to Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are big investors in Turkey and are the top foreign buyer of homes in the country. Saudi economic links also reduce Turkey’s dependence on Europe for foreign investment. I’m Mario Ritter.   Dorian Jones reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English with materials from AFP. Caty Weaver was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   commercial –adj. related to business activities, activities done for money aspiration –n. something that a person wants to do very much region –n. a separate area of a country or the world We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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Trump Threatens ‘Major Sanctions’ after N. Korea Missile Launch

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened “major sanctions” against North Korea after it tested a missile capable of reaching much of the United States. Trump wrote on Twitter that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping about North Korea’s latest missile launch. He said that “additional major sanctions will be imposed on North Korea today.” U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States has “a long list of additional potential sanctions, some of which involve potential financial institutions.” North Korean state media reported that the intercontinental ballistic missile is capable of striking the “whole mainland” of the U.S. The missile could be armed with a “super-large heavy nuclear warhead.” The missile was launched at 3:17 a.m. on Wednesday from North Korea – or early Tuesday afternoon in Washington, D.C. It reached a height of 4,475 kilometers and traveled 950 kilometers before landing in the Sea of Japan. State media reported that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that his country has achieved its goal of becoming a “rocket power.” After the launch, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said the missile test “went higher, frankly, than any previous shot they have taken.” He added North Korea is continuing to build missiles that can “threaten everywhere in the world.” American scientist David Wright has been following North Korea’s missile and nuclear program. He wrote a blog post about the missile test for the Union for Concerned Scientists. “Such a missile would have more than enough range to reach Washington, D.C., and in fact any part of the continental United States,” Wright said. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said he is concerned that North Korea’s missile threat could force the U.S. to attack the North. Moon said at an emergency meeting in Seoul, “We must stop a situation where North Korea miscalculates and threatens us with nuclear weapons or where the United States considers a preemptive strike.” Moon has repeatedly said the U.S. cannot attack the North without Seoul’s approval. But the U.S. may act without South Korean input. The North Korean missile test came a week after the U.S. added the country back to a list of countries supporting terrorism. The White House said Wednesday that in his call with President Xi Jinping, Trump spoke about the need for China to urge North Korea to “end its provocations and return to the path of denuclearization.” China’s state-run Xinhua news agency said Xi told Trump that China remained determined to clear the Korean Peninsula of nuclear weapons and to keep peace and stability in Northeast Asia.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   impose - v. to force someone to accept potential - adj. possible preemptive - adj. done to stop an unwanted act by another group, country, etc., from happening

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Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad, India

More than 1,000 entrepreneurs or business owners and operators are in Hyderabad, India this week for the 8th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit. The central idea this year is women and business.

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NBC Dismisses Matt Lauer Over Reports of Sexual Abuse

This is What’s Trending Today… The American television network NBC has dismissed Matt Lauer, a star of its morning news program, after someone accused him of sexual abuse. Lauer is the latest well-known American man to be brought down by abuse accusations in recent weeks. Lauer, who is 59, worked on NBC’s “Today" show for 20 years. He became the second morning show host in recent days to lose his job over reports of sexual wrongdoing. Last week, CBS News dismissed morning host Charlie Rose after several women who worked for him complained about his behavior. NBC News chairman Andy Lack said in a statement that the network received on Monday a “detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer.” Lack added that the company had reason to believe that more accusations against Lauer may follow. “Today" show co-host Savannah Guthrie was joined by colleague Hoda Kotb as she reported on Lauer’s dismissal Wednesday morning. Guthrie read Lack’s statement. She also told television viewers she was “heartbroken” for Lauer and for, in her words, “the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story.” The allegations involve an NBC employee who says Lauer abused her while both were working at the Sochi Olympics in 2014. The woman said the abuse continued after Sochi. Lauer is the latest famous man to face allegations of sexual abuse. The list includes President Donald Trump, former President Bill Clinton, entertainer Bill Cosby, and more recently, film producer Harvey Weinstein, actor Kevin Spacey and news media leaders. More than 15 women have accused Trump of sexual harassment or worse. The president has called the accusations “fake news” both on Twitter and in other statements. On Wednesday, Trump wrote about Lauer's dismissal on Twitter. He wrote, "Wow, Matt Lauer was just fired from NBC for 'inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.' But when will the top executives at NBC & Comcast be fired for putting out so much Fake News. Check out Andy Lack’s past!" NBC News did not answer questions connected to Trump's tweet. And that’s What’s Trending Today.   The Associated Press and VOA News reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver and George Grow were the editors.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   host - n. a person who talks to guests on a television or radio show complaint - n. a formal charge saying that someone has done something wrong colleague- n. a person who works with you: a fellow worker inappropriate- adj.  not right or suited for some purpose or situation allegations- n. a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal entertainer- n. a person (such as a singer, an actor, or a comedian) who entertains other people accuse- v. to blame (someone) for something wrong or illegal: to say that someone is guilty of a fault or crime harassment - n. repeatedly unwanted interactions 

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November 29, 2017

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

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