Yes, Virginia, Every Vote Does Count

This is What’s Trending today … There is a saying in America that “every vote counts.” On Tuesday in the U.S. state of Virginia, the saying appeared to come true. A single vote in the state might have been responsible for the end to years of Republican legislative control in the House of Delegates. There were 23,215 votes cast in the city of Newport News on Election Day last month. Voters were choosing between David Yancey and Shelly Simonds as their representative to the Virginia House of Delegates. Yancey held a small lead of 10 votes going into the recount on Tuesday. After five hours of re-examining ballots, election officials announced the results: 11,608 votes for Simonds and 11,607 votes for Yancey. By just one vote, Democrat Shelly Simonds defeated a three-term Republican incumbent David Yancey. Simonds’ victory means Republicans and Democrats now have equal power in the Virginia House of Delegates. The Republican Party has controlled the house for the last 17 years. “We’re now 50-50,” Virginia’s Governor Terry McAuliffe told The Associated Press. “And we won it by one vote. Don’t tell me that every vote doesn’t count.” And that's What's Trending today.   Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   incumbent - adj. holding an office or position    

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December 19, 2017

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

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North Korean Hackers Steal Millions of Dollars in Bitcoin

  North Korean hackers have taken millions of dollars in virtual currencies like bitcoin in recent attacks over the internet. Virtual currencies are forms of money that are not overseen by governments but are exchanged digitally and controlled by their developers. Security experts expect more attacks as economic sanctions drive North Korea to seek new ways to get money. North Korean hackers have been blamed for a number of cyberattacks in the past, including a computer virus known as WannaCry. The cyberattack affected hospitals, banks and companies around the world this year. Experts say the fast rise in the value of bitcoin makes it and other “cryptocurrencies” a good target for North Korea. One Bitcoin was valued at around $19,000 on Tuesday, up from less than $1,000 at the beginning of 2017. In South Korea, exchanges like Bithumb, Coinis and Youbit have hosted between 15 to 25 percent of the world’s bitcoin trading. Researchers told Reuters that there is digital evidence that North Korean hackers have attacked the exchanges. On Tuesday, Youbit said it had suffered a cyber attack and lost 17 percent of its assets. The attack forced the exchange to halt operations and to seek legal protection from its creditors. The cyber attackers were not identified. But one cyber security researcher said the attack was similar to an earlier one linked to North Korea. The researcher said he was not authorized to speak about the matter as it was being investigated. The findings have not been independently confirmed. North Korea has rejected accusations that it has been involved in hacking. Representatives of Bithumb and Coinis declined to comment. South Korea’s Unification Ministry deals with North Korean affairs. A spokesman for the ministry said on Monday the government was considering “countermeasures”, including more sanctions, because of the cyberattacks. Infected emails South Korea’s intelligence service reported that about $7 million in cryptocurrencies were stolen in earlier attacks on other exchanges. The information was reported in South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper. Moonbeom Park is a researcher at the Korea Internet and Security Agency. He told Reuters that the amount could now be $82 million after the latest attacks. Park said the attacks over the summer were “virtually identical” to earlier ones connected to North Korea. The hackers began by stealing customers’ personal information, including names and email addresses. Some of those customers then received emails with infected documents designed to look as if they were from South Korea’s National Tax Service or another official agency. The infected document, once opened, permitted hackers to control the user’s computer. The hackers then would get to the user’s bitcoin account either on the computer, or on the bitcoin exchange’s server. Other researchers said the exchanges were also attacked using fake email accounts. Cristiana Brafman Kittner is with the cybersecurity company FireEye. She could not confirm whether North Korea had actually stolen any virtual currencies. But she said hackers linked to it had targeted, in her words, “multiple exchanges” over the past six to nine months. “We believe that some of the criminal activity we are observing, originating from North Korea, is a result of the regime looking for alternative sources of revenue,” she said. I’m Mario Ritter.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Reuters news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   virtual –adj. existing on a computer or the internet sanctions –n. measures meant to cause a country to observe international law usually by limiting trade hacker –n. a person who secretly gets into a computer system to get information or to cause damage cyberattacks –n. an attack on a computer system or network to gain information, cause problems or damage cryptocurrencies –n. digital currency that uses digital security measures to prevent it from being copied or misused authorized –adj. permitted originate –v. to come from alternative –adj. another, a different choice

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Education Tips: Managing Large Language Classes

  Many English language teachers around the world face a common problem: large class sizes. A large number of students in a classroom can lead to difficulties for both the instructor and the learners. In today’s Education Tips, we discuss what teachers can do to help manage large classes. We will also look at ways to increase student participation.   How large is too large? People have different ideas about what makes a class “too big.” Some studies consider a classroom with more than 30 or 35 students a large class. Other studies say that a class with more than 60 students is considered large. Education professor Penny Ur says she considers a class to be “too large” if the teacher is unable to help the students make the progress they should be making. The positives and negatives to large classes Teaching a large class can bring both positive and negative experiences. Some teachers report that students misbehave more often in big classes. The teachers may also find it hard to provide feedback on every student’s work. It can also be hard for the students. Larger classes often include students with different ability levels. Stronger students, then, may feel bored. Weaker students may feel left behind. But large classes can present positive opportunities, as well. Natalie Hess, an education researcher, says that large classes offer a chance for interactive activities. They also provide students with a chance to help other students in class as well as learn independently. Tips for managing a large class Here are some tips to help students manage a large class: Establish rules Researchers suggest creating a list of classroom rules – with feedback from the students themselves. If students are part of such a process, they are more likely to follow rules for class. Darpak Sabankili is a high school English language teacher in Togo. He told VOA that he makes agreements with his students about the rules and what should happen when students break the rules. He then puts the list of rules on a wall in the classroom for everyone to see. Organization and routine Organization is extremely important with large groups of students, and keeping them focused.  Start each class with an agenda for the day.  When students know the plan for each class, they may be less likely to misbehave.  It also helps to have a method for getting students’ attention if the class starts to get noisy. This may include a “quiet signal” (such as raising your hand) or a word or phrase that you say with your class. Plan a variety of activities Students may lose interest if class activities last for too long. This is especially true with large classes. Therefore, teachers should plan to have many different activities, with different levels of difficulty. This helps keep the class moving at a quick speed and helps prevent students from feeling bored. Increasing student participation with pair and group work In large classes, there is simply not enough time for a teacher to work with each and every student. In order to give students enough of a chance to practice English in class, teachers should consider organizing the class in pairs or groups. Pair and group work can help make a large class feel smaller for students. Such work also gives them more opportunities to participate in class. Form groups and assign roles When forming groups for group work, it helps to give each student a role. These roles may include note-taker, timekeeper, leader, or presenter. Roles help students stay focused. They also give the students a sense of responsibility.  Teachers can give one assignment or project for the group to turn in -- for a group grade. One useful group activity is called a “jigsaw.” This is where each member of a group works on a certain part of an assignment. After finishing the task, each student shares his or her work with the group. For example, each member in a group reads a different part of an English story or article. After finishing their part, each student explains or summarizes for the group the section that he or she read.  With large classes, teachers must spend a lot of time correcting all the students’ assignments. One effective tool is to have students exchange papers and correct each other’s work while the teacher calls out the answers. Teachers can also have students discuss answers with each other before answering questions, or work on assignments in pairs. Darpak says that he does a “Think-Pair-Share” activity with his classes. First, the teacher asks the class a question or gives out an assignment. The students first have time to think about the question themselves. Then, the students discuss their own ideas with a partner. Finally, the students share their answers with the class or with the teacher. Training students for pair and group work In many classrooms around the world, teachers often do most of the talking during class, while the students listen and take notes. Students may not be familiar with pair or group work. They may feel uncomfortable or not understand the purpose of such work. If this is the case, students must be slowly trained to do interactive activities. Teachers can begin by having students work in pairs for very simple class activities.  As they become more comfortable with the work, teachers can slowly increase the difficulty of the activities that students work on together. Teachers should take the time to discuss with their class the importance of pair and group work in large classes. Kwan Warapatsu, an English teacher in Thailand, says she spends time before activities discussing with her students why it is good for them to work together in class, and how it can help them improve their English.  If students better understand the importance of working together, they will be more willing to do it and likely have fewer behavioral problems during class. Managing large language classes is not easy. But with a little extra preparation, teachers and students can have a successful, meaningful experience. I’m Phil Dierking. Phil Dierking wrote this story for VOA Learning English. ­­­­Ashley Thompson was the editor. What suggestions do you have for managing large language classes? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   assignment - n. a job or duty that is given to someone​ chant - n. a word or phrase that is repeated in a rhythmic way usually loudly and by a group of people​ interactive - adj. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done​ manage - v. to have control of (something, such as a business, department, sports team, etc.)​ opportunities - n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done​ participation - n. to be involved with others in doing something​ routine - n. a regular way of doing things in a particular order​

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What We Can Learn By Watching Sleeping Dogs

  There is an English proverb that says, "Let Sleeping Dogs Lie." It means to not bring up an old problem. Researchers in Hungary have found another reason to let dogs keep on sleeping. It seems the animals are learning while they sleep. The scientists placed wires on the dogs' heads to measure electrical activity in the brain. The brain activity, called sleep spindles, takes place in human beings, and has been linked with learning. The Hungarian scientists hope to understand how the dogs' ability to learn and remember changes as they get older. The study may help researchers understand how human brains change as we age. Ivaylo Iotchey is a neuroscience researcher. He says that this is the first time dogs’ sleep spindles have been measured, and related to the dogs learning new things. "From studies with humans and rodents, we know that they are extremely useful markers both of memory and cognition but also of aging and activity. In the dog, sleep spindles have only been described, they were never quantified, they were never related to function. This is the first time we were able to show that sleep spindles predict learning in the dog.” Gender differences in learning The scientists found differences between male and female dogs. Iotchey says the females appeared much better at learning new things. “Female dogs have approximately, on average, twice as many spindles per minute as male dogs, and they also happen to be the better learners, they memorize the task much better." But it was harder for all the older dogs to remember things, especially when several things were happening at the same time. Old dogs and new tricks Dóra Szabó also studies sleep spindles. Szabo is a neuroscientist with Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest. She says the older dogs were easily tricked. “If you first hide the reward into one pot, then in another and in another, they get confused after a while. So their performance is declining, and they are getting less effective in solving novel problems and shifting from one task to another." Researchers hope the study will not only help understanding of cognitive ability and memory changes in dogs, but also the aging process in humans. Senior Researcher Enikó Kubinyi adds that the aging dogs suffer from the same problems as humans who are aging. "Among very old dogs, up to two thirds of them show signs of dementia, and this dementia is really very similar in a lot of aspects to that of humans, so we could use dogs as a natural model of human aging." The team collects tissue from dogs’ brains and shares diseased tissue samples with researchers around the world.  I’m Jill Robbins.   Deborah Block reported this story for VOANews.com. Dr. Jill Robbins adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   proverb – n. a popular saying sleep spindles – n. a burst of brain activity that signals the beginning of deeper sleep quantify – v. to find or calculate the quantity or amount of (something) confused – adj. unable to understand or think clearly decline – v. to become worse in condition or quality novel – n. new and different from what has been known before senior – adj. of or related to a higher rating or education What do you think of this research? Do you watch your dog sleep? Do you think he or she is learning while sleeping? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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In Western China, a Police State and a Climate of Fear

  Nobody knows what happened to a Uyghur student after he returned to China from Egypt and was taken away by police. Not his neighbors, not his classmates, not even his mother. “Is he dead or alive?” the mother asked when an Associated Press reporter visited her home and showed her a photo of her son. Tears ran down her face. Friends of the student believe that he is one of thousands of people who have been taken away without trial into new “re-education centers.” The disappearances began in the past year. They are part of efforts by Chinese officials to use detentions and electronic surveillance to create a police state over the Xinjiang area and its 10 million Uyghurs. Uyghurs are a Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim minority. The Chinese government says Uyghurs have been influenced by Islamic extremism. Police are everywhere in Xinjiang. High-tech surveillance systems track where Uyghurs go, what they read, who they talk to and what they say. Through rare interviews with Uyghurs who recently left China, government reports, and a visit to southern Xinjiang, the Associated Press reported on a campaign that is meant to remove terror, but is instead causing fear. Most of the more than a dozen Uyghurs the AP interviewed asked to be unnamed because they feared that Chinese officials would punish them or their family. The AP did not name the Uyghur student or report other personal information in order to protect people from possible punishment. “Strike hard” campaign The Xinjiang government did not answer repeated requests for comment from the AP. The national government describes its Xinjiang security measures as a “strike hard” campaign. They say its actions are necessary, following a series of attacks in 2013 and 2014. Among them was a mass knife attack at a train station that killed 33 people. An official from the city of Hotan told the AP, “If we don’t do this, it will be like several years ago - hundreds will die.” The Chinese government also notes its years of heavy economic investment in Xinjiang, cultural assimilation programs, and preferred college acceptance for Uyghurs. Officials describe the mass detention programs as “vocational training.” The training centers on “Mandarin, law, ethnic unity, de-radicalization, (and) patriotism.” The programs can last from three months to two years. The AP visited one such center in the southern city of Korla. A sign on the center called it a jail. Another one was along a street blocked off by police. Southern Xinjiang is one of the most heavily policed places in the world. In Hotan, police stations are set up every 500 meters. Sometimes, groups of more than 40 armored police cars drive down city streets. Police checkpoints on every other city block stop cars to check identification. Police also check citizens’ smartphones for religious materials. But much of the policing goes unseen. Shoppers who enter the huge Hotan market must pass through metal detectors and place their national identification cards on a machine while their faces are scanned. Police stopped AP reporters outside a hotel in Hotan. The officers said the public security office had been following the reporters’ movements by watching surveillance camera videos. One government program appears to have three-dimensional pictures, voice data, genetic material and fingerprints, according to a public security document. The document’s full contents remain a secret. However, the AP found at least three contracts that made note of purchase orders for equipment such as microphones and voice analyzers.   China has also used common surveillance methods, such as recruiting people to do the work of spying. A Uyghur businessman from Kashgar who fled China said his four brothers and father were in prison because of his escape. He said that families that were made to spy on one another in his community had also been punished. Members from each family were sent to re-education centers for three months, he told the AP. Uyghurs now living in other countries say it is too risky to contact their families still in China. When Salih Hudayar, an American Uyghur graduate student, last called his grandfather this summer, the man told him kindly not to call again. He later heard his grandfather had been sent to a re-education camp. A Uyghur student who moved to Washington said that after his move, his wife -- a government worker still in Xinjiang -- sent him a message that said the police would show up at her home in 20 minutes. She had to say goodbye. After that, she would permanently remove him from her contacts list. Later, he couldn’t help but make one last call to his home. His daughter answered the phone. “Mom is sick but she doesn’t want me to speak to you," she told him. "Goodbye."   Gerry Shih from the Associated Press reported this story. It was adapted by VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor.  _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   surveillance - n.​ the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime​ interview - v.​  to question or talk with (someone) in order to get information or learn about that person​ assimilation - n.​ the process of causing a person to belong to a different society, group, etc. vocational - adj.  relating to the special skills, training, etc., that you need for a particular job or occupation​ scan - v.​ to look at all parts of (something) carefully in order to find some feature. block - v. to be placed in front of (something, such as a road or path) so that people or things cannot pass through analyzer - n.​ something that studies something closely and carefully recruit  - v.​ to persuade (someone) to join you in some activity or to help you

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December 18, 2017

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

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Trump’s New National Security Strategy Singles Out China, Russia

  U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a new national security plan that calls for continuing his “America First” policies. Trump outlined his first major national security strategy during a speech Monday in Washington. A full, written report of the new U.S. strategy identifies China and Russia as “revisionist powers” that represent economic and political threats to America. Both Russia and China “use technology, propaganda, and coercion” to shape a world that goes against U.S. interests and values, the strategy states. China and Russia “are determined to make economies less free and less fair, to grow their militaries, and to control information and data to repress their societies and expand their influence,” the document added. During his speech, Trump said his national security plan focuses on four main areas. These include protecting the U.S. homeland and borders, seeking fair and balanced trade, rebuilding the military and advancing American influence throughout the world. Trump said it was in keeping with “America First” policies, which he has been promoting since his presidential campaign. While not specifically naming China and Russia, Trump said his strategy sets important steps to deal with “new forms of conflict, such as economic and political aggression.” He said the plan calls for strengthening regional alliances to counter these threats. “America will lead again,” Trump said. The full strategy document accuses Russia of “using subversive measures to weaken the credibility of America’s commitment to Europe, undermine transatlantic unity, and weaken European institutions and governments.” As examples, it cites Russia’s invasions of Georgia and Ukraine.   “Through modernized forms of subversive tactics, Russia interferes in the domestic political affairs of countries around the world,” the strategy documents warns. During his speech, Trump did praise recent cooperation between the U.S. and Russia that led to U.S.-provided intelligence that Moscow says helped prevent a possible bomb attack in St. Petersburg, Russia. While the new strategy states that the U.S. seeks to continue cooperating with China, it is also critical of its Asian rival. “China is using economic inducements and penalties, influence operations, and implied military threats to persuade other states to heed its political and security agenda,” it says. The document also says China’s efforts “to build and militarize” in the South China Sea “endanger the free flow of trade, threaten the sovereignty of other nations,” and harm regional stability. The strategy also warns of growing threats from “rogue regimes,” such as North Korea. The last U.S. strategy plan, prepared by President Barack Obama in 2015, declared climate change an “urgent and growing threat” to national security. The Trump plan removes that language, following the administration's intention to pull out of the Paris climate accord. The Trump administration strategy sets a goal of becoming an “energy-dominant nation,” with the U.S. recognizing “the importance of environmental stewardship.” I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters and the National Security Strategy document.  Hai Do 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   revisionist – adj. asking questions about and trying to change existing beliefs about how events happened coercion – n. using force or threats to make someone do something repress – v. to control (someone or something) by force subversive – adj. secretly trying to ruin or destroy a government, political system inducement – n. something giving a reason for doing something persuade – v. convince, urge someone to act heed – v. pay attention to a warning or advice sovereignty – n. a country's independent authority and the right to govern itself stewardship – n. the management or care of something  

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For Children, the Digital World Is Good and Bad

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. For children, internet access is a double-edged sword. In other words, being able to get online can be both good and bad for kids.   On the good side, digital technology can connect a child to information and to a larger community. It can bring future opportunities for work and career. But on the bad side, it can also bring great harm and stress – especially for a child who does not know how to use the internet thoughtfully. A new report from the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, or UNICEF, explores both the good and bad of the internet for young people. The Digital divide Being online has many benefits. In fact, access to the internet can change a child’s life, says Laurence Chandy. He is the Director of Data Research and Policy for UNICEF. "We sincerely believe that -- especially for kids in places where opportunities are few or for children who are disabled, living in remote places -- it is completely intuitive that the internet has enormous potential and is already helping children access opportunity that just wasn't conceivable not long ago." But the UNICEF report estimates that around one-third of the world's youth -- most in developing countries -- are not online. For example, in Africa, only 40 percent of children are online. In Europe, by contrast, 88 percent are. These offline children, the report notes, are missing out on the benefits offered by internet access. We call the gap between those who can easily get online and those who can't the "digital divide." Experts at UNICEF say the digital divide is not fair and needs to change. They stress that children everywhere must have access to the tools that will help them to participate and compete in an ever-growing digital economy.  The dangers of the digital world UNICEF reports that one in three internet users around the world is a child. Even though so many children are online, the organization says little is known about the impact of digital technology on child's well-being. More importantly, the report finds that little is being done to protect children from the dangers of the digital world. For example, many children around the world have a digital footprint before they can actually walk and make real footprints. Parents often post photos of their children and share stories about them. And a child’s medical records may be stored in the cloud.   As children grow, they may share additional details about themselves or photos and videos of themselves. But making all this personal information public may put a child at risk. Lawrence Chandy explains that these risks include the misuse of children's private information, access to harmful content and cyberbullying. Besides, cyberbullying, Lawrence Chandy says children are also at risk from online criminal networks. These criminals target children for some of the worst forms of exploitation and abuse, such as human trafficking and online child sexual abuse. He says safeguarding children's privacy on the internet is an issue of major concern. "We really emphasize the importance of putting in place safeguards to prevent children's personal data from falling in the wrong peoples' hands and protecting their identities. This is an issue which is only going to grow in importance." UNICEF is asking governments, schools, businesses in digital technology and telecom industries to make these two things priorities: giving more children access to the internet; and then protecting them when they are online. If your child is online, the website Parenting.com gives the following safety advice. Know the online sites your child uses. You know the physical places where your child hangs out and who they are hanging out with. So, you should also know where they are online and with whom. Set house rules. Decide how much time your child spends online and how they use the internet. Teach them to protect their own privacy. Tell them: -     never to give their name, phone number, e-mail address, password, postal address, school, or picture without your permission; -     not to open e-mail from people they don't know; -     not to respond to hurtful or disturbing messages; -     not to get together with anyone they "meet" online. Keep the computer in a central spot in your home. It is easy to watch your child’s use of the computer if the device in a commonly-used area, like the kitchen. Use software and other technologies to your advantage. Use safe-surfing options such as filters and privacy settings on your child’s browsers. But know that a child who knows computers may be able to change these settings. Parents, caregivers, teachers and school administrators, businesses and policymakers need to work together to ensure safe access and protect children from the possible harm of an every-growing digital world. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo.   Lisa Schlein reported this story for VOA from Geneva. Anna Matteo adapted it for Learning English, adding additional information from the UNICEF report, several new agency, parenting and government websites. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.  ______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ​ ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   access – n. a way of being able to use or get something double-edged sword – n. something that has both good and bad parts or results remote – adj. far away from other people, houses, cities, etc. disabled – adj. having a physical or mental disability : unable to perform one or more natural activities (such as walking or seeing) because of illness, injury, etc. intuitive – adj. easily and quickly learned or understood enormous – adj. very great in size or amount potential – n. capable of becoming real conceivable – adj. able to be imagined : imaginable or possible contrast – n. to be different especially in a way that is very obvious cloud – n. the computers and connections that support cloud computing digital footprint – n. the information about a particular person that exists on the Internet as a result of their online activity. cyberbullying – n. the electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person (such as a student) often done anonymously exploit – v. to use (someone or something) in a way that helps you unfairly emphasize – v. to give special attention to (something) data – n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something

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Several Died in Washington State Train Derailment

An Amtrak train crashed in the American state of Washington Monday. At least six people died. The train was making its first-ever run along a faster route on existing railroad tracks. Seventy-eight passengers and five crew members were on the train. The train was traveling at a speed of 128 kilometers per hour when it went off the track and fell down to a busy highway below. The crash occurred about 64 kilometers south of Seattle. Local police said the falling train struck vehicles on Interstate 5. Several drivers were injured. Officials said they expect the number of dead to rise. Chris Karnes was on the train. He said the only part of the train that remained on the tracks was the rear – or back – locomotive. Many train cars could be seen hanging off the overpass. An official told The Associated Press that the train may have struck something before going off the track. The official was not permitted to discuss the investigation publicly. The possibility that the crash was caused by something on the tracks concerns officials about the risk of high-speed trains crossing busy streets. The mayor of a town near the crash site had warned about the danger of such an accident at a public meeting just two weeks ago. U.S. President Donald Trump used the deadly crash to call for more infrastructure spending. He tweeted, “The train accident that just occurred in DuPont, WA shows more than ever why our soon to be submitted infrastructure plan must be approved quickly.” The train was making the inaugural run on the new route designed to speed up service between Tacoma, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. State transportation officials said testing on the track was completed back in January and February, well before the crash on Monday. How fast are trains traveling? The Amtrak Acela Express – which connects several eastern cities - is the fastest train in the United States. It can travel at a top speed of 241 kilometers per hour. European countries including Germany, Italy and Spain have trains that can travel more than 320 kilometers per hour. The fastest trains in the world are found in Asia. Chinese media reported that the Beijing-to-Shanghai train can reach speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. A deadly crash between two bullet trains in 2011 led to China limiting train speeds to 300 kilometers per hour. The fastest non-operating train in the world is still undergoing testing in Japan. The train, a Japan Railway maglev, has reached a top speed of 603 kilometers per hour. I’m Anna Matteo.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Learning English 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   locomotive - n. the vehicle that produces the power that pulls a train infrastructure - n. roads and bridges that are needed for a country or  region to function properly per hour - used in measurements that describe the speed of something inaugural - adj. the first one maglev - n. is short for magnetic levitation, a type of high-speed train that floats over a guideway using magnets

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Honduras President Declared Winner, OAS Calls for New Vote

  Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez has been declared the winner of the country's disputed election. David Matamoros, head of the election court, announced Sunday night that Hernandez had defeated candidate Salvador Nasralla. Matamoros said the final result was almost 43 percent to 41 percent. But the Organization of American States (OAS) is calling for a new election as protests continue in Honduras. An OAS statement said it was impossible to confirm the election results. The organization said there was evidence of “human intrusions into the computer system.” “The only possible path for the winner to be the Honduran people is a new call for general elections.” the OAS said. Supporters of Salvador Nasralla used rocks and burning tires to block streets and highways around the country Monday. The country’s National Police spokesman said some businesses had been looted in San Pedro Sula, Honduras’ second largest city. Universities, banks and some businesses remained closed in the capital city, Tegucigalpa. Some people walked to work as transportation is limited. At least 17 people have died in violent street clashes since the Nov. 26 election. “It’s better to be locked up in our houses,” said Maria Velasquez, a teacher living outside the capital city. Salvador Nasralla had questioned the vote count early in the process and said he would not recognize it.  The day after the election, Nasralla held a lead over Hernandez and appeared set to win with 60 percent of the votes counted. Then, the vote counting suddenly stopped. When it restarted more than a day later, the count began to favor Hernandez. There was no immediate public comment by Hernandez about the election result. Nasralla traveled to the United States capital, Washington, to present what he called numerous examples of evidence of election wrongdoing. He met Monday with OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro. He said he also planned to meet with officials from the U.S. State Department and human rights groups. I'm Caty Weaver.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on Associated Press news reports. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   intrusion - n. the act of entering a place where you are not wanted or supposed to be present loot - v. steal things from a place during a war or after destruction lock up - v. to keep in place for security or restraint

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