North Korea to Send Delegation to South for Olympics

North and South Korea have agreed to hold military talks in an effort to improve relations. The agreement was announced Tuesday after North and South representatives held their first official talks in more than two years. The two sides said in a joint statement they have decided to "defuse the current military tension and to hold military talks to address the issue." North Korea also said it plans to take part in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The games are to be held next month in PyeongChang, South Korea.  The agreements came after discussions between North and South Korean representatives in the border village of Panmunjom. The talks were aimed, in part, at getting North Korea involved in the PyeongChang Olympics. Another goal was to reduce tensions over the North’s nuclear activities and missile development program. Officials in Seoul and Pyongyang were able to watch the meeting through a closed circuit television connection. New Year’s gift The head of the North Korean delegation in Panmunjom, Ri Son Gwon, expressed hope at the start of the talks. “We came to this meeting today with a serious and sincere attitude and with the thought of giving our brethren … invaluable results as the first present of the year," he said. South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon led his country’s delegation at the talks. He expressed hope that the meeting will lead to more discussions and cooperation between the two sides. Olympic cooperation At the talks, North Korea agreed to send a delegation to the 2018 Olympics. The delegates are to include high-level government officials, Olympic athletes, cheerleaders, and a Taekwondo demonstration team. Currently only two North Korean figure skaters have met international requirements for competing at the winter games. Although North Korea missed the closing date for countries sending a team to the games, the International Olympic Committee could still extend invitations to compete. The South Korean government proposed that the Olympic teams from the two Koreas march together in the opening ceremony.  Proposals to ease tension South Korea also proposed setting up talks to organize reunions of families separated since the Korean War. It said those discussions could take place during the Olympics, around Lunar New Year's holiday. South Korean officials also proposed military talks with North Korea. They noted the need to negotiate a nuclear weapons deal with the North to bring peace to the Korean peninsula. Talks between the two sides about the Olympics already succeeded in reopening direct contacts between North and South Korea. Communication links were cut in early 2016 after a North Korean nuclear test and rocket launch. Since taking office in May of 2017, South Korean President Moon Jae-in has tried to re-establish contacts with North Korea. But he also has supported strong sanctions against the North as punishment for developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles.  Allies guarded The United States has expressed guarded support for the discussions between North and South Korea. The U.S. government agreed to postpone joint military exercises with South Korea until after the Olympic Games. In the past, U.S. President Donald Trump described negotiations with the North Korean government as useless. But this week, he called the new talks "a good thing" that came as a result of a "firm, strong" position. Trump also said that the U.S. would get involved in the negotiations "at the appropriate time.” But the State Department has voiced concern that North Korea might try to break up the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. And it said the North might weaken U.S.-led efforts to force North Korea to give up its missile development program. On Tuesday, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga welcomed North Korean interest in joining the Pyeongchang Games. Yet he also said the North’s nuclear program remains a serious international threat and that the U.N. sanctions imposed on Pyongyang must continue.   Brian Padden reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   defuse – v. to make less harmful or tense address – v. to communicate directly with or to closed-circuit – adj. of or involving a television broadcast in which the signal is directed at a limited number of receivers attitude – n. a feeling or way of thinking brethren – n. members of an organization, usually a religious group athlete – n. a person who is skilled in physical exercises or sports appropriate – adj. right for some situation or purpose   We want to hear from you. Write to us

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2CMHraA
via IFTTT

'Time's Up' at the Golden Globes

The red carpet was flooded with black gowns and suits Sunday night at the 75th Golden Globes ceremony in Los Angeles. Actors, activists and others chose to make a color-coordinated statement of female empowerment. Sunday’s ceremony was the first major awards celebration since the anti-sexual harassment and the #MeToo campaign exploded last October. Oprah Winfrey described the night’s feel in her speech to accept the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement. She is the first black woman to receive the lifetime achievement award. “For too long women have not been heard or believed if they dared to speak their truth to the power of those men...but their time is up. Their time is up!” Winfrey’s speech received a loud, ongoing standing ovation. Movie star Natalie Portman took the stage after Winfrey’s speech. She announced the nominees for best director. Portman spoke into the camera with an icy look and noted that the list was “all-male.” The Hollywood Foreign Press Association selects the Golden Globe nominees and winners. Former producer Harvey Weinstein long ruled at the Golden Globes. But accusations of sexual abuse against him forced his resignation in October from the company he founded. And it led to a continuing flow of similar accusations, resignations and dismissals of powerful men in Hollywood and beyond. The movie that won the most Golden Globes was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Many say it is a film that speaks directly to the current moment in Hollywood – and elsewhere. It centers on a character who seeks justice for the rape and murder of her daughter. Frances McDormand, who plays the mother, took home the award for best actress. Writer-director Martin McDonagh accepted the Golden Globe for best screenplay. And Sam Rockwell won for best supporting actor. The Hollywood Foreign Press also honored Three Billboards with the award for best picture-drama, one of the night’s biggest prizes. Comedian Seth Meyers hosted the awards show. He opened the night with jokes about the Hollywood sexual harassment and abuse scandals. “Good evening ladies and remaining gentlemen,” he began. The joke seemed to serve as a pressure release. “For the male nominees in the room tonight, this is the first time in three months it won’t be terrifying to hear your name read out loud." The first award of the night went to Nicole Kidman. She won for her performance in HBO’s Big Little Lies. She also produced the series with co-star Reese Witherspoon. Kidman credited the win to “the power of women.” Big Little Lies was nominated for six Golden Globes. It won four, including best supporting actress in a limited series or television movie for Laura Dern. Dern walked the red carpet with women’s rights activist Monica Ramirez. Several other actors arrived with activists as well. Michelle Williams attended with “Me Too” founder Tarana Burke. Meryl Streep came with domestic worker activist Ai-jen Poo. It was all part of an effort to keep the ceremony’s focus on sexual harassment. Other winners continued the theme. Amazon’s current hit series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, won best TV series comedy. The show follows a 1950s housewife who begins a stand-up comedy career. Its star, Rachel Brosnahan, won best actress in a musical or comedy series. And Elisabeth Moss accepted the award for best actress in a drama series. She won for her performance in Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. The television series is based on the novel by Canadian writer and feminist Margaret Atwood. The book describes a dystopian future in which women are forced into single, narrow roles, such as childbearers, wives or cooks. The Handmaid’s Tale was also honored with the Golden Globe for best TV series - drama. In her acceptance speech, Moss dedicated the award to Atwood. She said, “We no longer live in the gaps between the stories. We are the stories in print and we are writing the stories ourselves.” Sunday night’s black-dress demonstration was part of the recently formed movement called Time’s Up. The campaign is made up of hundreds of women in the entertainment industry. They have joined forces to demand gender equality in the workplace and to provide legal defense aid for sexual harassment victims. Nearly everyone was dressed in black Sunday night. Many also wore a Time’s Up pin. Television star Chris Sullivan from This is Us even painted his fingernails black. His co-star Sterling K. Brown won for best actor in a TV series - drama. Brown, the first black man to win the award, thanked This is Us creator Dan Fogelman. “You wrote a role for a black man that can only be played by a black man. And so, what I appreciate so much about this thing is that I’m being seen for who I am and being appreciated for who I am. And it makes it that much more difficult to dismiss me or dismiss anybody who looks like me. So thank you, Dan!"  Though the atmosphere was still fun, the red carpet had unusually serious exchanges. For example, actor Debra Messing was being interviewed by the E! network when she criticized the network itself for pay inequity. E!’s Catt Sadler recently left the network after she said she learned she was making about half the pay of her male co-host, Jason Kennedy. Caty Weaver 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   red carpet – n. a long narrow red cloth stretched on the ground on which honored guests are to walk gown – n. a long, formal dress that a woman wears especially during a special event suit – n. a set of clothes that usually consists of a jacket and a skirt or pair of pants that are made out of the same material​ coordinate – v. to cause (two or more things) to be the same or to go together well : to cause (two or more things) to not conflict with or contradict each other​ harassment – n. repeated attacks against​ someone ovation – n. an occurrence in which a group of people at a play, speech, sporting event, etc., show enthusiastic approval or appreciation by clapping their hands together over and over​ host – n. to be the main person who entertains guests ​ scandal – n. an occurrence in which people are shocked and upset because of behavior that is morally or legally wrong​ domestic – adj. relating to the work (such as cooking and cleaning) that is done in a person's home​ stand-up comedy – n. single person performances of humorous material presented to a live audience dystopian – adj. an imaginary place where people are unhappy and usually afraid because they are not treated fairly ​ childbearer – n. a person who carries a pregnancy and gives birth

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Eodjmu
via IFTTT

January 8, 2018

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

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2CTWPWX
via IFTTT

Two Lottery Tickets Won $1 Billion over the Weekend

This is What’s Trending Today… It was a lucky weekend in the United States. A lottery ticket sold in the state of New Hampshire won a jackpot of $559.70 million on Saturday night. Just one day earlier, a lottery ticket sold in the state of Florida won a $450-million Mega Millions grand prize. The Reeds Ferry Market in Merrimack, New Hampshire, sold Saturday’s winning ticket. The jackpot was the eighth-biggest in U.S. history. After the store opened for business early Sunday, many excited customers stopped by to congratulate the owner and talk about the win. Sam Safa owns the Reeds Ferry Market. He said he does not yet know who the winner is. But he hopes it is one of his regular customers. “I’m very excited and overwhelmed,” he said. Safa’s store will receive a $75,000 award for selling the winning ticket. “Someone woke up a multi-millionaire this morning!” said New Hampshire Lottery director Charlie McIntyre. As of Sunday evening, a winner had not yet come forward. The Florida Lottery says the winning Mega Millions ticket was bought at a 7-Eleven store in Port Richey. The shop will receive a $100,000 award for selling that ticket. The identity of the Florida winner also had not yet been revealed. With no jackpot-winning tickets sold in either game since October, the two lottery grand prizes totaled more than $1 billion. The chances of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are one in 302.5 million. Powerball chances are one in 292.2 million. The largest Powerball jackpot was a $1.6-billion payout split among winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee in January 2016. Powerball tickets are sold in 44 states, and Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The largest Mega Millions jackpot of $656 million was won in 2012. And that's What's Trending Today. I'm Ashley Thompson.    The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials from Reuters. Hai Do was the editor.  _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   jackpot - n. a usually large amount of money won in a game of chance grand prize - n. the top prize or award given in a contest regular - adj. doing the same thing or going to the same place very often customer - n. someone who buys goods or services from a business

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2mesacx
via IFTTT

Large Review of Coffee Studies Finds ... Not Much New

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Which is more popular -- coffee or tea? If you are on Team Coffee, your team may be ahead. The well-known U.S. coffee shop Starbucks just opened its largest store in the land of tea: China! The Shanghai Starbucks is 2,700 square meters and employs more than 400 people. But now for the health question: Is coffee good for us? There have been many studies on the health benefits of coffee. Recently, researchers at the University of Southampton's Faculty of Medicine in Great Britain looked at results from 201 observational coffee studies and 17 clinical trials of coffee. With this “umbrella review,” researchers wanted to find a clear answer on whether coffee is good for us or not. They discovered that coffee drinkers had a lower risk of heart and liver disease and some cancers. Coffee drinkers also had a lower risk of dying from stroke. However, their findings are uncertain. The researchers could not prove coffee was the cause of these lowered risks. One of the researchers of this umbrella review is Robin Poole.  Poole’s team notes that their umbrella review included mainly observational data. Therefore, they could not prove any cause and effect relationship. The National Institutes of Health in the United States define an "observational uncontrolled study" as a study where “researchers simply watch what happens to a series of people in one group.” There is no control group. Still, researchers found that the benefits of moderate coffee drinking seem to outweigh the risks. Their report says that drinking coffee "was more often associated with benefit than harm." Poole calls these findings "headline benefits." "There are some headline benefits such as a lower risk of dying from any cause, a lower risk of dying from heart disease and stroke and a lower risk of developing heart disease in the first place. And for those outcomes the maximum benefit was around three to four cups of coffee per day." Poole means that if people read only the headline, they may think that the results are simply positive. But he warns that the coffee story is much more complicated. He advises people to not drink more than four cups a day. And not everyone should drink so much coffee. Researchers found that: - Too much coffee during pregnancy can be dangerous. - People, especially women, whose bones break easily should limit how much coffee they drink. - People with abnormal heart beat patterns are advised to drink decaffeinated coffee. Healthy coffee is black coffee In addition, the scientists point out that the research was only about coffee. Yet many coffee drinkers don't just drink coffee. They put sugar into it. They add milk or cream. They may have a baked treat on the side. Researcher Robin Poole warns that to get the full health benefits of coffee, keep it simple. Drinking it black is the healthiest. And skip the pastries. "It is not about the sugar and the syrups and the biscuits, cakes and pastries. And we would urge people who are already drinking moderate amounts of coffee -- about the three or four cups per day mark -- to enjoy it, but try and make it as healthy as possible because standard health messages still apply to those other things." The researchers found that the greatest benefit to drinking coffee seemed to be in fighting liver diseases. Based on that finding, they are planning a clinical test using coffee as a treatment for cirrhosis, a serious liver disease. But the final takeaway is the same as before: If you drink coffee, keep it simple and don’t eat the pastries or other baked treats that often come with a cup of coffee. And if you’re not coffee drinker, you don't need to start drinking coffee to be healthier. And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.   The coffee versus tea argument is always interesting. In the Comments Section, let us know which one you prefer. Anna Matteo wrote this story for Learning English with additional reporting from Geogrge Putic. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. ______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding by taking this short quiz. ​ _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   data – n. factual information (such as measurements or statistics) used as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or calculation outweigh – v. to exceed in weight, value, or importance associate – v. to bring together or into relationship in any of various intangible ways allege – v. to state without definite proof maximum – adj. greatest possible in amount or degree decaffeinated – adj. having the caffeine removed skip – v. to pass over or leave out (something) pastry – n. a sweet baked treat that often has fruit, icing, etc., on top syrup – n. a thick sticky solution of sugar and water often flavored cirrhosis – medical noun a serious disease of the liver that can be caused by drinking too much alcohol takeaway – n. a main point or key message to be learned or understood from something experienced or observed

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2qIbMph
via IFTTT

CES 2018: Voice-Controlled Assistants Steal the Show

  The biggest technology show of the year is taking place this week in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show is called CES 2018. The Consumer Technology Association estimates about 170,000 people will attend. About one-third of them are reported to come from countries other than the United States. The show takes place every January. It was formerly called The International Consumer Electronics Show, or CES. More than 4,000 businesses are demonstrating products in areas such as gaming, self-driving cars, digital health, artificial intelligence and robotics. One of the biggest stars at CES 2018 is the voice-controlled digital assistant. While the technology is not new, many companies are showing off the latest in virtual assistants. Devices controlled by digital assistants – especially those activated by voice - were already big sellers in 2017. This year, Google, Amazon and Apple are expected to release even more products to keep up with rising demand. Digital assistants are powered by artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. They are designed to learn user preferences over time and then “think” and act on their own. Some of the biggest developments in technology have come in the area of home automation. Amazon Echo, Google Home, Apple’s HomePod and Microsoft's Cortana are a few examples of voice-activated devices. All include “smart” speakers that “talk” to users inside the home and can perform operations. Experts with the Consumer Technology Association say sales of smart speakers are expected to nearly double in 2018, to $3.8 billion. "That market is not just heating up. It is a wildfire," researcher Steve Koenig told Agence France-Presse. The internet-linked products can play music or find information when asked questions. They can also control equipment such as lighting, cameras, televisions and temperature controllers. Among new “smart” home products to be released at the CES are voice-controlled washing machines, refrigerators, showers and toilets. Some businesses will demonstrate robots that are designed to help people do things or attend to their needs. New virtual-reality and augmented-reality technologies will also be shown. Many of these will be aimed at video gamers or sports lovers seeking to feel like they are more involved in the game. CES is also traditionally the place for major electronics manufacturers to demonstrate their newest televisions. In an effort to get people to buy, companies are continuing to advertise new technologies, including “4K,” ″HDR” and “OLED.” Many of the televisions launched this year will come with voice controls. The show also has many new physical fitness and health-related devices. Some are designed to help people create the best personal fitness plans to reach their goals. Wearable health devices are equipped to study and measure body conditions, while others help recognize signs of disease. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His story is based on reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and other sources. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   virtual – adj. not existing physically, but instead on a computer or the internet artificial intelligence – n. the ability of computers to copy human behavior, such as making decisions or offering suggestions preference – n. the liking of one thing over another virtual reality – n. the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment​ augmented reality – n. an enhanced version of reality created by the use of technology to add digital information on an image of something digital – adj. using or involving computer technology automation – n. the use of a machine or mechanical system to do work normally performed by humans  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2CI4R0P
via IFTTT

Vietnam Tries Former Oil Company Officials

Vietnam is trying 22 business leaders on corruption charges, including a former top Communist Party official. The trial is part of the campaign against corruption by Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. Most of the business leaders on trial are current or former officials of the state-owned PetroVietnam oil company. Dinh La Thang was a former chairman of PetroVietnam and a former member of Vietnam’s powerful Politburo. The Politburo is the top political committee in a communist form of government. Thang is accused of wrongdoing for his part in providing a contract to another company without a required bidding process. He also is accused of involvement in a deal that resulted in a $5.5 million loss to the state. Thang is the first former Politburo member to face charges in many years. He could receive up to 20 years in prison if found guilty. Trinh Xuan Thanh is another former chairman of PetroVietnam. He is accused of several charges including taking $186,000 for himself. The crime of embezzlement can be punished with a death sentence in Vietnam. Last August, Germany said the Vietnamese intelligence service kidnapped Thanh from a park in Berlin. Vietnam denied the accusation. Officials said Thanh turned himself in voluntarily. However, the incident caused Germany to expel two Vietnamese diplomats. Le Hong Hiep is an expert at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. He said, the trial “sends out a stern warning that there will be no ‘no-go zones’ in this campaign, and corrupt officials, no matter who they are and what position they hold, will be brought to justice.” Hiep added that, in the past, political power was divided in Vietnam. The division weakened the country’s efforts against corruption. Now the general party secretary has increased powers. Ngo Quang Hung is a retiree who was among the crowd gathered outside the courthouse. He said, “I’m happy that the government is getting tough on corruption.” Foreign media, however, are not permitted to attend the trial, which is expected to last two weeks. Speaking in Berlin, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Rainer Breul said embassy representatives were inside the courtroom. “We will observe it very closely and then evaluate what this means for our policy,” Breul said. Germany is Europe’s largest economy. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Mario Ritter was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   contract –n. an official business agreement to provide goods or services bidding –n. a process in which different companies or individuals compete by offering a lower price for a good or service embezzlement –n. to steal money you have been trusted with stern –adj. very serious zones –n. areas or places that are different than others for some reason evaluate –v. to judge something giving it careful thought  

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Dafv1t
via IFTTT

Iran's President: Protests Directed at Political Leaders, Freedoms

The president of Iran says recent anti-government protests were not only about the economy but also the country’s political leadership and issues of individual freedoms. President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that he thought the Iranian “people had economic, political and social demands.” Rouhani suggested that protestors disapproved of Iranian officials who opposed greater individual freedoms at home and closer ties with the West. The president said people should be permitted to criticize all officials without exception. “No one is innocent, and people are allowed to criticize everyone,” he said. Protest issues expanded from economics to politics Rouhani, a clergyman, defeated anti-Western candidates to win a second term as president last year. On Monday, he called for lifting restrictions on social media. Critics of Iran’s government used social media during the recent protests. They were the largest demonstrations in Iran since 2009. Rouhani also dismissed calls by some clergymen to permanently block social media and messaging apps. As the protests have weakened, the government has lifted restrictions on the social media app Instagram. But a more widely used messaging app, Telegram, was still blocked. The government said the restrictions would be temporary. “People’s access to social media should not permanently be restricted,” Rouhani said. He added, “We cannot be indifferent to people’s life and business.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that security forces had put an end to the week of demonstrations. The group blamed foreign enemies for the unrest. The protests began with young people and working-class Iranians angry over a lack of jobs and poor economic conditions. The protests spread to more than 80 cities and towns. Iranian officials say the unrest resulted in 22 deaths. More than 1,000 people were reported arrested. Iran’s deputy head of the judiciary Hamid Shahriari said all of the leaders of the protests had been identified and arrested. He said they would be firmly punished, with some possibly facing death sentences. An Iranian lawmaker reportedly said on Monday that one of those detained had died. Iranian media reported that a 22-year-old young man had hanged himself in jail. Iran’s foreign policy also a source of anger Many protestors expressed anger over Iran’s foreign policy. Iran has been involved in conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. It competes with Saudi Arabia for influence in the Middle East. Iranians are also displeased with the country’s financial support for Palestinians and the Shi’ite Muslim group Hezbollah in Lebanon. They demand that the government deal with problems facing Iranians at home instead. Last year, Rouhani won re-election by promising more jobs for Iran’s young people through foreign investment. He promised increased individual freedoms, political tolerance, and social justice. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted a report from the Reuters news agency for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   social media –n. forms of electronic communication through the internet apps –n. (applications) a computer program designed to do a specific job or group of jobs tolerance –n. the willingness to accept the activities or beliefs of others that are different from your own We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2FeVbgb
via IFTTT

Two Injured in Small Fire at Trump Tower

Two people were injured in a brief early-morning fire at Trump Tower in New York City. The New York Fire Department said Monday the fire was near the top of the tower. Smoke could be seen rising from the top of the 68-floor structure. The tower was the main home of U.S. President Donald Trump before he took office nearly a year ago. The president was in Washington, D.C. at the time of the fire. One firefighter was admitted to a hospital with minor injuries and a building worker received medical treatment at the scene, the Fire Department said. Eric Trump, one of the president’s sons, said on Twitter that it was a small electrical fire in the cooling tower on the building’s roof. “The New York Fire Department was here within minutes and did an incredible job,” said the younger Trump. “The men and women of the #FDNY are true heros and deserve our most sincere thanks and praise!” A Fire Department spokesman said the cause of the fire is under investigation. The fire was reported shortly before 7 in the morning local time, about 1200 Universal Time (UTC), on the top floor of the building. The fire department said it was under control after an hour and 15 minutes. I’m Jonathan Evans. The Reuters news agency reported this story. Hai Do adapted the report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   scene - n. the place of an event roof - n. the cover or top of the building incredible - adj. extremely good or great deserve - v. the verb is used to say that someone should have or be given something    

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2Fe9Sjs
via IFTTT

Stars Make Statement in Black at Golden Globes

Movie stars and entertainers arrive at the Golden Globes in black to support the #MeToo movement.

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2m52mik
via IFTTT

Donald Trump: Unusual

  VOA Learning English presents America’s Presidents. Today we are talking about Donald Trump. He was elected in 2016. Because his presidency is so new, this program will not discuss his time in office. Instead, it will discuss his early life. And it will note a few ways that Trump’s background is unusual compared to most U.S. presidents. Early life Donald Trump was born in Queens, a borough of New York City. He was the fourth child. He had two brothers and two sisters. His mother had been born in Scotland. His father, whose relatives were German, became a successful businessman in New York. Donald and his two brothers helped their father in the family business. At the time, the business was called Elizabeth Trump and Son, after his grandmother and father. The work related to building, buying, and managing property. By his own telling, young Donald often created trouble in school. So when he was 13 years old, his parents sent him to a military-style school. Donald said that, for the most part, he enjoyed the experience. Other students there remembered him as a good baseball player, as popular with girls, and as someone who wanted to succeed. Trump went on to college first at Fordham University in New York, and then at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in economics. He was also already investing in real estate. After he graduated, Trump quickly returned to New York City and his career. In time, he became the head of the family business. He re-named it the Trump Organization. As its president, Trump developed and put his name on luxury buildings, casinos, hotels, and golf courses around the world. Later, he became linked to the entertainment industry, too. He became a part owner of beauty pageants, hosted a television show, and wrote a book about how to succeed in business. During these years, Trump also married three times and divorced twice. The media wrote especially about his first and second marriages because he openly had a relationship with his second wife while he was married to his first. In 2005, he married Melania Knauss, a former model from Slovenia. She is only the second first lady who was not born in the United States. The first was Louisa Adams, who came from Britain in 1801. All together, Trump has three sons and two daughters. Because Trump has been a public figure for most of his life, many Americans were familiar with him before he ran for president. To some, he is linked to success in business and branding. To others, notes journalist Jackie Calmes, he is linked to debt and legal battles. But, until he officially entered the 2016 campaign as a Republican candidate, few linked him to politics. Trump is unusual among past presidents in that he had never worked in the government before. Nor has Trump served in the military. Only Presidents Taylor, Grant, and Eisenhower had no previous government experience; however, they had all been generals. During the campaign for president, other candidates spent money to buy advertising. But Trump spread his message on free television, radio and social media. Trump won the Republican nomination over 16 candidates. He went on to defeat Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to win the presidency. Trump is the oldest person ever to take office. He was 70 years old when he was sworn in. He is also one of the richest. And Trump is unusual in how he communicates with the public. As president, he continues to use Twitter to communicate his thoughts directly to anyone who wants to follow him. Many earlier presidents also used changes in technology to interact with the public. Woodrow Wilson was the first to hold press conferences regularly with reporters. Franklin Roosevelt famously spoke to Americans on the radio. John F. Kennedy – and later Richard Nixon – are credited with using television to their advantage. But these episodes were often planned in advance. Trump has said he likes Twitter because he can share his thoughts immediately. And, he adds, the media and the public respond immediately, too. While the long-term effects of Trump’s presidency are not yet known, he will likely be remembered in part for his direct and unscripted style of communication. I’m Kelly Jean Kelly.   Kelly Jean Kelly wrote this report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _________________________________________________________________   Listening Quiz See how well you understand the story by taking this listening quiz. Play each video, then choose the best answer. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   borough - n. one of the five political divisions of New York City model - n. someone who is paid to wear clothing and jewelry so that people will see and want to buy what is being worn branding - n. promoting a product or service by linking it with a name debt - n. money that is owed broadcast - v. made public unscripted - adj. not written or planned at an earlier time

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2m8BRZo
via IFTTT