January 10, 2018

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

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South Korea's President Willing to Talk with Kim Jong Un

  South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in says he would be willing to hold talks with North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un under the right conditions. Moon made the offer as he spoke to reporters Wednesday one day after diplomats from the two sides met for 11 hours in their first official talks since 2015. Negotiators met at the “peace village” of Panmunjom on the border between the Koreas. Moon said, “What we can do at the moment is improve inter-Korean relations, engage North Korea in dialogue, so that North Korea can return to the negotiation table for, ultimately, denuclearization.” It is unclear whether a meeting between the two Korean leaders could take place anytime soon. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has not met with any foreign leaders since he took power in 2011. Koh Yu-hwan is a North Korea expert at Dongguk University in Seoul. He said such a meeting is possible during Moon’s five-year term. “Kim has never met any foreign leader, so it would be meaningful for him to make his first summit a meeting between [the] Koreas,” he said. Moon said he was open to any form of meeting with some conditions. He noted talks should not be empty. During last year’s presidential campaign, Moon said that he wanted to improve relations between the Koreas. However, he also has supported strong international restrictions on the North to bring it to the negotiating table. The South Korean president noted on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump was important in helping to bring about conditions that permitted the negotiations. He said Trump deserved “big credit” for increasing pressure through sanctions on the North Korean leadership. In Washington, U.S. President Donald Trump agreed during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. “Without our attitude that would have never happened,” Trump said. Trump added, “Who knows where it leads. Hopefully it will lead to success for the world — not just for our country but for the world, and we’ll be seeing over the next number of weeks and months what happens.” The White House also said in a statement, “President Trump expressed his openness to holding talks between the United States and North Korea at the appropriate time, under the right circumstances.” Results of Panmunjom talks The two Koreas have agreed to reopen an emergency communications hotline. They also agreed to hold military talks to solve disputes and avoid accidental conflict. North Korea said it would send a large delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics next month. And South Korea said it would be willing to suspend some restrictions that could interfere with North Korea attending the Games. South Korea also proposed a reunion of families separated by the Korean War to be held some time in February. Guarded reactions to talks Moon called North Korea’s attendance at the Olympic Games “very desirable.” However, he said progress on the nuclear issue is necessary for relations between the Koreas to improve. He warned that new nuclear or missile tests would only increase international pressure. Grant Newsham is with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies based in Tokyo. He said it is important that the militaries of the two sides are talking to each other. But he warns that North Korea could use the talks to divide South Korea from its allies, Japan and the U.S. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting from Brian Padden of VOA and the Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   engage –v. to become involved in dialogue –n. discussions between two groups or countries which have a disagreement sanctions –n. measures meant to cause a country to obey international law usually having to do with trade attitude –n. the way a person things or acts about someone or something reunion –n. a gathering of people who have not been together in a long time circumstances –n. conditions that affect a situation We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

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US Proposes Opening Most Coastal Waters for Oil Drilling

The United States has announced plans to open much of the country’s coastal waters to oil and gas drilling. The Interior Department released the five-year plan last week. It is much more expansive than one suggested by President Donald Trump in April of last year. The Interior Department proposed to publicly sell 47 possible drilling rights in much of the U.S. continental shelf. That is a large increase from the 11 lease sales during the presidency of Barack Obama. The draft of the plan would permit the sale of drilling leases in 25 of 26 offshore planning areas. The one area identified as off-limits is the waters near Alaska’s far-western Aleutian Islands. The area was given special protection by former President George W. Bush.  The strongest energy superpower in the world Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters last week that the United States is, in his words, “going to become the strongest energy superpower this world has ever known.” Zinke also said that he wants to grow the country’s offshore energy industry instead of having to depend on foreign energy resources. “We will produce enough energy to meet our needs at home, and we will export enough energy to lead the world," he said. The Interior Department’s broad proposal is meant to begin with a 60-day public comment period. The Interior Department is responsible for setting the start date of the comment period. Zinke said in a press release that “not all areas are appropriate for offshore drilling, and we will take that into consideration in the coming weeks.” Some critics of the plan have already expressed their feelings. The opponents include environmental groups and governors from coastal states. When the plan was first released, waters off Florida’s coastline were included. However, Zinke announced on Tuesday that he is now banning oil and gas drilling off the Florida coast. In a statement, Zinke said, “I support the governor’s position that Florida is unique and its coasts are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver.”  The Interior Secretary admitted that Florida Governor Rick Scott pressured him to amend his decision. The Defense Department has also expressed concerns about drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, where the U.S. Navy performs exercises. The Trump administration is currently operating under a plan set up by the Obama administration. The plan is for the years 2017 to 2022. Obama had proposed drilling off the Atlantic Coast and off Alaska's Arctic coast. However, both proposals were removed in the final version of the plan. Last year, Zinke took a number of steps to make it easier to lease and explore for oil on land and in water. He removed some safety laws that were put into place after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The Deepwater Horizon rig caught fire after an oil well explosion. Eleven people were killed. The resulting oil spill – nearly 5 billion barrels over five months -- was the worst offshore oil spill in American history. I’m Jonathan Evans. Marissa Melton reported this story for VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Do you think coasts should be used for energy resources or protected?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story appropriate - adj. especially suitable or compatible  continental shelf - n. the area of seabed around a large landmass where the sea is relatively shallow compared with the open ocean. The continental shelf is geologically part of the continental crust. broad - adj. covering a large number and wide scope of subjects or areas.​ drilling - v. produce (a hole) in something by or as if by boring with a drill.​ lease - n. a contract by which one conveys real estate, equipment, or facilities for a specified term and for a specified rent marine ecosystems - n. a complex of living organisms in the ocean environement offshore - adv. at a distance from the shore reliant - adj. having reliance on something or someone​ tourism - n. the practice of traveling for recreation​ unique - adj. being the only one​

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Quiz - College Admissions: Visiting Schools to Learn More

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Quiz - Scientists Aim to Give AI to Robot Cat That Helps the Elderly

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Salvadorans Fear Their Country Is Unprepared for Returnees

  Hugo Castro remembers the shock and suffering he experienced when the United States sent him back to El Salvador. He had not seen his homeland in 30 years. The 51-year-old man said his country now must prepare to receive almost 200,000 Salvadorans who may also have to return. President Trump’s administration announced Monday it would end legal protection for Salvadorans next year. The U.S. deported Castro in 2015. He said there was nothing for him in El Salvador. “The main problem for deportees is that they're made invisible. They're rejected, there's no work. They don't help us,” he said. The U.S. announcement has created fear. People worry that the new policy will end a major source of income for El Salvador and separate family members. But there was also some hope that Salvadorans with many years of experience in the U.S. will bring knowledge and investment back home. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Salvadorans under the temporary protection policy would have to leave the U.S. by September 9, 2019. The temporary protection program has been offered to citizens from several countries fleeing natural disasters or other problems. The affected Salvadorans were given protection after deadly earthquakes shook their country in 2001. Thousands more have arrived in the United States in recent years fleeing criminal violence. However, they were not given protection. Castro went to the United States as a teenager to study at a college in Atlanta, Georgia. During his junior year, his family back home lost nearly everything when the bank seized their coffee operation. He withdrew from college and got a job at a country club and a book store. He also became manager of a Mexican restaurant. But an interaction with police led to Castro’s detainment and, later, deportation. His first three months back in El Salvador were the worst, he said. He suffered from depression and didn't want to leave his mother's home. People told him a man his age should not depend on his mother for support, so he started to look for work. “I went everywhere, to restaurants. I told them I had a lot of experience and that I spoke English, but they rejected me,” he said. After eight months, Castro finally found work at the Salvadoran Immigrant Institute. The non-profit group recognized the value of Castro's language abilities. It also valued the experience he had gained through the deportation process and it put him to work helping other deportees re-enter Salvadoran life. Castro said programs like his are very limited and more needs to be done for returnees. “The government has to get ready, partner with businesses, with all of ociety, the nonprofits and create assistance programs,” he said. He noted that in 2016, the country received 52,000 deportees from the United States and Mexico. Meanwhile, a government program to give small amounts of money to help deportees open their own businesses has only graduated 140 people, he said. The biggest worry among Salvadorans is that their nation of 6.2 million people will see a big drop in the amount of money sent home by Salvadorans in the United States. Salvadorans sent more than $4.5 billion from the U.S. in 2016. That money represents about 17 percent of El Salvador's economy. Luis Membreno is an economic expert in El Salvador. He said people may be more concerned than necessary about the effects of planned deportations. He said Salvadorans under the U.S. protection policy have a firmer base in that country. They are not sending as much money home as Salvadorans who are not in the program. “I don't think that family remittances are going to fall in the short term,” Membreno said. He also thinks some Salvadoran families in the U.S. may start sending more money back, something that started when Donald Trump was elected president. So, Membreno said, remittances could increase. In addition, he said, many of those who returning to El Salvador have skills and money to invest. “All of this could generate a certain dynamism in the economy,” he said. Cesar Rios, director of the nonprofit group where Castro works, is less hopeful. “Our country is not prepared to receive thousands of Salvadorans,” he said. Deportees are often targeted by criminal groups in El Salvador. The groups believe the deportees have money. Police also target them, because of a widespread belief that deportees are criminals. I'm Pete Musto. And I’m Caty Weaver.   The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted this story for Learning English based on AP news reports. Hai Do was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   invisible – adj. impossible to see​ country club – n. a private establishment people pay dues to belong to and use for social events and sports, especially golf and tennis manager – n. someone who is in charge of a business, department, etc.​ depression – n. a state of feeling sad​ remittance – n. an amount of money that is sent as a payment for something​ generate – v. to produce (something) or cause (something) to be produced​ dynamism – n. energy and a strong desire to make something happen​

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Iran Bans Teaching of English in Primary Schools

  Iranian officials have banned the teaching of English in primary schools. Mehdi Navid-Adham, chief of Iran’s High Education Council, informed state television of the ban last Saturday. The move came after Islamic leaders warned that early learning of the English language has led to a Western “cultural invasion”. “Teaching English in government and non-government primary schools in the official curriculum is against laws and regulations,” Navid-Adham said. He added that the government may also stop non-curriculum English classes. The reasoning, Navid-Adham said, is that the groundwork, or basis, of Iranian culture should be taught to young children. In Iran, English language training is usually offered in middle school, to students from 12 to 14 years of age. However, in some primary schools, students may begin taking English classes at younger ages. Some Iranian children also attend foreign language classes at private education centers after normal school hours. The dangers of a “cultural invasion” Iran’s Islamic leaders have often warned about the dangers of “cultural invasion.” In 2016, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei voiced concern over the “teaching of the English language spreading to nursery schools”.   In a speech to teachers, Khamenei said that his concern, “Does not mean opposition to learning a foreign language, but (this is the) promotion of a foreign culture in the country and among children, young adults and youths.” Khamenei accused Western countries of promoting their cultures with Iranian youth as a way of expanding their influence in Iran, according to his office’s website. In the same speech, he urged Iranians to spend more time and money on the teaching of the Persian language, instead of English. Last Saturday, Navid-Adham told state television that government officials want to strengthen “Persian language skills and Iranian Islamic culture at the primary school stage.” He added that it would now be against the law to teach English at the primary school level, either during or outside of normal school hours. The Reuters news agency reported that in the past, other languages have also been targeted by Iranian officials. In 2017, Iran’s intelligence agency banned the publication of a Kurdish-language instruction book. No link to protests In his announcement, Navid-Adham did not link the new language education rules to recent anti-government protests. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have blamed foreign enemies for the unrest. A video dealing with the announcement of the ban was widely shared on social media on Sunday. A number of Iranians have jokingly called it “The filtering of English.” Some compare it to the blocking of the popular app Telegram by the government during the protests. I’m Phil Dierking.   Phil Dierking adapted this report for VOA Learning English based on Reuters news reports. The story also includes information from The Washington Post newspaper and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. George Grow was the editor. Do you think teaching English at the primary school level in a non-English speaking country is cultural invasion?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   app - n. a computer program that performs a special function​ curriculum - n. the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.​ filter - v. to pass something, through a filter to remove something unwanted​ nursery - adj. a room where children sleep, play, and are sometimes taught​ promotion - n. something that is done to make people aware of something and increase its sales or popularity​ regulation - n.  an official rule or law that says how something should be done​

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Google Doodle Honors Indian American Scientist

  This is What’s Trending Today…. Har Gobind Khorana was an Indian American biochemist. His research led to greater understanding of the makeup of human DNA. In 1968, he received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Khorana would have been 96 years old on Tuesday, January 9. Google honored his life and work on its homepage with a Google Doodle. The image could be seen by Google users in 13 countries, including the United States, India, Argentina, Chile and Japan.      Khorana was born on January 9, 1922, in a small Indian village called Raipur. The area is now part of Pakistan. As Google reports, Khorana’s father helped his children learn to read and write. This was not common in poor, rural places like Raipur.   Khorana received scholarships to attend Punjab University where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The Indian government later gave Khorana a scholarship for him to do his doctoral studies in chemistry at the University of Liverpool in England. Khorana went on to do research at universities around the world, including Canada and the United States. In 1968, he and two other researchers at the University of Wisconsin - Madison earned the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. “Together,” Google explains, “they discovered that the order of nucleotides in our DNA determines which amino acids are built. These amino acids form proteins, which carry out essential cell function.” In 1972, Khorana made another important scientific breakthrough when he built the first-ever synthetic gene. Bangalore-based artist and designer Rohan Dahotre created the Google Doodle. Google produced two other Doodles for January 9. Users in the Middle East saw a Doodle celebrating what would have been the 82nd birthday of Egyptian poet and radio host Farouk Shousha. He died in 2016 at the age of 80. And users in Indonesia and a few other countries saw a Doodle of the “corpse flower.” The huge, unusual -- and foul-smelling -- plant was honored by Indonesian officials as a national rarity 25 years ago. And that’s What’s Trending Today… I’m Ashley Thompson.  _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   DNA - n. a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of plants and animals (DNA is an abbreviation of “deoxyribonucleic acid")  scholarship - n. an amount of money that is given by a school, an organization, etc., to a student to help pay for the student's education degree - n. an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university amino acid - n. any one of many acids that occur naturally in living things and that include some which form proteins essential  - adj. extremely important and necessary synthetic - adj. made by combining different substances : not natural host - n. a person who talks to guests on a television or radio show foul - adj. very unpleasant to taste or smell

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UN: Cuts in Aid Would Hurt Palestinian Children

A United Nations agency finds itself at the center of attention following criticism from Israel and comments by U.S. President Donald Trump. Palestinian refugees receive humanitarian aid through the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). Money for the program comes mainly from voluntary donations by UN member states. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his Cabinet the agency should be closed. Netanyahu said that UNRWA works only for Palestinian refugees and makes the refugee problem worse. He wants its financing moved to the UN's main refugee agency. “UNRWA must become a thing of the past," Netanyahu said. He said that the U.N. agency helps Palestinians believe they will get their land returned if Israel is destroyed. The agency says as many as 5 million refugees can use its services. They are Palestinians who left their homes during the war that established Israel in 1948, or their descendants.  Today, more than 1.5 million Palestinians live in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness said the agency will continue its work until there is a "just and lasting solution" for the refugees. "What perpetuates the refugee crisis is the failure of the parties to deal with the issue,” Gunness said in a statement. He added, “This needs to be resolved by the parties to the conflict in the context of peace talks, based on U.N. resolutions and international law, and requires active engagement by the international community.” Efforts to support peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians have been unsuccessful for several years. Tensions between the two worsened last month when the United States recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital. President Trump’s decision was a break from longstanding U.S. policy and the ideas of the United Nations. UN officials have long said the future of Jerusalem and a decision on Israel’s capital are issues to be negotiated. The Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state under a two-state solution. Trump also threatened last week to cut millions of dollars in U.S. aid to the Palestinians. Netanyahu praised the president in his own comments Sunday. Palestinian official Hanan Ashrawi rejected Trump's threat. She accused him of sabotaging the peace process and then blaming the Palestinians for "the consequences of his own irresponsible actions." Ashrawi said further the Palestinians "will not be blackmailed." Trump did not say exactly how much government aid would be cut. The U.S. provides one-third of UNRWA's funding and provided more than $350 million to the agency in 2016. I'm Susan Shand.   Chris Hannas and Cindy Seine reported on this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted their reports for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   perpetuate – v. to continue engage – v. to discuss or to interact with consequence – n. the result of a person’s actions blackmail – v. to demand money from someone in exchange for keeping information secret descendant – n. someone related to a person or people who lived at an earlier time

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January 9, 2018

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

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North and South Korea Meet, Agree to Future Talks

North and South Korea have held their first talks in more than two years. North and South Korean officials met Tuesday in the border village of Panmunjom. They agreed to hold military talks in an effort to improve relations. Officials in Seoul and Pyongyang were able to watch the meeting through a closed circuit television connection. In a joint statement, the two sides said they have decided to "defuse the current military tension and to hold military talks to address the issue." But North Korea says its nuclear weapons are not a subject for discussion with the South Korean government. Ri Son Gwon led the North Korean delegation at the talks. He said, “All our weapons, including atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs and ballistic missiles, are only aimed at the United States, not our brethren, nor China and Russia.” Ri warned that to bring up the nuclear issue “would cause negative consequences and risks turning all of today’s good achievement into nothing.” Olympic cooperation The North Korean official also announced that his country plans to take part in the 2018 Winter Olympics. The games are to be held next month in PyeongChang, South Korea. Ri said that North Korea will send a delegation to the PyeongChang 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. I'm Jonathan Evans.   Brian Padden reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his story for Learning English. His report contains information from the Associated Press and Reuters news agency. 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 brethren – n. members of an organization, usually a religious group negative – adj. unwanted; harmful or bad consequence – n. a result or product of something achievement – n. success; the act of doing something 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 in the Comments Section.      

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