Record Warm Winter in Arctic, Scientists Say

New weather information shows the Arctic just had its warmest winter on record. The same information also shows that sea ice hit record lows for this time of year. That means there is plenty of open water in the Arctic Ocean, where ocean water normally freezes into thick pieces of ice. Scientists told the Associated Press what is happening now has never happened before. They say it is part of a vicious cycle, a series of cause and effect events, in Earth’s atmosphere. The scientists believe that climate change could be fueling these changes. They say slowly rising temperatures in the atmosphere are likely influencing strong icy, storms in Europe and the northeastern United States. “It’s just crazy, crazy stuff,” said Mark Serreze, director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. Serreze has been studying the Arctic since 1982. “These heat waves, I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said. Unusual temperatures across the Arctic This past winter has been so warm that the land weather station closest to the North Pole, at the top of Greenland, spent more than 60 hours above freezing last month. Before this year, scientists had only seen temperatures there briefly rise above freezing in February only two times before. On February 24, 2018, the temperature at the top of Greenland reached six degrees Celsius, setting a record for that date.  The warmer weather reached other parts of the Arctic Circle. In Barrow, Alaska, the temperature in February was 10 degrees warmer than normal. All winter long, the average temperatures were 7.8 degrees Celsius higher than normal. At over 30 different Arctic weather stations, 15 of them were at least 5.6 degrees Celsius above normal for the winter. That information comes from climate scientist Brian Brettschneider of the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Weather scientists consider December, January, and February to be winter. Arctic weather stations averaged 4.9 degrees Celsius higher than normal for the season that just ended. The air above the Chukchi and Bering seas near Alaska averaged about 11 degrees Celsius higher than normal for February, the data center reported. ​Less ice and a vicious cycle In February, Arctic sea ice covered 13.9 million square kilometers. This is about 160,000 square kilometers less than the record low last year, the ice data center said. Sea ice coverage in February also was 1.4 million square kilometers below the 30-year average. That represents an area nearly two times the size of the state of Texas. Sea ice is frozen ocean water that forms, grows and melts on the ocean. Near Greenland, warm air moved north over part of the Atlantic Ocean that usually has sea ice. Something similar was also happening in the Pacific Ocean, creating open water on normally frozen parts of the Bering Sea, said data center scientist Walt Meier. To be happening on opposite sides of the Arctic at the same time is unusual, he added. While some natural weather systems were involved, climate change is the most important influence, Meier said. “When you have warmer temperatures, you are going to melt more ice and it’s going to grow more slowly.” In the winter, sea ice “acts as a lid to keep the warmth of the water at bay.” But when there is less sea ice, more heat goes into the air, Brettschneider said. “You end up with a vicious cycle of warm air preventing sea ice formation and lack of sea ice allowing warmth to escape into the air.” I’m Jonathan Evans.   Seth Borenstein wrote this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Have you experienced warmer winters?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   arctic - adj. of or relating to the North Pole or the region around it cycle - n. a set of events or actions that happen again and again in the same order crazy - adj. not sane stuff - n. a group or pile of things that are not specifically described lid - n. a cover on a box, can, jar, etc., that can be lifted or removed at bay - phrase. in the position of being unable to move closer while attacking or trying to approach someone   vicious - adj. very violent and cruel

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Indian Architect Wins Pritzker Prize

  This year’s top award in architecture goes to Balkrishna Doshi. This is the first time an Indian has won in the 40-year history of the award, known as the Pritzker Prize. Some compare the award to the Nobel Prize. Doshi has been an architect, city planner, and educator for 70 years. In contrast to other Pritzker winners, Doshi works almost only in his home country. In Ahmedabad, Doshi’s designs can be seen in the concrete Life Insurance Corporation Housing buildings to the flowing curves of the Amdavad ni Gufa art gallery. But he is best known for designing low-cost housing. The Aranya project in Indore is home to more than 80,000 people, many of them poor. It includes a system of houses, courtyards, and pathways.  Doshi says the housing can change how home owners see their world. “Now, their life has been changed. They feel hopeful,” he said. “They have ownership of something.” Doshi said his life’s work has been to help “the have-nots, the people who have nothing.” He called the prize an honor both for himself and for India. Doshi was born in 1927 in the city of Pune. He studied architecture in Mumbai and later worked under the architect known as Le Corbusier. Doshi was the first director of Ahmedabad’s School of Architecture and Planning, now known as CEPT University. He founded his own company in 1956, and lives and works in Ahmedabad. The Hyatt Foundation, which sponsors the Pritzker Prize, called Doshi’s work “poetic and functional.” It noted that Doshi’s buildings both respect eastern culture and improve the quality of life in India. “My work is the story of my life,” Doshi said in the award announcement. He said he was always moving forward, changing and searching, to look beyond architecture to look only at life. Doshi will be given the $100,000 prize in May at a ceremony in Toronto, Canada. I'm Susan Shand.   Susan Shand adapted this story from an AP reports. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story   architect – n. a person who designs buildings curve – n. a smooth, rounded line, shape, path, concrete – n. a hard, strong material that is used for building and made by mixing cement, sand, and broken rocks with water functional – adj. designed to have a practical use

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Violence Stops Aid Efforts for Syria’s Ghouta Area

Aid efforts for an area of Damascus that is under siege recently had to be cut short when Syrian government forces began bombing the area. A local council reported that the incident took place in the Ghouta suburb of Syria’s capital city. It said government attacks on the area appear to be intensifying. The council said aid trucks had to leave before they could finish unloading their supplies. Monday appeared to be the worst day of violence since the United Nations Security Council demanded a 30-day cease-fire for Syria. A U.N. Security Council resolution was passed unanimously on February 25, but it has not been observed. The Syrian American Medical Society organization supports hospitals in eastern Ghouta. It said 79 people were killed as the government, supported by Russia's military, pushed its attack on the rebel-held suburbs.  The U.N. says nearly 400,000 people are trapped by the violence. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reports on the conflict. It said 80 civilians were killed on Monday. Monday's aid shipment was the first to enter eastern Ghouta after weeks of a siege. Government attacks there have killed nearly 800 civilians since February 18. Aid agencies, however, said Syrian officials took basic health supplies, including trauma and surgical equipment from the trucks. For years, U.N. officials have protested such actions by the Syrian government. The U.N. said airstrikes and bombing in eastern Ghouta and the attacks on Damascus continued for hours while the trucks were unloading supplies. Jens Laerke is deputy spokesman for the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. He said, "After nearly nine hours inside, the decision was made to leave for security reasons.” He added that organizers were concerned about the safety of the aid team. As a result, 14 of the 46 trucks were not able to unload important supplies. Of the 14, four unloaded a small part of their aid before leaving. Laerke said the team found people who have lived through months of violence and who are desperate for humanitarian aid. "Food for civilians was in short supply,” he said. Laerke also noted that any food was very costly and the aid workers saw evidence of malnutrition. It is unclear if any additional aid will be possible. Organizers plan to send more aid trucks to eastern Ghouta Thursday. However, Laerke said security must be guaranteed before the trucks leave for the area. Aid workers from The ICRC, the International Committee for the Red Cross, and the U.N. also had to leave before unloading all their supplies on Monday. Ingy Sedky is the ICRC spokeswoman in Syria. She said most of the aid from 46 trucks arrived at the town of Douma in eastern Ghouta. But unloading was stopped because of the violence. Iyad Abdelaziz, a member of the Douma Local Council, said nine aid trucks had to leave the area because of government shelling and airstrikes. Airstrikes continued Tuesday. The opposition's Syrian Civil Defense search-and-rescue group reported at least nine people were killed in airstrikes in eastern Ghouta. The group, also known as the White Helmets, said that two of its volunteers suffered from breathing problems after the bombing of the town of Hammouriyeh on Monday night. The group accused the government of using "poison gas." The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 18 people suffered breathing problems but did not give a reason. It was the eighth allegation of chlorine gas use reported by the Syrian American Medical Society this year. Russia has used its Security Council veto to stop the work of a U.N. body investigating reports of the illegal use of gas. The United States has said it could take military action against the Syrian government for using chemical weapons on its own people. The Syrian government, through the SANA state news agency, denied using chemical weapons in eastern Ghouta. Russia's Defense Ministry has said it was making an offer to permit armed rebels to leave eastern Ghouta with their families and weapons. Russia has been a strong ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, helping him gain control of much of the country during its deadly civil war. On Tuesday, the Associated Press reports that a Russian military cargo plane crashed near an air base in Syria killing all 39 Russian service members on it. Turkey's foreign ministry said the country plans to build camps in nine areas in northern Syria for refugees from the fighting. A foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that the camps would be built in an area controlled by Turkish-supported forces. The would also be built in Idlib province where Turkish forces are trying to make a "de-escalation zone." It is part of an agreement reached between Turkey, Russia and Iran. The spokesman said the camps would host a total of 170,000 people. I’m Susan Shand.  And I’m Jonathan Evans. Susan Shand adapted this Associated Press story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. ___________________________________________________ Words in this story siege – n. when a city, building, etc., is surrounded with soldiers who try to take control of it suburb – n. a town or other area where people live in houses near a larger city unanimously – adj. agreed to by everyone trauma – n. a very difficult or unpleasant experience that causes someone to have mental or emotional problems usually for a long time surgical – adj. of or relating to the process of performing a medical operation desperate – adj very sad and upset because of having little or no hope malnutrition – n. the unhealthy condition that results from not eating enough food or not eating enough healthy food allegation – n. a statement saying that someone has done something wrong or illegal de-escalation – n. stopping a bad situation from becoming worse or improving it.

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Dalai Lama Event Moved after India Warns Top Officials to Stay Away

A public event for Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is being moved after the Indian government told top officials to stay away from such activities. India reportedly added that this was a “very sensitive time” for relations with China. The event will mark the Tibetan spiritual leader’s 60th year in exile in India. The ceremony was to be held in New Delhi, but will instead take place in Dharamsala, the home to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile. A spokesman for the government-in-exile told VOA, "we came to know about the Indian government's circular and we decided we respect the position and we shifted it to Dharamsala." A difficult time The Dalai Lama's "Thank You India" public event, on April 1, was the high point of a series of yearlong events planned by the Tibetan exile government. A tree planting ceremony by the Dalai Lama, set for March 31 in New Delhi, has been cancelled. The Indian government’s move to avoid the events is seen as an effort to not anger China at a time when relations between the two countries are tense. The Dalai Lama and tens of thousands of Tibetan refugees live in India. Yet the government has usually been careful to avoid showing official support for him. The Chinese government considers the Dalai Lama a dangerous separatist. It says he is trying to end Chinese rule in Tibet. The note advising Indian officials not to attend the Dalai Lama’s event apparently came from the Indian Foreign Secretary, Bijay Gokhale. He went to Beijing last month in what some observers said was a visit to improve relations with China. They said that relations between the two countries hit a low point last July when they were involved in a tense military standoff in the Himalayan Mountains. Resetting relations Observers see this as a change in the position taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government over the past two years. Last April, Indian officials gave the Dalai Lama permission to visit the sensitive border area of Arunachal Pradesh. China claims partial control of the area. The Chinese government had warned that his visit would damage relations. Earlier, the Tibetan leader and other Nobel Peace Prize winners were invited to a meeting with the Indian president about children's rights.  This invitation also angered China. Alka Acharya is a professor of Chinese Studies at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. He says the latest Indian move is a way for the government to reset relations with China. "They are reverting back to a much more formally and officially correct position which is that the government will distance itself from activities of the Dalai Lama which may have a political implication," said Acharya. After news of the Indian decision became public, the foreign ministry said in a statement that the Dalai Lama is "deeply respected by the people of India, and there is no change in that position.” It added that the Dalai Lama will continue to be free to carry out his religious activities in India. I’m Phil Dierking. Anjana Pasricha reported this story VOANews.com. Phil Dierking adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Do you think it awas a good idea for the government to distance itself from the Dalai Lama?  We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   circular - n. a printed sheet (such as an advertisement) that is given or sent to many people at the same time​ implication - n. a possible future effect or result — usually plural​ shift - v. to move or to cause (something or someone) to move to a different place, position, etc.​ standoff - n. an argument, contest, etc., in which there is no winner​ revert - v. to go back or return to ​

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George Washington’s Tree Brought Down by Strong Winds

  This is What’s Trending Today… The eastern United States is recovering from a major storm, which left widespread damage. Strong gusts of wind broke windows and removed tops of buildings. Hundreds of thousands of people lost power for one or more days. Huge trees came crashing down. And, reports say one of the trees brought down by the storm may have been planted by the first U.S. president, George Washington. The tree stood on the grounds of Washington’s home at Mount Vernon, about 30 kilometers south of Washington, D.C. The huge estate sits along the Potomac River, just south of Alexandria, Virginia. Today, George Washington’s Mount Vernon is a popular stop for travelers, both Americans and visitors from overseas. The tree, a Canadian hemlock, was planted near the entrance to a garden on the property. It had a sign that read “circa 1791” on it -- the year that people thought it was planted. Rob Shenk works for George Washington’s Mount Vernon. He published a photograph of the damaged tree on Twitter last weekend. He wrote, “The DC area lost a lot of trees yesterday, but maybe none more significant than this 1791 Canadian Hemlock at Mount Vernon. George Washington himself likely knew this tree…” Dean Norton is the director of horticulture at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. In a video published on social media this week, he talked about the history of the fallen hemlock. Washington, Norton said, was interested in planting hemlock trees on his property. Hemlocks did not grow in this part of Virginia.      In 1784, Norton explained, Washington sent a letter to New York Governor George Clinton requesting the trees. By July of 1785, Washington got his wish. He received two hemlocks planted in cut whiskey barrels. General Benjamin Lincoln of Massachusetts sent the trees to the future president as a gift from Clinton.   Mount Vernon experts say Washington wrote down that he planted the trees on the grounds of Mount Vernon on July 13, 1785. Neither Shenk nor Norton can be sure that Washington planted the tree with his own hands. However, Shenk told The Washington Post newspaper that he at least directed the planting. But last week, 100-kilometer-per-hour winds twisted, shook and took down the over two-century-old hemlock. “You hate to see it, but it happens,” Norton said in the video. He described the fallen hemlock as a “living witness to the life and times of George Washington.” Mount Vernon officials say that they have collected the wood from the tree. It will be used at Mount Vernon for preservation efforts and special projects. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Ashley Thompson. ____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story gust - n. a sudden strong wind estate - n. a large piece of land with a large house on it garden - n. an area of ground where plants (such as flowers or vegetables) are grown significant - adj. very important horticulture - n. the science of growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers whiskey - n. a strong alcoholic drink made from a grain (such as rye, corn, or barley) barrel  - n. a round usually wooden container with curved sides and flat ends preservation  - n. the act of keeping something in its original state or in good condition

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March 6, 2018

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

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Man Hopes to Define Every English Word with a Limerick

  There are many different methods for studying languages and learning new words. One man has come up with his own unusual way to define the meanings of words - through rhyming. He uses words that end with the same sound or a similar sound. Chris Strolin, an American from Belleville, Illinois, is working on an English language reference guide completely made up of limericks. A limerick is a humorous five-line poem with an orderly structure of rhymes. A limerick follows a set of rules. The last words in lines one, two and five must sound alike. The last words in lines three and four must rhyme with each other. Lines one, two and five must have nine sounds or parts, while lines three and four must have six syllables. Strolin says the idea for his dictionary started out as a joke when he suggested it to some of his language-loving friends. His joke centered on the Oxford English Dictionary, a highly-respected publication produced in Britain. It defines 600,000 words. Strolin told his friends that while the Oxford dictionary was good, it could be improved. His not-so-serious suggestion was to use limericks. In 2004, he decided to launch his own limerick dictionary online. He called it, The Omnificent English Dictionary in Limerick Form. “It is a international dictionary-writing project in which our goal is to write at least one original limerick for every single definition of every single word in the English language.” Strolin started out with a limerick definition of the word “a.” It simply began with the words, “The very first word here is a…” From there, he just kept going and has not stopped since.   “The limerick is probably the most reader friendly of all types of poetry,” he told the Associated Press. “It’s also one of the easiest forms of poetry to write.” Strolin, a retired Air Force radio operator, explains that the best limericks in his dictionary “will clearly define their words in a humorous or interesting way.” But he admits some limericks are meant more for fun than to provide the best possible definitions. Since the project is massive, Strolin invited others to come up with and add their own limericks to the dictionary. The reaction to his appeal was huge. About 1,000 people have contributed examples for the effort. To date, more than 97,000 rhyming definitions have been created, with the number expected to reach 100,000 this year.    One of the most active contributors is Andrew Besso of Jericho, Vermont. He began creating limerick definitions in late 2015. “I’ve been writing a limerick a day, or sometimes two, for a while now,” Besso said. “Usually the way I decide what to write is by choosing from lists of words that haven’t been defined yet. I won’t tackle a word that’s already been defined unless I’ve got something to add.” Here, Besso reads his limerick definition for “armed robber.” “An armed robber came into our shop, And he brandished a knife at my pop. He demanded some cash, Told us not to be rash, Then got Tased by an off-duty cop.”   Another limerick writer is Rory Ewins, who reads his definition for "CCTV."  "What's to fear from a camera or three And appearing on CCTV? Having every move tracked Is a comfort, in fact. Why, the state's like a brother to me."   In addition to his publishing duties, Strolin says, he also tries to write at least one limerick each day. But he thinks some of the best definitions come from people all over the world. Here he reads one of his favorite limericks for the word “adult,” created by writer Bill Middleton.   “As a kid, I was wild and a clown. As a teen, I would dash about town. Now adult, I shall go Very cautious and slow. Goes to prove: what grows up must calm down.”   To simplify the collection and publishing process, Strolin decided to keep adding new limericks in alphabetical order. Currently, the dictionary stops after the letter G.    Strolin says he believes the unusual dictionary - once completed - will be used by language lovers for years to come. “There’s no doubt in my mind people are going to be reading and enjoying our limericks 200 to 300 years from now,” he said. The dictionary itself will be growing for many years to come. Strolin estimates his project will not be fully completed until 2076 – long after he is gone. He said he hopes his grandchildren, or maybe their children, will want to take over the project and finish it. I’m Bryan Lynn.   Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on a report from the Associated Press and other sources. George Grow was the editor. If you like limericks and have an idea for your own, we would love to see it here. Please share it with us! You can also visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ QUIZ ​_________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   original – adj. special and interesting because of not being the same as others contribute – v. to donate or provide something tackle – v. to deal with something difficult brandish – v. to wave something in the air, especially a weapon pop – n. a person’s father rash – adj. done or made quickly and without thought about what will happen as a result tase – v. to shoot with a Taser gun clown – n. a performer who wears funny clothes and makes people laugh by performing tricks dash – v. to run or move quickly or suddenly doubt – n. a feeling of not knowing what to believe or what to do  

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In Japan, Saying ‘Me Too’ Comes With Risks

  In the United States, a movement known as #MeToo has been urging women and men to speak out against sexual abuse, especially in the workplace. The goal is to end sexual wrongdoing. But the movement has not been as successful in Japan. Women there who speak out against sexual abuse are more likely to receive criticism than sympathy. Just ask Rika Shiiki, a 20-year-old university student and business entrepreneur. She wrote on Twitter last year that she had lost business contracts because she refused to have sex with clients. Most answers she received on Twitter were not kind, she said. Many social media users accused her of lying and seeking publicity. Some said that by agreeing to have dinner with a client, she led him to believe that she was open to having sex. Shiiki said on a Japanese television show in December: “We need to create a society where we can speak up." Otherwise, she said, sexual harassment and other wrongdoing will continue forever. Speak up or stay silent?  Japanese society is controlled mostly by men, says Mari Miura. She is a political science professor at Sophia University in Tokyo. Miura says Japanese women are used to taking the blame. So, she says, instead of seeking justice or support, Japanese sexual abuse victims try to forget the events ever happened. “Japan lacks such a sisterhood,” she said. Speaking up is tiring and intimidating, Miura notes, so victims naturally fear talking publicly about their abuse. A recent Japanese government study found that one in 15 Japanese women say they have been raped. However, nearly 75 percent of them had never told anyone. And only four percent said they had reported the attack to police. Legal experts say the victims may not want to share information that feels private, or to risk losing their jobs. And their cases may not be prosecuted anyway. Official numbers from Japan’s Justice Ministry show that only one-third of rape cases go to court. For attackers who are found guilty, punishment is rarely severe. Only 17 percent of the people who were tried for sexual assault last year were sent to prison for three years or longer. Saori Ikeuchi is an activist and former lawmaker. She said Japanese society discourages women from speaking out or saying “no” to many things, including unwanted sex. She said that mindset silenced nearly all of Japan’s so-called “comfort women,” who were abused as sex workers for the wartime military. Japan has shown little sympathy to victims from Korea and other countries, Ikeuchi added. Shiori Ito’s story Last year, reporter Shiori Ito went public with her story of sexual abuse. She said that, in 2015, she was raped by well-known television reporter Noriyuki Yamaguchi. Ito said the attack happened after Yamaguchi invited her to eat dinner and discuss job possibilities. Many online commenters criticized Ito for speaking out. Some writers wrote that she looked “seductive” and that she ruined Yamaguchi’s life. Some women called her an embarrassment, Ito told the Associated Press. Yamaguchi has denied any wrongdoing. And local government lawyers decided not to press charges against him. Later, Ito requested a panel to review the decision to drop the case. The panel said they agreed with the decision not to press charges against Yamaguchi. However, opposition lawmakers are now investigating the events, seeking to find if the charges were dropped because of Yamaguchi’s connection to powerful public officials. In the meantime, Ito has filed a civil lawsuit against Yamaguchi. And last October, she released a book called “Blackbox.” It included details about the reported rape and the problems she says she faced getting help afterwards. Ito said that she visited a women’s medical center the day after the attack. Its doctors and workers were not trained to support rape victims, she said. In addition, she said a rape victim support center refused to give her help over the phone. And when she went to the police, officers required her to describe the attack repeatedly and to demonstrate it with a life-sized doll, she said. Ito’s book release came as the #MeToo movement was making news in America. It led to some discussion in Japan, but only a small number of other women came forward to discuss their experiences of sexual violence. Yukiko Tsunoda is a lawyer and sex crimes expert. She said that “many people think [Ito’s] problem has nothing to do with them...and that’s why #MeToo isn’t growing in Japan.” She said women in Japan who are sexually abused are often called “the flawed.” Support and understanding for victims Mika Kobayashi is a rape victim. She runs a self-help group that has shared thousands of #MeToo experiences, but only anonymously among themselves. Kobayashi says she was pushed into a car and raped on her way home in 2000. She reported the attack to police, but the attacker has not been found. She has since published books about her recovery from the attack to educate the public. She says her aim is to provide support and understanding for victims, and not to be an activist. “I used to think of myself as someone hiding a big secret, a sex assault victim and unclean,” she said. “I’m so grateful I could connect with fellow victims. They gave me strength.” But she said she understands that some victims may not want to speak up and share their stories. “I respect any decision that makes a victim feel most comfortable,” Kobayashi said. I’m Ashley Thompson. And I'm Caty Weaver.    The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   client - n.​ a person who pays a professional person or organization for services intimidating - adj.​ causing fear mindset - n. a particular way of thinking : a person's attitude or set of opinions about something seductive - adj. sexually attractive​ doll - n. a child's toy in the form of a baby or small person​ flawed - adj.  having a mistake, fault, or weakness panel - n. a group of people with special knowledge, skill, or experience who give advice or make decisions file - v. to give (something, such as an official form or a legal document) to someone in authority so that it can be considered, dealt with, approved, etc. lawsuit - n. a process by which a court of law makes a decision to end a disagreement between people or organizations anonymously - adv. not named or identified​ grateful - adj. feeling or showing thanks​ comfortable  - adj. not causing any physically unpleasant feelings

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North Korea Says No Need for Nuclear Program if Military Threats Disappear

A South Korean official says North Korea has suggested there was no need to keep its nuclear program if military threats against the country are removed. He added that North Korea expressed a willingness to hold talks with the United States. South Korea's top security advisor, Chung Eui-yong, made the comments to reporters in Seoul Tuesday. Chung heads the National Security Office and is the government’s special representative to North Korea. He spoke after a South Korean delegation returned from a two-day trip to the North. Chung met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during the visit. The South Korean official said the two sides agreed on plans for a summit between the leaders of North and South Korea in late April. The meeting would be the first face-to-face talks between their leaders in more than 10 years. Chung added that North Korea said it was open to discussing denuclearization and normalizing relations with the U.S. government. Reaction to the Pyongyang talks Commenting on the recent developments involving North Korea, President Donald Trump on Tuesday tweeted, ‘We will see what happens.” Trump later added, “The World is watching and waiting! May be false hope, but the U.S. is ready to go hard in either direction!” Last week, Trump reacted to a North Korean idea for talks with the U.S, by saying that will happen only “under the right conditions.” Earlier Tuesday, South Korean President Moon expressed hope that improving relations with North Korean can lead to denuclearization talks between the North and the U.S. He also spoke about Monday’s meeting in Pyongyang between Chung, his special representative to North Korea and Kim Jong Un. Moon described those talks as the beginning of a larger diplomatic process. After meeting with Moon, Chung planned to travel to Washington for talks with U.S. officials. North Korea’s official news agency KCNA described Monday’s meeting in positive terms. It said Kim voiced his “firm will to vigorously advance" between the two Koreas. The news agency added that the two sides discussed “easing the acute military tensions on the Korean Peninsula” and that they “made a satisfactory agreement.” An official in Seoul’s presidential Blue House said the “agreement” meant plans for a leaders’ summit, and not talks with the U.S. Military exercises South Korea is in a race against time to advance talks between North Korea and the U.S. before tensions likely increase again in April. That is when South Korea and the U.S. are expected to hold joint military exercises. In recent weeks, North Korea has acted with restraint by suspending missile and nuclear tests, and expressing a willingness to ease tensions with South Korea. The North also sent a delegation to South Korea for the recent winter Olympics. Observers say the Kim government’s sudden support of cooperation was also likely part of a plan to split the U.S.-South Korea alliance. They also believe he hoped to weaken international support for sanctions against the North. The U.S. also showed support for the reduced tensions during the Olympics by agreeing to postpone joint military exercises. But the Olympic truce could come to an end in April when the joint exercises are planned. The North Korean government has warned it will react to the exercises, which it claims are evidence of plans for invasion. Some observers believe the military exercises could be delayed or reduced in scope. South Korean National Defense Ministry refused to say whether plans for the exercises could be changed as part of a diplomatic deal.     Brian Padden reported this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted his report for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   denuclearization – n. removal of nuclear arms from an area positive – adj. Hopeful; good or useful advance – v. to move forward sanction – n. a measure or action that results from failure to obey a rule or law scope – n. space for action or thought; extent of treatment or activity   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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Young Brains of Super-Agers

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle Report. As we age, our ability to think and remember starts to deteriorate. But not everyone. Some of us have brains that age more slowly. Enter the super-ager! Super-agers are people over the age of 80 who have the brain structures and abilities of much younger people. Eighty-seven-year-old Bill Gurolnick is a super-ager. "What do I feel like? If I was to give a number, I probably feel like I'm about my early 70s..." Scientists know that parts of the brain decrease in size with age. But in super-agers that process is much slower. Emily Rogalski is a neuroscientist at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, Illinois. In a recent study, she showed that super-agers have young brains. The area of the brain responsible for attention and memory -- the cortex -- was shown to be thicker in super-agers.     "When we look at the cortex of their brain, we see that, on average, that it looks more like a 50-year-old brain than it looks like an average 80-year-old brain..." Not only do super-agers have thicker cortexes, they have more von Economo neurons. These large brain cells appear to be involved with social-emotional communication. But their exact purpose is still a mystery. Scientists writing for Smithsonian magazine also call them spindle neurons, and say they are "brain cells for socializing." Several factors affect how our brains age Scientists say super-agers have several things in common, including an active lifestyle. Many travel and play sports. They are often big readers. And they usually have healthy relationships and spend time with friends. Super-agers also seem to have certain common personality traits. Rogalski says they are, for the most part, known for their optimism, resilience and perseverance. Growing old, she adds, does not have to be depressing and sad. "Perhaps, if we expected a bit better from ourselves, then we would understand that not all aging is 'doom and gloom..." As lead investigator of the study, Rogalski jokingly said that super-agers do not grow on trees -- meaning they are special and few. She says she wants to find out the reasons Gurolnick's mind is working so well and not aging as quickly as most. Gurolnick’s own father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in his 50s. Solving this mystery, Rogalski says, may help those who suffer from brain diseases such as Alzheimer's. "We think if we can understand the factors contributing to super-aging, it may offer new hypotheses and new ways to explore the challenges in Alzheimer's disease." Can we all be super-agers? The science behind super-aging is a relatively new, but growing field. Scientists involved in the research offer this advice as we age: Stay active. Learn new things. Challenge yourself. Surround yourself with healthy relationships. And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.   Anna Matteo wrote this story for Learning English with information from a report by George Putic for VOA News. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   deteriorate – v. to become worse as time passes optimism – n. a feeling or belief that good things will happen in the future : a feeling or belief that what you hope for will happen resilience – n. the ability to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens perseverance – n. the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult doom and gloom – phrase a general feeling that nothing is going to work out or be good diagnose - v. to discover; to confirm through testing contributing – adj. to help to cause something to happen challenge – n. a difficult task or problem

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Oscars Honoring, Correcting Past History

  The 90th Academy Awards honored the best films of 2017. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro was the big winner with the Best Picture and Best Director Oscars for his film “The Shape of Water.” But more importantly, the show from Hollywood aired live on television as planned with speeches, old film and appeals for female solidarity. There were no protests or mistakes, unlike last year when Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty announced the wrong winner for Best Picture. Jimmy Kimmel hosted the ceremony at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. And three actresses, Ashley Judd, Salma Hayek and Annabella Sciorra, appeared together before a video showing a changing Hollywood industry. They were among the several women who accused producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual abuse. The video showed Greta Gerwig, only the fifth woman to ever be nominated for best director. It also had Yance Ford, the first transgender nominee for “Strong Island,” Dee Rees, whose “Mudbound” received a cinematographer nomination and the Pakistani-born Kumail Nanjiani for “The Big Sick.” The program avoided problems when actor Casey Affleck, last year’s Best Actor winner, stayed home, rather than follow tradition and present the Best Actress award. Affleck has been accused of sexual misbehavior. Instead Jodie Foster and Jennifer Lawrence presented the Best Actress Oscar. Special Oscars moments Walking joyously onto the stage, 86-year-old Rita Moreno wore the same dress from the 1962 ceremony. She had worn the dress 56 years ago to receive the Best Supporting Actress for “West Side Story.” James Ivory became the oldest Oscar-winner at the age of 89. He won for his screenplay “Call Me By Your Name.” And Christopher Nolan’s World War II film “Dunkirk” received three technical awards. Chile’s “A Fantastic Woman,” which starred the transgender actress Daniela Vega, won best foreign film. Disney and Pixar’s celebration of Mexican culture, “Coco,” took best animated feature, as well as best song for “Remember Me.” Jordan Peele became the first African-American to win best original screenplay for his horror film “Get Out.” Peele said he stopped writing it “20 times,” because he did not think it would get made. “But I kept coming back to it because I knew if someone would let me make this movie, that people would hear it and people would see it,” said Peele. Frances McDormand used her appearance on stage to speak on behalf of women. The Best Actress winner asked, “If I may be so honored to have all the female nominees stand with me.” “We all have stories to tell,” she said. I'm Anna Matteo.   Susan Shand 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   solidarity - n. a feeling of unity among people who have the same interst, goal transgender – adj. of or relating to people who feel that their true nature does not match their sex at birth joyously - adv. feeling or showing great happiness

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