September 28, 2017

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

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Hugh Hefner, Founder of Playboy Magazine, Dead at 91

  Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner has died. He was 91 years old. Hefner died of natural causes at his home surrounded by family on Wednesday, Playboy said in a statement.  Hefner launched the magazine in 1953. The very first Playboy had photographs of actress and model Marilyn Monroe. The pictures showed her wearing no clothing. The magazine also published an editorial that promised readers “humor, sophistication and spice.” Playboy appeared at a time when American states banned birth control pills and television shows avoided the word “pregnant.” Within five years, Hefner’s company was selling 1 million copies of Playboy every month. By the 1970s, the magazine had more than 7 million readers. Hefner and his company became known worldwide and their success persuaded many others to follow. In 1992, when asked by The New York Times of what was his biggest success, he said: “That I changed attitudes toward sex.” As more magazines and other media became available on the internet, Playboy’s circulation numbers dropped. In 2015, Playboy stopped publishing images of naked women, but overturned that decision earlier this year. Hefner as the symbol of Playboy lifestyle Hugh Hefner was an ongoing advertisement for his magazine and other Playboy products. Photos often showed him wearing silk pajamas and smoking a pipe. Hefner was known for holding wild parties for well-known personalities at his Los Angeles home, called the Playboy mansion. Hefner claimed to have had sex with more than 1,000 women, including many pictured in Playboy. In addition to the magazine, Hefner also appeared in television shows and opened Playboy Clubs around the world. Those clubs were known for their waitresses. The women were required to wear bunny ears and fluffy white bunny tails. Many countries took steps to restrict sales of Playboy. The magazine has been banned in China, India, Saudi Arabia and Ireland. In the United States, some stores refused to sell the magazine, while others kept it out of reach of children. Many American conservatives and women’s activists objected to Hefner and Playboy. They said it made pornography seem important and also devalued women. But some actresses chose to appear naked in the magazine. They include Drew Barrymore, Farrah Fawcett and Linda Evans. The women who appeared in Playboy’s photos are known as Bunnies. Several bunnies became famous, including singer Deborah Harry and model Lauren Hutton. American men often joked that they bought the magazine for its stories. But there is some truth to the statement. Over time, the magazine published works from well-known writers, including Ray Bradbury and John Updike. It also featured interviews with Cuban leader Fidel Castro, singer Frank Sinatra and actor Marlon Brando. In the 1970s, then-presidential candidate Jimmy Carter admitted in Playboy that he had “committed adultery” in his heart. John Lennon spoke to the magazine in 1980, not long before he was murdered. In 1990, Playboy published a story about a young businessman with a taste for politics: Donald Trump. The Playboy Club also influenced American culture. Comedians George Carlin, Rich Little, Mark Russell, Dick Gregory and Redd Foxx performed at the club. The last of the Playboy clubs closed in 1988, when Hefner said they were “passe” and “too tame for the times.” Hefner’s personal life Hugh Hefner was born in Chicago on April 9, 1926. His parents were Christian. Hefner said his parents never showed “love in a physical or emotional way.” He told The Associated Press in 2011, “My folks are Puritan. My folks are prohibitionists. There was no drinking in my home. No discussion of sex. And I think I saw the hurtful and hypocritical side of that from very early on.” Hefner married his first wife Mildred Williams in 1949. Their marriage ended in 1958. In 1989, at the age of 63, Hefner married 27-year-old Kimberley Conrad, the 1989 Playmate of the Year. They divorced in 2010. The following year, he proposed to 24-year-old Crystal Harris, a former Playmate. Playboy has not announced funeral plans. But Hefner owned space in a Los Angeles cemetery close to the remains of Marilyn Monroe. I'm Jonathan Evans.   And I'm Caty Weaver.   The Associated Press 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   sophistication - n. experience and knowledge about the world, culture, art and literature spice - n. something that adds interest or excitement attitude - n. the way you think and feel about someone or something naked - adj. not wearing any clothes pornography - n. movies, pictures and magazines, etc., that show naked people or sex interview - n. a meeting between a reporter and another person in order to get information adultery - n. sex between a married person and someone who is not that person's wife or husband passe - adj. no longer fashionable or popular divorce - v. to legally end a marriage cemetery - n. a place where dead people are buried.

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Saudi Arabia Ends Ban on Women Drivers

  Saudi Arabia is lifting its ban on women drivers. The country’s leader, King Salman, ordered the change in a decree. State media said the decree ordered the creation of a group of ministers. They are to offer advice on steps for giving women legal permission to drive. The order is expected to be carried out by June 2018, reports said. Saudi Arabia was the only country that refused to issue driver’s licenses to women. Those who attempted to drive were detained. As recently as 2014, two Saudi women were detained for more than two months for breaking the rule. Women’s rights activists have been pushing for the right to drive since the 1990s. Prince Khaled bin Salman is the king’s son and the Saudi ambassador to the United States. He told reporters in Washington the decision marks a “huge step forward” and that “society is ready” for the change. In Saudi Arabia, women are legally required to get approval from a male guardian for legal decisions. These can include education, employment, marriage, travel and medical treatment. But the prince said women will not need approval from their guardians to get a driver’s license and will be able to drive alone in the car. They will have permission to drive anywhere in the kingdom, including the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. After the announcement, several Saudi women shared photographs on social media. The images showed them removing ride-sharing apps from their mobile phones. Some women published videos already showing them behind the wheel of a car. Saudi Arabia is a close ally of the United States. President Donald Trump praised the Saudi leadership for lifting the ban. Trump said the U.S. government will support Saudi efforts to strengthen its society and economy. "This is a positive step toward promoting the rights and opportunities of women in Saudi Arabia," the White House press secretary said. Amnesty International said the king’s order is a "testament to the bravery of women activists who have been campaigning for years” for the change. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the move in a message on Twitter. “I welcome Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift the ban on women drivers. An important step in the right direction.” One of Saudi Arabia’s most outspoken women’s rights activists, Aziza Youssef, called the action a “good step forward for women’s rights.” Youssef, a professor at King Saud University, told the Associated Press that she and other women will continue to push for an end to the remaining male guardianship laws. The decision to lift the ban is part of a larger effort by 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to propose economic and social reforms. The prince has faced opposition from powerful conservative clergymen with large followings who have criticized the proposals. I’m Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His story was based on reports from from VOA News, the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. 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   decree – n. official order given by a person with power or by a government testament – n. proof or evidence that something exists or is true issue – v. to release or approve; to cause to come forth license – n. an official permit  

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iOS 11 Offers New Features for iPhones, iPads

  Last week Apple released iOS 11, the update to its mobile operating system for iPhone and iPad. This update has features that may make your current device feel like a new one. iOS 11 is free to download now and is available for iPhone 5s and newer models, iPad Air and newer models, and the newest model of iPod Touch. Warning: You will lose your older apps in iOS 11 You may be excited to download iOS 11 right now, but be careful. As predicted, older apps will not work with iOS 11. If you try to open an older app, you will see a warning sign: So if you have any older apps you need, do not yet update to iOS 11. For more information, see Older iPhone Apps Soon May Not Work New features in iOS 11 iOS 11 has dozens of new helpful features. These are some of the ones you may find most useful. Control Center Control Center is a handy hub to help you control your iPhone or iPad with fewer swipes and taps. By swiping up from the bottom of your screen, you can open Control Center to quickly use controls such as volume and brightness without having to hunt through apps. Control Center is even handier in iOS 11. You have more control of what you want to include in Control Center. By going to Settings, then Control Center, then Customize Controls, you can add or delete controls from Control Center. There you will see all of the items you can put in, and take out, of Control Center. You can choose from the standard controls, such as camera and calculator, or add some new ones, such as Magnifier, Apple TV remote, and alarm. See  How to Use Your Phone as a Magnifying Glass You can also add some of the new features in iOS 11 to Control Center, such as Do Not Disturb While Driving and Screen Recording. Control Center is now all on one page. You can see what music is playing on Control Center without having to swipe to a new page. The volume and brightness controls also have wider slider buttons to make them easier to control. Do not disturb while driving Apple addresses the issue of distracted driving with one new feature. The Do Not Disturb While Driving control may save lives. This feature blocks notifications. Your screen stays dark with Do Not Disturb While Driving turned on. However, if you have Bluetooth in your car, your phone calls will still ring. You can opt to have an automatic reply message sent to someone who is trying to reach you. You can tell them that you are driving and will get back to them when you arrive; or any other message you want to send in an automatic reply. You can also choose a group of people who will get this message, such as Favorites. If people need to reach you in an emergency, they can mark their message as urgent. To turn on Do Not Disturb While Driving, go to Settings, then Do Not Disturb, then Activate. You can choose whether to turn this on manually, automatically, or when connected to your car's Bluetooth. Screen recording Screen Recording is a feature that lets you record the screen of your iPhone or iPad. When you add Screen Recording to Control Center, you can swipe up to open Control Center, then tap the button with a solid circle inside another circle. You will see a countdown of three seconds. That will give you time to get to the screen you want to record. A red bar will appear at the top of the screen while it is recording. Tap the red bar when you want to end the recording. ​The video will appear in your Photos app. Editing screenshots Now when you take a photo of your screen, known as a screenshot, you can edit it right away. After you take a screenshot by pressing the power button and home button at the same time, a thumbnail view of the screenshot will appear in the lower left corner of the screen. Tap on the screenshot thumbnail to edit the image. After you are finished editing, tap "Done." You can save and share the image. Files app iOS 11 gives people better control of their files. iPhones and iPads will seem more like computers with iOS 11. Users can view files, and drag and drop them in other places. iOS 11 adds a Files app. By using the Files app you can see your files in the Cloud without having to switch apps. The Files app lets you control files from iCloud and third-party services such as Google Drive and Dropbox. Emergency SOS Another important feature is Emergency SOS. With Emergency SOS, you can press the power button five times to call Emergency Services. You must turn on this feature in Settings if you want the call to be made automatically. With Emergency SOS, you can call emergency services even if you do not know the local emergency number. Trust that the feature works. Do not test it. Police have reported iPhone owners trying out the new feature and blocking emergency lines in the process. Sharing Wi-Fi passwords Have you ever been over to a friend's house and wanted to log onto their Wi-Fi network? iOS 11 can get you connected with ease. Just hold your iPhone or iPad close to a device or Mac computer that is signed into Wi-Fi. If that person has you in their Contacts list, they will be asked if they want to let you sign into the network. Once they agree, you are in. Siri translations Siri is smarter now, and can translate English phrases into French, German, Italian, Mandarin and Spanish. Siri will say the translated phrase, so you can learn how it is pronounced. Siri will also show you the written translation. Apple maps Apple Maps has been improved too. Now, the app can show the insides of some malls and airports. Deleting apps iOS 11 helps guide you in deleting apps you rarely use to make more space on your phone. You can have your iPhone or iPad automatically delete apps you have not used in a while. Go to Settings,​ then iTunes & App Store, then Offload Unused Apps. If you change your mind, you can download the app again from iTunes, if it is still available. One-handed keyboard Apple is making it easier to type with one hand on a new keyboard layout. Go to Settings, then General, then Keyboard, then One Handed Keyboard. Choose either Off, Left or Right. You can use the keyboard by pressing the globe button. The keyboard will be smaller and moved to the left or right. Tap the arrow on the side to return to the full-sized keyboard. Scanning Documents You can now scan documents into the Notes app where you can sign them and send them back. To scan a document, open the Notes app and tap on the plus sign in a note. You will be given a choice of scanning a document. After you have scanned the document, you can sign it in the Notes app, then share it. I’m ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Caty Weaver. And I’m Dorothy Gundy.   Carolyn Nicander Mohr wrote this report for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Have you downloaded iOS 11 yet? What are your favorite features of iOS 11? Are you waiting to download iOS 11 because you will have some apps that will not work with it? Share your thoughts in the Comments Section below or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________  Words in This Story   download - v. to move or copy (a file, program, etc.) from a usually larger computer system to another computer or device hub - n.  the central and most active part or place automatic - adj. having controls that allow something to work or happen without being directly controlled by a person​ urgent - adj. very important and needing immediate attention​ manual - adj. operated or controlled with the hands or by a person​ screenshot - n. an image of the data displayed on the screen of a computer or mobile device thumbnail - n. a very small copy of a larger picture on a computer​ Cloud - n. the large computers (called servers) that you can connect to on the Internet and use for storing data​ phrase - n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea​ globe - n. an object that is shaped like a large ball with a map of the world on it​ scan - v. to copy ​

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World’s Longest-Living Trees Crowded Out by Climate Change

  The bristlecone pine is the longest-living thing on Earth. These trees, with their strangely shaped, wind-beaten limbs, can live up to 5,000 years. But experts worry that a warming climate in some areas may threaten its future. Researchers say warmer weather is permitting a similar kind of tree, the limber pine, to take over good growing places from the ancient bristlecone. They say the tree is being crowded out of mountainous areas where it grows. Scientists at the University of California, Davis, compared the competing species to two old men in a very slow race up a mountainside. This race between such slow-growing trees takes thousands of years. They say climate change is causing the competition. Brian Smithers led the research project. His team worked with the U.S. Forest Service to study the trees. “Limber pine is taking all the good spots,” he said. The world’s oldest trees look the part The bristlecone pine is the oldest individually growing organism, researchers say. They grow in high mountain forests in eastern California, Nevada and Utah. The bristlecones grow well in limestone soil. Most trees do not grow well in such soil. In the mountains, the bristlecones face high winds and extreme temperatures. These difficult conditions leave the trees with twisted limbs and shapes. To survive long periods without water, parts of the trees die, including much of their outer bark. This makes the trees appear dead, except for small green pine needles. They show that the bristlecone is indeed alive. Experts have named the oldest known bristlecone pine "Methuselah." It is somewhere in the White Mountains of California. But it is not marked in any special way, so that people do not try to damage it. The limber pine is the bristlecone’s distant relative and competitor. It also can live a long time – up to 2,000 years. Researchers say it is found at lower elevations, where temperatures are warmer. The scientists at the University of California, Davis, recently released results of a three-year study. Their research centered on trees that have started growing in the last 50 years in the Great Basin area of California’s White Mountains. The researchers found that most of the trees growing at higher elevations were limber pines. Smithers said, “It’s very odd to see it charging upslope and not see bristlecone charging upslope ahead of the limber pine.” Smithers said the bristlecones are not in danger of disappearing. But he thinks they could be crowded out of some places where they have grown for thousands of years. The researchers say the findings show how climate change can affect two kinds of trees. The information, they say, can help scientists understand more complex forests. The research appeared in the scientific journal, Global Change Biology. I’m Mario Ritter.   Mario Ritter adapted this story for VOA Learning English from an AP article with additional materials from the study. Ashley Thompson 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   organism –n. an individual living thing elevation –n. a place related to its distance above sea level, the height of an area charge –v. to move forward quickly and forcefully bark –n. the outer covering of a tree limb –n. the branch of a tree upslope –adv. to move up a hill or mountain  

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Switzerland Has World’s Most Competitive Economy

  Switzerland is the world’s most competitive economy, the World Economic Forum (WEF) reported on Wednesday. It said the Swiss economy has been more competitive than the economies of all other countries in each of the past nine years. In 2008, Switzerland finished in second place, after the United States. The WEF, which is based in Geneva, produces a yearly report on economic competitiveness. The ratings are based on over 10 measures of competiveness and opinions of business leaders. Economist Thierry Geiger works for the group. He says “Switzerland had a virtuous circle of infrastructure, institutions and education.” He adds that its success came from its ability to create and use talent. “That is really the secret of Switzerland, this ability to innovate,” he says, noting that there are many things fueling creativity. However, after almost 10 years at the top of the WEF ratings, Switzerland faces a new risk. Its population is aging. And Geiger fears that voters may decide to restrict the number of foreigners working in the country. Switzerland holds public referendums about four times a year. The votes are part of a tradition of direct democracy. But Geiger describes some of the planned referendums as dangerous. He fears they could threaten Switzerland’s economy. The World Economic Forum is perhaps best known for its meeting of powerful people every January in Davos, Switzerland. Klaus Schwab, the founder of the WEF and its chairman, wrote in a statement that he believes that competitiveness will depend on the ability of a country to innovate. The top 10 countries in the latest list are the same as last year, but the order has changed. The United States moved in front of Singapore, rising from third to second place. Hong Kong moved up three places to sixth place, passing both Britain and Japan. The WEF says that Britain has not yet felt the effect of its vote to leave the European Union, but will in the future. China was rated as the 27th most competitive economy in the world. Russia was in 38th place, while India was 40th. Yemen, a poor country now in a civil war, was 137th. Top Ten Countries 1) Switzerland 2) United States 3) Singapore 4) Netherlands 5) Germany 6) Hong Kong 7) Sweden 8) United Kingdom 9) Japan 10) Finland   The Reuters news agency reported on this story. Susan Shand 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   infrastructure – n. the system of public services in a country institution – n. an establish organization talent - n. a special ability that helps someone to do something well innovate - v. to do something in a new or different way survey – n. a questionnaire  

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US Technology Watched Closely in Russian Investigation

  The technology industry believes it is a force for good -- one that connects the world and helps information flow freely. But the industry is being watched following reports that people in Russia used technology services to target and influence American public opinion. A big tech conference took place last week in San Francisco. The city is just a short drive from California’s Silicon Valley, the home of several major high-tech companies. Many startup businesses sent one or more representatives to the conference, which was called TechCrunch Disrupt. The startups hoped to interest investors and consumers in their products. They did not seem worried about investigations into Silicon Valley companies like Facebook and the way Russia used social media to influence the U.S. elections last year. Still, many high-tech entrepreneurs wonder what they can control and what they cannot in the products they are creating. Lachlan Phillips set up a company called Adrobot. It helps businesses make video advertising and distribute those ads on social media. “What technology is allowing is that it’s allowing people to have more freedom to create and more freedom to communicate,” he noted. “A malevolent message might have been quiet in the past, and that can be quite loud now.” With so many people questioning the actions of high-tech companies, he says that integrity is important to him and to his business. He wants to avoid distributing information that isn’t truthful or agreeable. Amy Chen created 99voices.org, a website that lets people rate politicians and businesses. Chen told VOA she hopes to make her site foolproof so its ratings can’t be manipulated. “I don’t know if technology can solve this issue,” she said. “It would be nice if each person gets one person and one say and that’s the platform where you can judge what is public opinion.” Dylan Sidoo also attended TechCrunch Disrupt. He operates a company that makes and sells encrypted message space. He believes technology companies should be treated the same as manufacturing companies. “I think to a certain extent there should be some policing, but that could be said about any industry,” Sidoo said. He believes people can use encrypted message space for good or bad reasons just as they may use a car for good or bad reasons. It’s the aim of the company that is important, he noted. But Facebook has announced plans to bar malevolent advertising. The company is using real people to inspect its automated ads in order to prevent racist or anti-religious speech from reaching users. Last month, it added 3,000 workers to inspect content after violent acts appeared on Facebook Live. The company said it will remove information that violates its rules. I’m Susan Shand.   Michelle Quinn reported this story for VOANews.com. Susan Shand adapted her report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   entrepreneur – n. a person who starts a business and is willing to risk loss in order to make money malevolent – adj. having or showing a desire to cause harm to another person integrity – n. the quality of being honest and fair manipulate - v. to change (something) in an unfair or selfish way encrypt – v. to change information from one form to another especially to hide its meaning consumer – n. someone who purchases and uses goods distribute – v. to give to someone; to divide among members of a group extent – n. the distance that is covered by something; the limit to which something reaches

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Tibet Will Close to Travelers for 10 Days in October

The Chinese government has ordered a travel ban to Tibet from outside the region from October 18 to the 28, Radio Free Asia (RFA) reports. During that time, government officials will be holding meetings in Beijing and Lhasa, Tibet. Officials announced the ban earlier this month. A Tibetan employee at a travel company in Xining, China, confirmed it to RFA’s Tibetan Service last week. The employee spoke on the condition of anonymity. The employee told RFA that the ban does not only concern foreign travelers. It also affects Tibetans living outside of Tibet. The employee said, “During this period, it is not just foreigners but also Tibetans living in the Amdo region of Qinghai who are not allowed to travel in the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR).” The employee also told RFA the travel ban will hurt Tibet’s economy, as October is a popular month for tourists to visit the region. RFA and VOA are each part of the U.S. government-supported Broadcasting Board of Governors. Agence France Press (AFP) reported that the ban will remain in effect throughout the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th National Congress next month in Beijing. The Tibet Tourism Bureau did not make the announcement itself. But the notice of the travel ban went to “several local travel agencies” earlier this month, AFP reported. A person who recently traveled to Tibet confirmed to RFA that the region will be closed to outside visitors for the 10-day period. The person, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, told RFA that high-level government meetings are to take place in Lhasa during the period of the ban. March travel ban The Chinese government already bans travel to Lhasa by foreign visitors and Tibetans living in western Chinese areas every March. This month is politically sensitive because it is the anniversary of the 1959 Tibetan rebellion. On March 10, 1959, Tibetans in Lhasa protested Beijing’s political and military control of the formerly self-governing region. This started a rebellion in which thousands were killed. In March of 2008, Chinese police suppressed peaceful Tibetan protests in Lhasa.  This led to rioting, and the destruction of Han Chinese shops in the city and deadly attacks on Han Chinese residents.  The riot followed mostly peaceful protests against Chinese rule that spread across Tibet and into Tibetan-populated areas of western China. During the protests, hundreds of Tibetans were detained, shot, or beaten by Chinese security forces, sources said in earlier reports. I’m Phil Dierking.   Richard Finney wrote this story for RFA. Phil Dierking adapted the story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   autonomous - adj. existing or acting separately from other things or people​ anonymity - n. the quality or state of being unknown to most people​ region ​- n. a part of a country, of the world, etc., that is different or separate from other parts in some way source - n. a person, book, etc., that gives information​

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Google Celebrates 19th Birthday With Special Doodle

  This is What’s Trending Today. If you have an account with Google and have added your birthday to your profile, you will get a greeting from the internet company on your special day. But on Wednesday, Google users around the world received a special gift on the company’s 19th birthday. Internet users who went to Google.com were greeted with a special Google “doodle.” Google offers “doodles” – fun drawings and games – to celebrate events and anniversaries all year long. One of the most popular doodles this year celebrated a world cricket tournament. Google users could play cricket – with crickets and snails as the teams – when they visited the search page. Lots of people wasted time at work that day playing cricket. In honor of the company’s 19th  birthday, the doodle featured a spinning wheel. When the wheel stopped spinning, users could play one of 19 games from past Google doodles. In one of the doodles, the user gets to hit a piñata with a stick. Each time the piñata gets hit, candy spills out. That game celebrated Google’s 15th birthday.  Another doodle is Google’s version of the classic video game, Pac-Man. All you have to do to play that game anytime is search for “Pac-Man.” There is also tic-tac-toe and a Valentine’s Day game featuring an endangered animal called a pangolin.  And just in time for the coming holiday of Halloween, one of the doodles brings back last year’s October celebration. Players control a small black cat who is trying to save his magic school from a lot of scary ghosts.  Google was one of the top trending searches of the day, along with “Pac-Man.” Nate Bargatze is a comedian. He used Twitter to wish Google a happy birthday, writing: “Happy Birthday, Google! I had to Google it to find out it was today.” ​ Google started 19 years ago when two Stanford University students decided to start a business that would search for information on the World Wide Web. Google is now part of Alphabet. The American company is one of the most valuable technology companies in the world. And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell.   Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor. What is your favorite Google doodle game? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   account – n. an arrangement in which a person uses the Internet or e-mail services of a particular company tournament – n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days piñata – n. a decorated container filled with candies, fruits, and gifts that is hung up at parties or celebrations and hit with a stick by children until it is broken and the things inside it fall out profile – n. a brief written description that provides information about someone or something classic – adj. used to describe something that has been popular for a long time ghost– n. the soul of a dead person thought of as living in an unseen world or as appearing to living people endangered– adj. used to describe a type of animal or plant that has become very rare and that could die out completely

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September 27, 2017

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

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September 26, 2017

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

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