World News: Push to save white rhinos, UN wants cease-fire in Syria

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World News: Push to save white rhinos, UN wants cease-fire in Syria By Associated Press, Newsela staff on 03.14.

1 World News: Push to save white rhinos, UN wants cease-fire in Syria By Associated Press, Newsela staff on Word Count 1,414 Level MAX Women shout slogans during a protest at Sol Square during International Women's Day in Madrid, Spain, March 8, Spanish women marked International Women's Day with the first-ever full-day strike and dozens of protests across the country against wage gap and gender violence. Photo by: AP Photo/Francisco Seco Women took to the streets in recognition of International Women s Day. Meanwhile, tensions mounted over a number of global trade deals, while North Korea said it is looking to work with other nations. Here s a closer look at what s been happening in the news around the world this week. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 1

NANYUKI, Kenya: As the health of the world's last male northern white rhino declines, a global team of scientists and conservationists is pushing ahead with an ambitious effort to save the subspecies

2 NANYUKI, Kenya: As the health of the world's last male northern white rhino declines, a global team of scientists and conservationists is pushing ahead with an ambitious effort to save the subspecies from extinction. Participants in the project want to create northern white rhino embryos through in vitro fertilization and say its success depends not on the sick, elderly male named Sudan, but on his daughter Najin and granddaughter Fatu, the only surviving females. Not all conservationists support the project. Some believe the focus should be on other critically endangered species, including the Javan and Sumatran rhinos, that could still have a chance in the wild. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 2

SANTIAGO, Chile: Trade ministers from 11 Pacific Rim countries signed a sweeping free trade agreement Thursday, March 8, to streamline trade and slash tariffs on the same day that President Donald

3 SANTIAGO, Chile: Trade ministers from 11 Pacific Rim countries signed a sweeping free trade agreement Thursday, March 8, to streamline trade and slash tariffs on the same day that President Donald Trump formalized new tariffs on aluminum and steel to protect U.S. producers. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership last year, causing fears that it would not prosper without its most influential country. Still, the remaining 11 members pressed ahead, saying they were showing resolve against protectionism through global trade. The ministers dropped key provisions that the Americans had required on protection of intellectual property, among others. The renegotiated pact signed in Chile's capital was renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership, or CPTPP. The pact covers 500 million people, including Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam. This is "a strong sign against the protectionist pressures, and in favor of a world open to free trade, without unilateral sanctions and the threat of trade wars," Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz said. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 3

PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had an "openhearted talk" in Pyongyang with envoys for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the North Korean government said.

4 PYONGYANG, North Korea: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had an "openhearted talk" in Pyongyang with envoys for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the North Korean government said. It was the first time South Korean officials met with the North Korean leader in person since he took power after his dictator father's death in late 2011 and the latest sign that the Koreas are trying to mend ties after a year of repeated North Korean weapons tests and threats of nuclear war. North Korea's state media said Kim expressed his desire to "write a new history of national reunification" during a dinner last week. North Korea, some believe, may have been trying to use improved ties with the South to weaken U.S.-led international sanctions and pressure, and to provide domestic propaganda material for Kim. After the meeting, the South Koreans broke the news that the North Korean leader wanted to meet with President Donald Trump, a stunning turn of events. Former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said a "dramatic" and surprising change of posture by Kim led Trump to agree to a meeting with the North Korean leader. President Trump said "great progress" was being made, but sanctions on North Korea will remain as he prepares for what would be the first-ever meeting between the two countries' leaders. BEIJING, China: China's legislature approved amendments to the country's constitution, including one to abolish term limits that will allow Xi Jinping to continue as president indefinitely. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 4

Critics pointed to a lack of public involvement in the drafting process and the surprise announcement of the measures just a week before the opening of the legislature's annual session.

5 Critics pointed to a lack of public involvement in the drafting process and the surprise announcement of the measures just a week before the opening of the legislature's annual session. The amendment process was set in motion by Xi at a meeting of the ruling Communist Party's Politburo on September 29, according to a report submitted to the National People's Congress at its session opening on Monday, March 5. Term limits were introduced in the drafting of China's modern constitution in 1982 in hopes of avoiding another dictatorship such as that exercised by Communist China's founder, Mao Zedong, until his death in Mao's rule was characterized by disastrous economic policies and the chaos and violent ideological battles of the Cultural Revolution. The removal of those restrictions allow Xi to rule for the rest of his life should he choose to do so. MADRID, Spain: Women around the world shouted their demands for equality, respect and empowerment Thursday, March 8, to mark International Women's Day, with protesters in Spain launching a 24-hour strike. Spanish women were staging dozens of protests across the country against the wage gap and gender violence. In Madrid, hundreds of women gathered in its central square to demand change. Teresa Sonsur, a 38-year-old social services agency worker, said she wanted to end workplace discrimination. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 5

6 "What we see in our job in social services is that the women are doing all the hard work, dealing with the customers, but in the positions of management it is always men," she said. The European Commission said in a statement published on Twitter that the continent "is one of the safest and most equal places for women in the world." On the other hand, it noted that "the path to full equality in practice is still a long one." ROME, Italy: Since the European Union's founding treaty was signed in Rome more than 60 years ago, Italy has been an unabashed supporter of increased unity and common purpose. That may have come to an end. The results of Italy s March 4 election were the latest indication that the continent is tilting further to the right. Voters were electing the 630 members of the Chamber of Deputies and the 315 elective members of the Senate of the Republic. While no party won an outright majority, the center-right coalition, which includes Matteo Salvini s League party, won more seats than other leading parties, followed by the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, led by Luigi Di Maio. The more liberal coalition, led by former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, came in third. The election results from Rome still came as a shock to the EU. It had not even been a week since EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had confidently predicted that "whatever the outcome, I am confident that we will have a government that makes sure that Italy remains a central player in Europe and in shaping its future." One of the first things Matteo Salvini, the head of Italy's victorious anti-migrant, anti-eu League party, said last week was that the shared euro currency was "wrong." The EU is still reeling from Britain's 2016 decision to leave the bloc, so another ally turning a cold shoulder is the last thing the bloc needs. "This is a huge surge for euro-skeptic and anti- establishment parties in Italy," said Nigel Farage, who was a driving force behind Britain's exit from the EU. His Italian allies in the European Parliament, the Five Star Movement, gained 172 new seats in Italy s congress after the election. Pending the outcome of government coalition talks, the Five Star Movement could set Italy's EU policy for years to come. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 6

7 DAMASCUS, Syria: The situation has continued to deteriorate in eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Syria s capital city Damascus. No end is in sight for the Syrian civil war, now entering its seventh year, which has pitted President Bashar al-assad against a number of rebel groups and IS. With no effective government at work, parts of the country have been taken over by the terrorist group. Syrian government troops and allied militias have now seized half of the territory held by rebels in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said last week that troops have effectively split the besieged enclave in two halves after seizing the town of Beit Sawa and surrounding farmland and reaching the outskirts of Madeira and Hammouriyeh. By slicing the territory in two halves a southern and northern part the Syrian government succeeds in further squeezing rebels and tens of thousands of civilians trapped inside. The Syrian troops are backed in their massive air and ground assault on eastern Ghouta by Russian air cover. Around 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in eastern Ghouta. The United Nations Security Council reiterated its call for implementation of its February 24 resolution demanding a cease-fire throughout Syria for at least 30 days without delay to deliver humanitarian aid and evacuate the wounded and critically ill. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 7

8 Quiz 1 Read the list of sentences from the section "SANTIAGO, Chile." 1. Trade ministers from 11 Pacific Rim countries signed a sweeping free trade agreement Thursday, March 8, to streamline trade and slash tariffs on the same day that President Donald Trump formalized new tariffs on aluminum and steel to protect U.S. producers. 2. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership last year, causing fears that it would not prosper without its most influential country. 3. The ministers dropped key provisions that the Americans had required on protection of intellectual property, among others. 4. This is "a strong sign against the protectionist pressures, and in favor of a world open to free trade, without unilateral sanctions and the threat of trade wars," Chilean Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz said. Which two sentences taken together BEST support the idea that the members of the CPTPP take issue with recent U.S. trade policies? (A) 1 and 2 (B) 2 and 3 (C) 3 and 4 (D) 1 and 4 This article is available at 5 reading levels at 8

9 2 Read the section "PYONGYANG, North Korea." Which sentence from the section BEST supports the inference that there may be ulterior motives behind Kim's sudden attempts at diplomacy with South Korea and the U.S.? (A) (B) (C) (D) North Korea's state media said Kim expressed his desire to "write a new history of national reunification" during a dinner last week. North Korea, some believe, may have been trying to use improved ties with the South to weaken U.S.-led international sanctions and pressure, and to provide domestic propaganda material for Kim. Former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said a "dramatic" and surprising change of posture by Kim led Trump to agree to a meeting with the North Korean leader. President Trump said "great progress" was being made, but sanctions on North Korea will remain as he prepares for what would be the first-ever meeting between the two countries' leaders. 3 Read the list of words from the section "ROME, Italy." tilting reeling surge driving HOW does the tone of these words help the author achieve his or her purpose in this section? (A) (B) (C) (D) by creating a sense of sweeping destabilization by creating a sense of irritating distractions by creating a sense of faltering momentum by creating a sense of essential progress This article is available at 5 reading levels at 9

10 4 Read the sentence from the section "DAMASCUS, Syria." The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said last week that troops have effectively split the besieged enclave in two halves after seizing the town of Beit Sawa and surrounding farmland and reaching the outskirts of Madeira and Hammouriyeh. Which selection from the section BEST emphasizes what the author means by "besieged enclave"? (A) (B) (C) (D) The situation has continued to deteriorate in eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Syria s capital city Damascus. No end is in sight for the Syrian civil war, now entering its seventh year, which has pitted President Bashar al-assad against a number of rebel groups and IS. Syrian government troops and allied militias have now seized half of the territory held by rebels in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta. The Syrian troops are backed in their massive air and ground assault on eastern Ghouta by Russian air cover. Around 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in eastern Ghouta. This article is available at 5 reading levels at 10

Syria Tracker. Support Oppose Don't know. August August

Syria Tracker. Support Oppose Don't know. August August Syria Tracker Thinking about the situation in Syria, here are some things that Britain's Government is reported to be considering, in partnership with other countries such as France and the US. Would you