Tom: Hey everyone, I am Tom Hanson, here at one of the most historic Buddhist sites in the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar, and Channel One News starts right now.
Azia: Wow, that looks beautiful. We will check back in with Tom in just a bit, but first, let's jump right into the news. And we are heading to Washington, D.C. That is where, today, the Senate is expected to vote on the person President Trump wants to head up the Department of Education.
The secretary of education’s job is to set standards and guide dollars for the nation's public schools. Betsy DeVos's nomination has sparked protests around the country for weeks. DeVos supports something called "school choice," meaning people can choose which schools to send their kids to and can mean using public education money to send students to schools that are run by private, for-profit companies.
Critics say these programs take money away from struggling public schools and that some kids may end up in private schools that don't have to meet the same standards. But supporters say she will shake up the system and bring a more businesslike approach to education.
Betsy DeVos: It’s time to make education great again.
Azia: DeVos has served as chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party but doesn't have as much experience in education as past secretaries. Critics point to the facts that she has never taught school and she and her children did not attend public school.
Senator Chuck Schumer: The nominee for the secretary of education is one of the worst nominees that has ever been brought before this body for a cabinet position.
Azia: Two Republican senators have already vowed they won't vote to confirm DeVos, but the majority of other Republicans support her.
Senator Tim Scott: The real debate isn't Betsy DeVos. The real debate is generations — generations of kids that are stuck in underperforming schools. That is a travesty.
Azia: If DeVos faces opposition from Democrats plus the two Republicans, she will end up with a 50-50 vote in the Senate, and Vice President Mike Pence will have to break the tie.
Next, we are heading to England, where Queen Elizabeth II made history yesterday, becoming the first British monarch to spend 65 years on the throne.
There was a 41-gun salute to celebrate the queen's big day, the 65th anniversary of when she took the throne. They called the big bash a Sapphire Jubilee, and experts say it is a milestone in British history.
Hugo Vickers: It is a remarkable achievement, and she really is the best example of why people shouldn't retire.
Azia: Elizabeth became queen at just 25 years old after her father, King George VI, died of lung cancer in 1952. Now 90, the great-grandmother has worked with more than a dozen British prime ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill, and is head of state in the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth countries. She is the world's oldest and longest-serving living monarch.
Georgina Dillon: I have got a lot of respect for her.She's 90 years old, and she still works most days.
Tricia Bradley: Whenever we have a crisis, we know she's there, and she will always be the same.
Azia: In honor of this Sapphire Jubilee, the palace released a portrait of Elizabeth wearing sapphire gemstones — a gift from her father that is fit for a queen.
While the British monarch still serves as the official head of state, the royal family's role is more about influence than it is power. In fact, she only has a few duties as queen.
Okay, after the break, a trip to the Golden Land.
Azia: Okay, I am thinking of a country, and I want you guys to guess. The country is called different names depending on who you ask, and it is known for ancient temples and Buddhism. And a lot of men wear skirts! Well, kind of — they are actually called longyi. Any guesses?
It is not a place many have been; it is a far-off land called Myanmar, also known as Burma. And it is going through a lot of changes. We wanted to see what it is all about, so we sent Tom Hanson to check it out.
Tom: It is called the Land of the Golden Pagodas, considered one of the most exotic and untouched countries on the planet. After decades of dictatorship, the Southeast Asian country of Myanmar is opening up to the world.
I wanted to know more about this emerging nation that has been locked away for the better part of a century, so I got a journalist visa, boarded a plane and set off on a trip to the other side of the globe. After about two days of flying, travelling thousands of miles, I finally made it to the bustling streets of the largest city, Yangon, where international business is just beginning.
Okay, so we just got here in Myanmar, which is one of the poorest countries in the world. But it is also going through a major period of change. That is because the government, which used to be a military dictatorship, is now transitioning to a democracy — which is a pretty big deal. So the entire world is watching to see what happens here in Myanmar.
My journey began by paying respect to Buddha.
Got to take off our shoes and socks. Myanmar is a country that is mostly Buddhist. In fact, all over the place — like, everywhere — you can see these golden shrines, called pagodas, and they are to honor Buddha.
All right, so this is Shell. Shell, say hi to the camera. Shell is our driver. And we are about to light candles to pay respect and honor to Buddha. It is supposed to give us good luck. So now we are going to have really good luck throughout our time here. Think that is pretty good. Maybe it won't rain anymore.
Myanmar is a land of ancient Buddhist customs. Some of the temples here date back hundreds, even thousands, of years. Of the 48.7 million people living in Myanmar, approximately 90 percent practice Buddhism.
The Shwedagon Pagoda — one of the most sacred sites in the entire country — is probably the most distinct example. Measuring over 300 feet tall, this golden structure dominates Yangon's skyline and is surrounded by hundreds of Buddhist shrines. Thousands of people come here to pray every year.
This is probably one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen.
Opulence and beauty are everywhere you go, putting Myanmar at the top of the bucket list for tourists. But there is also another side to Myanmar. Tomorrow, we take a look at the history of the country and the controversy around it.
Tom Hanson, Channel One News.
Azia: To learn more about Myanmar and see behind-the-scenes photos from Tom's trip, head to ChannelOne.com.
Okay, after the break, the King of Motown sings with students.
Azia: Okay guys, D is here with a story about a music icon who influenced a lot of the songs you hear today.
Demetrius: Yeah, Smokey Robinson is a legendary singer/songwriter, and now he is helping the next generation with an epic surprise for some music students at one school in California. Check it out.
The young musicians at Pio Pico Middle School began preparing for this day last year.The extra pressure? Not what they are performing, but who they are playing for.
Student: It seemed like we were meeting the president — it was so cool.
Demetrius: Motown legend Smokey Robinson took a seat in their middle school auditorium. The Grammy award–winning singer and songwriter has packed some of the world’s most celebrated venues, but he says this is where the music always starts.
Smokey Robinson: What's the future of music? Our kids. Just like the future of everything else.
Demetrius: Smokey is a champion of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit bringing innovative ways to teach music in low-income communities.
Robinson: You are so blessed and so fortunate because most schools don't have those programs any more. And it is a shame.
Demetrius: All across the country, school districts have had to tighten their belts to come up with funding, and the first programs to get cut are usually art, language and music. But studies have shown that having music programs in schools increases student attendance rates by nearly 10 percent and graduation rates by almost
20 percent.
Robinson helped unveil a million-dollar gift from Niagara Water, which will go to public schools across the country, and a special surprise for these musicians: new equipment. And before he left, they also got something that they will never forget — the chance to perform alongside a legend.
Demetrius Pipkin, Channel One News.
Azia: A million-dollar check!That is amazing. Thanks, D.
All right, guys, that is all for now. Have an awesome day, but here is one more thing before you go.
Check out the world's first ice library. Its frozen walls stand on the edge of a lake in Russia. The library contains 420 book-like pages, frosted with phrases. The words came from people all over the world and are carved in Russian, English and other languages. The ice library is expected to melt in April, but for now, it is pretty cool.
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