US Defense Secretary: More Troops to Go to Iraq

  The United States will deploy 560 more troops to Iraq to help prepare for the fight for Mosul. The Islamic State militant group currently holds the city. However, Iraqi forces recently recaptured an airbase nearby. The additional troops will go to that airbase, says American Defense Secretary Ash Carter. He made the deployment announcement during a visit to Baghdad Monday.  The Qayyarah Airbase West is about 60 kilometers south of Mosul. Carter said it will serve as a planning and flight center for the coalition. A top U.S. defense official said the Iraqi government capture of the airbase marks the completion of the coalition’s first 10 steps toward defeating the Islamic State. The official spoke on the condition that his identity would not be reported. Ash Carter is meeting in Baghdad with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi. Carter will speak by phone with Masoud Barzani, the president of Iraqi Kurdistan. What were the 10 steps? In December and January, President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Carter set 10 goals to meet before two important cities could be captured. One was Raqqah in Syria, which served as Islamic State’s capital. The other was Mosul, the terrorist group’s largest base in Iraq. The recapturing of Hit, Rupta and Ramadi in Iraq were key steps toward dividing the Iraq and Syria battlefields, said one top defense official. Establishing a staging base in Makhmour has been considered a critical step in surrounding Mosul. In Syria, control of Shaddadi was also critical. The town is along the road from Raqqah to Mosul. Ash Carter said control of Shaddadi left Islamic State core “severed in half.” He said it interfered with the movement of people and supplies between the two cities. U.S.-trained opposition forces took the northern Syrian city of Manbij, also one of the 10 steps. Last month a coalition spokesman based in Baghdad described Manbij as a “hub” for Islamic State foreign fighters. Another of the 10 steps was the start of a program to train and supply anti-IS forces within northeast Syria, said a second defense official.  Mosul fight shaping up The plan to take Mosul in the south required the capture of Makhmour to the southeast and Qayyarah airbase to the southwest. A small number of U.S. forces have carried out a brief site examination at the airbase. But, they did not remain there. Officials say the recapture of Qayyarah showed the increasing military sophistication of Iraqi forces.  At the same time, two Iraqi Kurd military teams are completing the encirclement of Mosul from the north. The U.S. provided equipment and some money to the teams. During Defense Secretary Carter’s last trip to Iraq, he announced that the U.S. will provide $415 million in financial aid to Kurdish forces. The Kurdish economy had been damaged by the worldwide drop in oil prices. Carter said the aid would go through Iraq’s government. A top defense official confirmed the U.S. has completed its early goal of training 12 military brigades for the Mosul offensive. Commanders say that is the number needed for the battle. US looking to do more U.S. officials say additional training might be needed for those groups. In the fight for Ramadi, for example, many improvised explosive devices or IEDs were being used against anti-IS fighters.  U.S. forces specially trained soldiers how to deal with IED threats. Police training also might be needed to help secure the city once Islamic State has been ousted. Carter said he will talk with Abadi about many tools and techniques that have proven effective against the enemy. These include air support, equipment, supplies and help with planning. He said the U.S. will “provide more if and when the Iraqi Security Forces can make good use of them, and Prime Minister Abadi requests them.” Last week, President Obama announced his decision to keep 8,400 U.S. troops in Afghanistan through the end of his presidency. The Obama administration had earlier announced it would keep only 5,500 troops through the end of the year. Obama said last week that “the Taliban remains a threat.”  I’m Ashley Thompson.   VOA Pentagon correspondent Carla Babb reported this story from Baghdad. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to know what you think of this story. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   staging - n. temporary area severe - v. to separate, cut or remove sophistication - n. showing experience, highly developed improvised explosive device - n. bomb built in ways other than conventional military, usually used as roadside bomb.

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Cleveland, Philadelphia Increase Security for Political Conventions

  The two main parties in the United States will officially nominate their presidential candidates at national political conventions later this month. The Republican Party is holding its national convention in Cleveland, Ohio, from July 18 to July 21. The Republicans are expected to officially nominate businessman Donald Trump as their candidate. The Democrats are preparing to meet at the end of the month in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The party will officially nominate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as its candidate. Millions of dollars are being spent on security for the two conventions. The cities of Philadelphia and Cleveland have each received $50 million to pay for security, according to multiple sources. The money was awarded in federal grants to keep the convention grounds and the areas around them safe. Close to 50,000 people are expected to travel to Cleveland for the Republican convention. That number includes about 6,000 demonstrators. Democratic and Republican protesters clashed at a number of Trump campaign events earlier this year. Police in Cleveland are preparing for the possibility of unrest. The office of Cleveland’s mayor says the “size and significance of the convention creates unique challenges.” City officials have put special restrictions in place. Cleveland plans to enforce rules designed to control demonstrations. The city will limit marches to 50 minutes. Most of the marches will be held in the morning before Republican delegates gather at the convention site. The planned parade route will send demonstrators in a direction away from the meeting area. Dan Bulla is the president of a private security company. He thinks the biggest problems will be physical acts of civil disobedience. These acts include blocking streets, disabling police vehicles and trying to incite police action. Bulla said there may be “more opportunity for disruption and violence” in Cleveland than at the Democratic National Convention. Officials in Philadelphia will let supporters of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to demonstrate in a park near the Democrats’ convention site. Sanders was Clinton’s main opponent in the race for the presidential nomination. The U.S. Secret Service is heavily involved in planning political conventions. The agency has been working with local and federal law enforcement to prepare for the meetings in Cleveland and Philadelphia. Nicole Mainor works for the Secret Service. She told VOA: “If individuals or groups decide to act unlawfully, plans have been put in place to …address them. We understand the nature of [these events]. We have anticipated the number of individuals we may encounter.” Law enforcement officials are also guarding against a possible terror attack or attacks on computers. Cyber-attacks are the “most significant” threat, said Bulla. Officials are working with computer experts to stop hackers’ attempts to cut off telephone service and electricity. Bulla said the threat of a terrorist attack does not rate as high as threats of cyber-attacks and civil disobedience. In a related development, a federal judge decided some of Cleveland’s rules for protesters were unconstitutional. The rules would have banned some objects from a 5.6-kilometer wide “event zone.” Those items include large backpacks, adhesive tape and string. The rules would have also limited where demonstrators could speak. Cleveland officials say they will appeal the ruling. I'm Mehrnoush Karimian-Ainsworth.   Wayne Lee wrote this story for VOANews.com. Jim Dresbach adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. What do you think will be the biggest security problems at the political conventions? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   grant –​ n. public money that is given to someone or something for use on a project or for a particular purpose civil disobedience – n. refusal to obey laws as a way of forcing the government to do or change something altercations – n. noisy or angry arguments cyber-attack – n. an attempt by a computer hacker to damage or destroy a computer network or system disruption – n. an event that causes something to be unable to continue in the normal way hackers – n. people who secretly get access to a computer system in order to get information or cause damage

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North Korea Further Limits Communication with US

  North Korea says it is closing one of its last lines of communication with the United States. The move is in reaction, North Korea says, to the U.S. placing sanctions on leader Kim Jong Un for human rights abuses. North Korea said Monday it has told the U.S. that it is ending all diplomatic communications with the U.S. that have been conducted through the U.N. offices in New York. The U.S. placed personal sanctions on Kim and several other North Korean officials last week. The restrictions added to sanctions already placed on the country for its nuclear weapons program. Earlier Monday, North Korea threatened to take "physical action" after the U.S. and South Korea announced plans to deploy a missile defense system. The threat comes several days after U.S. and South Korean officials revealed plans to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, known as THAAD. Details, including the location and timing of the deployment, have not been announced. Through its official KCNA news agency, North Korea threatened to launch a “retaliatory strike” that would turn the South into “a sea of fire” when given the order. North Korea said the "physical response" will take place the moment the time and location of the THAAD system have been confirmed. China and Russia also have expressed strong opposition to the deployment of THAAD. Both countries have urged the U.S. and South Korea not to deploy the system.  South Korean President Park Guen-hye said Monday that the THAAD system is only intended as a defensive measure against the North. She said it does not target any other country. North Korea has tested several long-range missiles recently and exploded a nuclear weapon in January. Last week, the North fired a missile from a submarine off the coast of the port city of Sinpo. The missile reportedly exploded after traveling about 10 kilometers into the air, similar to a failed test in April.  Western military officials, however, say the North's abilities improve with every test. China is North Korea's main ally. It has urged the government of Kim Jong Un to return to international talks and dismantle its nuclear program. In return, China has promised economic assistance and security guarantees. I'm Mario Ritter.   Chris Allen reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sanctions –n. measure that punish a country in an effort to force it to obey international law, usually by limiting trade location –n. a place, where something is retaliatory –adj. a measure taken in reaction to an attack dismantle –v. to take something apart piece by piece

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Japan to Move Slowly on Amending Constitution After Election

  Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is claiming victory in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. His Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) coalition won a two-thirds majority in Japan’s upper house of parliament. The LDP won 56 of 121 seats up for election. Its coalition partner, Komeito, won 14 seats. The upper house is known as the National Diet. Only half the seats in the 242-seat diet are up for election every three years. The two main issues during the election campaign were the economic policies of Shinzo Abe, known as Abenomics, and calls to change Japan’s pacifist constitution. The ruling coalition already controls the lower house of parliament. The coalition needed Sunday’s victory to capture a two-thirds majority in both houses. That ‘supermajority’ and a simple majority in a nationwide referendum are required to amend the constitution. The prime minister said the Japanese people will decide on the question of amending the constitution if a special election is called. Abe would like to change article 9 of the document. Article 9 stops Japan from going to war to settle international disputes involving the state. The public is largely divided over calls to amend the constitution. Some opinion polls indicate most people disagree with talk of a more active military. Abe’s supporters say Japan needs a stronger and less restricted military to answer possible threats from other countries in East Asia. They say countries like China and North Korea are increasing their military power and nuclear activities. China and other areas that suffered under Japanese occupation in World War II have expressed concern about calls to change the constitution. They warn that Japan could again become an aggressive military power if the document is amended. China’s official news agency Xinhua published a commentary on the Japanese election Monday. It expressed alarm about Abe’s power expanding and possible changes to the constitution. The commentary said Japan’s militarization will not help Japan or its neighbors. More about economy The prime minister announced on Monday that he plans to increase government spending in the country as a way to fuel economic growth. Abe did not state the size of the spending program. But there are reports that it could total $100 billion. The leading measure of Japanese stock prices rose on Monday, hours after the ruling coalition’s victory. The Nikkei 225 was up close to four percent. The Topix index of all first-section shares climbed 3.79 percent. I’m Jonathan Evans.   Brian Padden wrote this story for VOA News. Jim Dresbach adapted his report for Learning English. Additional information came from reporter Youmi Kim in Seoul. George Grow was the editor. What do you think about the results from the Japanese election? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section or visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   pacifist – adj. a feeling that war and violence are wrong diet – n. the legislative body of certain countries referendum – n. an event in which the people of a county or state vote for or against a law that deals with a specific issue poll – n. an activity in which several or many people are asked a question or a series of questions in order to get information about what most people think about something alarm – n. worry, fear or concern 

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Strengthen Your Core With 5 Simple Exercises

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health and Lifestyle report. Your core is a complex network of muscles. It includes your abdominal muscles, back muscles and the muscles around you pelvis. Basically, your core is all the muscles in your torso. Harvard University’s website explains that a strong core is helpful for everyone. A strong core makes doing everyday activities easier. Basically, almost every movement of your body either begins or travels through your core. So, a strong core helps you in many ways. A strong core helps you bend over to pick up a child or reach high above your head to put something on a shelf. It helps your body move when you clean your home, fix your car or work in your garden.   Also, having a strong core can protect you from other problems. It can prevent back and neck injuries. A strong core helps your posture. It helps you to stand up straight and look more confident. But more importantly, health experts at Harvard remind us that good posture lessens stress on the spine and helps us to breathe more deeply. But wait, there’s more. Experts at the Mayo Clinic explain on their website that core exercises train the muscles in your pelvis, lower back, hips and abdomen to work together. This improves your balance and stability. Strong core muscles also help to make all sports and recreational activities easier and more pleasurable -- whether you are hiking with your family, dancing with your wife or playing a sport with your friends. So few would argue that a strong core is important. But with life’s busy schedules, how can we find time for core exercises? The good news is, there are several simple core exercises. You do not need to go to a gym. You don’t need expensive equipment. You can strengthen your core with floor exercises. All you need is a comfortable space on the floor, a mat -- if you prefer -- and maybe a towel. Five core exercises These five exercises suggested by the Mayo Clinic target the smaller muscles in your core that are often overlooked in other types of exercise. These exercises are also static, meaning you get into position and stay there still for several deep breaths. 1. The Bridge The bridge is a classic exercise to strengthen the core. Lie on your back with your knees bent. Keep your back in a neutral position. This means do not arch or round your back. Tighten your abdominal muscles. Then raise your hips off the floor until they are aligned with your knees and shoulders. In other words, imagine drawing a line that connects your knees, hips and shoulders. Hold for several deep breaths.         2. The Quadruped The quadruped is another exercise that targets the core. Start on your hands and knees. Place your hands on the floor directly below your shoulders. Align your head and neck with your back. Tighten your abdominal muscles. Raise your left arm and your right leg at the same time. Then hold for three deep breaths. Release back to your hands and knees. And repeat with your right arm and left leg.           3. The Plank Pose This pose is a foundation of many yoga exercises. It looks simple, but it is a full core workout. Start on all fours, meaning on your hands and knees. Lower yourself down so that you are resting on your forearms. Stretch out your legs behind you. Align your head and neck with your back. Place your shoulders directly above your elbows. Tighten your abdominal muscles. And hold for as many deep breaths as you can. You can slowly build up time as your get stronger. The more advanced version is basically the beginning of a push up. For an added challenge, raise yourself onto your hands. Your hands should face forward with your wrists under your shoulders. (If you have problems with your wrists, adjust your hands so they are comfortable.) The body should be in a straight line from the top of your head to your heels. Do not dip or raise your hips. And do not let your chest sink down to the floor. Hold for several deep breaths.           4. The Side Plank The side plank challenges your stability and improves core strength by working the muscles along the side of your body. Lie on your left side. Raise yourself onto your left forearm. Place your left shoulder directly above your left elbow. Keep your shoulders, hips and knees in alignment. Rest your right arm along the side of your body. Tighten your abdominal muscles and hold for several deep breaths. Then repeat on your right side. For an added challenge, balance on your left hand. Raise your hips off the floor and extend your right hand toward the ceiling. Hold for several deep breaths. Then repeat on your right side.                         5. The Superman This exercise strengthens your lower back. It also allows you to pretend you are flying like Superman! Lie on the floor on your stomach. Place a rolled up towel under your hips to support your back. Tighten your abdominal muscles. Raise your right arm off the floor. Hold for several deep breaths. Lower your right arm and repeat with your left. Then raise your right leg off the floor. Hold for several deep breaths. Lower your right leg and then repeat with your left. For an added challenge, try this version. Raise both arms at the same time. Hold for several breaths. Then raise both legs at the same time. Hold for several breaths. Then try raising both arms and both legs at the same time. Hold for several breaths.       These are all simple exercises that most people should be able to do. But you know what is right for your body. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it. And, of course, if you have any health concerns, check with your doctor before doing any exercises. And that’s the Health & Lifestyle report. I’m Anna Matteo, wishing you a strong core!   Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Ashley Thompson demonstrates the exercises. ___________________________________________________________ Words and Their Stories   posture – n. the way in which your body is positioned when you are sitting or standing confident – adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something : having confidence spine – n. the row of connected bones down the middle of the back stability – n. the quality or state of someone who is emotionally or mentally healthy abdominal – n. the part of the body below the chest that contains the stomach and other organs pelvis – n. the wide curved bones between the spine and the leg bones torso – n. the main part of the human body not including the head, arms, and legs classic – adj. very typical tighten – v. to make (something) tight or tighter or to become tight or tighter yoga – n. a system of exercises for mental and physical health arched – adj. something that has a curved shape align – v. to arrange things so that they form a line or are in proper position alignment – n. a forming in line Check your understanding of this article by taking a quiz!

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Matador Dies at Spanish Bullfight

  This is What’s Trending Today. A Spanish bullfighter died for the first time in over 30 years and several people were injured throughout Spain at bullfighting festivals. Victor Barrio was a professional bullfighter, a matador in the Spanish language. He died after being injured by a bull’s horn on Saturday. He was participating in a bullfight in Teruel, a small town east of Madrid. Barrio was 29. The bull weighed over 500 kilograms. Barrio was struck in the chest by the bull’s horn during the fight. At the famous running of the bulls in Pamplona, two Spanish men were seriously injured by a bull’s horns and three others hurt their heads after falling. Pamplona is a small city in northeastern Spain. It is a popular destination for tourists who come to run through the streets with the bulls. Later in the day, the bulls are in bullfights. People dress in white clothing with red belts and scarves. They try to run close enough to the bulls to feel scared, but not so close that they get injured. The death of the bullfighter and the other injuries prompted numerous comments on social media sites. Some people expressed their sympathy for the matador. But many others used the news of the death and injuries to say that bullfighting is a cruel sport. One person reminded us of the saying: “you mess with the bull, you get the horns.” Another suggested that the death of the matador will help end the “supposed sport.” Others reacted to the news that according to tradition, if a bull kills a matador, the bull and its mother will be killed to eliminate the bloodline. One Twitter user called that “the dumbest thing ever.”  And that’s What’s Trending Today. I’m Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   belt – n. a band of material (such as leather) that is worn around a person's waist festival – n. a special time or event when people gather to celebrate something scarf – n. a long piece of cloth that is worn on your shoulders, around your neck, or over your head horn – n. one of the hard pointed parts that grows on the head of some animals (such as cattle, goats, or sheep) mess – v. to handle or play with (something) in a careless or foolish way dumb – adj. not showing or having good judgment or intelligence : stupid or foolish

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Texas Gun Range Offers Free Training to LGBT People

  The killing of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Florida has shaken America’s LGBT community. The attack has led some of the community’s members to consider carrying guns. A gun range in Houston, Texas is now offering free training to LGBT people. LGBT is short for the words lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Many people have signed up for the classes because they fear they could be a victim of violence. Texas law requires an operating permit for people to carry a gun, whether it is concealed or not. “There is a target that has been painted on people’s backs now if they are part of the LGBT community,” class member Cheryl Burgin said. Burgin knows how to use a gun. She once served in the U.S. Marine Corps. She now feels the need to have her own gun to protect herself and her wife. Even with a legal permit in Texas, guns are barred from some public places, such as schools and hospitals. They are also not permitted in most drinking establishments and nightclubs, like the one attacked in Orlando. Burgin admits that taking a gun into a bar or club would not be a good idea. “You don’t want to mix alcohol and firearms. It is not the smartest thing to take it into a club. But if I need to have it nearby, I will make sure I have it with me.” Jess Sanford is General Manager of Houston’s Shiloh Gun Range and 3D Archery. He says his decision to drop the usual $69 class fee for the LGBT community has been warmly received. “What we thought was going to be two classes, with maybe 40 people total, has now just totally blown up to 13 classes, and we've got over 550 signed up, with over a hundred done already.”  He says people receiving the training enjoy being with like-minded people who do not judge them. Desaree Reyes and her wife, Marcella, said they decided to take the training because of possible hostility to their same-sex marriage. But Desaree admits she is not sure how she would react to an attack like the one in Orlando. “I don’t feel that just because I have my license that I am going to be ready,” she said. But she added that carrying a weapon will give her better piece of mind. “I do feel like at least I have that protection…so that if somebody were to come towards me or my family, I'm already ready to protect myself.” The gay community includes people on both sides of the gun control debate. Pink Pistols is an LGBT gun rights group. It was already urging members of the community to arm themselves before Orlando. A representative of the group, Gwendolyn Patton, released a statement after the shooting. “Guns did not do this. A human being did this, a dead human being. Our job now is not to demonize the man’s tools, but to condemn his acts and work to prevent such acts in the future.” Other LGBT rights groups, including Human Rights Campaign, have called for stronger gun control measures. “The safety of the LGBTQ community depends on our ability to end both the hatred toward our community, and the epidemic of gun violence that has spiraled out of control,” HRC president Chad Griffin said. Griffin blamed the mass shooting on “a toxic combination of two things: a deranged, unstable individual who had been conditioned to hate (LGBT) people, and easy access to military-style guns.” I’m Bryan Lynn. Greg Flakus reported this story for VOANews.com. Bryan Lynn adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Do you think gun training for the gay community is a good idea? Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   conceal – v. keep something hidden piece of mind – n. a feeling of being safe or protected epidemic – n. a sudden, widespread growth of something deranged – adj. behaving in a dangerous way because of a mental disorder gay – n. a person sexually attracted to someone who is the same sex nightclub – n. a place that offers entertainment and drinks  lesbian – n.  a woman who is sexually attracted to other women bisexual – n. a person sexually attracted to someone who is the same sex or the opposite sex transgender – adj. a person who expresses or identifies with a gender different from the one they were born with  

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July 11, 2016

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

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1200 UTC Newscast in English

From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Michael Brown reporting. There is heavy fighting between rival factions in South Sudan’s capital Monday. The fifth day of violence began just hours after the UN (United Nations) Security Council called on the leaders of each group to control their armed forces and warned the attacks on civilians and UN facilities may constitute war crimes. Former rebel leader Riek Machar joining Salva Kiir, the president, in issuing an appeal for calm. "This is an interruption to the good process that we have initiated. We want to continue this process of dialogue among ourselves, resolving issues so that the country comes out of the conflict. So we are calling on all the population, all South Sudanese, whether armed or not armed, to respect (the) ceasefire." The two sides fought each other in a two-year civil war that erupted after the president fired Machar in 2013.  The recent fighting broke out Thursday and is believed to have left nearly 300 dead, including a Chinese U.N. peacekeeper. North Korea warned Monday it will take a physical response to the decision by the United States and South Korea to deploy a sophisticated anti-missile defense system, as Pyongyang continues banned missile tests. The move also drew a swift and sharp response from China. The so-called THAAD system is expected to be operational next year. Al-Shabab fighters temporarily overran a Somali government military base west of Mogadishu Monday, killing soldiers and seizing weapons and military trucks. A Mogadishu official said the militants controlled the base for around three hours before leaving. Al-Shabab attacked the same base in March this year seizing military trucks and rockets. This is VOA News.   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.

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July 10, 2016

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

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July 9, 2016

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

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