Syrian Commander: Raqqa Captured from IS Forces

Militias operating in Syria have declared victory over Islamic State (IS) fighters in Raqqa. The militias raised flags over the city on Tuesday after a four-month battle against IS forces. Raqqa served as capital of the self-declared Islamic State militant group. The Reuters news agency said the fighting had ended, but noted that Kurdish and Arab militias were clearing a sports center of mines and any remaining militants. A spokesman for the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said his group plans to formally declare victory after the work is completed. The SDF has been fighting since June to take Raqqa. The militia has received help from the United States and its allies. The final SDF attack on Raqqa began on Sunday after a group of Syrian jihadists withdrew, leaving only 300 IS fighters to defend their positions. On Monday, the SDF captured “Paradise Square,” a place where the militants carried out executions in front of city residents. Some locals called it “Hell Square” as bodies and severed heads would be left there for days. The fighters captured Raqqa’s main hospital after fierce fighting Monday night and early on Tuesday, said SDF spokesman Mostafa Bali in a statement. The fighters then lowered the black flag of Islamic State at the hospital, the site of an IS command center. One witness told Reuters that militia fighters and commanders celebrated in the middle of wreckage and ruined buildings around the square. An SDF field commander said explosions from mines killed three militiamen on Monday. Another commander said SDF fighters had found burned weapons and documents in the sports center. The fall of Raqqa is a sign of the Islamic State’s collapse. It was the first big city captured by IS forces in early 2014. After a series of victories in Iraq and Syria, the group declared the establishment of a caliphate, with Raqqa as its capital. The Islamic State created its own laws, passports and money. It used the city as a base to plan attacks overseas and to imprison Western hostages before killing them in videos published online. The group has lost most of its territory in Syria and Iraq this year, including the city of Mosul. In Syria, IS forces have been forced back into small area in the Euphrates valley and surrounding desert. I'm Pete Musto.   Hai Do wrote this story for VOA Learning English. His report was based on information from the Associated Press and Reuters. George Grow was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________     Words in This Story    

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Three Out of Four Children Experience Violence

  From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. Each year nearly three out of four children around the world experience some kind of violence. A new report confirms that finding and another troubling development: Childhood violence is linked with violence against women. Children who see their mother being abused are more likely to be abused as an adult or become abusers themselves.  The report is called "Ending Violence in Childhood: Global Report 2017." The study was prepared for a children's rights group called Know Violence in Childhood. The organization was launched in India three years ago. The study found that childhood violence happens nearly everywhere -- in rich and poor countries alike. It affects an estimated 1.7 billion children every year. This violence includes fighting or bullying -- the mistreatment or abuse of someone by a stronger or more powerful individual. It can also include sexual abuse, sexual violence and physical punishment, both at home and in school. The researchers did not include violence from war and other events. Ramya Subrahmanian is executive director of Know Violence in Childhood. She said that children experience emotional and physical punishment at young ages -- some from as early as two years of age. She adds that violence is a learned behavior that comes from deep, long-held cultural values. For example, in some societies, beating is a form of discipline. Economic cost of childhood violence The researchers say there is also an economic cost to society when children experience violence. They found that children who experience violence at home are more likely to miss school or even leave school and never return. They are less likely to get an education and succeed in life.  Know Violence in Childhood reports that up to 8% of the world’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is spent on repairing the damage caused by childhood violence. GDP is usually defined as the total value of all goods and services. The report notes that even with such a high cost, governments fail to invest in policies that could stop the causes of childhood violence. The group’s website explores ways to end the violence. It reports that experts say the first step is to speak out about violence against children. Keeping silent only increases the chance that violence will continue. The experts also say that is important to educate caregivers and empower children to be strong and resilient.  The report says that anti-violence education needs to be included in school systems, community programs and in health services.  And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.   Carol Pearson wrote this story for VOANews.com. Anna Matteo adapted her story for Learning English. Her report includes information from the "Ending Violence in Childhood: Global Report 2017." George Grow was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Quiz Now, test your understanding with this short quiz. ​______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   trend – n. a general direction of change : a way of behaving, proceeding, etc., that is developing and becoming more common discipline – n. punishment for bad behavior resilient – adj. able to become strong, healthy, or successful again after something bad happens

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Unit 6: Group Projects

​Welcome to Let's Teach English. This series offers free online training for English language educators worldwide. Voice of America and the University of Oregon are partners on this project. Summary In this lesson, the students are given a group project assignment and then present their work. They have two choices: open a restaurant or eat at a restaurant.  Each member has a role to play. This helps guarantee that everyone contributes equally to group work. For this assignment, the students must also read their instructions independently of the teacher. This strategy can give learners confidence in their ability to use English outside of the classroom.   Teacher Preparation Video Transcript This episode shows a model of teaching through group projects. Click on the image below to download a pdf of the transcript. Women Teaching Women English Text Click on the image below to download a pdf of the student text and teacher manual. At the end of the ten-unit course, the whole book will be available for download.​ ​ Women Teaching Women English Listening These audio files go with Unit 6 of Women Teaching Women English. Click on the "Direct Link" button to the right of the player to download them. Conversation: In a Restaurant Reading: Celebrating a New Year   What Do You Think? Let us know what you think about this course. Email us or write your comment in the comments section below. Poll

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Kurds Withdraw as Iraqi Forces Move into Kirkuk

Iraqi troops seized oil fields and the area around Kirkuk in response to last month’s Kurdish vote for independence. Tensions have grown since the Kurds voted for independence from Iraq. The Iraqi central government in Baghdad, as well as Turkey, Iran and the United States, rejected the vote. But midday Monday, Iraqi federal forces took several major oil fields north of Kirkuk, as well as the city’s airport and an important military base, according to Iraqi commanders. Kurdish party headquarters inside Kirkuk were abandoned. In a statement, the United States military task force in Iraq described the fighting outside Kirkuk as a “misunderstanding.” The U.S. has armed, trained and supported both sides in the fight against the Islamic State group. After reports of clashes in and around the city, Kurdish forces -- known as the peshmerga – appeared to withdraw without much of a fight. Local police remained in place in Kirkuk. Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi called on civil servants to remain at their posts to serve the city. Still, thousands of people could be seen carrying their belongings and heading north to Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region. Kirkuk is home to about 1 million Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and Christians. The city has been at the center of a long-running dispute between the autonomous Kurdish government and the central government in Baghdad. Both are close allies of the U.S. The Iraqi government and the Kurds have long been divided over the sharing of oil money as well as over disputed territories like Kirkuk. The city is controlled by Kurdish forces but is outside of their self-ruled region. The Kurds took control of Kirkuk, a major oil-producing area, in 2014. At the time, Islamic State militants had advanced across northern Iraq and the country’s armed forces collapsed. Iraq has since rebuilt its armed forces with U.S. aid. And they are driving out IS militants from most of the territory they once held. Shiite Arab militias backed by Iran are fighting alongside the Iraqi armed forces in Kirkuk. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said the militias will remain outside the city, however. Al-Iraqiya, the Iraqi government TV network, reported that the prime minister ordered federal forces to “impose security in the city in cooperation with the inhabitants and the peshmerga.” Since the September independence vote, the Iraqi government has been pushing Kurdish leaders to accept shared administration of the oil-rich area. I'm Alice Bryant. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP and Reuters news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story response  - n. ​ something that is done as a reaction to something else​ according to - prep. ​as stated, reported, or recorded by (someone or something)​ abandon - v. ​to leave (a place) because of danger​ advance - v. to move forward impose  - v. ​to force someone to accept​ autonomous - adj. having the power or right to govern itself region - n. part of a country (or the world) that is different or separate from other parts in some way  

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Somalia Truck Bombing Kills Over 300

  Somalis have been burying people killed in a huge explosion Saturday in the capital, Mogadishu. The Associated Press reported on Monday that the head of an emergency medical service said over 300 people were killed in the explosion. The Somali government said the number of dead is expected to rise in what has become one of the world’s worst attacks in years. Some families may never recover their loved ones because many of the bodies were burned beyond recognition. "There is no tragedy worse than when someone comes to the dead body of their relative and cannot recognize them," said the mayor of Mogadishu, Tabid Abdi Mohamed. He said the horror of the attack was "unspeakable." Mogadishu's hospitals have been struggling to treat the badly burned victims. The Somali government says it has set up an emergency center to help reunite families. The government has called for three days of national mourning. It also has asked that flags be flown at half-mast as a sign of respect for the victims. Al-Shabab believed to be responsible There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack.  Angry protesters, however, condemned al-Shabab. The militant group has yet to comment publicly on the bombing. But the government and terrorism experts strongly believe the group was responsible. "Whether they claim or not claim makes no difference, we know the act that has happened. It’s al-Shabab,” said Abdi Hassan Hussein, a former intelligence officer. He added, “The information we are getting so far shows this is the work of al-Shabab." On Sunday, hundreds of Somalis denounced the group at a protest in Mogadishu’s business center, where a truck carrying the bomb exploded. Some demonstrators wept when they saw the damage caused by the explosion. In a statement, the U.S. State Department condemned the attack "in the strongest terms." It said the United States “will continue to stand with the Somali government, its people, and our international allies to combat terrorism and support their efforts to achieve peace, security, and prosperity.” The victims Maryan Abdullahi just finished Benadir University where she studied medicine. She left her voluntary work at Benadir hospital Saturday and was waiting a bus when the bomb exploded. She died immediately. Her mother called her daughter's telephone number as soon as she heard about the explosion. She told VOA Somali, “I called her number immediately, but someone else answered and they said the owner of the phone died." Abdullahi’s father flew from London on Saturday to attend his daughter’s graduation from the university. He arrived in Mogadishu Sunday morning and attended her funeral instead. Also killed were five members of the same family who were operating a clothing business.   VOA reporter Hundreds of people were wounded in the attack. One of them is VOA’s reporter in Mogadishu, Abdulkadir Mohamed Abdulle. Abdulle suffered injuries to the neck, hand and burns throughout his body. But he was in good spirits when he spoke about his condition. He said, “I’m injured in the lower neck, there is shrapnel inside. I have a second injury on the right hand, maybe it’s broken, and third, my body is burned in particular on the torso. I have smaller injuries throughout the body, (and) facial injuries.” Abdulle has memories of the attack. He said, “I remember leaving the building near Safari hotel, I wanted to get into my car, as I stepped towards the car the explosion went off, that is all I remember. The next thing I know is this morning when I woke up at 10 a.m. when I saw people standing around my bed.” I’m Jonathan Evans. Harun Maruf wrote this story for VOANews.com. George Grow adapted this report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   beyond – adv. on the farther side; in addition half-mast – n. the position in the middle of a pole or long stick achieve – v. to carry out successfully graduation – adj. of or related to the act of finishing a study program shrapnel – n. small pieces of metal from an exploding shell or mine torso – n. the human body except for the head, arms and legs We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.  

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Women Say #MeToo as Sex Abuse Victims

This is What’s Trending Today…. Around the world, the words “Me Too” are appearing in high numbers on Twitter and Facebook. The simple message carries strong meaning. It all started on Sunday with a tweet from American actor Alyssa Milano. She wrote that women who have experienced sexual harassment or assault should leave the message “Me Too” on social media. Her aim was to show how often women have experienced sexual abuse. Milano wrote, “Suggestion by a friend: If all women who have been sexually harassed or assaulted wrote ‘Me too’ as a status, we might give people a sense of the magnitude of the problem.” Milano’s tweet came after the recent accusations against Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein. More than 20 women have said that he sexually abused them. Among the accusers are movie stars Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosanna Arquette. The hashtag #MeToo soon became a top worldwide trending topic on Twitter. More than 40,000 people have followed Milano’s suggestion. And over 200,000 have used the hashtag on Twitter. Famous people, such as singers Lady Gaga and Sheryl Crow and New Zealand actress Anna Paquin, identified themselves as victims.   Some women shared their personal experiences of being sexually harassed or assaulted. Others simply wrote, “Me too.” Some men wrote it, too. ​ Milano is known for her work on the American television series “Who’s the Boss?” and “Melrose Place.” She also was in the show “Charmed” with actor Rose McGowan, one of the women accusing Weinstein of abuse. In another post, Milano wrote on Twitter that the accusations against Weinstein have “sickened and angered” her. But she added she is “happy” that it has led to discussion of the “continued sexual harassment, objectification and degradation of women.” And that’s What’s Trending Today… I’m Lucija Millonig. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials. George Grow was the editor.  ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   harassment - n. aggressive pressure assault - n.  the crime of trying or threatening to hurt someone physically status - n. the current state of someone or something​ (in this case, on social media) magnitude - n. the size, extent, or importance of something degradation - n.  the act or process of damaging or ruining something  

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Children Making Pictures of Myanmar Conflict

  In Bangladesh, the children of Rohingya refugees are making pictures. That activity may seem perfectly normal. Except the pictures they are making show the horrors the children experienced recently as they fled Myanmar. Anthony Lake is the executive director of UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. He spoke with reporters earlier this month in the Bangladeshi town of Cox’s Bazar. He said that experts believe one way for children to deal with the bad things they remember is to have them draw pictures. The Rohingya refugees have made pictures of homes being set on fire; of helicopters shooting from the sky; and families running away from gunfire and men armed with knives. Lake noted that, at some refugee camps, children make happy pictures. But the pictures from the Rohingya boys and girls reflect the terrible things they saw. “The pictures we have seen here are horrifying,” the UNICEF chief said. “They reflect children seeing things that no child should ever see, much less endure.” Lake said he spoke with one boy who said he saw other children killed while they were playing football. “Imagine if you were a child, and you saw that, how long would it take you to recover from that, if you ever could?” he asked. Myanmar’s army and the civilian government have repeatedly denied claims that the armed forces are harming civilians. They say they will investigate reports of atrocities if evidence is presented to them. Late last month, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi announced that military operations were suspended after September 5. But people continue crossing the border into Bangladesh. Many new arrivals are likely searching for food. UNICEF says more than half of the refugees are children, and half of them are under five years old. One UNICEF official gave a VOA reporter drawings she said were made by children in the Balukhali camp who went to the group’s “child-friendly centers.” The children who made them are from six to 14 years old, and all were produced over the past few weeks. Myanmar’s Rakhine State is close to Bangladesh. The area has been largely closed off to aid groups and foreign observers since August 25. Last month, Myanmar’s government flew reporters to Rakhine to see where a large number of Hindu residents were buried. The government claims the Hindus were victims of the rebel Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army. The group denied the claim. Last Monday, the Myanmar government gave permission for a group of diplomats and U.N. officials to visit Rakhine State’s Maungdaw Township. In a tweet, one diplomat said the area looked like “a ghost town.” I’m Dan Friedell.   Joe Freeman reported this story for VOANews.com. Dan Friedell adapted his report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.  What do you think of the drawings by Rohingya children? We want to know. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. ______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   horror – n. something that causes feelings of fear, dread, and shock draw – v. to create an image or picture of someone or something reflect – v. to show (something) : to make (something) known endure – v. to experience (pain or suffering) for a long time atrocity – n. a very cruel or terrible act or action ghost town – n. an empty place with no people

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US Green Card Applications Lost, Must Re-apply

  A technical problem has caused the loss of all requests to enter the U.S. Diversity Immigrant Visa Program between October 3 and October 10. People who sent such entries to the so-called green card lottery in that period will have to do so again. The U.S. State Department posted a message about the issue on its website. It said the entries were not valid and were removed from the system. The State Department also said the technical problem has been fixed. It announced that the new “entry period will begin at noon, U.S. Eastern Daylight Time on Wednesday October 18, 2017 and will run until noon Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday November 22, 2017." The lottery is the only way to get permission to live in the U.S. for non-refugees who do not have family in the country or an employer to sponsor them.  Admission to the lottery requires a high school degree or work experience to qualify. The lottery is open to natives of most countries and the territories of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, can apply for the green card lottery. Natives from some countries are barred, however. These countries include Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, mainland China and Colombia.  Also barred are the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Haiti, India, Jamaica and Mexico. People from Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, South Korea, the United Kingdom and its dependent territories, except Northern Ireland, and Vietnam also do not qualify. In 2015, the U.S. issued 48,097 diversity visas out of 531,463 total immigrant visas. Millions of people apply to enter the green card lottery. I’m Jonathan Evans   Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on VOA News report. Caty Weaver was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   sponsor - n. someone who takes the responsibility for someone apply - v. to ask formally for something usually in writing

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Transportation Apps for Women Become Popular in Brazil

  Private car services that work only with women are becoming more popular in Brazil due to concerns about safety. One of the car services has a mobile app called FemiTaxi. It has more than 1,000 drivers giving some 20,000 rides per month. FemiTaxi has expanded into six Brazilian cities and may go to other Latin American markets. A competing app, LadyDriver, launched in Sao Paulo in March. It has some 8,000 drivers and over 100,000 users. It plans to expand operations to Rio de Janeiro this month. The rapid growth of these apps in cities such as Sao Paulo highlights the rising concerns about public safety in Brazil. From August 2016 to August 2017, reports of crimes such as attempted rape rose by more than 10 percent in Sao Paulo state. Well-known transportation companies, such as Uber, along with Spain's Cabify and 99, have also increased efforts to improve safety for drivers and passengers in Brazil this past year. High-profile cases of sexual assault on public buses have drawn attention to the issue of violence against women. Metros in the cities of Belo Horizonte and Recife have recently started female-only train cars. There have been female-only cars in Rio de Janeiro's trains for over a decade.   Gabriela Correa is the founder and CEO of LadyDriver. "I think the problem of sexual harassment in public transport always existed, but it wasn't discussed," she said. "Now women are standing up, taking initiatives like our own to seek safety." Ride-hailing apps for female drivers and passengers are not unique to Brazil. See Jane Go, an all-women transportation app, launched in the American state of California in 2016. A rival company, Safr, launched in the American city of Boston earlier this year. I'm John Russell.   Taís Haupt reported on this story for Reuters. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story   app – n. a computer program that performs a special function  highlight – v. to make or try to make people notice or be aware of (someone or something) : to direct attention to (someone or something) sexual assault – n. illegal sexual contact that usually involves force upon a person without consent or is inflicted upon a person who is incapable of giving consent initiative – n.  a plan or program that is intended to solve a problem  

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Let's Teach English Unit 6: Group Projects

This video shows how to teach critical thinking skills in an English class. See the whole unit at http://ift.tt/2ihAl8F

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October 16, 2017

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

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