In the news today, President Barack Obama has condemned the Islamic State militants who killed an American reporter and threatened to kill another one.
The militants executed James Foley and recorded the act on video. They released the video on the Internet Tuesday. On Wednesday, Mr. Obama said, "the whole world is appalled by the brutal murder of James Foley.” He said the United States will continue to do what it must to protect its people.
The video also showed a second hostage, American reporter Steven Joel Sotloff, who the militants threatened to kill.
The Sunni extremist group said it had killed Mr. Foley in reaction to U.S. airstrikes in northern Iraq. The airstrikes helped Kurdish and Iraqi forces regain control of Mosul dam from Islamic State militants.
James Foley was 40 years old. He disappeared on November 22, 2012, after gunmen kidnapped him in Syria. He had reported in the Middle East for five years, for organizations including the GlobalPost.
Joel Sotloff has been missing since August 2013. He reported for Time magazine and the Christian Science Monitor.
Peaceful Protests in Ferguson
Peaceful protests took place Tuesday night in Ferguson, Missouri. Demonstrators were protesting the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer on August ninth. Many of the almost nightly protests have turned violent.
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder arrived in Ferguson on Wednesday to meet with community leaders, local officials and FBI investigators. Mr. Holder is to discuss the federal civil rights investigation of the shooting.
Liberia Uses Tear Gas to Remove Ebola Protestors
Police in Liberia's capital, Monrovia, fired tear gas Wednesday during demonstrations about efforts to contain the Ebola virus. Protesters were angry about restrictions on movement in their neighborhood. Protesters in the West Point neighborhood shouted and threw stones at security forces. The Liberian government had ordered the restrictions to help stop the spread of Ebola. The World Health Organization has reported over 90 Ebola deaths around Monrovia.
Pakistani Crisis Continues
Pakistan's parliament met Wednesday as thousands of protesters gathered outside. They demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Former cricket star Imran Khan and clergyman Tahir-ul-Qadri are leading the protests. They accuse Mr. Sharif of corruption, including cheating in elections.
Words in the News
condemn – v. to say a person or action is wrong or bad
civil rights – n. the political, economic and social rights given equally to all people of a nation
capital - n. the official center of a government; the city where a country’s government is
clergy – n. a body of officials within a religious organization
cheat – v. to get by a trick; to steal from
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