Sec. of State John Kerry Visits Somalia 2015-05-06

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry traveled to Mogadishu, Somalia, Tuesday. He is the first secretary of state to visit the country while in office. U.S. officials did not announce the visit before it took place.

Mr. Kerry met with Somalia's president and prime minister while in Mogadishu. A U.S. State Department official said the secretary's visit showed support for the Somali government's progress. Mr. Kerry also wanted to give thanks to the nations that worked with the African Union peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud told Mr. Kerry that his visit was a great moment for the country.

ISIS claims responsibility for shooting in Texas

The Islamic State militant group said it is responsible for an attack Sunday on a large meeting place near Dallas, Texas. Gunmen shot and wounded a guard at the center. ISIS claimed responsibility in a radio broadcast Tuesday.

A private group was holding a competition at the center for cartoons of Islam's prophet Muhammad. Police shot and killed the two attackers.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson said in a statement that officials were investigating the attack.

French lawmakers approve spy bill

France's lower house of Parliament has approved a measure would permit spying on terrorism suspects.

If passed, intelligence services could place cameras and recording devices in suspects' homes and cars without approval from a judge.

The measure would also force communication companies to permit intelligence services to use electronic "lock boxes" to record data from all Internet users in France.

Civil liberties activists have criticized the bill.

Both Socialist majority and conservative opposition lawmakers supported the measure. The French Senate will now begin debate on the bill.

Obama chooses Joe Dunford for Joint Chiefs of Staff chair

President Barack Obama has nominated Marine General Joseph Dunford, Jr. as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Dunford led the Afghanistan war coalition in 2013 and 2014. He also supervised the change of security leadership from NATO to Afghan forces.

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Words in the News

mission n. a task or job that someone is given to do

cartoon n. a drawing in a newspaper or magazine intended as a humorous comment on something

data n. facts or information used usually to calculate, analyze, or plan something