LIBERTY DAY
On August 13, Indian female police personnel take a rest after the dress rehearsal of the Indian Independence day celebration in Bhopal. India celebrates its Independence Day on August 15. — EPA
FATAL ATTACK
Terrorist killed in clash
Manila — One Abu Sayyaf rebel was killed on August 14 while two others were injured in a clash with government troops in the southern Philippines, a regional military spokeswoman said.
One soldier was also wounded in the fighting that erupted when patrolling troops encountered the militants in a remote village, the spokeswoman said.
More troops have been dispatched to the area to conduct pursuit operations. Abu Sayyaf is the smallest but most violent Muslim rebel group in the southern Philippines. — DPA
RELEASE REQUEST
UN urges Iran to free journalist
United Nations — UN human rights experts are calling on Iran to immediately release a Washington Post reporter, Jason Rezaian, who has been detained for more than a year on charges including espionage.
The UN statement on August 15 says the detention and closed-door trial violates his rights and serves to intimidate journalists in Iran. It says his solitary confinement and full-day interrogation sessions caused significant physical and psychological strain.
The statement was issued by the special rapporteurs for freedom of expression and human rights in Iran. — AP
BIG BLAZE
On August 13, a man walks past the remains of new cars near the site of an explosion at a warehouse in north eastern China's Tianjin municipality. At least 56 people were killed. — AP
LAST JUMP
Bungee jumper killed in Spain
Madrid — Spanish authorities said on August 11 that a 17-year-old Dutch girl has died while bungee-jumping in northern Spain, the second fatal accident involving the sport in the recent months in Spain.
Medical services in the northern region of Cantabria said the unnamed woman died after falling 40m from a viaduct on a highway near Cabezon de la Sal. No explanation for the accident was provided.
Previously, on July 21, a 23-year-old British woman died after bungee-jumping from a bridge close to the southern city of Granada. — AP
UNEXPECTED EXPLOSION
Grenade explodes near mosque
Srinagar — A grenade exploded outside a mosque in restive Indian Kashmir on August 13, injuring 10 worshippers after morning prayers in the first such incident in 14 years, police said.
Police are investigating but it was unclear who was behind the blast in the southern Kashmir valley, which has seen increased security following a recent rise in militant violence. “Ten worshippers were injured. Four have been moved to a hospital in Srinagar,” police said.
A caretaker picked up a steel cup containing the grenade, triggering the explosion. — AFP
OVERCROWDED SHIP
Migrants killed by fumes
Rome — At least 40 migrants died on August 15 in the hold of an overcrowded smuggling boat in the Mediterranean Sea north of Libya, apparently killed by fuel fumes, and some 320 others on the same boat were saved by the Italian navy, the rescue ship’s commander said.
Migrants by the tens of thousands are braving the perilous journey across the Mediterranean this year, hoping to reach Europe and be granted asylum. They are fleeing war, persecution and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. — AFP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
LUCKY MAN
Pilot survives crash
Berlin — A jet crashed in Bavaria state, Germany. It happened on August 11. The pilot was slightly injured. He managed to eject with his parachute. — AFP
Exercises
1. Which paper was Jason Rezaian working for?
a. Bangkok Post.
b. Washington Post.
c. New York Times.
2. How many migrants died in the hold of an overcrowded boat?
3. More than 940,800 people joined the Bike for Mom campaign nationwide. True or false?
Vocabulary
- espionage (n): the activity of secretly getting important political or military information about another country using spies
confinement (n): the state of being forced to stay in a closed space
viaduct (n): a long high bridge, usually with arches, that carries a road or railway across a river or valley
persecution (n): treating somebody in a cruel and unfair way, especially because of their race, religion or political beliefs
