Search for survivors
On May 18, rescue workers search for survivors of a landslide in the Salgar municipality, Antioquia department, Colombia. At least 48 people died. — EPA
Diplomat dies
Ambassador passes away
Jakarta — Indonesia’s ambassador to Pakistan passed away on May 19, 11 days after he was injured in a helicopter crash in northern Pakistan that killed seven others, Indonesia’s foreign minister said.
Burhan Muhammad, 58, was on a military helicopter that crashed in a mountainous area, killing Muhammad’s wife, the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines and three Pakistani crewmen.
The Pakistani government said the helicopter crashed because of engine failure, dismissing Pakistani Taliban claims that militants had shot it down. — Reuters
Kabul killing
Car bomb explodes in car park
Kabul — A large suicide car bombing struck downtown Kabul on May 19, apparently targeting justice ministry employees and killing at least six people, an Afghan official said.
The attack happened in the car park of the Justice Ministry when a car packed with explosives was detonated, Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said. He added that at least six people were killed and nine were wounded in the explosion.
Ministry of Public Health spokesman Ismail Kahossi said 42 people were taken to hospitals around the Afghan capital following the blast. — AP
Journey ends
Hundreds of African people are detained in Tripoli, Libya on May 23, suspected of trying to cross into Europe. — EPA
Deadly outbreak
Cholera kills refugees
Dodoma, Tanzania — The UN refugee agency says an outbreak of cholera has infected 3,000 people in a Tanzanian border region where refugees from Burundi have massed, officials reported on May 22.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said 300 to 400 new cases are being reported daily. At least 31 people have died of cholera recently.
More than 64,000 Burundians have fled to Tanzania in recent weeks to escape political unrest, according to the UN. — AP
Climate summit
Island nations leaders meet
Tokyo — Leaders of 14 Pacific island nations gathered in Japan on May 22 to start a two-day meeting to discuss their development needs, including steps to deal with climate change.
The seventh round of Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting came as host Japan attempts to boost its profile in the Pacific, at a time of growing Chinese economic and political influence in the region.
Pacific island leaders have long complained about rising sea levels eroding their coastlines and of increasing severity and frequency of extreme climate phenomena, likely caused by global warming. — AFP
More war
Guerrillas killed in air strike
Bogota — A Colombian air strike killed 18 Farc guerrillas. The incident happened on May 21. It was the deadliest attack since President Juan Manuel Santos lifted a suspension of air strikes against the group in April, officials said.
The strike raises doubts over peace talks that resumed the same day between the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) and Juan’s government. The negotiations are aimed at ending the country’s decades-long civil conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people. — AFP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Fatal fire
Apartment building burns down
Baku, Azerbaijan — A fire destroyed an apartment building. It happened in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, authorities said on May 19. Sixteen people were killed and 50 were injured. — AP
Exercises
1. Which of the following statements are TRUE about Burhan Muhammad?
a. He was Pakistan’s ambassador to Indonesia.
b. He was injured in a helicopter crash in southern Pakistan.
c. He died at the age of 58.
2. What does UNHCR stand for?
3. A bomb hoax delayed a Thai Air Asia flight at Don Mueang Airport. True or false?
Vocabulary
- diplomat (n): a person whose job is to represent his or her country in a foreign country, for example, in an embassy
mountainous (adj): having many mountains
detonate (v): to explode, or to make a bomb or other device explode
cholera (n): a disease caught from infected water that causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting and often causes death
coastline (n): the land along a coast, especially when you are thinking of its shape or appearance
guerrilla (n): a member of a small independent group taking part in irregular fighting, usually against a regular larger force
