Christian dip
Orthodox Christians run into the Dnipro River in Kiev during the traditional holiday of Epiphany on January 19. — AFP
Night attack
Policemen killed in Mali
Bamako — Three policemen were killed by suspected jihadists in an overnight attack in central Mali, police and military sources said on January 20.
The three policemen were shot dead in an overnight attack near the town of Mopti while on duty, a military source said. Confirming the attack, a local police official said the trio were ambushed about 60 kilometres from Mopti, once a popular tourist destination.
Some areas of Mali fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012. — AFP
Workers held
Police build their case
Dhaka — Bangladesh police said on January 21 that they are holding 14 of the 26 construction workers deported from Singapore late last year over links with a banned Islamist group.
Police initially arrested all 26 men after Singapore deported the group for supporting armed jihad ideology, but later released 12 after finding no evidence against them.
“We have primarily found their connection with ABT,” deputy police commissioner Mashruqure Rahman said, referring to the banned Islamist group Ansarullah Bangla Team. — AFP
Trump thumbs up
Former Alaska governor Sarah Palin endorses Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during a rally at the Iowa State University in the US, on January 19. — AP
Flaming ship
Passengers flee fire
Wellington — Fifty-seven passengers and crew were forced to leap for their lives from a boat that burst into flames off New Zealand, police said on January 18.
The vessel, packed with tourists, was returning from White Island, an active volcano in the Bay of Plenty, when the fire broke out.
One person was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and another received minor injuries when jumping from the boat. The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. — AFP
Road rage
Police arrest shooter
Tempe — Police have made an arrest in connection with the deadly Arizona road rage shooting of a student visiting from China.
Tempe policeman Lt Michael Pooley said on January 17 that 32-year-old Holly Davis has been booked on three charges including first-degree murder. According to police, Holly’s vehicle was involved in a collision at a busy intersection on January 16.
Holly allegedly got out of her car and fired several shots into the other vehicle, hitting Yue Jiang several times. — AP
Peaceful chat
Four countries talk Taliban
Kabul — A second round of four-country talks aimed at reviving peace negotiations with the Taliban began in Kabul on January 18.
Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States convened in the Afghan capital for a one-day meeting seeking a negotiated end to the bloody 14-year insurgency. “The people of Afghanistan will not accept a prolonged peace process with no results,” Afghan Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani said in his opening remarks at the meeting. — AFP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Golden years
Old man passes away
Tokyo — The world’s oldest man died on January 19. He died at the age of 112. Yasutaro Koide was born in 1903. He lived in Nagoya, Japan. — AP
Exercises
1. Who didn’t take part in the peace talk in Kabul on January 18?
a. China.
b. Pakistan.
c. Iraq.
2. How old is Holly Davis?
3. According to the US News & World Report study, which is the best country?
Vocabulary
- ambush (v): to make a surprise attack on somebody from a hidden position
ideology (n): a set of beliefs, especially one held by a particular group, that influences the way people behave
inhalation (n): taking air, smoke, or gas into your lungs as you breathe
