Magic Santa
A man dressed as Father Christmas appears to levitate by using a specially-designed prop and costume as he waves to people in Trafalgar Square, central London on December 24. — Reuters
Corruption case
Police investigate politicians
Jerusalem — Israel’s police said on December 24 that they are investigating dozens of public figures and politicians in a major corruption case which could have an effect on upcoming elections.
Police didn’t name the politicians involved when making the announcement on December 24. After a year-long covert operation, police said they are investigating 30 suspects, including a deputy minister, a former minister and mayors. Police said officials are suspected of nepotism and illegally transferring funds.
Deputy Interior Minister Faina Kirshenbaum of the Yisrael Beteinu party confirmed that she had been called in for questioning but denied any wrongdoing. — AP
Under observation
Former US president taken ill
Houston — Former US president George HW Bush has been admitted to a Texas hospital suffering shortness of breath, a family spokesman said on December 23.
“President Bush was taken by ambulance to the Houston Methodist Hospital as a precaution after experiencing a shortness of breath on the evening of December 23,” his spokesman Jim McGrath said.
“The 90-year-old former president will be held for observation,” Jim added. The 41st US president is the oldest of the four surviving former presidents. — AFP
Armed attacks
An injured women and her child arrive at a hospital in the Sonitpur district of Assam on December 23. The death toll from a recent series of attacks by armed militants in remote northeast India has risen to 56, police said. — AFP
Fatal fire
Policeman shoots armed man
Berkeley — St Louis County police in the US said a man who pulled a gun and pointed it at an officer was killed in the suburb of Berkeley, Missouri.
Police spokesman Brian Schellman said a police officer with the city of Berkeley was conducting a routine business check at a petrol station around 11:15 pm on December 23 when he observed two males and approached them.
Brian said one of the men pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer as he approached. The officer then fired several shots, striking and fatally wounding the suspect. The second suspect fled. — AP
Tax fraud
Princess tried in court
Madrid — Princess Cristina, the sister of Spain’s King Felipe VI, will be the first member of the royal family ever to appear in the dock after a judge on December 22 ordered her to be tried for tax fraud.
The historic decision comes after four years of investigations that plunged the royal family into crisis and contributed to the abdication of King Juan Carlos in June. A court on the island of Majorca ordered Cristina, 49, to stand trial on two counts of being an accessory to tax fraud in connection with her husband’s business affairs. It ordered her to pay a court bond of 2.7 million euros (about 100 million baht) while a date is set for the trial. — AFP
Test abolished
Indonesia changes the rules
Jakarta — Indonesia will abolish virginity tests at the state-run college for would-be civil servants following criticism of a similar practice in the police force, media reports said on December 23.
Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said on December 22 that he was seeking an end to virginity tests as part of requirements to join the Institute of Public Administration, a college for aspiring civil servants and regional administrators, the Kompas daily paper reported. — AP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Shaky ground
Mudslides hit Sri Lanka
Colombo — Floods and mudslides hit 15 districts of Sri Lanka. Authorities reported the news on December 23. Three people were killed. More than 60,000 people were evacuated. — AP
Exercises
1. How old is former US president George HW Bush?
a. 80 years old.
b. 85 years old.
c. 90 years old.
2. Princess Cristina is the sister of Spain’s King Felipe VI. True or false?
3. Who is the Natural Resources and Environment Minister in Thailand?
Vocabulary
- levitate (v): to rise and float in the air with no physical support, especially by means of magic or by using special mental powers
nepotism (n): giving unfair advantages to your own family if you are in a position of power, especially by giving them jobs
abdication (n): an act of giving up the position of being king or queen
abolish (v): to officially end a law, a system or an institution
