INDEPENDENCE DAY
Singaporeans cheer during the National Day celebrations in Singapore on August 9. The day marked the 50th anniversary of independence when the nation separated from the Federation of Malaysia. — EPA
TANKER THIEVES
Pirates seize ship
Kuala Lumpur — A Singapore-registered tanker was seized by pirates while sailing in Malaysian waters and robbed of its marine fuel before being released, a senior Malaysian coast guard official said on August 9.
The ship lost contact with port authorities several hours after it left the Indonesian city of Tanjung Pinang, officials reported. The ship was en route to the Malaysian island of Langkawi when it was attacked.
Two of the crew members suffered injuries. — DPA
WILD BEASTS
Boars attack old man
Rome — A 77-year-old Italian man was killed by a group of wild boars on August 8 as he tried to defend his dogs from the charging animals near his home in Sicily, Italy, according to police.
Salvatore Rinaudo was walking his dogs in the countryside when he was attacked and bitten to death despite his wife’s attempt to save him.
She was also injured in the attack by the wild animals, which can weigh up to 150kg. — Reuters
MASSIVE STORM
A worker removes debris from the road after Typhoon Soudelor hits Taipei on August 8. — EPA
DISEASE DOOM
Infection spreads in New York
New York — The number of people diagnosed with Legionnaires’ disease has risen to 108 as New York City suffers from a record outbreak of the form of pneumonia, authorities said on August 8.
To date, 94 people have been admitted to the hospital with the infection since the outbreak began on July 10. The disease is spread by a bacteria which has recently been discovered in the cooling towers of five buildings.
The site has since been cleaned and disinfected. — AFP
ANONYMOUS BOMB
Explosion kills locals
Kabul — A huge truck bomb tore through central Kabul on August 7, killing at least eight civilians and wounding more than 200 others.
No group immediately admitted responsibility for the attack, which came as the Taliban stepped up its summer offensive.
A truck packed with explosives detonated just after midnight near an army base and rattled homes across the city. The force of the explosion left a crater around 10 metres deep. — AFP
CARRY ON CAMPING
Youths return to island
Utoya, Norway — Hundreds of youths are joining a summer camp on Utoya Island for the first time since a right-wing extremist killed 69 people in a murderous rampage on the Norwegian island four years ago, officials said on August 7.
The rampage of the self-styled “militant nationalist” Anders traumatised the small Scandinavian nation, with about one in four people affected through connections with family, friends or acquaintances of the victims. — AP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
SINKING SHIP
Boat sinks near Libya
Rome — A ship sank near the coast of Libya on August 6. The boat travelled from central Italy with around 600 passengers. About 370 people were rescued. — AFP
Exercises
1. According to the story, what is TRUE about Legionnaires’ disease?
a. It’s a mental disease.
b. It’s a form of pneumonia.
c. It’s spread by a virus.
2. How old was Salvatore Rinaudo when he died?
3. Who is North Korea’s Foreign Minister?
Vocabulary
- wild boar (n): a wild pig
disinfect (v): to clean something using a substance that kills bacteria
detonate (v): to explode, or to make a bomb or other device explode
traumatise (v): to shock and upset somebody very much
