POLITICAL PROTEST
Supporters of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) shout during a protest at the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on September 15. — Reuters
FATAL MINING
Mine collapse kills 24
Kabul — Officials say a tunnel collapse in a coal mine in northern Afghanistan has killed at least 24 workers and left three missing. Provincial government spokesman Sediqullah Azizi said on September 15 that 20 more were injured.
On September 14, the accident occurred in Ruyi Du Ab district of Samangan province, which is one of the safer parts of the country from the standpoint of insurgency-related violence. Police said more than 1,000 residents rushed to help, using shovels to try to rescue the workers but to no avail. — AP
UNHEALTHY KIDS
UNICEF is worried about death rates among kids
Lagos — Childhood death rates around the world have halved since 1990, but an estimated 6.6 million children under the age of 5 still died last year, UNICEF announced on September 13. Nearly half of all children who die are in five countries: Nigeria, Congo, India, Pakistan and China.
"Progress can and must be made," said Anthony Lake, UNICEF's executive director. "When concerted action, sound strategies, adequate resources and strong political will are harnessed in support of child and maternal survival, dramatic reductions in child mortality are morally imperative."
The top childhood killers are malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea, the report said. — AP
SUBMERGED HOMES
Mobile homes were submerged in flood waters near the Sough Platte River in Colorado, US on September 15. — Reuters
EXPLODING MOUNT
Volcano erupts in Jakarta
Jakarta — Thousands of local villagers fled their homes after volcanic eruptions. A volcano erupted on Sumatra in Indonesia. The incident occurred on September 15.
Mt Sinabung in North Sumatra spewed ash and rocks on the morning of September 15, prompting the authorities to raise the alert level to the second highest.
However, there were no reports of casualties or damage, but 2,700 residents living near the volcano had already fled. Sinabung erupted for the first time in 400 years in 2010. — DPA
FOUR GLORIOUS DECADES
Swedish King celebrated his throne
Stockholm — Swedish King Carl XVI Gustaf was celebrating 40 years on the throne on September 15. Although his popularity ratings have dipped in recent years, more than half the 9-million-strong populations support the monarchy.
The celebrations were held at the royal chapel. Royal activities included a thanksgiving service, and among the distinguished guests were Danish Queen Margrethe, Norway’s King Harald and the president of Finland, Sauli Niinisto. The public were then invited to a palace event with music and a feast. — DPA
SMART THIEVES
London bank’s system hacked
London — London police say they have arrested 12 men involved in an audacious attempt to take control of a bank's computer in order to rob it.
Police said on September 13 that the men are accused of using a specially outfitted computer inside a Santander bank branch to seize control of the bank's computer systems. The 12 suspects range in age from 23 to 50. Police said they had prevented a multi-million-pound loss from the Santander branch at the Surrey Quays shopping centre. — AP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
TRAGIC SCENE
Kids die in fridge
Johannesburg — Three African children were struck in an abandoned refrigerator. The children were playing together on September 14. A grandparent found their dead bodies in the fridge. The children suffocated, police said.
Exercises
1. What happened in London on September 13?
a. 12 policemen were killed.
b. 12 thieves were trying to steal a bank’s computer sets.
c. 12 men tried to hack into a bank’s computer systems.
2. When did the volcanic eruptions recently occur in Jakarta?
3. In what province did the chemicals leak?
Vocabulary
- standpoint (n): an opinion or a way of thinking about ideas or situations
imperative (adj): extremely important and needing to be done or dealt with immediately
pneumonia (n): a serious illness affecting one or both lungs that makes breathing difficult
diarrhoea (n): an illness in which waste matter is emptied from the bowels much more frequently than normal, and in liquid form
suffocate (v): to die because there is no air to breathe; to kill somebody by not letting them breathe air
spew (v): to flow out quickly, or to make something flow out quickly, in large amounts
feasting (n): a large or special meal, especially for a lot of people and to celebrate something
audacious (adj): willing to take risks or to do something shocking
