Dozens Killed in Terror Attack at Tunisian Hotel

Dozens Killed in Terror Attack at Tunisian Hotel

In the News today,

Tunisian officials say at least 28 people, including some foreigners, have been killed in a terrorist attack near a hotel along the Mediterranean¹ coast.

Officials say gunmen opened fire Friday on people on a beach near the Imperial Marhaba hotel in the Tunisian city of Sousse. The city is popular with visitors from Europe and other North African countries.

Officials say at least one gunman is dead. Another gunman reportedly is still free.

Suspect arrested in France attack at U.S. gas factory

French President Francois Hollande said a suspect was arrested in what he called a "terrorist" attack at a U.S. gas factory near the French city of Lyon. At least one person was killed in the attack.

The suspect, Yassine Salhi, 35, had lived in the Lyon area. The French government said he was under surveillance between 2006 and 2008. The suspect was known to be connected to Salafist Muslims.

The attack took place at a factory owned by Air Products, a U.S. gas technology company. Investigators² found a human head on the gates of the factory, reportedly with a banner or flag with Arabic writing.

Islamic State kills at least 146 civilians³ in Kobani

Islamic State fighters have killed at least 146 civilians during an attack on the Kurdish-held town of Kobani.

The Syrian Observatory⁴ for Human Rights group said it is the second-largest mass killing⁵ of Syrian civilians by the Islamic State militants⁶. The fighting began early Thursday when Islamic State fighters dressed as Kurdish soldiers set off a car bomb near the town's border crossing with Turkey. The human rights group told VOA fighting was continuing as of early Friday.

Islamic State claims Kuwait mosque⁷ attack

A group connected to the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a Shi'ite mosque in Kuwait's capital. At least 25 people died in the attack.

The group known as Najd Province said it carried out the attack at Kuwait City's Imam Sadiq Mosque. The bomber⁸ set off his explosives while the mosque was full of worshippers attending Friday prayers.

President Obama speaks at funeral for Charleston church leader

U.S. President Barack Obama visited Charleston, South Carolina, Friday to attend the funeral of the reverend killed in last week’s attack on the Emanuel AME Church.

Mr. Obama delivered the eulogy⁹ for Reverend Clementa Pinckney. The funeral took place at the College of Charleston TD Arena¹⁰. City officials expected more than 5,000 people to attend.

The president knew Reverend Pinckney and visited the Emanuel AME church during his 2008 presidential campaign.

A white gunman killed nine inside the historic black church last week.

Words in the News

responsibility – n. the state of being the person who caused something to happen

surveillance  – n. the act of carefully watching someone or something especially in order to prevent or detect a crime

reverend – n. a priest or minister in the Christian church

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

7 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

8 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

9 eulogy   

n.颂词；颂扬

参考例句：

• He needs no eulogy from me or from any other man. 他不需要我或者任何一个人来称颂。
• Mr.Garth gave a long eulogy about their achievements in the research.加思先生对他们的研究成果大大地颂扬了一番。

10 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。