The ESL Free Press

U.S. Is Willing to Meet with Iran -- If Uranium Work Stops

The U.S. says it will meet with Iran -- as soon as Iran stops reprocessing and enriching uranium.

Condoleezza Rice, the U.S. Secretary of State, announced this on Wednesday. She says Britain, France, and Germany will also be at the meeting.

Secretary Rice says, "We urge Iran to make this choice for peace -- to abandon its ambition for nuclear weapons."

This is not the only problem between the U.S. and Iran. Secretary Rice says the Iranian government supports terror, and is making trouble in Iraq and Lebanon. She says, "Iran can and should be a responsible state, not the leading state sponsor of terror."

Source:  Statement by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Washington, DC, May 31, 2006

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Iraq Investigates Deaths

Some people say U.S. Marines murdered Iraqis in the town of Haditha in November, 2005. The Iraqi government plans to investigate.

"We will hold those who did it responsible," says Nouri al-Maliki, Prime Minister of Iraq. He was speaking to the Reuters news agency.

There was a gun battle in Haditha that day. Eight terrorists were killed. Some witnesses say Marines also went from house to house, shooting men, women and children.

The U.S. is also investigating, as we told you on Monday.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

Xinhua "White House promises to publicize details of Iraq killing probe". Xinhua, 31 May 2006

BBC News Online "Iraq to probe US massacre claims". BBC, 30 May 2006

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Iraq_to_investigate_Haditha_%22massacre%22"

Pollution in Yangtze River

There is a serious pollution problem in the Yangtze River in China.

The river is the third longest in the world. It takes water to 186 cities, including Shanghai. Also, 40% of the country's waste is dumped into it.

Three hundred million people in China cannot get water that's safe to drink.

The pollution has also been bad for animals in the river. In the 1980's, 126 species of animals lived in the river. By 2002, there were only 52.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

"Dying Yangtze new threat to China's water supply". Sydney Morning Herald, May 31, 2006

Jane Macartney "Pollution has put Yangtze on brink of catastrophe". Times Online, May 31, 2006

"Yangtze river grows 'cancerous' with pollution". The New Zealand Hearld, May 31, 2006

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Yangtze_river_in_China_polluted"

If You Were American, What Part Would You Come From? (Or, Where Does Your English Teacher Come From?)

Your Linguistic Profile::

55% General American English

25% Yankee

10% Dixie

5% Upper Midwestern

0% Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

(Note: "Yankee" is a slang word for people from New England, in the northeastern U.S. "Dixie" is a nickname for the South. The Midwest is the central northern part of the country. -- Editor)

Truck Crash and Riot in Kabul

A U.S. military truck crashed into several vehicles in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday. At least seven people were killed and about 40 were hurt. A riot started. It was the worst violence in the city since the Taliban left.

The truck hit the other vehicles at an intersection (place where streets cross). No Americans were hurt.

People began to throw stones at the truck and other U.S. vehicles. They chanted "Death to America". Then they went to the center of the city. They looked for foreigners and attacked offices of international groups. Some buildings were set on fire. The rioters said U.S. soldiers had shot and killed people at the accident scene.

The U.S. says the truck crashed because of brake problems. Afghan people often complain about the way American soldiers drive. They sometimes drive at high speeds and don't follow road rules. The U.S. military says this is needed to protect its people.

An investigation has begun.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

Reuters "Unrest grips Kabul after US truck crash". yahooau.news, May 30,2006

Daniel Cooney "Brake failure on U.S. truck caused crash". Associated Press, May 30,2006

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/U.S._Military_truck_crash_kills_civilians%3B_Kabul_riots"

Emergency Powers in East Timor

The President of East Timor has taken on extra powers. He will control the army, the police, and the Australian soldiers who have  come to help.

The President, Xanana Gusmao, is doing this because of violence and looting in the capital, Dili. Rioting started in March, when 600 soldiers were fired because they refused to work.

Gusmao, who used to be a guerilla fighter, says he will keep his emergency powers for 30 days. He will try to bring back order.

At least 27 people have been killed in the violence. East Timor asked for help from other countries. Australia sent 1,300 soldiers.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

BBC News "Emergency rule for E Timor". BBC, 30 May 2006

The Age "Gusmao takes over security in East Timor". The Age, 30 May 2006

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/East_Timor:_President_Gusamo_takes_emergency_powers_to_quell_unrest"

Fan Brings Favorite Show Back on DVD

Craig Robins' favorite show was Joking Apart. It was on BBC Two in 1993. The show was never made into a video or DVD.

Robins wanted to see it again. So he bought the rights to the show and made his own DVD. He knew how because he is a video technician.

Robins is thought to be the first person ever to do this. He has started a company so he can sell the DVD to other fans.

Joking Apart was a comedy about a couple having marriage problems.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

Shane Jarvis "Farce that rose from the grave". The Telegraph, 8 May 2006

Graham Kibble-White "Fool if you think it's over". Off the Telly.co.uk, May 2006

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Fan_resurrects_sitcom"

Marine Investigations Go On

On May 25th, we told how U.S. Marines were accused of killing civilians (non-soldiers) in Iraq. They were accused of killing 24 people -- some women and children --  in Haditha after a bombing.

General Peter Pace of the U.S. Marine Corps spoke about this to CNN on Monday. He says the Marine Corps is looking into two things: what happened, and why officials didn' t hear about the accusations.

The killings are said to have happened in November 2005. Officials did not hear this until February 2006.

Pace said it would not help to wonder if the accusations are true. He also said that Americans fighting in Iraq have to know exactly what is expected of them in battle. He said most are doing a good job, and their leaders must tell them this.

Source: "Pace: Ongoing Probes Will Yield Facts About Haditha Incident", by John D. Banusiewicz, American Forces Press Service

Earthquake in Indonesia Kills Thousands

A large earthquake hit Indonesia on Saturday. It measured 6.3.

The quake hit Central Java Province early Saturday morning. At least 5,135 people were killed. Thousands more were hurt.

The city of Yogyakarta was badly damaged. Over three thousand buildings fell down. Power and phone lines were cut off.

There were aftershocks -- smaller quakes after the main one.

Many people spent the night outside. They had lost their homes, or they were afraid to go inside again.

The Indonesian Army is helping with rescue work. Other countries have promised to send money.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

Associated Press "Three dead in Indonesia quake". CNN, May 26, 2006

"At least 15 dead, hundreds injured in Indonesia quake". Reuters, May 27, 2006

"Quake toll climbs over 1000.". News.com.au, May 27, 2006

"Powerful quake rocks central parts of Java, kills over 1,400". Jakarta Post, May 27, 2006

"Quake toll climbs to 2276.". News.com.au, May 27, 2006

"Nearly 3,000 dead in Java quake". BBC News Online, May 27, 2006

IRWAN FIRDAUS "Update 33: Indonesia Earthquake Kills at Least 2,700". Forbes, May 27, 2006

"Britain offers £3m earthquake aid". BBC News, May 27, 2006

Achmad Sukarsono "Quake toll rises sharply". News.com.au, May 28, 2006

IRWAN FIRDAUS "Quake Kills More Than 3,500 in Indonesia". ABC news, May 27, 2006

"China to offer US$2m aid to quake-hit Indonesia". China Daily, May 27, 2006

"Hospitals overflow amid fear, death". CNN International, May 27, 2006

"Indonesia quake kills more than 3,000". CNN International, May 28, 2006

"Australian medics rush to help". News.com.au, May 29, 2006

Retrieved from "http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Earthquake_kills_thousands_in_Indonesia"

Israel Strikes Back After Attack

Lebanon says Israeli planes bombed a place near Beirut on Sunday. It was a base for a Palestinian fighters' group.

Earlier, a rocket was fired out of Lebanon. It hit an Israeli army base. One soldier was hurt.

Israel says it holds Lebanon responsible for this.

Also, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz says some fighters have a new kind of rocket. The new rockets have a longer range -- they could reach from Lebanon to most cities in Israel. The paper says the new rockets come from Iran.

Adapted from www.wikinews.org . You are free to reprint this post.  (Click Permalink for a print-ready version.) To learn more, go to http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/

Sources:

BBC News "Israel jets bomb bases in Lebanon". BBC, 28 May 2006

Al-Jazeera "Israeli aircraft strike east Lebanon". Al-Jazeera, 28 May 2006

Retrieved from "http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5024482.stm"

Ze'ev Schiff "Be'er Sheva within range of new Hezbollah rocket". Haaretz, May 29, 2006

Retrieved from "http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/5024482.stm"