Ukraine
169 Die from Cold
While the cold weather eased in most of Europe on Monday, snow and ice continued to block roads in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and other major cities. According to the Ukranian Ministry of Health, 169 people have died as a result of the freeze during heavy snowfalls across the country over the last three weeks. More than 2,000 people have been injured as a result of the cold. Many European countries have been hit by frosty weather in recent weeks. In Northern Europe, countries such as Sweden and Norway, temperatures as low as -41.4 degrees Fahrenheit were measured last week.
Togo
Two Suspects of Attack on Togo Soccer Team Bus Arrested
Two men suspected of shooting at Togo’s national soccer team bus were arrested by Angolan authorities, reports the BBC. Three Togolese were killed in the attack in Angola on Friday and the Togo team has withdrawn from the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, hosted by Angola. A rebel group, named Front for the Liberation of the State of Cabinda (FLEC), has claimed responsibility for the attack, indicating to the BBC that the attack was not directed at the Togo soccer team but “against Angola’s illegal occupation of Cabinda” Province. The tournament kicked off on Monday without Togo under tightened security measures.
Malaysia
Churches Burnt by Muslims Over Religious Quarrel
Over the past four days, nine churches have been set on fire with homemade petrol bombs by enraged Muslims over a decision of the Malaysian High Court that non-Muslims are also allowed to call their Lord “Allah.” Some Muslims say that Christians use the word “Allah” to describe their God as a ploy to convert Muslims. The violence is another setback for the government in their recent attempts to strengthen racial unity within Malaysia, with slogans such as “1Malaysia.” “These were attacks on the values and freedoms [that] all Malaysians share,” a government minister was reported as saying to foreign diplomats by the BBC.
Italy
Berlusconi Returns to Office After Attack
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi returned to his official duties on Monday, a month after he was injured in an attack. Berlusconi’s nose and two teeth were broken when a man hit him with a tourist souvenir in December last year. Arriving at his residence in Rome Berlusconi told a small group of supporters that he was feeling well. Berlusconi showed reporters the small scar on his cheek. It was the first time he had appeared in public after leaving the hospital. Berlusconi said he has forgiven the attacker, Massimo Tartagalia, who is believed to have a mental illness, AP reported. The attack has pushed attention away from several sex scandals surrounding the Prime Minister.
The Netherlands
Finder of Anne Frank’s Diary Dies
The woman who found Anne Frank’s diary, Miep Gies, died in Amsterdam Monday night due to an undisclosed illness at the age of 100.
Gies was the last surviving member of the group who helped hide Anne Frank in Amsterdam after she and her family fled Nazi Germany in World War ll. Gies hid Frank in her attic which is known as the “secret annex.” Frank’s diary was later published and is the second highest selling book next to the Bible.
Frank and her family left Germany in 1942 before they were discovered by Nazi soldiers in 1944 and sent to concentration camps in Germany. Frank was sent to Bergen-Belsen where she died in March 1945.
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