The Jordanian pilot held by Islamic State militants reportedly is dead. Photosreleased on social media Tuesday appear to show the pilot being burned todeath.
Jordanian State television says Jordan confirmed the pilot's death and said he was killed on January 3.
The Jordanian military condemned the killing and promised it would not gounpunished.
A family member of the pilot told Reuters news agency that they learned of hisdeath from the chief of Jordan's armed forces.
U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday that if the video is real, it wouldbe another sign of the "viciousness and barbarity" of the militant group.
The pilot had been at the center of a prisoner and hostage exchange involvingJordan, Japan and an Iraqi insurgent imprisoned in Jordan. Jordan haddemanded proof that the pilot was alive before they would release the Iraqiprisoner.
Jailed Al Jazeera journalist gives up Egyptian citizenship
Al Jazeera reporter Mohamed Fahmy could soon be released from prison inEgypt now that he has surrendered his Egyptian citizenship.
Mr. Fahmy had been a citizen of both Egypt and Canada.
Monday night, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird said Mr. Fahmy's releasewas "imminent," or about to happen.
Mr. Fahmy and other reporters spent more than 400 days in prison after theirarrest in December 2013. They were charged with aiding the MuslimBrotherhood, which Egypt considers a terrorist group.
Egyptian officials expelled another Al Jazeera reporter earlier this week. He was returned to his home country of Australia.
A third Al Jazeera reporter remains in prison.
Chadian troops enter Nigeria to fight Boko Haram
Hundreds of Chadian ground troops entered northeastern Nigeria Tuesday aspart of a growing effort in the area to fight Boko Haram insurgents.
Witnesses said Chadian soldiers and vehicles crossed a bridge fromCameroon into the Nigerian town of Gambaru. Another Chadian force of atleast 300 soldiers deployed near Bosso, a town on the border between Nigeriaand Niger.
Chad is one of four countries that have promised to help fight Boko Haram,along with Cameroon, Niger and Benin.
American author Harper Lee to publish second book
Harper Lee, the writer of the American novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird,”announced Tuesday that she will publish a second book this July. “To Kill AMockingbird” came out in 1960 and was immediately popular. At least fortymillion copies have been sold. The book was also made into a play and a film.
The new book “Go Set a Watchman” will be released on July 14. It will be Ms.Lee’s first in 55 years. The book is a sequel to “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
The publishing company Harper said that Ms. Lee completed the novel in the 1950s, before “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The Pulitzer Prize-winning authorrediscovered her early work last year.
Words in the News
barbarity – n. extreme cruelty: a very cruel and violent quality
deport – v. to force (a person who is not a citizen) to leave a country
imminent – adj. happening very soon
novel – n. a long written story usually about imaginary characters and events
sequel – n. a book, movie, etc., that continues a story begun in another book,movie, etc.