Mass destruction
On April 28, Indian rescue workers investigate the debris of a house in Kathmandu, Nepal collapsed by the massive earthquake that struck the country on April 25. — AP
Pollution plan
Government told to comply
London — The British government must submit new plans to the European Commission by December 31 to tackle the harmful air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), the UK Supreme Court ruled on April 29.
The court said last year that the government had breached an EU directive which puts a limit on certain air pollutants. On NO2, member states were supposed to comply with the limits in 2010, but could extend that to 2015 if they delivered plans to deal with high levels of the gas, which is produced mainly by diesel engines and causes respiratory illnesses.
UK government data last year showed only five out of a total 43 pollution zones in Britain would comply by 2015, 15 zones by 2020, 38 by 2025 and 40 by 2030. — Reuters
Kidnap case
Police hunt for gang
Hong Kong — Hong Kong police on April 29 launched a city-wide hunt for a gang that made off with a ransom of HK$28 million (118 million baht) paid by the family of a 29-year-old kidnap victim.
In a statement, police said the gang of six escaped in a white car after kidnapping the unidentified woman and stealing items valued at HK$2 million (8.4 million baht) from her home in the New Territories of Hong Kong. The woman was later released unharmed.
Police identified four of the suspects as Chinese nationals. — Reuters
Diplomatic dinner
US President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama welcome Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie Abe for a State Dinner in their honour at the White House in Washington on April 28. — Reuters
Civil war
Peace process under threat
Bamako, Mali — Militants opened fire on troops at a National Guard camp in northern Mali on April 29, killing two soldiers and a child, security sources said.
The gunmen struck in the town of Goundam, 80 kilometres from the ancient city of Timbuktu, a Malian security source said. The attack comes a day after the head of Minusma, the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Mali, voiced concerns for the West African nation’s fragile peace process.
On April 27, the pro-government Imghad and Allies Tuareg Self-Defence Group was accused of violating a ceasefire when it seized key rebel positions in the desert town of Menaka, while UN vehicles were attacked by rebels the following day. — AFP
Housing market
Construction project proposed
Jerusalem — Israeli authorities invited tenders on April 25 for the construction of 77 homes in settlement neighbourhoods of annexed east Jerusalem, settlement watchdog Peace Now said.
Peace Now spokeswoman Hagit Ofran said it was the first such announcement in east Jerusalem since a March 17 general election won by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party.
The watchdog said 36 homes were being offered in Neve Yaakov and another 41 in neighbouring Pisgat Zeev. Both are located at the northern edge of east Jerusalem. — AFP
Everest operation
Copters take climbers to camp
Kathmandu — Helicopters were deployed on April 27 to rescue climbers still stranded on Mount Everest after an earthquake-triggered avalanche killed at least 18 people near the world’s highest peak, officials said.
Three helicopters were sent for about 150 climbers trapped at Camps One and Two after Saturday’s avalanche sent down slabs of ice and snow, cutting them off from base camp below, the Nepalese officials said.
The climbers, who were not thought to be seriously injured, were being brought down to base camp rather than all the way down the mountain, local official Tulsi Gautam said. — AFP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Catastrophic quake
Nepal struck with natural disaster
Kathmandu — A massive earthquake hit Nepal on April 25. More than 5,000 people were confirmed dead. The death toll could reach 10,000, Nepal’s Prime Minister Sushil Koirala said on April 28. — AFP
Exercises
1. Where is Timbuktu located?
a. In Nepal.
b. In Hong Kong.
c. In Mali.
2. Hagit Ofran is Peace Now spokeswoman. True or false?
3. How much did Their Majesties the King and Queen donate to help Nepalese quake victims?
Vocabulary
- breach (v): to not keep to an agreement or promise
respiratory (adj): connected with breathing
annex (v): to take control of a country, region, etc., especially by force
watchdog (n): a person or group of people whose job is to check that companies are not doing anything illegal or ignoring people’s rights
