Peaceful protest
At the Imjingak Pavilion near the border village of Panmunjom in South Korea on July 30, North Korean defectors and South Korean activists release balloons during a rally against the North’s recent threats. — AP
Concert tragedy
Many killed in stampede
Conakry, Guinea — Hospital officials said that at least 33 people are dead following a stampede at a rap concert in the capital of Guinea. Donka Hospital Director Fatou Sike Camara said on July 30 that the victims included children as young as 10.
Thousands had gathered at the beach in Conakry for a concert celebrating the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan.
Witnesses say the stampede happened after the show ended as the large crowd tried to exit through a small gate. Some people fell to the ground and were trampled. — AP
Terror attacks
Celebrations cancelled after bombings
Abuja — Nigeria’s northern city of Kano on July 27 cancelled celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan after two bomb attacks blamed on the Islamist group Boko Haram.
At least five people were killed and eight were injured in a bomb attack on a Catholic church in a mainly Christian area of the city, the largest in Nigeria’s north, police said.
Also in Kano on July 24, a female suicide bomber blew herself up outside a university, injuring five police officers. — AFP
Historical trial
Cambodian villagers line up at the entrance of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on July 30 to witness the second trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders Khieu Samphan and Noon Chea, who are charged with genocide. — EPA
Candid cameras
Postgraduate student arrested
Newark, Delaware — State officials say hundreds of women may have been secretly videotaped from cameras found hidden in bathrooms at the University of Delaware in the US.
On July 25, authorities announced the arrest of a graduate student after cameras were found in women’s restrooms on campus. They said 38-year-old Javier Mendiola-Soto, a doctoral student from Mexico, has been charged with 21 counts of felony violation of privacy and was being held by police. — AP
Home horror
Family of five found dead
Saco, Maine — A family of five, including three children aged 4 to 12 years old, were found shot to death inside a US apartment on July 27, authorities said.
Investigators said a gun was found near one of the bodies, and it appeared that nobody outside the family was responsible for the shootings. Police said murder-suicide is one of the scenarios being investigated.
Investigators said a family friend had contacted a worker at the apartment complex worried about the well-being of the family. The worker entered the apartment and discovered one body, then immediately called police. — AP
Corrupt cops
Officers arrested in Mexico
Mexico City — More than 30 police officers have been arrested in Mexico for alleged organised crime ties and possible involvement in the killing of fellow cops, authorities said on July 27.
Those detained include a former top public safety chief from the town of Tarimbaro, an ex-commander of the same unit and 18 more active duty agents.
Authorities are investigating whether those taken into custody were involved in the recent murders of three senior officials in Tarimbaro’s public safety unit. — AFP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Natural disaster
Landslide kills 10
Maharashtra, India — A landslide hit a village in western India. The disaster happened in Maharashtra state on July 30. Ten people were killed. About 50 houses were also damaged. — AFP
Exercises
1. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the incident at the University of Delaware?
a. Cameras were found hidden under tables in classrooms at the university.
b. Javier Mendiola-Soto is a doctoral student.
c. Javier Mendiola-Soto is from Canada.
2. At least five hundred people were killed in a bomb attack in northern Nigeria. True or false?
3. How old is Chamlong Duangkeaw?
Vocabulary
- stampede (n): a situation in which a group of people suddenly start running in the same direction, especially because they are excited or frightened
trample (v): to step heavily on somebody or something so that you harm them or it
felony (n): a serious crime
scenario (n): a description of how something might have happened or of how something might happen
