Party time
A reveler performs during annual carnival celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 5. Hundreds of thousands of merrymakers took to the streets for hundreds of open-air parties. — AP
Human rights
UN reviews Sri Lanka
Colombo — On February 6, the top UN human rights official arrived in Sri Lanka on a four-day visit aimed at reviewing the measures taken by the island-nation to investigate alleged atrocities committed during the long civil war that left tens of thousands dead.
Sri Lanka’s civil war ended in 2009, after the government forces crushed the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels.
Both of the sides were accused of committing grave human rights abuses such as killing civilians and recruiting child soldiers. — AP
Stormy seas
Boat captain found guilty
Managua, Nicaragua — The captain of a tourist boat that overturned in bad weather off Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast killing 13 was found guilty of manslaughter on February 5, judicial sources said.
Hilario Blandon faces up to four years in prison, defence lawyers and the prosecution said. Prosecutors accused Blandon of setting sail without authorisation in bad weather. Before the verdict and during the initial hearing, Blandon admitted his guilt. — Reuters
Taiwan disaster
Rescuers search for survivors at an apartment complex, which collapsed after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake hit Tainan city, Taiwan on February 6. — AFP
Race war
Man plans bomb attacks
Richmond — A man charged with plotting to shoot up or bomb synagogues and black churches has pleaded guilty to conspiracy and firearms charges.
Thirty-four-year-old Robert C. Doyle entered the pleas on February 5 in federal court in Richmond, NBC12 reported.
Prosecutors say Doyle and a conspirator are white supremacists who bought guns and explosives from undercover agents. Authorities say they planned to rob a Richmond-area silver and coin dealer and use the money to finance a race war. — AP
Asylum woes
Police arrest suspected jihadists
Berlin — German police on February 4 arrested two Algerians suspected of links to the Islamic State group and hunted two others after raids targeting several sites including refugee shelters where some of the suspects lived.
The four are under investigation over suspicions that they are planning a serious act threatening the security of the state, Berlin police said. The alleged involvement of Algerian nationals is expected to add fuel to a raging debate over the 1.1 million asylum seekers that Germany took in last year. — AFP
Shirt assault
Military man gets nine months
Wellington — A Malaysian military officer whose legal case prompted outrage after he left New Zealand under the protection of diplomatic immunity was sentenced on February 4 to nine months of home detention after pleading guilty to indecent assault.
Rizalman was arrested in May 2014 after he broke into the home of a 21-year-old woman, entered her bedroom wearing nothing but a shirt and struggled with her before she escaped and called police. — AP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Safety first
Courts jail officials
Beijing — Chinese courts have jailed 14 government officials and factory executives. Officials reported the news on February 4. They were charged for the 2014 factory explosion which killed 146 workers. — AFP
Exercises
1. When did German police arrest two Algerians suspected of links to the IS group?
a. On February 1.
b. On February 2.
c. On February 4.
2. How old is Robert C. Doyle?
3. Where is Maya Bay located?
Vocabulary
- atrocity (n): a cruel and violent act, especially in a war
prosecutor (n): a public official who charges somebody officially with a crime in court
synagogue (n): a building where Jews meet for religious worship and teaching
supremacist (n): a person who believes that their own race is better than others and should be in power
