Holy water
Nepalese Hindu women and men take a mass holy bath in the Bagmati River at Pashupati Temple as part of the month-long Madhav Narayan fasting festival in Kathmandu on January 30. — EPA
Health concern
Drug dangers investigated
Washington — Testosterone drugs are getting a closer look from US regulators after two separate studies found an increased risk of heart attack, stroke and death in men who took the therapies.
The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement on January 31 that it will review the safety risk of testosterone drugs.
A study released in November of more than 8,000 men treated in the US Veterans Affairs health system found that testosterone therapy raises men’s risk of heart attack, stroke and dying by 29 percent. — Bloomberg
Disease danger
Flu causes third death
Hong Kong — The third death from H7N9 bird flu was reported in Hong Kong on January 29 a day after authorities culled 22,000 birds to curb the disease.
The 75-year-old man had travelled to the neighbouring Chinese city of Shenzhen from January 20 to 26 and died on the morning of January 29, government doctor Chuang Shuk-kwan told reporters. — AFP
Violent volcano
Villagers flee the eruption of Mount Sinabung volcano on Indonesia’s Sumatra Island on February 1. At least 15 people were killed during the eruption. — AFP
Easier visas
India streamlines system
New Delhi — Tourists travelling to India from up to 180 countries will no longer have to queue up at their local consulates to obtain visas under reforms expected to be approved in February, local media reported on February 2.
Most foreigners currently have to wait weeks before learning whether they will be allowed to enter the country after submitting their applications at visa processing centres.
India’s intelligence agencies have now given their backing to proposals that would allow tourists to apply online and wait only three days for processing. — AFP
Improved Internet
US government increases funding
Washington — The US Federal Communications Commission will double the amount of money it devotes to adding high-speed Internet connections in schools and libraries over the next two years.
The move comes in an effort to meet President Barack Obama’s promise to provide broadband services for an estimated 20 million American students in 15,000 schools nationwide, officials said on February 1. — New York Times
Nuclear scare
Unusual radiation investigated
London — Increased radiation levels detected on January 31 at the Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in northwestern England were caused by naturally occurring background radon, not by any faults at the aging plant, the operating company said.
Sellafield Ltd. said its on-site monitors detected unusual activity, leading it to reduce staffing levels on January 31 as a precaution.
“Following investigations, we can confirm these levels to be naturally occurring background radon,” a company spokesperson said.
The company added that there had been no risk to public safety. — AP
EASY NEWS FOR M1-3
Wild weather
Typhoon hits Philippines
Manila — A typhoon hit central Philippines. It happened on February 2. The tropical storm Kajiki killed three people. About 18,000 residents were evacuated. — Bloomberg
Exercises
1. Which of the following does not become an increased risk with testosterone drug usage, according to a recent study?
a. Heart attack.
b. Stroke.
c. Lung infection.
2. India recently banned people from 180 countries from applying for tourist visas. True or false?
3. Where is Ban Kawa School located?
Vocabulary
- testosterone (n): a hormone produced in men’s testicles that causes them to develop the physical and sexual features that are characteristic of the male body
consulate (n): the building where a government official who is the representative of their country in a foreign city works
radon (n): a colourless radioactive gas
precaution (n): something that is done in advance in order to prevent problems or to avoid danger
