As the year draws to a close, Student Weekly takes a look back at some of the biggest local and international news events of 2013.
OBAMA INAUGURATION
President Barack Obama is sworn in to his second term by Chief Justice John Roberts at the White House in the US on January 20. — New York Times
FEAR FROM ABOVE
This frame grab made from dashboard camera video shows a meteor streaking through the sky over Chelyabinsk, eastern Moscow on February 15.The meteor hit the city, smashing windows and causing minor injuries. The threat of space rocks was bitter than scientists’ estimation. — AP
NEW PONTIF ELECTEC
Newly elected Pope Francis, Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, appears on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, at the Vatican in the Italian capital Rome on March 13. — Reuters
DAY OF TERROR
An explosion on April 15 occurs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon in the US state of Boston, killing three and injuring 264 people. — AP
FACTORY TRAGEDY
A woman cries over her relative’s death caused by a garment factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh on May 3. The tragedy killed at least 500 people. — AFP
CIVIL RIGHTS VICTORY
Homosexuals hold celebrations in San Francisco, California, US, on June 26 after the US Supreme Court declared that same-sex couples who are legally married deserve equal rights to the benefits under federal law that go to all other married couples. — AFP
SCANDALOUS MONK
The monkhood of well-known monk Luang Pu Nen Kham Chattiko, or Phra Wirapol Sukphol, comes an end in accordance with the judgment of Srisaket Religious Organisation on July 13. He was defrocked over his sexual affairs and financial corruption.
OIL SPILL
PTT Global Chemical PLC staff members on July 30 start cleaning up the oil spill at Ao Phrao on Samet Island in Rayong. More than 50,000 litres of crude oil on July 29 spilled into the sea 20 kilometres southeast of the Map Ta Phut industrial estate following a leak from pipeline at an offshore platform.
CANCER KILLS SAYAN
Sayan Sanya, one of Thailand’s most famous look toong singers, dies of liver cancer on September 11. He passed away at Thonburi Hospital in Bangkok at the age of 60.
SUPREME PATRIARCH DIES
Thais line up to pay their last respects to Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja, who died of a blood infection on October 3. He passed away at the age of 100 at Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok. — EPA
PHILIPPINES DISASTER
The most powerful cyclone in three decades, Typhoon Haiyan, hit the Philippines on November 9. The massive storm killed thousands of people. — EPA
PASSING OF A LEGEND
People light candles and pray for South Africa’s late president Nelson Mandela at the Trocadero Square in Paris, France, on December 15. He died of a lung infection at the age of 95 on December 5. — AP
PARLIAMENT DISSOLVED
After a long protest over the amnesty bill and subsequent political riots, Prime Minster Yingluck Shinawatra on December 9 announces that the House of Representatives has been dissolved to pave the way for new local elections countrywide.
EXERCISE
1. When did the Supreme Patriarch pass away?
2. How many litres of crude oil were spilled into the sea in Rayong on July 29?
3. What caused Nelson Mandela to die?
4 President Barack Obama was sworn in to his second term on January 20. True or false?
5. The garment factory collapse in Bangladesh killed more than 5,000 people. True or false?
Vocabulary
- defrock (v): to officially remove a priest from his or her job, because he or she has done something wrong
amnesty (n): an official statement that allows people who have been put in prison for crimes against the state to go free
meteor (n): a piece of rock from outer space that makes a bright line across the night sky as it burns up while falling through the earth’s atmosphere
conclave (n):a meeting to discuss something in private; the people at this meeting
