News 107
Devastating earthquake in China’s northwestern Xinjiang region has killed at least 259 people, injured 2000 others. Officials say Monday’s quake flattened thousands of homes, schools, and buildings in a predominantly Muslim area near China’s mountainous border with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Powerful quake measured 6.8 on the Richter scale. Rescue crews and soldiers have been searching the rubble for survivors and bodies. And authorities expect the death toll to rise.
(VOA February, 2003)
News 108
The leaders from sports organisations and governments around the world are meeting in the Danish capital Copenhagen today to discuss the introduction of an international code to tackle the use of banned drugs in sport. The new anti-doping code would unify the fight against drugs across all sports in all countries. Here is our sports correspondent H.P.
At the moment some sports federations have different sanctions for doping offenders while others are fearful of actions in civil courts. The world anti-doping code is designed to get rid of anomalies and provide a unified stance against drug cheats. The head of the agency D.C. accepts that the code isn’t perfect but could provide a major breakthrough. He admits that there are areas where agreement is not yet possible.
The United States has resisted doping controls for its major professional sports: baseball, basketball, ice-hockey, and American football.
And some federations are not happy with a two-year sanctions for a first offence.
(BBC March, 2003)
News 109
A day after scientists in Italy said that aspirin could help prevent cancers of mouth and throat, American research showed the drug could significantly help reduce the chances of people developing colon cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States . Scientists in New Hampshire and Chicago say their studies indicate that regular use of aspirin can reduce the risk of pre-cancer’s growths in the colon, which often lead to bowel cancer.
(BBC March, 2003)
News 110
Costa Rica has offered political asylum to one of Venezuela’s most prominent opposition leaders Carlos Ortega, who sought refuge in its embassy in the Venezuelan capital Caracas. Mr. Ortega, who was instrumental in organising a two-month long general strike against President Chavez, had been in hiding after being charged with treason and rebellion. Hundreds of opposition demonstrators gathered around the embassy to express their support for Mr. Ortega. The Venezuelan Interior Minister Luis Miquilena said the government would grant him safe passage out of the country.
(BBC March, 2003)