【293-296】Unrest Continues in Bangladesh as Students Protest

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AS IT IS

Unrest Continues in Bangladesh as Students Protest

August 06, 2018

Thousands of students join in a protest over recent traffic accidents that killed a boy and a girl, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Aug. 5, 2018. (REUTERS/Mohammad Ponir Hossain)

Police in Bangladesh fired tear gas and rubber bullets on Monday to break up demonstrations.

Protesters said at least 40 people, many of them students, were injured.

The protesters are demanding better enforcement of traffic safety laws and better protection for those traveling by foot near schools.

Hundreds of students clashed with police in the Bashundhara area of Dhaka, the capital. The area is home to a few private universities.

Police used tear gas against protesters at Dhaka’s East West University. Another group of students marched across the grounds of Dhaka University. They called for justice and criticized the government.

A week of demonstrations

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in the demonstrations since they began last week.

The protests started after two students were killed by speeding buses. Other students took to the streets, mainly in places where traffic accidents happened. The protesters stopped vehicles and asked drivers for their operating permits. Others directed traffic themselves, in some cases separating heavy vehicles from light ones.

Some protesters threw stones at police officers and attacked vehicles. Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters that more than 300 vehicles have been damaged. Some reportedly had been set on fire.

Abdus Shabbir, an emergency room doctor, told the French news agency (AFP) his hospital had treated more than 100 students on Saturday. He said that some had injuries that could have resulted from rubber bullets. Police have denied firing such bullets at the protesters.

Bangladeshi students shout slogans as they block a road during a protest in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Saturday, Aug. 4, 2018.

Detention of Shahidul Alam

On Sunday, plainclothes police officers arrested Shahidul Alam, an activist and well-known photographer for his comments on Facebook and in other media.

Alam told a television broadcaster that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has no credibility and was using “brute force” to stay in power. A police official told the French news agency that the activist would face legal action.

The rights group Amnesty International called for Alam’s immediate release. Omar Waraich is Amnesty’s deputy director for South Asia. He said in a statement that the arrest “marks a dangerous escalation of a crackdown by the government.”

Sheikh Hasina’s party is accusing the main opposition party and its main ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, of using student anger to incite trouble.

Bangladeshi officials have warned of stronger measures if the protests are used to create unrest.

The government’s reaction

The student protesters have demanded increased punishment for crimes involving road accidents.

On Monday, Bangladesh’s Cabinet expressed support for a proposed law. Under the proposal, the maximum punishment for an accident leading to death could be five years in jail, up from the current three years.

Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam said the bill will be offered to Parliament soon.

The prime minister has promised to act on the students’ list of nine demands, one demand at a time. Their demands include bringing to justice those responsible for the recent traffic deaths; releasing students arrested in the protests; and building footbridges near all schools.

I’m Phil Dierking.

Julhas Alam reported this story for the Associated Press. George Grow adapted his report for VOA Learning English. His story includes information from VOANews.com. Mario Ritter was the editor.

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Words in This Story

photographer – n. cameraman; someone who uses a camera to take pictures

credibility – n. the quality of being accepted as honest or true

brute – adj. very strong

escalation – n. the state of becoming more intense or worse

crackdown – n. a campaign or attempt to punish someone for violating the law

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*【294】

AS IT IS

Venezuela Hunts for Drone Attackers

August 06, 2018

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro reacts during an event that was interrupted, reportedly by explosives from drones, in this still frame taken from government video, Aug. 4, 2018, in Caracas, Venezuela. VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TV/Handout via REUTERS TV

Venezuelan officials are searching for people responsible for an attack on President Nicolas Maduro.

Drone aircraft carrying explosives flew close to Maduro. He was giving a speech in Caracas on Saturday. The president was unhurt in the incident.

The Associated Press (AP) says investigators have raided several hotels and seized vehicles. At least six suspects were detained for questioning.

Venezuela’s government says the attackers had plotted to kill Maduro. It said the suspects organized the plot with others in the United States and Colombia. The government has yet to provide detailed evidence to support the claims.

Venezuelan opposition leaders criticized Maduro for blaming the political opposition. They warned that he might use the attack to silence his critics.

Venezuela and the world

The attack came as Venezuela is suffering from an economic and humanitarian crisis, and Maduro finds himself increasingly alone.

The United States and other countries are taking economic actions against a growing list of high-level Venezuelan officials. They are also denouncing his government as oppressive.

Maduro and his allies said the attack was direct proof of an international plot to destroy his government. He also said the military’s reaction to the attack shows he still has the support of Venezuelan soldiers.

But observers said the images broadcast on television when the attack struck made him appear at risk.

Seeing soldiers fleeing in apparent panic does not show the “control and loyalty of security forces,” noted Torino Capital, a New York-based investment business.

Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez said on Sunday that the attackers were trying to kill every member of Venezuela’s top leadership.

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Details of the attack

Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said the two drones were each carrying a kilogram of C-4 plastic explosive. They were flown toward Maduro, his wife and other officials. At the time, he was speaking to troops at an event celebrating the 81st anniversary of the National Guard.

One of the drones was supposed to explode above Maduro and the other was to explode directly in front of him, Reverol said.

The military was able to stop one of the drones electronically. The second crashed into an apartment building nearby, Reverol said.

He added that two of those arrested had earlier problems with the government. He said one took part in 2014 anti-governments protests that took place as Venezuela’s economic crisis worsened. The other was wanted by police for an attack on a military area, the interior minister said.

Two people who live in nearby buildings said they saw a drone flying over a street on Saturday and then heard an explosion.

One witness showed the AP cellphone video of a drone crashing into a building. He said the drone fell to the ground and exploded, causing a fire.

Maduro’s reaction to the attack

In a message to the nation Saturday night, an angry Maduro blamed the attack on the “far right.” He called on U.S. President Donald Trump to hold the “terrorist group” responsible.

John Bolton is Trump’s national security adviser. On Sunday, Bolton, said: “If the government of Venezuela has hard information that they want to present to us that would show a…violation of U.S. criminal law, we’ll take a serious look at it.”

The Broad Front, a coalition of opposition groups in Venezuela, said the government was blaming people without proof.

The group said in a statement that the government was not interested in getting to the truth, but wanted to use the situation for political gain.

Claim of responsibility

A little-known group calling itself Soldiers in T-shirts claimed responsibility for the attack. The message could not be independently confirmed, however.

Maduro said the attack left him sure of the military’s support. He said he will continue with the socialist revolution begun by former president Hugo Chavez.

“Venezuela will continue on the democratic, independent and socialist path,” Maduro said.

Torino Capital said that it believes Maduro will stay in power for many years. But it added that economic problems make it important to continue to watch the situation in Venezuela very closely.

I’m Susan Shand.

Scott Smith and Christine Armario reported this story for the Associated Press. Susan Shand adapted their story for VOA Learning English. The editor was George Grow.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

drone– n.a type of small aircraft that flies without a pilot

cellphone – n.a wireless telephone

panic– n.a sudden, overpowering fright

*【295】AS IT IS

Students Recreate Hiroshima Before, After Atomic Bomb

August 06, 2018

Namio Matsura, a member of the computation skill research club at Fukuyama Technical High School, watches Hiroshima city before atomic bomb fell in virtual reality experience at the high school in Hiroshima, western Japan. (AP Photo/Haruka Nuga)

Japanese high school students have created a virtual reality program to mark the 73rd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

The American bombing on August 6, 1945, along with the bombing of Nagasaki three days later, ended World War II. The first attack killed an estimated 140,000 people.

The students produced a five-minute program that recreates the sights and sounds of Hiroshima before, during and after the bombing.

Their project took two years to complete. The students and their teachers undertook the effort in hopes that such an event will never happen again.

Virtual reality recreates an unforgettable experience

In order to experience the program, users wear virtual reality headsets.

The program lets them take a virtual walk along the Motoyasu River before the bombing.

It shows the buildings and businesses that once stood.

Users also can enter a post office and the Shima Hospital courtyard. The bomb exploded directly above the hospital, completely destroying it. They can see the remains of a building now called the Atomic Bomb Dome.

The program shows the sunny, summer day in 1945. Cicada insects sing in the trees.

Later, a single plane flies overhead.

Then, a flash of light, followed by a huge explosion.

Buildings are gone in a moment. Smoke and fires spread under the darkened sky.

Doves fly over the Peace Memorial Park with the Atomic Bomb Dome in the background, at a ceremony in Hiroshima, western Japan, August 6, 2018, on the 73rd anniversary of the atomic bombing of the city. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS

Students’ project: a race against time

Some of the students said virtual reality technology was a good choice to reach their goal.

The students who worked on the project belong to a computer skills research club at Fukuyama Technical High School. Fukuyama is a city about 100 kilometers from Hiroshima.

Mei Okada said of the virtual reality project, “Even without language, once you see the images, you understand.”

Eighteen-year-old Yuhi Kakagawa said, at first, he did not have much interest in what happened so long ago. But after creating the buildings from photos of what once existed, “I felt how scary atomic bombs can be,” he said. He understood that is was “really important to share this with others.”

A member of the computation skill research club at Fukuyama Technical High School looks at an archive material of Hiroshima city to edit buildings on computer graphic software

To recreate Hiroshima before the bombing, students studied photographs and spoke to survivors. Then, they used software to add realistic details to the virtual reality program.

“Those who knew the city very well tell us it’s done very well. They say it’s very nostalgic,” said Katsushi Hasagawa. Hasagawa is a computer teacher who supervises the club.

He said seeing the effect of people remembering the past “makes me glad that we created this.”

The students worked through their summer vacation in classrooms without an air cooling system. Temperatures reached as high as 35 degrees Celsius as they labored to create the video.

Because remaining survivors are so old, Hasegawa said, it was a race against time.

I’m Mario Ritter.

Mario Ritter adapted this AP news story for VOA Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor.

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Words in This Story

virtual reality – n. technology that recreates a place or experience using images, sound and other things

headset – n. a device that is placed on the head that show images on a screen, play sounds and provide other experiences and controls

scary –adj. causing fear

nostalgic –adj. the feeling of both pleasure and sadness of remembering the past

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*【296】

AS IT IS

US Admiral: China, Russia Increase Navy Activity Near US Coast

August 06, 2018

FILE - Navy Admiral John Richardson

Chinese navy ships and Russian submarines are now traveling in North Atlantic waters at a pace not seen since the end of the Cold War. The United States Navy’s top admiral made the statement to VOA.

Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson said China's navy is competing with the United States. He said it is “ready and capable” of operating anywhere.

He added, "Even five years ago, we wouldn't have seen anything like this.”

However, Chinese operations may not be considered as threatening as the growing activity of Russian submarines. U.S. officials worry that Russia may use its submarines to cut or listen to undersea communications links that connect North America and Europe.

“We're talking about more (activity) than we've seen in 25 years,” Richardson said.

Reactivate the Second Fleet

Because of these activities, the United States has recently reactivated the second fleet to secure the ocean on its eastern coast.

The group of ships was deactivated in 2011 because the U.S. Navy needed money to buy weapons systems. The group was reactivated in the port city of Norfolk, Virginia on July 1.

Richardson will preside over the official ceremony to reactivate the fleet on August 24.

The commander of the Second Fleet will also head NATO’s Joint Forces Command in Norfolk. Richardson said the dual command structure permits the U.S. and its NATO allies to deal with the rising Russian activity together.

Russian jamming

Richardson said the U.S. must also stay ahead in the competitive area of information warfare.

U.S. sailors are now defending themselves against Russian electronic interference devices. The devices are similar to ones used against American ground forces operating in Syria.

Richardson did not say how the interference, or jamming, affects the Navy. But electronic warfare attacks could interfere with navigation and communication systems.

Richardson said interference technologies will be important in the future. “We’ve got to make sure that we’re investing in those as well,” he said.

I’m Ashley Thompson.

Carla Babb reported this story for VOA News. Hai Do adapted the story for Learning English. Mario Ritter was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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