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1. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake rattled¹ the Los Angeles area just before noon local time. The quake was centered in San Bernardino County, about 29 miles east-southeast of downtown LA. It was felt to the south in San Diego and it was also slightly felt in Las Vegas 270 miles away. There have been no reports of injury or serious damage.

2. The longest-serving Republican in the Senate has been indicted³ on seven federal counts of failing to disclose gifts from a powerful oil services company. The Justice Department says Ted⁴ Stevens of Alaska received more than a quarter of a million dollars in gifts and services. Much of it went to renovate⁵ his vacation home.

3. Former NBA ref Tim Donaghy has been sentenced to 15 months behind bars. He pleaded guilty last year to taking payoffs from a professional gambler for inside tips on games. Commissioner⁶ David Stern denies Donaghy's claim that corruption⁷ among referees⁸ goes beyond him.

4. A US-based security group has released a video said to be from a group threatening terrorism against China. The threats come just more than a week before the opening of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. China has readied the largest security force in Olympic history.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. indict²: v.

to officially charge someone with a criminal offence.

2. behind bars:

Informal. In prison

3. payoff: n.

A payoff is a payment which is made to someone, often secretly or illegally, so that they will not cause trouble.

4. commissioner: n.

someone who is officially in charge of a government department in some countries.