Week 7 : Canadian Parliament. Ottawa. shooting. gunman

Canada ‘will not be intimidated’ by ‘terror’ attack

Fri , Oct 24 , 2014 , Page1 (TAIPEI TIMES)

By AFP, OTTAWA

RESOLUTE:After a second soldier died in an attack in three days, the Canadian prime minister said all steps would be taken to identify and counter security threats

Canada’s prime minister vowed the country would “not be intimidated” after a reported Muslim convert stormed parliament and killed a soldier, the nation’s second “terrorist” attack in days.

The gunman, whose name was on a terror watch list, tried to force his way into Canada’s parliament on Wednesday before the assembly’s sergeant-at-arms shot him dead.

The attack — the second this week targeting Canadian military personnel — came as Canadian jets were to join the US-led bombing campaign against militants in Iraq.

“Canada will never be intimidated,” Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the nation in a televised address after the shootings on Wednesday.

“In fact, this will lead us to strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts and those of national security agencies to take all necessary steps to identify and counter threats and keep Canada safe,” he said.

The spectacular security breach came two days after an alleged Islamist ran over two soldiers in Quebec, killing one of them, in what officials branded a terrorist attack.

In audio of the attack on parliament, repeated shots could be heard booming through its chambers.

The suspect, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau who was said to be a convert to Islam, had a record of drug offenses and robbery.

Dave Bathurst, who met the 32-year-old Zehaf-Bibeau in a mosque about three years ago, said his friend did not at first appear to have extremist views, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

However, he said that at times, he exhibited a disturbing side.

“We were having a conversation in a kitchen, and I don’t know how he worded it. He said the devil is after him,” Bathurst told the the CBC.

He said his friend frequently talked about the presence of Shaytan in the world — an Arabic term for devils and demons.

“I think he must have been mentally ill,” he said.

Bathurst last saw Zehaf-Bibeau praying in a mosque in the Vancouver area six weeks ago and said he spoke of wanting to go to the Middle East. He insisted he was only going abroad with the intent of learning about Islam and to study Arabic.

Zehaf-Bibeau was considered a “high risk” suspect, according to reports, whose passport had been confiscated to prevent him joining militants abroad.

He first shot and killed a Canadian soldier who was on ceremonial guard at a war memorial on Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa, before storming into the nearby parliament building.

The slain soldier was named as Corporal Nathan Cirillo. At least three people were admitted to hospital with minor injuries.

The attacker was killed, reportedly by a shot fired by the bearer of the Canadian House of Commons’ ceremonial mace, Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers, who was hailed as a hero by lawmakers.

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson said it appeared the shooter had acted alone.

Lawmakers, staff and reporters, evacuated from the historic building, spoke of intense gunfire inside.

Paul Clarke, a builder who was working in parliament at the time, said: “It has just been a nightmare.”

Canadian Member of Parliament Maurice Vellacott said that House of Commons security had told one of his aides the suspect had been killed inside parliament.

“I heard this ‘pop, pop’ — possibly 10 shots, I don’t really know,” Liberal Party member John McKay told reporters outside.

Passers-by told reporters that a bearded man had gunned down the soldier and hijacked a passing vehicle to take him the short distance to parliament.

Local media reported that the suspect, raised in Laval, Quebec, about 16km from Montreal, had an extensive criminal record, including robbery and drug charges to which he pleaded guilty.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/10/24/2003602777/2

Structure of the Lead：

WHO: The gunman, whose name was on a terror watch list

WHEN: On Oct 22 , Wed

WHAT: The man had gunned down the soldier and hijacked a passing vehicle to take him the short distance to parliament.

WHY: Not mention

WHERE: Canadian Parliament

HOW: By shooting gun

Keywords:

1. Canadian Parliament : 加拿大國會

2. intimidated : 恐嚇

3. storm: 強攻

4. security : 安全

Week 6 : 蘇格蘭獨立公投-Scottish independence referendum

EDITORIAL: Scottish vote reflects a wider win

Sun , Sep 21 , 2014 - Page 8

By TAIPEI TIMES

Scotland’s independence referendum ended in a resounding victory for the side advocating Scotland remaining within the UK as the “No” side received 55 percent of the vote against the “Yes” side’s 45. The result notwithstanding, the referendum itself has been lauded as a great victory for democracy and something that Scotland and the UK should be proud of.

In the past, governments treated independence movements as secessionists betraying their nation and they often ended in bloody suppression.

However, the UK showed tolerance and followed democratic ideals in giving Scots the freedom to decide their own future, with the queen encouraging Scots to “think very carefully about the future,” while British Prime Minister David Cameron said that Scottish independence would “break [his] heart.”

Although the “Yes” side lost, Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who led the pro-independence effort, accepted the loss and said he would resign from his post in November. Although he lost this battle, he gained a place in history and has probably also managed to improve Scotland’s situation within the UK. After the result was announced, Scotland remained mostly calm and both sides have displayed the demeanor one would expect in a long-standing democracy.

The need to trust in the public was one important lesson to be learned from this referendum. Government leaders did not try to block it by saying that there was no need for a referendum at this time, and instead let Scots decide their own future. The government did not treat the referendum as a bloodthirsty monster or play around with referendum legislation and set irrational restrictions to create a “birdcage” referendum law which would make passing a referendum, although nominally possible, very difficult or even impossible in practice.

Instead, all that was required to win the referendum was a simple majority: half of all votes plus one. UK and Scottish politicians did not have the idiotic idea that the future of Scotland should be decided by all UK citizens, in the way that some people feel that Taiwan’s future should be decided by all Chinese.

Although the UK government was fully opposed to Scottish independence, it did not treat the prospect of it as a rebellion or imprison pro-independence leaders. Nor did it hold military exercises or fire missiles or say that “no one who promotes independence will meet with a happy ending,” as former Chinese premier Zhu Rongji (朱鎔基) once said.

The Scottish independence movement issued a detailed white paper detailing what the nation would look like following independence to give the public a clear blueprint when considering their future. In the end, the Scots considered their own future based on their national identity, and in addition to national defense and foreign affairs, they considered taxes, healthcare, how the North Sea oil resources should be distributed and which solution would be more beneficial to themselves , Scotland and the UK as a whole.

Although the whole world was waiting to find out how Scottish independence would affect the UK, the EU and the rest of the world, the result was a soft landing, as the Scots decided to remain within the UK and observers breathed a sigh of relief. Someone has said that referendums are populist , but the people of Scotland displayed their intelligence and wisdom throughout the entire process.

 Referendum is of course a major gamble for all parties. Prior to voting day, the situation is fluid and everyone is concerned, and if this concern and anxiety are not handled correctly, they can lead to disorder. However, a referendum lets everyone express their opinion and make their own decision. For the foreseeable future, Scotland and the UK will enjoy political stability.

Trust in the public is indeed the way to long-term political stability.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2014/09/21/2003600192/2

Structure of the Lead：

WHO: Scotland’s citizen 

WHEN: On September 18

WHAT: Scotland’s independence referendum ended in a victory for remaining within the UK as the “No”

WHY: Government leaders did not try to block it by saying that there was no need for a referendum at this time, and instead let Scots decide their own future.

WHERE: Scotland

HOW: Scotland’s citizen was having a referendum.

Keywords:

1. Scotland’s independence referendum: 蘇格蘭獨立公投

2. notwithstanding : 儘管如此

3. laud:讚美

4. suppression: 鎮壓

5. demeanor: 風範

6. nominally: 名義上是

7. rebellion: 暴動

8. populist: 平民主義

Week 5: 西非伊波拉病毒- ebola(virus).west Africa

Scientists trial quick Ebola test in Guinea

Sun, Nov 30 , 2014-Page6(TAIPEI TIMES)

By AFP, CONAKRY

FRENCH VISIT:Francois Hollande promised support for the Ebola-hit former French colony, saying it was important to show that Guinea is still alive and fighting

British scientists announced trials on a 15-minute Ebola test in Guinea, while French President Francois Hollande became the first Western leader to visit a country devastated by the epidemic.

The prototype is six times faster than current tests and aims to speed up diagnosis, the London-based global research charity Wellcome Trust and Britain’s Department for International Development said in a statement.

“A reliable, 15-minute test that can confirm cases of Ebola would be a key tool for effective management of the Ebola outbreak, allowing patients to be identified, isolated and cared for as soon as possible,” Wellcome Trust spokesperson Val Snewin said.

She said the test was designed to be suitable for remote field hospitals, where electricity and cold storage are often scarce.

The trials, to be led by researchers from Dakar’s Pasteur Institute at an Ebola treatment center in Conakry in the coming weeks, will come as a welcome boon in Guinea, which has lost 1,200 people to Ebola.

The biggest Ebola epidemic on record has claimed about 5,700 lives in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone since the beginning of the year, according to the WHO.

Hollande pledged his support for Guinea after arriving in the former French colony on Friday.

He said he was bringing with him a message of solidarity to healthcare workers who “take risks to ensure the highest quality care,” and a message of confidence, because “it was very important to tell the world that Guinea is still alive, still fighting.”

He also wanted to call for vigilance, he said, because “the battle against Ebola isn’t won.”

The visit is the first by a French president since 1999, and comes after France pledged 100 million euros (US$125 million) toward the fight against the epidemic in Guinea.

The money will help finance several care centers as well as 200 beds, some of which are reserved for health workers caring for the sick. France has also pledged to set up two training centers for health workers, one in France and one in Guinea.

Hollande visited healthcare workers at Conakry’s Donka Hospital, which hosts the city’s Doctors Without Borders Ebola treatment unit, alongside Guinean President Alpha Conde.

Before entering, both men followed the protocol of washing their hands and having their temperatures taken.

The French leader is also due to sign a cooperation agreement with Guinean authorities for the creation of a Pasteur Institute in Conakry by the end of 2016, the global medical research organization said on Thursday.

“For the people of Guinea, the arrival of President Hollande is a very, very important sign,” Conde said. “If the president of a country as important as France can come to Guinea, that means anyone can come to Guinea.”

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2014/11/30/2003605640

Structure of the Lead：

WHO: Francois Hollande

WHEN: Not mention

WHAT:Francois Hollande promised support for the Ebola-hit former French colony

WHY: Important to show that Guinea is still alive and fighting

WHERE: In west Africa

HOW: Giving  support

Keywords:

1. devastate:蹂躪

2. prototype:原型

3. confirm:證實

4. scarce: 缺乏的

5. vigilance:提高警惕

6. protocol: 協議

Week 4: TransAsia Airways plane crash Penghu

Plane crash on Penghu kills dozens

Thu, Jul 24, 2014 - Page 1 (TAIPEI TIMES)

By Shelley Shan and Jake Chung  /  Staff reporter and staff writer, with CNA

‘CHAOTIC’:The crew of the TransAsia Airways plane had requested a ‘go-around’ as it tried to land at the Magong Airport before the tower lost contact with it

A TransAsia Airways (復興航空) plane crashed on Penghu yesterday, killing at least 47 people, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) said last night.

The flight from Greater Kaohsiung crashed near the Magong Airport’s runway with 54 passengers and four crew on board, the agency said.

Minister of Transportation and Communications Yeh Kuang-shih (葉匡時) said that 47 people were confirmed dead and 11 injured.

According to the CAA, the 70-seat turboprop ATR72 model plane carried 54 passengers and four crew.

TransAsia Flight GE222 had been scheduled to depart Greater Kaohsiung at 4pm yesterday. However, because of Typhoon Matmo it was delayed, not departing until 5:43pm.

CAA Director General Jean Shen (沈啟) said air traffic control personnel received the request from the flight for a go-around at the Magong Airport at 7:06pm, but they lost track of the flight afterward.

“It’s chaotic on the scene,” Reuters quoted Shen as saying.

The plane made a forced landing in Sisi Village (西溪), just outside the airport.

Several buildings on the ground were set on fire by the crash, but no one on the ground was injured, local officials said.

"A few empty apartment buildings adjacent to the runway caught fire, but no one was inside at the time and the fire was extinguished," said Hsi Wen-guang, a spokesman for the Penghu County Government Fire Bureau.

About 100 firefighters were sent to the scene, besides 152 military personnel and 255 police, he added.

CAA information said the pilot, Lee Yi-liang (李義良), 60, has 15 years of experience in flying civilian aircraft.

The co-pilot was identified as 39-year-old Chiang Kuan-hsing (江冠興).

Witnesses have said that there was heavy rain at the time. However, the CAA said that the visual range was 800 feet (243.8m), which was adequate for landing.

The agency said that it will dispatch officials to Penghu today to help with the investigation into the cause of the crash, but the investigation will be led by the Aviation Safety Council.

Penghu County Fire Department Director-General Hong Yung-peng (洪永澎) said the airplane tried to land at the airport, but had pulled up to make another try because the heavy rain was hampering the pilot’s vision.

Executive Yuan spokesman Sun Lih-chuyn (孫立群) said Premier Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺) had ordered the Ministry of Transportation and Communications to report on the situation as soon as possible.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/07/24/2003595804

Structure of the Lead：

WHO-TransAsia Airways

WHEN-Thu, Jul 23, 2014

WHAT-crashed in Penghu

WHY-Typhoon Matmo

WHERE-Penghu

How-Not mention

 

 Keywords：

1.  the Civil Aeronautics Administration：民航局

2. confirmed：已確定的

3. depart：出發

4. personnel：人員

5. adjacent：鄰近的

6. extinguished：撲滅

7. adequate：足夠的

8. hamper：阻礙了

Week Three : Robin Williams, dead, suicide

Actor Robin Williams dead at 63

Wed, Aug 13, 2014 - Page 7 (TAIPEI TIMES)

By:Reuters, TIBURON, California

COMEDIAN REMEMBERED:Tributes to the ‘one of a kind,’ Oscar-winning actor followed news of his death, which authorities are investigating as a suicide

Robin Williams, the versatile actor whose madcap comic style made him one of television and film’s biggest stars, was found dead on Monday after an apparent suicide at his home in Northern California. He was 63.

The comedian’s appeal stretched across generations and genres, from family fare as the voice of Disney’s blue Genie in Aladdin to his portrayal of a fatherly therapist in the 1997 drama Good Will Hunting, for which he earned his sole Oscar.

However, many remembered the master of impressions on Monday for his tender portrayal in Mrs Doubtfire, when he played the part of a British nanny whose identity he assumed as a divorced father to be with his children.

Williams had been recently suffering from severe depression, his publicist Mara Buxbaum said in a statement and the actor had repeatedly talked about his past struggles with alcohol.

“This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend, while the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings. I am utterly heartbroken,” Williams’ wife, Susan Schneider, said in a statement.

The Marin County Sheriff’s coroner’s division said it suspected Williams committed suicide by asphyxia, but the cause of death is still under investigation and an autopsy was to be conducted yesterday.

The sheriff’s office said it received an emergency call about noon on Monday, saying Williams was unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco.

Outside the family home in a neighborhood of low-slung houses with water views, people left flowers and talked about the man who rode his bike around and had a smile and a wave for kids on the street.

“It wasn’t like having a celebrity,” Sonja Conti said. “He was just a normal, nice guy. People left him alone.”

Social media was alight with appreciation for Williams, who introduced his boyish exuberance and outlandish style to audiences as a quirky extraterrestrial in the late 1970s TV comedy Mork & Mindy.

US President Barack Obama called Williams a “one of a kind” actor who could make people laugh and cry in his array of characters.

Williams, most recently in the CBS television comedy The Crazy Ones until it was canceled in May, entered a rehabilitation center this summer.

His representatives at the time said Williams was not using drugs or alcohol, but was there to “fine-tune” his sobriety after a demanding work schedule.

Williams’ death shook Hollywood and colleagues mourned who many called a big-hearted man and one of the most inventive comedians of his time.

“Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him,” said Steven Spielberg, who directed Williams as Peter Pan in the 1991 film, Hook.

Williams, who was born in Chicago in 1951 and grew up in suburban Detroit, earned four Academy Award nominations, the first for Good Morning, Vietnam.
He earned nominations for the 1990 coming-of-age prep school drama Dead Poets Societyand 1991’s The Fisher King.

Williams married three times, most recently in 2011 to Schneider. He has three children.

In a 2009, the actor told Reuters that his children often referenced his struggles with alcohol when he would confront them about their own misbehavior.

“They went, ‘And you had a three-year drunken relapse.’ Ah, thank you for bringing that back, my little happy creatures,” Williams said.

Williams will appear in the upcoming films Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb andMerry Friggin’ Christmas. He was also attached to a sequel to 1993 hit Mrs Doubtfire.

In his final Twitter post on July 31, Williams wished his daughter Zelda a happy 25th birthday.

Late on Monday, Zelda posted: “I love you. I miss you. I’ll try to keep looking up.”

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2014/08/13/2003597333/2

Structure of the Lead：

WHO-Robin Williams

WHEN-August 11, 2014

WHAT-suicide himself

WHY-suffering from severe depression

WHERE-at his home in Northern

How-Hung himself after cut on his wrist

Keywords：

1. madcap：狂妄的

2. fare：遭遇

3. portrayal：飾演

4. divorced：離婚的

5. utterly：徹底地

6. asphyxia：窒息

7. autopsy：驗屍

8. boyish exuberance：充滿孩子氣

9. outlandish：奇異的

10. quirky extraterrestrial：古怪的外星人

11. sobriety：清醒的

12. mourned：哀悼

13. inventive：創造性

14. relapse：復發