Week 6: Paris terror attack, Abaaoud, French father and son, blindfolded Muslim, hug

Blindfolded Muslim man asks "do you trust me?”; Hugs hundreds in Paris

TNN | Nov 19, 2015, 11.54 AM IST

Muslim man stood holding two signs near a mourning site at Place de la Republique in Paris, days after Islamic State terrorists attacked the city.

"I'm a Muslim, but I'm told that I'm a terrorist" and "I trust you, do you trust me? If yes, hug me," said the signs held up by the blindfolded man.

Parisians didn't let the man down. As a tearful crowd of mourners looked on, they approached the man, one by one, and embraced him, as a heartwarming YouTube video shows.

The beleaguered European city is fraught with tension following terror attacks last Friday by the Islamic State that killed 130 people.

After taking off his blindfold, the unnamed man thanked every one who gave him a hug. "I did this to send a message to everyone. I am a Muslim, but that doesn't make me a terrorist. I never killed anybody. I can even tell you that last Friday was my birthday, but I didn't go out," he said.

He further said that he feels deeply feel for all the victims' families.

"I want to tell you that "Muslim" doesn't necessarily mean "terrorist". A terrorist is a terrorist, someone willing to kill another human being over nothing. A Muslim would never do that. Our religion forbids it.'

Similat videos went viral earlier this year, after the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/europe/Blindfolded-Muslim-man-asks-do-you-trust-me-Hugs-hundreds-in-Paris/articleshow/49841861.cms

Structure of the Lead:

    WHO - Blindfolded Muslim Man

    WHEN - 2015

    WHAT - Blindfolded Muslim man asks "do you trust me?

    WHY - Because he said that he was a terrorist

    WHERE - In Paris, France

    HOW - By hugging him

Week 5: Tianjin Explosion

Tianjin explosion: China sets final death toll at 173, ending search for survivors

Authorities call off search for remaining eight missing in a massive chemical warehouse explosion last month, declaring them dead.

Chinese authorities ended the search for the remaining eight missing in a massive       chemical warehouse explosion last month, setting the final death toll at 173 in China’s worst industrial disaster in years.

The announcement by the Tianjin city government said there was no hope of finding the eight people and the court would start issuing death certificates.

“After thorough investigations by all parties it is certain that there is no possibility of survivors,” said a statement on Friday night.

The eight include five firefighters, underscoring the explosion’s status as the worst disaster for Chinese first responders, more than 100 of whom were killed, including police officers. Among firefighters a total of 104 were killed.

Investigations into the 12 August blasts at the Ruihai International Logistics warehouses showed they were located closer to homes than permitted, and stored much more hazardous material than authorized, including 700 tonnes of highly toxic sodium cyanide.

A series of massive explosions late at night shattered windows and tore facades off buildings for miles around, while launching debris including heavy steel storage canisters into nearby communities with the force of an artillery shell. Homeowners have held protests demanding the government buy back their apartments, saying they are unlivable.

The disaster has raised questions about corruption and government efficiency, potentially tarnishing the government led by Xi Jinping, who has made those two issues a hallmark of his administration.

Authorities are investigating malfeasance in the issuing of permits and regulation of the company, and have detained 12 of its employees and executives. They include the primary owner, who was on the board of a state-owned company and kept his ownership of Ruihai hidden as a silent partner.

Also detained as part of the investigation are 11 government officials, while the head of the government body in charge of industrial safety, Yang Dongliang, has been placed under investigation for corruption.

Yang had previously worked for 18 years in Tianjin in state industry and local government, rising to executive vice mayor.

Authorities say they have sealed all waterways leading out of the blast zone to curb cyanide contamination as teams in hazmat suits clean up hazardous debris.

According to the Tianjin Environmental Protection Bureau, water samples inside the disaster zone have shown levels of cyanide as high as 20 times above that considered safe. No cyanide has been detected in nearby seawater or areas outside the 1.8-mile (three-kilometer) radius quarantine zone.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/12/tianjin-explosion-china-sets-final-death-toll-at-173-ending-search-for-survivors

Structure of the Lead:

    WHO - China

    WHEN - 2015

    WHAT - Tianjin explosion, China sets final death toll at 173, ending search for survivors

    WHY - From the fire accident

    WHERE - In Tianjin, China

    HOW - Not given

Keywords:

1.sodium(n.) 鈉 

2.cyanide(n.) 氰化物

3.canister(n.) 罐; 筒

4.artillery(n.) 火砲

5.malfeasance(n.) 瀆職; 不正當

Week 4: American dentist, Walter Palmer, kill, Zimbabwean lion, Cecil

Cecil the lion: US dentist Walter Palmer who killed Zimbabwean lion returns to work amid protests

The Minnesota dentist who killed Zimbabwean lion Cecil, sparking a global outcry from animal lovers, has returned to work at his suburban Minneapolis office amid chants from protesters of "murderer" and "leave town".

Walter Palmer, 55, did not speak to reporters as he entered his Bloomington, Minnesota, dental practice.

He shut the practice in late July amid a firestorm of protests after he was publicly identified as the hunter who killed the rare black-maned lion weeks before.

The River Bluff Dental practice reopened in mid-August without Mr Palmer, who said on Sunday in a joint interview with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the Associated Press that he needed to resume his duties.

In the interview, Mr Palmer reiterated a statement he had made in July: that the hunt was legal and no one in the hunting party realised the targeted trophy kill was the well-known 13-year-old lion.

No charges have been filed against Mr Palmer.

Mr Palmer said in the interview he wounded the lion with a bow and arrow, tracked it and then delivered a final blow with another arrow over the course of far less than the 40 hours that has been widely reported by media.

The killing of Cecil triggered a storm of protests and threats on social media.

Vandals spray-painted "lion killer" at Mr Palmer's Florida vacation home and demonstrators built a small memorial of stuffed animals at the door of his practice and demanded he be charged and extradited.

Veronique Lamb, a 49-year-old tourist from Brussels, was among the protesters waiting for Mr Palmer on Tuesday, and said that she was there to protest the dentist returning to work "like nothing happened".

Cathy Pierce, 63, of East Bethel, Minnesota, said she would like to see Palmer lose his business.

"Maybe that would send a message that this kind of hunting is not accepted anymore," Ms Pierce said.

Zimbabwe said in July it had requested Mr Palmer's extradition as a "foreign poacher", but Mr Palmer would have to be charged in Zimbabwe before he could be extradited.

The US justice department has said it does not comment on extradition requests.

Regulated big-game hunting is permitted in Zimbabwe and a string of other African countries.

Bloomington Police were at Mr Palmer's office on Tuesday and have a security camera in the parking lot, deputy chief Mike Hartley said.

The department has not received any reports of threats to Mr Palmer's life, he said.

Week1: Mediterranean Sea, Migrant Shipwreck

Rescuers trying to save migrants after Mediterranean shipwreck

By Livia Borghese and Laura Smith-Spark, CNN

Updated 1733 GMT (0033 HKT) August 5, 2015 |

Rescuers are trying to save hundreds of migrants Wednesday after their fishing boat capsized off the coast of Libya, Cmdr. Filippo Marini of the Italian Coast Guard, which is coordinating the rescue operation, told CNN.

Ireland's Minister for Defense Simon Coveney said an Irish naval vessel is also involved in the rescue of approximately 600 people who were aboard the capsized boat. At least 165 people have been pulled from the water alive, but 17 bodies have also been recovered, he said, warning that the death toll is expected to rise.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have lost their lives, the survivors and the rescuers for whom this is an extremely difficult operation," Coveney said.

Two vessels operated by the medical aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) are also assisting near the shipwreck, just 15 miles off the Libyan coast. The medical group confirmed that there are "many" deaths at the scene but could not say how many.

The ships were sent to the scene after a distress call from the fishing boat, Marini said.

The boat crammed with migrants capsized as soon as the Irish vessel arrived, he said, likely because all those on board moved to one side at the same time. Rubber boats were immediately put into the water to save people as the boat went down.

MSF spokeswoman Sibylle Berger gave a different figure for how many people may have been aboard the vessel, saying it could have been as many as 700.

More ships, including Italian navy and coast guard vessels, are heading to the area to help in the rescue effort, Marini said.

http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/05/europe/mediterranean-migrants-shipwreck/

Structure of the Lead:

    WHO - Migrant

    WHEN - 2015

    WHAT - Rescuers trying to save migrants after Mediterranean shipwreck

    WHY - Not given

    WHERE - In Mediterranean Sea

    HOW - Not given

Keywords:

1.capsize(v.) 翻覆; 傾覆

2.coordinate(v.) 一致; 協調

3.approximately(adv.) 大概

4.toll(n.) 傷害人數

5.distress(n.) 不幸; 悲痛

Week3: MERS, South Korea, camels

South Korea reports first MERS deaths as camels in 

Seoul zoo isolated

By Vasudevan Sridharan June 2, 2015 08:30 BST

South Korea has reported first deaths caused by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) as authorities are battling to contain the spread of the disease.

A 58-year-old woman and a 71-year-old man were declared dead due to the disease at separate locations. They both came in contact with a MERS patient in mid-May, South Korean heath ministry officials said.

The identities of the victims were not released. So far 25 people have been diagnosed with the MERS virus infection, which belongs to the family of corona viruses.

Most cases were initially reported in Saudi Arabia and other states in the Middle East region but there was an outbreak in South Korea two weeks ago after travelers came in contact with infected patients.

About 700 South Koreans who have visited the region recently are being monitored and kept in isolation. Health officials are quarantining people who have come in contact with other patients.

"From now on, the government will mobilize all of its medical resources to eradicate any public concerns or fears as the issue is directly linked to the life and safety of our people," Choi Kyung-Hwan, finance minister and vice prime minister for economic affairs, told a meeting, according to Yonhap news agency.

Though experts believe the virus is not contagious, South Korea is pressing ahead with precautionary measures.

Camels, which are usually thought to be major reservoirs of the virus, in the Seoul GrandPark in Gwacheon have also been isolated following the outbreak. The animals' samples have been sent to the Research Institute of Public Health and Environment to check whether the virus has infected them.

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/south-korea-reports-first-mers-deaths-camels-seoul-zoo-isolated-1503944

Structure of the Lead:

    WHO - Not given

    WHEN - 2015

    WHAT - MERS outbreak in South Korea and causes the first death

    WHY - The disease doesn't have any vaccine to treat

    WHERE - In South Korea

    HOW - By traveling to Saudi Arabia or other Middle East regions, people bring the                                 MERS back

Keywords:

1.syndrome(n.) 綜合症; 併發症狀

2.diagnose(v.) 診斷; 判斷

3.corona(n.) 冠狀物

4.monitor(v.) 監督; 監視

5.quarantine(v.) 檢疫; 隔離

6.mobilize(v.) 動員; 調動

7.eradicate(v.) 根絕; 消滅

8.contagious(adj.) 會蔓延的; 感染性的

9.precautionary(adj.) 預先警戒的

10.reservoir(n.) 蓄積; 儲藏

Week2: FIFA Corruption Scandal

FIFA corruption scandal: Leadership contender Prince Ali says scandals have 'decimated' governing body

Calls are growing for a football outsider to take control

Ian Johnston | Sunday 27 September 2015 |

FIFA has been “shaken to its very core” by scandals that have “decimated our governing body”, presidency contender Prince Ali bin al-Hussein of Jordan has said. 

His comments, prompted by the criminal investigation into a £1.3m payment to Michel Platini allegedly authorized by Sepp Blatter, seemed designed to present the Jordanian royal as an anti-corruption candidate for football’s top job.

Swiss authorities began a criminal investigation into Mr. Blatter’s suspected payment of £1.3m to Mr. Platini in 2011 for work the Frenchman is said to have carried out between 1999 and 2002. 

It was unclear why the payment was made so late, but this is likely to have been a matter for discussion when Mr. Platini was questioned as a witness. Both men have denied any wrongdoing over the payment.

Campaigners said it was time an “eminent person” from outside sport took the helm at football’s world governing body, because even executives who had not done anything wrong were tainted by their lack of action.

Prince Ali, who stood unsuccessfully against Mr. Blatter earlier this year before a US investigation into alleged £100m bribery and racketeering conspiracy involving FIFA officials prompted the Swiss official to announce that he would stand down, said: “The need for new leadership that can restore the credibility of FIFA has never been more apparent. 

“We have to accept that changing FIFA is not a matter of choice; it has already changed, shaken to its very core by the scandals that have decimated our governing body and cast a cloud over the organization.” He said Mr. Blatter’s decision to quit had started “the process of change”.

“We have an opportunity in February to carry that momentum forward. We must now come together and work to restore FIFA’s credibility and reputation by bringing about the change that is so clearly needed,” Prince Ali said. “I have heard from many member associations over the last 24 hours, and what I have heard gives me confidence that, working together, we can emerge stronger.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/fifa-corruption-scandal-leadership-contender-prince-ali-says-scandals-have-decimated-governing-body-a6668421.html

Structure of the Lead:

      WHO - Prince Ali, Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter

      WHEN - 2015

      WHAT - Governing body has decimated by the corruption

      WHY - Mr. Blatter was suspected payment of £1.3m to Mr. Platini in 2011

      WHERE - Not given

      HOW - Not given

Keywords:

1. decimate(v.) 大幅縮減; 毀掉大部分

2. governing body(n.) 管理機構

3. prompt(v.) 促使; 引起

4. allegedly(adv.) 據宣稱; 據說

5. campaigner(n.) 社會運動人士

6. eminent(adj.) 卓越的; 明顯的

7. executive(adj.) 執行的; 行政的

8. racketeer(v.) 敲詐勒索

9. conspiracy(n.) 陰謀; 共謀

10. momentum(n.) 動力; 勢力