Week7 - Taiwan’s ‘Gutter Oil’ Scandal

By THE EDITORIAL BOARDSEPT. 18, 2014

Since Sept. 4, the Taiwanese authorities have been struggling to control a food scare caused by 645 tons of adulterated cooking oil produced by the Chang Guann Company and distributed to more than 1,200 restaurants, schools and food processors. As of Monday, health authorities had identified a wide array of more than 1,300 food products tainted by the oil, including instant noodles, snacks, cakes, dumplings, bread, canned pork, meat paste and glutinous rice. Taiwan obviously needs a stronger food-safety policy with meaningful penalties.

Chang Guann has been buying what’s known as “gutter oil” — recycled oil from restaurant waste and animal byproducts — from an illegal factory and mixing it with lard to make its Chuan Tung cooking oil. Though the illegal factory had been in business for more than a decade, the authorities had failed to detect what it was up to. Chang Guann had also managed to delude inspectors. Recycled gutter oil can contain carcinogens. No case of illness has been reported so far. Chang Guann was fined a trifling $1.67 million for its illegal sales.

The investigation also revealed that Chang Guann had been importing lard from Hong Kong that was intended for industrial purposes but falsely listed by the Hong Kong company as fit for human consumption.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare is now working to set up a system to monitor about 100 oil manufacturers and 500 importers in Taiwan, requiring them to register information about their products. Submitting fraudulent information could lead to a maximum fine of $100,000 and suspension of business for one year.

The scare follows a series of other food scandals last year; in one case, a factory owner was sentenced to 16 years in prison for adding a banned coloring agent, copper chlorophyllin, to olive oil. The Taiwanese authorities need to be doing more than reacting to food-safety problems on an ad hoc basis to ensure that what people eat is safe.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/19/opinion/taiwans-gutter-oil-scandal.html?_r=0

Structure of the Lead: 

who - the Taiwanese authorities

when - Since Sept. 4

what - have been struggling to control a food scare

why - not given

where - Taiwan

how - caused by 645 tons of adulterated cooking oil produced by the Chang Guann Company

Keywords:

adulterated 攙雜，攙假

glutinous 黏的，黏稠的；黏著性的

Week6 - Iraq ISIS

Indonesia's Jakarta Post rejects blasphemy claim over IS cartoon

The Jakarta Post has defended the publication of a cartoon criticising Islamic State (IS) militants, after its editor was named in a defamation case.

The cartoon shows a flag similar to ones used by IS with the words "there is no God but Allah", and a skull and crossbones.

The phrase is considered sacred by Muslims and the cartoon was seen by some as offensive.

The newspaper called the cartoon a "journalistic piece".

IS, also known as Isis, is a militant Islamist group fighting a brutal campaign in Syria and Iraq.

'Not blasphemous'

Published on 3 July, the cartoon replaces the oval shape on the original flag with a skull and crossbones but leaves the Arabic religious phrase "Laa ilaaha illallaah", meaning "there is no God but Allah".

It also shows the words Allah and Muhammad, which are sacred to Muslims and found on IS flags, inside the skull shape.

The Post, a leading English-language daily, said the cartoon was meant as a critique of the use of religious symbols in acts of violence.

But some Muslim groups said the cartoon was offensive towards Islam. The Post apologised and retracted the cartoon on 8 July, saying it regretted the "error in judgement".

On Thursday, police named the Jakarta Post's editor-in-chief, Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, a suspect for religious defamation.

"We are amazed because the fact is we did not commit a criminal act as accused," the newspaper responded in a statement on Thursday.

"What we produced was a journalistic piece that criticised the Isis movement, which has carried out violence in the name of religion. It means that the Isis caricature was not blasphemous."

Rights group Amnesty International has condemned the move by police. In a statement the group said the incident went against President Joko Widodo's commitment to press freedom in Indonesia.

A police spokesman told the BBC Mr Suryodiningrat could be summoned next week. He could be facing five years in prison for religious blasphemy.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30444002

Structure of the Lead: 

who - The Jakarta Post

when - after its editor was named in a defamation case

what - has defended the publication of a cartoon criticising Islamic State (IS) militants

why - not given

where - Iraq

how - not given

Keywords:

blasphemy 褻瀆

cartoon （以政治、時事為題材的）諷刺畫

summon 召喚；傳喚；請求；要求

defamation 誹謗

Week5 - Ebola

Ebola out of headlines but on the horizon

By Irwin Redlener

November 28, 2014 -- Updated 1956 GMT (0356 HKT)

(CNN) -- Ebola may have faded from the headlines in the United States, but the threat -- to Africa and the rest of the world -- remains.

This month, the Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing on Ebola, including testimony by Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He noted that the CDC had lowered its estimate of the number of cases likely to emerge in West Africa. Despite this positive news, Ebola remains largely out of control in Sierra Leone.

The World Health Organization announced this month that Guinea is "relatively stable," but the recent spread of the virus into Mali only confirms the need for a greater sustained effort to combat Ebola at its origin.

That's why many experts are cautioning that declaring the emergency over is premature. And it's why the Obama administration and key members of Congress are requesting $6.1 billion to beef up our ability to eradicate Ebola and prepare for future epidemics.

There are two reasons why this emergency is far from over.

First, as long as Ebola rages in West Africa, health care systems in the United States and elsewhere will need to remain on high alert. There is no way to assure that Ebola -- or other known and unknown biological threats -- will be contained without the ability on a global scale to identify, manage, eradicate or even prevent these diseases from spreading.

Improving our capacity to develop vaccines, respond to crises overseas and develop other countermeasures for dangerous viruses are vital.

Second, the death from Ebola of Thomas Eric Duncan in Dallas was a powerful illustration of how unprepared we are to deal with large-scale biological threats. Few of the almost 5,000 hospitals in the United States are at the level of Bellevue Hospital Center in New York, Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, the University of Nebraska Medical Center or the handful of other facilities that have been designated as ready to handle Ebola-like illnesses.

Why aren't we ready? Part of the problem is that budget cuts over the last decade have slashed the federally funded Hospital Preparedness Program and special disaster funding for public health agencies. Indeed, since 2008, some 50,000 public health positions have been eliminated due to funding cuts.

For many public health agencies, even getting routine work done, never mind responding to crises, is proving a challenge for many communities in the United States.

The emergency funds being sought to respond to Ebola here and in Africa are critical to helping protect the American public.

The recent U.S. experience of Ebola was a wake-up call. But if the country hits the snooze button once the media coverage fades, we'll have missed a critical moment to deal not just with this deadly illness, but with future disasters, too

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/28/opinion/redlener-ebola-not-done/index.html?iref=allsearch

Structure of the Lead: 

who - Ebola

when - not given

what - may have faded from the headlines

why - not given

where - in the United States

how - not given

Keywords:

combat 反對

eradicate 連根拔除，根絕；消滅

countermeasure 對策；反抗手段

eliminate 排除，消除，消滅

snooze button 鬧鐘上的打盹按鈕

Week4 - Israel Gaza conflict

2 killed, 2 wounded in stabbing attacks on Israelis

By Josh Levs and Nic Robertson, CNN

November 10, 2014 -- Updated 2133 GMT (0533 HKT)

(CNN) -- First, a 20-year-old Israeli soldier was stabbed Monday in Tel Aviv. Then, three Israelis were stabbed at a hitchhiking post near the entrance to a settlement in the West Bank, police said.

One of the three, a 24-year-old woman, was killed, emergency services said. The soldier stabbed earlier also died of his wounds, according to the Israel Defense Forces.

In both incidents, the attackers were "terrorists," police said.

"The atmosphere of violence rides the wave of Palestinian incitement," Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Peter Lerner said on Twitter.

The incidents came amid simmering tensions -- not just between Israel and Palestinians, but also between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. Fatah controls the West Bank, while Hamas controls Gaza.

After the Tel Aviv stabbing, an 18-year-old Palestinian suspect from Nablus in the West Bank was arrested "with the help of eyewitnesses while he was hiding in an apartment building in the fourth floor nearby the central bus station," police spokeswoman Luba Samri said.

After the stabbings at the Alon Shvut junction in the West Bank, the attacker was shot by a security guard, police said.

The junction is the same site where three Israeli teens were kidnapped and later found dead, ultimately sparking an Israeli military campaign targeting Hamas in Gaza called Operation Protective Edge.

On Saturday, Israeli police shot and killed a Palestinian man who attacked police officers with a knife in a village in northern Israel, police said. The man killed was identified as Khair Hamdan. There were conflicting accounts of exactly what happened.

"These are difficult days," Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said about the stabbing Monday.

"I call on all elected officials, all our leaders, from all across the political spectrum, to stand united before the State of Israel. I place my trust in the security forces, that they will not rest until they return normality to our daily lives," he said.

Israel has faced stabbings from Palestinian terrorists before.

Last decade, Palestinian bus bombings and suicide attacks terrorized the country. The construction of the West Bank barrier has helped stave off some would-be bombers, while cutting off access to Jerusalem for many Palestinians.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/10/world/meast/mideast-violence/index.html?iref=allsearch

Structure of the Lead: 

who - three Israelis

when - Monday

what - were stabbed at a hitchhiking post

why - not given

where - near the entrance to a settlement in the West Bank

how - not given

Keywords:

hitchhiking 搭便車（旅行）

incitement 激勵；刺激；煽動

spectrum 光譜

Jerusalem 耶路撒冷

Palestinian 巴勒斯坦人（或居民）

Week3 - Robin Williams

12 August 2014 Last updated at 12:59

Robin Williams, actor and comedian, found dead at 63

US actor and comedian Robin Williams has been found dead, aged 63, in an apparent suicide.

Marin County Police in California said he was pronounced dead at his home shortly after officials responded to an emergency call around noon local time.

Williams was famous for such films as Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society and won an Oscar for his role in Good Will Hunting.

His publicist said he had been "battling severe depression".

In the past he had talked, and even joked, about his struggles with alcohol and drugs.

Williams had recently returned to a rehabilitation centre to "fine-tune" his sobriety, the Los Angeles Times reported in July.

The local Sheriff's office said Williams was found unconscious and not breathing at his home near Tiburon, north of San Francisco.

"At this time, the Sheriff's Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made," police said in a statement.

In a statement, Williams's wife, Susan Schneider, said she was "utterly heartbroken".

"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," she said.

"On behalf of Robin's family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin's death, but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions."

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-28749702

Structure of the Lead: 

who - US actor and comedian Robin Williams

when - aged 63

what - has been found dead

why - not given

where - in an apparent

how - suicide

Keywords:

depression 沮喪，意氣消沉

rehabilitation 修復；復興

sobriety 清醒；冷靜

asphyxia 窒息；悶死

utterly 完全地；徹底地；十足地

Week2 - Taipei MRT mass murder killer attack

MRT attacker kills 4 people, injures 22

KILLING SPREE:The attack was allegedly carried out by a student, who told police he had always wanted to ‘do something big’ and allegedly showed no signs of remorse

By Stacy Hsu  /  Staff writer, with CNA

A 21-year-old student allegedly killed four people and injured 22 yesterday in a random killing spree on a train of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system’s Bannan Line.

The four victims were a 47-year-old woman, a 62-year-old woman and two men aged 20 and 30. They had reportedly lost all vital signs before they were rushed to the New Taipei City Hospital’s Banciao Branch, the Taipei Hospital and the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital respectively.

It was the first deadly attack on an MRT train since the Taipei commuter rail system went into commercial service in 1996.

The suspect, who has been identified as Cheng Chieh (鄭捷) from Greater Taichung’s Tunghai University, allegedly started attacking passengers around him with a 30cm-long fruit knife while the train was traveling between the Longshan Temple Station and the Jiangzicui Station at approximately 4:26pm.

He was apprehended by security guards, police officers and other passengers shortly after the train stopped at the Jiangzicui Station, from where he was taken to the Jiangzicui police station for questioning.

According to New Taipei City Police Department Director-General Chen Kuo-en (陳國恩), Cheng boarded an MRT train heading to the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center at the Jiangzicui Station earlier in the afternoon and alighted at the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station.

He subsequently hopped on the ill-fated train heading to the Banciao Station before carrying out the killing spree, Chen added.

“The suspect told us that he had since elementary school wanted to ‘do something big’ and that he had shared the idea with some of his high-school and college classmates,” Chen said.

Chen said Cheng originally planned to execute the idea after he graduated from university, but decided to move it forward to yesterday after giving it some thought last week.

“He bought two fruit knives of different sizes from a supermarket before he boarded the trains… His blood-alcohol content registered 0.04mg/L and he has no medical records of mental illness,” Chen said.

“He showed no signs of remorse during questioning,” Chen added.

Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) said that for the next two weeks, the city government planned to deploy 80 special police officers to MRT stations to conduct routine patrols, to assist the 143 MRT police officers.

“Our priority is to restore order and security at MRT stations to make sure that our passengers do not feel afraid when taking the metro,” Hau said.

New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Hou You-yi (侯友宜) said the city government had instructed all available police officers to patrol the areas surrounding the city’s 34 MRT stations shortly after the incident, in an effort to tighten security.

Taipei Rapid Transit Corp (台北捷運公司) general manager Tan Gwa-guang (譚國光) said the company would give NT$4 million (US$132,000) in compensation to the families of the victims and would take care of all medical expenses incurred by the injured passengers.

Structure of the Lead: 

who - A 21-year-old student

when - yesterday

what - allegedly killed four people and injured 22 in a random killing spree

why - not given

where - on a train of the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system’s Bannan Line

how - not given

Keywords:

allegedly 據宣稱

remorse 自責

spree 狂歡作樂

approximately 大約

registered 登記過的;註冊的

compensation 賠償金

Week1 - Malala

Malala awarded Amnesty's highest honor

AFP
September 18, 2013, 12:21 am TWN

LONDON--Rights group Amnesty International announced on Tuesday it had awarded its highest honor to Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen shot in the head last year by the Taliban, for campaigning for girls' education.

Malala will share the 2013 Ambassador of Conscience Award with American singer and human rights activist Harry Belafonte, the London-based NGO revealed.

The award, which recognizes “individuals who have promoted and enhanced the cause of human rights through their life and by example,” will be presented by Irish rock singer Bono at a ceremony in Dublin, Ireland, on Tuesday.

“Our two new Ambassadors of Conscience are different from each other in many ways, but they share a dedication to the fight for human rights everywhere and for all,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.

“Harry and Malala are truly Ambassadors of Conscience, speaking up for universal rights, justice and human dignity and inspiring others to follow their example.”

Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban on a school bus last October, an attack that drew worldwide condemnation.

She was flown to Britain for surgery for her head injuries and returned to school in Birmingham in March.

The 16-year-old said she was “truly honored” to receive the award.

“I would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone that there are many millions of children like me across the world who fight every single day for their right to go to school,” she added.

“I hope that by working together we will one day realize our dream of education for every child, in every corner of the world.”

Emmy award winner Belafonte paid tribute to his co-winner.

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/middle-east/2013/09/18/389324/Malala-awarded.htm

Structure of the Lead: 

who - Malala Yousafzai

when - on Tuesday

what - LONDON--Rights group Amnesty International announced on Tuesday it had awarded its highest honor to Malala Yoˋusafzai.

why - the Pakistani teen shot in the head last year by the Taliban, for campaigning for girls' education.

where - Pakistan

how - not given

Keywords:

1. campaigning 參加活動

2. activist 激進分子 

3. speak out 不顧忌地道出

4. condemnation 譴責

5. tribute 貢金