Qatar pulls plug on 'The Danish Girl,' film about transgender artist

By Don Melvin, CNN

January 12, 2016

Authorities in Qatar have banned the movie "The Danish Girl," a story about a transgender Danish artist that opened over the weekend in several nations in the Middle East.

"We would like to inform you that we have communicated with the necessary departments and have banned showing the Danish film on movie screens," Qatar's Culture Ministry tweeted Tuesday.

Authorities did not provide a specific reason for banning the movie. Qatar is a conservative Muslim nation.

A fictionalized biopic

"The Danish Girl," has garnered positive reviews, and nominations for several awards, notably BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for best actor for Eddie Redmayne and best actress for Alicia Vikander.

Golden Globes 2016: The winners list

The film is fiction -- based loosely, however, on the lives of the Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage evolves, as does their work, as Lili undergoes a gender transition.

The nominations for the Oscars will be announced Thursday, and judging from its previous success, "The Danish Girl" seems likely to receive some Oscar nominations.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/12/middleeast/qatar-bans-danish-girl-movie/

WHEN:January, 2016

WHERE: Qatar

WHO:The Danish Girl,

WHAT:Authorities in Qatar have banned the movie "The Danish Girl," a story about a transgender Danish artist that opened over the weekend in several nations in the Middle East.

WHY:Authorities did not provide a specific reason for banning the movie. Qatar is a conservative Muslim nation.

HOW:have banned showing the Danish film on movie screens

1.         Authorities 當局、權威

2.         Qatar 科威特

3.         The Danish Girl 丹麥女孩

4.         tweet 在推特上發微博

5.         conservative 保守的

6.         fictionalized 把…編成小說

7.         biopic 傳記片

8.         loosely 不嚴謹的

9.         gender transition 變性

Zika Virus: What You Should Know

Zika virus, first identified in Uganda in 1947, is transmitted by the same type of mosquito that carries dengue fever, yellow fever, and chikungunya virus. A mosquito bites an infected person and then passes those viruses to other people it bites. Outbreaks did not occur outside of Africa until 2007, when it spread to the South Pacific.

CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, told reporters that “on occasion,” it may be spread through sexual contact or blood transfusions. The CDC has received 15 reports of possible spread of Zika through sex, meaning a person traveled to an area where Zika has broken out, got the virus, and gave the virus to a sexual partner who did not travel.

The CDC is aware of a report that Brazilian scientists have found the virus in the saliva and urine of infected people, Frieden said, but more information is needed.

What are the symptoms of Zika virus?

The disease can cause fever, rash, joint pain, and redness in the whites of the eye. But most people won’t know they have it.

“Only about 1 in 5 people with the virus will exhibit symptoms,” says Amesh Adalja, MD, a spokesman for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. “The vast majority have no symptoms at all.”

Adalja also says the virus rarely causes major complications. “It’s never been thought of as a severe infectious disease until now.”

But in rare cases, Zika has been associated with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a disorder that can cause partial or complete paralysis, usually starting in the legs, most often temporary. An increase in that illness has been seen in areas such as French Polynesia and Brazil, where a Zika epidemic has taken place. A study released Feb. 29 suggested Zika may cause the syndrome but could not prove it.

One U.S. case of Guillain-Barre that may be tied to Zika has been reported to the CDC, Frieden said. But “it’s very challenging to make the link in an individual case,” he said, as Guillain-Barre can also follow the flu or other infections.

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/zika-virus-symptoms-prevention

who: Zika virus, first identified in Uganda in 1947,

when:Outbreaks did not occur outside of Africa until 2007

where: Brazile

what: Zika virus

why: Outbreaks did not occur outside of Africa until 2007, when it spread to the South Pacific.

how: A mosquito bites an infected person and then passes those viruses to other people it bites.

1.          Zika virus 茲卡病毒

2.          infected 被感染的

3.          saliva 口水

4.          blood transfusion 血液傳染

5.          rash 輕率的

6.          joint pain 關節疼痛

7.          complication 糾紛、複雜

8.          syndrome 併發症

First on CNN: North Korea may have tested components of a hydrogen bomb

January 29, 2016
CNN Pentagon Correspondent

(CNN)The U.S. now believes North Korea might have attempted to test components of a hydrogen bomb on January 6, after further review and analysis of the latest intelligence information.

A U.S. official directly familiar with the latest U.S. assessment said there may have been a partial, failed test of some type of components associated with a hydrogen bomb.

The assessment comes after careful examination of the latest intelligence analysis of the test data. But the official emphasized there is no final conclusion.

Immediately following the test earlier this month, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said the initial analysis that have been conducted was "not consistent" with a successful hydrogen bomb test.

The U.S. still does not accept North Korea's claim that it tested a hydrogen bomb, but air sampling conducted after the test has proved inconclusive, the official said. That prompted another look at the seismic data.

That analysis shows the test was conducted more than two times deeper underground than originally assessed -- at a depth consistent with what might be needed for a hydrogen bomb.

However, the size of the seismic event and other intelligence indicates it was not likely a fully functioning device. The official said it's possible the North Koreans believe they conducted a full hydrogen bomb test, but the U.S. believes it was likely only some components, perhaps a detonator, that exploded.

http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/28/politics/north-korea-hydrogen-bomb-test/

WHEN: January, 2016

WHERE: North Korea

WHAT: North Korea may have tested components of a hydrogen bomb

WHO: North Korea; The U.S.

WHY: further review and analysis of the latest intelligence information.

HOW: The assessment comes after careful examination of the latest intelligence analysis of the test data.

1.          component 成分

2.          hydrogen 氫

3.          assessment 評估

4.          partial 偏袒的

5.          inconclusive 不確定的、非決定性的

6.          seismic  重大的

7.          detonator 引爆裝置

New COP21 President Sets Out Priorities

New COP21 President Sets Out Priorities

The new President of the UN climate change process, French Minister of the Environment, Energy and the Sea Ségolène Royal, made her first visit Monday 22 February to the secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and underlined the need for continued momentum to build on the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement, which was reached in the French capital in December.

Following a meeting with UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres and other senior UN staff in Bonn, President Royal outlined three top priorities for the remainder of the French Presidency: To ensure the swift signing, ratification and implementation of the Paris agreement; to accelerate the climate action coalitions agreed in Paris between governments, cities, business and investors; and to strengthen the link between climate change and sustainable development.

“We now have a concrete action agenda. People all over the world want to do concrete things, immediately. The key is to accelerate the wonderful coalition that we agreed on Paris and move forward with those,” she said.

Important elements of the action agenda summed up by President Royal include the new solar alliance led by India and France, the geothermal alliance led by Iceland, a coalition to improve the energy efficiency of buildings; along with coalitions on risk prevention, agriculture, forests, water, oceans and putting a price on carbon.

It was her first visit to the UNFCCC secretariat since being appointed COP21 President by French President François Hollande. She replaces the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development Laurent Fabius, who recently assumed the new post of Presidency of the French Constitutional Court (further information).

In a message to governments, President Royal pledged to build on the momentum of the Paris Agreement in conjunction with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, and to hand the Presidency to Morocco this November “under the best possible circumstances.”

Madame Royal praised the effort of government negotiators in securing the  Paris Agreement and added: “I am also aware of the unprecedented momentum coming from civil society in the broadest sense to contribute to this mobilization and provide practical solutions to address the challenge.”

Ms Figueres said: “I thank Minister Fabius again for his outstanding diplomacy and leadership as COP 21 President and I warmly welcome Minister Royal to the post. Her championship of climate action around the world is especially important this year as governments work to implement the full scope of the Paris Agreement as fast as possible.”

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited governments to sign formally the Paris Climate Change Agreement in New York on 22 April. “The world now has a universal, fair, flexible and durable climate agreement,” Mr. Ban said last week. “Our task is not over. In fact, it has just begun. In 2016, we must go from words to deeds. The 22 April signature ceremony is an essential step.”

http://www.cop21.gouv.fr/en/new-cop21-president-sets-out-priorities/

WHAT: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 

WHEN: Monday 22 February 

WHERE: Paris

WHO: Presidents, Ministers

WHY: climate action around the world is especially important this year

HOW: build on the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement

1.          momentum氣勢

2.          agenda 議程

3.          ratification 批准

4.          implementation 履行

5.          sustainable 可持續的

6.          coalition 聯合

7.          conjunction 結合

8.          circumstance 環境、情況

9.           negotiator 交涉者、談判者

10.      unprecedented 前所未有的

11.       diplomacy 外交

The Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

February 1, 2016 8:55 am
VW Staff

In September 2015 the Volkswagen Group was found to have been cheating emissions tests by making it seem that certain cars produced far fewer emissions than was actually the case. The story broke when the US Environmental Agency discovered that many of Volkswagen’s diesel cars emitted up to 40 times more fumes than the permitted limit. They achieved this through the installation of software (known as the ‘defeat device’), which could sense it was running under test conditions and alter its performance accordingly.

Although this issue started with Volkswagen cars in the USA, it has since spread to other brands in other countries and the number of cars affected is thought to be around 11 million.

This infographic cuts through all of the stories and rumours about the scandal to give you the facts about what has happened, the cars affected, what Volkswagen are doing about it, how you can check if your car has the defeat software installed and the effect Volkswagen’s actions have had on the environment and on public health. Of course, part of the issue most discussed in relation to this scandal is the legal ramifications. This infographic looks at this and gives you the most common reasons drivers may be able to make a claim against Volkswagen.

http://www.valuewalk.com/2016/02/volkswagen-emissions-scandal/

WHO: the Volkswagen Group

WHERE: GERMANY

WHEN: September 2015

WAHT: The Volkswagen Emissions Scandal 

WHY: the Volkswagen Group was found to have been cheating emissions tests by making it seem that certain cars produced far fewer emissions than was actually the case. 

HOW: US Environmental Agency discovered that many of Volkswagen’s diesel cars emitted up to 40 times more fumes than the permitted limit.

1.          Volkswagen 德國福斯汽車

2.          scandal 醜聞

3.          emission 排放

4.          diesel 柴油引擎

5.          emit 發出

6.          permit 允許

7.          installation 裝置、安裝

8.          infographic 資料圖表

9.          rumour 謠傳、傳聞

10.     ramification 後果

Hungarian reporter fired after deliberately tripping Syrian refugee

By Staff writer

Al Arabiya News

Wednesday, 9 September 2015

A Hungarian camerawomen was fired Tuesday for deliberately tripping a Syrian refugee, the local news channel N1TV, where she worked, said in a statement.

Petra Lazlo, who is a member of the anti-immigration group and a worker for N1TV station, was caught on camera sticking her leg out as a father carrying his son runs past, causing them both to fall down on the ground at the Roszke immigrant camp on the Hungary-Serbia border during a police crackdown on immigrants.

She was also caught on camera kicking refugees fleeing the camp, including a young girl.

“The N1TV colleagues today behaved unacceptably in Roszke collection point. Our working relationship with the camerawoman has ended. The case was considered closed our part,” The Telegraph newspaper quoted the news station as saying in a statement.

Lazlo’s video was widely shared on social media after it was posted by German reporter Stephan Richter on Twitter.

The migrants were part of a group of 1,500 people who had been waiting for hours at a refugee collection point near the Roszke crossing.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/09/09/Hungarian-reporter-fired-after-deliberately-tripping-Syrian-refugees-.html

what: Hungarian reporter fired after deliberately tripping Syrian refugee

where: the Roszke immigrant camp on the Hungary-Serbia border

who: a camerawomen and Syrian refugee

when: September 2015

why: a member of the anti-immigration group

how; sticking her leg out as a father carrying his son runs past, causing them both to fall down on the ground 

1.         Syrian refugee 敘利亞難民

2.         Hungarian 匈牙利的

3.         camerawoman 攝影女記者

4.         anti-immigration group 反移民團體

5.         deliberately 故意地

6.         stick 伸出

7.         trip 絆倒

8.         quote 引述

9.         unacceptably 不能被接受地

Tianjin Explosion: Blast In Warehouse Illegally Storing Chemicals, 2 Months After Deadly Disaster

Oct. 13, 2015

Tianjin was hit by a warehouse blast Monday night, just two months after explosions rocked the port city in northern China leaving over 160 people dead.

The incident took place at a warehouse storing "alcohol materials" in Beichen district's Xiditou Township, China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported, adding that there were no casualties. Nearly 6,600 pounds of alcohol were being stored in the 7,500 square-foot warehouse, the Associated Press reported, citing Tianjin government's news office.

Two people have been detained for illegally using the warehouse to store chemicals, China’s local network CCTV News reported, adding that an investigation is underway.

The Tianjin government also reportedly said the incident posed no hazardous risks to people or the environment.

In August, a warehouse complex storing large amounts of hazardous chemicals caught fire and exploded in Tianjin, 90 miles southeast of Beijing, killing 165 people and leaving eight missing. Last month, authorities announced they were ending search for the missing people and a court will issue death certificates for those unaccounted for.

Several arrests have been made in connection with the deadly Aug. 12 explosions at the Ruihai International Logistics warehouse. Investigations showed the warehouse stored at least 700 tons of sodium cyanide, which can form a toxic vapor when combined with water.

According to Chinese safety regulations, large warehouses of hazardous chemicals cannot be located within a kilometer, or 0.6 miles, of residential sites, public buildings or transportation lines. But the warehouse in Tianjin did not adhere to these standards, with at least three residential complexes built within a kilometer of the site.

http://www.ibtimes.com/tianjin-explosion-blast-warehouse-illegally-storing-chemicals-2-months-after-deadly-2138571

who: 165 people and leaving eight missing

what: warehouse blast

when: Monday night

where: Tianjin, China

why: Illegally Storing Chemicals

how: Nearly 6,600 pounds of alcohol were being stored in the 7,500 square-foot warehouse

1.          blast 爆炸

2.          warehouse 倉庫

3.          square-foot 平方公尺

4.          casualties 傷亡人員

5.          detained 被拘留

6.          underway 進行中的

7.          certificate 證明

8.          vapor 蒸氣、煙霧

9.          adhere 依附、黏著

10.      sodium cyanide 【化學】氰酸鈉