Week 4 - Gaza conflict

Gaza conflict: Can economic isolation ever be reversed?

(CNN) -- The horrific loss of life from the three week conflict in Gaza can never be valued -- but the economic fallout from war is also devastating the local population.In the case of Gaza, a seven year air and sea blockage imposed by Israel since Hamas came to power has isolated its economy.The blockade has limited supplies of concrete and basic construction materials as well as medical supplies and food stuffs.According to the World Bank, half of Gaza's 1.8 million residents live in poverty and one out of every three workers is unemployed.

As Gaza's official economy has contracted, the shadow economy -- also known as the tunnel economy -- blossomed.
Underground tunnels were built by Gazans to circumvent the blockade allowing goods to be illegally smuggled from Egypt.
But the tunnels have also been used by Hamas to bring in weapons and launch attacks on Israel.
CNN's John Defterios sat down Middle East strategist David Butter to ask what could reverse the isolation of the Gaza economy.
He started by asking how the situation has changed over the last six to 12 months.
David Butter (DB): What's changed in the last year is the closure of the tunnels by the Egyptian government
This was handling up to 200 tons of trade every day. Fuel was running through, cars (too). It was a thriving (entryway) for bringing things in and of course Hamas was collecting a lot of revenue from customs and licenses on these tunnels.

John Defterios (JD): What are the conditions on the ground for Palestinians today with the tunnels shut and before the strikes?

DB: About half of the Gaza population receive humanitarian support from the UN. There's also salaries coming in from the Palestinian Authority to its members of the civil service -- there's about 70,000 of those.
But without that trade coming in through the Rafah crossing from Egypt, the situation is becoming increasingly more subdued and desperate for the people on the ground.

JD: Grinding poverty and the desire by Hamas to strike at Israel. Would you say there is a direct link?

DB: Well, I think the timing of this escalation is linked to a number of things. Obviously we have the breakdown of the peace process. We have the reconciliation if you like, the unity government between Hamas and Fatah.But certainly from the Hamas point of view, the desperation they were in may have driven them to risk getting involved in this escalation on the assumption that a major crisis would result in a major reappraisal of the entire economic situation.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/03/business/gaza-economic-isolation-mme/index.html?iref=allsearch

Structure of the Lead：
WHO-the local population
WHEN-from war
WHAT- the economic fallout
WHY-not given
WHERE-in Gaza
HOW-devastating

Keywords：
1.fallout：餘波
2.devastating：破壞性的
3. impose：強加、施
4.blockade：封鎖、封鎖線
5.poverty：貧窮、缺乏
6.circumvent：規避
7. reverse：逆轉
8.closure：關閉、閉鎖
9.humanitarian ：人道主義
10.escalation：升級
11.reappraisal：重新評價

Week 3 - Robin Williams

Robin Williams' death leaves friends, fans with questions

As the investigation into Robin Williams' death continues, friends and fans are still trying to process why he took his own life.

Preliminary results of the forensic exam indicate the cause of death was "asphyxia due to hanging," said Lt. Keith Boyd, assistant deputy chief coroner for the Marin County Sheriff's Office, on Tuesday. A time of death has yet to be established.

Toxicology tests, which are expected to take two to six weeks, will reveal whether Williams had any alcohol or drugs in his system.

Boyd said Williams had been receiving "treatment for depression" but declined to offer more details.

Friends told The Times that Williams seemed to be pulling away recently.

"He started to disconnect," comedian Rick Overton, a friend of Williams' since the 1970s, said Tuesday. "He wasn't returning calls as much. He would send texts and things like that, but they would get shorter and shorter."


In a Times review of Williams' last few months, friends said he wrestled with the cancellation of his CBS series "The Crazy Ones" and fought to maintain his sobriety.

Neighbors said they were stunned by his death.

On Monday, people who live in the area expressed sadness at their neighbors' death.

Kelly Cook, 50, called him "brilliant," as well as "really quiet and private." An avid cyclist, he was often seen riding the Paradise loop, which hugs the Tiburon peninsula.Cook's children called him "the funny man" and would greet him as such when he was out walking his pug, Lenny (after another famous comedian). He joked around easily with them, Cook said, "because they were kids."

"It's just so sad when depression takes someone like that," she said, sharing that her good friend had also committed suicide.

On Tuesday, authorities provided more details about his death.

Rigor mortis had already set in by the time Williams' assistant discovered the body in a slightly elevated position with a belt around the neck, Boyd said.The assistant, whose name was not released, called 911 at 11:55 a.m. Monday to report the incident.

Williams, 63, also had recent, but superficial cut marks on his left wrist. A pocket knife was found near his body, with a dried substance resembling blood.

Williams and his wife, Susan Schneider, were alone Sunday night in their home, which fronts San Francisco Bay, Boyd said. Sheriff's officials had previously said Williams was last seen at 10 p.m., but Boyd said Schneider retired to a bedroom at 10:30 p.m.

Schneider left home at 10:30 a.m. the next day, believing her husband was OK, Boyd said. At 11:45 a.m., the personal assistant became concerned when Williams failed to respond to knocks at his door, Boyd said.When the assistant entered, Williams was unresponsive, clothed and "cool to the touch," Boyd said. The belt was wedged between the closet door and the door frame, Williams' right shoulder was touching the door and his body was "slightly suspended," as though in a seated position.


Tiburon Fire Department personnel pronounced Williams dead at 12:02 p.m., Boyd said. Due to concerns about photos being taken or released, his body was taken to Napa County for an autopsy, Boyd added.

Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Timeshttp://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-robin-williams-friends-fans-questions-20140813-story.html




Structure of the Lead：
WHO-friends and fans
WHEN-As the investigation
WHAT-trying to process
WHY-Robin Williams took his own life
WHERE-not given
HOW-not given

Keywords：
1.process：對...處置
2.forensic：法庭的
3.asphyxia：窒息、昏厥
4.sobriety：清醒
5.substance：物質、體
6.resembling：類似、相似
7. unresponsive：反應遲鈍的
8.wedge(d)：卡、楔
9.seated position：坐姿
10.autopsy：屍檢