week9:south china sea dispute

The South China Sea dispute have been paused — between the PH and China — following the Philippines and Beijing’s new ties. Unlike the impending war that surrounds the contested islands before, different countries are now sailing freely in the South China seas.

On January 4, Wednesday, a group of Chinese warships, led by its sole aircraft carrier reportedly carried out weapon and equipment drills in the South China Sea. The Liaoning ship, in particular, led the exercises being held since last month. According to China, the Soviet-built Liaoning, and all the other ships conduct routine exercises that comply with international law.

“The Liaoning aircraft carrier group in the South China Sea is carrying out scientific research and training, in accordance with plans,” Geng Shuang, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, said during a news briefing. “The purpose is to test the performance of weapons and equipment.”

The United States’ warships have also conducted “freedom of navigations” patrols through the contested waters. That activity, which started last year, is due to the growing concern about a Chinese construction of air strips and docks on the disputed islands.

Meanwhile, another US rival visited Asia’s Philippines in a bid to strengthen military ties. CNN reports that two Russian warships landed in the PH this week as Moscow is also eyeing to play a big part in the disputed waters. On Tuesday, both the Russian sea tanker Boris Butomato and destroyer Admiral Tributs both arrived in Manila for what the Philippine Navy noted as a “goodwill visit.”

According to Lued Lincuna, Philippine Navy public affairs officer, there would be no joint exercises in the next five days.  However, the two countries are till having talks whether to hold future joint exercises. On the other hand, a Russian site called RT.com, said that the “Russian marines are expected to discuss and share tactics” with plans toward future joint exercises.

The Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte have been vocal about how he wants Russia’s military support. Additionally, he also eyes to purchase arms in the Putin- lead country.

http://www.dailydisruption.com/south-china-sea-dispute-russian-warships-visit-philippines-china-tests-weapons-disputed-region/1423

Structure of the Lead：

WHO -  South China Sea

WHEN -Jan 7, 2017

WHAT - not given

WHY -  group of Chinese warships, led by its sole aircraft carrier reportedly carried out weapon and equipment drills in the South China Sea.

WHERE - South China Sea

HOW -  not given

keyward:

1. impending即將到來的

2.warship軍艦

3.weapon武器

4.equipment設備

5.construction施工

6.destroyer驅逐艦

7.marines海軍陸戰隊

8.docks碼頭

9.ministry服務

10.particular特定

week8:pokemo go

Pedestrian deaths spiked to a 25-year high in Minnesota in 2016, illustrating what’s been a grim upward trend across the country in recent years. Experts tie it to more people driving and to more distractions such as smartphones that draw the attention of drivers and pedestrians away from the road.

Here’s a look at the issue and what’s being done to address it:

THE PROBLEM

Traffic deaths of all kinds have been rising nationally since 2009, but pedestrian deaths have been rising faster, and they have made up a growing share of all traffic deaths. According to the National Safety Council, they’ve risen from 4,109 in 2009, when they were 12 percent of all traffic deaths, to 5,376 in 2015, when they were 15 percent of the total. In California and New York state, pedestrian deaths make up about a fourth of the total.

National statistics for 2016 haven’t been compiled yet, and a sampling of preliminary data from a few states gives a mixed picture. Sixty pedestrians were killed in Minnesota in 2016, a steep climb from 17 in 2014 and 41 in 2015, according to preliminary figures from the state Department of Public Safety.

Among four big states that accounted for over 40 percent of the country’s pedestrian fatalities in 2015, the trend continued upward in Texas, which recorded 623 by Dec. 22, compared with 559 in all of 2015. California, which leads the nation in pedestrian deaths, saw a dramatic 42 percent rise from 596 in 2009 to 849 in 2015, although preliminary numbers for the first half of 2016 showed a 13 percent decrease compared with the same period in 2015. Preliminary figures from Florida show a dip to 582 last year after 632 in 2015. New York state has bucked the national trend for a few years; it was down to a preliminary 223 last year from 307 in 2015.

WHAT’S DRIVING THE INCREASE?

People are driving more as the economy improves, so more pedestrians are getting hit. Distracted drivers and pedestrians are another factor, said Kenneth Kolosh, statistics manager at the National Safety Council. Smartphone apps and texting take focus away from the road, he said. Even talking on a cellphone with a hands-free setup can be distracting.

“It’s hard to pinpoint causation, but we know that more people are walking, jogging and running more miles than ever for both recreation/health and just basic getting from place to place,” said Chris Cochran, spokesman for the California Office of Traffic Safety. “We know that drivers are increasingly more distracted, especially by mobile technology, plus there is more speeding. And we know that pedestrians are increasingly also distracted by mobile technology, plus more jaywalking and nighttime walking.”

WHAT’S BEING DONE?

The National Safety Council and federal agencies in October announced a campaign aimed at eliminating all traffic deaths and injuries within 30 years. It includes a push for self-driving cars. In November, the agency proposed voluntary guidelines to encourage electronic device developers to design products that limit the time a driver’s eyes are off the road.

There are also some local initiatives, such as one in New York City that combines educational outreach to walkers with enforcement focused on speeding, yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks and compliance with traffic signs and signals. Mayor Bill de Blasio credits it with reducing the city’s pedestrian deaths to 135 in 2015, the lowest since record-keeping began in 1910.

IS POKEMON GO PART OF THE PROBLEM?

Pokemon Go, in which players roam the real world while searching out digital monsters via GPS, was widely blamed as a potential distraction hazard after its release in July. But a search of news articles turned up only one pedestrian fatality in the U.S., involving a 14-year-old player in suburban Detroit who was killed in October by an allegedly drunk motorcyclist. A second fatality involving someone playing the game occurred in August in Japan.

Phoning and texting while driving or walking are considered bigger problems.

http://www.twincities.com/2017/01/08/minnesota-pedestrian-death-spike-illustrates-grim-u-s-trend/

Structure of the Lead：

WHO - pokemo go

WHEN - In2016

WHAT - Traffic deaths of all kinds have been rising nationally

WHY -Phoning and texting while driving or walking are considered bigger problems.

WHERE - Minnesota

HOW - not given

Keywords :

1.statistics統計數據

2.preliminary初步地

3.pedestrian行人

4.distracted分心

5. pinpoint查明

6. recreation娛樂

7.agency機構

8.eliminate消除

9.initiatives倡議

10.digital數字