Metal detectors cause uproar in Jerusalem
The metal detectors outside a holy site in East Jerusalem have been removed after an uproar from Palestinians. On Tuesday it was decided to remove and replace the detectors. There were deadly clashes after the metal detectors were introduced as Palestinians saw this as an Israeli attempt to gain control over the site. At least 8 people have been killed as the tensions grew.
Israel said they just want to make sure that nobody will be able to smuggle weapons onto the site. But the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he listened to the recommendations of UN´s Middle East envoy and took down the metal detectors. New security technology will be installed over the next six month and extra police officers will patrol the site.
The site in Jerusalem´s Old City is sacred to both Jews and Muslims. The area has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Middle East war. People from both religions are allowed to pray at the holy site and Israel has repeatedly pledged to maintain the status quo. The UN Security Council worried that the matter would get out of control and spread further through the Middle East.
holy (ˈhəʊli) – heilig
site (saɪt) – die Stelle, der Ort, die Stelle
to remove (rɪˈmu:v) – etw entfernen
uproar (ˈʌprɔ:ʳ) – der Aufruhr, der Tumult
attempt (əˈtem(p)t) – der Versuch
to gain control (geɪn kənˈtrəʊl) – die Kontrolle erlangen, übernehmen
tension (ˈten(t)ʃən) – die Spannung
to smuggle (ˈsmʌgl̩) – jdn/etw schmuggeln
weapon (ˈwepən) – die Waffe
recommendation (ˌrekəmenˈdeɪʃən) – die Empfehlung, der Vorschlag
envoy (ˈenvɔɪ) – der/die Gesandte, Bevollmächtigte
to patrol (pəˈtrəʊl) – patrouillieren
sacred (ˈseɪkrɪd) – heilig, sakral
occupation (ˌɒkjəˈpeɪʃən) – hier: die Besetzung
repeatedly (rɪˈpi:tɪdli) – wiederholt, mehrfach
to pledge (pleʤ) – etw versprechen, schwören
to maintain (meɪnˈteɪn) – etw beibehalten
status quo (ˌsteɪtəsˈkwəʊ) – der gegenwärtige Zustand
to spread (spred) – etw verbreiten
Trump speaks at Jamboree of the Boy Scouts
The Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America is held every four years. About 35,000 scouts came to the latest event held in West Virginia. The Boy Scouts are wholly non-partisan and do not promote any political views. The Jamboree had published a warning on their blog before the event reminding everyone to be respectful.
To invite the current president to speak is a long-standing tradition. But the speech president Trump gave evoked different reactions. He spoke about the election campaign, the fake media and even made fun of former president Barack Obama who couldn´t make it to one of the Jamborees in person during his two turns but addressed the Boy Scouts via video message.
Many parents were angry about president Trump´s speech and its content, saying he behaved disrespectful and failed to address the values the Boy Scouts stand for. Some parents even threatened to pull out their kids and demand a statement from the Boy Scouts organisation distancing itself from the speech. But not all the reactions were bad, some showed their support for the president during the speech with cheers and applause.
scout (skaʊt) – der/die Pfadfinder/in
wholly (ˈhəʊl(l)i) – ganz, völlig
non-partisan (ˌnɒn-ˌpɑ:tɪˈzæn) – unvoreingenommen, unparteiisch
to promote (prəˈməʊt) – etw fördern, für etw werben
to remind (rɪˈmaɪnd) – jdn erinnern
to invite (ˈɪnvaɪt) – jdn einladen
current (ˈkʌrənt) – jetzig, gegenwärtig
long-standing (lɒŋ-ˈstændɪŋ) – langjährig, seit langem bestehend
speech (spi:tʃ) – die Rede, die Ansprache
to evoke (ɪˈvəʊk) – etw hervorrufen, etw bewirken
election campaign (ɪˈlekʃən kæmˈpeɪn) – der Wahlkampf, die Wahlkampagne
even (ˈi:vən) – hier: selbst, sogar
former (ˈfɔ:məʳ) – ehemaliger, früherer
via (ˈvaɪə) – über, per
angry (ˈæŋgri) – verärgert, wütend
content (ˈkɒntent) – der Inhalt
to behave (bɪˈheɪv) – sich verhalten, sich benehmen
value (ˈvælju:) – der Wert, die Bedeutung
to demand (dɪˈmɑ:nd) – etw fordern, verlangen
support (səˈpɔ:t) – die Unterstützung
Trump bans transgender people from military service
Trump made an announcement on Twitter that transgender people are banned from serving in the US military. The White House says they do not yet know how the ban will be implemented or how it will affect current transgender service personnel. The reason for this decision is the “tremendous amount of money” that are provided for transgender people. Furthermore, they cause disruption in the military, Trump said on Twitter.
Once again the president´s announcement caused mixed reactions on Twitter and many people were shocked and upset about the decision. Transgender people currently serving in the military say most of the discrimination they experience comes from outside the military and not from the inside. A former Defence Secretary said they should choose their service members based on no other ground than military qualifications. Supporter of the ban, on the other hand, say that every dollar from military funding should go towards the defence of the country.
The decision to allow transgender people to serve in the military was made by the Obama administration last year. It came with a year review period and included a provision for the military to provide medical help for service members who want to change gender. About 4,000 active-duty and reserve service members are transgender. A study from 2016 conducted by the RAND Corporation states that the additional cost for transgender people would only be a drop in the bucket. Furthermore, the study says that only 1% would actually apply for transition-related treatment.
announcement (əˈnaʊn(t)smənt) – die Bekanntmachung, die Mitteilung
to ban (bæn) – etw verbieten, jdn ausschließen
to serve (sɜ:v) – etw ableisten, einer Sache dienen
to implement (ˈɪmplɪmənt) – etw realisieren, etw einführen, ausführen
current (ˈkʌrənt) – jetzig, gegenwärtig
personnel (ˌpɜ:sənˈel) – das Personal
reason (ˈri:zən) – der Grund
decision (dɪˈsɪʒən) – die Entscheidung
tremendous (trɪˈmendəs) – enorm, riesig
amount (əˈmaʊnt) – die Menge
disruption (dɪsˈrʌpʃən) – die Störung
upset (ʌpˈset) – verärgert, bestürzt
to base (beɪs) – auf etw basieren, begründen
ground (graʊnd) – hier: dr Grund, die Ursache
supporter (səˈpɔ:təʳ) – der Befürworter, der Anhänger
funding (ˈfʌndɪŋ) – die Finanzierung
defence (dɪˈfen(t)s) – der Schutz, die Verteidigung
review (rɪˈvju🙂 – die Überprüfung
to include (ɪnˈklu:d) – etw beinhalten, etw beifügen
provision (prə(ʊ)ˈvɪʒən) – die Versorgung, die Bereitstellung
gender (ˈʤendəʳ) – das Geschlecht
active-duty (ˈæktɪv-ˈdju:ti) – im Einsatz, aktiver Dienst
reserve service member (rɪˈzɜ:v ˈsɜ:vɪs ˈmembəʳ) – Mitglied der Reserve
to conduct (kənˈdʌkt) – etw durchführen, etw ausführen
additional (əˈdɪʃənəl) – zusätzlich
a drop in the bucket (drɒp ˈbʌkɪt) – ein Tropfen auf den heißen Stein
to apply (əˈplaɪ) – etw beantragen, sich um etw bemühen
transition-related treatment (trænˈzɪʃən– rɪˈleɪtɪd ˈtri:tmənt) – Behandlung zum Geschlechterwandel