North Korea in South Korea
Due to the Winter Olympics climates between North and South Korea became warmer. Kim Jong.un called for further reconciliation. He praised the South for hosting his state at Pyeonchang. He was supported by his sister who led the allegation from the North. This visit represents the most senior delegation from the North to visit the South since the Korean War in the 1950s.
The views on the participation of North Korea on the Games differ. On the one hand it is a step closer to better relations between the North and the South. But on the other hand it gives North Korea an opportunity for a propaganda victory. Kim Jong-un gave instructions and advice on how to further liven up the warm climate between North and South Korea.
South Korea´s president Moon was invited to Pyonyang. This would be the first meeting in more than a decade between Korean leaders. The countries never signed a peace treaty and a feeling of mutual distrust still exists. The US said there were open to talk with North Korea but also stated they would continue to put pressure on the country until they actually showed some action.
reconciliation (ˌrekənsɪliˈeɪʃən) – die Versöhnung, Annäherung
to host (həʊst) – etw ausrichten, jdn empfangen, bewirten
allegation (æləˈgeɪʃən) – die Behauptung, Anschuldigung
senior (ˈsi:niəʳ) – hochrangig, führend
delegation (ˌdelɪˈgeɪʃən) – die Abordnung, Entsendung
participation (pɑ:ˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃən) – die Teilnahme
opportunity (ˌɒpəˈtju:nəti) – die Gelegenheit, Möglichkeit
instruction (ɪnˈstrʌkʃən) – die Anweisung
advice (ədˈvaɪs) – der Rat, Empfehlung
to invite (ˈɪnvaɪt) – jdn einladen
peace treaty (pi:s ˈtri:ti) – der Friedensvertrag
mutual (ˈmju:tʃu:əl) – gegenseitig, beiderseitig
distrust (dɪˈstrʌst) – jdm misstrauen
Benjamin Netanyahu faces allegations of bribery
Israel´s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands amid allegations of bribery. The police called for him to be charged. Now he responded that the allegations are baseless and pledged to continue as leader. He said he feels confident that the truth would be revealed. The police on the other hand say they have enough evidence to indict him for bribery, fraud and breach of confidence in two separate cases.
Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Israel´s Prime Minister for a total of twelve years now. The next elections are scheduled for November 2019. Over the years Netanyahu has been subject of at least 15 enquiries and investigations and has been questioned by the police at least seven times. But he is positive that these allegations will end in nothing just like all the others before.
Allegedly he asked a publisher for positive coverage in the newspapers and he received gifts worth a couple hundred thousand euros from supporters. It could take a few years before Netanyahu could face charges. The opposition has called for Netanyahu to resign. Despite the heated debate about the situation within Israel the international reaction has been more muted.
amid (əˈmɪd) – inmitten, bei
bribery (ˈbraɪbəri) – die Bestechung
to respond (rɪˈspɒnd) – erwiedern, antworten
baseless (beɪsles) – unbegründet, grundlos, haltlos
to pledge (pleʤ) – das Versprechen, Zusicherung
confident (ˈkɒnfɪdənt) – zuversichtilich, überzeugt, selbstsicher
to reveal (rɪˈvi:l) – etw zeigen, enthüllen, preisgeben
to indict (ɪnˈdaɪt) – jdn anklagen, Anklage erheben
fraud (frɔ:d) – der Betrug, Schwindel
to schedule (ˈʃedju:l) – etw festlegen, ansetzen, anberaumen
enquiry (ɪnˈkwaɪəri) – die Anfrage, Erkundigung
investigation (ɪnˌvestɪˈgeɪʃən) – die Untersuchung, Ermittlung
at least (æt li:st) – wenigstens, zumindest, mindestens
coverage (ˈkʌvərɪʤ) – die Berichterstattung
charge (tʃɑ:ʤ) – die Anklage, Anklagepunkte
to resign (rɪˈzaɪn) – kündigen, zurücktreten
mute (mju:t) – gedämpft, gedeckt, dezent
Florida School Shooting
At least 17 people have been killed in a high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. The suspect is a former student who had been expelled for disciplinary reasons. This is the sixth school shooting in 2018 that has either wounded or killed students. Furthermore, it is the deadliest shooting since the school shooting in Connecticut in 2012. The victims are still being identified. Two people died in the hospital, three remain in critical condition and three others are stable.
The shooter killed three people outside before running into the school and setting off the fire alarm. Students and staff said they heard what sounded like gunfire just at the end of the day on Wednesday. Many students thought it was a fire drill because of the alarm but they barricaded doors and hid in closets and under tables when they heard the shots.
Police and swat team members swarmed the campus and began clearing students. The shooter has been taken an hour after he had left the school premises after the shooting. Police is checking his social media accounts and they found many disturbing pictures of the shooter, even some of him posing with a gun. The school had apparently just undergone training for such a situation six weeks ago.
suspect (səˈspekt) – der Verdächtige
former (ˈfɔ:məʳ) – ehemalige, frühere
to expel (ɪkˈspel) – jdn ausschließen, verweisen
to remain (rɪˈmeɪn) – verbleiben, zurückbleiben
condition (kənˈdɪʃən) – der Zustand, Verfassung
staff (stɑ:f) – die Belegschaft, Personal
gunfire (gʌnˈfaɪəʳ) – die Schießerei, Schüsse
drill (drɪl) – Training, Übung
closet (ˈklɒzɪt) – der Schrank, Abstellraum
premises (ˈpremɪsɪz) – das Gebäude, Gelände, Grundstück
disturbing (dɪˈstɜ:bɪŋ) – beunruhigend, verstörend
apparently (əˈpærəntli) – offensichtlich, anscheinend