Meeting between South and North Korea
The leaders of North and South Korea met for the first time since the 1950s. Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in met for a handshake and a long conversation to talk about the future of their countries. The meeting was mostly held outside and for people to see, not like other state summits. It had rather broad implications for the world, with peace for North and South Korea finally on the table.
They met in a village in the demilitarized zone. Before that they each crossed the border into the other man´s country and then, hand in hand, they went to the neutral meeting place. Every step was filmed and documented and seemed almost choreographed. They spoke for 30 minutes without the help of their aides, just the two of them. Furthermore, they replanted a tree with soil and water from both countries.
The two leaders discussed denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and a permanent peace treaty. The summit received a lot of attention – the people in South Korea happily watched the meeting as hope for peace grows within them. Although the Korea War ended in 1953 with an armistice an official peace treaty was never signed.
But among the congratulations on this historic meeting there are also doubts about whether the past can really be left behind. It all depends on the willingness of Kim Jong-un to stick to the agreements.
handshake (hændʃeɪk) – der Handschlag, das Händeschütteln
state summit (steɪt ˈsʌmɪt) – das Gipfeltreffen
broad (brɔ:d) – breit, weitreichend, vielseitig
implication (ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən) – die Implikation, Auswirkung, Folge
finally (ˈfaɪnəli) – endlich, schließlich
demilitarized zone (di:ˌmɪlɪtəraɪzdˈzəʊn) – die entmilitarisierte Zone
to cross (krɒs) – hier: etw überqueren, durchqueren
border (ˈbɔ:dəʳ) – die Grenze
almost (ˈɔ:lməʊst) – fast, beinahe
aide (eɪd) – der Berater
to replant (ˌri:ˈplɑ:nt) – etw umpflanzen, neu pflanzen
soil (sɔɪl) – die Erde, Boden
denuclearization (ˌdi:ˈnju:kliəraɪzeɪʃn) – die Denukliarisierung
peninsula (pəˈnɪn(t)sjələ) – die Halbinsel
peace treaty (pi:s ˈtri:ti) – der Friedensvertrag, das Friedensabkommen
armistice (ˈɑ:mɪstɪs) – der Waffenstillstand
May Day
Thousands of people all over the world have marched the streets on Tuesday, May 1st for anti-austerity and poor workers. Vast crowds gathered in Russia, Turkey, Cambodia, Greece, Indonesia, South Korea and many more places. The day is also known as International Worker´s Day, Labour Day or simply May Day. People gather as a celebration of labourers and the working class. It is also a day to remind the government to address issues like low wages, unemployment or working conditions.
The first year the May Day was celebrated was in 1890. The day was named after an incident in North America in 1886 when people marched the street and demanded an 8-hour working day. During a strike in Chicago it came to confrontations between protesters and the police. The violence escalated and seven policemen and more than 20 protesters died. May 1st was chosen as a memorial day for the victims and as a symbol for the fight of the working class.
The German trade union confederation had organised two rallies through the city centre for May 1st in Leipzig to fight for solidarity and equality.
austerity (ɒsˈterəti) – die Entbehrung, Entsagung
poor (pɔ:ʳ) – arm, bedürftig
vast (vɑ:st) – gewaltig, riesig
celebration (ˌseləˈbreɪʃən) – die Feier
labourer (ˈleɪbərəʳ) – der/die Arbeiter/in
issue (ˈɪʃu:) – das Thema, die Angelegenheit
wage (weɪʤ) – der Lohn
unemployment (ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt) – die Arbeitslosigkeit
to demand (dɪˈmɑ:nd) – etw fordern, verlangen
to escalate (ˈeskəleɪt) – eskalieren, ausweiten
memorial day (məˈmɔ:riəl deɪ) – der Gedenktag
trade union confederation (treɪd ˈju:njən kənˌfedəreɪʃən) – die Gewerkschaft
rally (ˈræli) – die Massenversammlung, Treffen
equality (ɪˈkwɒləti) – die Gleichberechtigung, Gleichheit
Pope Mobil
Lamborghini gifted a Huracán RWD Coupé to the Pope in November of last year, the sport car was custom made for the pope, with white exteriors and golden detailing to match the pope’s clothes as well as the Vatican City flag. The car is also trimmed with white leather and signed on the hood by the pope himself.
The car has been parked in storage since last year and the pope has decided to auction off the car on May 12 for charity. The auction house expects the Lamborghini to go for as much as $303,000 to $425,000.
The proceeds of the car will be divided as follows: 70% to Nineveh, a city in Iraq under siege by ISIS, 10% to ‘Amici per il Centrafrica Onlus’, 10% to Groupe International Chirurgiens Amis de la Main (GICAM) and 10% to the Pope John XXIII Community Association.
gifted (ˈgɪftəd) – etw. verschenken
custom made (ˈkʌstəm meɪd) – maßgeschneidert
exteriors (ɛkˈstɪriərz) – die Außenseiten, das Äußere
detailing (dɪˈteɪlɪŋ) – die Verzierungen
trimmed (trɪmd) – getrimmt
signed (saɪnd) – unterschreiben
hood (hʊd) – die Haube
auction (ˈɑkʃən) – die Auktion
charity (ˈʧɛrɪti) – die Stiftung
proceeds (prəˈsidz) – die Einnahmen
siege (siʤ) – die Belagerung