North Korea Re-Elects Leader
North
Korea announced on Thursday (April 9) its leader Kim Jong-il has been
re-elected as chairman of the National Defence Commission.
North Korea planned to hold a meeting on Thursday for its newly
elected assembly, expected to mark leader Kim Jong-il's return to
centre stage where he will bask in the glory of what his state said was
a triumphant rocket launch.
Kim, 67, has been conspicuously absent from major public events
after his suspected stroke in August, which raised questions about his
iron grip over the impoverished communist dynasty and the issue of a
successor.
DPRK, standing for "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," is North Korea's official name.
North Korea's state-run television KRT made the announcement at
0300GMT, but has not yet shown any pictures of the assembly on
Thursday.
Analysts said the carefully choreographed session of the
rubber-stamp Supreme People's Assembly session would give Kim a mandate
that cements his legacy of building a military-first state and could
pave the way to transfer power to one of his three known sons, if he so
chooses.
North Korea's propaganda machine has been carefully managing the
re-emergence of Kim from his illness through dispatches about his field
guidance tours to factories and military bases, while only showing
still photographs of the visits.
It prepared the public for his full return by saying he was on
hand Sunday (April 5) to watch the rocket launch. On Tuesday (April 7),
it showed video footage of the launch on state TV followed by a
documentary on Kim where the public saw recent video of him for the
first time since his suspected stroke.
At the first session of the new parliament that sits for five
years, there is expected to be a further reshuffling of the power
apparatus with the National Defence Commission, which is the seat of
power in the reclusive state, likely to be expanded in a way that
further strengthens Kim, the commission chairman.
bask - derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in; "She relished her fame and basked in her glory"
conspicuously
adv. noticeably, in an obvious manner
dispatch - an official report (usually sent in haste)
reshuffle
v. rearrange, reorder; redistribute jobs within a company; ; rearrange the members of the cabinet
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
090403-Obama Charms French Citizens
Obama Charms French Citizens
U.S. President Barack Obama urged countries around the world on Friday (April 3) to move promptly to combat global warming.
Obama has arrived in France for a summit celebrating the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), but is also trying to win endorsement of his new Afghanistan strategy from both senior officials and citizens.
The strategy broadens the focus to include Pakistan and puts the highest priority on the defeat of al Qaeda militants. (Looking to engage sceptical Europeans in the war, Obama said they were more threatened by al Qaeda than America.)
"We all know that time is running out," Obama told a U.S.-style town hall meeting in the French city of Strasbourg. "America must do more, Europe must do more."
....
"This is a mission that tests whether nations can come together in common purpose on behalf of our common security. That's what we did together in the 20th Century, and now we need an alliance that is even stronger than when it brought a might wall in Berlin," he told his audience at the Rhenus Sports Arena.
He charmed the audience with banter and laughter, chatting with audience members before they asked questions.
An unidentified female audience member asked Obama if he ever regretted running for the presidency.
Joking at first that his wife Michelle asks the same question, he encouraged the young audience to participate in politics.
"Get involved. And it does mean that sometimes you'll get criticised and sometimes you'll fail and sometimes you'll be disappointed. But you'll have a great adventure and at the end of your life hopefully you'll be able to look back and say, 'I made a difference'," he said.
Obama has been greeted like a hero by the crowds in Strasbourg.
The warm reception has stood in stark contrast to the often cold welcome reserved for his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, who was hugely unpopular on this side of the Atlantic thanks largely to his decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
running out
being finished, decreasing in amount; exhaustion, being used up; moving outdoors quickly
might
n. strength, power, force; bravery
banter
v. joke, tease, converse in friendly manner
laughter
n. act of laughing; sound which expresses amusement (or scorn, etc.); cheerfulness, mirthfulness
stand
v. be upright on one's feet; get up; place upright; rise; stop, halt; become stagnant; remain; endure, tolerate, bear; be at a certain height or level
U.S. President Barack Obama urged countries around the world on Friday (April 3) to move promptly to combat global warming.
Obama has arrived in France for a summit celebrating the 60th anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), but is also trying to win endorsement of his new Afghanistan strategy from both senior officials and citizens.
The strategy broadens the focus to include Pakistan and puts the highest priority on the defeat of al Qaeda militants. (Looking to engage sceptical Europeans in the war, Obama said they were more threatened by al Qaeda than America.)
"We all know that time is running out," Obama told a U.S.-style town hall meeting in the French city of Strasbourg. "America must do more, Europe must do more."
....
"This is a mission that tests whether nations can come together in common purpose on behalf of our common security. That's what we did together in the 20th Century, and now we need an alliance that is even stronger than when it brought a might wall in Berlin," he told his audience at the Rhenus Sports Arena.
He charmed the audience with banter and laughter, chatting with audience members before they asked questions.
An unidentified female audience member asked Obama if he ever regretted running for the presidency.
Joking at first that his wife Michelle asks the same question, he encouraged the young audience to participate in politics.
"Get involved. And it does mean that sometimes you'll get criticised and sometimes you'll fail and sometimes you'll be disappointed. But you'll have a great adventure and at the end of your life hopefully you'll be able to look back and say, 'I made a difference'," he said.
Obama has been greeted like a hero by the crowds in Strasbourg.
The warm reception has stood in stark contrast to the often cold welcome reserved for his predecessor, former President George W. Bush, who was hugely unpopular on this side of the Atlantic thanks largely to his decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
running out
being finished, decreasing in amount; exhaustion, being used up; moving outdoors quickly
might
n. strength, power, force; bravery
banter
v. joke, tease, converse in friendly manner
laughter
n. act of laughing; sound which expresses amusement (or scorn, etc.); cheerfulness, mirthfulness
stand
v. be upright on one's feet; get up; place upright; rise; stop, halt; become stagnant; remain; endure, tolerate, bear; be at a certain height or level
Friday, April 3, 2009
090319-Mexico-US Border Wars
Mexico-US Border Wars
Trouble on the border.
Mexico, angered by Washington's move to block Mexican trucks from using U.S. highways, said it would raise tariffs on 90 American agricultural and manufactured products, about $2.4 billion worth of exports.
Last week, the U.S. Congress canceled funding for a test program that allowed Mexican long-haul trucks into the United States.
State Department Spokesman Robert Wood
SOUNDBITE: State Department Spokesman Robert Wood, saying, (English):
"I am hoping that there will not be a significant impact on American business. We just have to try to work this work with the Mexican government because really it is of great concerns not just to business but other Americans."
The dispute comes amid news that US President Barack Obama will make Mexico his first trip to Latin America.
Obama will head to Mexico for meetings on April 16-17.
The high-level meetings come as the Obama Administration is drafting an integrated plan to address Mexico's escalating war with drug traffickers, blamed for some 6,000 murders last year most of them near the shared border.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
amid
prep. in the middle of; surrounded by
Trouble on the border.
Mexico, angered by Washington's move to block Mexican trucks from using U.S. highways, said it would raise tariffs on 90 American agricultural and manufactured products, about $2.4 billion worth of exports.
Last week, the U.S. Congress canceled funding for a test program that allowed Mexican long-haul trucks into the United States.
State Department Spokesman Robert Wood
SOUNDBITE: State Department Spokesman Robert Wood, saying, (English):
"I am hoping that there will not be a significant impact on American business. We just have to try to work this work with the Mexican government because really it is of great concerns not just to business but other Americans."
The dispute comes amid news that US President Barack Obama will make Mexico his first trip to Latin America.
Obama will head to Mexico for meetings on April 16-17.
The high-level meetings come as the Obama Administration is drafting an integrated plan to address Mexico's escalating war with drug traffickers, blamed for some 6,000 murders last year most of them near the shared border.
Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters
amid
prep. in the middle of; surrounded by
090318-Entrepreneur Pushes Slum Tourism
Entrepreneur Pushes Slum Tourism
The beauty of Rio De Janeiro's beaches is as much a symbol of Brazil as the violence, drug dealing and poverty of the city's slums.
Here in Vidigal the best and worst of both worlds collide.
These shacks have a panoramic view of a upmarket beach and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean.
German developer Rolf Glaser thinks the Vidigal slum offers the best view in Rio.....and perhaps a lucrative business opportunity.
SOUNDBITE: German Businessman, Rolf Glaser, saying:
"Rio de Janeiro has a lot of potential, but it needs to be transmitted to the outside, somebody to take it outside."
Slum tours, catering to tourists who want to see the "real" Rio, are already a controversial growth industry.
But Glaser's pushing the boundary even further with an idea to turn one of the hundreds of Rio slums into a trendy new hotspot (on the city's tourist map).
He plans to build about 10 well-appointed villas on top of Vidigal where tourists will be able to taste luxury and grit at the same time.
It may not be everyone's idea of a relaxing holiday but there are already fears the $500,000 investment could spark property speculation, forcing residents to move to other slums.
And if Glaser succeeds, others say the development could create opportunities for slum dwellers who have few alternatives.
entrepreneur
n. one who undertakes and assumes the risk of a business enterprise; contractor
shack
n. hut, shanty, small poorly built cabin
sparkling
adj. emitting sparks; reflecting light, glittering, brilliant; effervescent, carbonated (about a beverage); brilliant, lively
trendy
adj. in keeping with the current trend; stylish, fashionable
grit
n. small rough granules or particles (i.e. sand); bravery, pluck; endurance
dweller
n. resident, inhabitant
The beauty of Rio De Janeiro's beaches is as much a symbol of Brazil as the violence, drug dealing and poverty of the city's slums.
Here in Vidigal the best and worst of both worlds collide.
These shacks have a panoramic view of a upmarket beach and the sparkling Atlantic Ocean.
German developer Rolf Glaser thinks the Vidigal slum offers the best view in Rio.....and perhaps a lucrative business opportunity.
SOUNDBITE: German Businessman, Rolf Glaser, saying:
"Rio de Janeiro has a lot of potential, but it needs to be transmitted to the outside, somebody to take it outside."
Slum tours, catering to tourists who want to see the "real" Rio, are already a controversial growth industry.
But Glaser's pushing the boundary even further with an idea to turn one of the hundreds of Rio slums into a trendy new hotspot (on the city's tourist map).
He plans to build about 10 well-appointed villas on top of Vidigal where tourists will be able to taste luxury and grit at the same time.
It may not be everyone's idea of a relaxing holiday but there are already fears the $500,000 investment could spark property speculation, forcing residents to move to other slums.
And if Glaser succeeds, others say the development could create opportunities for slum dwellers who have few alternatives.
entrepreneur
n. one who undertakes and assumes the risk of a business enterprise; contractor
shack
n. hut, shanty, small poorly built cabin
sparkling
adj. emitting sparks; reflecting light, glittering, brilliant; effervescent, carbonated (about a beverage); brilliant, lively
trendy
adj. in keeping with the current trend; stylish, fashionable
grit
n. small rough granules or particles (i.e. sand); bravery, pluck; endurance
dweller
n. resident, inhabitant
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