News of the Week ist ein Projekt aus Herrn Frietschs Englisch-Unterricht: Hierbei stellt eine Person ein aktuelles Thema der letzten Woche in einem Kurzreferat vor. Die aktuellen Beiträge werden hier veröffentlicht:
03.07.2023
The French police arrested more than 1,300 people nationwide during a fourth consecutive night of rioting over the killing of teenager Nahel M. by police, the interior ministry said Saturday. Family and friends are holding a funeral gathering for him in his hometown of Nanterre, but have requested that journalists and the public stay away.
The 17-year-old victim, identified only as Nahel M., was shot at point-blank range by a police officer on Tuesday morning in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. He was driving a yellow car, when he was pulled over for traffic violations.
Police initially reported that he was shot after driving his car at police, but this was contradicted by a video that rapidly went viral across social media and was later authenticated by press. The footage shows the two policemen standing by the stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver. A voice is heard saying, „You are going to get a bullet in the head.“ The police officer then appears to fire as the car abruptly drives off before gradually coming to a stop.
French President Emmanuel Macron has postponed a state visit to Germany that was to begin on last Sunday due to unrest in France, both countries announced on last Saturday.
- n.a.
13.06.2023
Today, I would like to talk about the tragic train incident that happened about 11 days ago I India. On the second of June, 3 trains collided in the state of Odisha in India. But if we really want to understand how such an incident could have happened, we must understand the structure of the train lines in India: Between Chemai and Hourah there are 2 main train lines facing in opposite directions which makes it possible for 2 trains to travel at the same time. That was actually the case: 2 passenger trains were travelling at full speed on each of those main lines. At some point there was a so-called loop line, which is basically an addition to the main line, or a second line placed parallel to the main line, so the train has the opportunity to choose between 2 lines for a certain distance. On this loop line a loaded goods train was standing. One passenger train which was supposed to continue on the main line was unfortunately switched to this loop line which caused the collision of those 2 trains and the derailment of 21 coaches. 3 of those coaches hit the other passenger train travelling on the other main line which caused a crash there as well. Unfortunately, the incident has led to the end of 288`s peoples lives and to about 1175 injuries which makes it the second deadliest train incident worldwide after the one in Sri Lanka in 2004 caused by the tsunami. Hopefully, it was quite interesting and thanks for your attention.
- n.a.
13.06.2023
Today I want to inform you about the destruction of the Kachowka dam in the Ukraine. First the river which flew through the dam is at the moment the border between the Ukrainian area and Russian occupied area. The dam is also very important for watering in the agriculture there and to save people from high water. So last Tuesday the massive walls of them were damaged by a bomb and the region around got flooded. Consequences are that hundred thousand in this region don´t have a drinking water supply at the moment, and also around 20,000 hectares agricultural land got destroyed and the farmers won´t be able to harvest there. But the most dramatic consequence is hat over 150 tons of environmentally harmful substrates ran into the river, so many plants and fish are going to die. But there are not just consequences for the Ukraine itself; a lot of extremely poisonous substrates ran into the black sea, so other countries there will also be affected. At the moment many organizations from all around the world, like the „Rote Kreuz“ help the Ukraine, but it´s not always easy because the war is still going on and some helpers already got in shoots.
- Ulrich Siessmeir
24.03.2023
Recently, Italy has been battling drought and parched fields. Now the Italians have a completely different problem. On Wednesday and Thursday last week it has been raining heavily in the region “emilia romana” which is south of Bologna. In 36 hours, as much rain has fallen as usual in the whole year. At least 14 people died and over 36.000 people had to leave their houses. Areas were cut off from the outside world and hundreds of roads were massively damaged and closed. Besides that, the electricity keeps going out and phone connections are unstable. There are also food and water shortages.
The rain was mainly in the inland, so now the people who live near the sea are afraid that the water will come through rivers to them. The cities are very heavily concreted over the water can’t drain away.
More rain was expected over the weekend that actually came and the rains have eased. Homeowners now get help from relatives, friends or strangers. They help to get the mud, the dirt and the broken furniture out of the houses. Rail traffic between Florence and Bologna is also running again.
Especially in the region “emilia romana” rivers were forced into their river beds and everything was concreted over. A few million euros have been approved in the past, to weather proof the region, but they have been used differently.
People who were planning to go on vacation to Italy over the holidays were concerned that they would not be able to do so but fortunately, the resorts are not affected by the floods.
- Ricarda Specht
23.03.2023
Direct Air Capture and Enhanced rock weathering
CO2 levels continue to rise what also affects the climate change. Some experts are clear that there will some carbon dioxide removal to take it actively out of the atmosphere.
Ways of doing this are planting trees or a process called Direct Air Capture but both of them can't really be used permanently. Now, Jim Mann's enhanced rock weathering company might have found another possible solution for this: Enhanced rock weathering. A volcano stone, basalt rock of the quarry is able to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere when it weathers in the rain. To remove as much CO2 as possible, it needs to be spread shattered around a greater area - like a field.
That's what some local farmers already do. The rock also seems to help plants grow better.
Some experts are worried that the main priority; cutting emissions out of our carbon intense lives might be forgotten by people.
- n.a.
03.05.2023
Today I want to talk about the current shutdown of nuclear power plants in Germany which is a significant event in the history of the country`s energy policy. After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, the German government decided to go through with a nuclear phase-out.
The actual plan was to shut down all nuclear power plants by the end of last year. However, due to the energy crisis, three were left running. On 15th of April 2023, they were finally closed as well.
The shutdown of the nuclear power plants has serious consequences for the energy supply in Germany. The closed nuclear power plants must be replaced by other energy sources to ensure the country`s electricity supply. Wind and solar energy are very important in this regard.
The shutdown of nuclear power plants is a controversial talking point in many countries and regions. Many people are calling for nuclear power plants to be shut down because they fear that the risks of using nuclear power are expensive and dangerous. However, supporters of them believe that nuclear power is very important and that we can not do without them.
The energy transition is a grat challenge, but also an opportunity for the future. In conclusion we can say that this decision was a big step in the right direction.
- Freddy Zirkel
15.03.2023
In Israel are about 150 000 Ethiopian origin citizens who first arrived in the 1980s in a significant number. It has been difficult for the Ethiopian Jews to integrate because of the community’s disproportionately high rates of unemployment and poverty as well as discrimination and prejudice, although things have started to get better in recent years.
However last Monday, students and teachers from a religious high school in Netivot, southern Israel, set off on a three-day excursion.
Girls who were sitting behind one of the teachers saw her messaging in a group chat called “Black School Trip” which contained insulting remarks against the Ethiopian Israeli students. One of the girls filmed the chat over the teacher's shoulder without her noticing and shared it on social media.
She wrote:
"Good morning to all the 'educators' of this school, it saddens me as a member of the [Ethiopian] community to see the level you sank to today. Instead of being our teachers and setting an example and making us feel like we're in our safest place, you did the exact opposite.
"Opening a group called 'Black School Trip' without even realising that there were students behind you and mocking your students? I see the photos, and I just don't believe that they come from our teachers.
"You are a disgrace, I'm ashamed that you're our teachers and that you're teaching the future generation."
Although the involved teachers have apologised, they were suspended and the incident is being investigated.
The school's principal made a statement, speaking of his "shock and devastation” to miserable and extremely offensive comments from teachers about Ethiopian students who study in the school and said:
"The school management looks at these comments severely. There is no place for racist comments, and we won't allow them in our school."
Israels education minister has apologised to Ethiopian Israeli schoolgirls and said, I quote: "The incident will be dealt with severely with all the tools at our disposal,"
"I'm sorry for the distress that was caused for the students. There will be zero tolerance for these sorts of incidents on my watch."
- Mirela Karačic
14.03.2023
In recent weeks, the question has often been raised as to whether Russia will extend the grain deal with Ukraine and since March 13 there has been an answer to the question.
In , the grain deal is the initiative for the save transport of grain and food from Ukrainian ports. It is an agreement between Russia and Ukraine with Turkey and the United Nations, which was made in July 2022 during the attacks.
The deal has a huge importance because it has offered people in low-income countries the opportunity to get even cheaper grain and without it people will die of hunger due to extreme rising food prices and there will be a humanitarian disaster as since the 2nd world war no longer. Unfortunately there are 20 countries in humanitarian emergency situations due to an inflation at food prices of almost 40 percent. Without the deal there are also no more trades for Ukraine what causes an financial ruin.
But now the result is clear... Russia extends the grain deal by 60 days although a repeated extension of 120 days was agreed with Kyiv. In addition, Moscow added that any further extensions would depend on whether restrictions on Russian agricultural exports are eased since Ukrainian transports took place smoothly in the past, while Western sanctions would have jeopardized Russian agricultural exports.
- Jennifer Nunez
13.03.2023
For a few months, turmoil has been brewing within the State of Israel.
The right-wing religious government aims to curb the judiciary branch of state by use of a judiciary reform. But while Benjamin Netanyahu, the nation's prime minister and previous leader of the opposition, attempts to strong-arm the bill through parliament, hundreds of thousands of people are taking to the streets in most of Israel's major cities. They are supported by the German president Steinmeier, the ever more oppressed media and Israeli president Isaac Herzog, who asserts that this reform is not only unconsitutional and repressive but also could undermine the nation's democracy.
Furthermore, the high-tech sector which employs a tenth of the Israeli population and accounts for 15% of the national GDP has voccaly expressed its intention to move funding outside the nation if the bill passes. A few companies, like Papaya Global, have already done so since the inauguration of the right-wing government in December of last year. Parts of the ruling coalition wish to annex the occupied West Bank, limit the freedom of speech and effectively give judicial power into the hands of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. As the core principles of the bill are nearing their final reading in parliament, it's certain the protests and strikes will not stop until this grab for power is ended.
Situations akin to this have happened before in Poland and a few other nations. Still the Israeli's fight for democracy should not be disregarded.
- n.a.
19.12.2022
For several years there has been strong criticism of peruvian politics, but last Sunday the situation escalated. The former peruvian President Pedro Castillo has been arrested and removed from office by the Congress for “moral incompetence”. Besides being suspected of a planned coup against the congress, he is charged with rebellion and conspiracy. Shortly after, Dina Boluarte has been installed to replace Castillo as President. However, the majority of the people of Peru do not approve of the measures taken by Congress, nor do they accept Boluarte as their new President. Therefore violence has spread over the country. Thousands of protesters took to the streets, in anger over Castillo’s impeachment and that their election is not respected by congress. At least 20 people were killed during the protest and many more injured. Boluarte tried to deescalate the situation by suggesting to bring presidential and parliamentary elections forward to December 2023, when originally the they were scheduled to take place in 2026. So far, this announcement has not helped to reduce the violence.
Meanwhile the deadly protest have paralyzed travel, making it impossible for tourists from all over the world to leave Peru. The protesters used burning tires, wood and rocks to block Airports and railway tracks.
- Louisa Marschalkowski
17.10.2022
On the 14th of October in 2022, there happened a mining accident in a coal mine at Amasra, a turkish city at the Black Sea coast. In the early afternoon, there was a huge methane explosion 350 metres underground. This accident caused many victims, 41 of them were dead, 11 were seriously injured. But 50 of the workers that worked down there were able to save themselves or got saved by the emergency services. The exit point of the methane and the cause of the inflamation are still unknown. There were a lot of other mine accidents before that in Turkey, the last big one was in 2014 with over 300 dead workers. Unionists all over Turkey are criticising the missing protective measures in the turkish coal mines.
– Emanuel Meßner
10.10.2022
On the 6th of October there was an attack on a kindergarden in the region Nong Bua Lamphu in the North of the country of Thailand.
It was arround noon, when a man with a knife and guns came into the building and startet shooting around. First he killed 5 public officials, among them was a woman who has been 8 months pregnant at this time. After that, the man got his way into a locked room where he killed sleeping children with a knife.
During his escape he shot out of the window of his car and hurt and killed further people. The police says that after his attack, the man killed also his son and wife an then shot himself right after that.
Altogether, 12 people were hurt, some of them seriously. The man killed 36 people that day, among them were 24 children.
The cupprit was supposed to be a 34-year-old former police officer who lost his job due to drug-related offences. There were speculations about as to wether he was on drugs at that time he had attacked. Maybe the reason for this terrible thing has been his rage about his discharge but nobody knows the truth about what was going on in the man's head.
The whole country is shocked because normally there are hardly any incidents involving guns in their country.
– Mia Fischer