News Mash-up: Overseas Politics

Category: Top Stories

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. rebuff / rɪˈbʌf / (v.) – to refuse something, such as a suggestion or an offer of help, especially in a disrespectful way 
    Example:

    Michael rebuffed all my advice and told me that he didn’t need my help.


  2. yield / yild / (v.) – to produce something, such as profit or a good result, through hard work, effort, etc.
    Example:

    The company yielded a profit of $15 million last quarter.


  3. recession / rɪˈsɛʃ ən / (n.) – a period in which a country’s economy isn’t doing well and a lot of people don’t have jobs
    Example:

    Hundreds of companies closed down due to the recession.


  4. formidable / ˈfɔr mɪ də bəl / (adj.) – very powerful, strong, large, etc.
    Example:

    My brother’s a formidable fighter who has won several boxing titles.


  5. fatigue / fəˈtig / (n.) – the condition of being very tired of doing something for a long time and not wanting to do it anymore
    Example:

    Harry’s experiencing lockdown fatigue after staying home for over half a year.


Article

Read the text below.

Former banker wins presidential vote in Ecuador


Ecuador will be led for the next four years by a conservative businessman after voters rebuffed a left-leaning movement that yielded an economic boom and then a recession since taking hold of the presidency last decade.


Former banker Guillermo Lasso won 52.37% of the April 11 runoff vote against socialist Andres Arauz, who took 47.63% of the vote after emerging as the frontrunner in the first round of voting.


“The first action will be to put the economy in order, promote investment and generate employment,” Lasso said April 12. (AP)


Germany’s Greens make first bid for chancellery


The co-leader of Germany’s Greens, Annalena Baerbock, 40, said April 19 she would run to become chancellor in September’s elections, the first time the left-leaning party has sought the top job in its 40-year history.


Baerbock, a former champion trampolinist who has seen support for her party rise over the past year, said she would offer a “new start” and a focus on education and digital and green technologies.


The Greens have become a formidable force, gaining from voter fatigue with Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives. (Reuters)


These articles were provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • The winner of the Ecuadorian election was a former banker and conservative businessman. In your opinion, do businesspeople make good politicians? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The Ecuadorian election was very close, with Lasso taking 52.37% of the runoff vote and Arauz taking 47.63%. Do you think this is a good or bad thing? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • The Greens have become a formidable force, gaining from voter fatigue with Merkel’s conservatives. Do you think people in your country are tired of anything? If so, do you think it will affect the next election? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Baerbock said that she would offer a “new start” and a focus on education and digital and green technologies. What do you want politicians in your country to focus on? Why? Discuss.