On This Day: Thirty-nine fans crushed to death in Heysel disaster, in 1939
On May 29, 1953, New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tensing Norgay became the first men to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
Berlin Wall
‘Tsar’ Putin tells the West: Russia will talk only on equal terms
Putin was honored like a Russian tsar at his swearing-in for a new six-year presidential term. He indicated that Russia is prepared for victory in Ukraine and is willing to engage in dialogue with the West, but only if there is no arrogance from the United States and its allies. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 has strained relations between Russia and the West, with the West viewing Putin as an autocrat and war criminal. Despite criticism of the election process, Putin remains popular in Russia, winning 88% of the vote in the March election. The West boycotted his swearing-in ceremony, but Russian officials dismissed this as insignificant. Putin’s allies praise him for bringing stability to Russia, and there is no clear successor to him.
Democracy is not a given
The fact described in the text is that the European Union created a video featuring elderly survivors of tragedies in Europe to remind people of the importance of democracy. These survivors share stories of their experiences with dictatorships and wars, including World War II, concentration camps, and the Prague Spring. The European Union is urging people to vote in order to combat the rise of the far-right and protect hard-earned rights. Only 50.6% of eligible voters participated in the previous European elections in 2019.
Steinmeier calls for , ‘bold steps’ and compromise
Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has called for both sides in Cyprus to show a willingness to compromise and take bold steps to find a solution. He expressed support for the resolution of the Cyprus issue and emphasized Germany’s support for a bi-zonal bi-communal federation within the framework of the United Nations. Steinmeier also praised Cyprus’s role as a safe harbor for the European Union and highlighted the need for Turkey to address the Cyprus problem in relation to its approach to the EU. The Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides stated that the current state of affairs in Cyprus is unacceptable and that the key to a solution lies with Ankara. He called for the European Union to play a more active role in resolving the Cyprus problem and expressed hope for the reunification of Cyprus. The two presidents also discussed bilateral relations, including cooperation on defense, economics, and energy. Steinmeier commended Cyprus’s contribution to the evacuation of German citizens from Israel and expressed support for the EU’s stance on Ukraine. He also addressed the issue of immigration, with Steinmeier acknowledging the burden faced by Cyprus and calling for a common European asylum system.