101/2019 • 4 MAY, 2019 WEEKEND ISSUE
DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Hungaryʼs Orban inches closer to Salvini-led anti-migrant EU bloc Orbanʼs Fidesz could need new allies after EU vote
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban edged closer to Italyʼs farright leader on Thursday, signaling he may break with the mainstream European conservative group following European Parliament elections in late May Orbanʼs ruling Fidesz Party wassuspended, but not expelled, in March from the European Peopleʼs Party (EPP) over the deterioration in the rule of law in Hungary under his right-wing government. The EPP, made up of centerright parties including Germanyʼs Christian Democrats, is projected tokeep its place as the European Parliamentʼs biggest groupfollowing the May 23-26 elections. That would put the EPP in a pole position to choose the next European Commission president. Orban has suggested that Fidesz may leave the EPP after the European Parliament elections, which polls suggest could see asurge in support for anti-immigrant, nationalist parties. After talks in Budapest with Italyʼs hard-line Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, the Hungarian leader said he was moving closer to formal cooperation. "We are spectacularly, confidently, openly seeking cooperation with Salvini," Orban told journalists after talks with Salvini in Budapest. "Although what actual form that takes we will see… I am convinced that
Europe needs an alliance of antiimmigration parties," he said. However, Orbanʼs influence over the EPP is waning following Fideszʼs suspension from the group triggered by his repeated assaults on EU institutions. Manfred Weber, the EPPʼs lead candidate and currently a frontrunner for the EU executive post, said Thursday that Orban can no longer dictate the groupʼs policies. "He has no impact any more on EPP policies," Weber said at a debate in response to a question about Orbanʼs proposal for the EPP to cooperate with new far-right group led by Salvini. On a trip to Niger, German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave her full support for Weberʼs stance, saying "there will not be cooperation of any kind with right-wing parties after the election." Salvini, meanwhile, has praised Orban for seeking "to enforce an aspect within the EPP which respects the history, the present and future of European peoples." "I do not wish to intervene into that debate. I hope he will emerge victoriously," Salvini said. Germanyʼs Alternative for Germany (AfD),Marine Le Penʼs National Rally in France,the Austrian Freedom Party and right-wing parties in Finland and Denmark have expressed interest in Salviniʼs proposal for a new nationalist bloc.
North Korea food rations hit record low level after poor harvest: UN
Cyclone Fani hits Indiaʼs east coast after huge evacuation operation
Germany: 3 arrests in Darknet ʼWall Street Marketʼ probe
North Korea is experiencing one of its most severe food crises in years following the worst harvests in decades, caused by dry spells, heat waves and flooding, the UN said on Friday. The World Food Programme (WFP) said the North Korean government had reduced rations to their lowest level ever for this time of year. People were receiving just 300 grams (less than 11 ounces) per day, down from 360 grams per day at the same time last year.
Tropical Cyclone Fanimade landfall on the coast of the Indian state of Odishaat around 8 a.m. local time (0330 UTC) on Friday, with forecasters predicting that the storm would cause widespread devastation. The storm is the fiercest in the region since a 1999 cyclone that killed some 10,000 people in Odisha. Winds brought by the cyclone were reportedly gusting at up to 205 kilometers (127 miles) per hour when it made landfall.
Stolen data, forged documents and drugs were all sold on what is reportedly the worldʼs second-biggest Darknet platform. International police cooperation helped nab the suspects, who are also wanted by US prosecutors. German police on Friday said that three men were being held in custody as part of an international investigation into the illegal online operation named "Wall Street Market," which was shut down on Thursday.
Hungaryʼs Viktor Orban has sent his clearest signal yet that his party may split with Europeʼs main conservative group and join an antiimmigrant, nationalist bloc led by Italyʼs Matteo Salvini in the EU Parliament.
UKʼs big two suffer Brexit backlash in local elections Voters in England appeared to have punished both UK Prime Minister Theresa Mayʼs Conservative Party and the Labour opposition, as local council election results emerged on Friday. Both parties, which pledged to carry out Brexit in their 2017 election manifestos, appeared to have suffered badly, with most council results declared. While the Conservatives lost by far the most seats, shedding more than 500 local councilors, Labour dropped more than 70 when they had been hoping to make gains at the Conservativesʼ expense.
101/2019 • 4 May, 2019 Weekend issue
European Court of Justice rules Polish arrest warrants can be halted The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled against extraditing suspects to Poland on Wednesday if there are "serious and fact-based grounds" to believe the suspect would not receive a fair trial. The ruling concernsa Polish man in Irelandwho claims recent justice reforms in Poland harmed his chances of being treated fairly. The man is suspected of drug trade. In recent years, Polandʼs ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party has been working to place courts under a tighter control of the executive branch. Among other steps, the parliament now has power to choose members of the National Council of the Judiciary whose job is to oversee judicial impartiality. More recently, the lawmakers changed retirement age for the Supreme Court judges, which critics believe was aimed at ousting the most experienced judges and stacking the body with government supporters. The Supreme Court and its chief Malgorzata Gersdorf are opposing the move.
Geely the car industryʼs rising ʼprofitability starʼ Ferdinand Dudenhöffer from the CAR Center Automotive Research at Germanyʼs Duisburg-Essen University called Chinese auto manufacturer Geely "the profitability star of the worldʼs car industry." A fresh study by the center points out that on average, a Geely car costs just €9,529 ($10,942), but the companysecures a 14.4 percent profit from revenues before tax and interest. Dudenhöffer says thatʼs a lot more than, say, the profit margins of foreign rivals BMW, Toyota or PSAOpel. The worldʼs largest carmaker, Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen, logs a profit margin of only 8.2 percent, the survey says. Geely is part of the Zhejiang Geely Holding,which also owns Volvo Cars, London EVTaxi and Lotus.The holding has also acquired a 10 percent stake in Daimler. According to the CAR researchers, Geelyʼs rapid rise is based on its successful compact car platform, which it developed together with Sweden-based Volvo. "What Ferdinand Piëch managed to implement at VW from 1993 with the help of his platform strategyis in a way being copied now by Geelyʼs main shareholder and founder, Li Shufu," said Ferdinand Dudenhöffer, adding that the Chinese were becoming major players in the global auto market. 2
ʼStar Warsʼ Chewbacca actor Peter Mayhew dies at 74 Most famous for portraying the beloved 200-year-old Wookie
Most famous for portraying the beloved 200-year-old Wookie, Peter Mayhew was also an author and philanthropist. Legions of fans have expressed their affection for the man behind the beloved character on social media. Peter Mayhew, the actor who portrayed the Wookie Chewbacca in the Star Warsfilm franchise, has died at his Texas home at the age of 74, his family said on Thursday. The news was met with an outpouring of condolences on social media, as legions of fans expressed their affection for the man behind the beloved character. "The family of Peter Mayhew, with deep love and sadness, regrets to share the news that Peter has passed away. He left us the evening of April 30, 2019 with his family by his side,"
Confusion over missing Saudi journalist in Turkey who ʼvanishedʼ from consulate Turkish and Saudi officials have given conflicting reports on the whereabouts of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has been missing since he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday. Khashoggi, a regular contributor to The Washington Post, has been a fierce critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and has criticized Saudi Arabiaʼs policies toward Qatar and Canada,the war in Yemen and a
Rappler CEO Maria Ressa says arrests intended to shut up news site Maria Ressa, founder of the Philippinesʼ online news site Rappler, said the multiple legal proceedings and arrests were all part of the official attempt to shut Rappler up. The former CNN correspondent is facing charges ranging from tax evasion to libel. "I spent most of yesterday running in and out of four different courts," Ressa told DW on Tuesday. "I mean itʼs gone from the ridiculous to the absurd." The latest chargesagainst Ressa and six other directors are for alleged violation of the Securities Regulation Code of the Philippines. Rappler has been charged with violating constitutional limitations on ownership and control of mass media entities by accepting funds from foreign investor Omidyar Network. Only Filipino citizens can own media entities in the South East Asian nation. "Arrested on Friday. A new arrest warrant on Monday. 8th time to post bail. And the weekʼs just starting!" Ressa said.
his relatives said in a statement. Born in Surrey, England in 1944, Mayhew had acted in just one film in an uncredited role before he caught the attention of director George Lucas. Lucas initially had picked bodybuilder David Prowse for the role, but that 6-foot 6-inch (1.98 m) actor instead played villain Darth Vader. A search for an even taller actor to play Chewbacca, Han Soloʼs friend, led the director to the 7-foot 3-inch (2.18 m) Mayhew, who was working as a hospital orderly at the time. crackdown on dissent, the media and activists. Khashoggiʼs personal website bore a banner saying, "Jamal has been arrested at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul!" without elaborating. A Saudi official denied that Khashoggi had been detained inside the consulate. "Mr. Khashoggi visited the consulate to request paperwork related to his marital status and exited shortly thereafter," the official said. "He is neither in the consulate nor in Saudi custody."
Afghan leader rejects resignation of spy chief, top ministers President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday
urged Interior Minister Wais Ahmad Barmak, Defense Minister Tareq Shah Bahrami, and intelligence chief Masoum Stanekzai to stay in their posts, the Afghan government said. The three officials submitted resignation letters on Saturday, citing policy differences and a spate of deadly attacks. "President Ghani did not approve their resignations... and gave them the necessary instructions to improve the security situation," a statement from the presidential palace said. The offers to step down followed the resignation of Ghaniʼs national security adviser and close ally, Hanif Atmar, on Friday. Atmar, one of the countryʼs most powerful politicians, has been replaced by former ambassador to the US Hamdullah Mohib.
101/2019 • 4 May, 2019 Weekend issue
Goa Tourism organized a Road show at Budapest - Goa of India is awaiting you in any season! Goa, a state in India, often referred as the ‘Paradise on earth’ is a land of amazing contrasts. Of tangible and intangible heritage; of human endeavour and natural wonders; of music and stillness. No other place in the world lets you discover so many worlds in the space of a few hours: outside you and inside you! Goa is well known as a premier international tourism destination.
Flanked by the Arabian Sea on the West and the imposing Sahyadri mountains on the East, the Goan landscape rises from sea-level to a towering 1022 metres. Several rivers crisscross the state and add to its natural beauty. Goa is a small state in India with a population of around 1.5 million and area of 3702 sq kms. However, Goa has the highest GDP per capita among all Indian states. Goa was a Portuguese colony for over 450 years and it has left an indelible influence on the original style in local cuisine as well as architecture and other aspects of life. The ‘Carnaval’ festival was introduced to Goa by the Portuguese and is an internationally famous festival. The churches and chapels display European architectural styles. The largest catholic monument in India/Asia is the Se Cathedral at Old Goa, which houses the famous Golden Bell. The Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa, is India’s first Basilica and is an UNESCO world heritage site. Goa’s fame and glory is largely due to its ex-
otic beaches. The 60 mile coastline is dotted with some of the most picturesque beaches in the world; offering unique fusion of sun, sea and sand. Goa has a legacy of sacred architecture that includes magnificent temples, churches and mosques. A unique feature of the Goan temple is the ‘Deepstambh’, the tower of lamps. Goa is at her colourful best during the many festivals that are celebrated all-round the year. The major festivals being Carnival, Shigmo, Ganesh Chaturthi, Christmas, Diwali, Bondera, St Joao, etc. The other major attractions in Goa include Heritage monuments, Wildlife sanctuaries, Watersports, Nightlife, Adventure activities, Forts, Waterfalls, lakes, Spice plantations, Museums, Local cuisine, etc. Goa is one of the biggest hotspots in the Indian subcontinent drawing more that 5 million tourists every year. Goa Tourism has been undertaking promotional events across the world in order to reach out to the potential traveler to this picturesque destination. Goa Tourism,
has organized a tourism promotion event/ roadshow in Budapest on 30.04.2019, in order to showcase and promote the beautiful coastal state of Goa which is nestled on the west coast of the Indian Subcontinent. Mr. D. B. Sawant, General Manager, Goa Tourism Development Corporation said ‘Goa continues to draw Foreign visitors by the thousands every year, thanks to its lovely beaches, mountains, hills, backwaters, cuisine, the relaxed and chilled out way of life and has been consistently voted as one of the world’s must see destinations by leading tourism and travel magazines and surveys.’ He further added ‘The current promotional event seeks to market Goa and India as an attractive destination for Hungarian tourists. Goa is currently receiving regular charter flights from European countries and there is a huge potential to further develop Hungary as a source market for Goa especially in FIT segment.’ We are awaiting you in GOA!
Post Malone, Franz Ferdinand, Son Lux and many more confirmed for Sziget 2019 After Ed Sheeran, the Foo Fighters and Twenty One Pilots, more major stars have been confirmed for the Sziget Festival 2019. Post Malone, Franz Ferdinand, Son Lux, Years&Years and other attractive acts have just been announced to appear at Budapest’s biggest summer extravaganza, taking place between 7-13 August.
Motherʼs Day Flower Market This weekend, the Wild Flower Bar hosts a Mother’s Day violet sale. These flowers are not only beautiful and long-lasting but also a symbol of power and wisdom. Bouquets of five and ten will be available in many different colours, such as pastel peach, lavender, white and wine-red. You can also pre-order them at info@wildflowerbar.com.
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101/2019 • 4 May, 2019 Weekend issue
Why nightingales love scruffy Berlin Berlin attracts more nightingales than almost any other European city
Panda bears: Not as mysterious as we once thought Panda bears eat bamboo. We all know that. But we also all know that bears are meat eaters. A new study indicates the panda bearsʼ change of diet from meat to bamboo isnʼt as puzzling as it would appear on first glance. Like you or perhaps one of your vegetarian friends, panda bears are biologically classified as meat eaters despite their plant-based diets. The panda bear, although historically a carnivore, has long sustained itself mainly off bamboo. But unlike you or one of your vegetarian friends, panda bears didn’t watch a documentary one day and decide to ban meat from their diets for ethical or health reasons. So
how did it happen? When, and why, did the bears abruptly stop eating meat and start eating plants instead? These questions, which have occupied the minds of scientists since China began loaning its bears to Western zoos after the Communist Revolution, were misguided, according to a May 2 study conducted in the Shaanxi province of China andreported in Current Biology. Previously, instead of basing their understanding of the evolution of the pandaʼs diet on nutrient consumption, scientists focused on "carnivore" and "herbivore" diet classifications, which are based solely on the type of food or energy, rather than nutrients, consumed.
Although itʼs not an urban species, the little bird with the big voice seems to thrive in Germanyʼs hectic capital. As a beautiful April evening draws to a close, a small group of people are wandering through BerlinʼsTiergarten park in search of some music. They donʼt have to venture far to find what theyʼre looking for. Male nightingales, recently returned from Africa, are singing at full pitch. "Listen, itʼs a battle rap," says ornithologist Kim Mortega, describing the sing-off between two males trying to
attract female attention. For the six weeks the males are in town, and filling the night air with their catchy compositions, Mortega leads natural history museum-organized night excursions to hear them. Some want to see the birds close up, others just want to hear their love songs. As for the birds, their astonishingly rich repertoire has a single purpose: to find a partner and mate.
Find vegan beers, Baileys and brandy at new Budapest pub
Donʼt expose babies to
Szabad Bistro is a welcome venture for vegans in Budapest looking to eat and drink in a casual environment. Besides focusing on food free from meat and dairy products, here beer and even Baileys are prepared according to vegan guidelines. The newly opened Szabad Bistro breaks away from this trend by featuring a strong line of drinks that haven’t been in contact with animal products, such as gelatine, during the manufacturing process. You can ask for different types of craft beers, pálinka and Baileys made with almond milk. 4
Sweet talk and laughter — German sayings involving forests and trees
electronic screens, says WHO
Children under 12 months old should not be exposed to electronic screens at all, according to the World Health Organization. Parents were urged to ensure kids get enough exercise to encourage good habits later in life.
They also have a host of wonderful sayings and phrases revolving around forests and trees, with one that involves shouting into the woods.
Evergreens are part and parcel of German forests — and their language. Wald, the German term for forest, or Baum (tree), are words that crop up in many everyday German sayings and phrases. Some expressions are selfexplanatory, like not seeing the forest for the trees. Others, like "einen Ast lachen" (literally, laugh a branch), which means to be convulsed with laughter, and "Süssholz raspeln" (literally, grating licorice root), which means sweet-talking someone, may sound a bit odd to non-native ears. Click on the above picture gallery for more German phrases that utilize the terminology — and imagery — of the forest. And when youʼre done, check out more articles in theMeet The Germans seriesto find more about German culture, language and lifestyle.
101/2019 • 4 May, 2019 Weekend issue
Can we protect Earth from asteroids? What should we do if at some point a giant asteroid or comet comes hurtling toward Earth?
Erwin Blumenfeld: Fashion photographyʼs surrealist innovator An imaginative visionary who claimed to have "smuggled art" into his body of work, photographer Erwin Blumenfeld often embraced mischief when he produced his images. His friendship with Dadaists impacted how he experimented with photography and his life experiences, which took the GermanJewish photographer from his Berlin birthplace to a failed business in Amsterdam to internment camps in France and eventually to the United States, also fed into the dark visual subtitles of his images. While in Europe, Blumenfeld shot in black and white, but itʼs his kaleidoscopic photography that forms the subject of a new exhibition at Foam in Amsterdam: "Erwin Blumenfeld in Color — His New York Years."
This week, experts in Maryland are discussing the dangers of meteorites and possible defense strategies. Time and again huge rocks pass by relatively close to Earth. In April 2018, for example, an asteroid named2018GE3 with a diameter of 50 meters (164 feet) got dangerously close to us. It came from the dark depth of space and astronomers discovered it only 21 hours before the flyby. Five years before that,a 20-meter meteoritehit the Earth close to Chelyabinsk in Russia. Catastrophy was avoided and consequences were relatively
mild. Thousands of buildings were damaged by the blastʼs wave and more than a thousand people were injured, especially by flying glass fragments. But fortunately there were no deaths. Astronomers are quite confidentthat they know where the even more lethal objects are, rocks that are several kilometres in diameter. They hope that planet Earth is not threatened by any such huge danger for at least the next 100 years.
This bag should never miss a single holiday! A perfect travel companion from Högl
ʼBorn in Evinʼ: Processing the trauma of the Iranian Revolution One day, the story just slips out of her auntʼs mouth: Maryam Zaree did not come into this world in a normal hospital; instead, she was born in captivity in 1983. The aunt said she was horrified when she realized that the girl wasnʼt aware of that. She thought Zareeʼs parents had long explained to the 12-year-old that she was born in Evin, one of Iranʼs most notorious prisons for political prisoners. But this was not the case. And even after the revelation, there were no further conversations to discuss
and process this part of the family history. Baby behind bars The story begins when Zareeʼs parents meet in Iran. They listen to John Lennon, read Karl Marx and are against the ruling shah and Iranʼs monarchy. But with the Iranian Revolution of 1979, one strong man is replaced by another and they are declared enemies of the new religious regime under Ayatollah Khomeini. In 1983, Zareeʼs parents are arrested and Maryam Zaree along with them — as a baby in her motherʼs belly.
Whether youʼre sightseeing, shopping, exploring or relaxing on the beach, this "Belly" bag can attach around your waist practically or be worn across your shoulder. www.hoegl.com
Weather
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Hungary Budapest: Debrecen: Eger: Hévíz:
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Culture
Renovated Museum of Fine Arts to Open on 31 October AFTER MORE THAN THREE YEARS OF RENOVATION, THE MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS BUDAPEST WILL OPEN ON 31 OCTOBER. NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC Thanks to the largest-scale and most comprehensive reconstruction project in the museum’s history, the museum building has been renewed, and, returning to the collection’s first concept, the museum’s permanent exhibitions will also be rearranged. Besides the new permanent exhibitions, the revamped museum will welcome visitors with a chamber exhibition titled Leonardo & the Budapest Horse and Rider. The museum reconstruction, implemented within the framework of the Liget Budapest Project, included the restoration of the Romanesque Hall, which sustained severe damage in World War II and since then had been only partially renovated and used as a storage area, along with the modernisation of the building’s obsolete heating system, the installation of air conditioning in some of the exhibition halls, the renewal of a large part of the roof structure, as well as the addition of new exhibition spaces, visitor areas and modern storage facilities.
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101/2019 • 4 May, 2019 Weekend issue
Diamond League Doha: Dina Asher-Smith wants to avoid World Championships hiccup
European sprint-double champion Dina Asher-Smith will use Fridayʼs opening Diamond League event in Doha to avoid any "curveballs" when she returns for Septemberʼs World Championships. The Briton, 23, is looking to build on her 2018 success, when she won 100m gold in Berlin, then became the first British woman to run under 22 seconds in taking the 200m European title. "I want to have a dry run," she said. "Itʼs a chance to be inside the stadium and experience the climate." How to follow the Diamond League on the BBCBBCʼs 2019 athletics calendarAsher-Smith completes individual sprint double
Danny Cipriani: Gloucester fly-half signs new contract
Gloucester fly-half Danny Cipriani has signed a new contract with the Premiership club. The 31-year-old is believed to have agreed a three-year deal, which could see the England international end his career at Kingsholm. The former Sale Sharks back joined the Cherry and Whites from top-flight rivals Wasps last summer. Cipriani, who has 16 caps, has been in fine form this season, helping Gloucester to third in the table. After a three-year absence from the national side, he was recalled to Englandʼs squad last summer but has not featured for Eddie Jonesʼ team since Juneʼsthird Test against South Africa. 6
Aleksandar Kolarovʼs free kick stunner secures Serbia win over Costa Rica A brilliant second half free kick from captain Aleksandar Kolarov led Serbia to a deserved win over Costa Rica. Serbia were wasteful in front of goal but did enough to secure three vital points in Group E. Another World Cup day, another sublime freekick. If Cristiano Ronaldo’s ice-cold effort tosnatch a point against arch-rivals Spain on day two was the current goal of the tournament front-runner, the Portuguese may have just met his match. Aleksandar Kolarov, take a bow. A combination of poor finishing and sublime goalkeeping had kept the scores level until Serbia’s no.11 produced his moment of magic. Kolarov’s powerful left foot is no secret, but few inside the stadium would have expected such a thunderous strike when the Roma defender stood over a free kick midway through the second half. His shot was unstoppable; a side-footed missile which screamed into the top corner of the Costa Rica net. Kaylor Navas, who kept his team in the game with several crucial saves either side of half time, was nowhere near it.
Novak Djokovic through in Australian Open after beating Daniil Medvedev Novak Djokovic is bidding to win the Australian Open for a seventh time
World number one Novak Djokovic reached the Australian Open quarter-finals for the first time since 2016 with a hard-fought win over Daniil Medvedev. The 31-year-old Serb earned a 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 6-3 victory over the 15th seed in Melbourne. Djokovic was not at his fluent best, but outlasted Medvedev to win in three hours and 15 minutes. Russiaʼs Medvedev, 22, grew frustrated as he paid the price for only taking two of nine break points. Medvedevʼs resistance continued until the end, saving two match points before Djokovic took the third with a wonderful cross-court winner. Six-time
champion Djokovic will play Kei Nishikori in the last eight after theJapanese eighth seed beat Spainʼs Pablo Carreno Bustain controversial circumstances in a five-hour match decided by a super tie-break. Another triumph for the top seed at Melbourne Park will see him move ahead of Australian great Roy Emerson and Roger Federer, who was knocked out by Greek youngster Stefanos Tsitsipas on Sunday, in terms of all-time victories.
Donald Trump to present Tiger Woods with Presidential Medal of Freedom Fifteen-time major winner Tiger Woods will be presented with Americaʼs highest civilian honour by President Donald Trump in Washington next week. The 43-year-old, who won theMasters at Augustain April, will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom at a White House ceremony on Monday, 6 May. American Woods overcame persistent injury problems - including four back operations culminating in fusion surgery in April 2017 - to win his first major title for 11 years with a one-shot victory at Augusta. Trump had alreadyrevealed in a tweet last monththat
Woods was to receive the honour following his performance at the Masters. The Presidential Medal of Freedom, introduced by John F Kennedy in 1963, recognises "individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours". Woods is the fourth golfer to receive the accolade, after Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and the PGA Tourʼs first black player, Charlie Sifford. Billie Jean King and Michael Jordan are among other athletes to win the award.