Cyberhackers in Russia
http://www.bbc.com/capital/story/20140207-playing-russian-roulette
Turkey
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/09/turkish-police-fethullah-gulen-network
The American Dream…¿?
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/books/non_fiction/article1371710.ece
Some TV
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/culture/film_and_tv/article1372171.ece
Books
Films
Art
it is GREAT!!!!
BBC DOCUMENTARY
HOW ART MAKE WORLD MORE HUMAN
ILU
The US is dramatically increasing the tempo of its military operations in the Horn of Africa in an effort to counter violent extremism, in the wake of last year’s Westgate attack in Nairobi.
Missile strikes by US drones against al-Shabab and al-Qaeda leaders are “vital” and will continue, according to the government of Djibouti, from where the controversial drone strikes are launched.
Washington has been building up a large military base in Djibouti and training regional armies to fight al-Shabab in Somalia.
Beneath a blazing sun, gunmetal grey helicopters line the runway at this former French Foreign Legion base, now leased by Washington from the government of Djibouti.
The helicopters and rows of other US aircraft are equipped for long-range missions, some covert, some more conventional.
The Pentagon’s recently created East Africa Response Force (EARF) is here. Its soldiers flew at short notice to South Sudan in December to protect the US embassy and its staff, a lesson learnt from the catastrophic attack on the poorly defended US consulate in Benghazi.
The US taskforce here, under the catchy title of “Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa,” or CJTF-HOA, was set up nearly 12 years ago.
video-
Turkey is launching a criminal investigation into an alleged “state within a state” accused by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of orchestrating a corruption scandal against him.
It intensifies a power struggle between the PM and a self-exiled former ally whose network is thought to have built up influence in the police and the judiciary.
“We cannot accept an organisation like this one at the heart of the state and we will do all that is necessary to stop it. For us it is a question of survival,” the prime minister said.
Fethullah Gulen has a chain of schools and a massive following.
The investigation aims to expose the extent to which network has a grip on public institutions.
In December more than 80 people close to Erdogan’s administration were arrested in a huge corruption investigation.
Three ministers later resigned. In response the government turned on those whose support it had long relied on.
Thousands of police officers and some 200 prosecutors were dismissed or moved from their posts in what critics said was a ploy to stifle the corruption inquiry – something the government denies.
For his part, Gulen has denied orchestrating the corruption scandal and says his worldwide movement is being used as a scapegoat.
More videos
Other stories :
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-26026587
Which illness has been suffering the president?
Fever and breathing problems
Does the opposition believe this?…there is sceptism
What about Bulatov?
35
HE WAS MISINg by 8 days
He is the an activism
He was taken by….
he was kidnapping…
Police accussed him of organiziong riots..
What about Luthuania and Mr Bulatov?
MORE ABOUT uKRAINE TORTURE
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25996366
More
http://euronews.com/2014/02/01/western-leaders-clash-with-russia-over-ukraine-crisis/
Iranian President Hassan Rohani attended the World Economic Forum, just days after an important deal with world powers on Iran’s nuclear programme came into effect.
In this edition of Global Coversation euronews’ correspondent in Davos, Isabelle Kumar, interviewed President Rohani about the economic and political situation in Iran, and his government’s support of the regime in Syria.
Isabelle Kumar, euronews: “President, many thanks for joining us on the programme. Your visit to Davos is historic: it’s your first visit to Europe as a head of state; the first visit of an Iranian president to the World Economic Forum in 10 years. You are coming here after many years of mistrust and you are meeting world leaders in business and politics: what are you saying to them?”
President of Iran, Hassan Rohani: “I too thank you and your television network for this opportunity. Davos is a very important forum. This is not a European summit, it is a global summit in which everybody takes part: from Asia; Europe; and other continents. It is important that different viewpoints, particularly economic ones, are put forth in this summit and this in turn can bring people’s opinions closer to each other. I came to the World Economic Forum to explain the new circumstances in Iran to its participants. I also wish to share Iran’s economic, political and cultural situation after the recent [presidential] elections and tell them about the future landscape of our country. That way, everybody will know that the current backdrop in Iran is suited to economic activities and Iran is ready to welcome entrepreneurs and big economic companies.”
euronews: “And of course, with Davos underway there are also very tense negotiations, also in Switzerland, about the future of Syria. Your invitation – Iran’s invitation – to those talks was withdrawn: what was your reaction to that?”
President Rohani: “Firstly, we consider it our human duty to do what we can to prevent the bloodshed in Syria and to assure the well-being of the Syrian people. Stability in the region is very important to us and the civil war in Syria is not something to be tolerated. But, regarding the invitation, we are ready to take part in any gathering that aims to help the Syrian people. I am disappointed about what happened. Not for ourselves or for Iran, I am disappointed for the United Nations and the Secretary General of that organisation, because of the damage done to their credibility. In the meantime, we consider it our duty to do everything we can to help the Syrian people.”
euronews: “Will there come a point, because we know that the Syrian regime is linked more and more to human rights abuses – grave human rights abuses – will there come a point when Iran questions its support for Bashar al-Assad and his regime?”
President Rohani: “It is not a discussion about Bashar al-Assad. Today, many dangerous terrorist groups are in operation in Syria. This is a danger to the whole region. It’s even dangerous for those who are supporting these terrorist groups today.
“What is important in Syria is not the issue of Bashar al-Assad, it is the issue of civil war. We should all work hard to isolate terrorism. We should all work towards putting an end to the civil war in Syria. The future of Syria belongs to the Syrian people. We will respect the view of the majority of the Syrian people, whatever that may be. No foreign official or government can or should make decisions for the Syrian people.
“Everybody should help the Syrian people. Everybody should help provide suitable circumstances, so the Syrian people feel comfortable enough to express their vote and their opinion about the future of their own country.”
euronews: “Things have changed dramatically for Iran since you’ve been in power. Bridges are being mended again, thanks to the beginnings of a deal over your nuclear programme, and the partial lifting of sanctions. Paint me a picture of the Iran you would like to see in 10 years time.”
President Rohani: “Firstly, I would like to say the change that is felt in Iran today is not a change that this government has brought about. This government has started its work in the atmosphere of change that the people have created.
“The recent elections created a new atmosphere. They opened the door towards interaction with the world. This chance is an opportunity for everybody and they should use the opportunity that the Iranian nation has created. I am pleased that in the past five months, with the efforts of this government and the countries involved in the negotiations, circumstances enabled us to take our first successful step.
“We are committed to the obligations set out by the Geneva agreement as long as the other side is committed. We are fully ready to take the final steps regarding the nuclear programme. The situation in Iran today is such that it has provided the groundwork for further interaction with other countries: both with nearby countries and with the rest of the world.
“We used to have very important traditional and historical relations with Europe. Today, the foundations are laid and we’re ready to make a return to those historical relations. What happened in previous years in the name of sanctions – illegal sanctions – was damaging to all sides. It was a road leading to a dead-end. Everybody discovered that it was the wrong way to go. The right path was to negotiate, which was a path both sides rightly chose.
“I think the future of Iran is very bright. Iran has a very special strategic position, particularly regarding resources and mines. When we look at human development, our country has highly-educated people. Today, Iran has 4.5 million university students.
“Therefore, the environment in Iran is fully ready for constructive interaction with other countries, including Europe, and I hope that ourselves, Europe and other countries grasp this opportunity.
“Taking this chance will be beneficial for both sides’ governments and their nations: for Europe, Iran and other countries who are ready for constructive interaction.”
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych is returning to work on Monday after four days of sick leave, with protesters still demanding he give up power.
Thousands of anti-government protesters have continued their campaign on the streets of the capital, Kiev.
Meanwhile, opposition leader Dmytro Bulatov has arrived in Lithuania for medical treatment, after claiming he was kidnapped and tortured.
Duncan Crawford reports from Kiev.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26012434
más aquí
20 January 2014
President Obama has taken the unusual step of broadcasting on one of the main German television channels to try to repair the damage to the trans-Atlantic relationship from the spying revelations. Both the European Commission and Chancellor Merkel welcomed aspects of it without showing any great enthusiasm.
Chancellor Merkel welcomed the recognition by President Obama that the rights of non-US citizens should be respected. But she repeated her assertion that German law should not be broken, especially, as she put it, “by close partners and allies”.
The European Commission’s tone was warmer. A statement said that President Obama had taken an important step towards rebuilding trust.
European political leaders don’t like what happened but are keen now to move on and minimise damage to the trans-Atlantic relationship. But many within government circles remain unconvinced that snooping on their communications will cease.
President Obama speaking on Germany’s ZDF TV:
I don’t need and I don’t want to harm that relationship by surveillance mechanisms that somehow would impede the kind of communication and trust that we have and so, what I can say is, that as long as I am president of the United States, the Chancellor of Germany will not have to worry about this.
VOCABULARY
Recognition
respect for or acceptance of that something is true
treated properly
claim that something is true
sound of voice
(here) trying to get back to a good position
watching someone secretly without them knowing
methods of watching someone or something to try to discover an illegal act
make more difficult
Move on
she repeated her assertion that
the rights of non-US citizens should be respected
“by close partners and allies”
President Obama had taken an important step towards rebuilding trust.
minimise damage to the trans-Atlantic relationship.
government circles remain unconvinced that snooping on their communications will cease.
I don’t need and I don’t want to harm that relationship by surveillance mechanisms that somehow would impede the kind of communication and trust that we have
the Chancellor
The study tracked the drinking habits of more than 150,000 adults in three Russian cities for up to a decade. It also drew on previous research looking at how much people had drunk before they died. It found death rates fluctuated in line with political events and changes in alcohol policy.
In 1985, under President Gorbachev, alcohol consumption was severely restricted and Russia’s overall death rates fell. Then with the fall of communism and the instability that followed, people started drinking more, and death rates rose.
Researchers say it’s the way Russians drink, binging on mostly vodka, that contributes to the high mortality rates.
Taxes and restrictions brought in in 2006 have helped reduce alcohol consumption, but the authors say drinking heavily is part of the Russian lifestyle, and that’s what needs to change.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY
previous research
policy.
Tracked
recorded
used information or experience for a particular purpose
in the same way as
uncertainty caused by change, or the possibility of change
drinking or consuming too much in a short time
number of deaths in a population over a period of time
Primero os comento que aqui en este enlace encontrareis ideas para mejorar la pronunciación
http://clil.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/mejorar-nuestra-pronunciacion-en-ingles/
Tema será MODALS
Ejercicios para practicar http://www.curso-ingles.com/gramatica-inglesa/modales.php
Ejercicios http://www.nonstopenglish.com/lang/es/allexercises/grammar/grammar-modal_verbs.asp
Y tendremos el juego del detective
Por favor eachar una ojeada a la entrada anterior. https://b2englishcourse.wordpress.com/2011/02/25/present-tenses/
que tiene todo el material y videos muy interesantes.
Svoboda añada a las videos de las entradas anteriores estos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWccPqg1DbI&feature=related – Daily routines
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo1xdFcUdIo&feature=related – What is he/she doing? – Questions and answers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcVi24WiAMw&feature=related = PUMPKINS IS X AT HOME?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RYdMEDfRdU&feature=related –
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rQqdSagoOU&feature=related – What are they doing? – with prompts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krYZZ3xJmag&feature=related
Curso Afianzamiento B2 