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2021-02-22 18:44:43 ​​​​​​​​​​​​#Audionews
Listening va Reading skills uchun
G7 leaders want to boost global vaccine efforts (audio & text)

The G7 countries held a virtual meeting on Friday. Chaired by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson... the leaders of seven countries covered issues from boosting global vaccine efforts... to a joint response to China's non-market policies. Our Choi Won-jong has this report. The virtual meeting started with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson's audio check. "Can everybody hear me? Wave, if you can hear me. Hi " The group of 7 advanced economies held a virtual summit on Friday... calling for global cooperation to fight COVID-19. During the meeting, all seven leaders pledged to make a much larger contribution to the global vaccine-sharing facility, COVAX... by increasing funds to 7-point-5 billion U.S. dollars. As part of the increase, U.S. President Joe Biden pledged 4 billion U.S. dollars... and Germany promised 1-point-2 billion U.S. dollars. Along with these vaccine efforts, the UK's leader expressed hopes to reach poorer countries with more vaccine supplies. "Around the world, make sure everybody gets the vaccines that they need so that the whole world can come through this pandemic together. I know that several colleagues have already announced that ideal, and we in the UK strongly, strongly support it." During the meeting, in an apparent reference to China, the G7 leaders jointly said that they would counter 'non-market' policies and practices from China... aiming to create a fair multilateral global trade system for everyone. In the meantime, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide joined the G7 virtual meeting for the first time. He said that he won support from all G7 leaders to hold the Olympics this summer... after telling the meeting, the games would be a testimony to overcoming the virus. The online meeting was the first time that G7 leaders gathered since last April. The UK will host a face-to-face G7 meeting this coming June.

@inglizcha Ochish/sharhlash

2021-02-19 18:53:33 #Vocabulary
Muloqot uchun yangi iboralar to'plami

Mavzu: Weather - ob-havo

Cloudy - bulutli

Clear - musaffo

Hazy - ochiq emas, tumanli (yomg'ir yog'ishidan oldingi holat)

Foggy - tumanli

Smoggy - chang, tutunli

Windy - shamolli

Humid - nam

Muggy - dim

Drizzling - maydalab yog'adigan yomg'ir

Hailing - do'l yog'ishi

Sleeting - qor donalab yog'ishi, tugmacha yog'ish

Lightning - chaqmoq

Thunderstorm - momaqaldiroq

Snowstorm - qor dovuli

Dust storm - qumli shamol

Heat wave - issiq

Shower - jala

Chilly - sovuq

Drought - qurg'oqchilik

@inglizcha Ochish/sharhlash

2021-02-17 18:04:02 ​​​​​​​​​​​​#Audionews
Listening va Reading skills uchun
Bitcoin price surpasses $50,000 for first time (audio & text)

The price of one Bitcoin surpassed 50-thousand US dollars for the first time ever on Tuesday,... as it continues its blistering rally. The surge comes as major companies pile into the world's largest cryptocurrency. Lee Seung-jae reports. Bitcoin's stunning rally continues,... breaking 50-thousand U.S. dollars for the first time ever on Tuesday. The world's largest digital currency by market capitalization rose more than 3-percent to an all-time high of 50-thousand-602 dollars at one point,... before regressing to just over 48-thousand dollars. Bitcoin has risen 72-percent so far in 2021,... with most of the massive gains coming after Tesla bought 1-point-5 billion dollars worth of the digital currency. However,... it's not just the American electric vehicle giant that's been warming to the cryptocurrency. Major U.S. institutions have also been putting their money where their mouth is. Many experts say this rally is different from the 2017 bubble,... with JP Morgan this year saying Bitcoin could hit 146-thousand dollars if it becomes an established safe-haven. Others, however, are more cautious,... believing it could be an even bigger bubble than the last. "Bitcoin would quite qualify as a high risk investment. If you buy Bitcoins you should buy with keeping in mind that the value could be zero the day after. For now even if it shouldn't happen, there's still a chance it could happen. There's no guarantee, there's no, nothing behind Bitcoin trying to keep the market value high. While there are more and more people buying Bitcoins, for now it's still a high risk investment." Some economists, including Nouriel Roubini, have even said Bitcoin and other digital currencies have no intrinsic value. A recent Deutsche Bank survey also indicated that investors view Bitcoin as the most extreme bubble in the financial markets.

@inglizcha Ochish/sharhlash

2021-02-17 16:47:29 #Book #Reading
Interview with Elif Shafak (Turkey's most-read woman writer)

Elif Shafak is Turkey's most-read woman writer and an award-winning novelist. She writes in English and Turkish, and has published 13 books, nine of which are novels, including: The Bastard of Istanbul, The Forty Rules of Love, Honour and her nonfiction memoir Black Milk. Her new novel The Architect’s Apprentice is to be published by Penguin UK in autumn 2014. Shafak blends Western & Eastern traditions of storytelling, bringing out the voices of women, minorities, subcultures, immigrants and global souls. Her work not only probes the Turkish identity but also reflects a strong interest in history, philosophy, culture, mysticism and gender equality. Her books have been translated into more than forty languages.

@inglizcha Ochish/sharhlash

2021-02-14 13:02:18 ​​ International Book Giving Day — February 14

International Book Giving Day takes place on 14th February each year. The aim? To get books into the hands of as many children as possible.
14th February is about sharing the love of books! #bookgivingday
International Book Giving Day is a 100% volunteer initiative aimed at increasing children’s access to and enthusiasm for books.

Most children in developing countries do not own books.
In the United Kingdom, one-third of children do not own books.
In the United States, two-thirds of children living in poverty do not own books.

International Book Giving Day’s focus is on encouraging people worldwide to give a book to a child on February 14th. We invite individuals to
1) gift a book to a friend or family member,
2) leave a book in a waiting room for children to read
3) donate a gently used book to a local library, hospital or shelter or to an organization that distributes used books to children in need internationally.

Share a photo of yourself celebrating International Book Giving Day, use #bookgivingday on social media so we can find you.
Invite your community to celebrate International Book Giving Day. Proudly display the #bookgivingday poster.

@inglizcha Ochish/sharhlash

2021-02-13 19:00:24 ​​​​​​​​​​​​#Audionews
Listening va Reading skills uchun
Seoul, Washington FMs discuss alliance, global issues, including Korean Peace Process (audio & text)

The nation's top diplomat held a phone meeting with his American Counterpart for the first time since taking office. Discussions centered around bilateral alliance and global issues... including the Korean Peace Process. Yoon Jung-min tells us more. Two top diplomats of South Korea and the U.S. have reaffirmed the Seoul-Washington alliance,... calling it the "linchpin" of peace, security, and prosperity for Northeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world. During their first phone call on Friday, since Seoul's foreign minister Chung Eui-yong took office this week, Chung and his American counterpart Antony Blinken agreed to hold a high-level meeting as early as possible,... to discuss pending issues. Also discussed were the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo, and the recent military coup in Myanmar. The U.S. State Department said that Blinken congratulated Chung on his new assignment,... adding President Biden is committed to strengthening U.S. alliances. With the new leadership in the U.S., CNN reported that Seoul and Washington are narrowing in on a cost-sharing agreement for American troops stationed in South Korea,... saying they could be just weeks away from striking a deal. Citing sources familiar with the negotiations, CNN said the deal is likely to be a multi-year agreement that increases Seoul's contribution, at around the 13 percent hike as suggested by Seoul. CNN also said the final agreement could include increases in South Korea's defense budget, and Seoul making some military equipment purchases. The Special Measures Agreement talks have been stalled since the former Trump administration demanded a sharp increase,... and refused to take Seoul's offer. Biden has made it clear his administration wants to restore alliances, including striking a deal with Seoul as early as possible.

@inglizcha Ochish/sharhlash

2021-02-13 16:02:05 ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​#Podcast
English Podcast
The Weekend - Buying Jewelery

Shop assistant: Good afternoon, sir, is there anything I can help you with today?

Mark: umm... yeah! I’m looking for a nice gift to give my girlfriend. Our fifth anniversary’s next Friday.

Shop assistant: Well, I would be happy to assist you in choosing the perfect gift for her. Is there anything particular that you have in mind?

Mark: No, not really... I’m completely at a loss.

Shop assistant: Well, you can give her a set of pearl earrings, or this beautiful heart-shaped pendant. What is her favorite gemstone?

Mark: That purple one. I’m sorry... I’ve never bought jewelery for anyone and I’m kind of nervous.

Shop assistant: Don’t worry, we specialize in providing our customers a relaxed, pressure-free shopping environment. That stone is an amethyst. We have a range of beautiful amethyst pieces. Take a look at this bracelet. It’s 18K rose-gold, studded with amethyst and blue topaz. It’s a great statement piece.

Mark: Oh...wow. That’s really pretty. Jess would love that. But... I was thinking of something a little more delicate, perhaps a necklace?

Shop assistant: We have this beautiful platinum pendant, or you could also get her a locket. You could also get her a timepiece—it’s both glamorous yet functional. If you tell me a little more about your girlfriend, maybe I can help you find something for her.

Mark: Jess? Well, she’s very smart, and has a great sense of humor. She’s very feminine...

Shop assistant: Perhaps you could give her a ring?

Mark: Well... actually... I was thinking about asking Jess to marry me... I’ve just been so nervous.

Shop assistant: Well sir, I believe your fifth anniversary is a great time to propose!

Mark: Okay, I’ve decided. I’m going to pop the question!

Shop assistant: Fabulous! We should look at engagement rings then! Now that’s a whole other section.

Key Vocabulary
anniversary - the date on which a romance began
have in mind - to be thinking of something
heart-shaped - something in the shape of a heart
pendant - a piece of jewelry that hangs on a chain
gemstone - a stone that can be used in jewelry
amethyst - a clear purple or bluish-purple stone
bracelet - a piece of jewelry worn on the wrist
18K - contain 75% gold
blue topaz - a blue precious stone
platinum - a heavy, silver-colored metal
locket - a small ornamental case
pop the question - ask a big question (proposal)

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