mount hromadit se, narůstat

mental duševní, psychický

surge prudce se zvýšit, vyskočit

tumultuous bouřlivý

turmoil nepokoj, rozruch

extradition bill zákon o vydávání osob

deal with řešit, zabývat se

vulnerable zranitelný, citlivý

exorbitant horentní, přemrštěný

cramped stísněný, přeplněný

gloomy chmurný, neutěšený

embattled napadaný, v nesnázích

trial soudní řízení, proces

acknowledge uznat, připustit

entrench zakořenit

rubber bullet gumový projektil

tear gas slzný plyn

handling zvládání, zacházení

double whammy dvojitá pohroma

standpoint stanovisko

counselling poradenský

out of reach nedosažitelný

large swathes of population široké vrstvy obyvatelstva

Náhledový obrázek:

Demonstrators outside the Hong Kong Chief Executive’s office demanding the leaders to withdraw the extradition bill. REUTERS

Zdroj LN

The new data coincides with more pressure on the government to protect the environment under the terms of the free trade deal between the European Union and South American bloc Mercosur agreed to two weeks ago. Brazil will take action if concerns about an increase in deforestation are confirmed, the agriculture minister said.

“We are adopting all measures to combat illegal deforestation,” Environment Minister Ricardo Salles said. “This week we had 17 enforcement teams simultaneously in all of the Amazon from Ibama.”

Brazil is home to 60% of the Amazon, which is the world’s largest tropical rainforest and is seen as vital to the global fight against climate change.

While the final text of the EU-Mercosur deal has not been released, an outline from the EU states the agreement includes a provision that the Paris Agreement on climate change must be effectively implemented along with other commitments to fight deforestation.

Greenpeace forest strategist Paulo Adario said “all indications” are that deforestation will worsen under Bolsonaro, but he hopes news of a large increase will put pressure on the government to take action.

“When they have the final numbers, if it is really a lot, this will be a nightmare for Bolsonaro,” Adario said. “This is something that is really important from an international and Brazilian point of view because the Amazon is an icon.”

REUTERS

A man sits on a tree next to his chainsaw in Jamanxim National Park near the city of Novo Progresso, Para State, Brazil. REUTERS

The ancient city of Babylon, first referenced in a clay tablet from the 23rd century B.C., was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site after a vote that followed decades of lobbying by Iraq. The vote, at a UNESCO World Heritage Committee meeting in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, made the ancient Mesopotamian city on the Euphrates River the sixth world heritage site within the borders of a country known as a cradle of civilization.

Iraqi President Barham Salih said the city, now an archaeological ruin, was returned to its “rightful place” in history after years of neglect by previous leaders. The government said it would allocate funds to maintain and boost conservation efforts.

Babylon, about 85 kilometers south of Baghdad, was once the center of a sprawling empire, renowned for its towers and mudbrick temples. Its hanging gardens were one of the seven ancient wonders of the world, commissioned by King Nebuchadnezzar II.

Visitors can stroll through the remnants of the brick and clay structures which stretch across 10 square kilometers, and see the famed Lion of Babylon statue, as well as large portions of the original Ishtar Gate. As the sun began to set on the crumbling ruins, activists and residents flocked to the replica Ishtar gate at the site’s entrance to celebrate what they called a historic moment.

It would allow for further exploration and research, said Makki Mohammad Farhoud, a tour guide at the site for more than 25 years, noting that only 18% of it had been excavated.

Excavations of what was once the largest city in the world, began in the early 19th century by European archaeologists, who removed many artifacts. In the 1970s, under President Saddam Hussein’s restoration project, the southern palace’s walls and arches were shoddily rebuilt on top of the existing ruins, causing widespread damage.

This was exacerbated during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, when U.S. and Polish troops stationed nearby built their military base on top of the ruins.

Many inscriptions written by soldiers can still be seen on the ancient bricks.

The site is in dire need of conservation, Farhoud said. Unlike three other World Heritage sites in Iraq, UNESCO did not designate Babylon as one in “in danger” after objections from the Iraqi delegation.

Iraq is replete with thousands of archaeological sites, many of which were heavily damaged or pillaged by Islamic State during its barbaric rule which ended in 2017.

The other five World Heritage Sites are the southern marshlands, Hatra, Samarra, Ashur and the citadel in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s Kurdistan Region.

REUTERS

NAUČTE SE GRAMATIKU PODLE TEXTU

Podívejme se na přídavné jméno s koncovkou -ic, a to ve větě „… what they called a historic moment.“ („… co nazývají historickým momentem.“) Přídavná jména s koncovkou -ic nebo -ical mají podobný, ne však stejný význam. Výraz historic vyjadřuje důležitost, slovo historical spíše přímou spojitost s historií, např. historical period (historické období). Podobně např. economic – economical (týkající se ekonomiky – úsporný), electric – electrical (fungující na elektřinu – týkající se elektřiny), music – musical (týkající se hudby – produkující hudbu), classic – classical (typický – tradiční).

Zvolte správný výraz:

The politician will have a historic / historical speech. He became an electric / electrical engineer. The country deals with economic / economical recession.

Náhledový obrázek:

General view of the ancient city of Babylon, a newly designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, near Hilla, Iraq. REUTERS

Zdroj LN

On the run from U.S. tax authorities, tech guru John McAfee puffs a cigar aboard his towering white yacht in a Havana harbor and says he can help Cuba evade the U.S. government too – by launching a cryptocurrency that defeats a U.S. trade embargo. The creator of the eponymous antivirus software in the 1980s, McAfee in an interview touted the anonymity of the digital currency while also outlining his belief that income tax is illegal and plans to run from Cuba for the Libertarian Party nomination for U.S. president.

“It would be trivial to get around the U.S. government’s embargo through the use of a clever system of currency,” the 73-year-old said. “So I made a formal offer to help for free… on a private channel through Twitter.”

While Cuba had not responded, its Communist government said it was studying the potential use of cryptocurrency to alleviate an economic crisis aggravated by tighter U.S. sanctions under President Donald Trump. Countries under U.S. sanctions such as Iran and Venezuela have floated the idea of using digital currency to trade although no scheme appears to have gotten off the ground.

“You can’t just create a coin and expect it to fly. You have to base it on the proper blockchain, have it structured such that it meets the specific needs of a country or economic situation,” he said. “There are probably less than 10 people in the world who know how to do that and I’m certainly one of them.”

McAfee said he did not pay income tax for eight years for ideological reasons and was indicted. To avoid trial, he left the United States in January for the Bahamas. He arrived in Cuba a month ago after suspecting that U.S. law enforcement was trying to extradite him from the Bahamas. His past includes fleeing Belize where he lived for several years after police sought him for questioning in the 2012 murder of a neighbor, meeting his wife, Janice McAfee, when she solicited him as a prostitute while he was on the run and saying on Twitter last year that he has fathered 47 children.

The cybersecurity expert said he hopes toextend his Cuban visitor visa indefinitely, breaking a U.S. ban on recreational vessels visiting the island imposed last month as well as travel restrictions.

He believes Cuba would never extradite him to the United States. Both Cuba and the United States have a history of providing refuge to individuals wanted by the other country for crimes with political overtones, according to lawyer Pedro Freyre.

“They just want to put me in jail and not let me speak again,” said McAfee. “I’m not going to allow that because I have too much to say.”

REUTERS

Dnes se zaměříme na slovesa následovaná infinitivem s to. Jedno se vyskytlo ve větě „…expert said he hopes to extend…“ („…expert řekl, že doufá, že rozšíří…“). Pokud se objeví dvě slovesa za sebou, použijeme některý ze slovesných vzorců: 1. infinitiv bez to – I can run., 2. infinitiv s to – I want to run., 3. gerundium – I enjoy running. Jednotlivá slovesa a jejich vzorce je třeba si zapamatovat. Podobně jako v naší větě použijeme infinitiv s to po slovesech jako afford, agree, decide, expect, forget, learn, offer, plan, promise, would like a dalších.

Přeložte: Nemohu si dovolit to koupit. Rozhodla se jednat. Nezapomeň mi zavolat. Slibuji, že to zařídím. Očekávám, že tě uvidím.

Řešení: I can’t afford to buy that. She decided to act. Don’t forget to call me. I promise to arrange that. I expect to see you.

SLOVÍČKA

Zdroj LN

SLOVÍČKA

drought sucho, období sucha

the haves majetní, bohatí

outskirts předměstí, periferie

teem hemžit se, tlačit se

amplify zesílit, zvětšit

civil servant státní úředník

substantial masivní, robustní

manicured pečlivě střižený

housing estate sídliště

tanker cisterna

pipe potrubí, trubka

soar prudce stoupat

deplete ubývat, ztenčovat se

even-handed spravedlivý

scramble přetahovat, prát se

lawmaker zákonodárce

water table hladina podzemní vody

borehole vrt, vrtná sonda

liable vystavený, trpící

gouging vydírání, okrádání

connivance tichý souhlas

lowly níže postavený (o funkci)

seep prosakovat, unikat

leaky děravý, netěsný

be short of mít nedostatek

V dnešním článku se vyskytl výraz se zápornou předponou ve větě „…most other parts of the country remain unaffected…“. („…většina dalších částí země zůstává nepostižena…“). Pomocí záporných předpon tvoříme slova opačného významu. Pro některé předpony existují pravidla, která však neplatí vždy. Pro slova začínající na r použijeme ir- (irresponsible – nezodpovědný). Pro slova začínající na l použijeme il- (illegal – nelegální). Pro slova začínající na m a p použijeme im- (immature – nevyspělý, impatient – netrpělivý). Dalšími předponami jsou un- (uncommon – neobvyklý), in- (invali – neplatný), dis- (dishonest – nečestný).

Zvolte předponu ir-, il-, im-, un-, in-, dis-:

healthy, pleased, direct, logical, regular, mortal, practical

Řešení: unhealthy, displeased, indirect, illogical, irregular, immortal, impractical

zdroj LN

When David landed an assembly line job at Volkswagen’s Bratislava factory, his colleagues congratulated him on securing a well-paid position he could ride to retirement. Two years later, he is among the 3,000 workers being laid off at the plantthat produces the Volkswagen Touareg and Porsche Cayenne in a round of job cuts that has sent shockwaves through Slovakia, the world’s biggest car producer per capita. The job losses at the factory, Slovakia’s largest private sector employer, underline the challenges the country faces to keep the engine revving in an industry that accounts forabout 12% of annual economic output and more than one in ten jobs.

Competition from lower-cost southeastern European markets, a shift to electric vehicles and global trade tensions are among the headwinds buffeting the small central European nation as automakers mull where to launch future production lines. Volkswagen itself is looking at building a new plant in eastern Europe, with trade publications citing Bulgaria, Serbia and Turkey as the most likely locations. “To use a car metaphor, we see a warning light, we don’t need to take the car for a general repair yet,” economy minister Peter Ziga said. “We have 300,000 people working in the car sector. Should anything happen to them it would be serious.”

The uncertainty has spurred unions, which have previously pushed for big wage increases, to change tack.

“At the moment, we do not focus on salaries, the priority is job stability,” Volkswagen union chief Zoroslav Smolinsky told Reuters. “We need to wait out the worse times and wait for the better times.”

Seeking to bolster an auto industry that accounts for 44% of industrial output and 40% of exports, the government has approved subsidies to boost the sale of electric cars and announced tax breaks of up to 200% of the amount invested in research and development. Slovakia is not the only central European country facing such challenges. Fellow EU members the Czech Republic, home to Volkswagen’s Skoda brand, and Hungary, where both BMW and Daimler have plants, rely heavily on investment from foreign automakers. “It has been taken for granted that plants like Bratislava would just carry on and produce the next generation model,” Carol Thomas, an auto analyst at LMC Automotive, said.

“But we can’t just assume that anymore. Plants will not only have to fight for new models, they will also face greater competition to retain new generations of models they already produce. This is the key year that will decide the future of the Slovak factory,” VW Slovak Chief Executive Oliver Grunberg said.

REUTERS

Artisanal gold miners sit outside a tunnel at an illegal mine-pit in South-Kivu province, Democratic Republic of Congo. REUTERS

SLOVÍČKA

mining důlní, těžební

highlight poukázat, upozornit

conundrum zapeklitý problém

prospector zlatokop, hledač

dig kopat, dobývat

copper měď

span pokrývat, zahrnovat

rural venkovský

tantalizing lákavý, dráždivý

artisanal řemeslnický

ratchet up zvyšovat, stupňovat

outreach aktivní pomoc

constraint omezení, zábrany

outskirts předměstí

abut sousedit, hraničit

fencing oplocení

shovel lopata

sack pytel

brim být po okraj naplněný

ore ruda

buy off koupit si koho

trespasser nepovolaný

deploy nasadit, rozmístit

kickback úplatek

illicit nezákonný, zakázaný

loosely volně

sweep zátah, razie

Until now, Cuba’s independent filmmakers have had to scramble to get their projects made due to the lack of legal recognition. And while their works have sometimes won renown in film festivals abroad, they have lacked distribution at home.

The government said that as of Aug. 23, a new law will “approve the figure of the audiovisual and cinematographic creator as an independent artist” and create a national film fund. While Cuba’s movie industry welcomed the long-awaited news, many cautioned it remains to be seen how it will be implemented.

“We’ve been waiting for this for many years,” Gustavo Arcos Fernández-Britto, a film critic and film studies professor in Havana, told Reuters. “This will not, however, resolve the issue of distribution, which remains controlled by the state.”

In a country that has been dominated by the state since the revolution of 1959, it was long up to the Cuban Film Institute (ICAIC) to produce and finance movies.

But filmmakers began to make movies independently from the 1980s thanks to new technology like video cameras. A majority of Cuba’s filmmakers work outside of state institutions, saying it gives them more creative freedom and that they have been tolerated to some extent by the authorities.

Their legal limbo, however, has created trouble in obtaining permits to film in public spaces or to import equipment. It has also been difficult to gain funding since many foreign film funds award money only to projects by a legally recognised production company with a corporate bank account.

Filmmakers and creative collectives will now be able to apply to become economic entities that could officially hire people and open bank accounts, the ICAIC president, Ramon Samada, was quoted as saying by state-run website Cubadebate.

The new legislation will also create three new private-sector licenses for those working on independent movie projects: operator of movie equipment, from lighting to drones; casting director; and production assistant. Critics said it was problematic that the Ideological Department of the Communist Party would continue to vet the films shown in Cuba.

Movies that are perceived to be overly critical of the government, like “Santa & Andres,” about the state persecution of a dissident gay novelist in the 1980s, are typically not screened on the island at all. The 2016 “Santa & Andres” won several prizes abroad.

REUTERS

NAUČTE SE GRAMATIKU PODLE TEXTU

Dnes se zaměříme na sloveso should použité ve větě „… a move that should facilitate production…“ („…opatření, které by mělo usnadnit produkci…“). Stejně jako za jinými modálními slovesy následuje sloveso v infinitivu bez to. Otázku tvoříme převrácením slovosledu (Should I do it?) a zápor přidáním not (You shouldn’t do it.). Pokud však za should následuje have a příčestí minulé, vyjadřujeme lítost nad něčím, co jsme v minulosti měli udělat, ale neudělali: I should have taken his advice; I wouldn’t be in trouble now. (Měl jsem přijmout jeho radu; neměl bych teď potíže.)

Přeložte:

Měl jsi být opatrný. Měli by se soustředit na práci. Měl bych mu pomoci. Měli jsme to opravit hned.

NAUČTE SE GRAMATIKU PODLE TEXTU

V dnešním textu se objevilo několik vět, v nichž je použit předminulý i minulý čas: „… royal officials had already planned to renovate it before it was agreed…“ („… královští představitelé měli v plánu ji renovovat ještě předtím, než to bylo odsouhlaseno…“). Předminulým časem vyjadřujeme, že děj v minulosti se odehrál před jiným dějem v minulosti. Bod v minulosti může být též vyjádřen časem: At 3pm he had already left. (Ve tři odpoledne už byl pryč.)

Vyberte správný čas:

When I switched on / had switched on the TV, the film already started / had already started. I cleaned / had cleaned the room because my baby made / had made a lot of mess. After he finished / had finished the report, he started / had started a new project.

Řešení: switched on – had already started, cleaned – had made, had finished – started

SLOVÍČKA

refurbish modernizovat

provide zajistit, poskytnout

taxpayer daňový poplatník

dwelling obydlí, příbytek

duke vévoda

duchess vévodkyně

fitting doplňky

furnishing vybavení, zařízení

earmark vyčlenit, určit

in line with v souladu s

outdated zastaralý

expenditure výdaje, výlohy

household domácnost

wiring rozvody, vedení

ceiling beam stropní trám

joist nosník

mains přívod, potrubí

outlay výdaj, vydání

bespoke zakázkový

curtain závěs

floating plovoucí

outstanding mimořádný

feature figurovat

threshold hranice, práh

staff personál, zaměstnanci

upkeep údržba, zabezpečení

expense výdaj, náklad