Crazy Chaplin

This sculpture of Charlie Chaplin was made by Scottish artist David Mach. But he doesn't use normal materials... he uses matches. It takes a lot of patience to make a sculpture. And when an exhibition opens, the artist sets his work on fire to make new art!

Austerity for Chinese New Year

Summary

China has banned TV and radio adverts which encourage extravagant gift-giving ahead of Chinese New Year, which begins this weekend. Expensive watches, gold coins and alcohol are among the items that are affected, according to the state media. 

 

Report

During Chinese New Year it's common to give gifts to bosses and officials as a way of gaining favour. But now the authorities have announced a ban on advertisements that have been encouraging people to give luxury items.

In a statement, the authorities said these radio and TV ads were spreading "incorrect values" and creating a "bad social ethos". According to reports, the ban relates to promotions which suggest products are "must-have items for superiors".

It's the latest move by China's leader, Xi Jinping, to try and cut down on government extravagance and corruption. At many official occasions, banquets have been banned or scaled back, red carpets are out, and the floral arrangements are no longer there. China's new generation of leaders are keen to display a more frugal administration in the face of growing public anger over official corruption.

Senior officials have repeatedly warned that corruption poses the greatest threat to the rule of the Communist party.

The world's brightest city

Summary

A study this week has found that Hong Kong is one of the worst offenders in the world for light pollution. Parts of the territory have been registered as 1,200 times brighter than a normal dark sky. Researchers say light pollution can affect health.

Report 

This is the Central District and it's 11 o'clock at night time, but if I put on my sunglasses it wouldn't be too dark at all and that's because there are lights everywhere. There's a neon sign across the street at an old antique shop. It's closed but there are one, two, three signs lit up and it's the same thing all down the street. 

Now, researchers say that these signs are contributing to what is known as light pollution - you can tell by looking up into the sky. Not a single star in sight. In fact, the sky is a light shade of grey because of the amount of light in this area. And this is affecting people's lives because above these businesses and signs are apartment blocks. So these neon lights are reflecting off of the windows and bouncing into people's homes.

Christine Siu lives near the area. She says sometimes the lights are so bright it makes it hard to fall asleep.
Well, researchers are asking businesses to dim their lights and to turn them off earlier in the evening. Except it's not going to be an easy thing to do. Hong Kong is a place where businesses can offer the same services or sell the same products side-by-side.
The only way they can distinguish themselves from their competitors are through these neon signs to grab customers' attention. The bigger, the brighter, the better. Hong Kong is known to be a place that never sleeps. Well, now it seems that's because they never allow the sky to go dark.

Switzerland limits immigration

Summary:
Switzerland is to restrict immigration from European Union member states. It will introduce nes quotas and limit long-term work permits available to EU citizens. Although Switzerland is not a member of the European Union, some EU official have already criticised the move.


Report

Switzerland's high salaries, low unemployment, and stable currency are a magnet to Eurozone countries. Since the Swiss agreed to free movement of people, immigration from EU members has risen sharply, especially from Spain and Portugal, where unemployment is at crisis levels.

In Switzerland, there is tension. The right wing People's Party claims Swiss jobseekers are losing out; the Green Party says immigration is putting too much pressure on housing and public transport. Now the Swiss government has called a halt: being outside the EU means Switzerland has some flexibility, and from next month permanent work permits for EU citizens will be strictly limited.

Brussels has reacted angrily: EU officials have always told Switzerland it cannot cherry pick only those parts of European policy it likes best. Now, it's possible other deals the Swiss really need with Europe, on trade perhaps, could be in danger. Meanwhile, sceptical members of the European Union, like Britain, where many would like a less rigid relationship with the EU, will be watching Switzerland's move with interest.

9.Explain and clarify a situation

G: Hi Clàudia. How was your afternoon?
C: No bad, thanks.Why do you ask?
G: Because you told me that you were going to a friend's house for study , but I heard that you were in town.
C: Who told you that?
  G: Marta said that she'd seem you. How come you didn't tell me about it?
C: 'Cause I was only there for two hours. Then, for finish my work, I needed a book form the library, so I left. 
G:Are you telling me the truth?
C: Honestly, it's true! If you don't believe me, you can ask Marta.
G:OK, OK. I believe you. Sorry, Claudia.
C. That's Ok.

8.CONSOLE AND ENCOURAGE

G: Hey Clàudia, you look a bit down. What's the matter?

C: Oh, I've just split up with my boyfriend.

G: Oh, I'm sorry to here that. It isn't the end of the world though.

C: I know, but I I'm really going to miss him.

G: Don't take it too badly- at least there are a lots of boys in the world.

C: That's true, I suppose.

G: Look at this way- if you hadn't split up with him, you'd  lose a lot of oportunities.

C: Yeah, maybe you're right.

G: Cheer up! Come on- let's go to a café or something.

C: Ok. Thanks, Gemma. I feel a bit better now.

WALES

Wales and England have always had a close relationship. In the 13th century, the English king Edward I and his armies took control of Wales away from Llewellyn ap Gruffud. When Henry VIII was king, in the 16^thcentury, England and Wales became one country.
The modern Welsh nationalist political party, plaid Cymru, wants independence for Wales. It often works with the Scottish Nationalist Party, who want independence for Scotland.

Welsh is a living language: about 25% of Welsh people know it well, although they now English.

Food

Your breakfast in Wales may include black laverbread, which is a paste made with a type if seaweed. Despite its name, it isn’t bread. Other typical Welsh dishes are Welsh rarebit (cheese on toast made in a special way) and Bara Brith (Welsh fruit cake).

Sport

Rugby is the most popular sport in Wales and the Stadium called Cardiff Arms Park is the home of Welsh rugby. Football, cricket and snooker are also popular. You can also surfing on many beaches in Wales.

The land of Song

Wales is called ‘The land of Song’ and the Welsh song is called ‘The land of my fathers’. Wales is famous for its men’s choirs and they often sing before rugby matches. Katherine Jenkins and Bryn Terfel are two successful opera singers from Wales. There have also been several successful international singing stars, such as Tom Jones, Shirley Bassey and Duffy, and bands such as the Manic Street Preachers.

The Eisteddfod

The Eisteddfod is a Wels word which means ‘to be sitting together’. An Eisteddfod is an annual meeting of poets, musicians, singers and sometimes dancers who compete for prizes. It is an ancient Welsh tradition which started in 1776. The most important is the one in Wales; it attracts over 6.000 competitors and more than 150.000 visitors. At an Eisteddfod, you may see women in Welsh national dress. This is a tall black hat and red cloak. There is no special costume for men.

  Iconic places:

Cardiff is the capital of Wales and the location of the Millennium Stadium, where rugby and football are played. Cardiff was named European City of Sport in 2009. The second largest city in Wales is Swansea. Near there, there are some prize-winning beaches: Oxwich Bay, which was named ‘the most beautiful beach in Britain’; Three Cliffs Bay, which is called ‘Britain’s best beach’; Rhossili Bay, which is called ‘The British supermodel of beaches’.
St. David’s is the smallest city in the UK, with under 2.000 people, but it has a magnificent cathedral. Saint David is the Saint of Wales and is buried in the cathedral.
Snowdonia is a national park in North Wales. It includes mountains, lakes, rivers, waterfalls, forests and coast. The name comes from the highest mountain, Mount Snowdon.
The English King Edward I wanted to control Wales, so he built huge castles to protect Wales. Four of the most important castles are: Caernarfon, Harlech, Beaumaris and Conwy.
Portmeirion is an Italian-style village in North Wales. Sir Clough William-Ellis, who designed the village, said that he wanted to bring the colour and beauty of the Mediterranean to this area of Wales.
The are many other beautiful areas in Wales, such as Cardigan Bay, the Pembrokeshire coast, the island of Anglesey, and interesting towns like Aberystwyth, Bangor and Llandudno.

Iconic people:

Two heroes of the Welsh people are Llewellyn the Great and Owen Glendower. In the thirteenth century, Llewellyn kept Wales independent from the Norman kings of England. Glendower was a nationalist leader who led a revolution against the English king, Henry IV. At first he was successful and in 1404 he created an independent Welsh parliament, but finally it was defeated by Henry’s son.

There is a legend about Llewellyn’s dog called Gellert. Gellert had to guard the king’s baby son while Llewellyn was away. He killed a wolf who tried to attack the child. When Llewellyn returned, he couldn’t see the baby and there was blood on the dog’s mouth, so he killed the dog. But then he found the baby safe under its bed.

Henry Morgan was a Welsh pirate who robbed ships and towns in the Caribbean in the seventeenth century.

In recent times, there have been many famous Welsh people: writers like Dylan Tomas, actors like Catherine Zeta Jones, politicians like Aneurin Bevan...

Richard Burton was the first world-famous Welsh actor.

Shirley Bassey grew up in a dangerous port area of Cardiff. She has had a long career in show business since she began performing. She is famous for singing the title songs for three James Bond films.

King Arthur and Branwen:

Some people say that the castle of Camelot was in Wales but some others say that it was in England. Certainly, the first time that anyone wrote about Arthur was in Wels literature. Many people think that the real Arthur was a Celt who fought against the Anglo-Saxons. On Bardsey Island there is a cave where local stories say that Arthur and Merlin are buried.

Another legend is about a girl called Branwen, whose brother was a giant, and a king of Wales. Branwen married the Irish king but when he took her to Ireland he was very unkind to her. Branwen sent news to her brother by a bird. Her brother walked through the sea to help her. There was a terrible war and many people were killed, including the Welsh and Irish kings. Branwen returned to Wales with the head of her dead brother.

Wales is a small country with a population of only about 3 million. Bit it has its own identity and its own strong Celtic culture.