BBC Learning English
Words in the News
13th August 2010
Russian heat hits global economy
Russian economists say that the extremely hot weather and fires are expected to cut fifteen
billion dollars from economic output, slowing down the country's recovery from the recent
global crisis. Our Moscow correspondent Richard Galpin reports:
Hundreds of fires continue to burn in several different regions of the country including around
the capital. But here in Moscow, the dense smog has lifted for the first time in almost a week,
being replaced by sunshine and then some rain. Welcome relief for the population which has
been suffering from the very high levels of pollution.
But the heatwave continues and experts from two major banks say it's having a serious
impact on the country's economy  in particular agricultural output.
Alexander Morosov, chief economist of HSBC in Moscow, says four billion dollars will be
lost as a result of the government decision to stop exporting wheat. That decision was taken
after it became clear that up to a third of this year's crop had died because of the lack of rain.
The extreme weather conditions and smog have also led to some factories closing down
production lines temporarily.
This economic cost comes on top of the cost in human lives; more than fifty people have been
killed in the fires, while in Moscow the number of people dying every day is now twice the
normal rate due to the heat and toxic smog.
All this has led to much anger with the authorities, both local and federal, who have been
accused of not being prepared for this kind of crisis and of doing too little too late.
Richard Galpin, BBC News, Moscow
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
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Vocabulary and definitions
dense thick or difficult to see through
smog air pollution, usually caused by smoke
lifted gone away (can also be applied to mist and fog)
heatwave period of unusually hot weather
output amount produced
wheat agricultural plant used to make flour
crop amount gathered (of a plant grown for food)
toxic poisonous
federal at a state government level
crisis difficult or dangerous situation
More on this story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10932644
Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/08/100813_witn_russia_heatwave_story.shtml
Words in the News © British Broadcasting Corporation 2010
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