English Quiz 130

(English Quiz 130)

1. In 2007, the Russians were all over Davos once again — Russian politicians thinking ahead to the post-Putin era, and Russian businessmen riding the oil and commodities boom with a look of steely determination. Dmitri Medvedev, Russia 's First Deputy Prime Minister (and a rumored successor to Putin), spoke of Russia as "another country" from the way it had been in 2000, when its economy was marked by low productivity and high inflation. Those bothered by the sense that Russia was starting to throw its weight around were told to relax. Russia, Medvedev said, wanted to be recognized as a major economic and political power "not by the use of force but by the example of our own behavior and achievements." Any concerns about the way Russia sets about business and politics, Medvedev said, stemmed from "a lack of communication," rather than anything Russia did. But those worried by Russia's use of its energy resources as a political weapon — ask the Ukrainians or Belarusians about that — were granted little comfort. The days when Russia sent energy to its friends at less than market rates are gone for good. "There will no longer be any free gas for anyone," said Medvedev, for those who had not yet got the message.
Q: 試翻 "Russian politicians thinking ahead ... steely determination."

2. In the new climate, many developed countries have changed their legislation to crack down on bribery. One hundred and forty governments have now signed a 2003 United Nations convention against corruption. There are currently more than 100 foreign bribery investigations under way worldwide, according to Angel Gurria, the o.e.c.d.'s secretary-general. One of the cases with the highest profile involves the huge German firm Siemens, which is under investigation for allegedly paying bribes to win telecommunications contracts. The company said recently that, on checking its books for the past seven years, it has found $550 million in payments it could not clearly identify.
Q: 試翻 "There are currently ... to win telecommunications contracts."

3. Ever since the sfo announced it was dropping the case on Dec. 14, Blair has been plagued with questions. When it was signed in 1986, the deal with Saudi Arabia — known as the Al-Yamamah contract — was thought to provide a guaranteed stream of revenue for the British aerospace giant and safeguard thousands of jobs in the U.K. An extension of the deal, involving the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets, was agreed just last year. For Blair , Britain 's ties with the Saudis are paramount. "My advice was that this investigation would do enormous damage to our relations with Saudi Arabia," Blair told Parliament on Jan. 17, citing the Saudi role in combating terrorism. Blair also said that ending the contract could cause "thousands" of British jobs to be lost. Perhaps they would be. But Article 5 of the o.e.c.d. convention specifically states that neither national economic interests nor foreign-relations priorities should influence bribery investigations. If Britain gets away with shrugging off the convention's terms, it's hard to see what will be left of it. The convention has no mechanism for sanctioning governments other than peer pressure, and activists like Transparency International's Labelle fear "national security" may become an unofficial but accepted exemption. At the March meeting, British officials will once again be grilled on the case."We have to think through some difficult issues," says Pieth, the working group's chairman. No kidding.
Q: 試翻 "But Article 5 ... influence bribery investigations."