English with Anna

Labubu maker learns from Disney Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company, has achieved global success with its character Labubu. The company’s strategy is inspired by Disney, aiming to turn short-term popularity into long-term growth. Like Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Labubu is becoming a strong intellectual property with significant potential for theme parks, entertainment, and merchandise. Pop Mart doesn’t want to have only one big hit; instead, it hopes to create five to ten characters with similar global potential...

VTubers are becoming popular in the UK VTubers are online entertainers who use animated characters, controlled through motion capture, instead of showing their real faces.They sing, play games, and interact live on platforms like Twitch and YouTube, often keeping their real identities private. In Birmingham, the first night of Vexo, short for VTuber Expo, brought together thousands of fans eager to see their favourite VTubers perform. For many fans, the event felt like a concert, but with a digital twist...

France’s tax for rich people The debate over the “Zucman tax” in France reflects wider European questions about how much the ultra-rich should contribute. The plan, proposed by economist Gabriel Zucman, calls for a 2% annual levy on fortunes exceeding 100 million euros, affecting approximately 1,800 individuals in France. Supporters argue it would promote tax justice and provmuch-needed funds for security, defence, and healthcare. Estimates suggest it could raise two0 billion euros in France and 67 billion euros across the EU...

Young Europeans and university A new report shows that young adults in Europe study at very different levels. In Ireland, two out of three people aged 25–34 have a degree, the highest in the EU. Luxembourg has 65%, and Lithuania has 58%. At the bottom are Czechia with 33% and Hungary and Italy with 32%. The report also explains that family background matters a lot. In Denmark, 70% of young people with university parents have a degree, compared to 49% of those with non-university parents. In Poland, the difference is bigger: 79% compared to only 11%...

Ethiopian bitcoin mining Ethiopia now lets companies mine Bitcoin again. The country built a big dam, which makes a lot of electricity. But many people are still not connected to the power grid. So the government sells the extra energy to Bitcoin miners. These companies pay big fees, which help build more power lines. Last year, they paid about 220 million dollars. The plan is to give electricity to everyone by 2030, but this is hard to achieve. Mining Bitcoin in Ethiopia is cheap. It costs about 20,000 dollars, but one Bitcoin sells for more than 100,000...

Living forever If you find a potion that gives you eternal life, would you drink it? The potion keeps you young, safe from disease, and alive forever. Some philosophers say immortality brings freedom. You could travel, try new hobbies, and reach many goals without worrying about time. John Martin Fischer says some things, like sunsets, never get old. But other philosophers warn of problems. Bernard Williams says life would turn boring after repeating the same activities for centuries. Changing your habits and identity again and again could also feel confusing...

💔 В 2002 году, заканчивая школу с безумной любовью к английскому (который учила с трёх лет), я послушала родителей и выбрала экономико-инвестиционный факультет. В то время профессия учителя прочно ассоциировалась с нищетой и тяжёлыми условиями труда. 🌪 Моё первое образование открыло дорогу в крупные международные компании. Я на собственном опыте узнала, как английский помогает расти по карьерной лестнице и увеличивать доход. На последнем месте работы - в отделе закупок «Леруа Мерлен» мой английский...

Algae fertiliser Researchers in Europe are making new fertilisers from algae that grow on wastewater. In France, farmers test algae powder made from dairy waste. The algae eat the organic matter, then become a powder rich in nitrogen. This powder, when mixed with mineral fertilizers, keeps the same crop yield but reduces mineral use by 25%. Algae powder is slower than normal fertilizer, so farmers need more planning and skill. But they can move it to other places and use it where sewage sludge is not allowed...

Прочитайте новость и переведите, изучите новые слова. В завершении статьи будет полный перевод текста и новых слов, а еще задание на их закрепление. Giorgio Armani dies Giorgio Armani, one of the world’s most renowned fashion designers, has passed away at the age of 91. Known as King Giorgio, he transformed menswear in the 1970s by softening the traditional jacket, creating a more relaxed and natural style. His idea that elegance means simplicity guided his career for five decades. Armani built...

Сколько часов нужно для уровня B2. Для выхода на уровень английского языка B2 требуется примерно от 500 до 850 часов систематических занятий. Согласно данным с сайта Grade University (2023), для достижения уровня B2 нужно посвятить изучению английского около 500-600 часов, при этом учащийся научится понимать сложные тексты, участвовать в обсуждениях и писать в разных жанрах. По исследованию EF (2025), новичку потребуется 600-850 часов обучения, чтобы достичь уровня B2, с учётом особенностей родного языка и интенсивности занятий...

Прочитайте новость и переведите, изучите новые слова. В завершении статьи будет полный перевод текста и новых слов, а еще задание на их закрепление. Mushrooms help ill people In Melbourne, researchers have completed Australia’s first clinical trial of psychedelic-assisted therapy for people with terminal illnesses. The study involved 35 participants, who received psilocybin, the active compound in “magic mushrooms”, together with psychotherapy. Results showed significant reductions in depression,...

Прочитайте новость и переведите, изучите новые слова. В завершении статьи будет полный перевод текста и новых слов, а еще задание на их закрепление. North Korea opens a beach resort North Korea has opened the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Zone, a resort on the country’s east coast. The area includes hotels, restaurants, shops, and a water park. Originally, the country advertised it as open to international visitors, but so far, only Russians, arriving in organised groups through accredited travel agencies, have been allowed in...