Is exempt from tax

should not be taxed by law, is not eligible for sales tax

to come down on the cake side of the argument

to agree that a teacake is a cake after all

a tax refund

the extra tax that they have paid to be returned/paid back to them

gave the decision a cautious welcome

said the decision was right, however they were not sure if it would not change in the future

regardless of the bitter legal arguments

whether or not courts will continue to (angrily) discuss what a teacake is

Answer the questions:

1. What has the European Court of Justice ruled?

2. When is a cake not a biscuit?

3. By what chain is the chocolate teacake made?

4. When did the British tax authorities decide it was a biscuit?

5. What should Marks and Spencer get?

6. Does it continue to sell the teacakes in the meantime?

Find Russian equivalents to the following expressions from the text:

shortbread base, a luxury food, a leading supermarket chain, regardless of the bitter legal arguments.

Translate the following passage.

Long ago, the British tax authorities decided it was a biscuit, a luxury food eligible for sales tax. The supermarket maintained it was a cake, a basic food which is exempt from tax. The argument's been through many courts and the latest ruling from the European Court of Justice seems to come down on the cake side of the argument. Marks and Spencer should get a tax refund, said the judges.

6. Truckers strike worldwide

Thousands of lorry drivers around the world are on strike in protest at rising fuel prices. Protests are taking place in Spain, Malaysia, South Korea and the UK. In Argentina food retailers have warned of shortages due to disruption caused by truckers.

In Spain, about 75,000 lorry drivers have been on strike since Sunday night and more than 70 have been arrested. The Spanish government has promised zero tolerance for any violence by the drivers, following a series of incidents which included an attack on a trucker who broke the strike. That attack left him with 25% burns to his body.

In Malaysia, security has been stepped up in the capital Kuala Lumpur for a rally the opposition hopes will bring more than 20,000 people onto the streets. Oil prices have risen by about 40% since the start of the year to an all-time high of more than a $139.

Truck drivers are also on strike in South Korea, affecting operations at major ports. They're demanding cuts in energy costs or an increase in transport fees as a result of a more than 30% increase in the price of diesel since the beginning of the year.

In Britain, fuel supplies to around 900 Shell petrol stations across the country stopped early on Friday because of a strike by tanker drivers employed by two haulage companies. The drivers have also set up picket lines outside a number of oil terminals.

And in Argentina, truck drivers are protesting against a protest. They say demonstrations by farmers are preventing them from working. The farmers have been blocking roads for the past three months in a dispute with the government over export taxes.

zero tolerance for any violence

when any use of physical force to injure somebody or damage something, even if not very serious, is treated as unacceptable and punished severely

broke the strike

continued to work despite the fact that most drivers have refused to work as a protest (here, against rising fuel prices)

security has been stepped up

more precautions have been taken (to keep somebody or something safe from attack or danger)

an all-time high

the highest they have ever been

affecting operations

here, stopping the ports from working normally

tanker

here, a vehicle built to carry liquid or gas

haulage

the business of moving goods by road or railway

set up picket lines

when people, such as striking workers, show their protest by standing in lines outside buildings to try to prevent other workers from going inside

a dispute

here, a prolonged disagreement between the government and workers involving a strike

export taxes

taxes that must be paid when selling goods abroad

Answer the questions:

1. Why are thousands of lorry drivers around the world on strike?

2. Where are protests taking place?

3. What has the Spanish government promised?

4. Where has security been stepped up?

5. How have oil prices risen since the start of the year?

6. What are truck drivers demanding?

Find Russian equivalents to the following expressions from the text:

tolerance, food retailers, an all-time high, an increase in transport fees.

Translate the following passage.

In Spain, about 75,000 lorry drivers have been on strike since Sunday night and more than 70 have been arrested. The Spanish government has promised zero tolerance for any violence by the drivers, following a series of incidents which included an attack on a trucker who broke the strike. That attack left him with 25% burns to his body.