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London, the United Kingdom

The left-leaning think tank, the Institute for Public Policy Research, IPPR, has warned the UK chancellor not to use green taxes to plug the hole in government finances. Its new research shows that government could gain ￡3.5 billion a year through a carbon tax on homes and vehicles. But IPPR says this would harm the poor unless ministers give back all the cash in the form of benefits, tax breaks and home insulation. IPPR has developed a computer model to assess the benefits and drawbacks of environmental taxes. The preliminary findings suggest that taxes can prove a useful tool in achieving environmental objectives. But IPPR says it would be a mistake to use them to raise money because unless they are counterbalanced, they inevitably hit the poorest hardest and are mistrusted by the public.

Munich, Germany

German business confidence rose less than expected in May as sluggish demand weighed on construction and manufacturing, though outlook for the six-month ahead improved, a closely-watched survey showed. The Munich-based IFO institute＇s business climate index increased to 84.2 points in May from 83.7 points in April. That’s a steady increase from 82.2 points in March, the lowest level in 26 years. IFO said in release that manufacturers reported a poorer business situation this mouth than in April, but expect improvement in the next six months. Germany’s economy went into recession last fall as the global economic crisis sapped demand for its exports.

Washington, the United States

President Obama’s tougher new fuel efficiency standards bring industry, environmentalists and states together to start cutting greenhouse gas emissions from cars. But the reductions would represent only a drop in the bucket of what’s needed to address global warming. White House officials say the proposal would cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 900 million metric tons. That's the total reduction of pollution from the five model years of cars and trucks covered by the proposal. Environmental Protection Agency chief Lisa Jackson notes that even though the pollution reductions are big, they’re dwarfed by the massive challenge of global warming. “This action alone—I don’t want to mislead anyone—is not going to change global temperatures. Obviously, it is one step on a long road.”

OPEC, Asia

A lowered edge lower last week, oil price rose to ＄61 a barrel Monday in Asia as investors eyed an OPEC meeting this week and weighed evidence of a global economic recovery. Trading was light because US markets are closed Monday for Memorial Day. Benchmark crude for July delivery was ＄61.32 a barrel by mid-day on the New York Mercantile Exchange. On Friday, the contract rose to settle at ＄61.67. Oil has rallied on investor optimism that the worst of the global economic downturn is over. In Asia , there are signs that the drop in exports has bottomed, although the outlook remains murky.

L’Aquila Italy

Scores of people were killed and tens of thousands left homeless in central Italy today after a powerful earthquake shook a mountain region, severely damaging a historic city and leaving hundreds feared trapped in rubble. At least 92 people were known to have died , and more than 1500 people had been injured, the Italian Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, told a press conference in L’Aquila , the badly damaged capital of the Abruzzo region, close to the quake’s epicenter. The 6.3-magnitude tremor was the country’s deadliest since the Irpinia quake in the south in November 1980, which killed more than 2400 people.

6.Why has the left-leaning IPPR warned the government not to use green taxes to raise money?

7.Which of the following best describes Germany’s current economy?

8.Which of the following statement is true about President Obama’s proposal about new fuel efficiency standards?

9.What price was oil on Monday in Asia?

10.At least how many people were known to have died in the recent earthquake in central Italy?