My resume says I’m at the B2 level. I passed the test. I can read letters in English without much trouble, technical documentation makes sense to me, and written screening doesn’t intimidate me. But then the first call with a client begins, and everything changes: the person speaks more briefly than planned, misses the right moment to respond, or agrees when they wanted to clarify or object.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that their English level is overestimated. More often than not, a B2 rating simply doesn’t capture the full picture of a person’s language profile.
The CEFR describes proficiency not by a single skill, but by a whole set of skills: reading, listening, writing, speaking, and interacting with others. These skills may be developed unevenly. A person may be able to confidently read professional texts and write letters, but react more slowly in a live conversation.
At the same time, B2 should not be considered a purely academic or “textbook” level. It involves participating in discussions, presenting arguments, clarifying points, giving presentations, and engaging in spontaneous interaction. The problem lies elsewhere: a notation on a resume does not show how well these skills have been internalized and honed specifically in real-world work situations.
At work, English almost never appears in the sterile conditions of a test. It comes in the form of a brief report during a meeting, a product demonstration, a discussion of deadlines, a complex question from a client, or the need to politely disagree.
For example, the phrase “We may need to revisit the timeline” can be taken literally. But during a real conversation, you also need to recognize the other person’s intent, quickly clarify their position, and suggest the next step. You only have a few seconds to do all of this.
The pace of the conversation presents a separate challenge. In writing, you can choose your words carefully, review your sentences, and rephrase anything that sounds too harsh. On a call, there’s no such pause. This is especially true when several people are involved in the conversation; participants may interrupt one another, speak at different speeds, or have unusual accents.
As a result, a professional may fully understand the content of the conversation and have a strong professional stance, but still be unable to join the discussion in time. From the outside, this sometimes appears as a lack of confidence or passivity, although the real reason lies in a lack of practice in verbal communication.
There is another level of complexity: workplace communication consists of more than just words and grammar. You need to understand how directly you can disagree, how to soften a refusal, when it’s appropriate to interrupt a conversation partner, and how to verify that everyone has understood the decision in the same way.
That is precisely why a business English course should be built not around lists of professional terms, but around real-life scenarios: calls with clients, presentations, discussions of deadlines, objections, negotiations, and difficult news that must be conveyed correctly.
It’s helpful to practice not only giving the correct answer but also your reaction speed.
Can a person ask for clarification without losing their confident tone? Can they politely disagree? Are they able to join a conversation with several participants? Can they briefly summarize the decision and next steps at the end?
For a professional, the difference is entirely practical. A B2 level on a resume can help you pass the initial screening. A B2 level that translates to real-world performance during a call allows you to fully participate in decision-making, communicate with clients, and take on more complex professional roles.
The gap between these two levels is bridged not by a new entry on your resume, but by practice in the right situations—where English ceases to be a subject and becomes a working tool.
The worst birth-to-death ratio in the first half of 2026 was recorded in Ukraine’s frontline regions.
In Donetsk Oblast, there were 19 deaths for every newborn, and in Kherson Oblast, 14. In Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv Oblasts, the ratio was approximately one to six.
On average across Ukraine, there were nearly four deaths for every newborn. A year earlier, this ratio was one to three.
The best—though still negative—demographic balance among the regions was recorded in the Rivne, Volyn, and Zakarpattia regions. There, there were two deaths for every newborn.
In total, 73,292 thousand births and 259,853 thousand deaths were registered in Ukraine from January through June 2026, OpenDataBot reported on July 22, based on data from the Ministry of Justice.
birth rate, death rate, demographics, Donetsk Oblast, Kherson Oblast
As of July 2026, 445,536 electronic asset declarations submitted by 99,087 public officials for the years 2015–2026 have been removed from public access in Ukraine, according to Opendatabot, citing open data from the National Agency for Corruption Prevention.
On average, there are about 4.5 hidden declarations per declarant. If an official is granted the right to restrict access, all documents submitted by that official may be removed from the registry at once, regardless of the reporting period.
The mechanism for restricting access was introduced after the resumption of electronic filing in late 2023. It is designed to protect military personnel, law enforcement officers, and other individuals for whom the disclosure of information could pose a threat to them or their family members.
The declarant cannot independently remove the declaration from the registry. A government agency, military unit, or other authorized organization must submit a corresponding request to the NACP.
Source: https://opendatabot.ua/analytics/hidden-declarations-2026
Pechersk remains the most expensive district in the capital, where the average listed price of housing is about $2,600 per square meter. However, the main sales launches are concentrated in districts with more affordable housing. This is according to a study published by Intergal-Bud.
In the Holosiivskyi district, the average price is estimated at approximately $1,300 per square meter; in the Obolonskyi district, $1,200; and in the Darnytskyi district, about $1,000.
Thus, the average price per square meter in Pechersk is nearly 2.5 times higher than in the Darnytskyi district; however, Darnytsia accounts for the largest share of new housing supply.
“Kyiv’s most expensive district is no longer the center of new construction. The most active markets are in the mid-price segment, where buyers find a balance between cost, transportation accessibility, and infrastructure,” noted Dmytro Izmaylov, head of the analytics department at “Intergal-Bud.”
According to the company’s assessment, Kyiv’s housing market is becoming increasingly “neighborhood-oriented.” Buyers are no longer simply choosing an administrative district or the Dnipro riverfront, but rather a specific location with access to the metro, civil defense shelters, autonomous systems, and existing infrastructure.
If this trend continues, areas with new housing stock, well-developed public transportation, green spaces, and opportunities for further comprehensive development will have the greatest potential for value growth once military risks subside.
“Intergal-Bud” operates in the Ukrainian residential real estate market and carries out projects in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine.
Darnytskyi District, DEAL, INTERGAL-BUD, KYIV, NEW CONSTRUCTION, REAL ESTATE
Egypt has begun integrating the resorts along the northern Mediterranean coast into a single year-round tourist and investment destination. The new model will be based on the Yalla Sahel initiative, which aims to connect existing and developing resort areas through a shared digital platform, an events calendar, and tourism services.
The project was unveiled in July 2026 in Sidi Abdel Rahman. It was spearheaded by Egyptian entrepreneur Naguib Sawiris. Major developers, tourism companies, telecommunications operators, and Egyptian government agencies have joined the platform.
Yalla Sahel is not a standalone construction project. Rather, it involves creating a unified brand for Egypt’s northern coast, which is expected to gradually transition from a short summer season to year-round operations.
Traditionally, the region known in Egypt as the Sahel sees its highest volume of visitors in July and August. Many residential complexes, restaurants, and retail and entertainment venues operate at limited capacity or are closed entirely for most of the year.
The initiative’s organizers hope to change this model by developing event-based tourism, digital services, transportation, and infrastructure for year-round living.
On the Yalla Sahel platform, users will be able to book apartments, villas, and chalets; purchase tickets to beaches, concerts, and other events; and select tourism services.
The service covers New El Alamein, Ras el-Hekma, Sidi Abdel Rahman, Marassi, Marina, Fouka Bay, Hacienda, and Almazah Bay. Property owners will also be able to list their properties for short-term rentals.
A separate component of the project will be the TELLR digital concierge, through which tourists can obtain information about restaurants, hotels, events, entertainment, and transportation between resorts.
The state-owned company Telecom Egypt intends to provide the project with telecommunications infrastructure and digital solutions. The authorities view the northern coast as an emerging international tourism, residential, and investment hub.
To extend the tourist season, there are plans to hold concerts, festivals, sporting events, and cultural activities not only in the summer but also during other times of the year. EgyptAir, TikTok, and regional airlines are participating in the promotion of this destination.
New Alamein will become the key city of the new Egyptian Riviera. According to data from Egypt’s official tourism portal, the city is being developed on an area of approximately 50,000 acres and is projected to have a population of more than 3 million residents.
Residential neighborhoods, hotels, universities, administrative buildings, and recreational facilities are being built in New Alamein. The city features a waterfront stretching about 14 km, home to restaurants, shops, a movie theater, a beach club, and concert venues.
Egyptian authorities are positioning New Alamein as the first fully-fledged, year-round city on the northern coast, designed not only for tourists but also for permanent residents.
Another important center will be Ras el-Hekma, where a large-scale project involving capital from the United Arab Emirates is underway. Together with New Alamein, Sidi Abdel Rahman, and other resorts, it is expected to form a continuous belt of tourist and residential development along the Mediterranean Sea.
The transition to a year-round model could boost demand for property purchases and long-term leases, as well as increase investor interest in hotels, retail properties, restaurants, and service companies.
For property owners, a longer season means the opportunity to increase occupancy rates and reduce their reliance on income from just the two summer months.
At the same time, the region’s development will require the construction of schools, medical facilities, transportation infrastructure, and affordable housing for permanent resort workers.
The project’s success will depend on whether Egypt can transform seasonal residential complexes into full-fledged cities with permanent jobs and sustainable demand for services.
Egypt hopes that the new Riviera will enable the country to attract more tourists from Europe and the Gulf states, increase real estate investment, and reduce the strain on traditional Red Sea resorts.
According to “Serbian Economist”, Serbia is gradually becoming one of Ukraine’s most prominent Balkan trading partners. According to data from the Experts Club analytical center, in the first half of 2026, Serbia ranked 33rd among the country’s 50 largest trading partners, with bilateral trade totaling $345.9 million.
Serbian exports to Ukraine totaled $243.2 million, while Ukrainian exports to Serbia amounted to $102.7 million. In June alone, trade between the countries totaled $55.8 million. The balance currently favors Serbia: Ukraine’s bilateral trade deficit reached $140.5 million.
The trend toward Serbia strengthening its position became apparent as early as late 2025 and early this year. In the first quarter of 2026, Serbian exports to Ukraine doubled compared to the same period last year, while Ukrainian shipments to the Serbian market increased by 5%. About 900 Serbian companies are involved in trade between the two countries, of which approximately 670 purchase Ukrainian products.
One of the factors contributing to the development of these ties was the full restoration of Serbia’s diplomatic presence in Kyiv. The embassy, which had suspended operations in 2022, returned to the Ukrainian capital at the end of 2024 and officially resumed operations in new premises in the fall of 2025. The mission is currently headed by Ambassador Andon Sapundži.
The opening of the embassy alone does not determine the volume of trade, but a permanent diplomatic mission facilitates contacts between companies, chambers of commerce, and government agencies. It can also help organize business missions, resolve logistical and consular issues, and prepare new intergovernmental agreements.
The next important step could be the resumption of free trade negotiations and achieving a breakthrough on this issue. For Serbia, Ukraine remains a large market with high demand for food, industrial products, equipment, and reconstruction supplies. For Ukrainian companies, Serbia could become not only a sales market but also a logistics hub for expanding into other countries in the Western Balkans.
Data on all of Ukraine’s major trading partners is available here — https://www.experts.news/posts/analiz-naybilshykh-torhovelnykh-partneriv-ukrayiny-v-pershomu-pivrichchi-2026-roku
