Violence Disrupts Syrian Cease-fire
Reports from Syria say violent clashes broke out less than two hours
after the start of a nationwide cease-fire that began at midnight
Friday, local time.
The deal includes the Syrian government and several rebel groups, but
not certain Islamist groups. The monitoring group Syrian Observatory
for Human Rights, based in Britain, said Friday that rebels violated the
cease-fire by taking over territory in the province of Hama.
But a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group, told Reuters news
service that government forces violated the deal by shelling areas in
Idlib province, which borders Hama.
Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Turkey,
which supports rebel groups, have said they would guarantee the truce,
which came after Turkey, Syria and Russia last week said they were ready
to broker a peace deal in the six-year war.
There are dozens of groups fighting in Syria, and it was not immediately clear which of them have agreed to halt hostilities.
There have been three previous attempts to secure a nationwide
cease-fire in Syria. The most recent was in September, but it lasted
only a little over a week.
clash: to fight or argue:
shell vt.: to fire shells at something:
broker vt.: to arrange something such as a deal, agreement, etc. between two or more groups or countries:
hostility: an occasion when someone is unfriendly or shows that they do not like something:
19 US States to Increase Minimum Wage in 2017
Even though partisan infighting made Congress virtually ineffective
in 2016, a spate of new laws were still approved and will go into effect
next year.
Nineteen states, including New York and California, will ring in the year with an increase in the minimum wage.
The increase in pay will mean most for workers in Massachusetts and
Washington state, where the minimum wage will go up to $11 per hour.
California will raise its wage to $10.50 for businesses with 26 or
more employees. New York state is taking a regional approach, with the
wage rising to $11 in New York City, to $10.50 for small businesses in
the city, $10 in its suburbs and $9.70 elsewhere.
Voters in Arizona, Maine, Colorado and Washington approved increases
in this year's election. Seven other states, Alaska, Florida, Missouri,
Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota, are automatically raising
the wage based on indexing. The other states seeing increases are
Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan and Vermont.
virtually: almost:
spate: a larger number of events than usual, especially unpleasant ones, happening at about the same time:
index: 1 an alphabetical list, such as one printed at the back of a book showing which page a subject, name, etc. is on: 2 a collection of information stored on a computer or on a set of cards, in alphabetical order: 3 a system of numbers used for comparing values of things that change according to each other or a fixed standard:
2016年12月31日星期六
2016年12月29日星期四
China Calls on Vatican to Act on Improving Relations
China Calls on Vatican to Act on Improving Relations
China has called on the Roman Catholic Church to attempt to improve relations with the East Asian country by adapting Catholicism to Chinese society.
China's head of religious affairs, Wang Zou'an, expressed hope Tuesday that the Vatican will "take actual steps to create beneficial conditions for improving relations" between the church and China, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
Wang's remarks were made at a meeting of China's official Catholic Church in Beijing.
China severed relations with the Holy See -- the Catholic Church's supreme body of government -- in 1951, two years after the Communists assumed power in China. The Vatican has maintained official ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its own.
Since the split, China has maintained that the party-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association has the authority to appoint Chinese bishops. The Holy See insists that right belongs only to the pope. The dispute is one of the primary reasons Sino-Vatican relations have not been re-established.
Wang said the Chinese government hoped the Vatican would adopt a more flexible and pragmatic approach and take action to improve relations. He did not specify what actions the Chinese government would like the Vatican to take.
Prospects of an agreement between the two sides suffered a setback last week when a Chinese government-supported bishop who was excommunicated by the Vatican participated in the ordination of new bishops.
The Vatican said last week it was convinced Catholics in China are "waiting with trepidation for positive signals that would help them have trust" in discussions between the two sides "and hope for a future of unity and harmony."
The ruling Communist Party in China has long been concerned that opposition to the party could be spread by religious and other civic organizations outside its control.
split: A tear, crack, or fissure in something, especially down the middle or along the grain
setback :A reversal or check in progress:挫折; 退步; 阻碍; 逆流
ordination: the act or ceremony of making someone a priest or other religious leader
trepidation: fear or worry about what is going to happen:
trepid-=trembling 颤抖的
Defector: North Korea has Big Nuclear Plans
Next year will be the most opportune time for North Korea to bolster its nuclear program because of upcoming leadership changes in the United States and South Korea, according to a senior North Korean official who defected recently to the South.
"With South Korea holding presidential elections and the U.S. undergoing an administration transition, the North sees 2017 as the prime time for nuclear development," said Thae Yong-ho, who was North Korea's second highest ranking diplomat in London.
Thae defected to South Korea in August, becoming the most senior North Korean official to defect in almost 20 years.
At a news conference Tuesday with South Korean reporters, Thae made clear he was not aware of the status of North Korea's nuclear program but expressed confidence that China would not severely discipline North Korea for its nuclear program because the North's disintegration could produce a combined U.S.-friendly Korea.
Thae said North Korean leader Kim Jung Un has no plans to relinquish his country's nuclear weapons even if he is offered large sums of money. The exiled diplomat said Kim is expediting the country's nuclear development program with the intent of possessing nuclear weapons by the end of next year.
North Korea conducted two nuclear tests this year and fired over 20 ballistic missiles. And it publicly promised to develop the ability to strike the United States with a nuclear weapon.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he favors the manufacture of nuclear weapons by Japan and South Korea as a deterrent to North Korea.
Donald Trump will assume control of the executive branch of the U.S. government on January 20 and South Korea will hold a presidential election next year. Thae predicted North Korea will attempt to open dialog with the two new administrations in an attempt to obtain nuclear power status.
defector: a person who leaves his or her own country or group to join an opposing one
fect-= make, do
bolster: to support or improve something or make it stronger:
disintegration: a situation in which a company is divided into smaller companies, or an industry changes so that it contains more small companies and fewer large ones
integr-=whole
relinquish: to give up something such as a responsibility or claim:
linqu-=leave
expedite: to make something happen more quickly:
deterrent: something that deters people from doing something:
dialogue: formal talks between opposing countries, political groups, etc.:
China has called on the Roman Catholic Church to attempt to improve relations with the East Asian country by adapting Catholicism to Chinese society.
China's head of religious affairs, Wang Zou'an, expressed hope Tuesday that the Vatican will "take actual steps to create beneficial conditions for improving relations" between the church and China, according to the state news agency Xinhua.
Wang's remarks were made at a meeting of China's official Catholic Church in Beijing.
China severed relations with the Holy See -- the Catholic Church's supreme body of government -- in 1951, two years after the Communists assumed power in China. The Vatican has maintained official ties with Taiwan, which China claims as its own.
Since the split, China has maintained that the party-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association has the authority to appoint Chinese bishops. The Holy See insists that right belongs only to the pope. The dispute is one of the primary reasons Sino-Vatican relations have not been re-established.
Wang said the Chinese government hoped the Vatican would adopt a more flexible and pragmatic approach and take action to improve relations. He did not specify what actions the Chinese government would like the Vatican to take.
Prospects of an agreement between the two sides suffered a setback last week when a Chinese government-supported bishop who was excommunicated by the Vatican participated in the ordination of new bishops.
The Vatican said last week it was convinced Catholics in China are "waiting with trepidation for positive signals that would help them have trust" in discussions between the two sides "and hope for a future of unity and harmony."
The ruling Communist Party in China has long been concerned that opposition to the party could be spread by religious and other civic organizations outside its control.
split: A tear, crack, or fissure in something, especially down the middle or along the grain
setback :A reversal or check in progress:挫折; 退步; 阻碍; 逆流
ordination: the act or ceremony of making someone a priest or other religious leader
trepidation: fear or worry about what is going to happen:
trepid-=trembling 颤抖的
Defector: North Korea has Big Nuclear Plans
Next year will be the most opportune time for North Korea to bolster its nuclear program because of upcoming leadership changes in the United States and South Korea, according to a senior North Korean official who defected recently to the South.
"With South Korea holding presidential elections and the U.S. undergoing an administration transition, the North sees 2017 as the prime time for nuclear development," said Thae Yong-ho, who was North Korea's second highest ranking diplomat in London.
Thae defected to South Korea in August, becoming the most senior North Korean official to defect in almost 20 years.
At a news conference Tuesday with South Korean reporters, Thae made clear he was not aware of the status of North Korea's nuclear program but expressed confidence that China would not severely discipline North Korea for its nuclear program because the North's disintegration could produce a combined U.S.-friendly Korea.
Thae said North Korean leader Kim Jung Un has no plans to relinquish his country's nuclear weapons even if he is offered large sums of money. The exiled diplomat said Kim is expediting the country's nuclear development program with the intent of possessing nuclear weapons by the end of next year.
North Korea conducted two nuclear tests this year and fired over 20 ballistic missiles. And it publicly promised to develop the ability to strike the United States with a nuclear weapon.
President-elect Donald Trump has said he favors the manufacture of nuclear weapons by Japan and South Korea as a deterrent to North Korea.
Donald Trump will assume control of the executive branch of the U.S. government on January 20 and South Korea will hold a presidential election next year. Thae predicted North Korea will attempt to open dialog with the two new administrations in an attempt to obtain nuclear power status.
defector: a person who leaves his or her own country or group to join an opposing one
fect-= make, do
bolster: to support or improve something or make it stronger:
disintegration: a situation in which a company is divided into smaller companies, or an industry changes so that it contains more small companies and fewer large ones
integr-=whole
relinquish: to give up something such as a responsibility or claim:
linqu-=leave
expedite: to make something happen more quickly:
deterrent: something that deters people from doing something:
dialogue: formal talks between opposing countries, political groups, etc.:
2016年12月26日星期一
Israeli PM Summons US Ambassador
Israeli PM Summons US Ambassador
An angry Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro Sunday to talk about the U.S. abstention in a U.N. Security Council resolution opposing Jewish settlements.
Neither the State Department nor Netanyahu's office commented on Sunday's meeting. The foreign ministry summoned ambassadors from the 14 nations that voted for the resolution Friday, but reports say several of the diplomats did not answer the call.
Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet Sunday that the resolution was "reckless and destructive." He pointed out that the U.S. and Israel have always agreed that the Security Council is no place to resolve the settlement issue.
He called the U.S. abstention instead of a veto "shameful."
Friday's resolution calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem." It says settlements there have "no legal validity."
summon: to order someone to come to or be present at a particular place, or to officially arrange a meeting of people:
Pop Star George Michael Dies at 53
George Michael, the English singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the group Wham!, has died. He was 53.
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," his publicist said in a statement.
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, he once played music on the London underground train system before forming Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981.
Michael enjoyed immense popularity early in his career as a teenybopper idol, delivering a series of hits such as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,'' `"Young Guns (Go For It)'' and `"Freedom.''
No cause of death was revealed, but police reported that he did not die under suspicious circumstances.
Michael disclosed he was gay in 1998 after being arrested in a public toilet in Beverly Hills, California for engaging in a lewd act.
teenybopper: a teenager, especially a girl, who eagerly follows the most recent fashion, music, and other interests of her age group
An angry Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned U.S. Ambassador Daniel Shapiro Sunday to talk about the U.S. abstention in a U.N. Security Council resolution opposing Jewish settlements.
Neither the State Department nor Netanyahu's office commented on Sunday's meeting. The foreign ministry summoned ambassadors from the 14 nations that voted for the resolution Friday, but reports say several of the diplomats did not answer the call.
Netanyahu told the Israeli Cabinet Sunday that the resolution was "reckless and destructive." He pointed out that the U.S. and Israel have always agreed that the Security Council is no place to resolve the settlement issue.
He called the U.S. abstention instead of a veto "shameful."
Friday's resolution calls on Israel to "immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem." It says settlements there have "no legal validity."
summon: to order someone to come to or be present at a particular place, or to officially arrange a meeting of people:
Pop Star George Michael Dies at 53
George Michael, the English singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame as a member of the group Wham!, has died. He was 53.
"It is with great sadness that we can confirm our beloved son, brother and friend George passed away peacefully at home over the Christmas period," his publicist said in a statement.
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou, he once played music on the London underground train system before forming Wham! with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981.
Michael enjoyed immense popularity early in his career as a teenybopper idol, delivering a series of hits such as "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go,'' `"Young Guns (Go For It)'' and `"Freedom.''
No cause of death was revealed, but police reported that he did not die under suspicious circumstances.
Michael disclosed he was gay in 1998 after being arrested in a public toilet in Beverly Hills, California for engaging in a lewd act.
teenybopper: a teenager, especially a girl, who eagerly follows the most recent fashion, music, and other interests of her age group
2016年12月20日星期二
Obama: 'We Will' Take Action on Foreign Government that Meddled in US Election
Obama: 'We Will' Take Action on Foreign Government that Meddled in US Election
President Barack Obama says the United States will take action against Russia or any other foreign government that tries to meddle in U.S. elections.
"I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections...we need to take action. And we will," the president told National Public Radio in an interview.
The CIA has concluded that Russian hackers broke into the Democratic Party computers to leak potentially embarrassing emails about the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign with the apparent aim of helping Republican Donald Trump win last month's election.
Top White House officials say such a thing could not have happened without Russian President Vladimir Putin's involvement or direct knowledge.
Obama told NPR that there is still a "whole range of assessments" going on among U.S. intelligence agencies, and he is waiting for a final report on exactly who was involved and why they did it.
integrity: approving the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change:
Anti-Trump Electoral College Revolt Faces Steep Odds
It's been over a month since Donald Trump pulled off an upset victory over Hillary Clinton, bringing an end to one of the most contentious presidential campaigns in U.S. history.
The result won't be official until Monday, when the 538 members of the Electoral College meet at statehouses across the country to cast their votes -- the ones that will actually decide the next president.
The Electoral College serves as a formality and usually receives little attention. But this year, there is a last-ditch effort to use the Electoral College to deny Trump the presidency.
It's a long shot, but the electoral revolt is injecting one last bit of uncertainty into an election that has been one of the most unpredictable ever.
The drive is being encouraged by a group called the Hamilton Electors, named after Alexander Hamilton, a U.S. founding father who was one of the Electoral College's main architects. Hamilton and the other founding fathers devised the Electoral College as a compromise between those who wanted a direct presidential election and those who wanted Congress to choose the president.
The system was also meant to serve as a safeguard against those unfit for the presidency, a point emphasized by the Hamilton Electors.
If Trump gets all the electoral votes from the states where he won the popular vote, he will have 306 electoral votes, well over the 270 needed for a simple majority. That means for the electoral revolt to succeed, 37 Republicans who are scheduled to vote for Trump would have to abandon him. So far, only one Republican elector has publicly pledged to do so.
pull off something: to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected:
contentious: causing or likely to cause disagreement:
last-ditch: an effort or attempt that is made at the end of a series of failures to solve a problem, and is not expected to succeed:
revolt: If a large number of people revolt, they refuse to be controlled or ruled, and take action against authority, often violent action:
devise: to invent a plan, system, object, etc., usually using your intelligence or imagination:
President Barack Obama says the United States will take action against Russia or any other foreign government that tries to meddle in U.S. elections.
"I think there is no doubt that when any foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our elections...we need to take action. And we will," the president told National Public Radio in an interview.
The CIA has concluded that Russian hackers broke into the Democratic Party computers to leak potentially embarrassing emails about the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign with the apparent aim of helping Republican Donald Trump win last month's election.
Top White House officials say such a thing could not have happened without Russian President Vladimir Putin's involvement or direct knowledge.
Obama told NPR that there is still a "whole range of assessments" going on among U.S. intelligence agencies, and he is waiting for a final report on exactly who was involved and why they did it.
integrity: approving the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles that you refuse to change:
Anti-Trump Electoral College Revolt Faces Steep Odds
It's been over a month since Donald Trump pulled off an upset victory over Hillary Clinton, bringing an end to one of the most contentious presidential campaigns in U.S. history.
The result won't be official until Monday, when the 538 members of the Electoral College meet at statehouses across the country to cast their votes -- the ones that will actually decide the next president.
The Electoral College serves as a formality and usually receives little attention. But this year, there is a last-ditch effort to use the Electoral College to deny Trump the presidency.
It's a long shot, but the electoral revolt is injecting one last bit of uncertainty into an election that has been one of the most unpredictable ever.
The drive is being encouraged by a group called the Hamilton Electors, named after Alexander Hamilton, a U.S. founding father who was one of the Electoral College's main architects. Hamilton and the other founding fathers devised the Electoral College as a compromise between those who wanted a direct presidential election and those who wanted Congress to choose the president.
The system was also meant to serve as a safeguard against those unfit for the presidency, a point emphasized by the Hamilton Electors.
If Trump gets all the electoral votes from the states where he won the popular vote, he will have 306 electoral votes, well over the 270 needed for a simple majority. That means for the electoral revolt to succeed, 37 Republicans who are scheduled to vote for Trump would have to abandon him. So far, only one Republican elector has publicly pledged to do so.
pull off something: to succeed in doing something difficult or unexpected:
contentious: causing or likely to cause disagreement:
last-ditch: an effort or attempt that is made at the end of a series of failures to solve a problem, and is not expected to succeed:
revolt: If a large number of people revolt, they refuse to be controlled or ruled, and take action against authority, often violent action:
devise: to invent a plan, system, object, etc., usually using your intelligence or imagination:
2016年12月18日星期日
Trump and Top High-Tech Executives in 'Conciliatory' Meeting
Trump and Top High-Tech Executives in 'Conciliatory' Meeting
President-elect Donald Trump met Wednesday with top executives from the biggest U.S. technology companies, many of whom were among his fiercest critics during this year's election campaign, but there were no signs of lingering animosity during their discussions.
Trump's office said he wants to begin a "conversation and partnership" to spark innovation and create more jobs.
The meeting at Trump's New York City headquarters included the leaders of companies known worldwide - Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors.
Trump struck a cordial and conciliatory tone at the start of the meeting.
"There's nobody like the people in this room. ... We want you to keep going with the incredible innovation," Trump said. "Anything we can do to help this go along, we're going to be there for you."
Trump invited the CEOs to telephone him directly if they want to talk, and suggested they meet again, as often as every three months.
None of the CEOs spoke afterwards to reporters.
Many of the high-tech leaders had strong misgivings about a Trump presidency before the election because of his strong criticism of China, his threats to tear up trade deals and plans to curb immigration, which would limit the number of highly qualified workers available to technology companies.
Trump promised the tech executives he would put together "fair-trade deals" that would "make it a lot easier for you to trade across borders."
conciliatory: intended to show that you care about the feelings or opinions of someone who is angry or upset with you:
strike: to reach or make an agreement:
misgiving: a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event:
More Than 1 Billion Yahoo! Accounts Hacked
A data breach in August 2013 exposed information held in more than 1 billion Yahoo user accounts, the company said Wednesday.
The hacking incident is separate from an intrusion Yahoo reported in September, when the company disclosed 500 million user accounts were exposed in 2014.
"Yahoo believes an unauthorized third party, in August 2013, stole data associated with more than one billion user accounts," Yahoo said in a statement. "Yahoo believes this incident is likely distinct from the incident the company disclosed on September 22, 2016."
The information stolen may include names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and security questions and answers. Payment card and bank account data were not believed to have been affected, the company said.
Yahoo, based in Sunnyvale, California, is in the process of being acquired by Verizon in a $4.8 billion deal. The company did not identify the "unauthorized third party" involved in the 2013 hacking.
breach: 1 to break a law, promise, agreement, or relationship: 2 to make an opening in a wall or fence, especially in order to attack someone or something behind it:
disclose: to make something known publicly, or to show something that was hidden:
President-elect Donald Trump met Wednesday with top executives from the biggest U.S. technology companies, many of whom were among his fiercest critics during this year's election campaign, but there were no signs of lingering animosity during their discussions.
Trump's office said he wants to begin a "conversation and partnership" to spark innovation and create more jobs.
The meeting at Trump's New York City headquarters included the leaders of companies known worldwide - Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors.
Trump struck a cordial and conciliatory tone at the start of the meeting.
"There's nobody like the people in this room. ... We want you to keep going with the incredible innovation," Trump said. "Anything we can do to help this go along, we're going to be there for you."
Trump invited the CEOs to telephone him directly if they want to talk, and suggested they meet again, as often as every three months.
None of the CEOs spoke afterwards to reporters.
Many of the high-tech leaders had strong misgivings about a Trump presidency before the election because of his strong criticism of China, his threats to tear up trade deals and plans to curb immigration, which would limit the number of highly qualified workers available to technology companies.
Trump promised the tech executives he would put together "fair-trade deals" that would "make it a lot easier for you to trade across borders."
conciliatory: intended to show that you care about the feelings or opinions of someone who is angry or upset with you:
strike: to reach or make an agreement:
misgiving: a feeling of doubt or worry about a future event:
More Than 1 Billion Yahoo! Accounts Hacked
A data breach in August 2013 exposed information held in more than 1 billion Yahoo user accounts, the company said Wednesday.
The hacking incident is separate from an intrusion Yahoo reported in September, when the company disclosed 500 million user accounts were exposed in 2014.
"Yahoo believes an unauthorized third party, in August 2013, stole data associated with more than one billion user accounts," Yahoo said in a statement. "Yahoo believes this incident is likely distinct from the incident the company disclosed on September 22, 2016."
The information stolen may include names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and security questions and answers. Payment card and bank account data were not believed to have been affected, the company said.
Yahoo, based in Sunnyvale, California, is in the process of being acquired by Verizon in a $4.8 billion deal. The company did not identify the "unauthorized third party" involved in the 2013 hacking.
breach: 1 to break a law, promise, agreement, or relationship: 2 to make an opening in a wall or fence, especially in order to attack someone or something behind it:
disclose: to make something known publicly, or to show something that was hidden:
2016年12月17日星期六
US Halts Sale of Some Arms to Saudi Arabia
US Halts Sale of Some Arms to Saudi Arabia
The United States will halt the planned sale of precision-guided weapons to Saudi Arabia, a U.S. official said, in response to concerns over Saudi military practices in the Yemeni civil war, which has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians.
The official said President Barack Obama's administration canceled the sale of air-dropped precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia, a key U.S. ally. "That's obviously a direct reflection of the concerns that we have about Saudi strikes that have resulted in civilian casualties," the official said.
In addition to canceling the sale of the precision-guided weapons, the U.S. will alter the way it trains Saudi air force personnel to improve their accuracy, a persistent source of concern in the Obama administration.
The decisions could further strain ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia at a time when the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume control of the executive branch of the U.S. government.
The United Nations human rights office said in August that the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen was responsible for about 60 percent of the 3,800 civilians killed since March 2015. Some rights groups have criticized the U.S. for supporting the Saudi war effort with weapons sales and refueling Saudi-led coalition jets. Some rights groups also say attacks by the Saudi-led coalition on clinics, factories, markets and schools amount to war crimes.
Saudi Arabia has either denied the attacks or said the presence of fighters in the targeted areas justified the strikes. Saudi Arabia has not yet responded to the latest decisions by the Obama administration.
halt: to (cause to) stop moving or doing something or happening:
munitions: `military weapons such as guns and bombs:
refuel: to put more fuel into an aircraft, ship, etc. so that it can continue its journey
Trump Picks Former Texas Governor Perry for Energy Chief Position
Perry, a staunch conservative, could shift the Department of Energy away from its recent focus on renewable energy, which President Barack Obama has championed, and back toward oil and fossil fuels, which Perry promoted in oil-rich Texas. Perry has been a vocal skeptic of man-made climate change, but during his tenure as governor turned Texas into a major producer of wind-powered energy.
In 2011, during his first unsuccessful bid for the presidency, Perry committed a political gaffe that diminished his chances in his race against Trump.
During a debate, Perry called for elimination of three federal government agencies - the Departments of Commerce and Education, and then couldn't remember the third, finally saying, "Oops." He later said Energy was the third agency he wanted to abolish.
For most of Tuesday, Trump continued to work in New York to fill his Cabinet before his inauguration on January 20, when Obama leaves office.
Media reports late Tuesday said Republican Congressman Ryan Zinke of Montana, a former Navy SEAL, was believed to be the president-elect's choice for Secretary of the Interior.
staunch: always loyal in supporting a person, organization, or set of beliefs or opinions:
gaffe:a remark or action that is a social mistake and not considered polite:
2016年12月16日星期五
Reports Say Pro-Syrian Forces Killed 82 Civilians in Aleppo
Reports Say Pro-Syrian Forces Killed 82 Civilians in Aleppo
The United Nations said Tuesday it has received reports of pro-government forces in Syria killing at least 82 civilians in four different neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo, where the recapture of the last areas held by rebels is "imminent."
U.N. rights spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva it is difficult to verify reports, and that it was not clear when exactly the killings were to have taken place.
"We hope profoundly that these reports are wrong or exaggerated," he said.
Colville called for the U.N. or another organization such as the International Committee of the Red Cross to be allowed to monitor the situation in Aleppo in order to alleviate concerns about potential rights abuses.
The ICRC also warned Tuesday that thousands of civilians in eastern Aleppo "have literally nowhere safe to run" and urged those involved in fighting there to protect them.
The group said in a statement that time is running out to find a humanitarian solution, and that it is ready to help put in place any agreement that puts civilians first.
recapture: to take something into your possession again, especially by force:
alleviate: to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe:
Google Signs Internet Deal With Cuba
Google signed an agreement with the Cuban government on Monday granting internet users on the Communist-run island quicker access to its branded content.
Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google's parent company, signed the deal with the president of state telecommunications monopoly ETECSA. It grants Cubans speedy access to the Google Global Cache network, which stores content from sites such as Gmail and YouTube on servers located closer to end users.
In a country where public internet access is limited to slow and expensive Wi-Fi hot spots, it was not clear how the deal would affect service in the short term.
The Google deal comes as officials in Havana and Washington are working to wrap up pending commercial accords before President Barack Obama leaves office next month.
grant: to give or allow someone something, usually in an official way: 授予
branded adj.: made by a particular company and sold under a particular name: 商标的
wrap sth up: 1 to cover or surround something in paper, cloth, or other material: 2 informal to complete something successfully:
pending adj.: about to happen or waiting to happen:
accord noun: (a formal) agreement:
The United Nations said Tuesday it has received reports of pro-government forces in Syria killing at least 82 civilians in four different neighborhoods in the city of Aleppo, where the recapture of the last areas held by rebels is "imminent."
U.N. rights spokesman Rupert Colville told reporters in Geneva it is difficult to verify reports, and that it was not clear when exactly the killings were to have taken place.
"We hope profoundly that these reports are wrong or exaggerated," he said.
Colville called for the U.N. or another organization such as the International Committee of the Red Cross to be allowed to monitor the situation in Aleppo in order to alleviate concerns about potential rights abuses.
The ICRC also warned Tuesday that thousands of civilians in eastern Aleppo "have literally nowhere safe to run" and urged those involved in fighting there to protect them.
The group said in a statement that time is running out to find a humanitarian solution, and that it is ready to help put in place any agreement that puts civilians first.
recapture: to take something into your possession again, especially by force:
alleviate: to make something bad such as pain or problems less severe:
Google Signs Internet Deal With Cuba
Google signed an agreement with the Cuban government on Monday granting internet users on the Communist-run island quicker access to its branded content.
Eric Schmidt, chairman of Google's parent company, signed the deal with the president of state telecommunications monopoly ETECSA. It grants Cubans speedy access to the Google Global Cache network, which stores content from sites such as Gmail and YouTube on servers located closer to end users.
In a country where public internet access is limited to slow and expensive Wi-Fi hot spots, it was not clear how the deal would affect service in the short term.
The Google deal comes as officials in Havana and Washington are working to wrap up pending commercial accords before President Barack Obama leaves office next month.
grant: to give or allow someone something, usually in an official way: 授予
branded adj.: made by a particular company and sold under a particular name: 商标的
wrap sth up: 1 to cover or surround something in paper, cloth, or other material: 2 informal to complete something successfully:
pending adj.: about to happen or waiting to happen:
accord noun: (a formal) agreement:
2016年12月15日星期四
20 Killed in Blast Near Mogadishu
20 Killed in Blast Near Mogadishu
A massive truck bomb exploded outside Mogadishu's new seaport Sunday morning, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens of others.
The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blast that occurred in a parking lot near the entrance of Mogadishu’s port, causing huge damage to the surrounding areas.
Mogadishu residents said the blast could be heard across the city, and pictures of black smoke from the scene were circulated on social media.
A Mogadishu’s regional administration spokesman told VOA's Somali service that most of the victims were civilians.
Mogadishu's seaport is run by Al-Bayrak, a Turkish company that has a 20-year agreement with the Somali government to upgrade and manage the operations of the port. It is unclear if any of the Turkish nationals were hurt.
blast: to explode or destroy something or someone with explosives, or to break through or hit something with a similar, very strong force:
Roof Collapse at Nigerian Church Kills More Than 100
Rescue workers continue to look for survivors in the debris following the collapse of a church roof in southern Nigeria, killing at least 100 people. Some reports put the death toll as high as 160.
Hundreds of people were in the church, which was still under construction when the roof collapsed Saturday in the city of Uyo.
Local officials played down the number of victims. State police spokeswoman said 27 had been killed and 30 injured.
Several local officials were in attendance when the roof fell, including Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom state, who escaped without injury.
Governor Emmanuel tweeted that he personally supervised rescue operations at the scene. He has declared December 11 and 12 as days of mourning.
A spokesman for the governor said the state will conduct an investigation into the collapse.
A massive truck bomb exploded outside Mogadishu's new seaport Sunday morning, killing at least 20 people and wounding dozens of others.
The militant group al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the blast that occurred in a parking lot near the entrance of Mogadishu’s port, causing huge damage to the surrounding areas.
Mogadishu residents said the blast could be heard across the city, and pictures of black smoke from the scene were circulated on social media.
A Mogadishu’s regional administration spokesman told VOA's Somali service that most of the victims were civilians.
Mogadishu's seaport is run by Al-Bayrak, a Turkish company that has a 20-year agreement with the Somali government to upgrade and manage the operations of the port. It is unclear if any of the Turkish nationals were hurt.
blast: to explode or destroy something or someone with explosives, or to break through or hit something with a similar, very strong force:
Roof Collapse at Nigerian Church Kills More Than 100
Rescue workers continue to look for survivors in the debris following the collapse of a church roof in southern Nigeria, killing at least 100 people. Some reports put the death toll as high as 160.
Hundreds of people were in the church, which was still under construction when the roof collapsed Saturday in the city of Uyo.
Local officials played down the number of victims. State police spokeswoman said 27 had been killed and 30 injured.
Several local officials were in attendance when the roof fell, including Udom Emmanuel, the governor of Akwa Ibom state, who escaped without injury.
Governor Emmanuel tweeted that he personally supervised rescue operations at the scene. He has declared December 11 and 12 as days of mourning.
A spokesman for the governor said the state will conduct an investigation into the collapse.
2016年12月13日星期二
South Korean Parliament Votes to Impeach President
South Korean Parliament Votes to Impeach President
South Korean lawmakers have voted to impeach President Park Geun-hye, the country's first female leader, who has been embroiled in a political scandal.
With Park's powers now suspended, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn is the interim head of government following Friday's vote.
The timeline for impeachment could take six to nine months. First, the Constitutional Court must review the impeachment motion; a process that could take up to 180 days. If approved, lawmakers would then have 60 days to schedule a new election.
This is the first time in South Korean history prosecutors had named the sitting president as a subject in a criminal investigation.
interim: temporary and intended to be used or accepted until something permanent exists:
Strained US-Philippine Ties Show Signs of Improvement
Relations between the United States and one of its oldest allies, the Philippines, show signs of returning to normal after a crisis in September when the president in Manila demanded Washington withdraw military support and talked of a deeper break in ties with the Western superpower.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump congratulated Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte in a call this month on his deadly campaign to squelch the drug trade. The government of U.S. President Barack Obama had angered Duterte, who took office in June, by criticizing the effort due to suspected extrajudicial killings.
Trump also invited Duterte to visit the White House, part of a chain of overtures to traditional U.S. allies in Asia, including Japan.
In September, Duterte called Obama a dirty name, suggested scaling back economic ties and demanded that U.S. military personnel leave the country.
Manila has been one of Washington’s chief Asian allies since the two sides signed a mutual defense treaty in 1951.
campaign: 运动，战役，竞选运动
squelch: 1 to make a sucking sound like the one produced when you are walking on soft, wet ground: 2 US to quickly end something that is causing you problems:
overture: a piece of music that is an introduction to a longer piece, especially an opera:
scale sth back: Reduce something in size, number, or extent, especially by a constant proportion across the board:
2016年12月12日星期一
Trump Announces More Controversial Picks for His Cabinet
Trump Announces More Controversial Picks for His Cabinet
With a little more than six weeks until his inauguration, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has accelerated his cabinet selection process. This week, Trump or his transition officials announced his choices to head defense, environment, homeland security and housing, as well as the U.S. ambassador to China. Some of his latest picks have sparked renewed controversy as did his earlier ones.
Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma state attorney general, known as a supporter of the fossil fuel industry, is expected to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt has been criticized for expressing skepticism about global warming, despite scientific evidence that human activity is contributing to climate change. He has led a legal battle against President Barack Obama’s climate change policies.
Many consider his selection as controversial as the selection of neurosurgeon Ben Carson to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But Trump thinks differently, "I believe we are in the process of putting together one of the all-time great cabinets that has ever been assembled in our nation's history."
Retired Marine General John Kelly, a veteran of the Iraq War, is to become new Homeland Security chief. He will be in charge of combating terrorism and implementing Trump's promised crackdown on illegal immigration.
Later Wednesday the president-elect held talks with wrestling executive Linda McMahon, who is expected to be offered the leadership of the Small Business Administration.
Trump is meeting Iowa Governor Terry Branstad on Thursday to offer him the post of next U.S. ambassador to China. The long-serving Republican governor has extensive ties to China and friendship with its president, Xi Jinping. His selection has wider approval than some of Trump's other picks.
The transition team says more cabinet members will be selected next week. Trump has said he has narrowed down the list of candidates for the most important cabinet post - secretary of state - and that a former critic, one-time Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, remains on it.
neurosurgeon: a doctor who performs operations involving the brain or nerves
神经科医生
Rescuers Search for Indonesia Earthquake Survivors
Rescue workers in Indonesia searched Thursday for people who might still be trapped a day after an earthquake struck Aceh province, while local officials appealed for medical supplies and other aid to help those left injured or without a home.
The magnitude 6.5 earthquake has killed about 100 people and injured more than 600 others. It hit the northern end of Sumatra island early Wednesday.
Thousands of people spent the night in mosques and other temporary shelters, while others slept outside. The government has declared a two-week state of emergency in Aceh.
The Indonesian Red Cross distributed blanket, hygiene kits and tarps to those affected by the earthquake and called for people to donate blood to help the injured.
Volunteers also made their way to earthquake-hit areas to rush people to hospitals, which are now overloaded with patients.
Indonesia's Climate, Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the quake did not generate a tsunami.
Indonesia is located in an area of the world prone to earthquakes. A 2004 quake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 in Indonesia and other countries.
hygiene kid: 洗漱用品
tarp: a large piece of waterproof cloth or plastic that is used as a cover:防水布
With a little more than six weeks until his inauguration, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has accelerated his cabinet selection process. This week, Trump or his transition officials announced his choices to head defense, environment, homeland security and housing, as well as the U.S. ambassador to China. Some of his latest picks have sparked renewed controversy as did his earlier ones.
Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma state attorney general, known as a supporter of the fossil fuel industry, is expected to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Pruitt has been criticized for expressing skepticism about global warming, despite scientific evidence that human activity is contributing to climate change. He has led a legal battle against President Barack Obama’s climate change policies.
Many consider his selection as controversial as the selection of neurosurgeon Ben Carson to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But Trump thinks differently, "I believe we are in the process of putting together one of the all-time great cabinets that has ever been assembled in our nation's history."
Retired Marine General John Kelly, a veteran of the Iraq War, is to become new Homeland Security chief. He will be in charge of combating terrorism and implementing Trump's promised crackdown on illegal immigration.
Later Wednesday the president-elect held talks with wrestling executive Linda McMahon, who is expected to be offered the leadership of the Small Business Administration.
Trump is meeting Iowa Governor Terry Branstad on Thursday to offer him the post of next U.S. ambassador to China. The long-serving Republican governor has extensive ties to China and friendship with its president, Xi Jinping. His selection has wider approval than some of Trump's other picks.
The transition team says more cabinet members will be selected next week. Trump has said he has narrowed down the list of candidates for the most important cabinet post - secretary of state - and that a former critic, one-time Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, remains on it.
neurosurgeon: a doctor who performs operations involving the brain or nerves
神经科医生
Rescuers Search for Indonesia Earthquake Survivors
Rescue workers in Indonesia searched Thursday for people who might still be trapped a day after an earthquake struck Aceh province, while local officials appealed for medical supplies and other aid to help those left injured or without a home.
The magnitude 6.5 earthquake has killed about 100 people and injured more than 600 others. It hit the northern end of Sumatra island early Wednesday.
Thousands of people spent the night in mosques and other temporary shelters, while others slept outside. The government has declared a two-week state of emergency in Aceh.
The Indonesian Red Cross distributed blanket, hygiene kits and tarps to those affected by the earthquake and called for people to donate blood to help the injured.
Volunteers also made their way to earthquake-hit areas to rush people to hospitals, which are now overloaded with patients.
Indonesia's Climate, Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the quake did not generate a tsunami.
Indonesia is located in an area of the world prone to earthquakes. A 2004 quake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 in Indonesia and other countries.
hygiene kid: 洗漱用品
tarp: a large piece of waterproof cloth or plastic that is used as a cover:防水布
2016年12月10日星期六
Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises
Indonesia Earthquake Death Toll Rises
The death toll continues to rise from a strong earthquake that struck Indonesia early Wednesday.
Local officials said at least 97 people were dead and hundreds more injured in Pidie Jaya, the district closest to the quake's epicenter, on the northern end of Indonesia's Sumatra island. The town of Meureudu was among the hardest hit areas.
The shaking brought down dozens of buildings, including mosques, stores and homes. Rescue crews were searching through rubble for people who may be trapped underneath.
"The earthquake was felt strongly and many people panicked and rushed outdoors as houses collapsed," Sutopo Nugroho of the country's national disaster management agency said in a statement.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.5 quake was centered near the town of Reuleut. Indonesia's Climate, Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the earthquake did not generate a tsunami.
Indonesia is located in an area of the world prone to earthquakes. A 2004 quake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 in Indonesia and other countries.
The threat of a repeat of that disaster was on the minds of some of those who felt Wednesday's earthquake.
toll: suffering, deaths, or damage:
rubble: the piles of broken stone and bricks, etc. that are left when a building falls down or is destroyed:
be prone to sth: likely to suffer from an illness or show a particular negative characteristic:
Trump: Japanese Firm to Invest $50 Billion, Add 50,000 Jobs in US
Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Group plans to invest $50 billion in the U.S. economy and add 50,000 jobs, President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday.
Trump appeared in the lobby of the Trump Tower with Masayoshi Son, the chief executive of SoftBank, to announce the news, and later put it out on Twitter.
Later Tuesday at a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Trump formally announced that he has chosen retired Marine General James "Mad Dog" Mattis for secretary of defense.
Mattis has served as the head of U.S. Central Command, which carries out U.S. operations in the Middle East, and the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces. He briefly addressed the crowd, thanking Trump for the nomination.
The retired general will need a congressional waiver in order to be confirmed as secretary of defense. Mattis would otherwise be ineligible to serve because of a law that requires a seven-year wait for former members of the military to serve in the post. He has been retired for less than four years.
lobby: the (large) room into which the main entrance door opens in a hotel or other large building
rally: a public meeting of a large group of people, especially supporters of a particular opinion:
waiver: an agreement that you do not have to pay or obey something:
The death toll continues to rise from a strong earthquake that struck Indonesia early Wednesday.
Local officials said at least 97 people were dead and hundreds more injured in Pidie Jaya, the district closest to the quake's epicenter, on the northern end of Indonesia's Sumatra island. The town of Meureudu was among the hardest hit areas.
The shaking brought down dozens of buildings, including mosques, stores and homes. Rescue crews were searching through rubble for people who may be trapped underneath.
"The earthquake was felt strongly and many people panicked and rushed outdoors as houses collapsed," Sutopo Nugroho of the country's national disaster management agency said in a statement.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.5 quake was centered near the town of Reuleut. Indonesia's Climate, Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the earthquake did not generate a tsunami.
Indonesia is located in an area of the world prone to earthquakes. A 2004 quake off Sumatra island triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 in Indonesia and other countries.
The threat of a repeat of that disaster was on the minds of some of those who felt Wednesday's earthquake.
toll: suffering, deaths, or damage:
rubble: the piles of broken stone and bricks, etc. that are left when a building falls down or is destroyed:
be prone to sth: likely to suffer from an illness or show a particular negative characteristic:
Trump: Japanese Firm to Invest $50 Billion, Add 50,000 Jobs in US
Japanese telecommunications giant SoftBank Group plans to invest $50 billion in the U.S. economy and add 50,000 jobs, President-elect Donald Trump announced Tuesday.
Trump appeared in the lobby of the Trump Tower with Masayoshi Son, the chief executive of SoftBank, to announce the news, and later put it out on Twitter.
Later Tuesday at a rally in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Trump formally announced that he has chosen retired Marine General James "Mad Dog" Mattis for secretary of defense.
Mattis has served as the head of U.S. Central Command, which carries out U.S. operations in the Middle East, and the Supreme Allied Commander of NATO forces. He briefly addressed the crowd, thanking Trump for the nomination.
The retired general will need a congressional waiver in order to be confirmed as secretary of defense. Mattis would otherwise be ineligible to serve because of a law that requires a seven-year wait for former members of the military to serve in the post. He has been retired for less than four years.
lobby: the (large) room into which the main entrance door opens in a hotel or other large building
rally: a public meeting of a large group of people, especially supporters of a particular opinion:
waiver: an agreement that you do not have to pay or obey something:
2016年12月9日星期五
Social Media Companies to Cooperate on Removing Terrorist Propaganda
Social Media Companies to Cooperate on Removing Terrorist Propaganda
The top social media networks in the United States say they are working together to quickly identify and take down photos and video that are used to recruit people into terrorism.
Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and YouTube announced Monday that they will create a shared database that identifies flagged images and video using unique "fingerprints," making it easier for the companies to review and potentially remove the content.
They said each company will then determine whether the material violates their business' terms of service.
"We hope this collaboration will lead to greater efficiency as we continue to enforce our policies to help curb the pressing global issue of terrorist content online," the companies said in a statement. "There is no place for content that promotes terrorism on our hosted consumer services."
The internet giants have come under increasing pressure from governments around the world to do more to remove extremist material.
In the United States, lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require social media companies to report to police any online terrorist activities they learn about.
Most social media services have terms of agreement that prohibit content that supports violent or illegal activities. The companies typically rely on users to flag inappropriate content, which is then reviewed by editors.
The new database will be up and running by early 2017 and more companies could be brought into the partnership.
propaganda: ` information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions:
take down sth: to remove something that was previously put up or put in place:
flag verb: to put a mark on something so it can be found easily among other similar things:
review: to think or talk about something again, in order to make changes to it or to make a decision about it:
`
New Islamic State Spokesman Takes Aim at West, Turkey and Iran
A new chief spokesman for the Islamic State is urging supporters to target the terror group’s enemies wherever they find them and “burn the ground under their feet.”
IS, through its media division, released an audio recording of Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, naming him as the replacement for Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. Adnani was killed in a U.S. drone(无人机) strike near al-Bab, Syria August 30.
“Attack them in their markets, roads, clubs and any unexpected location,” Muhajir said, “Your operations make a difference…change the situation.”
Muhajir also promises new attacks on the U.S., Russia, Europe and Iran, but he reserves considerable venom for Turkey. He tells IS supporters to attack "the secular, apostate(叛教者） Turkish government in every security, military, economic and media place even every embassy and consulate(领事馆） that represents it in all the world's countries."
division: ` a separate part of an army or large organization:
venon noun: literary the expression of feelings of hate or extreme anger:
apostate: `someone who has given up their religion or left a political party
consulate noun: the office where a consul works:
The top social media networks in the United States say they are working together to quickly identify and take down photos and video that are used to recruit people into terrorism.
Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft and YouTube announced Monday that they will create a shared database that identifies flagged images and video using unique "fingerprints," making it easier for the companies to review and potentially remove the content.
They said each company will then determine whether the material violates their business' terms of service.
"We hope this collaboration will lead to greater efficiency as we continue to enforce our policies to help curb the pressing global issue of terrorist content online," the companies said in a statement. "There is no place for content that promotes terrorism on our hosted consumer services."
The internet giants have come under increasing pressure from governments around the world to do more to remove extremist material.
In the United States, lawmakers have introduced legislation that would require social media companies to report to police any online terrorist activities they learn about.
Most social media services have terms of agreement that prohibit content that supports violent or illegal activities. The companies typically rely on users to flag inappropriate content, which is then reviewed by editors.
The new database will be up and running by early 2017 and more companies could be brought into the partnership.
propaganda: ` information, ideas, opinions, or images, often only giving one part of an argument, that are broadcast, published, or in some other way spread with the intention of influencing people's opinions:
take down sth: to remove something that was previously put up or put in place:
flag verb: to put a mark on something so it can be found easily among other similar things:
review: to think or talk about something again, in order to make changes to it or to make a decision about it:
`
New Islamic State Spokesman Takes Aim at West, Turkey and Iran
A new chief spokesman for the Islamic State is urging supporters to target the terror group’s enemies wherever they find them and “burn the ground under their feet.”
IS, through its media division, released an audio recording of Abu Hassan al-Muhajir, naming him as the replacement for Abu Muhammad al-Adnani. Adnani was killed in a U.S. drone(无人机) strike near al-Bab, Syria August 30.
“Attack them in their markets, roads, clubs and any unexpected location,” Muhajir said, “Your operations make a difference…change the situation.”
Muhajir also promises new attacks on the U.S., Russia, Europe and Iran, but he reserves considerable venom for Turkey. He tells IS supporters to attack "the secular, apostate(叛教者） Turkish government in every security, military, economic and media place even every embassy and consulate(领事馆） that represents it in all the world's countries."
division: ` a separate part of an army or large organization:
venon noun: literary the expression of feelings of hate or extreme anger:
apostate: `someone who has given up their religion or left a political party
consulate noun: the office where a consul works:
2016年12月7日星期三
Far Right's Hofer Defeated in Austria Election
Far Right's Hofer Defeated in Austria Election
Austria’s anti-immigrant candidate, Norbert Hofer, has failed in his bid to become the country’s first far right leader since World War II, in an election seen as a test for the strength of populist movements in Europe.
The former aeronautical engineer, who campaigned on an anti-establishment, anti-immigrant, anti-EU platform, conceded defeat to his environmentalist opponent, Alexander Van Der Bellen, who ran as an independent.
Media projections said Van der Bellen won with 53.3% of the vote, compared to Hofer’s 46.7%, a victory that Van der Bellen said is a “signal of hope and change” to “all the capitals of the European Union.”
Hofer had been poised to become the EU’s first far-right leader, as unease became evident in the country in the wake of a migrant crisis that has seen tens of thousands of Muslims seek asylum in Austria.
In Vienna on Sunday night, Hofer went before reporters at the city’s Hofburg Palace and pledged to keep up his efforts to ensure that the more than 46% of Austrians who voted for him were not ignored. “We are not done,” he said.
aeronautical: relating to the designing, building, and flying of planes:
projection: a calculation or guess about the future based on information that you have:
Trump Issues New Warning to US Corporations Moving Jobs Overseas
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sternly warned American businesses again Sunday that if they move their operations overseas they would face a 35 percent tax if they then try to sell their products back in the United States.
In a series of Twitter comments, Trump said he plans to "substantially reduce" taxes and regulations on businesses. But he said that any company that "fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant" in another country "and then thinks it will sell its product back into the U.S. without retribution or consequence, is wrong!"
The billionaire real estate mogul, who assumes power January 20, said the border tax on products manufactured in other countries "will make leaving financially difficult.... Please be forewarned prior to making a very expensive mistake!"
The U.S. has lost 5 million manufacturing jobs since 2000, many to automation and some to overseas locations where company owners are paying workers substantially less than they have been in the United States. But in his lengthy campaign for the White House, Trump vowed to curb the corporate departures and to bring back jobs that have already been moved overseas.
stermly: in a way that shows disapproval:
substantially: to a large degree:
curb: to control or limit something that is not wanted:
Austria’s anti-immigrant candidate, Norbert Hofer, has failed in his bid to become the country’s first far right leader since World War II, in an election seen as a test for the strength of populist movements in Europe.
The former aeronautical engineer, who campaigned on an anti-establishment, anti-immigrant, anti-EU platform, conceded defeat to his environmentalist opponent, Alexander Van Der Bellen, who ran as an independent.
Media projections said Van der Bellen won with 53.3% of the vote, compared to Hofer’s 46.7%, a victory that Van der Bellen said is a “signal of hope and change” to “all the capitals of the European Union.”
Hofer had been poised to become the EU’s first far-right leader, as unease became evident in the country in the wake of a migrant crisis that has seen tens of thousands of Muslims seek asylum in Austria.
In Vienna on Sunday night, Hofer went before reporters at the city’s Hofburg Palace and pledged to keep up his efforts to ensure that the more than 46% of Austrians who voted for him were not ignored. “We are not done,” he said.
aeronautical: relating to the designing, building, and flying of planes:
projection: a calculation or guess about the future based on information that you have:
Trump Issues New Warning to US Corporations Moving Jobs Overseas
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump sternly warned American businesses again Sunday that if they move their operations overseas they would face a 35 percent tax if they then try to sell their products back in the United States.
In a series of Twitter comments, Trump said he plans to "substantially reduce" taxes and regulations on businesses. But he said that any company that "fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant" in another country "and then thinks it will sell its product back into the U.S. without retribution or consequence, is wrong!"
The billionaire real estate mogul, who assumes power January 20, said the border tax on products manufactured in other countries "will make leaving financially difficult.... Please be forewarned prior to making a very expensive mistake!"
The U.S. has lost 5 million manufacturing jobs since 2000, many to automation and some to overseas locations where company owners are paying workers substantially less than they have been in the United States. But in his lengthy campaign for the White House, Trump vowed to curb the corporate departures and to bring back jobs that have already been moved overseas.
stermly: in a way that shows disapproval:
substantially: to a large degree:
curb: to control or limit something that is not wanted:
2016年12月6日星期二
More Than 10,000 Iraqis Have Fled Mosul Area
More Than 10,000 Iraqis Have Fled Mosul Area
The International Organization for Migration says more than 10,000 Iraqis have been displaced since the start of an operation to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants.
The offensive, which involves Iraqi government troops, Kurdish fighters, Sunni tribesman and Shi'ite militias, began last week and has so far involved capturing town and villages surrounding Iraq's second largest city.
The United Nations warned last week that as many as 200,000 people could be displaced in the initial weeks of the fight for Mosul, and that humanitarian groups would initially be able to handle about 70,000 people in need of aid.
Iraq's displacement and migration ministry said Wednesday the number of displaced was increasing, and that on Tuesday there was a "big wave" of 3,300 people in what was considered the largest number of people fleeing since the Mosul operation began.
The United Nations said Tuesday it had preliminary reports of extrajudicial killings and summary executions by Islamic State fighters around Mosul, including the militants using civilians as human shields.
preliminary: coming before a more important action or event, especially introducing or preparing for it:
extrajudicial: done without the permission of or without using the official legal system :
summary: done suddenly, without discussion or legal arrangements:
Gambia Withdraws From International Criminal Court
Gambia accused the International Criminal Court of ignoring “war crimes” Tuesday as it withdrew from the institution Tuesday, following in the footsteps of South Africa and Burundi, which withdrew from the court earlier this month.
Gambia’s Information Minister Sheriff Bojang accused the court system of being racist and unfairly targeting Africans for prosecution.
All but one of the 10 investigations launched so-far by the ICC have taken place in African countries, leading some in Gambia to believe it was ignoring crimes in other countries.
"There are many Western countries, at least 30, that have committed heinous war crimes against independent sovereign states and their citizens since the creation of the ICC and not a single Western war criminal has been indicted," the Gambian government said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh asked the court to investigate African migrant deaths in the Mediterranean Sea. In its statement, Gambia said it asked the court to bring charges against the European Union over the migrant deaths, but received no response.
prosecution: the lawyers in a court case who represent the side that accuses someone of committing a crime:
heinous: very bad and shocking:
indict: If a law court or a grand jury indicts someone, it accuses them officially of a crime:
The International Organization for Migration says more than 10,000 Iraqis have been displaced since the start of an operation to retake the northern city of Mosul from Islamic State militants.
The offensive, which involves Iraqi government troops, Kurdish fighters, Sunni tribesman and Shi'ite militias, began last week and has so far involved capturing town and villages surrounding Iraq's second largest city.
The United Nations warned last week that as many as 200,000 people could be displaced in the initial weeks of the fight for Mosul, and that humanitarian groups would initially be able to handle about 70,000 people in need of aid.
Iraq's displacement and migration ministry said Wednesday the number of displaced was increasing, and that on Tuesday there was a "big wave" of 3,300 people in what was considered the largest number of people fleeing since the Mosul operation began.
The United Nations said Tuesday it had preliminary reports of extrajudicial killings and summary executions by Islamic State fighters around Mosul, including the militants using civilians as human shields.
preliminary: coming before a more important action or event, especially introducing or preparing for it:
extrajudicial: done without the permission of or without using the official legal system :
summary: done suddenly, without discussion or legal arrangements:
Gambia Withdraws From International Criminal Court
Gambia accused the International Criminal Court of ignoring “war crimes” Tuesday as it withdrew from the institution Tuesday, following in the footsteps of South Africa and Burundi, which withdrew from the court earlier this month.
Gambia’s Information Minister Sheriff Bojang accused the court system of being racist and unfairly targeting Africans for prosecution.
All but one of the 10 investigations launched so-far by the ICC have taken place in African countries, leading some in Gambia to believe it was ignoring crimes in other countries.
"There are many Western countries, at least 30, that have committed heinous war crimes against independent sovereign states and their citizens since the creation of the ICC and not a single Western war criminal has been indicted," the Gambian government said in a statement.
Earlier this week, Gambian President Yahya Jammeh asked the court to investigate African migrant deaths in the Mediterranean Sea. In its statement, Gambia said it asked the court to bring charges against the European Union over the migrant deaths, but received no response.
prosecution: the lawyers in a court case who represent the side that accuses someone of committing a crime:
heinous: very bad and shocking:
indict: If a law court or a grand jury indicts someone, it accuses them officially of a crime:
2016年12月4日星期日
Final Demolition Begins in Calais 'Jungle' Refugee Camp
Final Demolition Begins in Calais 'Jungle' Refugee Camp
Final demolition work began at the “jungle” refugee shelter in Calais, France, Thursday morning after authorities declared the camp empty a day earlier.
Workers used large construction equipment and machines to rip down the make-shift shelters, some of which had been badly burned by refugees setting fires Wednesday before they were forced to leave.
Firefighters put out blazes set by departing migrants who acted in keeping with a tradition of burning their tents, despite being told not to do so.
French authorities conducted the operation to clear what had become a symbol of Europe's refugee crisis and resettle migrants who had lived in dire conditions in the camp.
A spokesman for regional authorities said one migrant was hospitalized with minor injuries. About 100 migrants were evacuated Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
French authorities say about 4,000 people have been transported to reception centers across France since dismantling of the Calais camp began Monday.
dimolition: the act of destroying something, such as a building or other structure: dimolish verb.
dire: very serious or extreme:
hospitalize: to take someone to hospital and keep them there for treatment:
dismantle: to take a machine apart or to come apart into separate pieces:
Report: Wildlife Populations down Nearly 60 Percent Since 1970
Wildlife populations across the globe have dropped nearly 60 percent since 1970 and human activity is to blame, according to a report released by conservation groups.
The joint report produced by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London warned that if the current trends continue, the decline in world populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians(两栖动物） and reptiles（爬行动物） could reach two-thirds by 2020, an annual loss of about two percent.
"Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate," said Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International.
According to the report, the drastic reduction in wildlife populations can be directly attributed to human development. A growing human population, which has more than doubled since 1960 to around 7.4 billion, means less room and food for other animals and could push them out of existence if changes aren’t made.
decline noun: when something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength:
unprecedented: never having happened or existed in the past:
drastic: `(especially of actions) severe and sudden or having very noticeable effects:
attribute something to someone/something: to say or think that something is the result or work of something or someone else:
push sb out: `to make someone leave a job or stop being involved in an activity by being unpleasant or unfair to them:
Final demolition work began at the “jungle” refugee shelter in Calais, France, Thursday morning after authorities declared the camp empty a day earlier.
Workers used large construction equipment and machines to rip down the make-shift shelters, some of which had been badly burned by refugees setting fires Wednesday before they were forced to leave.
Firefighters put out blazes set by departing migrants who acted in keeping with a tradition of burning their tents, despite being told not to do so.
French authorities conducted the operation to clear what had become a symbol of Europe's refugee crisis and resettle migrants who had lived in dire conditions in the camp.
A spokesman for regional authorities said one migrant was hospitalized with minor injuries. About 100 migrants were evacuated Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
French authorities say about 4,000 people have been transported to reception centers across France since dismantling of the Calais camp began Monday.
dimolition: the act of destroying something, such as a building or other structure: dimolish verb.
dire: very serious or extreme:
hospitalize: to take someone to hospital and keep them there for treatment:
dismantle: to take a machine apart or to come apart into separate pieces:
Report: Wildlife Populations down Nearly 60 Percent Since 1970
Wildlife populations across the globe have dropped nearly 60 percent since 1970 and human activity is to blame, according to a report released by conservation groups.
The joint report produced by the World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological Society of London warned that if the current trends continue, the decline in world populations of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians(两栖动物） and reptiles（爬行动物） could reach two-thirds by 2020, an annual loss of about two percent.
"Wildlife is disappearing within our lifetimes at an unprecedented rate," said Marco Lambertini, director general of WWF International.
According to the report, the drastic reduction in wildlife populations can be directly attributed to human development. A growing human population, which has more than doubled since 1960 to around 7.4 billion, means less room and food for other animals and could push them out of existence if changes aren’t made.
decline noun: when something becomes less in amount, importance, quality, or strength:
unprecedented: never having happened or existed in the past:
drastic: `(especially of actions) severe and sudden or having very noticeable effects:
attribute something to someone/something: to say or think that something is the result or work of something or someone else:
push sb out: `to make someone leave a job or stop being involved in an activity by being unpleasant or unfair to them:
South Korea, Japan Impose New Sanctions on North Korea
South Korea, Japan Impose New Sanctions on North Korea
South Korea and Japan have imposed unilateral sanctions on North Korea.
The announcement of the sanctions Friday followed Pyongyang's promise to retaliate against new U.N. sanctions imposed earlier this week.
South Korea and Japan already had sanctions in place against North Korea. The new sanctions, however, are mainly symbolic as trade and exchange between the North and its two neighbors are largely non-existent because of existing sanctions, especially those imposed by the United Nations. But North Korea's latest round of nuclear tests has prompted its neighbors to announce the new restrictions.
South Korea is banning the entry of foreign missile and nuclear experts, if their visits to North Korea are deemed to be a threat to South Korea.
Japan said Friday it will not allow ships into the country that have called at ports in North Korea. Japan said it will also freeze the assets of groups and individuals associated with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously voted to impose a new round of targeted economic sanctions against North Korea for its September 9 nuclear test.
The sanctions take aim at sectors of the defiant nation’s economy that generate cash to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and could cost Pyongyang more than $800 million a year in lost funds – the equivalent of a quarter of its total export revenues.
retaliate: to hurt someone or do something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you:
call: to visit someone, especially for a short time:
defiant: 1 proudly refusing to obey authority: 2 not willing to accept criticism or disapproval:
UN Chief Apologizes for 2010 Cholera Outbreak in Haiti
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon apologized to the people of Haiti on Thursday, more than six years after U.N. peacekeepers were blamed for causing a deadly cholera epidemic on the island nation.
“On behalf of the United Nations, I want to say very clearly: we apologize to the Haitian people,” Ban told an informal meeting of U.N. member states. “We simply did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak and its spread in Haiti. We are profoundly sorry for our role,” he added.
Ban’s apology, his most direct to date, fell short of admitting that U.N. peacekeepers brought the potentially fatal illness to Haiti. “This has cast a shadow upon the relationship between the United Nations and the people of Haiti,” he said. “It is a blemish on the reputation of U.N. peacekeeping and the organization worldwide.”
It is widely accepted that Nepalese peacekeepers who were sent to assist Haiti in its recovery after the devastating 2010 earthquake, contaminated a branch of the Artibonite River with cholera. The river is the country’s main water source for tens of thousands of Haitians. Subsequently more than 9,000 people died of the disease, and some 800,000 were sickened. Some of the victims sought compensation, suing the United Nations in U.S. District court, but the court ruled that the international organization is protected by diplomatic immunity.
The United Nations released a 16-page report on Thursday which details a two-track “new approach” to cholera in Haiti. It calls for $400 million in initial funding.
fall short: to not reach a desired amount or standard:
cast a shadow on/over: to spoil a good situation with something unpleasant:
call for: to need or deserve a particular action, remark, or quality:
South Korea and Japan have imposed unilateral sanctions on North Korea.
The announcement of the sanctions Friday followed Pyongyang's promise to retaliate against new U.N. sanctions imposed earlier this week.
South Korea and Japan already had sanctions in place against North Korea. The new sanctions, however, are mainly symbolic as trade and exchange between the North and its two neighbors are largely non-existent because of existing sanctions, especially those imposed by the United Nations. But North Korea's latest round of nuclear tests has prompted its neighbors to announce the new restrictions.
South Korea is banning the entry of foreign missile and nuclear experts, if their visits to North Korea are deemed to be a threat to South Korea.
Japan said Friday it will not allow ships into the country that have called at ports in North Korea. Japan said it will also freeze the assets of groups and individuals associated with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.
On Wednesday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously voted to impose a new round of targeted economic sanctions against North Korea for its September 9 nuclear test.
The sanctions take aim at sectors of the defiant nation’s economy that generate cash to fund its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and could cost Pyongyang more than $800 million a year in lost funds – the equivalent of a quarter of its total export revenues.
retaliate: to hurt someone or do something harmful to someone because they have done or said something harmful to you:
call: to visit someone, especially for a short time:
defiant: 1 proudly refusing to obey authority: 2 not willing to accept criticism or disapproval:
UN Chief Apologizes for 2010 Cholera Outbreak in Haiti
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon apologized to the people of Haiti on Thursday, more than six years after U.N. peacekeepers were blamed for causing a deadly cholera epidemic on the island nation.
“On behalf of the United Nations, I want to say very clearly: we apologize to the Haitian people,” Ban told an informal meeting of U.N. member states. “We simply did not do enough with regard to the cholera outbreak and its spread in Haiti. We are profoundly sorry for our role,” he added.
Ban’s apology, his most direct to date, fell short of admitting that U.N. peacekeepers brought the potentially fatal illness to Haiti. “This has cast a shadow upon the relationship between the United Nations and the people of Haiti,” he said. “It is a blemish on the reputation of U.N. peacekeeping and the organization worldwide.”
It is widely accepted that Nepalese peacekeepers who were sent to assist Haiti in its recovery after the devastating 2010 earthquake, contaminated a branch of the Artibonite River with cholera. The river is the country’s main water source for tens of thousands of Haitians. Subsequently more than 9,000 people died of the disease, and some 800,000 were sickened. Some of the victims sought compensation, suing the United Nations in U.S. District court, but the court ruled that the international organization is protected by diplomatic immunity.
The United Nations released a 16-page report on Thursday which details a two-track “new approach” to cholera in Haiti. It calls for $400 million in initial funding.
fall short: to not reach a desired amount or standard:
cast a shadow on/over: to spoil a good situation with something unpleasant:
call for: to need or deserve a particular action, remark, or quality:
2016年12月3日星期六
Colombia's Congress Approves FARC Peace Deal
Colombia's Congress Approves FARC Peace Deal
Colombia's Congress on Wednesday approved a peace deal between the government and the rebel group known as FARC to end more than 50 years of war.
The lower house voted 130-0 in favor of the agreement, a day after members of the Senate backed it by a margin of 75-0.
Members of former President Alvaro Uribe's party walked out in protest in both chambers. He has criticized the peace deal as being too lenient on FARC members, particularly the group's leadership, as well as the sole authority given to lawmakers to approve this version instead of putting approval to a national referendum.
A previous version failed a referendum last month, prompting more than 50 changes to the document.
Congressional approval sets off a six-month process during which the more than 7,000 FARC rebels will hand over their weapons.
"Tomorrow a new era begins," said President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last month for his efforts to negotiate the truce. Peace negotiations have stretched on for four years in the effort to end the conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions.
margin: the amount by which one thing is different from another:
lenient: not as severe or strong in punishment or judgment as would be expected:
prompt: to make something happen:
set off: to start on a trip:
truce: a short interruption in a war or argument, or an agreement to stop fighting or arguing for a period of time:
Trump Launches 'Thank You' Tour
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is embarking on what he is calling a "thank you tour" Thursday with a campaign-style rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, hours after he appears in Indiana to tout an agreement with air conditioner maker Carrier to keep about 1,000 jobs there.
Ohio was one of the key swing states that helped deliver Trump an election victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump has not detailed where else his tour will go.
Carrier said earlier this year it was relocating the Indiana operations as a cost-cutting move. The company said in a statement Wednesday that factors in its decision to stay included financial incentives from Indiana and a promise from the incoming Trump administration to "create an improved, more competitive U.S. business climate."
The deal is a win for Trump, who made frequent promises during his campaign for president that he would prevent companies from moving jobs outside the country, and bring back jobs that already have been lost.
embark on/upon sth: to start something new or important:
relocate: to (cause a person or company to) move to a new place:
incentive: something that encourages a person to do something:
incoming: 2 soon to start something such as a job because recently chosen or elected:
Colombia's Congress on Wednesday approved a peace deal between the government and the rebel group known as FARC to end more than 50 years of war.
The lower house voted 130-0 in favor of the agreement, a day after members of the Senate backed it by a margin of 75-0.
Members of former President Alvaro Uribe's party walked out in protest in both chambers. He has criticized the peace deal as being too lenient on FARC members, particularly the group's leadership, as well as the sole authority given to lawmakers to approve this version instead of putting approval to a national referendum.
A previous version failed a referendum last month, prompting more than 50 changes to the document.
Congressional approval sets off a six-month process during which the more than 7,000 FARC rebels will hand over their weapons.
"Tomorrow a new era begins," said President Juan Manuel Santos, who won the Nobel Peace Prize last month for his efforts to negotiate the truce. Peace negotiations have stretched on for four years in the effort to end the conflict that has killed more than 220,000 people and displaced millions.
margin: the amount by which one thing is different from another:
lenient: not as severe or strong in punishment or judgment as would be expected:
prompt: to make something happen:
set off: to start on a trip:
truce: a short interruption in a war or argument, or an agreement to stop fighting or arguing for a period of time:
Trump Launches 'Thank You' Tour
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is embarking on what he is calling a "thank you tour" Thursday with a campaign-style rally in Cincinnati, Ohio, hours after he appears in Indiana to tout an agreement with air conditioner maker Carrier to keep about 1,000 jobs there.
Ohio was one of the key swing states that helped deliver Trump an election victory over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Trump has not detailed where else his tour will go.
Carrier said earlier this year it was relocating the Indiana operations as a cost-cutting move. The company said in a statement Wednesday that factors in its decision to stay included financial incentives from Indiana and a promise from the incoming Trump administration to "create an improved, more competitive U.S. business climate."
The deal is a win for Trump, who made frequent promises during his campaign for president that he would prevent companies from moving jobs outside the country, and bring back jobs that already have been lost.
embark on/upon sth: to start something new or important:
relocate: to (cause a person or company to) move to a new place:
incentive: something that encourages a person to do something:
incoming: 2 soon to start something such as a job because recently chosen or elected:
2016年12月2日星期五
UN Security Council to Vote on New North Korea Sanctions
UN Security Council to Vote on New North Korea Sanctions
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote Wednesday on new sanctions against North Korea aimed at cutting off funding for its nuclear and ballistic missile(弹道导弹) programs.
The session is expected to include remarks from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who rarely attends council votes.
Previous Security Council resolutions have demanded North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons program and not conduct any nuclear tests or launches of ballistic missiles. But North Korea has repeatedly defied the world body during the past decade, including with its latest nuclear test in September.
The new sanctions would include capping North Korea's coal exports, which a U.S. official said would amount to cutting the country's single largest source of external revenue by 60 percent, or as much as $700 million per year.
There would also be a ban on exports of certain metals such as copper, nickel, silver and zinc that bring North Korea more than $100 million a year.
Some 11 North Korean officials and 10 entities involved in the nuclear and ballistic missile programs would be added to the list of those designated for travel bans and asset freezes.
The measure also targets imported luxury goods favored by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other officials, banning carpets and tapestries(挂毯） worth more than $500 and fine china and porcelain tableware(瓷餐具） valued at more than $100.
The U.S. and South Korea joined with China, Russia, Japan and North Korea in six-party talks aimed at curbing the North Korean nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid, but those negotiations broke down in 2009.
sanction: an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken against a country in order to make it obey international law:
cap verb: `to put a limit on the amount of money that can be charged or spent in connection with a particular activity:
revenue: `the income that a government or company receives regularly:
entity: `something that exists apart from other things, having its own independent existence:
designated: to choose someone officially to do a particular job:
curb: ` to control or limit something that is not wanted:
Dormitory Fire Kills 12 in Turkey
A fire at a school in southern Turkey has killed 12, including 11 teenage girls, and injured 22 others.
The fire broke out in a girls dormitory late Tuesday in the southern province of Adana. The cause of the fire was unknown, and it was not clear how many of the injured were children.
Adana Governor Mahmut Demirtas told the state-run Anadolu agency some of the injured students were affected by the smoke and some of them had been hurt trying to escape from the burning building.
Turkish television showed flames rising from a multiple-story building and firefighters battling the blaze.
Turkish government officials said Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, National Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz and others were headed to Adana.
headed adj: going in a particular direction:
The United Nations Security Council is set to vote Wednesday on new sanctions against North Korea aimed at cutting off funding for its nuclear and ballistic missile(弹道导弹) programs.
The session is expected to include remarks from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who rarely attends council votes.
Previous Security Council resolutions have demanded North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons program and not conduct any nuclear tests or launches of ballistic missiles. But North Korea has repeatedly defied the world body during the past decade, including with its latest nuclear test in September.
The new sanctions would include capping North Korea's coal exports, which a U.S. official said would amount to cutting the country's single largest source of external revenue by 60 percent, or as much as $700 million per year.
There would also be a ban on exports of certain metals such as copper, nickel, silver and zinc that bring North Korea more than $100 million a year.
Some 11 North Korean officials and 10 entities involved in the nuclear and ballistic missile programs would be added to the list of those designated for travel bans and asset freezes.
The measure also targets imported luxury goods favored by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other officials, banning carpets and tapestries(挂毯） worth more than $500 and fine china and porcelain tableware(瓷餐具） valued at more than $100.
The U.S. and South Korea joined with China, Russia, Japan and North Korea in six-party talks aimed at curbing the North Korean nuclear weapons program in exchange for aid, but those negotiations broke down in 2009.
sanction: an official order, such as the stopping of trade, that is taken against a country in order to make it obey international law:
cap verb: `to put a limit on the amount of money that can be charged or spent in connection with a particular activity:
revenue: `the income that a government or company receives regularly:
entity: `something that exists apart from other things, having its own independent existence:
designated: to choose someone officially to do a particular job:
curb: ` to control or limit something that is not wanted:
Dormitory Fire Kills 12 in Turkey
A fire at a school in southern Turkey has killed 12, including 11 teenage girls, and injured 22 others.
The fire broke out in a girls dormitory late Tuesday in the southern province of Adana. The cause of the fire was unknown, and it was not clear how many of the injured were children.
Adana Governor Mahmut Demirtas told the state-run Anadolu agency some of the injured students were affected by the smoke and some of them had been hurt trying to escape from the burning building.
Turkish television showed flames rising from a multiple-story building and firefighters battling the blaze.
Turkish government officials said Deputy Prime Minister Veysi Kaynak, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu, National Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz and others were headed to Adana.
headed adj: going in a particular direction:
Italian PM Promises Rebuild After Quake
Italian PM Promises Rebuild After Quake
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is promising to rebuild parts of central Italy after Sunday's 6.6 magnitude earthquake, Italy's most powerful quake in 36 years.
"We will rebuild everything, the houses, the churches and the businesses. Everything that needs to be done to rebuild these areas will be done," Renzi said.
No one was killed Sunday, but at least 20 minor injuries were reported.
Many people had already fled that area after an August quake killed about 300 people, followed by two strong aftershocks last Wednesday.
Large boulders and rockslides blocked several highways, completely cutting off some villages from the outside. A nearly non-stop series of small aftershocks were making conditions difficult for emergency workers.
The U.S. National Geological Survey says Sunday's quake was centered near Norcia and was relatively shallow, at a depth of 10 kilometers, making it felt over a widespread area, and as far south as Rome, 90 kilometers to the south.
Schools will be closed in Rome Monday so buildings can be inspected for structural damage, according to the Rome municipality website.
boulder: a very large rock
`
1 in 7 of World's Children Exposed to Toxic Air Pollution
One in seven of the world's children is exposed to pollution levels six or more times higher than international standards set by the World Health Organization, according to a new report by UNICEF. The report was released a week ahead of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Marrakech.
"Air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year," says UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, "and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day."
Some two billion children live in regions where outdoor air pollution exceeds WHO's minimum air quality guidelines, with 620 million of those children living in South Asia, followed by 520 million children in Africa, and 450 million children in the East Asia and Pacific region.
UNICEF says young children are particularly susceptible to indoor and outdoor air pollution because their lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing and their respiratory tracts(呼吸道) are more permeable.
UNICEF says it will ask the countries attending the climate change conference to take "four urgent steps" to protect children from air pollution. Those steps are:
1. adopt measures to reduce pollution;
2. increase children's access to healthcare;
3. minimize children's exposure to pollution; and
4. establish better monitoring of air pollution.
Lake said "We protect our children when we protect the quality of our air. Both are central to our future."
guildeline: information intended to advise people on how something should be done or what something should be:
susceptible: easily influenced or harmed by something:
respiratory: relating to breathing:
permeable: If a substance is permeable, it allows liquids or gases to go through it:
adopt: 1 to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care of him or her as your own child: 2 to accept or start to use something new:
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is promising to rebuild parts of central Italy after Sunday's 6.6 magnitude earthquake, Italy's most powerful quake in 36 years.
"We will rebuild everything, the houses, the churches and the businesses. Everything that needs to be done to rebuild these areas will be done," Renzi said.
No one was killed Sunday, but at least 20 minor injuries were reported.
Many people had already fled that area after an August quake killed about 300 people, followed by two strong aftershocks last Wednesday.
Large boulders and rockslides blocked several highways, completely cutting off some villages from the outside. A nearly non-stop series of small aftershocks were making conditions difficult for emergency workers.
The U.S. National Geological Survey says Sunday's quake was centered near Norcia and was relatively shallow, at a depth of 10 kilometers, making it felt over a widespread area, and as far south as Rome, 90 kilometers to the south.
Schools will be closed in Rome Monday so buildings can be inspected for structural damage, according to the Rome municipality website.
boulder: a very large rock
`
1 in 7 of World's Children Exposed to Toxic Air Pollution
One in seven of the world's children is exposed to pollution levels six or more times higher than international standards set by the World Health Organization, according to a new report by UNICEF. The report was released a week ahead of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Marrakech.
"Air pollution is a major contributing factor in the deaths of around 600,000 children under five every year," says UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake, "and it threatens the lives and futures of millions more every day."
Some two billion children live in regions where outdoor air pollution exceeds WHO's minimum air quality guidelines, with 620 million of those children living in South Asia, followed by 520 million children in Africa, and 450 million children in the East Asia and Pacific region.
UNICEF says young children are particularly susceptible to indoor and outdoor air pollution because their lungs, brains and immune systems are still developing and their respiratory tracts(呼吸道) are more permeable.
UNICEF says it will ask the countries attending the climate change conference to take "four urgent steps" to protect children from air pollution. Those steps are:
1. adopt measures to reduce pollution;
2. increase children's access to healthcare;
3. minimize children's exposure to pollution; and
4. establish better monitoring of air pollution.
Lake said "We protect our children when we protect the quality of our air. Both are central to our future."
guildeline: information intended to advise people on how something should be done or what something should be:
susceptible: easily influenced or harmed by something:
respiratory: relating to breathing:
permeable: If a substance is permeable, it allows liquids or gases to go through it:
adopt: 1 to legally take another person's child into your own family and take care of him or her as your own child: 2 to accept or start to use something new:
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