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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
European leaders say they’ve agreed to cut the EU’s long-term budget for the first time since the union was created. Following marathon talks in Brussels, the amount of money available for EU funded programmes over the next seven years will be capped at 960bn euros, a cut of about three per cent. The president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, called it a budget for the future.
“We simply cannot sacrifice our investments in education, research and growth. Second dimention: this is a budget of moderation. We simply could not ignore the extremely difficult economic realities across Europe. So it had to be a leaner budget.”
However, the four largest groupings in the European Parliament, which needs to approve the legislation, said the budget was not in the interest of European citizens and would weaken the European economy.
Huge crowds have attended the funeral of the Tunisian opposition1 leader Chokri Belaid amid violent scenes. Cars were torched and police fired teargas at protesters. Wyre Davies reports.
There was genuine upset and anguish2 across Tunisia today, nowhere more so than in the home of Chokri Belaid. His wife, father and young daughter sat at the foot of his coffin3. His neighbours and political allies wept openly. As the opposition leader’s coffin was carried through the narrow alleyways of this modest working-class suburb, the huge crowd started chanting Belaid’s name and blaming the Islamist-led coalition4 for his murder. Tensions over the future direction of Tunisia have been bubbling under the surface for months. This was where the Arab spring began. The mourners today were adamant5. It should not also be where it meets a premature6 death.
Egyptian police have used water cannon7 and teargas to disperse8 protesters outside the presidential palace in Cairo amid nation-wide rallies against President Mohammed Morsi. The protesters have taken to the streets in their thousands demanding amendments9 to the constitution and guarantees about judicial10 independence.
The leader of an Amish sect11 in the American state of Ohio has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for organising hair and beard cutting attacks on other Amish communities. Samuel Mullet Sr was found guilty in September. Jenner Bryon reports.
The court heard how a large group of Samuel Mullet’s followers12 forced their way into the homes of seven men and women, tied them up and shaved their beards and hair. The gang used scissors, clippers, shears13 and battery-operated razors. The attack was deeply humiliating for the victims because Amish men and women are expected to grow their hair to show religious observance. However, Mullet had decided14 they’d strayed from history teachings and needed to be shown the error of their ways. The defence had argued that the assaults arose from a personal dispute and did not amount to a hate crime.
World News from the BBC
A former American ambassador to Mali has said that France paid ransom15 money to free hostages which ended up funding the Islamist group that’s now fighting in Mali. Vicki Huddleston told a French television station that France paid $17m to free hostages seized from a uranium mine in Niger in 2010. She said other European countries including Germany had also paid ransoms16 amounting to nearly $19m.
Scuffles have broken out in the Georgian capital Tbilisi as opponents of President Mikheil Saakashvili tried to prevent his annual state-of-the-nation address. The protesters attacked several politicians loyal to the president. From Tbilisi, Damien McGuinness.
President Saakashvili expressed concern and regret over the chaos17 and violence which prevented him from making his state-of-the-nation address, saying that what happened today is not the path which will lead Georgia to EU membership, one of the country’s main foreign policy objectives. The president accused the new government of using former prisoners who’d been released over the last few weeks to protest against him, but said it was crucial for the rival factions18 in parliament to now start to cooperate.
A major snowstorm is starting to hit the north-eastern United States, where it’s expected to cause significant disruption in the coming hours. Almost 4,000 flights have been cancelled and the train operator and track will stop running services north of New York City. The governor of Massachusetts has temporarily banned all non-emergency traffic on the state’s roads, saying safe travel will be nearly impossible. And the mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, is urging people to stay indoors.
“Stay off the city streets, stay out of your cars and stay in your homes while the worst of the storm is on us. That’s for your own protection during potentially hazardous19 outdoor conditions.”
Meteorologists say it could be the worst storm to hit New England in decades.
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1
opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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anguish
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| n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼 | |
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coffin
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| n.棺材，灵柩 | |
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coalition
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| n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合 | |
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adamant
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| adj.坚硬的，固执的 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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cannon
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| n.大炮，火炮；飞机上的机关炮 | |
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disperse
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| vi.使分散；使消失；vt.分散；驱散 | |
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amendments
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| （法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案 | |
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judicial
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| adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的 | |
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sect
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| n.派别，宗教，学派，派系 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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shears
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| n.大剪刀 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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ransom
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| n.赎金，赎身；v.赎回，解救 | |
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ransoms
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| 付赎金救人，赎金( ransom的名词复数 ) | |
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chaos
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| n.混乱，无秩序 | |
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factions
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| 组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 ) | |
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hazardous
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| adj.(有)危险的，冒险的；碰运气的 | |
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