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Belgium MPs have voted to give terminally ill children the right to die regardless of age. Taking the law on euthanasia further than anywhere else. Despite protests from the Catholic Church, there was overwhelming support in parliament for extending a ruling from 2002 which allowed mercy-killing for adults. The legislation states that a child would have to be in a hopeless medical situation, in constant suffering, conscious and able to make the choice. Jacqueline Herremans, the director of Belgium's Right to Die Association supports the decision.

比利时议员投票给晚期生病儿童死亡的权利,而不管其年龄几何,这就使得安乐死法向前迈了一步。尽管基督教堂表示抗议,议会得到压倒性的支持,将2002年允许成年人安乐死的判决得以扩展。该法规定必须是治病无望的儿童,且一直遭受痛苦、昏迷和无法做出选择。比利时死亡权利协会主任Jacqueline Herremans支持这一决定。

“It is difficult to be as I said happy about a vote that concerns children who are suffering. Children who will die before they have the possibility to become adults. But I have to say I am satisfied that it was possible to have that debate. And that it was possible for the Belgium parliament to have the courage to depenalize use of euthanasia for children as well.

“这一投票关乎受罪儿童,做出这一决定是艰难的,但我仍对此感到高兴。那些以前死亡的儿童本有可能长成成年人,但我必须要说的是,我对能进行这场辩论感到满意,这样比利时议会就能有勇气取消对儿童安乐死的惩罚。”

The Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has announced he'll stand down on Friday after his own democratic party, the dominant party in Italy's ruling coalition voted for a change of government. Alan Johnston has the details.

意大利总理恩里科·莱塔宣布将于周五辞职,此前其所属的民主党,也就是意大利执政联盟中的主要政党将投票改变政府。艾伦·约翰逊报道。

Mr. Letta has led Italy's coalition government for nearly a year. But although he's been prime minister, he hasn't led his own faction, the Democratic Party. Its leadership contest was recently won by the young and ambitious mayor of Florence, Matteo Renzi. Relations between him and Prime Minister Letta soon became extremely fraught. And at a critically important faction meeting, Mr. Renzi openly called for a new government. The Party backed his demand. And Prime Minister Letta's position immediately became untenable.

莱塔领导意大利联盟政府已近一年,但尽管他是总理,他还没有领导过自己的民主党。在该党最近的角逐中,获胜者是年轻且有雄心的佛罗伦萨市长Matteo Renzi。他和总理莱塔的关键很快就变得很糟糕。在最近一场很重要的党派会议上,Renzi公开呼吁组建新政府,该党支持他的要求。总理莱塔的地位很快就变得岌岌可危。

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has rejected Washington's criticism of the release of 65 prisoners from Bagram prison. Mr. Karzai said the issue was of no concern to the US.

巴格拉姆监狱65名囚犯获释遭到华盛顿批评,对此阿富汗总统哈米德·卡尔扎伊予以反驳。卡尔扎伊说这一问题与美国无关。

“If the Afghan judicial authorities decide to release a prisoner, it is of no concern to the US and should be of no concern to the US. And I hope that the United Stated will stop harassing Afghanistan's procedures and judicial authority and I hope that the United States will now begin to respect Afghan sovereignty.”

“如果阿富汗司法部门决定释放囚犯,这与美国无关,不应该让美国担忧。我希望美国能停止骚扰阿富汗的程序和司法当局,希望美国将开始尊重阿富汗的主权。”

Washington said it had strong evidence against many of the prisoners who've been released.

华盛顿称有不利于获释囚犯的可靠证据。

At a major conference in London on the illegal wildlife trade, a group of 46 countries has promised to take action on poaching. The illegal wildlife trade is worth an estimated $19bn a year. The countries say its links to corruption and organized crime need to be investigated as a priority, the leaders of four African countries have promised to honor a ten-year moratorium on sales of ivory.

在伦敦有关野生物非法交易的重大会议上,46个国家承诺对盗猎采取行动。非法野生物交易每年价值190亿美元,这些国家称这与腐败有关,需要重点调查有组织犯罪,四个非洲国家的领导人承诺对象牙销售暂停10年。

The United Nations Mission in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo says more than 70 people were summarily executed in late January and early February. It's said the killings were mainly committed by armed groups in north Kivu province, despite terror among the population. The UN intervention force has increased its presence in the area, having defeated the M23 rebel group in November last year.

联合国驻刚果民主共和国使团称一月底和二月初有70多人被临时处决,称杀戮主要是由基伏省北部的武装组织所为。联合国干预部队增加了在该地区的部署,在去年11月击败了M23叛军。

The United Nations mediator Lakhdar Brahimi has said that senior American and Russian officials have pledged to do whatever they can to help the deadlocked peace talks on Syria. The US undersecretary of state and the Russian deputy foreign minister have come to Geneva in order to put more pressure on the Syrian government and opposition delegations. Mr. Brahimi said the UN was committed to finding a solution.

联合国调解员拉赫达尔·卜拉希米称美国和俄罗斯高级官员承诺尽一切努力帮助处于僵局的叙利亚和谈,美国副国务卿和俄罗斯外交副部长前往日内瓦向叙利亚政府和反对派代表团进一步施压。卜拉希米说联合国决心找到解决办法。

“It is a very very very complicated subject. Failure is always staring at us in the face. As far as the Untied Nations is concerned, we will certainly not leave one stone unturned, if there is a possibility to move forward.”

“这是个非常非常复杂的问题,我们总是能遇到失败,就联合国而言,只要有前进的可能,我们就会千方百计的努力。”

In Syria, a ceasefire in the city of Homs has been extended for 3 more days.

在叙利亚,霍姆斯的停火已经延长了3天。

The United States has denied accusations that it's supported anti-government demonstrations in Kenya. The National Security Advisory Committee accused the American Aid Agency USAID of trying to overthrow the government by supporting activists. Police used teargas to disperse a protester in the city on Thursday. The Committee said it had credible documents showing USAID had funded such demonstrations.

有说法称美国支持肯尼亚的反政府游行,美国对此表示否认。国家安全顾问委员会指责美国国际开发署试图通过支持活动人士来推翻肯尼亚政府。周四警察动用催泪弹驱散该市的抗议者,该委员会称有可靠文件表明国际开发署资助了此类游行。

The Italian football club Lazio has insisted that one of their players Joseph Minala form Cameroon is 17 years old as the player says after it was alleged he was actually 41. The club stated that the midfielder's birth certificate was legitimate. Minala, who's played in youth tournaments for the club also issued a statement, denying he told an African website that he had lied about his age.

意大利拉齐奥足球俱乐部坚称其喀麦隆球员约瑟夫·米纳拉如他本人所说的只有17岁,此前有人说他其实41岁了。该俱乐部称这位中锋的出生证是合法的,为该俱乐部参加过青年锦标赛的米纳拉也发表声明,否认自己曾告诉一家网站自己年龄不实。

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/yytljxjjb/468630.html