VOA慢速英语2015 沙特盟军继续对也门发动空袭

Saudi-Led Airstrikes Continue in Yemen 沙特盟军继续对也门发动空袭

Yemeni security officials say the Saudi-led coalition¹ launched new airstrikes Wednesday on the Houthi rebels. The airstrikes came a day after Saudi Arabia had declared an end to the air campaign targeting the Iran-backed rebels.

Yemeni officials said airstrikes hit the Houthi rebels in Taiz, Yemen's third-largest city, and in the southern port city of Aden. The rebels had seized control of a military brigade headquarters near Aden’s old airport.

Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday it would end the month-long airstrikes. Iran welcomed the announcement and called it a “step forward” toward a political resolution.

France arrests man suspected of planning church attacks

French officials announced on Wednesday the arrest of an Islamic extremist suspected of planning attacks on one or more churches.

France’s Interior Minister said police arrested a 24-year-old student on Sunday. The French-Algerian student is suspected of being an Islamist extremist. 

The minister said police discovered several weapons in his car, parked in a Paris neighborhood. He said they also discovered documents showing a plan to attack one or two churches in the Paris suburb of Villejuif.

China’s Xi, Japan’s Abe hold rare meeting

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks Wednesday at a regional summit in Indonesia. The meeting marked only the second time the two leaders have met since taking power.

The two leaders held a bilateral² meeting during the Asian-African Summit in Jakarta, according to Japanese officials.

The officials did not say how long the meeting lasted or what topics were discussed.

Relations between the two powerful Asian nations have been strained over a territorial³ dispute. China also feels that Japan is not apologizing for its colonial-era aggression⁴ toward China and other Asian neighbors.

Words in the News

coalition – n. a group of people, groups, or countries who have joined together for a common purpose

suburb – n. a town or other area where people live in houses near a larger city

strained – adj. not friendly and relaxed

1 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

2 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

3 territorial   

adj.领土的，领地的

参考例句：

• The country is fighting to preserve its territorial integrity.该国在为保持领土的完整而进行斗争。
• They were not allowed to fish in our territorial waters.不允许他们在我国领海捕鱼。

4 aggression   

n.进攻，侵略，侵犯，侵害

参考例句：

• So long as we are firmly united, we need fear no aggression.只要我们紧密地团结，就不必惧怕外来侵略。
• Her view is that aggression is part of human nature.她认为攻击性是人类本性的一部份。