克里听取对伊朗核协议的担忧

Kerry Hears Concerns About Iran Nuclear Agreement 克里听取对伊朗核协议的担忧

In the news today…

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is hearing concerns about the agreement reached with Iran last month to limit its nuclear activities. Mr. Kerry is in Doha, Qatar at a meeting of the Gulf¹ Cooperation Council.

Some members of the six-nation group are worried that the agreement would strengthen Iran. They fear a strong Iran would cause instability in the area. And they are concerned that Iran might increase its support for groups linked to terrorism after economic restrictions² are cancelled.

After his meetings in Qatar, Mr. Kerry will travel to Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam. In Vietnam, he will mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the country’s diplomatic relations with the United States.

Economic concerns in Greece, China weigh on share prices

The value of stocks on the Athens Stock Exchange dropped sharply Monday after the exchange opened for the first time in five weeks. The exchange index lost almost one fourth of its value soon after trading began, but share prices improved a little after a few hours.

Slowing economic activity in China and falling oil prices also caused Asian stock market indexes to drop sharply during early trading on Monday. A report said China’s manufacturing activity in July fell to its lowest level in two years.

Emergency declared in four areas of Myanmar

Officials in Myanmar say 46 people have died in several days of flooding and landslides³. The Ministry⁴ of Relief and Resettlement said Monday that the disaster had affected⁵ about 200,000 people in northern and western Myanmar. The government, military and aid groups are working to help them.

Opposition⁶ leader Aung San Suu Kyi visited one of the areas hit by flooding on Monday.

President Thein Sein traveled to an area in northern Myanmar on Saturday. It is one of four areas where the president has declared a state of emergency. 

Weeks of heavy rains and a cyclone⁷ last week caused the flooding and landslides. The western part of the country has been hit the hardest. 

President Obama releases rules to cut carbon

President Barack Obama is to release new rules on Monday designed to reduce carbon pollution from power centers. The plan would reduce the amount of electricity coming from power centers that use coal. Administration officials want more power to come from natural gas, wind and the sun.

The plan calls for the centers to reduce the amount of carbon they release by 32 percent below 2005 levels by the year 2030. 

The president says carbon released into the air is threatening the nation’s economy, its security and people’s health.

Power companies and Republicans in Congress are expected to oppose the plan because of what they say will be the high cost of reducing pollution. They are also worried that the cost of electricity will rise sharply if the plan goes into effect. As many as one-half of the 50 states are expected to ask courts to stop the plan.

Malaysian official: Plane part from same kind of aircraft as MH370

The Malaysian transport minister says a part of a plane found on an island in the Indian Ocean last week is from the same kind of aircraft as the Malaysia Airlines plane that disappeared last year.

The minister said officials are asking people living in areas near the island to help look for any other parts of the missing plane.

At least one other part of an airplane was found about 25 kilometers from where the first part was discovered. It could be from an airplane door.

Words in the News

instability – n. the state of being unstable⁸; likely to change quickly   

cyclone – n. an extremely powerful and destructive storm with high winds

1 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

2 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

3 landslides   

山崩( landslide的名词复数 )； （山坡、悬崖等的）崩塌； 滑坡； （竞选中）一方选票占压倒性多数

参考例句：

• Landslides have cut off many villages in remote areas. 滑坡使边远地区的许多村庄与外界隔绝。
• The storm caused landslides and flooding in Savona. 风暴致使萨沃纳发生塌方和洪灾。

4 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

7 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

8 unstable   

adj.不稳定的，易变的

参考例句：

• This bookcase is too unstable to hold so many books.这书橱很不结实，装不了这么多书。
• The patient's condition was unstable.那患者的病情不稳定。