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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
Within the next few hours, President Obama is due to announce his new strategy for the war in Afghanistan including a date for the beginning of the withdrawal1 of US troops. Officials say that his long-awaited address will include a plan to start pulling out American forces. Paul Adams reports.
Senior administration officials say the president will announce the deployment2 of 30,000 additional American troops in what they are calling a surge for a defined period of time. The aim, to reverse Taliban gains and give Afghan security forces time and space to develop their own capability3. The significant proportion of the new troops will be committed entirely4 to training. Officials say the transfer of security responsibility to the Afghans will start in July, 2011, allowing US forces to start leaving. But the president will not say how long this process will take. The pace will, officials say, be determined5 by conditions on the ground.
International observers have warned of serious problems in preparations for Sudan’s first national election since 1986. The Carter Center, which monitors polls around the world, said millions of potential voters could be disenfranchised because of failings in the registration6 process. James Copnall has more details.
The non-governmental organization says in many states less than half of eligible7 voters are likely to register even though the registration period has been extended by a week. Registration rates are particularly low in semi-autonomous southern Sudan and in Darfur, both areas which have traditionally opposed the central government. A low intensity8 civil war continues in Darfur and several rebel groups have urged people not to register.
Celebrations have been taking place in Portugal to mark the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, eight years after the task of reforming the European Union was begun. EU leaders gathered for a ceremony with fireworks, music and speeches close to where the document was signed. The treaty is intended to streamline9 decision-making and give the EU a stronger voice in world affairs.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry10 has urged the European Union not to recognize East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The ministry said the move would harm Europe’s role as a mediator11 in the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was responding to an Israeli newspaper report, saying it had obtained a draft EU document containing the proposal. The Palestinian Legislative12 Council member, Mustafa Barghouti, said he was encouraged by the plan, but wanted to see more pressure on Israel to stop building settlements.
"We think that a European resolution that confirms that East Jerusalem is the capital of the Palestinian state would be very encouraging and very productive in pushing for real peace in this region. But we think that this would not be completed unless there is serious European pressure on Israel to immediately stop and freeze all the settlement activities especially in East Jerusalem."
The head of the United Nations panel of climate experts, Rajendra Pachauri, says India is under enormous pressure to offer a plan to reduce its emissions14 of carbon dioxide following recent commitments by the United States and China to do so. Speaking in Delhi, Mr. Pachauri said India should use the climate change conference starting next week in Copenhagen to look at its long term future by shifting to renewable energy from its dependence15 on fossil fuels; however, he ruled out any emission13 cuts by India because they would harm its economic development.
A South African judge says he will decide on Friday whether a traditional ritual in which Zulu youths kill a bull with their bare hands can proceed. The Zulu traditionalists led by King Goodwill16 Zwelithini argue it’s part of their culture. But animal rights activists17 say it’s cruel. Our African editor Martin Plaut reports.
Judge Nic van der Reyden has the tricky18 task of deciding on this issue which cuts across competing South African traditions. Many Zulus, led by King Goodwill Zwelithini, argue it’s vital to their culture and the judge was sympathetic, suggesting the ritual be videoed, so the public could judge. But lawyers for the king turned this down. So on Friday, the judge will have to rule. It’s not the only subject worrying animal rights groups. They oppose plans to slaughter19 cattle in each stadium before the 2010 World Cup.
The world’s most famous golfer, Tiger Woods, is to be fined and receive a citation20 for careless driving following the mysterious car crash in which he was injured last week. But he will not face any criminal charges over the incident in which Mr. Woods drove his car into a fire hydrant and a tree close to his home. The police statement shed no further light on the events leading up to the crash, which sparked a frenzy21 of media speculation22 throughout the United States and beyond. Tiger Woods admitted on Sunday that the crash was his fault and said it had been embarrassing for his family.
在接下来的几个小时之内，奥巴马总统将宣布阿富汗战争新策略，包括美军开始从阿富汗撤军的日期。相关官员表示，等待已久的奥巴马的讲话将包括美军开始从阿富汗撤退的计划。Paul Adams报道。
政府高级官员表示，总统将宣布在特定的时期内向阿富汗增军3万人，目的是打击塔利班的势头，为阿富汗安全力量赢得时间和空间来发展自己的能力。新增军队的相当大一部分将全部用于训练任务。官员表示，安全责任向阿富汗过度的过程将由2011年7月份开始，届时美军将开始撤退。但是总统不会确定这个过程所需的具体时间。官员表示，该过程的速度将由战场形势决定。
国际观察员表示，苏丹自1986年以来的首次全国选举的准备工作面临严重问题。监督世界各地选举工作的卡特中心(The Carter Center)称，由于未进行注册过程，数百万潜在的投票者将被剥夺权利。James Copnall报道更多细节信息。
该非政府组织称，在许多州，尽管注册期延长了一周时间，仍然只有不到一半的合法投票者有可能注册。在半自治的南苏丹和达尔富尔地区，注册率特别低。这两个地区从传统上都反对中央政府。达尔富尔地区低强度的内战仍在继续进行，几个反叛组织威胁人们不要注册。
葡萄牙举行活动庆祝里斯本条约生效，此时距离欧盟开始改革已经八年的时间。文件签署之日屈指可数，欧盟领导人齐聚一堂，燃放烟花，播放音乐，并发表讲话。该条约的目的在于使欧盟的决策过程更加流畅，并使欧盟在世界事务中拥有更大的话语权。
以色列外交部长敦促欧盟不要认可东耶路撒冷作为未来的巴勒斯坦国的首都。这位外交部长表示，此举会损害欧洲作为阿拉伯-以色列冲突调停人的作用。此前以色列报纸报道称已获得欧盟文件草案，其中包括该提议。巴勒斯坦立法委员会成员Mustafa Barghouti表示，他备受该计划鼓舞，但是希望给以色列施加更多压力，使其停止定居点的建设。
“我们认为欧洲出台决议确认东耶路撒冷作为巴勒斯坦国的首都是非常鼓舞人心的，在推动该地区的真正和平方面拥有非常重要的作用。但是我们认为，除非欧洲向以色列施加压力，要求其立即停止和冻结定居点的活动，尤其是在东耶路撒冷地区的活动，否则永远不可能获得真正的和平。”
联合国气候变化专家小组负责人Rajendra Pachauri称，最近美国和中国相继承诺减少二氧化碳排放量，印度面临巨大压力。在德黑兰发表讲话时，Pachauri表示，印度将利用下周在哥本哈根开始的气候变化会议来审查自己的长期策略，从对石化燃料的依赖转向可再生能源。然而，他排除了印度减少排放量的可能性，因为这会损害印度的经济发展。
南非一名法官称，周五将决定祖鲁年轻人徒手打死公牛的传统规则是否可以继续。国王Goodwill Zwelithini为首的传统主义者辩称这是他们文化的一部分。但是动物权益保护者称该行为太残酷。我们的非洲编辑Martin Plaut报道。
Nic van der Reyden法官面临是否取消南非传统的艰巨任务。国王Goodwill Zwelithini领导的许多祖鲁人认为，这项活动对他们的文化来说至关重要。法官非常富有同情心，他建议将该活动录制下来，交由公众判断。但是国王的律师团拒绝这样做。所以，周五，法官必须做出裁决。不仅仅是这件事使动物保护主义者担忧。他们还反对在2010年世界杯之前在每一个体育场宰牛的计划。
世界最著名的高尔夫球手老虎·伍兹上周神秘撞车受伤，他将因疏忽驾驶被罚款并收到法院传票。但是他不会面临任何刑事指控。当时，伍兹在家外驾车撞上消防栓，后来撞到一棵大树。警方发表的声明未披露任何导致撞车的事件，这引发了美国及国外一些媒体的猜测。周日，老虎·伍兹承认撞车是他的错，使他的家人蒙羞。
收听单词发音 |
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withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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deployment
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| n. 部署,展开 | |
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capability
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| n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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registration
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| n.登记，注册，挂号 | |
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eligible
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| adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的 | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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streamline
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| vt.使成流线型；使简化；使现代化 | |
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ministry
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| n.(政府的)部；牧师 | |
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mediator
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| n.调解人，中介人 | |
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legislative
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| n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的 | |
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emission
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| n.发出物，散发物；发出，散发 | |
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emissions
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| 排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体） | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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goodwill
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| n.善意，亲善，信誉，声誉 | |
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activists
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| n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 ) | |
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tricky
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| adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的 | |
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slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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citation
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| n.引用，引证，引用文；传票 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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