VOA慢速英语2015 Hundreds of Migrants Feared Dead off Libya

Hundreds of Migrants Feared Dead off Libya

European Union officials gathered in Luxembourg on Monday to discuss the sinking of a crowded boat in the Mediterranean¹ Sea. The boat was carrying hundreds of people hoping to immigrate² to Europe. It sank over the weekend off the coast of Libya. About 700 people may have drowned. Late Sunday, officials said just 28 people had been found alive. Rescue workers say most of the missing appeared to have been trapped in the wreckage³ at the bottom of the sea.

On Monday, crews rescued Syrian migrants from another boat off the coast of Sicily. Thirteen children were among the 98 migrants. Their boat had set sail from Turkey.

Al-Shabab Bomb Attack in Northern Somalia

The militant⁴ group al-Shabab is claiming responsibility for bombing a United Nations bus in northern Somalia. At least nine people were killed in the attack. The United Nations said four of those killed were working for the U.N. Children’s Fund.

Police said the bomb exploded Monday in Garowe, a town in the Puntland area of Somalia. It was al-Shabab’s third deadly attack against foreigners in three days.

Al-Shabab is seeking to oust⁵ the Somali government and create an Islamic state.

Chinese President in Pakistan

Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, for a two-day visit. He and Pakistani leaders were expected to talk about energy projects and plans for building roads and railroads. The two sides also may sign an agreement for Pakistan to buy eight submarines from China.

Mr. Xi is to speak to Pakistan’s parliament. The Chinese leader was to have visited Pakistan last year. But an anti-government protest forced him to wait until now.

US, Philippines Launch Major Military Training

The United States and the Philippines have launched their biggest joint⁶ military exercise in 15 years.

About 11,000 troops from both countries are taking part in the training. The exercise is two times as large as the one last year.

The program is part of an effort by the United States to increase its presence in Asia in answer to China’s increased activities in the South China Sea.

1 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

2 immigrate   

v.（从外国）移来，移居入境

参考例句：

• 10,000 people are expected to immigrate in the next two years.接下来的两年里预计有10，000人会移民至此。
• Only few plants can immigrate to the island.只有很少的植物能够移植到这座岛上。

3 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

4 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

5 oust   

vt.剥夺，取代，驱逐

参考例句：

• The committee wanted to oust him from the union.委员会想把他从工会中驱逐出去。
• The leaders have been ousted from power by nationalists.这些领导人被民族主义者赶下了台。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。