Nuclear talks with Iranian officials resumed, political gridlock in Italy. I'm David DeForest reporting from Washington.
Officials from six leading nations and Iran are meeting to discuss Iran's nuclear program. The meeting today in Kazakhstan includes the so-called P5+1 group of nations: the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany and it is not expected to produce any major (breakthroughs). US Secretary of State John Kerry is urging Iran to move toward a diplomatic solution on its nuclear (ambitions). The six nations are expected to offer to ease some sanctions against Iran if the government there agrees to halt some of its uranium (enrichment) activity. For more on this story, visit our website,voanews.com.
A (hot air balloon) crashed today near the Egyptian city of Luxor, killing 19 tourists on board, two people including the pilots survived, the balloon caught fire and exploded while traveling at an (altitude) of 300 meters over the west bank of the Nile river. Officials say the dead include people from France, Britain and other countries.
Syrian (opposition) leaders say they will attend an international conference in Rome this week, the opposition had considered a boycott of the meeting because of inaction by other nations to end the violence in Syria. The White House says US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet with Syrian opposition members.英语口语培训
Italian (parliamentary elections) have resulted in no-clear leading parties, signaling gridlock in the days ahead. The center-left coalition led by Pier Luigi Bersani, just barely gained a lead in the Lower House but is essentially tied with the party of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Results from the Upper House, the Senate are still unclear. Although Mr. Berlusconi's party is making a strong showing. James Walston is a professor of (political science) at American University.
This is a limited (disaster) because something will happen, they have to, they ,president Napolitano and the people who have won or almost won, they are going to have come to some sort of deal ,but it's going to be a very painful few months ,certainly until there is some sort of (stability), (assuming) that stability arrives.
James Walston.
France says fighting continues in the Mountains of northern Mali as part of an (operation) to clear Islamist militants out of their remaining strongholds. France's Defense Minister says the fighting near the Algerian border is targeting an area where the most radical (terrorist) groups have gone.
The United Nation's children's fund, UNICEF is appealing for $45 million to meet the emergency needs of women and children affected by the Malian crisis. Lisa Schlein reports.
The humanitarian crisis in Mali is huge, yet despite the (magnitude) of the needs, the U.N. Children’s Fund reports it has received less than $1 million to help the hundreds of thousands of displaced people and refugees. UNICEF warns it will not be able to continue life-saving interventions unless international donors respond quickly to its appeal. The agency says months of conflict and continuing political instability in Mali are severely (aggravating) a situation that was already fragile because of a regional food crisis. Lisa Schlein, for VOA news, Geneva.易说堂电话英语
France says it will not negotiate with the kidnappers who seized 7 French nationals last week in Cameroon, the Defense Minister says the government will use all possible means to ensure the release of hostages but will not play what he called "a (bidding) game".
The US Senate is expected to vote on President Barack Obama's (nomination) of former senator Chuck Hagel to lead the Defense Department. Senate Republicans delayed a full vote on Hagel's nomination nearly two weeks ago.
A Pakistani policemen has been shot and killed while protecting a polio (vaccination) team in the country's tribal region of Waziristan ,that brings the death toll in Pakistani attacks on Polio workers to 20.
A Tibetan rights group says a monk has set himself on fire in central China, he is the third Tibetan in two days to take part in (self-immolation) protests against Chinese rule.
C. Everett Koop, the former US surgeon general, who called attention to the dangers of smoking and the emerging disease of AIDS in the 1980s has died at the age of 96,the (pediatric) surgeon was nominated by Ronald Reagan to the post.
From the VOA news center in Washington, I'm David DeForest, more news on the Internet at voanews.com.
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