North Korea severs its military (hotline) with the South. And the BRICS Summit leaders are (optimistic) about a new development bank. I’m Frances Alonzo reporting from Washington.
North Korea says it is cutting a key military hotline with South Korea. Steve Herman reports.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry (confirms) North Koreans are no longer answering the military hotline at the Kaesong industrial complex just north of the (demilitarized) zone. North Korea says heightened tensions on the peninsula amid joint US-South Korean military drills this month justifies severing the link.
……
An announcer on Pyongyang’s central broadcasting station says under the situation where a war may break out at any (moment), there is no need to keep North-South military communications. Steve Herman, VOA news, Seoul.英语口语培训
The U.S. Supreme Court today hears the second of two cases that could open the door to gay marriage (nationwide). The nine justices will consider the Defense of Marriage Act. That is a federal law which (defines) marriage as being between one man and one woman. The definition denies same sex couples certain federal (benefits) such as social security survivor payments and tax deductions that heterosexual married couples enjoy.
Syria, Russia and Iran criticized the Arab League today for its decision to award Damascus a seat at the organization to anti-government representatives. The opposition (coalition), meanwhile, opened its first (embassy) at the Qatari capital, Doha. Opposition leader Mouaz al-Khatib had led the delegation that took Syria’s vacancy at the Arab League Summit. Syria’s state-run news agency said the league had (compromised) its values for the sake of Gulf Arab and Western interests by giving its seat to what it called the deformed Syrian National Coalition.
Burmese (opposition) leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi stood side by side with the country’s powerful army generals today during a military (parade). The pro-democracy leader watched as the army that kept her in some form of detention for most of the past two decades demonstrated its military prowess at the event to mark Armed Forces Day.
Officials in Taiwan say a strong earthquake struck the rural central part of the nation today, shaking buildings and sending school children diving for cover. At least 20 people were injured. The Reuters news agency (quotes) local emergency agencies who say one person was killed by a fallen wall. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake had a (magnitude) of 6.0. Local officials report that it was felt across the island.
Leaders of the five nations that make up the BRICS Bloc said they are ready to lay the foundation for a new international development bank. Anita Powell reports from the BRICS Summit in Durban, South Africa.易说堂电话英语
Their countries’ (economies) account for more than 25% of the world’s GDP, but lag far behind developed nations in terms of (infrastructure). Africa lags left further behind and could need up to $200 billion worth of infrastructure over the next two decades. That is what has prompted the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to call for a new development bank. South African President Jacob Zuma did not (release) many details about the bank. Instead, he said, the group had decided to enter formal negotiations to establish the bank. Bloc members also agreed to push for domestic and international (reforms) but fell short of releasing a strong statement on the violence in Syria. Anita Powell, VOA news, Durban, South Africa.”
Cyprus is finalizing restrictions aimed at preventing depositors from making (massive) cash withdrawals when banks reopen Thursday after being closed for nearly two weeks. The banks have been shut down while Nicosia secured a $13 billion bailout to avert an economic (collapse). The government closed the banks out of fear of a run on deposits by panicked customers.
Human Rights Watch is calling on the Somali government to better protect (internally) displaced persons living in the capital, Mogadishu, saying many face a hostile and (abusive) environment. In a report today, the group accuses militias and security forces of serious abuses, including rape, beatings, ethnic (discrimination) and restricting access to food and shelter. The United Nations estimates that up to 1.4 million people are displaced in Somalia with about half now living around Mogadishu and areas to the South.
More at voanews.com. I’m Frances Alonzo, VOA news.
电话英语口语免费体验
http://www.e-say.com.cn/apply7/