BBC News with David Austin.
The White House has refused to say that America's top military commander in Afghanistan is safe in his job after he and his aides madederogatoryremarks about President Obama's administration. The remarks, which included calling a top presidential adviser a clown, feature in an article in the magazine Rolling Stone to be published later this week. General McChrystal has apologized for the remarks as Paul Adams reports.
General McChrystal's apology isfulsome. He describes the Rolling Stone article as a mistake which, in his words, reflects poor judgment. He goes on to say that he has enormous respect and admiration for President Obama and his national security team. But the article frequently paints a rather different picture. Most senior American officials involved in Afghanistan are criticized in some way, mostly by unnamed members of the general's staff. He's described as having been disappointed when he met President Obama for the first time.
A US judge hasruled againstPresident Obama's declaration of a temporary moratorium on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, which was imposed because of the pollution crisis. The legal challenge was launched by a number of oil companies who argued that the moratorium was a threat to their businesses. Andy Gallacher reports from Miami.
The six-month ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf was described as "arbitraryand capricious" and a move that wouldadverselyaffect the local economy. The ruling is a blow to the White House after it imposed the moratorium following the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April. The ban put a halt to all deepwater drilling until at least November, but the judge called that decision "invalid". The Obama administration says it will immediately appeal the decision.
The coalition government in Britain has presented tough austerity measures to try tobring downa massive budget deficit. The Conservative Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told parliament that they were vital to tackle the deficit, one of the largests in the developed world.
"This emergency budget deals decisively with our country's record debts. It pays for the past and it plans for the future. It supports a strong enterprise-led recovery. It rewards work and it protects the most vulnerable in our society. Yes, it is tough, but it is also fair."
Among the measures announced are a 2.5% increase in the VAT sales tax, cuts in welfare spending, a freeze on public sector pay and a levy on banks.
The United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has set up a panel to look into alleged human rights violations during the final stages of the civil war in Sri Lanka last year. Mr Ban's spokesman said the panel would offer advice on how to deal with the alleged perpetrators of abuses. Human rights groups have accused both the army and the defeated Tamil Tiger rebels of war crimes, allegations which have been denied.
World News from the BBC.
Israel has launched a new observation satellite into space. An Israeli official was quoted as saying that the satellite would significantly boost Israel's intelligence gathering. It's been reported that it'll be used to spy on Iran's nuclear programme.
A court in Cuba has released aprominentopposition activist after 11 months in prison without trial. The court found Darsi Ferrer guilty of buying cement on the black market, but they said he'd already served enough time. Human rights activists said his arrest for an offence usually punished with a simple fine was an attempt to silence his criticism of the government.
At the football World Cup, South Africa have failed to qualify for the next round. It's the first time the hosts for the competition have not gone through to the knock-out stage. In their final game, South Africa beat the 2006 finalists France two-one, but they werepipped ongoal difference by Mexico, who lost one-nil to the group winners Uruguay. France were also eliminated as Alex Capstick reports from Bloemfontein.
It's been a woeful World Cup for France. They've been eliminated without a win and without much sympathy. There was noabundanceof ads for South Africa in Bloemfontein. They may have gone down in history as the first host nation to fail to advance from the group stage of the tournament, but at least they went out in style. There was even a possibility they might go through when they led two-nil at halftime. The French displayed a little more spirit in the second half, but it was too little, too late. They'll return home a battered and bruised squad. The players know they have let down the French football fans. For them, this World Cup will only be remembered for thedisarrayoff the pitchand the disappointing performances on it.
And in the day's other games, Argentina beat Greece two-nil to go through with maximum points. They'll now play Mexico, and South Korea booked their place in the next round with a two-all draw against Nigeria. South Korea's next opponent is Uruguay.
That's the BBC News.
美军驻阿富汗最高指挥官及其助手对奥巴马总统领导的政府发表不敬言论之后,白宫认为他担任该职位是不安全的。这些言论——包括称一名高级总统顾问为小丑,将成为本周晚些时候出版的《滚石》杂志的特色内容。麦克里斯特尔将军已经就这些言论道歉。Paul Adams报道。
麦克里斯特尔将军的道歉是充满恭维的。他称《滚石》杂志的文章是错误的,用他的话说,反应了极差的判断力。他继续说,他对奥巴马总统和他的安全团队季度崇敬和羡慕。但是杂志文章中多次描述的则是另外的景象。涉及阿富汗战争的大部分美国高级官员都受到麦克里斯特尔将军助手的批评。据称,他第一次见到奥巴马总统时感到非常失望。
由于污染问题,奥巴马总统宣布暂缓墨西哥湾地区的石油开采工作。一名美国法官作出了不利于奥巴马总统的裁决。这次司法挑战由几家石油公司发起,他们称暂缓开采对他们的生意造成威胁。Andy Gallacher在迈阿密报道。
墨西哥湾地区为期六个月的深水开采禁令被描述为“武断的,任性的”,此举将对当地经济造成不利影响。深水地平线钻井在4月份爆炸之后,
白宫宣布暂缓钻探工作。该裁决对白宫是一个打击。该禁令要求所有深水开采工作暂停至字少11月份,但是这名法官称该决定是“无效的”。奥巴马政府称将立即对该裁决提起上诉。
英国联合政府宣布了严厉的紧缩措施,试图降低大规模财政赤字。保守派英国财政大臣奥斯本(George Osborne)告诉议会,这些措施对于解决财政赤字来说是非常重要的,而他们的财政赤字已经达到发达国家的最高水平。
“这项紧急预算措施主要是为了应对我们居高不下的债务,偿付过去的债务,并对未来做出计划。这项计划支持强有力的企业领导的复苏,奖励工作,保护我们的社会中的弱势群体。是的,这些措施是严厉的,但是是公平的。”
英国政府宣布的措施包括征收2.5%的增值税,削减福利支出,冻结公共部门薪资,对银行征税。
联合国秘书长潘基文成立工作小组,对去年斯里兰卡内战最后阶段的践踏人权事件进行调查。潘基文的发言人表示,该工作小组将针对怎样处理践踏人权的行凶者提供建议。人权组织指控军队和被击败的塔米尔猛虎组织犯有战争罪,双方均予以否认。
BBC世界新闻。
以色列再次向太空中发射了新的间谍卫星。一名以色列官员称,这颗卫星将大大增强以色列的情报搜集工作。据报道,该卫星将被用来侦查以色列核项目。
古巴一名著名的反对派活动家被关押11个月未进行审判,现被法庭释放。法庭发现Darsi Ferrer非法在黑市上购买水泥,但是他们说他已经被关押了足够长的时间。人权活动家称,这种罪行通常以罚款的形式解决,Darsi Ferrer的被捕表明政府试图平息他对政府的批评。
在世界杯足球比赛中,南非未能进入下一轮比赛。这还是首次东道国未能进入淘汰赛。在他们的最后一场比赛中,南非以2:1击败了法国队,但是他们在积分上输给墨西哥。墨西哥以0:1输给小组第一乌拉圭。法国队也惨遭淘汰。Alex Capstick在布隆方丹报道。
这届世界杯比赛对法国队来说是非常可悲的。他们既没赢得比赛,也没获得多少同情。在布隆方丹,并没有大量南非的宣传广告,他们已经惨遭淘汰,成为历史上首个未能晋级的东道主,但是至少他们的出局是别具风格的。甚至他们在上半场以2:1领先时,他们还有可能出线。法国队在下半场中表现出稍微多一点的激情,但是太迟了。这支挫败的球队将很快回国。球员知道他们使法国球迷非常失望。对他们来说,他们唯一能记住的是场外的混乱和场上的糟糕表现。
在同一天的其他比赛中,阿根廷以2:1击败希腊队,以积分最多的球队出线。现在,他们将对阵墨西哥。韩国与尼日利亚以2:2战平,也勉强进入第二轮比赛。韩国的下一个对手将是乌拉圭。
1.derogatory a.贬损的
2.fulsome adj.过分恭维的
例句:They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.
他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
3.arbitrary adj.(行动、决定、规章等)任意的;武断的;随心所欲的
例句:You can make an arbitrary choice.
你可以随便做选择。
专横的, 独断专行的,专制的
例句:A good judge does not make arbitrary decisions.
一个优秀的法官不会作武断的判决。
4.adversely ad.逆地;反对地;不利地
5.decisively adv.决然地;果断地
例句:The proposed bill was decisively defeated in Parliament.
提案在议会中遭断然否决。
6.prominent adj.杰出的, 著名的, 卓越的
例句:He is a prominent physician.
他是位著名的医生。
He is prominent in science.
他是科学界杰出的人物。
7.abundance n.大量,丰富,充裕
例句:At the party there was food in abundance.
聚会上食品很丰富。
8.disarray n.混乱,紊乱
例句:a period of disarray within the National Party
国家党內部的一段混乱时期
His personal life fell into disarray when his wife left him.
妻子离去后,他的个人生活一片混乱。
1.A US judge has ruled against President Obama's declaration of a temporary moratorium on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, which was imposed because of the pollution crisis.
rule against作出不利于…的裁决
例句:The representatives ruled against the motion.
代表们否决了这项动议。
The judge ruled against the plaintiff.
法官作出不利于原告的裁决。
2.The coalition government in Britain has presented tough austerity measures to try to bring down a massive budget deficit.
bring down降(价)
例句:A nationwide good harvest soon brought down the price of rice.
全国性的大丰收很快使米价回跌了。
3.In their final game, South Africa beat the 2006 finalists France two-one, but they were pipped on goal difference by Mexico, who lost one-nil to the group winners Uruguay.
be pipped on被击败
例句:We didn't win the contract: we were pipped at the post by a firm whose price was lower.
我们未得到那份合同的生意,最後是让一家出价低的公司击败了我们。
4.They'll return home a battered and bruised squad. The players know they have let down the French football fans.
let down使失望, 失信
例句:You can trust Brooks.He'll never let you down.
你可以相信布鲁克斯, 他决不会使你失望。
He is a bit let down by the low grade he got.
这次成绩不好, 他有点气馁。
5.For them, this World Cup will only be remembered for the disarray off the pitch and the disappointing performances on it.
off the pitch 绿茵场外
例句:The police dragged the football fans off the pitch.
警察把足球迷拖出了球场。