South Africa’s Nelson Mandela released from the hospital. And President Obama planning Middle East diplomacy in the next month or so. I’m Marti Johnson reporting from Washington.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from the hospital today, the country’s presidential office said, following a sustained and gradual improvement in his general condition. The former president and Nobel Prize winner Mandela will now received home-based high care. 94-year-old Mandela was admitted to hospital on March 27th for treatment for a recurring lung infection and pneumonia.
Iraqi officials say an attack on an election campaign meeting in the city of Baquba has killed 20 people at least. Police say a militant threw a hand grenade into the meeting before a suicide bomber blew himself up. More than 50 additional people were wounded. The meeting was for supporters of a candidate preparing to run in provincial elections later this month.
Secretary of State John Kerry heads to the Middle East today to push for progress on Syria and the Israeli conflict. Kerry will meet Turkish officials including Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to discuss efforts to end Syria's civil war. The State Department says he will also push for confidence-building measures between Israel and the Palestinians and for Turkey to try to repair the relationship damaged when Israel blockaded a Turkish flotilla from delivering aid to Gaza Strip in 2010. Eight Turks and one Turkish American died in that incident. President Barack Obama also plans Middle East diplomacy resound this month and next welcoming leaders from Turkey, Jordan and two Gulf states to the oval office for talks on broad developments in the Middle East as well as Syria. VOA’s Dan Robison reports.
英語(yǔ)聽(tīng)力頻道為大家整理的英語(yǔ)聽(tīng)力練習(xí)：南非前總統(tǒng)納爾遜 曼德拉出院，供大家參考:)
Dan Robinson: “Asked if the visits are part of efforts to coordinate assistance to Syrian opposition forces, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney avoided an answer, keeping to the general description provided of the purpose of the visits.”
Jay Carney: “There are obviously a number of issues for these leaders and the president to discuss. So he looks forward to these visits and they reflect his commitment and interest in the region and in our policies towards the region.”
Dan Robinson: “Syria issued a warning to Jordan this week after U.S. and western officials were quoted as saying Jordan is allowing its territory to be used for training Syrian rebels. Dan Robinson, VOA news, the White House.”
The second and final day of talks is underway in Kazakhstan as delegates from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany and Iran continue efforts to reach consensus on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programs. The delegates are discussing proposals to allow Iran to trade some products now under international sanctions if it agrees to close a nuclear facility and also get rid of its stockpile of enriched uranium.
North Korea is urging foreign embassies to consider evacuating from Pyongyang due to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Russia and Britain confirmed they received the request Friday from the North for their embassy staff to vacate(evacuate) but they have no plans to withdraw. Britain said North Korea warned embassies and international organizations in the country it cannot guarantee their safety after April 10th in the event of a conflict.
The unhealthy habits that come along with economic development including smoking, drinking and eating unhealthy fast food are taking their toll on the heath of Kenyans who are increasingly suffering rates of high blood pressure. VOA’s Gabe Joselow reports health workers are concerned that if unchecked, this affliction could be a serious problem in the country.
Gabe Joselow: “At a supermarket in downtown Nairobi, what many customers here don’t know is that these potato chips, snack foods, processed meats and cheeses are silent killers. High in salt and fat, it could lead to an early death from stroke or heart disease. ‘They are not aware that they could be sick’. This is Milicent Manyore, founder of Medical Missions Kenya, a non-profit that provides free health screenings across the country.
Milicent Manyore: “That they could have a time bomb. You know. There could be something they can do about it. They don’t even know that.”
The World Health Organization says cases of hypertension are most prevalent in low-income countries in Africa. More than 40% of the adult population can be affected. In Kenya, Manyore has noticed that the cases are not uniform across the nation. In more urbanized areas, like Central Province, just outside Nairobi, up to 75% of those screened have high blood pressure. While in the remote Samburu region less than 10% suffered from hypertension. Gabe Joselow, VOA news, Nairobi.”
The search has ended for victims of a building collapse in Mumbai, India where officials say at least 72 people died including a number of children. Authorities said today that after an overnight search, there was no chance any more survivors would be found among the ruins. Officials say 36 people are hospitalized with injuries.
I’m Marti Johnson, VOA news, Washington. More news at voanews.com.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela was discharged from the hospital today, the country’s presidential office said, following a sustained and gradual improvement in his general condition. The former president and Nobel Prize winner Mandela will now received home-based high care. 94-year-old Mandela was admitted to hospital on March 27th for treatment for a recurring lung infection and pneumonia.
Iraqi officials say an attack on an election campaign meeting in the city of Baquba has killed 20 people at least. Police say a militant threw a hand grenade into the meeting before a suicide bomber blew himself up. More than 50 additional people were wounded. The meeting was for supporters of a candidate preparing to run in provincial elections later this month.
Secretary of State John Kerry heads to the Middle East today to push for progress on Syria and the Israeli conflict. Kerry will meet Turkish officials including Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan to discuss efforts to end Syria's civil war. The State Department says he will also push for confidence-building measures between Israel and the Palestinians and for Turkey to try to repair the relationship damaged when Israel blockaded a Turkish flotilla from delivering aid to Gaza Strip in 2010. Eight Turks and one Turkish American died in that incident. President Barack Obama also plans Middle East diplomacy resound this month and next welcoming leaders from Turkey, Jordan and two Gulf states to the oval office for talks on broad developments in the Middle East as well as Syria. VOA’s Dan Robison reports.
英語(yǔ)聽(tīng)力頻道為大家整理的英語(yǔ)聽(tīng)力練習(xí)：南非前總統(tǒng)納爾遜 曼德拉出院，供大家參考:)
Dan Robinson: “Asked if the visits are part of efforts to coordinate assistance to Syrian opposition forces, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney avoided an answer, keeping to the general description provided of the purpose of the visits.”
Jay Carney: “There are obviously a number of issues for these leaders and the president to discuss. So he looks forward to these visits and they reflect his commitment and interest in the region and in our policies towards the region.”
Dan Robinson: “Syria issued a warning to Jordan this week after U.S. and western officials were quoted as saying Jordan is allowing its territory to be used for training Syrian rebels. Dan Robinson, VOA news, the White House.”
The second and final day of talks is underway in Kazakhstan as delegates from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany and Iran continue efforts to reach consensus on Tehran’s controversial nuclear programs. The delegates are discussing proposals to allow Iran to trade some products now under international sanctions if it agrees to close a nuclear facility and also get rid of its stockpile of enriched uranium.
North Korea is urging foreign embassies to consider evacuating from Pyongyang due to rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Russia and Britain confirmed they received the request Friday from the North for their embassy staff to vacate(evacuate) but they have no plans to withdraw. Britain said North Korea warned embassies and international organizations in the country it cannot guarantee their safety after April 10th in the event of a conflict.
The unhealthy habits that come along with economic development including smoking, drinking and eating unhealthy fast food are taking their toll on the heath of Kenyans who are increasingly suffering rates of high blood pressure. VOA’s Gabe Joselow reports health workers are concerned that if unchecked, this affliction could be a serious problem in the country.
Gabe Joselow: “At a supermarket in downtown Nairobi, what many customers here don’t know is that these potato chips, snack foods, processed meats and cheeses are silent killers. High in salt and fat, it could lead to an early death from stroke or heart disease. ‘They are not aware that they could be sick’. This is Milicent Manyore, founder of Medical Missions Kenya, a non-profit that provides free health screenings across the country.
Milicent Manyore: “That they could have a time bomb. You know. There could be something they can do about it. They don’t even know that.”
The World Health Organization says cases of hypertension are most prevalent in low-income countries in Africa. More than 40% of the adult population can be affected. In Kenya, Manyore has noticed that the cases are not uniform across the nation. In more urbanized areas, like Central Province, just outside Nairobi, up to 75% of those screened have high blood pressure. While in the remote Samburu region less than 10% suffered from hypertension. Gabe Joselow, VOA news, Nairobi.”
The search has ended for victims of a building collapse in Mumbai, India where officials say at least 72 people died including a number of children. Authorities said today that after an overnight search, there was no chance any more survivors would be found among the ruins. Officials say 36 people are hospitalized with injuries.
I’m Marti Johnson, VOA news, Washington. More news at voanews.com.