CNN 2011-08-22

 Our thanks to Lydia and Yainer, whom you might remember from yesterday's program. They were helping¹ us kick off today's show. We're gonna hear more from them in just a few minutes. I'm Carl Azuz. Let's get to today's headlines.

 

First up, we're checking in on two countries in turmoil² that are both located in the same part of the world. Earlier this year, parts of the Middle East and Northern Africa experienced something that was called an "Arab Spring." Basically, protesters in a bunch of countries revolted against their governments. In some cases, it led to longtime leaders being kicked out of power. In most nations, it led to violence. 

 

That's what we're seeing in Syria, the first country we're talking about today. The violence there has gone on for months. There are reports that Syrian military forces have been shooting at civilians³ who are speaking out against the Syrian government. Syrian officials deny that. They say they're targeting armed groups and terrorists. And CNN can't confirm the claims from either side because Syria won't let outside journalists into the country. What we do know is that this isn't just affecting Syrians. The United Nations usually has more than 160 workers in Syria. But it's pulling dozens of them out because of the violence. Other countries who also have officials in Syria have told them to leave as well. 

 

The north African nation of Libya was also part of that "Arab Spring." The conflict there developed into a civil war. Rebels, like the ones you see in this video that was posted on YouTube, are fighting against the forces of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi. The rebels say they're making progress in their efforts to get closer to the capital city of Tripoli, but Gadhafi has been urging his supporters to fight back. The rebels and Libyan military aren't the only ones involved here. Other countries -- including the U.S., as well as Great Britain and France -- are part of a NATO mission that's been flying air strikes against Gadhafi's forces. Over the past week, NATO planes have damaged or destroyed around 150 military targets.

 

Next up, we're heading down to southern Africa, to the nation of Malawi, home to around 16 million people. Spring may be long gone, but some people in Malawi are trying to piggy-back off what's happened in the "Arab Spring." These people are protesting against their government. It hasn't developed into anything like what we're seeing in Syria or Libya, but the situation is getting dire⁴. Nkepile Mabuse looks at what's behind all this.

 

Inspired by the "Arab Spring," Malawians took to the streets last month calling for President Bingu wa Mutharika to resign. The country's human rights commission says police used live ammunition⁵ against unarmed civilians, killing⁶ 19 people.

 

This is but one of the many reasons behind the angry demonstrations⁷: just about everything in Malawi is in short supply. People here blame the president for mismanaging the economy. They've demanded he explains why he's seemingly so wealthy while all they know is hardship.

 

People are starving. There is no medicine in the hospitals

 

You go to the shops, people are not buying goods because it's very difficult to find money and the future looks very bleak⁸.

 

President wa Mutharika has threatened to "smoke out" those who protest again, but organizers are determined⁹ to return to the streets. Malawians are not the only ones demanding good governance. In June, the IMF suspended its financial assistance to Malawi citing economic mismanagement. Britain, the European Union and the United States have also cut aid. Malawi, which was hit by a devastating¹⁰ famine in 2005, is one of the poorest countries in the world. Without the help of foreign donors¹¹, many here fear the worst. Wa Mutharika has asked the nation for more time to address their needs, but many here have told us their patience has run out. Nkepile Mabuse, CNN, Malawi.

1 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

2 turmoil   

n.骚乱，混乱，动乱

参考例句：

• His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
• The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。

3 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

4 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

5 ammunition   

n.军火，弹药

参考例句：

• A few of the jeeps had run out of ammunition.几辆吉普车上的弹药已经用光了。
• They have expended all their ammunition.他们把弹药用光。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

8 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

10 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

11 donors   

n.捐赠者( donor的名词复数 )；献血者；捐血者；器官捐献者

参考例句：

• Please email us to be removed from our active list of blood donors. 假如你想把自己的名字从献血联系人名单中删去，请给我们发电子邮件。
• About half this amount comes from individual donors and bequests. 这笔钱大约有一半来自个人捐赠及遗赠。 来自《简明英汉词典》