VOA慢速英语 IN THE NEWS - Obama Turns Attention to Latin America

This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.

This week, President Obama made his first official visit to Latin America. He arrived Thursday in Mexico City and met with President Felipe Calderon. They discussed the drug war in Mexico, illegal immigration and the world recession¹. They also announced plans to cooperate in efforts to fight climate change and develop clean forms of energy.
　
President Obama with Mexican President Felipe Calderon in Mexico City on Thursday

Drug-related violence in Mexico has killed more than seven thousand people since the beginning of last year -- often with guns bought in the United States. The violence is now spreading over the border to American communities. This comes as American officials say Mexican organized crime groups are supplying drugs in a growing number of cities across the United States.

President Obama says the United States must reduce its demand for drugs and do its part to reduce the flow of guns and money to Mexico. Earlier this week, he used a law called the Foreign Narcotics² Kingpin Designation Act to target three Mexican drug organizations. The action will let the Treasury³ Department block or seize any of their money within reach of United States laws.

Also this week, the Obama administration named a former Justice Department official as so-called border czar. Alan Bersin will supervise⁴ efforts to secure the border with Mexico and to slow illegal immigration. He also had that job under Bill Clinton.

President Obama made a campaign promise to begin efforts for immigration reform in his first year in office. He has already met with Hispanic members of Congress and promised to work with them to try to shape a plan.

A new report says Mexicans now represent one-third of all immigrants in the United States -- by far the largest nationality group. The Pew Hispanic Center says more than half of Mexican immigrants are undocumented. They represent about sixty percent of the estimated twelve million illegal immigrants in the United States.
　
A soldier in Port of Spain raises the U.S. flag in preparation for the Summit⁵ of the Americas

From Mexico, President Obama traveled Friday to the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago for the Fifth Summit of the Americas. The meetings bring together leaders of thirty-four countries. The only country not invited was Cuba. But earlier this week, President Obama lifted some restrictions⁶ on Cuba.

The actions do not end the nearly fifty year old trade embargo⁷ against the island. But Americans with family in Cuba will now be more free to visit and send money to family members. Critics say the money will only help Cuba's communist leaders.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed Cuba's reaction. President Raul Castro said Cuba is willing to discuss "everything" with the United States, including human rights, press freedoms and political prisoners. But he also said Cuba must be treated as an equal.

And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English, written by Brianna Blake. I'm Steve Ember.

1 recession   

n.（工商业的）衷退（期），萧条（期）

参考例句：

• Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
• A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。

2 narcotics   

n.麻醉药( narcotic的名词复数 )；毒品；毒

参考例句：

• The use of narcotics by teenagers is a problem in many countries. 青少年服用麻醉药在许多国家中都是一个问题。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Police shook down the club, looking for narcotics. 警方彻底搜查了这个俱乐部，寻找麻醉品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

4 supervise   

v.监督，管理，指导

参考例句：

• We must supervise and speed up the fulfilment of assigned tasks.已经布置了的工作，应当认真督促检查。
• Tomorrow he will supervise all the pupils taking the English examination.明天全体学生考英语，他将担任监考。

5 summit   

n.最高点，峰顶；最高级会议；极点

参考例句：

• They climbed up the mountain and reached the summit.他们爬山，最终达到了山顶。
• The summit of the mountain is lost in the cloud and mist.山顶隐没在云雾之中。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 embargo   

n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）

参考例句：

• This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。
• During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。