BBC news 2007-07-14 加文本

BBC 2007-07-14


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BBC World News, I'm Victoria Meakin.

One of the world's most powerful business men, the Canadian-born newspaper tycoon, Conrad Black, has been convicted of fraud and obstructing justice. The jury in Chicago cleared him of some charges, but found him guilty of defrauding shareholders of millions of dollars in his company Hollinger International. Conrad Black built up an empire of 500 newspapers titles including the Telegraph in Britain, publications in North America and the Jerusalem Post. He won't face sentencing until November, when prosecutors say he faces a lengthy prison term. Mr. Black's defense lawyer, Edward Greenspan, said his client would appeal.

We intend to appeal, and there are viable legal issues, we vehemently disagree with the government's position on sentencing. We believe based on the conviction of the charges here, that the sentences for this type of offense are far less than what the government suggested.

The United States Senate has voted to double the reward for the capture or death of Osama Bin Laden to $50,000,000. The vote came after a report suggesting that al-Qaeda had rebuilt its capacity to plot attacks. From Washington, Duncan Kennedy reports.

The bounty on Osama Bin Laden had stood at $25,000,000. Now the Senate has overwhelmingly voted to raise the cash award to $50,000,000. The bill was co-sponsored by Senator Kent Conrad, who said he'd been told by people in the US military that it might be beneficial to increase the sum on offer. The Senate also wants President Bush to refocus efforts on finding Osama Bin Laden. The president's critics have accused him of switching emphasis to Iraq, which, they say, has no known connection to the September 11 attacks.

Police in Australia have charged an Indian doctor with providing support to a terrorist organization in connection with the failed bomb attacks in London and Glasgow last month. The doctor, Mohamed Haneef, was arrested as he's trying to leave Australia for India. Nick Bryant reports from outside the courthouse in Brisbane.

Mohamed Haneef appeared before a judge shortly after 7:00 this morning, and he's been charged under Australia's new Anti-terror laws. He's accused of allegedly giving a SIM card for a mobile phone to his second cousins, the brothers, Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed, both of whom were being held in Britain, and of providing support to a terrorist organization. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

The Supreme Court in Argentina has revoked a pardon granted to a general accused of committing human right abuses during the country's last military government. The court ruled that the pardon granted to General Santiago Omar Riveros by former president Carlos Menem in 1989 was unconstitutional.

World News from the BBC.

The governor of the American state of Florida Charley Christ has signed orders to oblige the state's utility companies to generate 1/5 of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. The measures would involve the main energy companies using thousands of rooftop solar panels to generate power. The governor's orders also included a commitment to reduce the state government's own greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by 2012.

The first shipment of fuel oil to be delivered to North Korea under a nuclear disarmament deal is reported to have arrived there. The Japanese news agency quoted South Korean officials as saying the ship reached the North Port of Songbang early on Saturday. The deal requires North Korea to close its reactor at Yongbyon in exchange for fuel supplies and better international relations.

A South African Para-Olympic runner Oscar Pistorius has come second in a 400-meter race against able-bodied athletes in Rome. Pistorius is a double amputee who runs with the aid of artificial limbs made of carbon fiber. He hopes to take part in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. David Willey reports from Rome.

The 20-year-old South African put up a strong performance and recorded a time of 46.90 seconds, which put him still a long way from qualifying for the Beijing Olympics next summer. Observers from the International Association of Athletics Federations were watching him closely, to try to determine whether or not his artificial limbs gave him an unfair advantage. He's been accused of running with the aid of blades which are longer than necessary,allowing him to cover more ground with each stride.

The 15th Pan-American Games have opened and tens of thousands of people have joined the celebrations in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro. The opening was heralded by the arrival of the Pan-American torch, the crowd will be entertained by music, fireworks, and a parade.

BBC World News.

Glossary

viable: adj.
1. （计划等）可实行的；可实施的
2. （胎儿、新生儿）能存活的，子宫外能活的
a viable newborn child
3. 一个能活下去的新生儿
4. 能维持下去的
The economy of the country is not viable.
5. 这个国家经济是难以维持的。

bounty: n.
1. 慷慨，仁爱，恩惠，好施
She depends on his bounty.
好倚靠他的施舍生活。
the overflowing bounty of nature
大自然的无限恩施
There was a bounty on his head.
悬赏买他的人头。
2. 赠物，赠礼
3. 奖金，补助金（on, upon, for）
We received a bounty from the government.
我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。