BBC news 2012-01-15 加文本 讲解翻译

音频与PDF文档下载

BBC news 2012-01-15

BBC News with Iain Purdon

The Italian port authorities say about 40 people remain unaccounted for after a cruise ship ran aground on the west coast of Italy with more than 4,000 passengers and crew on board. A major rescue operation has continued all day. Three people are known to have died. The president of the cruise line said preliminary evidence suggested the ship had struck a rock. The BBC's Alan Johnston is on the island of Giglio.

I can see four or five coast guard vessels in an arc around the ship with search lights playing on the waters, and over on the left I can see what looks like quite a large team of men, no doubt, more search rescue teams going out to the ship. And through the day, we know that divers have been going down into the decks that are submerged now and looking through the cabins and staterooms there, and this operation continues, and it must do with so many people still unaccounted for.

Reports say prosecutors have detained the ship's captain after questioning.

A suicide bomber in Iraq has killed more than 50 people and injured dozens in an attack on Shia pilgrims in the southern city of Basra. These witnesses described what happened.

"A man wearing a blue jacket, I think, was handing out biscuits to pilgrims. A policeman who thought he looked suspicious went over to him and arrested him, and that's when the explosion happened."

"There were 180 people, men and women. And with our own eyes, we saw ambulances evacuating them. God and his prophet can't accept this attack against the visitors of Imam Hussein."

The emir of Qatar has said Arab countries should send troops to Syria to stop the violent suppression of anti-government protests. He's the first Arab leader to make such a proposal. Jon Leyne reports from Cairo.

The tiny emirate of Qatar has been the most aggressive Arab country in calling for an end to the bloodshed in Syria. But this is a step further. The Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has told American television that Arab troops should now be sent to Syria to stop the killing. More details of the call are likely to be broadcast when the programme airs on Sunday night. The Arab League is still defending the work of its heavily criticised monitoring mission in Syria. The mission will be reviewed by Arab ministers when they meet in Cairo in a week's time.

The Nigerian government is meeting trade union leaders in its latest attempt to end a week-long strike over the removal of a fuel subsidy. The unions have already rejected a government offer to reinstate less than half of the subsidy, saying prices must be restored to their previous levels. Petrol prices have doubled since the subsidy was removed two weeks ago. The strike has already cost the Nigerian economy billions of dollars in lost revenue and has caused several deaths in clashes with the police.

World News from the BBC

Pakistan's Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has praised the country's armed forces and stressed the supremacy of parliament among the country's institutions. He was speaking at the start of a high-profile defence meeting with Pakistan's army chief. Jill McGivering reports.

Mr Gilani's comments sounded polite and conciliatory. He praised the armed forces but also stressed the important role played by parliament. It was the first time he'd met General Kayani face to face since the dramatic increase in tension between Pakistan's civilian and military leaders that sparked widespread concern about a political crisis. Earlier, General Kayani held a separate meeting with the president. That, too, was closely watched, but there was little official comment afterwards. For many, though, these latest meetings suggest a welcome lowering of political tension.

The incumbent President of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, has won a second term in office and promised further steps towards reconciliation with China. He won on a campaign of economic rapprochement with China. Ma Ying-jeou addressed cheering crowds at his campaign headquarters.

"In the next four years, cross-strait relations will be more peaceful with greater mutual trust and the chance of conflict will be less. I must let Taiwan have a long-lasting environment of peace and stability."

China indicated its satisfaction at the result, saying that peace and development across the Taiwan Strait was the correct path.

***省略一段***

BBC News