VOA常速英语:山东金矿爆炸事故已有11人升井

The office of the French president said Sunday that French President Emmanuel Macron and new U.S. President Joe Biden are in agreement on climate change and how to fight coronavirus. The two leaders spoke by phone on Sunday, also discussing "their willingness to act together for peace in the Near and Middle East, in particular on the Iranian nuclear issue." That's the words (the) of the French presidency. The pair spoke for about an hour in English, according to members of Macron's team. A White House statement describing France as America's "oldest ally" added that Biden had pledged close coordination with Paris on climate change, COVID-19 and the global economy. It said Biden "stressed his commitment to bolstering the transatlantic relationship through NATO and the United States' partnership with the European Union." The White House said Biden and Macron also discussed cooperation on China, the Middle East, Russia and the Sahel. The call was the U.S. leader's latest effort to mend relations with Europe after they were badly strained under his predecessor Donald Trump. Since his inauguration Wednesday, Biden has spoken by phone with the leaders of France, Britain, Mexico and Canada. That was his first phone call to a foreign power. Biden has vowed to return to a more traditional U.S. diplomacy built around close ties to its two North American partners also to Western Europe and Asian allies.

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was re-elected on Sunday with 61.6 percent of the vote. That's according to partial results covering 98 percent of Portugal's constituencies. Socialist challenger Ana Gomes came in second with 12.24 percent of the vote and third place was far-right candidate Andre Ventura who had 11.9 percent of the vote. Again, these are partial results. The head of state in Portugal has no legislative powers, which lie with parliament and the government, but he is an influential voice in the running of the country.

Rescue teams in China have brought to the surface 11 miners trapped in a gold mine by an explosion January 10. Local media said the first miner was rescued from the mine in Shandong Province in the east of the country Sunday morning. He was rushed to an area hospital for treatment. Ten other miners from a different section of the mine were lifted from underground in groups over several hours. They had established contact with rescuers before Sunday and had been receiving food and supplies. A total of 22 miners were trapped about 600 meters underground. One miner is reported to have died. Ten others are still missing. Chinese authorities have detained several managers of the mine, which was still under construction, for allegedly waiting more than 24 hours to report the blast. Marissa Melton, VOA news.