VOA慢速英语2014 US, China to Cut Gases Linked to Climate Change

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US, China to Cut Gases Linked to Climate Change

The leaders of the United States and China say they have reached an agreement to reduce pollution linked to climate change. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping made the announcement during a joint¹ news conference in Beijing.

Companies in the United States and China produce more carbon dioxide than those in any other country. Studies have linked rising levels of the gas to rising temperatures on Earth’s surface.

Mr. Obama said the U.S. agreed to cut carbon dioxide emissions² by 26 to 28 percent by 2025. Mr. Xi said carbon dioxide emissions in China would stop rising by about 2030. That is the first time that China has set such a date.

ASEAN meeting in Myanmar

A meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has opened in Myanmar’s capital, Nay³ Pyi Taw. Delegates to the talks represent more than 600 million people.

On Thursday, the 9th East Asia Summit will begin in Myanmar. President Obama plans to attend the summit. So are top officials from China, South Korea, Australia, India, Japan and Russia.

Ukraine to prepare for attack from separatists

The Ukrainian defense⁴ minister says he has ordered his country’s forces to prepare for a possible attack by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s defense minister told a government meeting on Wednesday that additional forces have joined the separatists.

On September 5th, the rebels and Ukraine’s government agreed to a cease-fire. But there have been clashes in eastern Ukraine since then.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization officials say they have seen Russian military equipment entering eastern Ukraine in the past two days. The equipment is said to include Russian tanks and artillery⁵.

Syrian activists⁶ say American airstrikes killed hundreds

Syrian activists say seven weeks of American-led air strikes have killed at least 860 people in Syria. They say most of the dead were Islamic State militants⁷.

On Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory⁸ for Human Rights said the number of dead could be much higher. The group said at least 50 civilians⁹ were among those killed in the attacks.