美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-03-13

搜索关注在线英语听力室公众号：tingroom，领取免费英语资料大礼包。

First up, we're heading to Kenya; it has the largest economy in East Africa. It's a relatively¹ stable country in there gion, that isn't always stable. And it's a major U.S ally in the war against terrorism. So what happens in Kenya can have a big impact on other countries. Here is what happened there this weekend.

"I therefore declare Uhuru Kenyatta the duly elected president of the Republic Kenya. Now it is clear that the constitutionally-sanctioned process of electing a new set of leaders to take usto the next level has been thwarted² by another tainted³ election."

Uhuru Kenyatta, the son of Kenya's first president is set to become its youngest president. It's also facing charges from the International Criminal Court. The charges against Kenyatta involves his alleged⁴ role in violence after Kenya's last presidential election in 2007 when he was not a candidate, Kenyatta denies those charges. Ralia Odinga was Kenyatta's main challenger in this election. He is the one who said it was tainted; Kenya's constitution says a candidate has to earn just more than 50% in order to win.Kenyatta got 50.07%; Odinga says he'll challenge the election result in court.

Is this legit? Vatican City is the smallest country in the world.

It's true. Vatican City which is also called the Holy See is smaller than a National Mall in Washington D.C.

Vatican City is also the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church. The Pope is the head of that church,but right now, there is no Pope. Pope Benedict the 16th resigned last month.Tomorrow, cardinals⁵, leaders in the Catholic Church, will start the process of electing a new Pope during a conclave⁶. Jonathan Mann explains what that is and how it works.

It's the oldest enduring electoral system in the world and many of its traditions have been unchanged for centuries. The conclave, which literally⁷ means locked with a key, dates back to a time when cardinals were locked in until they chose a new Pope. Now it's the world that'slocked out, figuratively speaking, as much as the conclave will take place behind closed doors. The gathering⁸ begins with a morning mass in St.Peter'sbasilica. In the afternoon, the 115 voting cardinals, those under 80 years old enter the Sistine Chapel⁹ where each will take an oath of secrecy¹⁰. The penalty,automatic excommunication. After the oath, preparations are made for the election taken by secret ballot¹¹. Lots are drawn¹² to select three cardinals who will help collect ballots¹³, three more cardinals to count the votes and three others to review the result. Printed on the ballots the words "Eligo in Summun Ponti ficum", meaning I elect as Supreme¹⁴ Pontiff. Each elector writes the name of one candidate on the lower half of the ballot and fold it in half, cardinals are not allowed to vote for themselves. Then in order of seniority, the cardinals take their ballots to the altar. Each places a folded ballot onto a small desk, and then the ballot is dropped into a chalice¹⁵. Once all the votes are cast, the ballots are tallied¹⁶, and the results are read aloud. More than two thirds majority is needed to declare a winner, in this case, 77 votes. If there is no winner, there is another vote, if there is still no winner, two more votes are scheduled for the afternoon. Voting continues up to four ballots each day until there is a winner.

The ballots are burnt after each session, in an incinerator inside the Chapel. If there is no winner, they are burnt with a chemical that gives off black smoke, telling the crowd waiting in Saint Peter's Square that a new Pope has not yet been selected. When there is a winner, whites moke, a sign from the cardinals that they have chosen a new Pope to lead the church.

Jonathan Mann, CNN, Atlanta.

分享到：