英语听力精选进阶版 10313

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Egypt's top military council says the army chief and defense¹ minister Abdul Fattah al-Sisi should listen to what it said were the calls of the people and stand for president. The statement said field marshal al-Sisi had thanked the military leadership for allowing him to respond to the call of duty. He's now expected to announce his candidacy within days. Orla Guerin reports from Cairo.

The softly spoken former intelligence chief has no experience of war, but has shown himself to be a skilled political tactician². He became a national hero for many after he ousted³ the Islamist President Mohamad Morsi in a popularly backed coup⁴ last July. On Saturday, huge crowds gathered in Tahrir Square, urging him to stand in a state-sponsored display of support. But his critics were driven off the streets by the security forces and about 60 people were shot dead in clashes.

The UN mediator⁵ at the Syrian peace conference Lakhdar Brahimi, says there has been no breakthrough in attempts to arrange aid convoys⁶ to the besieged⁷ city of Homs. A joint⁸ negotiating session on establishing a transitional government also made scant⁹ progress. The BBC's Bridget Kendall heard what Lakhdar Brahimi had to say about the attempts to get aid to Homs.

He said he thought the Syrian government was willing, but the danger of snipers and other problems meant it wasn't easy. He noted¹⁰ Homs was only one of many parts of the country where people found themselves under siege either from Syrian government forces or armed groups. The good news though is that the two rival delegations¹¹ from Syria are still talking even though they clearly had a tense standoff this morning over the question of Syria's political future. One delegate called it a dialogue of the death.

Dozens of people have been reported killed in 2 attacks by suspected Islamist militants¹³ in northeastern Nigeria. Here's Will Ross.

The gunmen targeted a busy market in Borno state's Kawuri village. They also killed civilians¹⁴ in their homes. The police commander for Borno state gave little away, simply saying many lives were lost. He said he suspected the Islamist militant¹² group Boko Haram was behind the attack. The military spokesman said he had no details. Eyewitnesses¹⁵ say they counted 52 bodies. In neighboring Adamawa state, men carrying guns and explosives burst into a Catholic church, killing¹⁶ at least 22 members of the congregation.

Fresh attempts are underway to end the political crisis in Ukraine. President Viktor Yanukovych is holding talks with the 3 main opposition¹⁷ leaders on the eve of a special session of parliament. The anti-government protests are continuing, although demonstrators earlier ended their occupation of the justice ministry¹⁸.

World News from the BBC.

The Prime Minister of the Central African Republic Andre Nzapayeke has formed a new transitional government which includes 7 women. The prime minister was appointed on Saturday by the new interim¹⁹ President, Catherine Samba Panza who's pledged to end sectarian violence in the country.

The operators of 2 exchanges for the virtual currency bitcoin in the United States have been arrested and charged with money laundering²¹. Robert Faiella and Charlie Shrem are accused of trying to sell more than 1 million dollars worth of bitcoins to users of the notorious Silkroad website, an online market for drugs and illegal services. Samira Hussain has more.

Charlie Shrem actively²² promoted the use of digital currencies as co-chairman of the Bitcoin foundation. But a CEO of a bitcoin exchanger, the US Department of Justice says, Shrem is an accomplice²³ knowingly conspired²⁴ to launder²⁰ money. Shrem is believed to have allowed his accomplice to use his exchange to buy large quantities of bitcoins. Those were then be sold to users of the Silkroad website where people can purchase drugs anonymously²⁵.

The International Olympic Committee has again warned athletes not to stage protests during medal ceremonies at the Sochi Winter Games in Russia. The IOC chief Thomas Bach said those making political statements on the podium would be punished as Alex Capstick reports.

Less than 2 weeks before the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, the head of the IOC, Thomas Bach has drawn²⁶ attention to the relevant clause contained in the Olympic charter. Athletes who make statements of a political nature at sporting venues²⁷ could be punished. But he said they would have freedom of speech in the more sterilized²⁸ environment of a news conference. Some athletes heading to the Games opposed to a Russian law which bans the promotion²⁹ of gay propaganda have promised to make their views known.