WORLD NEWS听写PK大赛第50期（2010年2月22日）

It is 00:30 universal time and here is the news in Special English.

The head of the United States Central Command says the continuing offensive in Southern Afghanistan is just the start of a long campaign against the Taliban. General David Petraeus said on American television that the campaign against the Taliban will probably continue for 12 to 18 months. So far, at least 16 civilians had been killed in the offensive. The fighting has also killed about 120 rebels and at least 13 NATO troops.

Floods and landslides on the Portuguese island of Madeira have killed at least 40 people. Portuguese officials also report that more than 100 are injured on the Atlantic island. The Regional Social Affair Secretary Francisco Ramos told reporters the number of death could increase. He said there are no estimates on the number of people missing. Rescuers continue to search for survivors.

Philippine military official said a top commander in the al-Qaida-linked Abu Sayyaf group has been killed in fighting in the south. A spokesman told reporters that the military has confirmed that Albader Parad was among six militants killed in a fire fight on Jolo island. Mister Parad led the kidnapping of three Red Cross workers last year. Other military official said the brother of Abu Sayyaf leader, Umbra Jumdail, also was killed. The military said three government soldiers were wounded in the clash.

The United States military says a helicopter accident in northern Iraq has killed two American pilots. The military says the aircraft went down near an airfield on a base. It says no enemy forces were presented and there was no enemy fire. It says the accident is being investigated. Also in Iraq, official said a bomb attack killed 4 Iraqi policemen and wounded another in northeastern Diyala province. They said the attack was aim at a group of police officers who were working to protect Iraqi power centers.

You are listening to the news in VOA Special English.

Israeli Air Force has announced the development of a pilotless aircraft that can stay in the air for a day and fly as far as Iran and other areas of the Persian Gulf. The aircraft is designed for observation purposes. Its winds measured 26 meters across, similar to a Boeing 7307 passenger plane.

Israel has accused Iran of working to develop nuclear weapons and has not rejected the possibility of using military action to stop Iran's atomic program. Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes.

The United Arab Emirates has expressed concern that the suspected killers of a Hamas commander entered Dubai using European passports. The UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs has met with European Union diplomats to ask for cooperation in the investigation. Police in Dubai said they believe that the Israeli Intelligence Agency, Mossad, sent agents to killed Mahmoud al-Mabhouh. The Hamas commander was killed in his hotel in Dubai last month. Dubai official said they have evidence of Mossad's involvement but have not released it. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has denied the accusation.

Israel says planned repairs to history buildings will include two Jewish religious centers in Palestinian areas of the occupied West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said such holy places must be repaired because they show Israel's ancient ties to the land. The two holy places included in the repairs are the Cave of the Patriachs in Hebron and Rachel's Tomb near Bethlehem. Palestinians claim those areas as part of a future state and reject any Israeli presents there. A spokesman for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank condemned the Israeli plan as dangerous.

West African negotiator said the leaders of the group that overthrow Nigeria's government last week have promised a return to democracy with elections and a new constitution. Economy Community of Western African States chief, Mohammed CHAMBAS , says the group has promised to involve political parties and civil society groups in talks on a new constitution. A spokesman for the group said the situation is similar to the government overthrew in 1999. At that time, Nigeria's army ousted the president and held elections soon afterward. The spokesman said the army is going to do the same thing this time.

Newly elected Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has named three candidates for the job of Prime Minister. He said the final choice will be made when the new coalition government is formed. The candidates are businessman Sergei Tigipko,former Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, and former Finance Minister Nikolai Azarov. Mister Yanukovych has refused to work with Prime Minister and election opponent, Yulia Tymoshenko. She had so far refused to leave the position. Mister Yanukovych's supporters must form a coalition with other parties, in order to dismiss Mrs. Tymoshenko through a vote of no confidence.

And in sports news from the Winter Olympic Games in Canada, American skier Bode Miller has won the Men's Super-combined event, Ivica Kostelic of Croatia was second, Silvan Zurbriggen of Switzerland was third. Russian Evgeny Ustyugov won the Men’s 15 km Mass Race Start, Martin Fourcade of France was second, Pavol Hurajt of Slovakia was third. The winner of the Women's 12.5 km Mass Start was Magdalena Neuner of Germany, Russian Olga Zaitseva was second, Simone Hauswald of Germany was third. And freestyle skier Michael Schmid of Switzerland won the ski cross event, Andreas Matt of Australia was second, Audun Groenvold of Norway was third.

Here are the major stories of the hour.

The head of the UN Central Command says continuing offensive in southern Afghanistan is just the start of a long campaign against the Taliban.

Floods and landslides on the Portuguese island of Madeira have killed at least 40 people.

Philippine military official said a top leader of the Abu Sayyaf group was among six militants killed in fighting on Jolo island.

And that's the news in Special English.

It is zero hour thirty universal time and here is the news in special English.

The head of the United States central command says the continuing offensive in southern Afghanistan is just a start of a long campaign against the Taliban. General David () said on American Television that the campaign against Taliban will probably continue for 12 to 18 months. So far at least 16 civilians were killed in the offensive. The fighting also killed about 120 rebels and at least 13 NATO troops.

Floods and landslides on the Portuguese island of () have killed at least of 40 people. Portuguese officials also report that more than 100 are injured on the Atlantic island. The regional social affair secretary Francisco told reporters the number of deaths could increase. He said there are no estimates on the number of people missing. Rescuers continue to search for survivals.

Philippine military officials say a top commander () has been killed in the fighting in the south. The spokesman told the reporters that the military has confirmed that () was among six militants killed in a fire fight on the Holo Island. Mister () lead the kidnapping of three Red Cross workers last year. Other military officials said the brother of () leader () also was killed. The military said three government soldiers were wounded in the clash.

The United States military said a helicopter  accident in the northern Iraq has killed 2 American pilots. The military says the aircraft went down near an air flied on a base. It says no enemy forces were present and there were no enemy fire. It says the accident is being investigating. Also in Iraq officials say a bomb attack killed 4 Iraq policemen and wounded another other in the northern () province. They say the attack was aimed at a group of police officers who were working for protecting Iraq power centers.

You are listening to the news in the VOA special English.

Israel’s air force has announced the development of a pilot-less aircraft that can stay in the air for a day and flight as far as Iran and other areas of Persian Gulf. The aircrafts designed for observation purposes. Its wings measure 26 meters across similar to a Boeing 737 passenger plane. Israel has accused Iran of working to develop unclear weapons and has not rejected the possibility of using of military action to stop Iran’s atomic program. Iran says its atomic program is for peaceful purposes. The United Arab Emirates has expressed concern that the suspected killers of a Hummus commander entered Dubai using European airports. The UAE minister of state for foreign affairs has met with European diplomats to ask for cooperation in the investigation. Police in Dubai say they believed that the Israeli intelligence agency () sent agents to kill (). The Hummus commander was killed in his hotel in Dubai last month. Dubai officials say they have evidence of () involvement but have not released it. Israeli foreign minister () has denied the accusation.

Israel says plan repairs to historical the buildings will include two Jewish religious centers in Palestinian areas of the occupied West Bank. Israeli prime minister () says such holy palaces must be repaired because they show Israel’s ancient ties to the land. The two holy places included in the repairs are the cave of Pitri Ocs in () and Richou’s tomb near (). Palestinians claim these areas as part of a future state and reject any Israeli presence there. The spokesman for the Palestinian in the West Bank condemned the Israel plan as dangerous.

West African negotiators say the leaders of the group that overthrew () government last week have promise of return to democracy with elections and a new constitution. Economic community of the western African states chief () says the group have promised to involve political parties and civil society groups in talks on a new constitution. The spokesman says the situation is similar to the government that was overthrown in 1999. At that time ()’ s army ousted the president and held elections soon afterward. Spokesman said the army is going to do the same thing this time.

Newly elected Ukraine president () has named 7 candidates for the job of prime minister. He said the final choice will met when new coalition government is formed. The candidates are business man (), former foreign minister () and former finance minister (). Mister () has refused to work with prime minister and election opponent, (), she has been so far refused to leave the position. Mister () supporters must form a coalition with other parties in order to dismiss Mister () through a vote of no-confidence.

And in sports news from the Winter Olympic Games in Canada American skier () Miller has won the men’s super combined event. () was second. () of Switzerland was third. Russian () won the men’s 15 kilometer mass race start. () of France was second. () was third. The winner of the women’s 12.5 kilometer mass start was () of Germany. Russian () was second. () of Germany was third. And Free Style Skier () of Switzerland won the ski-cross event. () was second. () of Norway was third.

Here are the major stories of the hour.

The head of the UN central command says continuing offensive in southern Afghanistan is just the start of a long campaign against the Taliban.

Floods and landslides on the Portugal’s island () have killed at least 40 people.

And Philippine ministry officials say a top leader of () group was among 6 militants killed in fighting on holy island.

That’s the news in special English.

 呵呵，来晚了。