US Announces New Measures Against Venezuelans, Businesses
时间:2019-01-03 作者:英语课 分类:2018年VOA慢速英语(五)月
The United States has announced new sanctions on three Venezuelans and 20 companies for connections to drug trafficking.
Vice 1 President Mike Pence announced the measures earlier this week. He spoke 2 during a visit to the headquarters of the Organization of American States, in Washington, D.C.
In his speech, the vice president condemned 3 the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Pence warned that Venezuela’s next election would be a "fake election with a fake outcome." He called on Maduro to postpone 4 the vote.
Pence said, "Hold real elections, give the people of Venezuela real choices, because the Venezuelan people deserve to live in democracy once again."
In January, the U.S. government announced steps against four current or former Venezuelan officials with links to corruption 5 or repression 6.
The crisis in Venezuela has led thousands of people to flee the country.
The International Organization for Migration 7 says that between 2015 and 2017, the number of Venezuelan immigrants in Latin America increased from 89,000 to 900,000 people. That represents an increase of more than 900 percent.
Many people have left because of concerns about security, crime, shortages and inflation.
Vatican launches aid program
This week, the Vatican announced a plan to help those Venezuelans moving overseas. The Vatican’s Office to Promote Integral Human Development is working with Roman Catholic officials in eight countries on what is being called the “Bridges of Solidarity” project.
The eight countries are Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Paraguay, Chile, Bolivia and Argentina.
Services offered through the project include building shelters and centers for the immigrants, as well as help in finding housing and jobs for them. Vatican officials say one goal is to assist the migrants with education and healthcare. Another is to provide support and legal assistance to them.
For the past several months, Pope Francis has expressed his growing concern for the Venezuelan people.
Earlier this year, the pope spoke about Venezuela to Catholics gathered in Saint Peter’s Square. He appealed for an end to violence in the country. He said, “I assure my prayers for this beloved nation, and express my closeness to the families that have lost their children in the riots.”
The Vatican’s office for migrants and refugees will be making available nearly $500,000 a year. The aid is to be spread among the eight nations involved in the project.
I'm Jonathan Evans.
Words in This Story
sanction – n. an action taken by one or more nations to make another nation follow a rule or law
fake – adj. not real or true
outcome – n. result; something that happens because of an activity
deserve – v. to have earned because of an action; to be worthy of
- He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
- They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- I shall postpone making a decision till I learn full particulars.在未获悉详情之前我得从缓作出决定。
- She decided to postpone the converastion for that evening.她决定当天晚上把谈话搁一搁。
- The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
- The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。
- The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
- This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。