美国有线新闻 CNN 2013-01-07

 The new year hasn¡¯t seen any new let-ups in the fighting in Syria. The Middle Eastern country¡¯s been ripped apart by a civil war. It started in March of 2011, with the government of President Bashar al-Assad fighting the rebels who want him out. Since then the war has ballooned. Different groups and even terrorists have joined in. The U.N. estimates that 6,000 Syrians have been killed. While experts and CNN correspondent don¡¯t know when this will end exactly, they believe it will include the removal of Syria¡¯s president. 

¡°Will rebels defeated the regime? I think there is very little doubt that will happen, it¡¯s not going to be one day which has a decisive changing of the flags over buildings in Damascus and then the whole country turns 180 degrees in terms with government. But there have been weeks now of consistent bad news for the regime.¡±
For a week, regime air bases and military outposts have fallen daily. 
Rebels now focusing on besieging 1 the bases from where the regime projects its brutal 2 force. Now it affects not only now people feel inside the regime in the circle, it affects how their sponsors feel, and of course, it boost morale 3 for the rebels as well, so that real sense of momentum 4 that¡¯s been in place now for months, is beginning to meet around the capital, and I don¡¯t think any observer at this point thinks that the Assad government really has a chance in terms of retaining long term power over the country. 
As the rebels increasingly make more military gains, the question is beginning to be asked, will Assad stay on fight to the end, as he has said or will he go? 
Yesterday was the first day back to school for the students of Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. They¡¯ve been out since a shooting happened at Sandy Hook in the mid-December. Seven miles away, in Monroe, Connecticut, what used to be a middle school was converted for them. Teachers spent part of their Christmas break decorating, putting in a welcome sign, paper snowflakes sent in from around the world, the school¡¯s pet turtle and familiar rugs and furniture so that the kids would have a smoother transition to the new place. Counselors 5 and police were also there to help. The new school, Chalk Hill Elementary, also has more security. At least one parent interviewed by CNN says her son isn¡¯t afraid, he¡¯s just looking forward to seeing his friends. 
On their first day back, one of the first items of business for congressmen and women was to elect a new House speaker. This comes right out of the U.S. Constitution, Article 1, Section 2, which says The House of Representatives shall chuse, note the spelling there, their speaker and other officers. The Speaker is the leader of the House. He or she is also a second in line to the presidency 6 behind the vice 7 president. The Constitution doesn¡¯t specifically mention what the Speaker should do, but today that job includes presiding over the House, often speaking to the media, communicating House priorities and representing constituents 8 back home. The Speaker also represents the majority party in the House, an since Republicans have control with 234 representatives to the Democrats¡¯ 201, it will certain to be a Republican. Yesterday, they reelected John Boehner as House Speaker, he got 221 votes, and that means he¡¯ll be doing the job for at least the next two years.