美聯儲提高主要利率

　　12月21日BBC聽力：美聯儲進步重要利率

　　Hello, I'm Jerry Smit with the BBC news.

　　In a decision keenly anticipated in America andaround the world, the US Federal Reserve has raisedinterest rates for the first time since the globalfinancial crisis. The US central bank lifted its keyshort-term rate by a moderate 0.25%. From Washington, here is Michelle Fleury.

　　“For the past seven years, US borrowing costs have been held low to revive a sick US economybrought to its knees by a banking crisis. Now the patient is returning to health. The Fedchairwoman Janet Yellen said the decision to raise rates reflected America's renewed vigor. Theincrease was well telegraphed, but as always with financial markets, attention immediately turnsto what the world's important central bank will do next.”

　　The United States and Cuba have reached an understanding to allow regular commercial flightsbetween them. Negotiators said an official announcement on the issue was imminent.Scheduled flights will ease journeys for US citizens wanting to visit Cuba. Until now they've hadto make complicated arrangements or travelled via third countries. From Havana, here is WillGrant.

　　“The move to restore commercial flights between the US and Cuba coincides with the firstanniversary of the announcement of an end to hostilities between the old enemies. In someregards, it is one of the most significant steps of the past 12 months and it will furtherfacilitate the arrival of American visitors to Cuba. With tourism increasingly becoming the maineconomic motive for the communist run island, it comes as a little surprise that the Cubangovernment was as keen on these particular measures as their counterparts in Washington.”

　　Argentina is ending the foreign exchange restrictions that have propped up the value of pesofor the last four years. The finance minister Alfonso Prat-Gay said the old system hadrestricted economic growth. And he would now allow business to buy many dollars as theyneeded. But ordinary Argentines will still face some restrictions. The peso is now expected to fallin value. The current black market rate is much lower. And the central bank has been given thepowerto intervene if it depreciates too quickly.

　　The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon has said Burundi is on the brink of civil war.In a news conference in New York, Mr. Ban described the political violence in Burundi in recentdays as chilling. “I am alarmed by the escalating violence in Burundi. What we have seen overthe past few days ischilling. The country is on the brink of civil war. That risks engulfing theentire region. I have asked Mr. Jamal Benomar, my special adviser, to go to the region beforethe end of this week to speak to the African Union, the countries in the region, and of coursethe government of Burundi.”

　　World news from the BBC.

　　The United Nation's Children's Agency UNICEF says 16 million babies were born in war zonesthis year. That's 1/8 of all births. The agency warns that there was an increased likelihood thatthese children will die before they turn five and those that did survive might suffer what's beentermed toxic stress,longterm damage to their emotional development.

　　The trial of a US police officer charged in connection with the death of Freddie Gray, a blackman who died in police custody in Baltimore has been abandoned after the jury were unable toreach a verdict. The judge ruled a mistrial after two and half days of deliberation. A hearingwas scheduled for Thursday to discuss a possible retrial. Mr. Gray died in April after suffering abroken neck while in a police van. Baltimore's mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake urges protestersgathering in the city to remain peaceful. “All of us, if we believe in justice, must have respectfor the outcome of the judicial process. Twelve Baltimore city residents answered the solemncall to serve. They listened to the evidence presented and they rendered a decision. If somechoose to protest,then peacefully demonstrate. That is their right.”

　　Hundreds of demonstrators in the Dutch town of Geldermalsen have disrupted a meeting atthe local council which are convened to decide whether to build a new center for asylumseekers. The protesters tore down fences and threw fireworks on the police. Thousands ofrefugees and migrants have entered the Netherlands this year.

　　Kuwait Airways is no longer selling tickets for flights between New York and London after the USDepartment of Transport threatened legal action against theair line's policy of not allowingIsraelis to board its planes. Kuwait law prohibits its citizens entering into an agreement with theIsraelis.

　　BBC news.

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