Angela老师

PTE精选练习材料《VOA Special English News》

Angela老师

Syrian government security forces and tanks have been deployed across and around the capital, Damascus. About 2,000 troops attacked rebels to try to recapture areas near the city. Troops entered mostly Sunni Muslim areas east of the capital. The government has lost control of those areas during the past two weeks. Activists say at least 19 civilians and rebel fighters were killed in the clashes Sunday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said 72 people were killed across the country Sunday. 

Negotiators for the Taliban in Afghanistan have met with American officials in Qatar on Sunday. The goal of the talks is to build trust and prepare both sides for peace talks. The negotiators are also discussing the possible release of Taliban prisoners at the United States military base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 

United Nations nuclear inspectors are in Iran to investigate possible secret military parts of the Iranian nuclear program. The International Atomic Energy Agency team arrived in Tehran on Sunday for a three-day visit. Herman Nackaerts is leading the investigators. Before he left the agency headquarters in Vienna, he said he wants Iran to discuss with his investigators the accusations that Iranian officials are trying to develop nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied the accusations and refused to discuss them with the IAEA or world powers. It is not clear which areas the UN nuclear inspectors will visit in Iran or which Iranian officials they will meet.