12-19-07

委内瑞拉总统将会晤古巴领导人卡斯特罗 (Venezuelan President to Meet with Cuban Leader Fidel Castro)

委内瑞拉和古巴的两位领导人定于星期三会晤。星期二在乌拉圭参加“南方共同市场”会议之后，委内瑞拉总统查韦斯说，他星期三将在哈瓦那和古巴领导人卡斯特罗共进午餐。查维斯说， 他在参加加勒比海地区一个有关石油的会议之前，会见卡斯特罗。

古巴国营电视台星期二宣读了卡斯特罗的一封信函。卡斯特罗在信函中说，他不会阻挡新一代领导人的崛起。这是这位现年81岁的领导人首次暗示，他也许会永远从国务委员会主席职位上退下来。在接受2006年7月肠道手术后，卡斯特罗暂时把权力交给了他的弟弟劳尔.卡斯特罗。

The leaders of Venezuela and Cuba are set to meet Wednesday. In Uruguay Tuesday, after a Mercosur trade bloc meeting, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said he would be having lunch with Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Havana today. Mr. Chavez says he will meet with Mr. Castro before attending a conference on oil in the Caribbean area.

Cuban state television read a letter from Mr. Castro on Tuesday in which he said he would not obstruct the rise of a new generation of leaders. It was the first suggestion from the 81-year old leader that he might permanently step down from the presidency. He temporarily handed over power to his brother, Raul, in July 2006 after undergoing intestinal surgery.

布什将签署制定美国新能源标准的法案 (President Bush to Sign Legislation Setting New US Energy Standards)

一个全面增加美国汽车和卡车燃油效率标准的法案星期三将得到布什总统的签署，成为一项法律。这项法案要求美国汽车制造商在2020年前达到每公升燃油15公里的效率标准(每加仑燃油行驶35英里)，并且要求大幅度提高使用生物燃料，特别是“乙醇”来替代产生二氧化碳的矿物燃料。这是32年来首次提高标准。

该法案还为家用电器，诸如电冰箱等制定了新的能源效率标准，并且要逐渐以更节能的小型萤光灯取代标准白炽灯。

A sweeping energy bill that increases fuel efficiency standards in U.S. cars and trucks will be signed into law Wednesday by President Bush. The measure requires U.S. automakers to a achieve an efficiency standard of 15 kilometers per liter (35 miles per gallon) by 2020 -- the first such increase in 32 years -- and requires a major increase in the amount of biofuels, especially ethanol, to replace carbon-burning fossil fuels.

It also sets new energy efficiency standards for home appliances like refrigerators, and phases out the standard incandescent light bulb in favor of more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs.