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Russia's state atomic energy agency says it's begun deliveries of nuclear fuel to Iran. The agency said containers of the fuel which have been inspected by the United Nations were delivered on Sunday to the Bushehr nuclear power plan which is under construction. From Moscow here is Richard Galpin.

The officials in Moscow told the BBC that the delivery of this first batch of nuclear fuel rods to be shared had now been completed. In total almost 200 will be sent over the next couple of months from the secret nuclear facility in Siberia. If all the fuel is delivered by February, the reactor could be started up six months later. The fuel is uranium, but Russian officials stress it's only enriched to a low level which could not be used for a nuclear weapon.

 

be under construction

 

batch - the first batch of ...

 

nuclear fuel rods

 

start up

 

stress -> underline

 

The South Korean parliament has voted to begin an independent investigation into allegations of fraud involving the leading candidate in the presidential election. The conservative front runner Lee Myung-Bak denies involvement in a stock market manipulation case. From Seoul, here's John Sudworth.

The issue has led to a full-blown punch-up in parliament with the riot police called in as MPs took sides over a motion calling for a fresh investigation. But Mr. Lee has finally agreed to the appointment of an independent council to re-examine the matter, and with his Grand National Party supporters abstaining, the motion was passed. With less than two days to go before voting, the controversy seems unlikely to have a significant impact on his leading in the polls.

 

front runner 领先者

 

full-blown

full-blown roses 完全绽开的玫瑰

a full-blown financial crisis 全面展开的财政危机

a full-blown war 全面性的战争

 

punch-up [Chiefly British] = a fistfight 打群架

 

riot police 防暴警察

 

take sides = to support one person or group rather than another, in an argument or war:

My mother never takes sides when my brother and I argue.

 

motion = A formal proposal put to the vote under parliamentary procedures.

 

call for ...

 

fresh - a fresh investigation

 

abstain 弃权

I abstained from voting.

 

Reports say that a Saudi rape victim has been pardoned by Saudi Arabia's king Abdulah. The young woman had been sentenced to six months in prison and 200 lashes for being alone in a car with a man she wasn't related to. The vehicle was attacked and the young woman and her male companion were raped. The Saudi Justice Minister has told the newspaper al-Jazirah that the king pardoned the girl because of the psychologically effect the verdict would have left, even though he considered the verdict to be fair. The ruling had previously been criticised by international human rights groups.

 

verdict = The finding of a jury in a trial.

 

World news from the BBC.

 

Delegates from the governing African National Congress in South Africa are due to vote for a new party leader. The current leader Thabo Mbeki has fought a bitter struggle to retain the post against the challenge from his former ally Jacob Zuma. President Mbeki sacked Zuma as deputy head of the state two years ago following a corruption case involving an advisor. But Mr. Zuma has strong backing from the grass-roots, and is seen as a favourite. Peter Biles reports from the conference at Polokwane.

 

backing = support or aid:

financial backing

strong backing from ...

 

grass-roots 一般民众

 

be seen as a favourite

 

Nominations for the top positions in the African National Congress including the post of party leader should be finalized today. The contest between Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma has split the ANC just when the party is looking forward to its second tenure in four years' time. Even at this late stage, it's still possible for a compromised leadership candidate to emerge, but that people would have to be nominated from the floor and have the support of 25% from the delegates.

 

nomination 提名，任命

 

finalize 定案，完成

 

tenure = A period during which something is held.

 

in four years' time

Scientists challenge major review of global reserves and warn that supplies will start to run out in four years' time.

 

floor = The body of assembly members:

be nominated from the floor

a motion from the floor