12-19-07

委內瑞拉總統將會晤古巴領導人卡斯特羅 (Venezuelan President to Meet with Cuban Leader Fidel Castro)

委內瑞拉和古巴的兩位領導人定於星期三會晤。星期二在烏拉圭參加“南方共同市場”會議之後，委內瑞拉總統查韋斯說，他星期三將在哈瓦那和古巴領導人卡斯特羅共進午餐。查維斯說， 他在參加加勒比海地區一個有關石油的會議之前，會見卡斯特羅。

古巴國營電視臺星期二宣讀了卡斯特羅的一封信函。卡斯特羅在信函中說，他不會阻擋新一代領導人的崛起。這是這位現年81歲的領導人首次暗示，他也許會永遠從國務委員會主席職位上退下來。在接受2006年7月腸道手術後，卡斯特羅暫時把權力交給了他的弟弟勞爾.卡斯特羅。

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.

布希將簽署制定美國新能源標準的法案 (President Bush to Sign Legislation Setting New US Energy Standards)

一個全面增加美國汽車和卡車燃油效率標準的法案星期三將得到布希總統的簽署，成為一項法律。這項法案要求美國汽車製造商在2020年前達到每公升燃油15公里的效率標準(每加侖燃油行駛35英里)，並且要求大幅度提高使用生物燃料，特別是“乙醇”來替代產生二氧化碳的礦物燃料。這是32年來首次提高標準。

該法案還為家用電器，諸如電冰箱等制定了新的能源效率標準，並且要逐漸以更節能的小型螢光燈取代標準白熾燈。

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.