7月22日午间英语新闻：叙利亚宣布与乌克兰断交

> Syria cuts diplomatic ties with Ukraine
叙利亚宣布与乌克兰断交

Syria on Wednesday severed diplomatic ties with Ukraine in response to a similar move by Kyiv last month. The Syrian foreign ministry made the declaration, saying that Ukraine has taken an aggressive stance toward Syria since 2018. On June 29, Ukraine cut relations with Syria after Damascus recognized the independence of the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.
当地时间20日上午，叙利亚外交部发表官方声明称，本着外交对等原则，叙利亚决定与乌克兰断交。叙利亚外交部发表声明说，自2018年以来，乌克兰对叙利亚采取了敌对态度。当地时间6月29日，叙利亚外交部在首都大马士革宣布承认“顿涅茨克人民共和国”和“卢甘斯克人民共和国”主权和独立后，乌克兰宣布与叙利亚断绝外交关系。
重点词汇：
Damascus
英 /dəˈmæskəs/
美 /dəˈmæskəs/
n.大马士革（叙利亚首都）

> Omicron can infect wide range of animals
奥密克戎毒株能够感染多种动物

The Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus can infect a broader range of animals than the original strain and the Delta strain, underscoring the significance of monitoring for the virus in susceptible species to prevent further mutations and spillover to humans, according to a recent study conducted by Chinese researchers. 
中国研究人员最近进行的一项研究显示，与原始毒株和德尔塔变异株相比，奥密克戎变种毒株可以感染更广泛的动物，这突显了在易感物种中监测病毒的重要性，以防止进一步变异和感染人类。
The novel coronavirus has long been found to infect cats, dogs, minks, tigers, and African lions, among others, in a natural environment. The emergence of BA.1 Omicron variant in late November triggered deeper concerns from scientists, as the strain carries multiple mutations, including those at sites that can determine the range of animal hosts.
长期以来，人们一直发现这种新型冠状病毒能够在自然环境中感染猫、狗、水貂、老虎和非洲狮等动物。2021年11月下旬出现的奥密克戎BA .1变异株很快引发了科学家们的更深层次担忧，因为该菌株携带多种突变，包括那些可以决定动物宿主范围的位点。

> EU asks member states to reduce energy consumption by 15%
欧盟要求成员国减少15%的能源消耗

European Union leaders have announced a plan to reduce reliance on Russian gas amid supply disruptions. The European Commission has called on member states to scale down their energy consumption by 15 percent between August and the end of March. The cut will be voluntary, but the proposals allow the EU to make them mandatory in the event of an energy emergency. 
7月20日，欧盟委员会发布倡议，呼吁各国政府为缺少俄罗斯天然气做出准备。欧盟委员会呼吁各成员国在2022年8月1日至2023年3月31日的8个月内减少15%的能源消耗。削减将是自愿的，但该提议允许欧盟在能源紧急情况下强制执行。
So far, 12 EU member states have been hit by a cut in gas supply from Russia. Not all countries are on board with the plan to reduce energy usage. Poland has already been bolstering gas reserves in preparation for a difficult winter. Countries with warmer climates, like Spain and Portugal, have also been reluctant, as they would be less affected by supply disruptions. The EU has been working to diversify its gas supply, signing agreements with Norway, Algeria, Egypt, Azerbaijan, and the Gulf States. 
迄今为止，已有12个欧盟成员国受到俄罗斯天然气供应中断的影响。并不是所有国家都同意减少能源使用的计划。波兰已经在增加天然气储备，以应对一个艰难的冬天。西班牙和葡萄牙等气候较暖的国家也不愿这么做，因为它们受供应中断的影响较小。欧盟一直在努力使其天然气供应多样化，与挪威、阿尔及利亚、埃及、阿塞拜疆和海湾国家签署了协议。
重点词汇：
scale down按比例减少；按比例缩小
bolster 
英/ˈbəʊlstə(r)/  美/ˈboʊlstər/
v.增强，激励；巩固（地位），加强；改善，改进；给（座位）加软垫
n.长枕，垫枕；承梁（用于支撑或减少摩擦）；托木；（削砖用的）凿刀
【名】 （Bolster）（美、印、荷）博尔斯特（人名）

> Wickremesinghe elected as new Sri Lankan president
维克拉马辛哈当选斯里兰卡总统

Sri Lanka's acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe was elected as the new president of Sri Lanka in a vote in parliament on Wednesday. Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena announced that Wickremesinghe has won the post, with 134 votes. The election occurred after a vote was called in parliament following the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa from the presidency last week. 
当地时间7月20日，临时总统维克拉马辛哈在斯里兰卡议会举行的投票中被选举为新总统。议会议长阿贝瓦尔德纳宣布，维克拉马辛哈以134票赢得选举。这次选举是在上周拉贾帕克萨辞去斯里兰卡总统职务后，议会要求进行投票后举行的。
重点词汇：
Sri Lanka 斯里兰卡
Sri Lankan 
英/ˌsri ˈlæŋkən/ 美/ˌsriː ˈlæŋkən/
adj.斯里兰卡的
n.斯里兰卡人