VOA慢速英语: 希腊金融部长因无选票而辞职

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis resigned Monday. His resignationcame a day after Greek voters rejected a demand by international lenders fornew financial reforms in the country. The lenders promised economic aid toGreece if the voters approved, and the government carried out, the reforms.

A man looks at newspapers showing the results of yesterday's referendum in central Athens, Greece, July 6, 2015. Greeks overwhelmingly rejected conditions of a rescue package from creditors on Sunday, throwing the future of the country's euro zone members. (REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)

The finance minister’s decision was a surprise, because he had said earlierthat he would resign only if the Greek people voted to accept the lenders’demands. Mr. Varoufakis has often clashed with foreign creditors over thepast few months. A few days ago, he accused the European Union of “terrorism” because he believed it was trying to frighten Greek voters intoaccepting the EU’s terms. On Monday he said he believed his resignationcould help reach an agreement with the country’s lenders.

On Sunday, 61 percent of voters rejected warnings from leaders that ignoringthe terms could force the country from the 19-nation union that uses the euro.Nearly 10 million people were registered to vote in the special election.Officials say more than 62 percent actually voted.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says the government is ready to return tonegotiations with Greece’s creditors. He says the election results will give himthe ability to negotiate a better deal for his country.

However, officials in Germany, Europe’s largest economy, are not pleasedwith the election results. A spokesman for Prime Minister Angela Merkel saidthat because of the results of the vote on Sunday “by Greek citizens, there is no basis to enter into negotiations on a new aid program.” A German FinanceMinistry spokesman said “I can see no reason to enter into discussions.”

Across Europe, stock prices fell when financial markets opened Monday, butquickly recovered. Observers blamed the drop on the vote in Greece.

In Asia, Japan’s leading measure of stock prices lost more than two percent at the close of trading. Hong Kong’s leading stock measure dropped more thanthree percent. Stock prices were also down in South Korea, Australia andNew Zealand. However, prices in Mainland China showed gains Monday afterrecent severe losses.

Deadly bomb attacks in Nigeria

Officials in Nigeria say two bomb attacks have killed more than 40 people.More than 45 others were reported injured.

The bombs exploded late Sunday at an Islamic religious center and arestaurant.

The bombings continue a deadly series of attacks that left more than 200people dead in the past week.

Nigerian officials are blaming the terrorist group Boko Haram for the violence.

Pope Francis begins South America visit

Pope Francis has flown to South America for an eight-day visit to Ecuador,Bolivia and Paraguay. The 78-year-old leader of the Roman Catholic Churchlanded Sunday in Ecuador’s capital, Quito. He met there with Ecuador’spresident and church officials. Huge crowds gathered along the roads from the airport to the place where Pope Francis will be staying.

More than a million people were expected to attend a religious ceremony ledby the pope -- the first South American head of the church -- on Monday in thecity of Guayaquil. He was expected to talk in eight languages during the Mass. He will also lead a Mass in Quito on Tuesday.

Later in the trip, the pope will visit a prison in Bolivia, meet with Bolivian trashcollectors and stop in a Paraguayan neighborhood where people live in poorly-built shelters.

This is the pope’s ninth foreign trip in two years.

U.S.wins Women’s World Cup

In sports, the United States has won its first Women’s World Cup footballchampionship since 1999. The U.S. soccer team easily defeated thedefending World Cup champion Japan, five to two. The two teams playedSunday in Vancouver, Canada.

No team had ever scored more than two goals in a Women’s World Cup final. But American captain Carli Lloyd had three goals all by herself within just 16minutes.

The seven combined goals in the match are the most ever in a Women’sWorld Cup final.

This newscast was based on stories from VOA’s News Division. George Growadapted it for Learning English. Christopher Jones-Cruise was the editor.

_______________________________________________________________

Words in The News

lender(s) – n. creditor; someone or something that makes a loan

euro– n. the name of the money used in 19 European countries

trash– n. waste products; things that are no longer useful or wanted

soccer – n. the American name for European football