FRANCE -- Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, and François Hollande, his Socialist challenger, squared off in a bad-tempered televised debate before the second and final round of the presidential election on May 6th. Mr Hollande remains the firm favorite to win.

 

UNITED STATES -- Barack Obama paid a surprise visit to Afghanistan where he signed a co-operation agreement with Hamid Karzai, the Afghan president, which offers support after American troops leave the country in 2014. Soon after Mr Obama left Kabul a bomb killed seven people.

 

EGYPT -- At least 20 people were killed in protests in Cairo against Egypt’s ruling generals. Many of those demonstrating were supporters of Hazem Abu Ismail, a Salafist who has been barred from standing in this month’s presidential election.

 

MEXICO -- Mexico’s Congress passed a law authorizing the government to pay compensation to victims of organized crime and human-rights abuses by security forces. It set the maximum payout at $73,000.

 

1.      square off: to get ready to compete  摆好架势，准备斗争

2.      favorite: n. the team, player etc that is expected to win a race or competition 最有希望赢得比赛的人，大热门

3.      demonstrate: v. 示威游行  ~ (against/in favour of sb/sth)

4.      stand(BrE): v. 竞选 = run(AmE)    eg. stand for parliament

5.      payout: c.n. 支出，花费