Excerpt 30 English news items, with Chinese translation and what you want to understand

1The Irish government has announced it will hold a referendumon whether to allow same sex marriages. Civil partnerships have been legal in Ireland since 2010, but activists have been campaigning to amend the constitution and give gay people equal access to civil marriage .The mayor of Canada's biggest city Toronto Rob Ford has admitted that he once smoked the drugcrack cocaine. The mayor surprised admission comes after months of speculation began when reports service to a video that appeared to show the Mayor smoking the drug. From Toronto LeeCarter reports.

The Irish government announced that it will hold a referendum on whether to allow same-sex marriage. Civil partnerships have been legal in Ireland since 2010, but activists have been fighting to change the constitution to give gays equal rights to secular marriage. Rob Ford, the mayor of Canada's largest city, Toronto, has admitted that he once used the drug cocaine. The mayor's confession comes as a surprise after months of speculation following reports that video showed the mayor taking drugs, Lee Carter reports in Toronto.

The South African Department of Labor reported last month that the nation has too few jobs for unskilled laborers. The department also said there are not enough workers for highly skilled positions. The sharp differences between jobs and skills were apparent recently when officials advertised a job opening in the government. The position was that of auditor-general or chief financial supervisor. With a 26 percent unemployment rate nationwide, there was no shortage of interest in the job. 90 people asked to be considered. But officials said many of they lack the necessary skills of education. The auditor-general is responsible for supervising and independently examining SouthAfrica's finances. The advertisement said, the position required the person to be a trained accountant. It said candidates had to have at least a Master's degree and years of experience . Yet among the jobhopefuls were laborers, a security guard, a secretary and some whose highest education level was high school. The Labor Department report blamed the nation's poor education system. But for unskilled workers, the story is very different. Restaurant industry official TJ Van der Walt says the business he works with get a huge number ofapplications for every job."We deal in an industry where there's no real skill needed, so we get literally thousands ofapplicants for the positions that we get." Mr Van der Walt notes that good workers are hard to find. He says he spends a lot of times studying the job qualifications of

people who don't have the required skills. In his words, people just want jobs. Sejamothopo Motau is a member of South Africa's Parliament. He says the job market is difficult, and both skilled and unskilled workers are feeling the pain. He says education has been a majorproblem in South Africa's development. He notes that many Blacks received a poor educationunder white-minority rule. Apartheid officially ended in 1994.He says many people are university graduates, still they can't get jobs where there is a need forskilled workers. This is because the education these graduates have is not enough to place them injobs with high skill requirements." So what it tells us is -- and I think everybody in this country now accepts that -- is that there's amismatch between our education system and the products of that system, and the needs, the economic needs, of the country." The South African Ministry of Labor reported last month that the country provides too few jobs for unskilled workers. The Labor Department also said there is a shortage of workers in high-skilled positions. The clearest distinction between jobs and skills was evident when an official recently advertised for a vacant government position. The recruitment position is auditor general or treasurer. With 26% of jobs available nationwide, interest in this position is very high. 90 people applied for the position. But officials believe many of them lack educational skills. The Auditor General is responsible for the oversight and independent inspection of South Africa's finances. The advertisement stated that the position required candidates to be trained accountants. It is said that candidates must have at least a master's degree and several years of work experience. Yet among the job seekers were workers, a security guard, a secretary, and some whose highest education was high school. South Africa's Ministry of Labor report attributed the reason to the backwardness of the education system. But for unskilled workers, the situation is significantly different. Catering industry employee TJ Van der Walt said the company he works for has received a large number of applications for every position. "Our industry doesn't require practical skills, so we receive thousands of applications for the positions we're recruiting for," said Vandervoort, noting that good employees are hard to find. He said he spent a lot of time researching the work experiences of people who didn't have the job skills needed for the job. In his own words, all people want is jobs. Sejamothopo Motau is a member of the South African Parliament. He said the job market is very difficult and people with or without skills find it difficult. He believes that education has become a major issue in South Africa's development. He pointed out that in areas dominated by white minorities, many blacks received very poor education. Apartheid in South Africa ended in 1994. He said many people graduate from college, but they still cannot find jobs in places where skilled trades are needed.

This is because the education these graduates receive is not adequate for the requirements of high-skilled jobs. "What it tells us is that there is an imbalance between our education system and its products and the needs of our economy. I think most people in South Africa now agree This

France says President Francois Hollande will not attend the opening ceremony for 2014 winter Olympics in Russia, nor will any other top French official. The announcement was made by the French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in a radio interview, but he did not elaborate on thereasons. Analysts say the Russian President Vladimir Putin has staked his personal prestige onstaging a successful Olympic in an effort to showcase his country.

elaborate:Elaborate

The French side said , President Fran?ois Hollande will not attend the opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia, nor will other senior French leaders. The French Foreign Minister made this statement in a radio interview, but. The reasons were not elaborated. Analysts believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin is willing to risk his personal reputation on the success of this Olympics in order to showcase his country.

The polls have now closed in Chile where people have been voting for a new president. The socialist candidate Michelle Bachelet has seen as the favorite, she fell justshort of the outright majority she needed in the first round. The electoral authority says the turnout appears to have been low despite repeated calls by both candidates for people to vote.

Voting for Chile’s popular presidential election has ended. Socialist candidate Michelle Bachelet is seen as the favorite, falling just short of a majority in the first round. The Election Commission said that despite repeated calls by both candidates for people to vote, the actual number of voters was still small.

Some 200,000 opposition supporters have converged onindependence square in Ukrainian capital Kiev demanding the resignation of the President Viktor Yanukovych. It's the latest protest over the government's refusal to sign a deal on close integration with the European Union. TheUS Senator John McCain was cheered when he told crowds that Washington support them. “Ukraine willmake Europe better and European will make Ukraine better. To all Ukrainians, America stands with you.”

converge: gather

about 200,000 opposition supporters gathered in Ukraine's capital Kiev's Independence Square to demand the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych. They are the latest protests since the government refused to sign an agreement to strengthen economic, trade and political ties with the European Union. US Congressman John McCain drew cheers from the crowd after expressing Washington's support. "Ukraine and Europe will become better because of mutual promotion. People of Ukraine, the United States supports you."

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