CNN News: 沙特將允許女性駕駛車輛

Our last show of the week begins with a significant cultural change in Saudi Arabia. The kingdom and absolute monarchy has announced that women will be allowed to drive. Saudi Arabia is the last country on earth where this is illegal.
本周最后一期節(jié)目我們首先來關(guān)注沙特阿拉伯發(fā)生的一項重大文化變革。目前實行絕對君主制的沙特王國宣布，女性將被允許駕車。沙特是目前世界上最后一個禁止女性駕駛的國家。
Experts say it's one of the most religiously conservative Islamic countries and that this issue has divided the nation for years. But they also called this a signal that the nation's 81-year-old king and 32-year-old crown prince ar??e determined to reform society. Their decision is partly economic.
專家表示，沙特是最保守的伊斯蘭教國家之一，而且多年來這一問題在該國一直存在分歧。不過專家也表示，這是沙特81歲的國王和32歲的王儲決心進行社會改革的信號。他們此決定部分原因是出于經(jīng)濟方面的考慮。
The Saudi economy is heavily dependent on oil and oil prices have dropped in recent years, decreasing government revenue. Allowing women to drive could increase their numbers in the workforce which could in turn boost the economy.
沙特的經(jīng)濟嚴(yán)重依賴石油，而近幾年由于石油價格下跌導(dǎo)致政府收入減少。允許女性駕駛可以增加該國的勞動力數(shù)量，從而促進經(jīng)濟增長。
Not everyone agrees with the change. Saudi critics have called allowing women to drive inappropriate and threatening to traditional Saudi families.
并非所有人都贊同這項改革。沙特批評人士稱，允許女性駕駛并不妥當(dāng)，還可能威脅到傳統(tǒng)的沙特家庭。
But for those celebrating the change which takes effect next summer, it's been a long time coming.
但對那些想要慶祝這項將于明年夏天生效的改革的人來說，他們已經(jīng)等了很長時間了。