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.
本周最后一期节目我们首先来关注沙特阿拉伯发生的一项重大文化变革。目前实行绝对君主制的沙特王国宣布，女性将被允许驾车。沙特是目前世界上最后一个禁止女性驾驶的国家。
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 are determined to reform society. Their decision is partly economic.
专家表示，沙特是最保守的伊斯兰教国家之一，而且多年来这一问题在该国一直存在分歧。不过专家也表示，这是沙特81岁的国王和32岁的王储决心进行社会改革的信号。他们此决定部分原因是出于经济方面的考虑。
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.
沙特的经济严重依赖石油，而近几年由于石油价格下跌导致政府收入减少。允许女性驾驶可以增加该国的劳动力数量，从而促进经济增长。
Not everyone agrees with the change. Saudi critics have called allowing women to drive inappropriate and threatening to traditional Saudi families.
并非所有人都赞同这项改革。沙特批评人士称，允许女性驾驶并不妥当，还可能威胁到传统的沙特家庭。
But for those celebrating the change which takes effect next summer, it's been a long time coming.
但对那些想要庆祝这项将于明年夏天生效的改革的人来说，他们已经等了很长时间了。

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.
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 are determined to reform society. Their decision is partly economic.
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.
Not everyone agrees with the change. Saudi critics have called allowing women to drive inappropriate and threatening to traditional Saudi families.
But for those celebrating the change which takes effect next summer, it's been a long time coming.