By Mike Wooldridge, BBC News

媒體英語會帶大家一起學習 BBC 撰稿人在報道世界大事時常用到的單詞和短語。

太平洋島國薩摩亞希望能通過調整其所在時區而促進本國商業貿易。薩摩亞目前與其最重要交易伙伴之一澳大利亞之間相差21小時。此次調整時區預計從2011年底開始執行。以下是來自 Mike Wooldridge 的報道。

When Samoa put itself on the east side of the international dateline back in 1892, it was apparently to do same-day business with Californian traders across the Pacific.

Now the main trading partners are nearby New Zealand and Australia and countries in East Asia.

But on Sunday when Samoans are in church, cities such as Sydney and Brisbane are already into Monday and the new working week.

And while Samoans are still doing business on Friday, Australians and New Zealanders have already begun their weekend.

There will be a price to pay: Samoa markets itself as the last place on earth to witness each day's sunset.

But to compensate, the prime minister has another proposition for those who enjoy travel curiosities.

By making a flight of less than an hour from the US territory of American Samoa, which isn't moving across the dateline, it will be possible to celebrate the same day twice - and on the same date, have two birthdays, two anniversaries or even two weddings.

Mike Wooldridge, BBC News