Hourly News 每日新闻 2013-12-25

 UN to double peacekeepers in South Sudan

The United Nations Security Council has approved plans to nearly double the number of UN peacekeepers in South Sudan.

The resolution comes after U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the Security Council to add 55-hundred troops to the 7-thousand-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission already on the ground in the country.

The resolution also increases the U.N.'s international police contingent¹ in South Sudan from 900 to 13-hundred-23.

The UN's humanitarian² organization suggesting that thousands of people have been killed in the week-long violence in the country.

South Sudan President Salva Kiir says government troops have reseized the town of Bor, the capital of the oil-rich state of Jonglei state.

 

Jihadist group claims responsibility for Egyptian blast

A Sinai-based jihadist group is claiming responsibility for a deadly bombing at a police compound in the Egyptian city of Mansoura.

15 people, including 12 police officers, have been killed.

Another 140 have been wounded in Tuesday's attack.

Egyptian Interim³ Prime Minister Hazem el-Beblawi says the attack will not deter⁴ the planning for a key referendum.

A referendum is planned for Egypt next month on a revised constitution.

This is the first step toward presidential elections.

 

Central Rural Work Conference concludes

Central authorities here in China have mapped out their agricultural policies for the coming year.

The new plans follow the conclusion of the annual central rural work conference here in Beijing this week.

A statement released after the meeting says food security and the welfare of farmers should be secured as the trend toward urbanization continues in China.

The government says it hopes to maintain food self-sufficiency in the coming year.

The statement also stresses that rural families should be the only ones eligible⁵ to contract rural land.

At the same time, the central authorities are also promising⁶ to strengthen food safety and improve agricultural product quality.

 

Chinese lawmakers to end reeducation through labor⁷

Chinese lawmakers has agreed to abolish the "reeducation through labor" program.

The decision was made by the Standing⁸ Committee of the National People's Congress during its bi-monthly session.

The top legislative⁹ body received the motion from the State Council, China's cabinet.

Lawmakers acknowledged the important role the system had played in the past. 

However they also agreed that the program has gradually become obsolete¹⁰ as it has been superseded¹¹ by other correction schemes, new laws, and amendments¹².

 

Former Pak president Musharraf to be charged for high treason

Pakistan's former president is going to be charged with High Treason on January 1st.

A special court set up to examine the case of Pervez Musharraf has made the pronouncent.

Musharraf's trial was originally set to begin yesterday.

However, it was postponed¹³ because of threats made against the former leader.

A five-kilo bomb and other weapons were found his route to court.

The High Treason charge stems from Musharraf's decision to suspend the country's constitution.

 

Snowden says mission already accomplished¹⁴

Edward Snowden says he has accomplished his mission.

He is the former National Security Agency contractor¹⁵ who embarrassed the US government by disclosed agency secrets.

U.S. President Barack Obama defended the NSA's domestic spying programs while promising some reforms in the upcoming new year.

Obama's comments came in a week in which a federal judge stated the NSA's collection program probably was unconstitutional. 

Snowden has been charged with espionage¹⁶, theft and unauthorized communication of national defense¹⁷ and intelligence information. 

He said people who accuse him of disloyalty mistake his purpose, which he said was to improve the NSA instead of bringing down it.

Snowden's revelations have outraged¹⁸ not only Americans and technical companies but also U.S. allies.

They were angered by documents showing that the United States was monitoring their leaders' cellphone calls and other virtual communications.

 

China's interbank rate slips after cash injection

China's interbank lending rate has dropped after the central bank injected 21-billion yuan into the system.

It's the first time in 2-weeks the People's Bank of China has sold 7-day reverse repo contracts.

The 7-day Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate, or SHIBOR, has fallen to 6.2 percent.

This is down from the over 8-percent level seen Monday.

Repo agreements are a process in which central banks purchase securities from banks with an agreement to resell them at future dates.

The SHIBOR rates have spiked¹⁹ as banks struggle to maintain funds, given their need to pay out obligations ahead of the New Year.

 

Suspected vaccine²⁰-related deaths in China rise to 8

A newborn has died in China's Sichuan province, the 8th death linked to a hepatitis-B vaccine made by a Chinese company.

Testing needs to be completed to confirm whether the vaccine caused the death.

The vaccine was manufactured by Beijing-based Tiantan Biological Products Co. Ltd., a major supplier of free hepatitis B vaccine.

Seven other infants have died since November after receiving hepatitis B vaccines²¹ made by Biokangtai, a company based in Shenzhen.

Authorities have suspended production of the hep-B vaccine at the firm in Shenzhen.

 

Chang`e 3 "sleeps" through lunar night

The moon rover and lander from China's Chang'e 3 lunar probe mission will "sleep" during the lunar night.

The forthcoming lunar night is expected to last for about two weeks.

During this time, the lander and rover will have to tolerate temperatures of minus 180 degrees Celsius²². 

Scientists have tested the lander to ensure it can stand the temperature drop. 

Both the lander and rover are said to be in stable condition now.

Chang'e-3 soft-landed on the moon earlier this month, making China the third country to carry out such a mission after the United States and Soviet²³ Union.

 

1 contingent   

adj.视条件而定的；n.一组，代表团，分遣队

参考例句：

• The contingent marched in the direction of the Western Hills.队伍朝西山的方向前进。
• Whether or not we arrive on time is contingent on the weather.我们是否按时到达要视天气情况而定。

2 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

3 interim   

adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间

参考例句：

• The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。
• It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

4 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

5 eligible   

adj.有条件被选中的；(尤指婚姻等)合适(意)的

参考例句：

• He is an eligible young man.他是一个合格的年轻人。
• Helen married an eligible bachelor.海伦嫁给了一个中意的单身汉。

6 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

7 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

8 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

9 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。

10 obsolete   

adj.已废弃的，过时的

参考例句：

• These goods are obsolete and will not fetch much on the market.这些货品过时了，在市场上卖不了高价。
• They tried to hammer obsolete ideas into the young people's heads.他们竭力把陈旧思想灌输给青年。

11 superseded   

[医]被代替的，废弃的

参考例句：

• The theory has been superseded by more recent research. 这一理论已为新近的研究所取代。
• The use of machinery has superseded manual labour. 机器的使用已经取代了手工劳动。

12 amendments   

（法律、文件的）改动( amendment的名词复数 )； 修正案； 修改； （美国宪法的）修正案

参考例句：

• The committee does not adequately consult others when drafting amendments. 委员会在起草修正案时没有充分征求他人的意见。
• Please propose amendments and addenda to the first draft of the document. 请对这个文件的初稿提出修改和补充意见。

13 postponed   

vt.& vi.延期，缓办，（使）延迟vt.把…放在次要地位；[语]把…放在后面（或句尾）vi.（疟疾等）延缓发作（或复发）

参考例句：

• The trial was postponed indefinitely. 审讯无限期延迟。
• The game has already been postponed three times. 这场比赛已经三度延期了。

14 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

15 contractor   

n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌

参考例句：

• The Tokyo contractor was asked to kick $ 6000 back as commission.那个东京的承包商被要求退还6000美元作为佣金。
• The style of house the contractor builds depends partly on the lay of the land.承包商所建房屋的式样，有几分要看地势而定。

16 espionage   

n.间谍行为，谍报活动

参考例句：

• The authorities have arrested several people suspected of espionage.官方已经逮捕了几个涉嫌从事间谍活动的人。
• Neither was there any hint of espionage in Hanley's early life.汉利的早期生活也毫无进行间谍活动的迹象。

17 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

18 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

19 spiked   

adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的

参考例句：

• The editor spiked the story. 编辑删去了这篇报道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They wondered whether their drinks had been spiked. 他们有些疑惑自己的饮料里是否被偷偷搀了烈性酒。 来自辞典例句

20 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

21 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

22 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

23 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。