News & Reports 2010-07-03

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In This Edition

U.S. President Barack Obama signs into law far-reaching new sanctions on Iran that aim to squeeze the Islamic Republic's fuel imports and deepen its international isolation¹.

Thousands of Pakistanis march in Lahore to voice their anger at a deadly bomb attack on one of the country's most important Sufi shrines³.

A New York judge grants bail⁴ to one person accused of spying for Russia.

Online-shop owners in China now need to register in real names if they want to continue businesses on the internet.

Hot Issue Reports

U.S. President Barack Obama signs new sanctions against Iran

U.S. President Barack Obama has signed into law far-reaching new sanctions on Iran that aim to squeeze the Islamic Republic's fuel imports and deepen its international isolation.

The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act, will make it harder for the Iranian government to continue its nuclear program.

"With these sanctions—along with others—we are striking at the heart of the Iranian government's ability to fund and develop its nuclear programs. We are showing the Iranian government that its actions have consequences. And if it persists, the pressure will continue to mount, and its isolation will continue to deepen. There should be no doubt: the United States and the international community are determined⁵ to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons."

The new U.S. sanctions go much further than the measures agreed to by the U.N. Security Council in June. They penalize⁶ companies supplying Iran with gasoline and international banking⁷ institutions involved with Iran's increasingly powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps⁹ or its nuclear program.

The United States and its European allies suspect Iran is trying to build an atomic bomb, despite Tehran's insistence¹⁰ that its nuclear program is for the peaceful generation of electricity.

Pakistanis Protest Against Bombing in Lahore

Thousands of Pakistanis have marched in Lahore to voice their anger at a deadly bomb attack on one of the country's most important Sufi shrines.

The march, organised by the Ahle Sunnat Islamic Group, took place outside the now shattered Data Darbar Shrine², which was hit by two suicide bombers¹¹ late on Thursday.

Protesters held up placards and demanded justice for the victims of Thursday's violence.

Mohammad Noor Elahi is leader of the Ahle Sunnat Islamic Group.

"The Sufi saint Data is the chief of Sufis. His message is the message of peace. In Data Darbar Shrine the act of terrorism is a conspiracy¹² against human beings. We are requesting that the government eradicate¹³ these terrorists.

Meanwhile, Pakistan's Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, severely¹⁴ condemned¹⁶ the attack.

"I condemn¹⁵ this, this attack on Data Darbar Shrine in which our faith resides. I feel that these institutions of our ancestors should be protected. Who are these infidels? Don't they understand that they are worse than infidels, worse than animals, that they could commit such brutal¹⁷ attacks."

The suicide attack on Data Darbar Shrine has killed at least 42 people and left 180 wounded.

So far, there was no claim of responsibility.

Bail Hearings for Suspect Spies for Russia Finished and Postponed¹⁸ in US

A judge has granted bail to one person accused of spying for Russia and denied bail to two others after a prosecutor¹⁹ warned that the defendants²⁰ had plenty of helpers in the US to help them flee.

The ruling came from Magistrate²¹ Judge Ronald Ellis after 90 minutes of arguments at a bail hearing in New York on Friday.

The magistrate said Vicky Pelaez, a Spanish-language journalist who lives in Yonkers, New York, could be freed on bail of 250-thousand US dollars plus house arrest.

Carlos Moreno is the lawyer for Vicky Pelaez.

"Obviously we're excited that bail has been set. It's very early in the case. We still don't know all the facts, but we are confident that Vicky Pelaez is innocent of these charges, and when the time comes, we intend to prove just that."
Ellis denied bail to Richard and Cynthia Murphy of Montclair, New Jersey²².

A bail hearing was postponed for Juan Lazaro, Pelaez' husband.

Prosecutors²³ said that Lazaro told investigators²⁴ that Juan Lazaro is not his true name and that he passed letters to Russian intelligence.

A magistrate judge in Virginia postponed a hearing for three other people accused of being foreign agents, Michael Zottoli, Patricia Mills and Mikhail Semenko. It has been rescheduled for tomorrow.

A judge in a federal court in Boston gave another suspect, Donald Heathfield and his wife, Tracey Lee Ann Foley, of Cambridge, until July 16, 2010, to prepare for a bail hearing.

How will the Spy Case Affect US-Russia Relations?

The arrests in America of the alleged²⁵ Russian spies comes at a time of improving relations between the two countries. So, what lies behind the spying allegation? Will the latest incident change things? for more, "People in the Know" host Nigel Ballard talked with Alex Nice from the Russia and Eurasia Programme, at The Royal Institute of International Affairs, in London.

Sana in Shanghai

The USA pavilion has welcomed some 2 million people through its doors since the Shanghai Expo opened in May. And today was US national pavilion day , just ahead of fourth of july Independence Day in the United States this weekend. Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright was at the Expo to celebrate. Sana Qadar has more from Shanghai.

Australia agrees deal to reduce new mining tax

The Australian government has reached a deal with mining companies over controversial tax plans.

Former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd had announced plans for a 40% tax on miners' profits.

But a compromise agreement negotiated by his successor, Julia Gillard, has now reduced the rate to 30% for coal and iron ore miners.

Gillard announces the new profit-based resources rent tax in Canberra.

"This will deliver better returns for the resources that Australian own and it can only be dug up once. It will end uncertainty²⁶ and division. It will invest a portion of the value of our resources into better superannuation for our people"

The government says petroleum²⁷ and gas operations will still pay a pre-existing 40% tax rate, but that will now cover onshore oil and gas projects as well as the offshore²⁸ operations previously²⁹ subject to it.

The plans are still expected to raise billions of dollars for the government.

China Launches Real-Name Registration³⁰ for Online Shops

Online shop owners in China are now required to submit their personal information, including real names and addresses, to e-commerce regulators before they can operate online businesses.

The country's first regulation for online goods and services transactions, issued by the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, China's market regulator has taken effect.

ECFA Boost Economic Development of the Mainland and Taiwan

The Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, or ECFA between the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan is bringing mutual³¹ benefit to both sides.

Wen Rende, a fruit trader from Taiwan, says more Taiwan fruit is exported to the mainland since the deal was signed.

"Preciously, only 15 kinds of Taiwan fruit have been granted zero-tariff³² treatment on the mainland. After the ECFA was signed, people from the mainland can buy more kinds of Taiwan fruit. Agriculture products from Taiwan only account for 4.5 percent of the mainland market. I believe it has room to grow."

The free-trade deal provides Taiwan firms tariff advantages in some 530 categories of goods bound for the mainland, of which 18 items are agricultural and fish products. These include 5 kinds of Taiwan fruit such as pitaya and orange. The mainland also promises to remove tariffs³³ on these items within 2 years.

The pact³⁴ will also give Taiwan firms access to 11 service sectors³⁵ on the mainland including banking, accounting³⁶, insurance and hospitals. Taiwan will open 9 service sectors to the mainland.

Enthusiastic Chinese World Cup Fans Ready for Quarter Finals

Some abroad may assume that because China's football team didn't qualify for the 2010 World Cup, this would dampen the enthusiasm that Chinese fans have for the internationally renowned³⁷ sport. In the big cities at least, it appears that nothing could be further from the truth.

This year's World Cup, espoused³⁸ with innovative³⁹ technology and a completely unpredictable group stage round, has led to unprecedented⁴⁰ exposure in China.

Media Digest

From the Los Angeles Times: Many Starbucks consumers are worried that there might not be much room for them in the chain's shops in the future.

Starbucks had just instituted a free, unlimited⁴¹ Wi-Fi Internet policy for patrons at its nearly 6,800 company-operated stores in the U.S., plus 750 locations in Canada.

Six months ago, McDonald's launched free Wi-Fi at about 11,500 U.S. locations. Starbucks and McDonalds have been butting⁴² heads ever since McDonald's debuted⁴³ its McCafe line of coffee drinks.

Starbucks hopes it will reap financial rewards from coffee drinkers who stay longer and buy more drinks to fuel marathon Internet sessions.

Out of the New York Times: Tibetans live at altitudes of 13,000 feet, breathing air that has 40 percent less oxygen than is available at sea level, yet suffer very little mountain sickness. The reason, according to a team of biologists in China, is human evolution, in what may be the most recent and fastest instance detected so far.

Comparing the genomes of Tibetans and Han Chinese, biologists found that at least 30 genes⁴⁴ had undergone evolutionary⁸ change in the Tibetans as they adapted to life on the high plateau. The Beijing Genomics Institute said Tibetans and Han Chinese split apart as recently as 3,000 years ago.

Until now, the most recent such change was the spread of lactose tolerance — the ability to digest milk in adulthood — among northern Europeans about 7,500 years ago
 

1 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

2 shrine   

n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣

参考例句：

• The shrine was an object of pilgrimage.这处圣地是人们朝圣的目的地。
• They bowed down before the shrine.他们在神龛前鞠躬示敬。

3 shrines   

圣地，圣坛，神圣场所( shrine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All three structures dated to the third century and were tentatively identified as shrines. 这3座建筑都建于3 世纪，并且初步鉴定为神庙。
• Their palaces and their shrines are tombs. 它们的宫殿和神殿成了墓穴。

4 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

5 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

6 penalize   

vt.对…处以刑罚，宣告…有罪；处罚

参考例句：

• It would be unfair to penalize those without a job.失业人员待遇低下是不公平的。
• The association decided not to penalize you for the race.赛马协会决定对你不予处罚。

7 banking   

n.银行业，银行学，金融业

参考例句：

• John is launching his son on a career in banking.约翰打算让儿子在银行界谋一个新职位。
• He possesses an extensive knowledge of banking.他具有广博的银行业务知识。

8 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
• These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

9 corps   

n.(通信等兵种的)部队；(同类作的)一组

参考例句：

• The medical corps were cited for bravery in combat.医疗队由于在战场上的英勇表现而受嘉奖。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

10 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

11 bombers   

n.轰炸机( bomber的名词复数 )；投弹手；安非他明胶囊；大麻叶香烟

参考例句：

• Enemy bombers carried out a blitz on the city. 敌军轰炸机对这座城市进行了突袭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The Royal Airforce sill remained dangerously short of bombers. 英国皇家空军仍未脱离极为缺乏轰炸机的危境。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 conspiracy   

n.阴谋，密谋，共谋

参考例句：

• The men were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.这些人被裁决犯有阴谋杀人罪。
• He claimed that it was all a conspiracy against him.他声称这一切都是一场针对他的阴谋。

13 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

14 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

15 condemn   

vt.谴责，指责；宣判(罪犯)，判刑

参考例句：

• Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他，而有些人谴责他。
• We mustn't condemn him on mere suppositions.我们不可全凭臆测来指责他。

16 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

17 brutal   

adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的

参考例句：

• She has to face the brutal reality.她不得不去面对冷酷的现实。
• They're brutal people behind their civilised veneer.他们表面上温文有礼，骨子里却是野蛮残忍。

18 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。

19 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

20 defendants   

被告( defendant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The courts heard that the six defendants had been coerced into making a confession. 法官审判时发现6位被告人曾被迫承认罪行。
• As in courts, the defendants are represented by legal counsel. 与法院相同，被告有辩护律师作为代表。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

21 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。

22 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

23 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

24 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

26 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

27 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

28 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

29 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

30 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

31 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

32 tariff   

n.关税，税率；(旅馆、饭店等)价目表，收费表

参考例句：

• There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
• The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。

33 tariffs   

关税制度； 关税( tariff的名词复数 )； 关税表； （旅馆或饭店等的）收费表； 量刑标准

参考例句：

• British industry was sheltered from foreign competition by protective tariffs. 保护性关税使英国工业免受国际竞争影响。
• The new tariffs have put a stranglehold on trade. 新的关税制对开展贸易极为不利。

34 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

35 sectors   

n.部门( sector的名词复数 )；领域；防御地区；扇形

参考例句：

• Berlin was divided into four sectors after the war. 战后柏林分成了4 个区。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Industry and agriculture are the two important sectors of the national economy. 工业和农业是国民经济的两个重要部门。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

36 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

37 renowned   

adj.著名的，有名望的，声誉鹊起的

参考例句：

• He is one of the world's renowned writers.他是世界上知名的作家之一。
• She is renowned for her advocacy of human rights.她以提倡人权而闻名。

38 espoused   

v.（决定）支持，拥护（目标、主张等）( espouse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• They espoused the notion of equal opportunity for all in education. 他们赞同在教育方面人人机会均等的观念。
• The ideas she espoused were incomprehensible to me. 她所支持的意见令我难以理解。 来自《简明英汉词典》

39 innovative   

adj.革新的，新颖的，富有革新精神的

参考例句：

• Discover an innovative way of marketing.发现一个创新的营销方式。
• He was one of the most creative and innovative engineers of his generation.他是他那代人当中最富创造性与革新精神的工程师之一。

40 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

41 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

42 butting   

用头撞人（犯规动作）

参考例句：

• When they were talking Mary kept butting in. 当他们在谈话时，玛丽老是插嘴。
• A couple of goats are butting each other. 两只山羊在用角互相顶撞。

43 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

44 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪