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Broadcasting Time: 08:00 AM, GMT:+8:00, 2009-03-10
China's Hu stresses stability in Tibet
Chinese President Hu Jintao has stressed the necessity to promote development and stability in Tibet.
The president joined a panel discussion with deputies of the National People's Congress from the Tibet Autonomous Region on Monday.
He urged them to safeguard "national security" and "social stability" and keep improving people's living standard.
Notes to the words:
stability n. 稳定(性), 稳度
security n. 平安; 安全(感); 确信; 安心
China launches first website on Tibet human rights
China's first website featuring human rights records of the Tibet Autonomous Region has gone online.
The site, Tibet328.cn, contains more than 10 channels, with its information posted in Chinese, English, French and German.
It conveys the tremendous changes in Tibet's human rights over the past 50 years.
Notes to the words:
convey vt. 传导, 运[传, 输]送
tremendous adj.可怕的; 惊人的; [口]极大的; 非常的
China to take decisive steps to build a socialistic legal system
China has pledged to take decisive steps this year towards establishing a socialistic legal system with Chinese characteristics.
Top legislator Wu Bangguo says the National People's Congress will study existing laws, and revise or eliminate outdated or unsuitable articles.
He says the NPC must improve the quality of legislation, consistent with the guiding principles of the 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.
Notes to the words:
pledge n. 誓言, 誓约;公约; 保证;保证物, 信物, 象征物
legislator n. 立法者, 立法官, 立法委员
consistent adj. 一贯的, 始终如一的
Chinese scholar says lack of fiscal transparency to blame for rampant corruption
A Chinese scholar of public policy says the lack of essential fiscal information available to the public is posing a serious threat to China's bid for a harmonious society and is to blame for the widespread corruption.
Jiang Hong, also a political advisor, says It's imperative to ensure fiscal transparency as the country is embarking on a massive economic stimulus plan.
He's proposed to revise the existing Budget Law to provide a legal basis for fiscal transparency.
Notes to the words:
harmonious adj. 调谐的, 相称的
imperative adj.绝对必要的; 紧急的; 迫切的
stimulus n. 刺激, 鼓励; 刺激物, 促进因素
transparency n. 透明性[度]; 透明物体
China has room to further cut interest rates: central bank official
A central bank official says China has room for further interest rate cuts in the face of the global financial crisis.
Vice governor of the People's Bank of China, Su Ning, told Xinhua the benchmark deposit and loan interest rates have been reduced for five times since last September and the room for further adjustment is "smaller but still exists".
China plans manned plunge to 7,000 meters below sea level
Chinese scientists are working on an ocean exploration program that may send men 7,000 meters deep into the ocean, for the first time in the world.
Sun Zhihui, director of the State Oceanic Administration, has disclosed that a deep-sea manned submersible for the mission was assembled last year and the test would begin this year.
So far, manned submersibles could only descend to 6,500 meters below the sea level.
Notes to the words:
submersible a. 能沉入水中的, 能潜水的
assemble vt. 收集, 集合
First China-assembled A320 to be delivered in June: mayor
The first Airbus A320 aircraft assembled in China is expected to be delivered in June.
This was announced by Mayor Huang Xingguo of Tianjin Municipality, the seat for the China assembly line.
He said a total of 11 A320s will be assembled at the Tianjin general assembly line, the first Airbus production facility outside Europe.
Obama lifts limit on embryonic stem cell research, scientists hail
U.S. President Barack Obama has issued an executive order that allows federal money to fund expanded embryonic stem cell research.
Before signing the order, Obama said he was ending what he believed was "a false choice between sound science and moral values."
But Obama asserted that the order would never allow human cloning.
U.S. law limits the use of federal money to make human stem cells, and former President George W. Bush tightened the restrictions even further to include work using such cells.
Notes to the words:
embryonic adj. 胚胎的; 胚芽的
restriction n. 限制, 限定, 束缚, 自制
Joint military drills heighten tensions over Korean Peninsula
The United States and South Korea have launched a massive joint military exercise amid strong opposition and repeated warnings from North Korea.
The 12-day war game involves 26,000 U.S. troops and over 50, 000 South Korean troops.
In protest, Pyongyang announced to cut off last military communications channel with South Korea and ordered its troops to be ready for a war.
Notes to the words:
warning n. 警告; 告诫
troop n. [常用复]军队, 部队
Tsvangirai says car crash an accident
Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says the car crash which injured himself and killed his wife was an accident.
After returning from medical treatment in neighboring Botswana, Tsvangirai said there was no foul play in the Friday crash.
His party, the Movement for Democratic Change, had called for an independent investigation.
Notes to the words:
neighboring adj. 邻近的,附近的
investigation n. 调查(报告)
Americans become less Christian: survey
And a survey has found that Americans have become less Christian than they were 20 years ago due to a growing rejection of religions.
Three out of four Americans now call themselves Christians, according to the American Religious Identification Survey by Trinity College in Connecticut.
In 1990, the figure was closer to nine out of 10 -- 86 percent.
At the same time there has been an increase in the number of people expressing no religious affiliation.
Notes to the words:
rejection n. 抵制; 拒绝; 抑制, 排斥
affiliation n.加入, 入会, 接纳, 合并;联盟, 关系