Hourly News updated 10:00 2011/11/04

 G20 leaders call for unity¹ and saving euro zone

G20 leaders are now sending out strong messages, calling for unity to tackle the world's economic woes² following the first day's meeting.

Chinese President Hu Jintao has been stressing cooperation, saying that China is going to maintain a position of balanced growth.

However, he is also warning of economic consequences if emerging markets continue to be pressed to revalue their currencies and reduce exports.

Meanwhile, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is vowing³ to protect the euro zone.

Sarkozy says the G20 leaders have shown a willingness to unite behind Greece by coordinating⁴ their economic policies.

He also describes the talks between himself and Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou as positive "electric shock therapy."

 

 

ECB cut interest rate to over 1 percent

The European Central Bank has surprised the markets with an interest rate.

The ECB has cut its rate by a quarter points to 1.25 percent.

The move has pushed up Germany's DAX by almost four percent.

The decision to cut rate comes despite inflation in the euro zone hovering⁵ around 3-percent for the 2nd straight month.

That's well above the ECB's target of under 2 percent.

 

 

Gaddafi's son Saif may be trying to flee Libya, ICC

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor⁶ says Muammar Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam may be trying to flee Libya.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo says his sources are suggesting that Saif al-Islam may be heading for Niger with the help of mercenaries.

"We are also receiving information that a group of mercenaries may be endeavoring to facilitate Saif al-Islam's escape from Libya. We are calling upon the state to do all it can to disrupt any such operation."

The ICC has been talking with intermediaries to try to secure Saif's arrest following the death of his father last month.

Saif has been in hiding for months.

He is wanted by the ICC for murder and persecution⁷.

 

 

Palestine will not accept anything less than full UN membership: FM

The Palestinian foreign minister now says they will not accept anything less than full UN membership.

Riyad al-Malki says an upgrade to an observer state wouldn't be good enough for them.

"We have decided⁸ not to go to the General Assembly and going to the Security Council is really to prove that we are not going to accept anything less than a full membership. You know, being in observer status, non-member state is really...it's an option that we have had for so long, we have had for so long."

The Palestinians are currently designated as an observer entity⁹ at the United Nations.

 

 

Fresh violence kills dozens in Syria's central province of Homs: reports

Varying reports are now suggesting that, despite a pledge by the government, the violence in Syria has not abated¹⁰.

Local activists¹¹ are reporting that close to 20 people have been killed in fresh clashes in the area around Homs, which is one of Syria's most volatile¹² areas.

The deaths have taken place following the Syrian government's agreement to implement¹³ an Arab League-backed peace initiative.

That deal would see the Syrian armed forces move out of urban areas, along with the release of detainees and the start of talks with the opposition¹⁴.

Meanwhile, the US State Department says its seen no evidence that President Bashar al-Assad plans to live up to the pledges he's made to the Arab League.

 

 

Kenyan troops kill 18 Al-Shabaab fighters transporting fuel

Kenyan military forces are continuing their push into southern Somalia, killing¹⁵ 18 suspected al-Shabaab militants¹⁶.

The al-Shabaab fighters were all killed in a single attack on their boat in the Indian Ocean.

At the same time, the Kenyan military says it's going to continue its push into southern Somalia to try to root out more al-Shabaab fighters.

The push into the country by Kenya comes after the kidnapping of foreigners inside Kenyan territory by suspected al-Shabaab militants.

 

 

HP unveils Slate¹⁷ 2 tablet for business

Hewlett-Packard has introduced its Slate 2 Tablet PC, a business-targeted tablet computer running the Windows operating system.

Slate 2, featuring an 8.9- inch screen, is said to come with a faster start up time and a longer-life battery.

It also has a Bluetooth keyboard dock and Swype keyboard which allows users to enter words by sliding a finger or stylus from letter to letter, lifting only between words.

The device goes on sale for 699 U.S. dollars later this month.

 

 

2 killed, 59 trapped in central China coal mine accident

At least 2 people are dead, and 59 others are trapped underground, after a cave-in at a mine in Henan.

The accident happened at a mine in the city of Sanmenxia last night.

There were 75 workers in the mine when the cave-in took place.

14 managed to escape.

Rescue work is on going.

 

 

China disabled art troupe¹⁸ launches first charity show in Yangon

A disabled art troupe from China has staged its first charity show at the National Theater in the city of Yangon in Myanmar.

Earning from the show, titled "My Dream," is going to be donated to disabled people in Myanmar.

Deaf and blind performers have taken part in the performances, which have included dances and a performance of Peking Opera.

The charity event will run through this Friday.

1 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

2 woes   

困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉

参考例句：

• Thanks for listening to my woes. 谢谢您听我诉说不幸的遭遇。
• She has cried the blues about its financial woes. 对于经济的困难她叫苦不迭。

3 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

4 coordinating   

v.使协调，使调和( coordinate的现在分词 )；协调；协同；成为同等

参考例句：

• He abolished the Operations Coordinating Board and the Planning Board. 他废除了行动协调委员会和计划委员会。 来自辞典例句
• He's coordinating the wedding, and then we're not going to invite him? 他是来协调婚礼的，难道我们不去请他？ 来自电影对白

5 hovering   

鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫

参考例句：

• The helicopter was hovering about 100 metres above the pad. 直升机在离发射台一百米的上空盘旋。
• I'm hovering between the concert and the play tonight. 我犹豫不决今晚是听音乐会还是看戏。

6 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。

7 persecution   

n. 迫害,烦扰

参考例句：

• He had fled from France at the time of the persecution. 他在大迫害时期逃离了法国。
• Their persecution only serves to arouse the opposition of the people. 他们的迫害只激起人民对他们的反抗。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 entity   

n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物

参考例句：

• The country is no longer one political entity.这个国家不再是一个统一的政治实体了。
• As a separate legal entity,the corporation must pay taxes.作为一个独立的法律实体，公司必须纳税。

10 abated   

减少( abate的过去式和过去分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼）

参考例句：

• The worker's concern about cuts in the welfare funding has not abated. 工人们对削减福利基金的关心并没有减少。
• The heat has abated. 温度降低了。

11 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

13 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

14 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

15 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

16 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

17 slate   

n.板岩，石板，石片，石板色，候选人名单；adj.暗蓝灰色的，含板岩的；vt.用石板覆盖，痛打，提名，预订

参考例句：

• The nominating committee laid its slate before the board.提名委员会把候选人名单提交全体委员会讨论。
• What kind of job uses stained wood and slate? 什么工作会接触木头污浊和石板呢？

18 troupe   

n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团

参考例句：

• The art troupe is always on the move in frontier guards.文工团常年在边防部队流动。
• The troupe produced a new play last night.剧团昨晚上演了一部新剧。