Hourly News updated 10:00 2011/11/11

 Chinese president arrives in Hawaii for APEC meeting

Chinese President Hu Jintao has arrived in Hawaii for the Leaders Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

At the two-day meeting, leaders of the 21-member group are expected to discuss economic growth in the Asia-Pacific region, along with strengthening regional economic integration¹ and expanding trade.

 

 

APEC to address global financial instability

Following the recent G20 summit in France, this year's APEC forum² is expected to provide another opportunity for the leaders in the Asia-Pacific region to discuss global issues, particularly the current financial crisis in Europe.

Although the APEC forum in Hawaii is unlikely to produce big-ticket agreements, experts say its real value is to move forward the progress that has been achieved over the past few years in driving economic growth in the region.

Shen Minghui is an Asia-Pacific studies expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"What is the driving force behind sustainable development? I think on the one hand, it comes from free, convenient trade and investment; and on the other hand, it comes from deepening regional economic integration, which could mean promoting free trade areas here. Last year, the leaders agreed on how to start that. This year, they may focus on how to achieve it in details."

APEC is a non-binding economic bloc³ that aims to promote free trade and economic cooperation among its member economies.

 

 

RMB not ready to join basket of currencies: IMF chief

IMF chief Christine Lagarde says the time is not yet right for the Chinese currency, Renmingbi, to be included in IMF's Special Drawing Rights, or SDRs.

"I don't think the time has yet come, but there is a clear understanding that it will come in due course, and it will be a factor of the internationalization of the currency."

She made the comments following meetings with the Chinese leadership on the sidelines of the Beijing International Finance Forum.

The IMF created SDRs in 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves.

 

 

Gas burst in SW China's unlicensed coal mine kills 21

21 miners have been killed by a powerful explosion in a coal mine in Yunnan.

22 others remain trapped in the mine, which is in Shizong county, which is near the city of Qujing in the eastern part of Yunnan near the border with Guizhou.

The private coal mine has been operating without a license⁵ for a year.

Hundreds of rescuers are taking turns, making their way into the pit to try to find survivors⁶.

 

 

Deaths in fresh quake in Turkey caused by negligence⁷: expert

Experts in Turkey are now pinning the blame on negligence for the loss of 10 lives in Wednesday's 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Van.

A number of engineers are now suggesting that the inspections⁸ on the buildings that were left standing⁴ after the original quake in Van two weeks ago weren't good enough.

This latest quake, which hit at an extremely shallow depth, actually knocked down more buildings than the 7.2-magnitude quake that hit on October 23rd.

On top of the 10-people killed, 27-others were hurt in the latest quake in eastern Turkey.

 

 

Negotiators seal deal for Russia's WTO accession

The World Trade Organization finally approved the terms of Russia's accession after more than 18 years of talks.

As part of the accession, Russia has concluded 30 bilateral⁹ agreements on market access for services, and 57 for goods.

The country has also agreed to cap its average import tariffs¹¹ at 7.8 percent, and at 10.8 percent for imports of agricultural products.

Russia's accession is expected to be formally endorsed¹² at the WTO Ministerial Conference in Geneva next month.

 

 

Former ECB vice¹⁰ president named as Greece's new PM

Former European Central Bank vice-president Lucas Papademos has been named as Greece's new prime minister.

The announcement comes following days of negotiation¹³ efforts among political leaders to reach a deal.

Papademos will replace Greece's outgoing Prime Minister George Papandreou who decided¹⁴ to resign after a disastrous¹⁵ call for a referendum on the European aid package.

The new government will be sworn in this Friday.

 

 

Liberian incumbent¹⁶ president wins run-off: preliminary results

Preliminary results now indicate that Liberia's incumbent President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has won the run-off election.

Results indicate that Johnson-Sirleaf has won the run-off election by a nearly 10-to-1 margin¹⁷.

Initial figures indicate that the turnout for the vote came in at roughly 37-percent of the eligible¹⁸ voters.

Johnson-Sirlef's opponent, Winston Tubman, boycotted¹⁹ the run-off campaign, citing fraud in the first round of voting.

The victory will keep Johnson-Sirlef in office for another 6-year.

1 integration   

n.一体化，联合，结合

参考例句：

• We are working to bring about closer political integration in the EU.我们正在努力实现欧盟內部更加紧密的政治一体化。
• This was the greatest event in the annals of European integration.这是欧洲统一史上最重大的事件。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 bloc   

n.集团；联盟

参考例句：

• A solid bloc of union members support the decision.工会会员团结起来支持该决定。
• There have been growing tensions within the trading bloc.贸易同盟国的关系越来越紧张。

4 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。

5 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

6 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

7 negligence   

n.疏忽，玩忽，粗心大意

参考例句：

• They charged him with negligence of duty.他们指责他玩忽职守。
• The traffic accident was allegedly due to negligence.这次车祸据说是由于疏忽造成的。

8 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 bilateral   

adj.双方的，两边的，两侧的

参考例句：

• They have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal.他们一直在商谈一项双边贸易协定。
• There was a wide gap between the views of the two statesmen on the bilateral cooperation.对双方合作的问题，两位政治家各自所持的看法差距甚大。

10 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

11 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。

12 endorsed   

vt.& vi.endorse的过去式或过去分词形式v.赞同( endorse的过去式和过去分词 )；在（尤指支票的）背面签字；在（文件的）背面写评论；在广告上说本人使用并赞同某产品

参考例句：

• The committee endorsed an initiative by the chairman to enter discussion about a possible merger. 委员会通过了主席提出的新方案，开始就可能进行的并购进行讨论。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The government has broadly endorsed a research paper proposing new educational targets for 14-year-olds. 政府基本上支持建议对14 岁少年实行新教育目标的研究报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 negotiation   

n.谈判，协商

参考例句：

• They closed the deal in sugar after a week of negotiation.经过一星期的谈判，他们的食糖生意成交了。
• The negotiation dragged on until July.谈判一直拖到7月份。

14 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。

15 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

16 incumbent   

adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的

参考例句：

• He defeated the incumbent governor by a large plurality.他以压倒多数票击败了现任州长。
• It is incumbent upon you to warn them.你有责任警告他们。

17 margin   

n.页边空白；差额；余地，余裕；边，边缘

参考例句：

• We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train.我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。

18 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。

19 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。