Hourly News 每日新闻 2014-04-09

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with his counterpart Israel's Peres
Chinese President Xi Jinping has met visiting Israeli President Shimon Peres here in Beijing.
President Xi says he feels the current Middle East peace talks are at a critical juncture¹, and is calling for tangible² progress in Israeli-Palestinean peace talks at an early date.
He also notes China is willing to continue high-level exchanges with Israel and to set up an inter-governmental mechanism³ of economic and technological⁴ cooperation, mentioning sectors⁵ such as agriculture, environmental protection, and education.
For his part, Peres says Israel hopes China will continue playing an important role in the peace talks.
Peres kicked off a three-day visit here to China on Tuesday.
This is his second visit to China since becoming Israeli president in 2007.
 
Australian ship fails to detect further signals
The Australian ship that picked up possible signals that could be from the black box recorders of the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner has been unable to detect any further signals.
The signals were detected over the weekend but have not been heard since.
Search officials say it is crucial that the signal be picked up one more time before dropping a remote submersible into the water to scour⁶ the ocean floor for wreckage⁷.
Time is running out, because the locator beacons⁸ on the black box recorders have only approximately a month's worth of battery life.
Officials say the search will continue for the next several days, if need be.
It's now been a full month since the plane disappeared with 239 passengers and crew.
 
Iran nuclear talks restart
Iran and six world powers have started a new round of negotiations⁹ aimed at settling the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program.
Chief negotiators from Iran and the P5+1 group began a two-day meeting at the U.N. complex in Vienna.
The P5+1 Group is made up of the 5-permanment members of the UN Security Council and Germany.
Both sides say they want to start drafting a comprehensive agreement in May, some two months before the July deadline for finalizing¹⁰ the accord.
An interim¹¹ agreement which requires Iran curbing¹² some nuclear activities in return for limited sanctions relief is set to expire in a few weeks.
 
U.S. says Iran's selection of new UN envoy¹³ "not viable¹⁴"/xinhua
The United States says Iran's choice for its new UN ambassador is not 'viable.'
On Monday, the US Senate passed legislation denying entry into the US for the candidate, Hamid Aboutalebi.
The US is concerned about his alleged¹⁵ involvement in the 1979 Iran hostage crisis.
In November 1979 a militant¹⁶ group seized the US embassy in Iran, holding 52 Americans hostage for more than 400 days.
 
Russia accuses NATO of cold war mentality¹⁷ over diplomatic restrictions¹⁸
Russia is accusing NATO of holding on to an old "cold war" mentality in its handling of the current dispute over Ukraine.
The comments follow NATO's move to bar all but the most senior diplomats¹⁹ from NATO headquarters in Belgium.
Moscow says restrictions on its diplomats "confirm once again that the alliance is not capable of overcoming the 'cold war' mentality and prefers sanctions over dialogue.'
Ties between Russia and NATO have strained following a string of incidents in Ukraine which have led to that country's split.
 
US threatens Russia with tougher sanctions
The US is accusing Russia of stirring the unrest in Ukraine, and is again threatening further sanctions against Moscow if certain activities do not stop.
US Secretary of State John Kerry delivered the warning after pro-Russian activists²⁰ in eastern Ukraine vowed²¹ to vote on splitting from the country.
Kerry says Russian Special Forces and agents have been the catalyst²² behind the unrest.
Earlier, Russia's foreign ministry²³ accused the U.S. of shifting the blame on Russia, saying the Ukraine government is responsible for the unrest.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says a new draft constitution should be presented to these largely Russian-speaking regions.
Russia has demanded that Ukraine change its constitution to turn the country into a federation²⁴.
 
UN, partners renew anti-polio efforts in Middle East after first case detected in Iraq/xinhua
The United Nations and its partners in the fight against polio have re-launched vaccination²⁵ efforts in Iraq, Syria, and Egypt.
This, after a new case of the disease was discovered in a baby boy in Iraq. This is the first new case in that country in 14 years.
Officials say it's now even more imperative²⁶ to boose routine immunizations.
As of the end of last month, 27 children in Syria have been paralyzed by the polio virus. Prior to the current outbreak, no polio cases had been detected in the country since 1999.
 
WFP warns of potential drought in Syria
A UN agency is warning about a possible drought in Syria, saying it could cripple the country's already perilous²⁷ food-security situation.
The World Food Programme has been monitoring weather conditions in the war-torn country, saying the amount of rainfall since September has been less than half the long-term average.
The UN agency says the worst affected²⁸ drought areas account for half of Syria's wheat production.
The current dry conditions are expected to have an impact on the next cereal harvest.
The UN says 4 million people in Syria received food aid in March. The country's been in a state of civil war for about three years.
 

1 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

2 tangible   

adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的

参考例句：

• The policy has not yet brought any tangible benefits.这项政策还没有带来任何实质性的好处。
• There is no tangible proof.没有确凿的证据。

3 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

4 technological   

adj.技术的；工艺的

参考例句：

• A successful company must keep up with the pace of technological change.一家成功的公司必须得跟上技术变革的步伐。
• Today,the pace of life is increasing with technological advancements.当今， 随着科技进步，生活节奏不断增快。

5 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》

6 scour   

v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷

参考例句：

• Mother made me scour the family silver.母亲让我擦洗家里的银器。
• We scoured the telephone directory for clues.我们仔细查阅电话簿以寻找线索。

7 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

8 beacons   

灯塔( beacon的名词复数 )； 烽火； 指路明灯； 无线电台或发射台

参考例句：

• A chain of beacons was lit across the region. 整个地区点起了一系列灯塔。
• Lighthouse and beacons flash at night. 晚上灯塔与信号台闪着光。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 finalizing   

vt.完成（finalize的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• You may edit registered information any time during the finalizing period. 您可以在规定期限内随时编辑修改注册资料。 来自互联网
• Natsun Trimming & Ironing, Finalizing the Perfection. 40南山整烫，完美在此定格。 来自互联网

11 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。

12 curbing   

n.边石，边石的材料v.限制，克制，抑制( curb的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Progress has been made in curbing inflation. 在控制通货膨胀方面已取得了进展。
• A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 为了抑制通货膨胀实施了一系列的政策。

13 envoy   

n.使节，使者，代表，公使

参考例句：

• Their envoy showed no sign of responding to our proposals.他们的代表对我方的提议毫无回应的迹象。
• The government has not yet appointed an envoy to the area.政府尚未向这一地区派过外交官。

14 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

15 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

16 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

17 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

18 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

19 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 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》

21 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

22 catalyst   

n.催化剂，造成变化的人或事

参考例句：

• A catalyst is a substance which speeds up a chemical reaction.催化剂是一种能加速化学反应的物质。
• The workers'demand for better conditions was a catalyst for social change.工人们要求改善工作条件促进了社会变革。

23 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

24 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

25 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

26 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

27 perilous   

adj.危险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• The journey through the jungle was perilous.穿过丛林的旅行充满了危险。
• We have been carried in safety through a perilous crisis.历经一连串危机，我们如今已安然无恙。

28 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。