Hourly News 每日新闻 2014-01-31

 President Xi Jinping extends his Lunar New Year greetings to all Chinese compatriots and expatriots

Chinese president Xi Jinping has delivered his Lunar New Year greetings to all Chinese people living here in China and around the world.

"The Chinese Lunar New Year is a long-held traditional holiday for the Chinese people and it is commonly celebrated¹ by Chinese people across the globe. Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my best new year wishes to all ethnic² groups living on the Chinese mainland, to all the compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and those living overseas. I would also like to wish good health, happy family and success for the Chinese expatriots living in all countries and regions across the world. I call on the Chinese people be spirited as the Dragon and energetic as the horse in the coming new year, to strive for our common prosperity. And lastly, let's hope our motherland could become ever more prosperous and our people of various ethnic groups become ever more happy."

Ahead of the Lunar New Year, the Chinese President also issued a call for ethnic harmony among those living here in China.

He made the comments while touring Inner Mongolia this week.

 

Chinese president lauds³ CELAC statement on China-LatAm forum⁴

Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent his congratulations to the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States following the conclusion of its latest summit in Havana, Cuba.

Xi Jinping says CELAC has played a positive role in pushing forward regional cooperation since its inception⁵.

He also says the bloc's international influence has been growing. 

Xi Jinping says his government also stands ready to work with Latin America in actively⁶ building up the forum as an important platform for China-Latin American ties. 

CELAC is made up of 33 countries in the western hemisphere, excluding the United States and Canada.

 

Syria gov't, opposition⁷ discuss security situation on ground: Brahimi

A 6th day of meetings among the UN, the Syrian government and the opposition has come to an end.

UN-Arab League mediator⁸ Lakhdar Brahimi says the two sides discussed the security situation on the ground in Syria.

He says both sides engaged in a "very long meeting" focusing on security and terrorism, saying both sides do agree that there is terrorism taking place in the country.

Brahimi has described the session as containing both "tension" and "rather promising⁹ moments."

This current round of negotiations¹⁰ is due to conclude later on this Friday.

Brahimi says another set of discussions will probably take place in about a week's time.

 

Egypt's cabinet accepts deputy PM's resignation

Egypt's deputy Prime Minister has resigned ahead of an anticipated cabinet reshuffle.

In tendering his resignation, Ziad Bahaa-Eddin says his time will be better spent preparing for the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Egypt.

Bahaa-Eddin has been critical of a number of decision by Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi, including the controversial protest law in Egypt.

There has been a lot of anticipation¹¹ about a major cabinet reshuffle, as anticipation grows about the expected presidential aspirations¹² of the current Defense¹³ minister, former Army Chief Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi.

Egypt is headed toward presidential and parliamentary elections, following the approval of a new consitution earlier this month by voters.

 

Obama remarks on Iran "unrealistic": Iranian spokesperson

The Iranian government is moving to rebuff comments from US President Barack Obama about the country's nuclear program.

A spokesperson for the Iranian foreign ministry¹⁵ is being quoted as saying comments Obama made this week in his State of the Union address were both "unrealistic" and "unconstructive."

Addressing Congress this week, Obama suggested it is "American dipomacy, backed by pressure, that has halted progress of Iran's nuclear program".

The Iranian government is describing this contention¹⁶ as an "incorrect interpretation¹⁷" of Iran's willingness to forge a new relationship with the US and its allies.

 

Abe says ties intact with U.S. despite lingering disapproval¹⁸ over war-shrine¹⁹ visit

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told lawmakers that he believes his administration's relationship with its key ally, the United States, remains²⁰ unaffected by his trip late last year to the controversial Yasakuni Shrine.

Speaking to the Upper House of parliament, Abe has told lawmakers he believes the Japan-US alliance is "solid."

The Obama administration took issue with Abe's trip to Yasukuni in December, describing the move as "disappointing."

Abe's visit to the shrine caused immediate²¹ anger here in East Asia, as trips to the shrine in Tokyo are viewed as disrespectful to the countries Japan invaded and occupied during the first half of the 20th century.

 

Media day held ahead of Superbowl

Ahead of the much-anticipated Superbowl this coming Sunday in New Jersey²², the teams have taken part in the mandatory²³ media day event.

Much of the focus of the day was on Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch, who has had a very cold relationship with the media.

Lynch spoke¹⁴ for only 7 1/2 minutes, mainly saying that it will just be good to get back to football.

Sunday's Superbowl in New Jersey pits the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks against AFC champs, the Denver Broncos.

Kickoff will take place around 7:20am Monday morning, Beijing time.

1 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 lauds   

v.称赞，赞美( laud的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The work lauds the victor, Liu Bang. 该曲歌颂了胜利者刘邦。 来自互联网
• The modern world lauds them for their vigor and intensity of purpose, and for their accomplishment. 诸君之祖先曾以大无畏之精神，冒不可思议之困难，筚路褴褛以开发新大陆。 来自互联网

4 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。

5 inception   

n.开端，开始，取得学位

参考例句：

• The programme has been successful since its inception.这个方案自开始实施以来一直卓有成效。
• Julia's worked for that company from its inception.自从那家公司开办以来，朱莉娅一直在那儿工作。

6 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

7 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。

8 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

9 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

10 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。

11 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

12 aspirations   

强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音

参考例句：

• I didn't realize you had political aspirations. 我没有意识到你有政治上的抱负。
• The new treaty embodies the aspirations of most nonaligned countries. 新条约体现了大多数不结盟国家的愿望。

13 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

14 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

15 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。

16 contention   

n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张

参考例句：

• The pay increase is the key point of contention. 加薪是争论的焦点。
• The real bone of contention,as you know,is money.你知道，争论的真正焦点是钱的问题。

17 interpretation   

n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理

参考例句：

• His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。
• Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

18 disapproval   

n.反对，不赞成

参考例句：

• The teacher made an outward show of disapproval.老师表面上表示不同意。
• They shouted their disapproval.他们喊叫表示反对。

19 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。

20 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

21 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

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 mandatory   

adj.命令的；强制的；义务的；n.受托者

参考例句：

• It's mandatory to pay taxes.缴税是义务性的。
• There is no mandatory paid annual leave in the U.S.美国没有强制带薪年假。