Hourly News updated 10:00 2011/10/25

 Turkey quake survivors¹ spend another cold night outdoors

Thousands of people are spending a second freezing night outdoors, following Sunday's 7.2-magnitude earthquake in eastern Turkey.

Nearly 280 people are confirmed dead, with over 13-hundred reported as injured.

Rescuers with trucks and cranes are racing² against time, searching for possible survivors trapped under the rubble³.

Some 24-hundred rescue workers are now involved in the relief effort with volunteers from the Red Crescent Society setting up tents at local sports stadium to accommodate survivors.

 

 

Libya: NTC promises to disarm⁴ Libya soon

Libya's National Transitional Council is now pushing ahead moves to disarm the country.

It comes just a day after the interim⁵ government declared the country as officially "liberated⁶".

However, NTC General Fatoori Maghrebi says the militias⁷ that helped overthrow⁸ former leader Muammar Gaddafi will not be asked to hand in their weapons immediately, saying that since they do not yet have a national army in Libya, the void' of security preservation⁹ in being filled by the rebels.

Meanwhile, a human rights organization now claims they have found over 50 Gaddafi loyalists executed at a hotel near Sirte.

 

 

Official results of Tunisia vote expected Tuesday

The official results of Tunisia's national election are expected out later on this Tuesday.

Popular Islamic party Ennahda is claiming victory.

However, polling indicates that Ennahda has not claimed enough votes for an outright¹⁰ majority.

This weekend's voting is meant to create a new national assembly, which will be tasked with creating a new constitution for Tunisia.

The voting comes 9 months after anti-government protests in the country sparked similar uprisings across the Middle East.

 

 

Top DPRK leader meets Chinese vice¹¹ premier¹² on ties

North Korean top leader Kim Jong Il has met visiting Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang in Pyongyang.

Li Keqiang has told Kim Jong Il that the Chinese side is working to try to create the conditions for the resumption of the 6-party nuclear talks.

For his part, Kim says the North Korean side hopes the six-party talks will be restarted as soon as possible.

Li Keqiang's visit to North Korea is going to be followed up by a trip to South Korea this week as well.

 

 

Presentations at direct talks with DPRK "useful": U.S. envoy¹³

A U.S. envoy says the presentations made during the latest round of direct talks between North Korea and the United States are "useful".

The talks are being headed by the United States special envoy for North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, and North Korean vice Foreign Minister Kim Kye Gwan.

This round of talks is scheduled to run through this Tuesday in Geneva.

It's believed these discussions could set the template for a possible re-start of the 6-party talks, which have been shelved since late 2009 when North Korea walked away from the table.

 

 

U.S. to maintain strong presence in Asia-Pacific: Defense¹⁴ Secretary

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is pledging a strong US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

The pledge comes despite looming¹⁵ defense spending cuts at home.

"We will continue to have force projection¹⁶ in this area, we will continue to not only maintain but to strengthen our presence in this part of the world. We are a pacific nation, and we will have a pacific presence in this area."

Panetta has made the comments at an air base on the outskirts¹⁷ of Tokyo.

This is Panetta's first trip to Asia since taking over the Pentagon's top job in July.

Panetta is also scheduled to visit South Korea after his stay in Japan.

 

 

US ambassador pulled from Syria

Citing concerns over his safety, the US State Department has decided¹⁸ to withdraw its ambassador to Syria.

Robert Ford¹⁹ has angered the Syrian government by expressing solidarity²⁰ with the demonstrators.

He's also led diplomatic missions within Syria that have caused significant frustration²¹ with the Syrian government.

Last month he was pelted²² with eggs and tomatoes while trying to visit a member of the Syrian opposition²³.

In the wake of the United States' move, the Syrian government has since recalled its ambassador to the US for, what's being described, as 'consultations²⁴.'

 

 

Chinese lawmakers consider adding fingerprint²⁵ in resident ID cards

China's top legislature is now considering adding fingerprints²⁶ to people's resident identity cards in a bid to combat counterfeiting²⁸.

The same draft amendment²⁹ under review also forbids government staff and other institutions from leaking people's personal information.

In addition, the draft would allow police officers to check people's identification cards at transportation hubs and at large-scale events.

National identity cards have been in circulation since 1985 here in China.

However, the cards are relatively³⁰ low-tech, and are said to be easy to counterfeit²⁷.

 

 

Sex education books break down traditional barriers

New sex education textbooks have been introduced to students in Shanghai.

The controversial text books are divided into three volumes.

They'll be used to educate children at 6-different grade levels.

Among the content, the texts will help educate children about how to protect themselves from sexual assault.

The introduction of sex education text books at schools in Beijing this summer triggered heated debate amongst parents and educators.

1 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

2 racing   

n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的

参考例句：

• I was watching the racing on television last night.昨晚我在电视上看赛马。
• The two racing drivers fenced for a chance to gain the lead.两个赛车手伺机竞相领先。

3 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

4 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

5 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。

6 liberated   

a.无拘束的，放纵的

参考例句：

• The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。
• The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

7 militias   

n.民兵组织，民兵( militia的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The troops will not attempt to disarm the warring militias. 部队并不打算解除战斗中的民兵武装。 来自辞典例句
• The neighborhood was a battleground for Shiite and Sunni militias. 那里曾是什叶派和逊尼派武装分子的战场。 来自互联网

8 overthrow   

v.推翻，打倒，颠覆；n.推翻，瓦解，颠覆

参考例句：

• After the overthrow of the government,the country was in chaos.政府被推翻后，这个国家处于混乱中。
• The overthrow of his plans left him much discouraged.他的计划的失败使得他很气馁。

9 preservation   

n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持

参考例句：

• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。
• The picture is in an excellent state of preservation.这幅画保存得极为完好。

10 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。

11 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。

12 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。

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 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。

15 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

16 projection   

n.发射，计划，突出部分

参考例句：

• Projection takes place with a minimum of awareness or conscious control.投射在最少的知觉或意识控制下发生。
• The projection of increases in number of house-holds is correct.对户数增加的推算是正确的。

17 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

18 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。

19 Ford   

n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过

参考例句：

• They were guarding the bridge,so we forded the river.他们驻守在那座桥上，所以我们只能涉水过河。
• If you decide to ford a stream,be extremely careful.如果已决定要涉过小溪，必须极度小心。

20 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。

21 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。

22 pelted   

（连续地）投掷( pelt的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续抨击； 攻击； 剥去…的皮

参考例句：

• The children pelted him with snowballs. 孩子们向他投掷雪球。
• The rain pelted down. 天下着大雨。

23 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。

24 consultations   

n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找

参考例句：

• Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

25 fingerprint   

n.指纹；vt.取...的指纹

参考例句：

• The fingerprint expert was asked to testify at the trial.指纹专家应邀出庭作证。
• The court heard evidence from a fingerprint expert.法院听取了指纹专家的证词。

26 fingerprints   

n.指纹( fingerprint的名词复数 )v.指纹( fingerprint的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Everyone's fingerprints are unique. 每个人的指纹都是独一无二的。
• They wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind (them). 他们戴着手套，以免留下指纹。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 counterfeit   

vt.伪造，仿造；adj.伪造的，假冒的

参考例句：

• It is a crime to counterfeit money.伪造货币是犯罪行为。
• The painting looked old but was a recent counterfeit.这幅画看上去年代久远，实际是最近的一幅赝品。

28 counterfeiting   

n.伪造v.仿制，造假( counterfeit的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was sent to prison for counterfeiting five-dollar bills. 他因伪造5美元的钞票被捕入狱。 来自辞典例句
• National bureau released securities, certificates with security anti-counterfeiting paper technical standards. 国家质量技术监督局发布了证券、证件用安全性防伪纸张技术标准。 来自互联网

29 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

30 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。