MY NOTEBOOK

The US and the European Union yesterday raised the stakes in a growing dispute with China lodging a joint case at the World Trade Organisation over export quotas on raw materials in the latest sign of friction over trade.

stake:赌注

export quota:出口配额

美国和欧盟昨日加大了在与中国日益升级的贸易争端中的赌注，就中国原的材料出口配额向世界贸易组织(WTO)提出联合上诉，这是双方贸易摩擦的最新迹象。

The move comes as countries look for ways to protect domestic companies during the downturn. The US has introduced controversial “Buy American” legislation and China has responded with “Buy Chinese” provisions with the US stepping up diplomatic complaints over China's rules on PC sales.

In a co-ordinated filing, the EU and the US complained to the WT

My labels are as follows:

A:apple

B:bee

C:cap

D:deer

E:egg

F:flag

G:gun

H:hand

I:island

J:jeep

K:king

L:latch

M:MCD

N:nurse

O:oasis

P:pig

■■★●◆lightpink（浅粉红)
■■★●◆pink（粉红）
■■★●◆crimson（腥红）
■■★●◆lavenderblush（苍白的紫罗兰红）
■■★●◆palevioletred（脸红的淡紫红）
■■★●◆hotpink（热情的粉红）
■■★●◆mediumvioletred（适中的紫罗兰红）
■■★●◆orchid（兰花紫）
■■★●◆thistle（苍紫）
■■★●◆plum（轻紫）
■■★●◆violet（紫罗兰）
■■★●◆magenta（洋紫)
■■★●◆fuchsia（紫红）
■■★●◆darkmagenta（深洋紫）
■■★●◆purple（紫）
■■★●◆mediumorchid（适中的兰花紫）
■■

7 | Pyongyang Heir Apparent

The youngest of Kim Jong Il's three sons reportedly has been given a post at North Korea's prestigious National Defense Commission, an appointment that suggests he is being groomed to succeed his father as the Hermit Kingdom's next leader. Kim Jong Un, in his mid-20s, is reputed to be the favorite of the Dear Leader--whom he is said to resemble in looks and temperament. Unconfirmed reports earlier this year touted his selection.

Notes:

1.Heir Apparent:有继承权的人

2.resemble in looks and temperament：外表和脾气都很像

3.tout: 吹捧

9 | Taipei Taiwan: Back In

3 | Iceland

After Election, an E.U. Push Following her leftist coalition's April 25 electoral win, Prime Minister Johanna Sigurdardottir said she would pursue E.U. membership to ensure her recession-battered nation's financial stability. Analysts say the E.U. would favor Iceland's accession, but Sigurdardottir must sway skeptical coalition partners and a divided citizenry skittish about yielding sovereignty over Iceland's fishing waters.

Notes:

1.leftist:左翼的

2.skeptical：怀疑性的

4 | Washington Don't F ___ With the FCC

In a setback for potty-mouthed celeb

2 | Washington Shelter for Homeowners

The U.S. Treasury Department announced an expansion of the Obama Administration's Making Home Affordable housing program, aimed at helping struggling homeowners manage their mortgage payments. The new provisions offer cash incentives of $500 up front and up to $250 a year--as long as the loan remains current--to lenders who are willing to reduce balances, plus $250 a year for borrowers who make payments on time. In response to complaints that the initial plan did not provide enough help to homeowners underwater on 'piggyback' second mortgages, the new initiative would also cut interest rates for some borrowers to as low as 1% for five years.

Notes:

1.cash incentiv

 1 | Iraq An Uneasy Agreement

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned an April 26 raid by U.S. forces in the southern city of Kut, calling the incident, which resulted in the deaths of a policeman and a bystander, a 'crime' that violates the January security pact requiring Iraqi authorization for all U.S. military missions. While U.S. Colonel Richard Francey called the deaths a 'tragedy,' American officials maintain that Iraqi counterparts were notified of the raid, which led to the arrest of six suspected militants (all of whom have since been released from custody). Al-Maliki has demanded both an apology and the prosecution of all American soldiers involved in the incident, which occurred less than a week after a string of suicide bombings killed more than 150 people--the worst violence the nation

6 | London Terrorism Conviction

A British court convicted Bilal Abdulla, an Iraqi doctor, of planning the foiled 2007 car bombings in London and at Glasgow Airport. An accomplice, Kafeel Ahmed, died in the failed airport attack, intended to punish Britain for its role in the Afghan and Iraq wars. A third man, Mohammed Asha, was cleared of any involvement.

Notes:

Conviction:确信

accomplice：同谋者

7 | New York Anatomy of a Scam

Celebrated money manager Bernard Madoff was arrested for allegedly bilking investors out of up to $50 billion in a Ponzi scheme described as one of history's largest swindles. The scam's blueprint hasn't changed much

4 | Taiwan Direct-Flight Diplomacy

Old foes China and Taiwan resumed direct, daily commercial flights for the first time in almost 60 years, ending the need for travelers to add hours to their trip by changing planes. The flights--as well as direct ship traffic--are seen as a result of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's work to thaw relations with Beijing.

Notes:

thaw:解冻

5 | Iraq Rebuild Effort Flawed

A review of the Iraq reconstruction concluded that the five-year, $117 billion project has been largely ineffective. The report, compiled by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, also found that most of the positive work done has simply brought the nation back to preinvasion levels. Poor

2 | Illinois Cleaning House

The Illinois house of representatives took its first steps toward removing embattled governor Rod Blagojevich from office, voting 113-0 to create a bipartisan committee to look into whether he should be impeached. Blagojevich has no plans to resign, and the inquiry could take weeks. In the same session, lawmakers also decided against allowing voters to fill President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat through a special election, leaving the appointment to the governor's discretion. Among other misdeeds, Blagojevich is accused of soliciting bribes or political favors in exchange for the Senate nod.

Notes:

house of representatives :众议院

3 | New England Ice Storm Freezes Northeast