This week, China’s currency, the yuan, broke the 7:1 ratio with the US dollar.The People’s Bank of China set the medium parity rate at 6.9920 to 1, reflecting the rise of world monetary markets.
Update on North Korean nuclear talks
Top US nuclear negotiator Christopher Hill is in Beijing to meet with his counterparts from China, South Korea and Japan.He said talks with North Korea may soon resume after stalled negotiations about its nuclear program.
Jin Jing protects torch in Paris
Wheelchair athlete Jin Jing had to protect the torch when she took part in the Paris leg of the Olympic Torch Relay.
Many pro-Tibet demonstrators tried to grab the torch from her as she went along the Seine River.
First South Korean woman in space
On Tuesday a Russian Soyuz rocket blasted off into space carrying South Korea’s first astronaut.Yi So-yeon is a 29-year-old nanotechnology engineer and the US space agency NASA says she is the youngest ever female astronaut.
Verdict to Diana Inquest
A coroner’s jury has ruled that Princess Diana and her boyfriend Dodi Fayed were unlawfully killed through the reckless behavior of their driver and paparazzi.In 1997 their speeding car slammed into a concrete pillar while they were being pursued.
In depth:
New Zealand and China sign free trade pact
On Monday China and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement covering goods, services and investment. Commerce Minister Chen Deming and his counterpart Phil Goff signed the agreement, as Premier Wen Jiabao and Prime Minister Helen Clark looked on.
New Zealand will remove tariffs on 63.6 percent of imports from China , and duties on all imports will be eliminated by 2016.China will apply zero tariffs on 24.3 percent of imports from New Zealand and remove tariffs on almost all goods from the country in 2019.
Australian PM in Beijing
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is in China this week on his first official state visit.
On Wednesday he gave a 40-minute speech in Putonghua at Peking University and on Thursday met with Premier Wen Jiabao and members of the Australian Chamber of Commerce.
Rudd said he is opposed to calls for a boycott of the Beijing Olympics, saying it was important to China to continue to have engagement with the world.
Today he flies to Hainan for the annual Boao Forum for Asia.
ANOC says Beijing preparations going well
The Association of the National Olympic Committees was in Beijing for a three-day visit.The 205-member delegation led by Gunilla Lindberg, said the ANOC fully supported Beijing and its organization of the upcoming Games. Meanwhile, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge expressed deep concerns about the violent protests in London and Paris.As the torch relay heads to South America, Rogge hopes the progress of the torch relay will be safe and smooth.
News on a lighter note:
Kate Moss named Queen of Style
Fashion magazine Glamour has named supermodel Kate Moss the best-dressed woman of the year.She beat Australian singer Kylie Minogue and British actress Sienna Miller.Meanwhile troubled US singer Britney Spears topped the worst-dressed list.
Wax statue of Hong Kong Chief Executive
Hong Kongers did a double-take earlier this week when a wax portrait Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang was unveiled by Madame Tussaud. To confuse everyone, Tsang wore the same outfit as his wax double.
Charlton Heston Dies
Hollywood legend Charlton Heston died this past weekend. He was 84. Heston was best known for his Oscar-winning role in Ben Hur. After his acting career, Heston also headed the National Rifle Association from 1998 to 2003.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Bernice Chan is a foreign expert at China Daily Website. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Bernice has written for newspapers and magazines in Hong Kong and most recently worked as a broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, producing current affairs shows and documentaries.
Brendan joined The China Daily in 2007 as a language polisher in the Language Tips Department, where he writes a regular column for Chinese English Language learners, reads audio news for listeners and anchors the weekly video news in addition to assisting with on location stories. Elsewhere he writes Op’Ed pieces with a China focus that feature in the Daily’s Website opinion section.
He received his B.A. and Post Grad Dip from Curtin University in 1997 and his Masters in Community Development and Management from Charles Darwin University in 2003. He has taught in Japan, England, Australia and most recently China. His articles have featured in the Bangkok Post, The Taipei Times, The Asia News Network and in-flight magazines.
