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2017-07-03 Special EnglishThis is Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Here is the news.Chinese scientists have announced that they have realized the real-time transmission of deep-sea data for more than 190 straight days, setting a new world record.During an expedition to the west Pacific at the end of last year, researchers with the Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences realized the real-time transmission of deep-sea data after improving the subsurface buoy observation network.They put a floating body on the sea, which was connected to a submersible buoy. The submersible buoy transmits data to the floating body, which then sends it to a satellite. Researchers then receive the data through the satellite.The real-time deep-sea data includes the condition of the subsurface buoy, the flow speed, direction and pressure of seawater.Real-time transmission of deep-sea data provides important technical support for research on the ocean environment and global climate. The data could enhance the precision in ocean climate and environment forecasts.The previous world record for the real-time transmission of deep water data was around 90 days.This is Special English.China's supercomputers remain the world's fastest and second fastest machines, but America's Titan was squeezed into fourth place by an upgraded Swiss system.The latest edition of the semiannual T0P500 list of supercomputers was released recently. China's supercomputer Sunway TaihuLight has been described by the T0P500 list as "far and away the most powerful number-cruncher on the planet. It maintained the lead since last June, when it dethroned Tianhe-2, the former champion for the previous three consecutive years.This means that a Chinese supercomputer has topped the rankings maintained by researchers in the United States and Germany nine times in a row.What's more, the Sunway TaihuLight was built entirely using processors designed and produced in China.Officials say it highlights China's ability to conduct independent research in the supercomputing field. In the latest rankings, the new number three supercomputer is the upgraded Piz Daint, a system installed at the Swiss National Supercomputing Center.Its current performance pushed Titan, a machine installed at the U.S. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, into fourth place. Titan's performance of 17.6 petaflops has remained constant since it was installed in 2012.You're listening to Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing.The European Union has reaffirmed its support for Paris agreement on climate change when its Foreign Affairs Council convened in Luxembourg.The Council said in a statement that the Paris Agreement is fit for purpose and cannot be renegotiated.U.S. President Donald Trump said on June 1 that he has decided to pull the United States out of the Paris Agreement, a landmark global pact to fight climate change.The Council said it deeply regretted the unilateral decision by the United States administration to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, while it welcomed the statements of commitment to the Agreement from other countries.The Council said the EU will lead in the global fight against climate change through its climate policies and through continued support to those which are particularly vulnerable.Besides this, the EU is strengthening its existing global partnerships and will continue to seek new alliances, from the world's largest economies to the most vulnerable island states.The Paris Agreement was agreed on by almost every country in the world in 2015. It aims to tackle climate change by cutting greenhouse gas emissions and sets a global target of keeping the rise in the average temperature no higher than 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.This is Special English.It's possible for the European Union and Britain to strike a fair Brexit deal which is "far be
2017-06-26 Special EnglishThis is Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Here is the news.China has established its highest military award, the Order of August 1. The selection process for the first batch of winners has begun.The award will honor those who have made outstanding...
Published 06/25/17
2017-06-19 Special EnglishThis is Special English. I'm Mark Griffiths in Beijing. Here is the news.President Xi Jinping says expanded economic cooperation among members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization will benefit the region. Speaking at the annual summit of the organization in Astana,...
Published 06/18/17