VOA English Newscast: 1600 UTC October 29, 2015

  From Washington, this is VOA News. I’m Ira Mellman. China approves a major revision to its “one child” policy. China has ended its long-standing one child policy and will now allow all couples to have two children. The plan was unveiled Thursday following high-level closed-door political meetings this week in Beijing. Analysts said a two-child policy, while a welcome move, will do little to help lift the country's declining birth rate or shrinking workforce. VOA's Bill Ide in Beijing says the two-child policy is a further relaxation, after China, in late 2013, allowed couples, one of whom has no siblings, to have a second child. "China has been inching toward this for quite some time now. In rural areas, families are allowed to have two children, and just a few years ago, in 2013, the government also allowed couples, who if one of the couples was a single child, that they could have a second child. So China has gradually been easing this policy, but it is a big change, overall.” The restrictions have led to an imbalanced sex ratio because of a traditional preference for boys. Studies say there are 117 boys for every 100 girls in China. China's Defense Ministry said it will voice its "solemn position" to the United States when top navy officials from both countries hold an hour-long video teleconference Thursday to discuss tensions in the South China Sea and naval ties. Earlier this week, Washington took its biggest step to date to challenge China's claims in the South China Sea, sailing a U.S. navy warship within a 12 nautical mile zone of one of the man-made islands. This is VOA. ________________________________________________________ Words in This Newscast   revision – n. change long-standing – adj. lasting or existing for a long time allow – v. to permit or let couples – n. two people who are married or have a serious relationship unveiled – v. to release, declare or announce closed-door – adj. done in secret or in private analysts – n. observers or experts further – adv. additional or greater relaxation – n. easing siblings – n. brothers or sisters inching – v. moving slowly imbalanced – n. a condition when different things are not represented in equal amounts ratio – n. the relationship the exists between the size or number of things preference – n. a feeling of liking one person or thing more than another solemn – adv. very serious or sad teleconference – n. the use of telephones and video equipment to have a meeting with people who are in different places challenge – v. to test or question   We want to hear from you. Write to us in the comments section.      

from Voice of America http://ift.tt/1kWm3GM
via IFTTT