Hello and welcome to this edition of "CRI Roundup" on Saturday, April 26th. I'm Qi Zhi in Beijing.

Let's take a look at some of the major events that have happened in China and around the world during the past week.

The Beijing Olympic flame continued its global journey in Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.

China cut the share trading tax to boost the sluggish stock market.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has offered a conditional 10-year truce with Israel.

And Hillary Clinton has won the crucial Pennsylvania primary to stay in the presidential race.
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The Beijing Olympic torch traveled to Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia this week, continuing its global journey.

Overseas Chinese showed great enthusiasm for the torch relay in Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and especially in Canberra, Australia, with nearly ten thousand gathering in the Australian capital Thursday morning to greet the sacred flame.

The President of the Australian Olympic Committee, John Coates, said the flame evoked many wonderful memories for Australians.

"It reminds us of the Friendly Games in 1956, and the best ever Games in Sydney in 2000. And I remind you that Australia is one of just two countries who participated in every Olympic Games in the modern era. In just 100 days, Australians, you will again be represented in Olympic Games in Beijing."
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The Chinese government announced on Wednesday to cut the share trading tax from 0.3 percent to 0.1 percent effective on Thursday in an effort to shore up the sluggish equities market that has fallen nearly 50 percent from its peak in mid-October.

Boosted by the news, Chinese shares skyrocketed more than 9 percent higher on Thursday with a soaring turnover.

Shi Lei, a senior analyst with the Tianxiang Investment Consulting Company, said the new move is expected to restore investors' confidence.

"From the series of measures taken by the government recently, including today's cut in the transaction tax, we can see that the government still attaches great importance to China's equities market. Confidence in recovery from the move is even more important than a reduction in investment costs.Stock investors are now gaining confidence which was previously damaged by the prolonged dip in the market."

But he also stressed that the future of China's stock market will be determined by the performance of listed companies and the broader aspects of China's national economy.
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Turning to the world stage.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has offered a 10-year truce with Israel and said it would accept a Palestinian state on only the part of the land it claims.

The comments from Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal were one of the clearest outlines Hamas has given for what it would do if Israel withdrew from the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem, which Israel occupied in 1967.

However, Mashaal said Hamas would not formally recognize Israel.

"We agree to a Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital, with full sovereignty, without any settlements, with full rights of return for Palestinian refugees, but without recognizing Israel."

He added that Hamas will offer the truce if Israel withdraws to the 1967 borders.
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The US democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton won the crucial Pennsylvania primary Tuesday, reviving her hopes of becoming the first female president of the United States.

Clinton defeated Barack Obama by a 10 percentage point margin, 55 to 45.

Speaking to a rally of cheering supporters in Philadelphia, the former first lady expressed her gratitude to the voters and her confidence in the future.

"Today here in Pennsylvania you made your voices heard and because of you the tide is turning. We were up against a formidable opponent."

Despite Clinton's win in Pennsylvania, Obama remains the race's clear front-runner.
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And that concludes this edition of "CRI Roundup". Remember, if you have any comments or suggestions, or would like to listen to any of our programs online, you can visit our website at:www.crienglish.com. I'm Qi Zhi in Beijing. Thanks for listening. Stay tuned for more on China Radio International.