Kobe Bryant and his daughter perished① in a helicopter crash

科比·布萊恩特和女兒在直升機墜機事故中遇難

NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others were killed in a helicopter crash on a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California on January 26, his sudden death at age 41 touching off② an outpouring③ of grief. Bryant had one of the greatest careers in recent NBA history and became one of the game’s most popular players as the face of the 16-time NBA champion Lakers franchise④. He was the league MVP in 2008 and a two-time NBA scoring champion, and he earned 12 selections to the NBA’s All-Defensive teams. (AP)

1月26日，美國職業籃球聯賽（NBA）傳奇人物科比·布萊恩特和他13歲的女兒在直升機墜機事故中遇難，機上另外七人一同喪生。直升機在南加州清晨的濃霧中撞上了陡峭的山坡。年僅41歲的科比突然離世，引發了人們巨大的悲傷。科比是NBA近代歷史上最成功的球員之一。他所效力的湖人隊曾16次奪得NBA冠軍，作為球隊的形象代言人，他也是NBA最受歡迎的球員之一。在NBA的生涯中，科比曾於2008年當選最有價值球員，榮膺兩屆得分王，並12次入選最佳防守陣容。

【註釋】

① perish: [ˈpɛrɪʃ] vi. (of people, plants or animals) to die, esp. in a sudden violent way 卒，喪生，凋謝

② touch off: to make sth. begin, esp. a difficult or violent situation 觸發

③ outpouring: [ˈaʊtˌpɔːrɪŋ] n. a strong and sudden expression of feeling（思想、感情等的）迸發，洋溢

④ franchise: [ˈfræntʃaɪz] n. a team that is a member of a professional sports league【美】職業運動隊

【相關閱讀】

① 科比·布萊恩特：我們還沒有準備好和你說再見

② 科比語錄：我不想成為喬丹，只想成為我自己（中英雙語）

A mural honoring Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, who died in a helicopter crash along with seven others is seen on Jan. 29 in Los Angeles.

(Credit: Getty Images)

02

Taliban claiming that it downed① a US plane

塔利班稱擊落美軍飛機

The Taliban last Monday claimed they had shot down an American communications aircraft, killing all six aboard, including what they said were high-ranking CIA officers. America has acknowledged the crash of a Bombardier E-11A, but revealed nothing more. Taliban social media accounts posted pictures and videos of what they said was an aircraft that they had shot down, but the group is known to exaggerate its claims. (Economist Espresso, The New York Times)

1月27日，塔利班聲稱擊落一架美國通訊飛機，機上6人全部死亡。塔利班稱，死者中有多名美國中情局高階官員。美國軍方承認有一架龐巴迪E-11A飛機墜毀，但未提供更多資訊。塔利班在社交媒體上釋出數張照片和多段視訊，展示據稱被他們擊落的飛機。但眾所周知，該組織素愛誇大其詞。

【註釋】

① down: [daʊn] vt. to force sb./sth. down to the ground 擊落／倒，使落下／摔倒

The photo of the US Plane that the Taliban claimed to have downed in Afghanistan.

(Credit: Getty Images)

03

Britain allowing Huawei a limited role in 5G networks

英國允許華為部分參與5G建設

The British government last Tuesday handed the U.S. government a major defeat in its months-long campaign① against the Chinese tech giant Huawei by agreeing to use Huawei equipment in part of its telecommunications network. The government said high-risk vendors② would be excluded from the sensitive core of networks, and there would be a 35% cap③ on their involvement in the nonsensitive parts. The decision marked a rare split between the transatlantic allies and a blow④ to Washington as it battles China for dominance over the installation of the new communications technology known as 5G. (The Washington Post, Reuters)

1月28日，英國政府同意在其部分電信網路中使用中國科技巨頭華為的裝置，就此，美國政府數月來遊說英國打壓華為的努力遭遇重大失敗。英國政府表示，高風險供應商將被排除在敏感的核心網路之外，參建非敏感部分的比例不能超過35%。這一決定標誌著英美這對跨大西洋盟友之間出現了罕見裂痕；同時，在中美部署新通訊技術5G的主導地位爭奪戰中，這也讓美國遭受一記重創。

【註釋】

① campaign: [kæmˈpeɪn] n. a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim 運動，（競選）活動

② vendor: [ˈvɛndɔː] n. a company that sells a particular product 賣主

④ blow: [bləʊ] n. a sudden event which has damaging effects on sb./sth., causing sadness or disappointment 打／重擊

The US is “disappointed” by the UK’s decision to allow Huawei to be part of its 5G network.

(Credit: NPR)

04

2019-nCoV declared global emergency by WHO

世衛組織宣佈新型冠狀病毒疫情為國際緊急事件

The World Health Organization declared last Thursday the outbreak① sparked by a new coronavirus②—provisionally named 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)—in China that has been exported to more than 20 countries as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) after the number of confirmed cases spiked③ more than tenfold in a week. After the declaration, world stock markets tumbled④ on⑤fears that trouble in the “world’s factory” would upset global supply chains and dent⑥profits. Toyota, IKEA, Starbucks, Tesla, McDonald’s and Foxconn were among the corporate giants temporarily freezing production or closing large numbers of outlets⑦in China. The virus has now killed more than 300 people in China. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for now, but most cases are reported to be mild. (AP, CNN, The Business Times)

中國爆發的新型冠狀病毒（暫名為2019-nCoV）已傳至20多個國家。1月30日，世界衛生組織宣佈，該病毒疫情構成“國際關注的突發公共衛生事件”。在宣佈前的一週內，確診病例劇增逾十倍。宣佈之後，全球股市急遽下跌，人們擔心中國這座“世界工廠”經此一“疫”，全球供應鏈會因此遭破壞，企業利潤會受影響。包括豐田、宜家、星巴克、特斯拉、麥當勞和富士康在內的一些巨頭或暫停在中國的生產，或大批關閉中國門店。當前，該病毒在中國的致死人數已超過300，暫無特效治療方案和疫苗，但多數病例症狀輕微。

【註釋】

① outbreak: [ˈaʊtˌbreɪk] n. the sudden start of sth. unpleasant, esp. violence, emotion, energy, or a disease （疾病等的）爆發，（情緒等的）突然發作

② coronavirus: [kəˈrəʊnəˌvaɪrəs] n. 冠狀病毒

④ tumble: [ˈtʌmbəl] vi. to fall rapidly in amount or value（數量、價值等）暴跌，急劇下降

⑤ on: [ɒn] prep. used to indicate the basis or reason of action, opinion, etc. 用於表明行動、觀點等的基礎或原因

⑥ dent: [dɛnt] vt. to have an (esp. adverse) effect on 對...有（負面）影響，有損於，損／傷害

⑦ outlet: [ˈaʊtlɛt] n. a shop/store or an organization that sells goods made by a particular company or of a particular type 商店

【相關閱讀】

① 手套比口罩更重要！美國衛生專家撰文：如何預防“武漢”病毒感染

② WHO宣告中英雙語：新冠病毒疫情為國際關注突發公共衛生事件

The ultrastructural morphology exhibited by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

(Credit: Reuters)

05

Brexit finally done

“脫歐”大戲終落幕

More than three and a half years after the landmark Brexit referendum①, the United Kingdom finally left the EU last Friday. The European Parliament gave final approval to Britain’s divorce from the EU last Wednesday, paving the way for② the country to quit the bloc③ after nearly half a century and delivering a major setback for European integration. After an emotional debate during which several speakers shed tears, EU lawmakers voted 621 for and 49 against the Brexit agreement sealed④ between Britain and the 27 other member states last October. (NPR, Reuters)

1月31日，英國終於正式脫離歐盟，劃時代的脫歐公投過去已逾三年半。1月29日，歐洲議會最終通過英國脫歐協議，為英國結束近半個世紀的歐盟成員國身份鋪平了道路，歐洲一體化程序因此遭遇重大挫折。當日，歐洲議會辯論激烈，多位發言人留下熱淚。最終，歐洲議會以621票贊成、49票反對通過了去年10月英國與其他27個歐盟成員國商定的脫歐協議。

【註釋】

① referendum: [ˌrɛfəˈrɛndəm] n. an occasion when all the people of a country can vote on an important issue 全民公投

② pave the way for: to create a situation in which sb. will be able to do sth. or sth. can happen 為...鋪平道路，為...作準備

③ bloc: [blɒk] n. a group of countries that work closely together because they have similar political interests（國家為某種共同目的而結合的）集團

④ seal: [siːl] vt. to make sth. definite, so that it cannot be changed or argued about 決／確定

【相關閱讀】

① 見證歷史！加入歐盟47年後，英國正式“脫歐”！

② 講堂｜英國首相約翰遜就英國脫歐發表講話！（中英雙語＋視訊）

A digital Brexit countdown clock shows 00:00 as the time reaches 11 o’clock, as it is projected onto the front of 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s Prime Minister, in London, on Jan. 31.

(Credit: AFP)

06

Republicans clearing the path for① Trump’s acquittal②

共和黨為特朗普脫罪掃清路障

The US Senate brought President Trump to the brink③ of acquittal last Friday of charges that he abused his power and obstructed Congress, as Republicans voted to block consideration of new witnesses and documents in his impeachment trial and shut down a final push by Democrats to bolster④ their case⑤ for the president’s removal. The looming⑥ acquittal for the president was long anticipated, but the roadblock on witnesses still marks a striking setback for Democrats, who at times appeared hopeful that they would be able to persuade enough Republicans to join them in voting to call witnesses, thereby prolonging the trial if not altering its outcome. (The New York Times, NPR)

1月31日，針對美國總統特朗普濫用權力、妨礙國會的彈劾指控，參議院斷其無罪幾成定局。共和黨通過表決，阻止了彈劾案傳喚新證人、調閱新檔案的可能，民主黨為拉特朗普下馬付出的最後努力付之東流。特朗普被判無罪雖早在意料之中，但民主黨似一度有望說服足夠多的共和黨人加入其陣營，為傳召證人投支援票，此舉即便不能改變結果也能延長審判程序。傳喚證人遇阻是對民主黨的巨大打擊。

【註釋】

① clear the path for: to make it easier for someone or possible for something to happen 為...排除障礙／開路／讓路

② acquittal: [əˈkwɪtəl] n. an official decision in court that a person is not guilty of a crime 無罪判決／開釋

③ brink: [brɪŋk] n. a point that is very close to the occurrence of sth. very bad or (less commonly) very good 邊緣

④ bolster: [ˈbəʊlstə] vt. to improve sth. or make it stronger 改善，提高，支援

⑤ case: [keɪs] n. the sum of arguments on one side of a legal cause（訴訟一方所提出的）事實，理由，論點

⑥ looming: [ˈluːm ɪŋ] adj. (of something unwanted or unpleasant) about to happen soon and causing worry 即將到來的

The final vote total on the motion to subpoena and allow additional witnesses and documents, during the impeachment trial against President Trump on Jan. 31. The motion failed by a vote of 51–49.

(Credit: AP)

（復旦大學李雯露編譯，重光會王暖流審訂）