Politics this week (2020.04.04) Part.01

Scientists advising the American government about the covid-19 outbreak predicted that between 100,000 and 240,000 Americans could die, even with partial lockdowns and social-distancing measures in place. Donald Trump warned his compatriots “to be prepared for the hard days that lie ahead”. The United States now has more reported infections than any other country. New York city has recorded more deaths from the coronavirus than all but half a dozen countries. Lagging behind other states, Florida at last ordered poeple to stay at home.

• partial
  • 部分的，不完全的
• compatriot
  • 同胞，同国人
  • patriot
    • 爱国者
• all but
  • 除……外全部
  • almost 几乎
• lag (behind)
  • 落后于

Fortress China

With most of its newly confirmed cases of covid-19 now being found among travellers from abroad, China closed its borders to most foreigners. On a visit to Zhejiang province, President Xi Jinping said curbing imported cases, which mostly involve returning Chinese citizens, had become the “most important” task in the country’s fight against the virus and could remain so “for a long period”. State media coverage of the trip showed Mr Xi without a mask; he had always worn one on previous outings during the crisis.

Fights broke out on the border between Huber and Jiangxi provinces after Hubei allowed people to move freely across it for the first time in two months. In many parts of China Hubei residents are treated as potenital carriers of the virus.

• fortress
  • 堡垒
• curb
  • to control or limit sth, especially sth bad 控制，约束（尤其不好的食物）
• coverage
  • 新闻报道
    • media/newspaper/press coverage 媒体/报纸/报刊的报道
• outing
  • a brief usually outdoor pleasure trip 远足
• resident
  • 居民

India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, apologised for the suffering he caused by locking down the country with so little preparation. Millions of migrant workers struggled to get home to their villages. Many crowded into transport hubs, making social distancing impossible. Videos emerged of police beating people who broke the quarantine laws.

Japan reaffirmed its 2015 goal to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 26% by 2030 based on levels from 2013, disappointing environmentalists who want it to cut deeper and faster. Japan is the only G7 country still building coal-fired power stations.

Meanwhile, this November’s UN climate-change summit, COP26, was postponed until next year. The talks, which are expected to speed up action on reducing emissions, will still take place in Glasgow.

• migrant worker
  • 外来务工人员
• hub
  • （某地或活动的）中心
    • commercial hub 商业中心
    • transport hub 交通枢纽
• emerge (of facts, ideas, etc.)
  • 被知晓，露出真相
• quarantine
  • （为防传染的）检疫；隔离期
• reaffirm
  • to state sth again in order to emphasize that it is still true 重申，再次确定
• emission
  • gas, etc. that is sent out into the air 排放物
• environmentalist
  • 环境保护论者
• power station
  • 发电站
• summit
  • 峰会
• postpone
  • 延期