Politics this week (2020.05.30) Part.01

Protests erupted in Hong Kong after an announcement that the National People’s Congress, China’s rubber-stamp parliament, would impose a national-security law on the territory. The demonstrations were also fuelled by a proposal in the city’s legislature to make insulting China’s national anthem a crime. Mike Pompeo, America’s secretary of state, said that the “fact on the ground” showed that Hong Kong was no longer autonomous. This could pave the way for American action, including possibly treating the territory the same as the rest of China for trade and other purposes.

• erupt
  • 突然发生，爆发
• rubber-stamp
  • [noun] (disapproving) 履行审批手续而没有实权的人（或机构）
  • [verb] (often disapproving) （未经慎重考虑而）正式通过
• proposal
  • 提议，动议
• fact on the ground
  • 实际情况，现场的事实
• autonomous
  • 自治的，有自治权的

At the opening of the National People’s Congress in Beijing, the government abandoned a GDP target for the first time. The economy shrank by 6.8% in the first quarter.

• the National People’s Congress
  • 全国人民代表大会

A border dispute between India and China appeared to intensify. China reportedly sent soldiers and military vehicles onto land that India deems Indian, where they dug defensive positions. A Chinese state mouthpiece asserted a new territorial claim.

• dispute
  • 争端，纠纷
• intensify
  • （使）加剧，增强
• position
  • [usually pl.] (war) 阵地
• mouthpiece
  • 喉舌，发言人，代言人
• assert
  • 明确肯定，断言；维护自己的权利（或权威）

The Japanese government lifted restrictions in the last remaining prefectures under lockdown. It also unveiled a second stimulus, worth $1trn.

• prefecture
  • （法、意、日等国的）地方行政区域；省；县
• unveil
  • to make (something secret or concealed) known or public; reveal 将……公诸于众，介绍

Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines, said schools would not reopen until a vaccine for covid-19 is available. That could mean a year or more of subpar education.

• Philippines
  • 菲律宾🇵🇭
• subpar
  • 不到一般（或预期）水平的，低于标准的

Four policemen were sacked in Minneapolis after a black man died while being restrained during an arrest. Video showed one officer kneeling on George Floyd’s neck to keep him on the ground. Protesters later clashed with police.

• restrain
  • （尤指用武力）制止，阻止，管制
• clash
  • [verb] 打斗，冲突
  • [noun] （两群人之间的）打斗，打架，冲突

The University of California, America’s foremost public-college system, said it would phase out the use of SAT scores when deciding whom to admit. A faculty task-force had concluded that the tests were excellent predictors of academic success. But critics say they are unfair on those who cannot afford prepping courses.

• foremost
  • 最著名的，最重要的，最前的
• phase out
  • 逐步废除
• faculty
  • （高等院校的）系，院
    • the Arts Faculty 文学院
  • （高等院校中院、系的）全体教师
  • 才能，天赋
• task force
  • （为解决某问题而成立的）特别工作组
• critic
  • 批评家；批评者
• prep
  • [verb] 把 … 准备好，预备

Days after he began a new term in office Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, stood trial on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He has denied wrong-doing and has called the justice system politically biased. Mr Netanyahu also told members of his Likud party that extending Israeli sovereignty over parts of the occupied West Bank was a priority for his new government.

• stand trial
  • 接受审判
• fraud
  • 欺诈罪，诈骗罪
• breach
  • 违背，违犯（法规等）； 破坏；辜负
• wrong-doing
  • illegal or dishonest behaviour 不法行为，坏事，作恶，欺骗行径
• sovereignty
  • complete power to govern a country 主权，最高统治权
• priority
  • 优先事项，最重要的事，首要事情

America accused Russia of sending fighter jets to Libya to support Russian mercenaries fighting on behalf of Khalifa Haftar, a rebellious warlord. General Haftar launched an offensive on the capital, Tripoli, last year but has been pushed back by forces aligned with the internationally recognised Government of National Accord, which is supported by Turkey.

• mercenary
  • 雇佣兵
• offensive
  • [noun] 进攻，攻击
    • launch an offensive 发动进攻

Authorities in Tanzania charged a comedian, Idris Sultan, after a video on social media showed him laughing at a photograph of the president, John Magufuli, in an oversize suit. Mr Sultan was initially charged with “bullying” the president. In court this was changed to using someone else’s mobile-phone SIM card.

• Tanzania
  • 坦桑尼亚🇹🇿
• bully
  • 恐吓，伤害，胁迫
• SIM card
  • subscriber identification module 用户识别模块卡