Kobe Bryant and his daughterperished①in a helicopter crash

科比·布莱恩特和女儿在直升机坠机事故中遇难

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，美国职业篮球联赛（NBA）传奇人物科比·布莱恩特和他13岁的女儿在直升机坠机事故中遇难，机上另外七人一同丧生。直升机在南加州清晨的浓雾中撞上了陡峭的山坡。年仅41岁的科比突然离世，引发了人们巨大的悲伤。科比是NBA近代历史上最成功的球员之一。他所效力的湖人队曾16次夺得NBA冠军，作为球队的形象代言人，他也是NBA最受欢迎的球员之一。在NBA的生涯中，科比曾于2008年当选最有价值球员，荣膺两届得分王，并12次入选最佳防守阵容。

【注释】

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

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

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

④ franchise: [frntaz] n. a team that is a member of a professional sports league【美】职业运动队

【相关阅读】

① 科比·布莱恩特：我们还没有准备好和你说再见

② 科比语录：我不想成为乔丹，只想成为我自己（中英双语）

③ 坠机事件后，科比妻子首度发声（中英双语）

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

塔利班称击落美军飞机

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，塔利班声称击落一架美国通信飞机，机上6人全部死亡。塔利班称，死者中有多名美国中情局高级官员。美国军方承认有一架庞巴迪E-11A飞机坠毁，但未提供更多信息。塔利班在社交媒体上发布数张照片和多段视频，展示据称被他们击落的飞机。但众所周知，该组织素爱夸大其词。

【注释】

① down: [dan] vt. to force sb./sth. down to the ground 击落／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

英国允许华为部分参与5G建设

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，英国政府同意在其部分电信网络中使用中国科技巨头华为的设备，就此，美国政府数月来游说英国打压华为的努力遭遇重大失败。英国政府表示，高风险供应商将被排除在敏感的核心网络之外，参建非敏感部分的比例不能超过35%。这一决定标志着英美这对跨大西洋盟友之间出现了罕见裂痕；同时，在中美部署新通讯技术5G的主导地位争夺战中，这也让美国遭受一记重创。

【注释】

① campaign: [kmpen] n. a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial or political aim 运动，（竞选）活动

② vendor: [vnd] n. a company that sells a particular product 卖主

③ cap: [kp] n. an upper limit 上限

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

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

世卫组织宣布新型冠状病毒疫情为国际紧急事件

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)

中国爆发的新型冠状病毒（暂名为2019-nCoV）已传至20多个国家。1月30日，世界卫生组织宣布，该病毒疫情构成“国际关注的突发公共卫生事件”。在宣布前的一周内，确诊病例剧增逾十倍。宣布之后，全球股市急遽下跌，人们担心中国这座“世界工厂”经此一“疫”，全球供应链会因此遭破坏，企业利润会受影响。包括丰田、宜家、星巴克、特斯拉、麦当劳和富士康在内的一些巨头或暂停在中国的生产，或大批关闭中国门店。当前，该病毒在中国的致死人数已超过300，暂无特效治疗方案和疫苗，但多数病例症状轻微。

【注释】

① outbreak: [atbrek] n. the sudden start of sth. unpleasant, esp. violence, emotion, energy, or a disease （疾病等的）爆发，（情绪等的）突然发作

② coronavirus: [krnvars] n. 冠状病毒

③ spike: [spak] vi. to rise quickly and reach a high value【主美】剧增，急升

④ tumble: [tmbl] vi. to fall rapidly in amount or value（数量、价值等）暴跌，急剧下降

⑤ on: [n] prep. used to indicate the basis or reason of action, opinion, etc. 用于表明行动、观点等的基础或原因

⑥ dent: [dnt] vt. to have an (esp. adverse) effect on 对...有（负面）影响，有损于，损／伤害

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

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

(Credit: Reuters)

05

Brexit finally done

“脱欧”大戏终落幕

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，英国终于正式脱离欧盟，划时代的脱欧公投过去已逾三年半。1月29日，欧洲议会最终通过英国脱欧协议，为英国结束近半个世纪的欧盟成员国身份铺平了道路，欧洲一体化进程因此遭遇重大挫折。当日，欧洲议会辩论激烈，多位发言人留下热泪。最终，欧洲议会以621票赞成、49票反对通过了去年10月英国与其他27个欧盟成员国商定的脱欧协议。

【注释】

① referendum: [rfrndm] 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 为...铺平道路，为...作准备

③ bloc: [blk] n. a group of countries that work closely together because they have similar political interests（国家为某种共同目的而结合的）集团

④ seal: [sil] vt. to make sth. definite, so that it cannot be changed or argued about 决／确定

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

Republicansclearing the path for①Trump’sacquittal②

共和党为特朗普脱罪扫清路障

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，针对美国总统特朗普滥用权力、妨碍国会的弹劾指控，参议院断其无罪几成定局。共和党通过表决，阻止了弹劾案传唤新证人、调阅新文件的可能，民主党为拉特朗普下马付出的最后努力付之东流。特朗普被判无罪虽早在意料之中，但民主党似一度有望说服足够多的共和党人加入其阵营，为传召证人投支持票，此举即便不能改变结果也能延长审判进程。传唤证人遇阻是对民主党的巨大打击。

【注释】

① clear the path for: to make it easier for someone or possible for something to happen 为...排除障碍／开路／让路

② acquittal: [kwtl] n. an official decision in court that a person is not guilty of a crime 无罪判决／开释

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

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

⑤ case: [kes] n. the sum of arguments on one side of a legal cause（诉讼一方所提出的）事实，理由，论点

⑥ looming: [lum ] adj. (of something unwanted or unpleasant) about to happen soon and causing worry 即将到来的

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)

（复旦大学李雯露编译，重光会王暖流审订）