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2014 年 12 月 24 日 (No. 715)

 
 
Politics

Abe coalition secures big Japan election win with record low turnout -- Daily Mail
投票率新低 安倍聯盟仍贏得日本大選勝利(2014/12/15)

Putin blames the West for Russia's misery -- CNNMoney
俄國慘兮兮 普汀怪罪西方國家(2014/12/19)

Society

With two hostages and gunman dead, grim investigation starts in Sydney -- CNN
2 名人質、槍手死亡 雪梨展開嚴正調查(2014/12/16)

In Pakistan school attack, Taliban terrorists kill 145, mostly children -- CNN
巴基斯坦學校攻擊案 塔利班恐怖份子殺害 145 人 多為孩童(2014/12/17)

Business
Ruble rebounds sharply after Russian central bank lifts rates -- Reuters
俄國央行升息 盧布大幅反彈(2014/12/16)

Ralph Lauren chastised for Native American ads -- CNN
美國原住民廣告 雷夫羅倫挨轟(2014/12/19)

Science & Technology

Solar sunflower inspired by nature could bring clean energy anywhere -- CNN
大自然啟發設計太陽能太陽花 可望為各地帶來潔淨能源(2014/12/18)

NASA rover finds organic molecules, methane gas on Mars -- Yahoo News
NASA 探測器在火星上找到有機分子、甲烷氣體(2014/12/19)
Entertainment

Julianne Moore takes pains to portray early Alzheimer's -- Reuters
茱莉安摩兒費盡苦心揣摩阿茲罕默早期症狀(2014/12/17)

Hackers' threats prompt Sony Pictures to shelve Christmas release of 'The Interview' -- Washington Post
駭客威脅促使索尼影業暫緩《名嘴出任務》聖誕節上映(2014/12/19)
Sports

Bryant passes Jordan to take third on all-time scoring list -- Reuters
【籃球】布萊恩超越喬丹 拿下生涯得分排行第三(2014/12/15)

Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro post dressage world record -- CNN
【馬術】夏洛特杜加定與駕駒瓦列國創下馬術世界紀錄(2014/12/18)

 
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Obama Eases Diplomatic Restrictions on Cuba
 

歐巴馬放寬對古巴外交限制

A political standoff that spanned five decades and 10 presidents began to crumble Wednesday with President Barack Obama's move to normalize relations with Cuba.
  隨著總統歐巴馬在週三採行與古巴關係正常化的措施,一場橫跨五十年以及十位總統的政治僵局因而開始化解。
The announcement was the product of a year of clandestine back-channel negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba, facilitated by the Canadians and the Vatican and with personal involvement from the Pope.
  這項宣布是美國與古巴在過去一年來透過非正式管道祕密協商的結果,促成這項協商的包括加拿大與梵蒂岡,教宗也親自涉入其中。
"Today, America chooses to cut loose the shackles of the past, so as to reach for a better future for the Cuban people, for the American people, for our entire hemisphere and for the world," Obama said in a statement announcing his decision.
  「今天,美國選擇擺脫過往的枷鎖,要為古巴人民、美國人民以及整個西半球乃至全世界追求更美好的未來,」歐巴馬在宣布這項決定的聲明中指出。
He added, "It's time for a new approach."
  他接著指出:「該是採取新做法的時候了。」
Obama said he has instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to immediately begin discussions with Cuba to re-establish diplomatic relations, and for the U.S. to re-open an embassy in Havana.
The administration will also allow some travel and trade that had been banned under a decades-long embargo instated during the Kennedy administration.
  歐巴馬表示他已指示國務卿約翰.凱瑞立刻與古巴展開討論以重建外交關係,並且讓美國在哈瓦那重新設立大使館。歐巴馬政府也將開放部分人員與貿易往來,這些交流都因甘迺迪執政時期實施延續了數十年的禁運措施遭到禁止。
"Neither the American nor Cuban people are well-served by a rigid policy that's rooted in events that took place before most of us were born," Obama said.
  「這項嚴苛的政策對於美國和古巴人民都沒有好處,畢竟導致這項政策的事件乃是發生於我們大多數人出生之前,」歐巴馬表示。
Obama's move risks triggering another fight with Congress, which will come under the full control of Republicans in January.
  歐巴馬此舉恐怕又會引發另一場與國會之間的角力,而國會到了一月就會完全受到共和黨的掌控。

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer he would do everything in his power to block any potential U.S. ambassador to Cuba to even receive a vote.

  佛羅里達州共和黨參議員馬可.魯比奧向 CNN 的沃夫.布里策表示,他將竭盡全力在表決前擋下美國在古巴派駐大使的提案。

He also called the easing of economic restrictions "inexplicable" in a statement.

  他並且在聲明中指稱放寬經濟限制的舉動「莫名其妙」。

"Appeasing the Castro brothers will only cause other tyrants from Caracas to Tehran to Pyongyang to see that they can take advantage of President Obama's naivete during his final two years in office.

As a result, America will be less safe as a result of the President's change in policy," he said.

  「安撫卡斯楚兄弟檔,只會促使從卡拉卡斯到德黑蘭乃至平壤的其他獨裁者認為他們可以在歐巴馬總統任期最後兩年好好利用他的天真。如此一來,美國將會因為總統的政策改變而變得更不安全,」他說。
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standoff n. 僵持;對峙

span v. 持續;涵蓋

The Cold War between the U.S. and Soviet Union spanned five decades.
美國與蘇聯之間的冷戰持續了五十年。

crumble v. 碎裂;瓦解

The cooperation between political parties crumbled over a disagreement on funding health care programs.
那兩個政黨之間的合作關係因對健保案的資金有歧見而破裂。

clandestine adj. 祕密的;隱秘進行的

The spy agency conducted clandestine activities in other countries.
該偵情局在其他國家進行秘密活動。

back-channel adj. 祕密的;非正式管道的

The government used back-channel negotiations to secure the hostage's release.
政府利用非正式管道的協商來確保人質獲釋。

facilitate v. 促進;使便利

The business loan facilitated James' opening of his own restaurant.
企業貸款讓詹姆士得以開自己的餐廳。

shackle n. 枷鎖;桎梏;束縛

embargo n. 禁運;禁令

instate v. 擔任;銓敘;安置

The university instated Jeff as its new dean of students.
大學安排傑夫擔任新的學生會會長。

rigid adj. 死板的;嚴格的

The denomination follows a rigid interpretation of religious text.
該宗教嚴格遵從教條釋義。

trigger v. 觸發;引起

The mayor's statements triggered protests outside city hall.
市長的發言引發市府外的抗議活動。

inexplicable adj. 無法解釋;難以索解的

Mindy's inexplicable malaise led her to seek medical treatment.
敏蒂說不上來的不安感促使她就醫治療。

appease v. 安撫;平息(怒氣等);對……讓步

The compromise appeased both parties.
和解方案安撫了兩造。

tyrant n. 暴君;專制君主

naivete n. 天真;缺乏世故經驗的狀態(或性質、行為)

cut loose 擺脫;甩掉

loose 是「不受約束的;自由的」,cut sth. loose 是指「擺脫、甩掉某物」,動詞也可改用 breaktear。另外 cut loose 還有「擺脫拘束、隨意行動」的意思。
Brent cut loose his students and let them play games until the end of class.
布蘭特放學生自由活動,讓他們玩遊戲直到下課。
 

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