1
Sarah Thomas swimming English Channel four times non-stop
薩拉·託馬斯連續四次橫渡英吉利海峽
A woman who was treated for breast cancer a year ago has become the first person to swim across the English Channel four times non-stop. Sarah Thomas, 37, began the epic challenge in the early hours of Sunday and finished after more than 54 hours. Ms Thomas—who completed her treatment in 2018—dedicated her swim to 「all the survivors out there」. The swim was due to be about 80 miles but because of strong tides Ms Thomas ended up swimming closer to 130 miles. (BBC)
一名女子連續四次橫渡英吉利海峽,創歷史先河,而她去年剛剛了接受乳腺癌治療。9月15日,37歲的莎拉·託馬斯於凌晨開始了這項史詩般的挑戰,並在54個多小時後挑戰成功。託馬斯於2018年完成了乳腺癌治療,她將自己的橫渡獻給「所有倖存者」。這次挑戰本來約為80英裡,但由於潮湧浪急,託馬斯最終遊了近130英裡。
2
Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic mascots unveiled
北京2022年冬季奧運會與帕運會吉祥物正式發布
An animated giant panda named 「Bing Dwen Dwen」 and a red lantern baby called 「Shuey Rhon Rhon」 have been unveiled as the two mascots for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. The mascots, revealed on Tuesday night at Beijing’s Shougang Ice Hockey Arena, are strongly associated with the host nation’s culture. The launch sees the end of a submission process which began on August 8, 2018 and saw more than 5,800 design proposals from China and abroad. (Xinhua)
2022年北京冬季奧運會與帕運會的吉祥物正式發布,分別是一隻名叫「冰墩墩」的動畫大熊貓和一個名叫「雪容融」的紅燈籠寶寶。9月17日晚,吉祥物發布儀式在北京首鋼冰球館舉行。這兩個吉祥物同主辦國中國的文化有著密不可分的聯繫。北京2022年冬奧會和冬帕運會吉祥物的徵集活動至此圓滿結束,該活動於2018年8月8日正式啟動,總共收到超過5800份來自全球的設計方案。
(credit: www.xinhuanet.com)
3
「Lord of the Rings」 returning to New Zealand with Amazon TV show
亞馬遜攜電視劇版《指環王》重回紐西蘭
New Zealand is poised for another Middle-earth-tied economic boost after Amazon Studios picked the country as the location for its much-anticipated 「Lord of the Rings」 television series. The show is widely tipped to be the most expensive ever made, at a cost of at least $1bn (801m). The Amazon unit wants to tap the huge success of the 「Lord of the Rings」 film trilogy, also shot in New Zealand. The franchise delivered a boost to the country’s tourism and jobs. (BBC)
《指環王》電視劇備受期待,亞馬遜影業將紐西蘭選為拍攝地後,中土世界將再次為紐西蘭帶來一波經濟增長。此劇被廣泛認為將是有史以來製作最昂貴的電視劇,耗資至少10億美元(約合8.01億英鎊)。取得巨大成功的《指環王》電影三部曲同樣取景紐西蘭,亞馬遜希望此劇版能借影版的東風。《指環王》系列作品極大促進了紐西蘭的旅遊業和就業市場。
4
New York mayor Bill de Blasio pulling out of US presidential race
紐約市長白思豪退出美國總統競選
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced he is pulling out of the Democratic race for the White House. 「I have reached a point where I feel I have contributed all I can to this primary,」 the 58-year-old said in an email to supporters. His campaign had failed to take off within a wide field of Democrats seeking to be selected as the party’s presidential candidate. Despite him dropping out 19 more remain in the race. (BBC)
紐約市長比爾·白思豪宣布退出民主黨的總統競選。「我認為我已經為這次初選竭盡所能。」58歲的白思豪在一封寫給支持者的電子郵件中說。在激烈的民主黨黨內總統候選人競爭中,他的競選活動並不成功。在他退出後,仍有19人繼續參與這場角逐。
5
Millions attending global climate strike
數百萬人參與全球氣候大罷工
A global climate strike is under way, with millions of people protesting for 「an end to the age of fossil fuels and climate justice for everyone」. The event was sparked by teenage campaigner Greta Thunberg, who is attending the New York protest, where 1.1m children have been allowed to miss school to join the march. (BBC)
一場氣候大罷工正在全球展開,數百萬人走上街頭,呼籲「終結化石燃料時代,讓人人享有氣候公義」。這場活動由參加美國紐約抗議活動的青少年活動家格裡塔騰伯格發起。在紐約,110萬名兒童被允許罷課參加遊行。
6
India delivering corporate tax cuts to boost economy
印度削減企業稅以提振經濟
India has cut its corporate tax rates in an effort to spur investment and boost growth in the country’s faltering economy. Under the slate of reforms announced on Friday, India will lower its corporate tax rate to 22% from 30% for companies that don’t seek exemptions. The surprise move triggered a stock market rally, with the Sensex index jumping 4.5%. The tax cuts are the latest measures to boost spending and shore up investment in India. (BBC)
印度降低了企業稅稅率以刺激投資,提振該國步履蹣跚的經濟。根據9月20日宣布的一系列改革方案,印度將把不尋求免稅的公司的稅率從30%下調至22%。這一出人意料的舉措推動了股市上揚,孟買敏感指數上漲4.5%。本次減稅是印度刺激消費和促進投資的最新措施。
7
Wall Street dropping after China cancels trip to Montana farmland
中國代表團取消訪問美國蒙大拿後美股受挫
Wall Street dropped on Friday, and also finished the week lower, after a Chinese agriculture delegation canceled a planned visit to Montana, dampening optimism about U.S.-China trade talks. The delegates, who had been set to visit U.S. farm states next week, would return to China sooner than originally scheduled, the Montana Farm Bureau said. (Reuters)
中國一農業代表團取消了原定的美國蒙大拿州之行,給中美貿易會談的樂觀預期潑了盆冷水。9月20日,華爾街股市應聲下跌,上周收盤走低。據蒙大拿州農業局稱,原定於本周訪問美國農業州的中國代表團將提前回國。
8
US sending troops to Saudi Arabia
美國增兵沙特
The US announced Friday it would send additional troops along with enhanced air and missile defense systems to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in response to the attack on Saudi oil facilities, which the US has blamed on Tehran. The Pentagon announcement came hours after President Donald Trump announced that he had applied new sanctions on two pillars of the Iranian economy, the country’s central bank and its sovereign wealth fund. (CNN)
9月20日,美國宣布,將向沙烏地阿拉伯增派部隊,並加強沙特的空防和飛彈防禦系統,作為對沙特石油設施遭到襲擊的回應。美國指控該襲擊是伊朗所為①。美國總統唐納·川普宣布,他對伊朗經濟的兩大支柱——央行和主權基金——實施了新的制裁,幾小時後,美國國防部發表了正式聲明。