1
2021 Fukuoka world championships postponed to May 2022
原定2021年舉辦的福岡遊泳世錦賽延期至2022年5月
On May 4,FINAannounced that the FINA World Championships in Fukuoka (JPN), initially scheduled for the summer of 2021, will now take place from May 13-29, 2022. 「Afterliaisingwith the relevant stakeholders and receiving feedback from them, we have no doubt that the decision taken will provide the best possible conditions for all participants at the Championships. We look forward to witnessing the world’s best athletes from around the world competing in the city of Fukuoka (JPN) in 2022,」 said FINA President Dr Julio C. Maglione. 「At a time ofunprecedenteduncertainty, FINA hopes the announcement of these dates will allow for someclarityin planning for all concerned.」 (FINA)
5月4日，國際遊泳聯合會（以下簡稱國際泳聯）宣布，原定2021年夏在日本福岡舉行的世界遊泳錦標賽將延期至2022年5月13日至29日舉辦。國際泳聯主席胡裡奧·C.馬格裡奧尼表示：「在與相關人士聯繫並聽取他們的意見後，我們深信所作的決定將為所有參賽者提供最佳的參賽條件。我們期待2022年在日本福岡見證世界最高水平運動員之間的較量。在這個前所未有的不確定時期，國際泳聯希望宣布福岡世錦賽比賽時間讓所有參與方有更明確的規劃。
【注釋】
FINA: Fédération Internationale de Natation 國際遊泳聯合會
liaise: [liˈeɪz]v.to work closely with sb and exchange information with them （與某人）聯絡，聯繫
unprecedented: [ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd]adj.If something is unprecedented, it has never happened before. 史無前例的
clarity: [ˈklærəti]n.the quality or state of being clear 明晰，清楚
2
Latest breakthroughs on the origin of the coronavirus
有關新冠病毒來源的最新研究進展
On April 30,the US intelligence communitysaid it "concurred" that the virus "was not man-made or genetically modified". On May 4th, World Health Organization emergencies director Michael Ryan said it had received "no data or specific evidence" from the US about the virus origins. "So from our perspective, this remains speculative," he said. Top U.S. infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said that the best evidence shows the virus behind the pandemic was not made in a lab in China. "If you look at the evolution of the virus in bats and what's out there now, [the scientific evidence] is very, very strongly leaning toward this [virus] could not have been artificially or deliberately manipulated— the way themutationshave naturally evolved." Fauci says. The coronavirus was already infecting patients in Europe as early as December, new research from France has shown. Doctors at Avencenne Hospital in Bobigny, in the suburbs of Paris, made the shocking discovery after re-examining samples of apneumoniapatient taken to their hospital in December. (from BBC, nationalgeographic and EXPRESS)
4月30日，美國情報界表示 「同意」這種病毒「並非人造或基因改造而成」。5月4日，世界衛生組織緊急事務主任麥可•瑞安表示，沒有收到來自美國關於病毒來源的「數據或具體證據」。他說:「因此，從我們的角度來看，病毒來源論仍屬推測階段。」美國頂級傳染病專家安東尼•福奇稱，最有力的證據表明，造成這次大流行的病毒並非在中國實驗室人為製造。福奇說：「觀察蝙蝠體內病毒的演變過程就會發現，現在的研究證據非常傾向於這樣的結論，即這種病毒不可能被人為或故意操縱，它的變異是自然進化的方式。」來自法國的一項最新研究顯示，早在去年12月，這種冠狀病毒就已經感染了歐洲的患者。巴黎郊區博比尼市的阿維森醫院的醫生們在重新檢查了去年12月送到他們醫院的一名肺炎患者的樣本後，做出了這一令人震驚的發現。
【注釋】
the US intelligence community: 美國情報局（但並非CIA，美國中央情報局）
concur: [kənˈkɜː(r)]v.~ (with sb) (in sth)~ (with sth) ( formal ) to agree 同意；贊同
mutations: [mjuːˈteɪʃn]n.a process in which the genetic material of a person, a plant or an animal changes in structure when it is passed on to children, etc., causing different physical characteristics to develop; a change of this kind（生物物種的）變異，突變
pneumonia: [njuːˈməʊniə]n.a serious illness affecting one or both lungs that makes breathing difficult 肺炎
3
China launches new Long March-5B rocket for space station program
長徵五號B運載火箭首飛成功，空間站建設任務拉開序幕
China's new large carrier rocket Long March-5Bblasted offfrom Wenchang Space Launch Center in south China's Hainan Province, on May 5, sending the trial version of new-generation manned spaceship and a cargo return capsule for test into space. The new rocket has a total length of about 53.7 meters, which is as tall as an 18-floor building, and has a 5-meter-diameter core stage and four 3.35-meter-diameterboosters, as well as a 20.5-meter-long and 5.2-meter-diameter fairing. The rocket uses environment-friendly propellants, including liquid oxygen, liquid hydrogen and kerosene. Since the launch of Shenzhou-1 in 1999,- a total of 16 major missions of China’s manned space program have been accomplished, with a success rate of 100%. Specially developed for China's manned space program, Long March-5B will be mainly used to launch themodulesof the space station. The successful flightinauguratedthe"third step"of China's manned space program, which is to construct a space station, said the China Manned Space Agency. （Xinhua）
5月5日，中國新型長徵五號B運載火箭搭載新一代載人飛船試驗船和柔性充氣式貨物返回艙試驗艙在我國海南文昌航天發射場點火升空。新型火箭箭體約53.7米，相當於18層樓高，有直徑為5米的芯一級箭主體、4個直徑達3.35米的助推器，以及長20.5米、直徑為5.2米的整流罩。火箭採用包括液氧、液氫和煤油在內的環保型推進劑。自1999年神州一號發射以來，我國載人航天工程已先後組織實施16次重大飛行任務，全部取得成功。長徵五號B運載火箭是為中國載人航天工程特別研製的，將主要用於發射空間站的航天倉。中國載人航天局表示，此次的成功發射開啟了中國載人航天計劃的第三步——空間站在軌建設任務的序幕。
【注釋】
blast off: with great force 點火起飛，發射升空
booster: [ˈbuːstə(r)]n.an extra engine in a machine such as a space rocket, which provides an extra amount of power at certain time 火箭助推器，推進器
module: ['mɒdʒ.uːl ]n. a unit of a spacecraft that can function independently of the main part (太空飛行器上獨立的）艙
inaugurate: [ɪˈnɒːɡjəreɪt] v. to introduce a new development or an important change 開始；開創。
three-step strategy of China's manned space program: 中國載人航天計劃「三步走」戰略 First step: to send an astronaut into space and return safely 把太空人送入太空並安全返回 Second step: to develop advanced space flight techniques and technologies 發展先進的航天技術 Third step: to construct a space station 建造空間站
4
U.S. unemployment rate skyrockets to nearly 15 percent in April
4月份美國失業率飆升至近15%
The U.S. unemployment rate hit 14.7% in April, the highest rate since theGreat Depression, as 20.5 million jobs vanished in the worst monthly loss on record. The figures arestarkevidence of the damage the coronavirus has done to a now-shatteredeconomy. The losses reflect what has become a severe recession caused by sudden business shutdowns in nearly every industry. Nearly all the job growth achieved during the 11-year recovery from theGreat Recessionhas now been lost in one month. The collapse of the job market has occurred withstunningspeed. As recently as February, the unemployment rate was a five-decade low of 3.5. In March, the unemployment rate was just 4.4%. The government’s report Friday noted that many people who lost jobs in April but didn’t look for another one weren’t even counted in the unemployment rate. The impact of those losses was reflected in the drop in the proportion of working-age Americans who have jobs: just 51.3%, the lowest on record. （The Boston Globe）
4月份美國失業率飆升至14.7%，為經濟大蕭條以來最高值，非農業部門就業人口環比減少2,050萬人，創歷史最高值。這些數字凸顯了新型冠狀病毒疫情對美國經濟的沉重打擊。失業率反映出每個行業都受到突然停業而致的經濟衰退影響。一個月內，「大衰退」以來11年間恢復的就業崗位，幾乎消失殆盡，就業市場以驚人的速度崩潰。就在今年2月，美國的失業率還處於50年以來的低點，僅為3.5%，3月份失業率僅為4.4%。政府周五的報告指出，許多在4月份失業且仍沒有找到新工作的人根本沒有被納入本次的失業率統計。失業率的影響還反映在美國勞動年齡人口就業的比例下降，僅為51.3%，為歷史最低值
【注釋】
Great Depression: worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and lasted until about 1939. 世界範圍內1929至1939年間的經濟大蕭條
stark: [stɑːk]adj.very different to sth. in a way that is easy to see 明顯的，鮮明的
shattered: [ˈʃætəd]adj.very shocked and upset 遭受重大打擊的
Great Recession: the recession triggered by the financial crisis during the late 2000s. 大衰退
stunning: [ˈstʌnɪŋ]adj.extremely surprising or shocking 令人震驚的
5
NASA is working with Tom Cruise to shoot a film in outer space.
美國國家航空航天局將與湯姆·克魯斯合作，將在太空拍電影
The head of NASA confirmed on Tuesday May 5 that the space agency is working with actor Tom Cruise to make a movie on the International Space Station. A NASA spokesperson also confirmed that Cruise will launch into space and stay aboard the station, a multibillion-dollar laboratory thatorbitsabout 250 miles above Earth. A few films have been shot on board the space station, including a 2002 IMAX documentary that Cruise narrated. 2012's "Apogee of Fear," a science fiction film, was also filmed in space. However, Cruise could be the first actor to endureextraterrestrialtravel if it works. It's not clear how or when Cruise will travel to the space station or what additional crew members may join him. （CNN）
美國當地時間5月5日星期二，美國國家航空航天局局長證實，美國國家航空航天局將與湯姆·克魯斯合作在國際空間站進行電影拍攝。一名美國國家航空航天局發言人還表示，克魯斯將進入太空，並留在空間站內。該空間站耗資數十億美元，在地球上空約250英裡的軌道上運行。目前已有一些影片是在空間站拍攝的，其中包括一部2002年由克魯斯解說的IMAX紀錄片，還有2012年的科幻電影《恐懼的天體》。如果合作成功，克魯斯將成為首位持續外太空旅行的演員。克魯斯空間站之行的方式、確切時間及同行人員名單目前尚未確定。
【注釋】
orbit: [ˈɔːbɪt]v.If something such as a satellite orbits a planet, moon, or sun, it moves around it in a continuous, curving path. 環繞......的軌道運行
extraterrestrial: [ˌekstrətəˈrestriəl]adj.originating, existing, or occurring outside the earth or its atmosphere 地球外的
6
UK Queen delivered a televised address to mark 75th anniversary of VE Day
英國女王發表紀念"歐洲勝利日"75周年電視講話
The Queen has given apoignantaddress to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day, raising Britain's response to the coronavirus epidemic that has filled empty streets with "love". Victory in Europe (VE) Day marks the day in 1945 when Britain and its allies accepted the unconditionalsurrenderof Nazi Germany, bringing the war in Europe to an end. This year's celebration has been limited due to thelockdownconditions in place across Europe because of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite this, the Queen said, "our streets are not empty, they are filled with the love and the care that we have for each other". （BBC)
在紀念「歐洲勝利日」75周年之際，英國女王發表了感人的致辭，高度讚揚了英國對新冠肺炎疫情採取的應對措施，這樣的應對使得空蕩蕩的街道充滿了「愛」。「歐洲勝利日」是1945年英國及其盟國接受納粹德國無條件投降的日子，標誌著二戰歐洲戰場的結束。由於新型冠狀病毒大流行導致歐洲各地封鎖，從而使今年的慶祝活動受到了限制。儘管如此，女王在講話中說：「外面的街道並不空蕩，大街小巷都充滿了我們對彼此的愛與關懷。」
【注釋】
surrender: [səˈrendə(r)]n.an act of admitting that you have been defeated and want to stop fighting 投降
poignant: [ˈpɔɪnjənt]adj.causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness 深深打動人的
lockdown: [ˈlɒkdaʊn]n.a situation in which restrictions are placed on sb's movements or actions 活動（或行動）限制