Today· 今日

7 stories · 21 new vocabulary words

The Guardian
politics·
2h ago

Thames Water should be nationalised, says Andy Burnham

Exclusive: Labour’s Makerfield byelection candidate advocates public ownership of water companies as he prepares for potential leadership bid

中文導讀

Thames Water 近期陷入財困,Greater Manchester 市長 Andy Burnham 喺英國時間星期三公開建議將水務公司國有化。呢個提議反映咗英國社會對公用事業私有化嘅不滿,亦被視為 Andy Burnham 為未來爭取 Labour Party 黨魁之位鋪路。對於移英港人嚟講,呢件事值得關注,因為水費加幅同公用事業質素直接影響大家嘅生活成本。

Thames Water should be nationalised, says Andy Burnham
A

Vocabulary 生字

Advocate

Verb動詞

提倡、主張、公開支持

EN

Many health experts advocate for a balanced diet and regular exercise to maintain good health.

許多健康專家提倡均衡飲食和定期運動,以維持身體健康。

Ownership

Noun名詞

所有權、擁有權

EN

The new policy aims to encourage home ownership among young families.

這項新政策旨在鼓勵年輕家庭置業。

Potential

Adjective形容詞

潛在的、可能的

EN

Before buying a house, you should always check for any potential problems with the plumbing or wiring.

買樓之前,你應該檢查清楚水管或電線是否有任何潛在問題。

The Guardian
politics·
2h ago

Labour deputy says Farage is a threat to democracy and calls for misinformation clampdown

Lucy Powell calls for tougher laws to tackle misinformation and says Reform UK has benefited from bots and troll farms

中文導讀

英國時間星期一,Labour Party 副黨魁 Lucy Powell 公開批評 Reform UK 領袖 Nigel Farage 威脅民主制度。Lucy Powell 指控對方利用網絡機器人同水軍散播虛假資訊,藉此獲取政治利益,並呼籲政府立法加強監管網上資訊。呢單新聞反映英國政界對網上假新聞影響選舉嘅憂慮加劇,移英港人喺留意英國政治動向時,亦要留意呢類網上輿論操縱嘅議題。

Labour deputy says Farage is a threat to democracy and calls for misinformation clampdown
A

Vocabulary 生字

misinformation

Noun名詞

虛假資訊、誤導性訊息

EN

It is important to verify the source of the news to avoid spreading misinformation.

核實新聞來源以避免散播虛假資訊係好重要嘅。

clampdown

Noun名詞

嚴厲打擊、取締、限制措施

EN

The local council announced a new clampdown on illegal parking in the city centre.

地方議會宣佈咗一項針對市中心違例泊車嘅嚴厲打擊措施。

benefit

Verb動詞

得益、受惠

EN

Many students benefit from attending extra classes after school.

好多學生都因為放學後參加額外補習班而受惠。

The Guardian
politics·
5 Jun, 18:26

Jeremy Hanley obituary

Popular and cheerful party chair under John Major whose career fell victim to vicious infighting over Europe

中文導讀

前保守黨主席 Jeremy Hanley 離世,終年 79 歲。佢喺 John Major 執政時期擔任黨主席,性格開朗且深得民心,但當時保守黨內部因歐洲議題陷入嚴重內鬥,令佢嘅政治生涯受到極大衝擊。呢段歷史反映咗英國政壇長期以來對歐洲政策嘅分歧,亦係理解英國保守黨發展嘅重要一頁。

Jeremy Hanley obituary
A

Vocabulary 生字

Obituary

Noun名詞

訃聞;悼文

EN

I read the obituary in the local newspaper to find out about the passing of a former teacher.

我睇咗報紙入面嘅訃聞,得知一位前老師離世嘅消息。

Infighting

Noun名詞

內部鬥爭;內訌

EN

The constant infighting within the committee is preventing us from making any real progress.

委員會入面不斷嘅內部鬥爭,令我哋無法取得任何實質進展。

Victim

Noun名詞

受害者;犧牲品

EN

He felt like a victim of circumstances when the company suddenly decided to downsize.

當公司突然決定裁員時,佢覺得自己係環境下嘅犧牲品。

The Guardian
politics·
5 Jun, 18:03

Starmer says questions need to be asked over Nowak case but rejects ‘two-tier policing’ claim

PM rebuffs US state department’s criticism, adding police response to murder of Henry Nowak is under review

中文導讀

英國首相 Keir Starmer 近日回應 Henry Nowak 謀殺案引發嘅爭議,佢強調警方處理手法值得檢討,但就強烈否認英國存在「兩級制執法」(two-tier policing)。呢件事之所以重要,係因為美國國務院早前公開批評英國警方執法不公,令 Keir Starmer 必須喺英國時間星期五出面澄清,以維護英國司法制度嘅公信力,避免國際社會對英國治安產生誤解。

Starmer says questions need to be asked over Nowak case but rejects ‘two-tier policing’ claim
A

Vocabulary 生字

rebuff

Verb動詞

斷然拒絕、回絕(建議或批評)

EN

The manager decided to rebuff the employee's request for a salary increase.

經理決定斷然拒絕該員工加薪嘅請求。

criticism

Noun名詞

批評、指責

EN

It is important to accept constructive criticism to improve your work performance.

接受建設性嘅批評對提升工作表現好重要。

review

Noun名詞

審查、檢討

EN

The company is conducting a thorough review of its safety procedures.

公司正對其安全程序進行全面檢討。

The Guardian
politics·
5 Jun, 17:13

‘Violence is a red line’: could Nigel Farage’s ‘pure, cold rage’ rhetoric damage his brand?

Reform UK leader looks spooked by far-right Restore and risks undermining efforts to appeal to moderate voters

中文導讀

Reform UK 黨魁 Nigel Farage 近期面對黨內極右勢力抬頭,佢擔心呢種激進情緒會令佢一直想爭取嘅溫和派選民卻步。Nigel Farage 強調暴力係「紅線」,試圖同極端言論劃清界線。呢場政治博弈反映出 Nigel Farage 喺 Westminster 嘅影響力正受到考驗,佢必須喺維持強硬形象同吸納主流選民之間攞個平衡,否則會嚴重損害佢嘅政治品牌。

‘Violence is a red line’: could Nigel Farage’s ‘pure, cold rage’ rhetoric damage his brand?
A

Vocabulary 生字

Rhetoric

Noun名詞

修辭、言論(通常指具說服力但未必真誠嘅說話)

EN

The politician's rhetoric failed to convince the public during the debate.

嗰位政治人物嘅言論喺辯論期間未能說服公眾。

Undermine

Verb動詞

削弱、損害(信心、權威等)

EN

Constant criticism can undermine a child's self-confidence.

持續嘅批評會削弱小朋友嘅自信心。

Moderate

Adjective形容詞

溫和的、中庸的

EN

She holds moderate views on most social issues.

佢對大部分社會議題都持有溫和嘅觀點。

The Guardian
politics·
5 Jun, 16:42

Burnham pledges business rate cuts for pubs, cafes and other small businesses

Greater Manchester mayor’s proposals amount to a notable criticism of Keir Starmer’s policy in the area

中文導讀

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham 提出減免小型企業商業差餉,包括酒吧同咖啡店,呢個舉動被視為對英國首相 Keir Starmer 現行政策嘅一種挑戰。對於喺英國經營小生意或者關注地方經濟嘅港人嚟講,呢個政策走向值得留意,因為佢反映咗地方政府同中央政府喺經濟支援策略上嘅分歧,可能會影響未來嘅稅務負擔。

Burnham pledges business rate cuts for pubs, cafes and other small businesses
A

Vocabulary 生字

pledge

Verb動詞

承諾、保證

EN

The local council pledged to improve the quality of public parks in the neighborhood.

地方議會承諾改善社區內公園嘅質素。

notable

Adjective形容詞

顯著的、值得注意的

EN

There has been a notable increase in the number of people cycling to work recently.

最近踩單車返工嘅人數有顯著增加。

proposal

Noun名詞

提議、建議

EN

The committee is currently reviewing the proposal to build a new community center.

委員會目前正審閱關於興建新社區中心嘅提議。

The Guardian
politics·
5 Jun, 07:14

It’s a washout: fighters pull their punches in Question Time’s Makerfield match-off

Andy Burnham takes round one of the big byelection bout while Reform’s Rob Kenyon takes aim at himself

中文導讀

Makerfield 補選辯論氣氛平淡,被形容為「washout」。大曼徹斯特市長 Andy Burnham 喺辯論中表現較為突出,成功搶佔先機;相反,Reform UK 候選人 Rob Kenyon 表現失準,甚至出現自爆式失言。呢場辯論反映出選民對政綱嘅關注度,以及各候選人喺面對公眾質詢時嘅臨場應變能力,係觀察當地選情走向嘅重要指標。

It’s a washout: fighters pull their punches in Question Time’s Makerfield match-off
A

Vocabulary 生字

washout

Noun名詞

徹底失敗、令人失望嘅事(通常指活動因天氣或表現不佳而告吹)

EN

The outdoor concert was a complete washout because of the heavy rain.

嗰場戶外音樂會因為大雨而徹底搞砸咗。

pull one's punches

Idiom慣用語

手下留情、未盡全力(通常指批評或攻擊時有所保留)

EN

The manager didn't pull his punches when he gave feedback on my poor performance.

經理喺評價我嘅差劣表現時,完全冇手下留情。

take aim at

Phrasal Verb片語動詞

瞄準、針對(某人或某事進行批評或攻擊)

EN

The editorial takes aim at the government's new housing policy.

嗰篇社論針對政府嘅新房屋政策進行咗批評。