Fri, Jun 12· 6月12日

8 stories · 24 new vocabulary words

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 19:57

Ant Middleton backs Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon in Makerfield byelection

Endorsement by former soldier, despite party’s apparent efforts to distance itself from him, is likely bid to attract Restore Britain voters

中文導讀

前特種部隊成員 Ant Middleton 公開表態支持 Reform UK 喺 Makerfield 補選嘅候選人 Robert Kenyon。雖然 Reform UK 官方一直嘗試同 Ant Middleton 保持距離,但呢次背書明顯係想爭取 Restore Britain 嘅選民支持。喺英國政治光譜入面,呢類跨界別嘅支持往往會影響搖擺選區嘅選情,值得移英港人留意呢股右翼勢力點樣喺地方選舉入面進行動員。

Ant Middleton backs Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon in Makerfield byelection
A

Vocabulary 生字

Endorsement

Noun名詞

公開支持、背書(通常指公眾人物支持某人或某產品)

EN

The famous athlete's endorsement helped the new sports brand gain popularity quickly.

嗰位著名運動員嘅公開支持,令呢個新運動品牌迅速爆紅。

Distance

Verb動詞

保持距離、劃清界線

EN

The company tried to distance itself from the controversial advertisement to protect its reputation.

間公司嘗試同嗰個具爭議性嘅廣告劃清界線,以保護品牌聲譽。

Attract

Verb動詞

吸引

EN

The local festival is designed to attract tourists from all over the country.

呢個地方節慶係為咗吸引全國各地嘅遊客而舉辦。

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 17:59

Ten years after the vote, we have some new slogans for the Brexit bus

Letters: Readers respond to an article by Jonathan Freedland about our entire political and cultural landscape being shaped by the referendum

中文導讀

Brexit 公投至今已經十年,Jonathan Freedland 喺 The Guardian 撰文探討呢場政治風暴點樣徹底改變咗英國嘅社會文化。讀者紛紛去信回應,有人認為當年嘅宣傳口號誤導大眾,亦有人反思呢十年嘅政治亂局。對於移英港人嚟講,了解呢段歷史有助理解英國當下嘅政治氣氛同社會撕裂,睇清呢個國家點樣喺脫歐後重新定位。

Ten years after the vote, we have some new slogans for the Brexit bus
A

Vocabulary 生字

Referendum

Noun名詞

公投;全民投票

EN

The government decided to hold a national referendum on the new tax policy.

政府決定就新稅務政策舉行全國公投。

Landscape

Noun名詞

(某個領域的)形勢、格局、景觀

EN

The rapid development of technology has completely changed the job landscape.

科技嘅急速發展已經徹底改變咗就業格局。

Respond

Verb動詞

回應;反應

EN

It took the company three days to respond to my email regarding the refund.

間公司用咗三日時間先回應我關於退款嘅電郵。

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 17:28

Who is Dan Jarvis, the new defence secretary replacing John Healey?

Ex-paratrooper, once touted as a leadership contender, described by MPs as ‘honourable’ and ‘generally a good bloke’

中文導讀

英國國防部出現人事變動,前傘兵 Dan Jarvis 接替 John Healey 出任國防大臣。Dan Jarvis 過去曾被視為工黨黨魁熱門人選,喺 Westminster 評價正面,被形容為作風正派。隨住英國面對複雜嘅地緣政治挑戰,呢位具備軍事背景嘅官員上任,預計會對英國國防政策帶來新氣象,值得移英港人密切留意。

Who is Dan Jarvis, the new defence secretary replacing John Healey?
A

Vocabulary 生字

Contender

Noun名詞

競爭者;爭奪者

EN

She is a strong contender for the promotion this year.

佢係今年升職嘅強勁競爭者。

Honourable

Adjective形容詞

值得尊敬的;正直的

EN

It is an honourable profession to dedicate one's life to helping others.

將一生奉獻畀幫助他人係一種值得尊敬嘅職業。

Replace

Verb動詞

替換;取代

EN

I need to replace the batteries in my smoke alarm as soon as possible.

我需要盡快更換煙霧警報器入面嘅電池。

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 15:11

Healey showdown raises fresh questions over Starmer-Reeves power dynamic

Former defence secretary’s accusation, that PM lacks impetus and is easily swayed by chancellor’s demands, is familiar territory

中文導讀

前國防大臣 John Healey 嘅言論,再次引發外界對英國首相 Keir Starmer 同財相 Rachel Reeves 之間權力平衡嘅質疑。呢場風波反映出內閣內部對於政策推動力度同決策主導權存在分歧。對於移英港人嚟講,留意呢種 Westminster 權力核心嘅動態相當重要,因為呢啲人事角力往往會直接影響未來政府嘅施政方針同財政預算走向。

Healey showdown raises fresh questions over Starmer-Reeves power dynamic
A

Vocabulary 生字

Impetus

Noun名詞

推動力、刺激、促進因素

EN

The new tax incentive gave a great impetus to the local housing market.

呢項新嘅稅務優惠為當地樓市提供咗好大嘅推動力。

Swayed

Verb動詞

被說服、被影響、動搖

EN

Don't be easily swayed by advertisements when you are shopping for groceries.

去超市買餸嗰陣,唔好咁容易被廣告影響。

Dynamic

Noun名詞

動態、互動關係、力量對比

EN

The family dynamic changed significantly after the children moved out.

仔女搬走之後,家庭成員之間嘅互動關係有咗好大轉變。

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 14:16

‘I’m not going away,’ says Keir Starmer despite defence secretary’s exit

PM promises to fight any leadership challenge, saying any successor would face same problems as him

中文導讀

英國首相 Keir Starmer 喺英國時間星期五公開表態,強調自己唔會因為國防大臣辭職而退位。雖然執政黨內部面對民望下滑同政策壓力,但 Keir Starmer 堅持會留任並應對挑戰。對於移英港人嚟講,留意呢類政局變動好重要,因為政府穩定性直接影響稅務、移民政策同公共服務嘅走向,建議大家密切關注 Westminster 嘅最新動態。

‘I’m not going away,’ says Keir Starmer despite defence secretary’s exit
A

Vocabulary 生字

successor

Noun名詞

繼任者、接班人

EN

The manager is currently training her successor to take over the department next month.

經理目前正在培訓她的接班人,以便下個月接管該部門。

challenge

Noun名詞

挑戰、質疑

EN

Learning a new language in adulthood can be a difficult but rewarding challenge.

成年後學習一門新語言可能是一個困難但有回報的挑戰。

resignation

Noun名詞

辭職

EN

She handed in her formal letter of resignation after working at the company for ten years.

她在這家公司工作十年後,遞交了正式的辭職信。

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 14:00

Reeves grudgingly resorts to departmental salami slicing to fund UK defence budget

Starmer shows no will to pursue the main options for rising commitments: spending cuts, tax rises or borrowing

中文導讀

英國財政大臣 Rachel Reeves 喺英國時間星期一,面對國防預算壓力,被迫採取「salami slicing」策略,即係喺各個政府部門削減少量開支嚟填數。Keir Starmer 政府目前唔想加稅、借錢或者大刀闊斧削減開支,呢種「切香腸」式嘅財政手段,反映英國政府喺應對國防開支增加時,財政空間極度緊絀,未來公共服務資源可能會進一步被蠶食。

Reeves grudgingly resorts to departmental salami slicing to fund UK defence budget
A

Vocabulary 生字

Resort to

Phrasal Verb動詞片語

迫不得已採取(某種手段);訴諸

EN

When the train was cancelled, we had to resort to taking a taxi to get to the airport on time.

當火車取消嗰陣,我哋被迫無奈要搭的士去機場,先趕得切時間。

Commitment

Noun名詞

承諾;必須做嘅事;投入

EN

Balancing family life and a full-time job requires a significant time commitment.

要平衡家庭生活同全職工作,需要投放大量時間。

Tight

Adjective形容詞

緊絀的;嚴格的;擠迫的

EN

We are on a very tight budget this month, so we cannot afford to eat out.

我哋呢個月嘅預算好緊絀,所以負擔唔起出街食飯。

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 09:27

UK’s defence plan is underfunded and outdated, says Al Carns after resignation

Former armed forces minister, who quit hours after John Healey, heavily hints he would run for Labour leadership

中文導讀

Former armed forces minister Al Carns 喺英國時間星期五辭職,批評現有國防計劃資金不足且過時。佢暗示有意競逐 Labour 黨魁,呢個舉動反映執政黨內部對國防政策嘅分歧。對於移英港人嚟講,留意呢類國防開支討論好重要,因為直接影響英國未來嘅安全策略同公共財政分配。

UK’s defence plan is underfunded and outdated, says Al Carns after resignation
A

Vocabulary 生字

Underfunded

Adjective形容詞

資金不足的;缺乏足夠撥款的

EN

The local community centre is severely underfunded and may have to close next month.

呢個社區中心資金嚴重不足,下個月可能要被迫關閉。

Outdated

Adjective形容詞

過時的;陳舊的

EN

Many people find it difficult to use the software because it is completely outdated.

好多人覺得呢套軟件好難用,因為佢已經完全過時。

Resignation

Noun名詞

辭職;辭呈

EN

The manager handed in her resignation after working for the company for ten years.

嗰位經理喺間公司做咗十年之後,遞交咗辭職信。

The Guardian
politics·
12 Jun, 06:00

Pro-Palestine activists believe ‘sea change’ coming in Labour’s approach to Middle East

Green surge in local elections and recent polling of Labour members may cause government to toughen stance on Israel

中文導讀

英國地方選舉中 Green Party 表現強勢,加上民調顯示 Labour 成員對中東政策不滿,令 Keir Starmer 政府面臨壓力。呢股民意浪潮可能迫使 Westminster 喺處理 Israel 議題上採取更強硬立場,亦反映咗基層選民對現行外交政策嘅質疑,係移英港人觀察英國政局走向嘅重要指標。

Pro-Palestine activists believe ‘sea change’ coming in Labour’s approach to Middle East
A

Vocabulary 生字

Surge

Noun名詞

急劇上升、激增

EN

There was a sudden surge in the number of people visiting the park during the sunny weekend.

陽光普照嘅週末,去公園嘅人潮突然激增。

Toughen

Verb動詞

使變得強硬、加強(態度或措施)

EN

The local council decided to toughen the rules regarding waste disposal to keep the streets clean.

地方議會決定加強廢物處理嘅規定,以保持街道清潔。

Stance

Noun名詞

立場、態度

EN

It is important to have a clear stance when discussing ethical issues with your colleagues.

同同事討論道德議題時,擁有清晰嘅立場好重要。