1
Tokyo Olympic Games: Opening and closing ceremonies to be pared back
东京奥运会开闭幕式将从简
The opening and closing ceremonies of Tokyo’s Olympic Games will be carried out with a “simpler, more restrained approach,” the Organizing Committee announced on Wednesday. The ceremonies will be designed to “reflect the overall simplification of the Games” with Covid-19 countermeasures① in place. Tokyo’s Organizing Committee made no announcements about how the opening and closing ceremonies format would be different or modified. “It is appropriate to make ceremonial events and programs simpler and have them in some way reflect and respect the world’s experience of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the statement added. The Tokyo Organizing Committee held a media conference on Wednesday and announced it was creating a new team that will help prepare the events. The new team hopes that the iconic opening and closing of the Olympic Games includes “symbols of the unity and symbiosis②of humankind in its overcoming of the Covid-19 pandemic”. In November, President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach said he was “very, very confident” spectators③ would be able to attend next year’s postponed Tokyo Games. (CNN)
东京奥组委12月23日宣布，东京奥运会的开闭幕式将以一种“更简洁、朴素的方式举行”。仪式的设计将“体现奥运会的整体简化”，并考虑新冠疫情的应对措施。组委会并未公布开闭幕式的形式会做出何种改变或调整。声明还称：“简化仪式类活动和程序，并在一定程度上反映并尊重全世界经历新冠疫情的事实——这样的做法是恰当的。”东京奥组委当日举办了媒体发布会，宣布正组建一支新的团队来帮助筹备这些活动。新团队希望在奥运会标志性的开闭幕式中包含“象征人类团结协作抗击新冠疫情的元素”。今年11月，国际奥委会主席托马斯·巴赫称，观众能来观看延期至明年的东京奥运会，他对此“非常非常有信心”。
【注释】
① countermeasure: [ˈkaʊntəmeʒə(r)] n. a course of action taken to protect against something that is considered bad or dangerous 对策
② symbiosis: [ˌsɪmbaɪˈəʊsɪs] n. a relationship between people, companies, etc. that is to the advantage of both（人与人之间或机构之间平等的）互相依赖关系
③ spectator: [spekˈteɪtə(r)] n. a person who is watching an event, especially a sports event观众，旁观者
2
National Library finds 120-year-old chocolates commissioned by Queen Victoria
澳大利亚国家图书馆发现120年前维多利亚女王委托制作的巧克力
The National Library of Australia has discovered one of the oldest boxes of Cadbury chocolates dating back more than a century—and it has only decayed slightly. Conservators① at the NLA unearthed the sweet treats from the personal collection of famous Australian poet Andrew Barton “Banjo” Paterson, who wrote “Waltzing Matilda” and “The Man from Snowy River”. The bar was found in asouvenir② chocolate tin that was given to soldiers by Queen Victoria during the Boer War. Remarkably almost 120 years later the chocolates were relatively untouched much to the surprise of the library’s conservation③ lab, who found the unexpected item hidden in the poet’s collection of diaries, newspaper clippings and poetry. “There was quite an interesting smell when they were unwrapped,” National Library of Australia conservator Jennifer Todd told the ABC. “It was an old tin of chocolates, belonging to Banjo, with the chocolates still wrapped in the box.” The chocolate bar still had remnants of old straw packing and silverfoil④ wrapping. (Daily Mail)
澳大利亚国家图书馆发现了一盒最古老的吉百利巧克力，其历史可追溯到一个多世纪前，而这盒巧克力目前只有轻微变质。这份甜品是澳大利亚国家图书馆的文保工作人员在澳大利亚著名诗人安德鲁·巴顿·“班卓”·帕特森的个人收藏品中发现的；这位诗人著有《丛林流浪》和《雪河来客》。巧克力存放在一个纪念巧克力盒里，那是维多利亚女王在布尔战争期间赠予士兵的。值得注意的是，这些巧克力在近120年后的今天依旧相对完好，这让文物保护室的工作人员非常惊讶，他们是无意之中在诗人的日记、剪报和诗歌里发现的。澳大利亚国家图书馆的文保工作人员詹妮弗·托德在接受ABC的采访时说：“打开包装时，巧克力散发出有趣的气味。这个巧克力盒很古老，为班卓所有，里面的巧克力还包装得好好的。”每块巧克力还残留着旧的稻草与银箔包装。
【注释】
① conservator: [kənˈsɜːvətə(r)] n. a person who is responsible for repairing and preserving works of art, buildings and other things of cultural interest（博物馆等的）管理员，文保工作人员
② souvenir: [ˌsuːvəˈnɪə(r)] n. a thing that you buy and/or keep to remind yourself of a place, an occasion or a holiday; something that you bring back for other people when you have been on holiday 纪念品
③ conservation: [ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃn] n. the official protection of buildings and objects that have historical or artistic importance（来自国家等的）保护，管理
④ foil: [fɔɪl] n. metal made into very thin sheets that is used for covering or wrapping things, especially food 箔，金属薄片
3
Boris Johnson hails free trade deal with EU
鲍里斯·约翰逊庆祝与欧盟达成自由贸易协定
The EU and UK have reached a post-Brexit trade deal, ending months of disagreements over fishing rights and future business rules. At a Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said: “We have taken back control of our laws and our destiny.” The text of the agreement has yet to be released, but the PM claimed it was a “good deal for the whole of Europe”. The UK is set to exit EU trading rules next Thursday—a year after officially leaving the 27-nation bloc①. It will mean big changes for business, with the UK and EU forming two separate markets, and the end of free movement. But the trade deal will come as a major relief to many British businesses, already reeling from the impact of coronavirus, who feared disruption② at the borders and the imposition③ of tariffs, or taxes on imports. In a press conference in Brussels, European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said: “This was a long and winding road but we have got a good deal to show for it.” She said the deal was “fair” and “balanced” and it was now “time to turn the page and look to the future”. The UK “remains a trusted partner,” she added. (BBC)
欧盟与英国已经达成了英国脱欧后的贸易协定，结束了数月关于捕鱼权和未来商业规则的分歧争端。在唐宁街的新闻发布会上，鲍里斯·约翰逊称：“我们已经重新掌控了我们自己的法律与命运。”尽管协定的内容目前还没有公布，但是鲍里斯称该协定“对整个欧洲有利”。英国计划退出欧盟贸易协约的日期为12月31日——也就是英国正式脱离27国集团一年后。商业将发生巨大变化，因为英国与欧盟形成了两个分离的市场，自由流通终止。但是，这个贸易协定对许多已经受到新冠疫情影响的英国企业来说是一个安慰，他们原先担心脱欧会带来边境口岸的混乱，而征收关税或进口商品税会影响其贸易。在布鲁塞尔的新闻发布会上，欧盟委员会主席乌尔苏拉·冯德莱恩称：“这是一条漫长而曲折的道路，但是我们已经有了一个很好的协定做下去。”她表示，这是一个“公平”且“平衡”的协定，现在“是时候翻过历史的这一页，面向未来”。她还补充道，英国“仍是一个值得信赖的伙伴”。
【注释】
① bloc: [blɒk] n. a group of countries that work closely together because they have similar political interests 集团
② disruption: [dɪsˈrʌpʃn] n. a situation in which it is difficult for something to continue in the normal way; the act of stopping something from continuing in the normal way 混乱
③ imposition: [ˌɪmpəˈzɪʃn] n. the act of introducing something such as a new law or rule, or a new tax 征收（税务）
4
China’s “The Bad Kids” makes it to Variety’s top 15 series
《隐秘的角落》入选《视相》全球15大剧集
As the world stayed home and tuned in to① their screens to escape the monotony of lockdown, international series made an unprecedented② impact in 2020. Adapted from the novel by Chinese suspense writer Zijin Chen, The Bad Kids, this 12-episode drama centers around the aftermath③ that arises after three youngsters accidentally film a murder in a small town. The drama series was so popular that some lines even became new internet memes④. For example, “Shall we go hiking” and “Shall I have a second chance” have theeuphemism⑤ for doing harm to the person being talked to because the leading character played by Qin Hao said the words before pushing his wife’s mother and father down the mountain in the drama. The slick series has been hailed since its June debut as one of the first local Chinese dramas capable of truly standing up to foreign series in its storytelling, cinematography, and performances. Other dramas on the list are Turkey’s “Aleph,” South Korea’s “Crash Landing on You,” Singapore’s “Invisible Stories,” Chile’s “La Jauria,” joint production from the UK and U.S. “Normal People,” India’s “Paatal Lok,” Egypt’s “Paranormal,” Sweden’s “Partisan,” Spain’s “Patria,” France’s “Possessions,” UK’s “Quiz,” Spain’s “Veneno,” Italy’s “We Are Who We Are,” and Sweden’s “We Got This.” (CGTN &Variety)
2020年，全世界民众都待在家里守着屏幕以摆脱封闭时期的乏味单调之时，国际剧集【编注：本篇指美国以外的电视剧】产生了前所未有的影响。12集连续剧《隐秘的角落》改编自中国推理作家紫金陈的小说《坏小孩》，主要围绕小镇上三个孩子无意中拍摄下一桩谋杀案后发生的故事展开。该剧十分受欢迎，剧中的众多台词甚至成为网络爆梗。比如，“一起去爬山吗？”和“你看我还有机会吗？”暗含会对对方下手的含义，因为在剧中，秦昊饰演的男主角在将他岳父岳母推下山之前说的就是这两句。该剧制作精良，6月首播以来一直备受好评，被誉为是第一部能够真正在故事、摄影及表演上与国际剧集相媲美的中国本土剧集之一。其他上榜的剧集为：土耳其的《阿列夫》、韩国的《爱的迫降》、新加坡的《隐匿人生》、智利的《一群》、英美联合出品的《正常人》、印度的《地下世界》、埃及的《灵异志》、瑞典的《帮派》、法国的《财产》、英国的《问答》、西班牙的《毒药》、意大利的《本色》和瑞典的《我们能行》。
【注释】
① tune in to: 收听，观看
② unprecedented: [ʌnˈpresɪdentɪd] adj. that has never happened, been done or been known before 前所未有的，无前例的
③ aftermath: [ˈɑːftəmæθ] n. the situation that exists as a result of an important (and usually unpleasant) event, especially a war, an accident, etc. （战争、意外等的）余波，后果
④ meme: [miːm] n. an image, a video, a piece of text, etc. that is passed very quickly from one internet user to another, often with slight changes that make it humorous 互联网上的梗
⑤ euphemism: [ˈjuːfəmɪzəm] n. an indirect word or phrase that people often use to refer to something embarrassing or unpleasant, sometimes to make it seem more acceptable than it really is 委婉语，委婉说法
5
Biden receives the coronavirus vaccine
拜登接种新冠疫苗
President-elect① Joseph R. Biden Jr. received the coronavirus vaccine on live television on Monday at Christiana Hospital in Newark, Del., sending a message to Americans across the country that the vaccine is safe to take. Biden has said he would make the fight against the coronavirus, which has killed more than 315,000 Americans and infected more than 17.5 million, his top priority② when he takes office on Jan. 20. After getting the shot, a dose of the vaccine developed by Pfizer Inc, Biden praised medical professionals as “heroes”. “I’m doing this to demonstrate that people should be prepared when it’s available to take the vaccine. There’s nothing to worry about,” Biden said. His wife, Jill Biden, who got the injection earlier in the day, stood by Mr. Biden, however, warned Americans thatvigilance③ in the coming months was still necessary. “It’s going to take time,” he said, encouraging people to continue to wear masks and socially distance. “If you don’t have to travel, don’t travel,” he said. “It’s really important.” (Reuters & The New York Times)
当地时间12月21日，美国当选总统拜登在特拉华州纽瓦克的克里斯蒂安娜医院电视直播了自己接种新冠疫苗的过程，此举旨在告知全美民众接种疫苗是安全的。拜登曾表示，他在1月20日就任总统后的首要任务就是抗击新冠疫情——疫情已经导致逾31.5万美国人丧生，逾1750万人感染。在接受辉瑞疫苗注射后，拜登称赞医务工作者是“英雄”。拜登表示：“我这样做是为了表明，人们应该做好接种疫苗的准备。这没有什么可担心的。”他的妻子吉尔·拜登站在他身边，她已于21日早些时候接种了疫苗。不过，拜登先生也提醒美国民众，未来几个月仍需要保持警惕。“这需要时间。”他说道，鼓励民众继续佩戴口罩及保持社交距离。“非必要不旅行，”他说，“这非常重要。”
【注释】
① president-elect: [ˌprezɪdənt ɪˈlekt] n. a person who has been elected to be president but who has not yet begun the job 总统当选人
② priority: [praɪˈɒrəti] n. something that you think is more important than other things and should be dealt with first 优先，优先考虑的事
③ vigilance: [ˈvɪdʒɪləns] n. great care that is taken to notice any signs of danger or trouble 警觉，警惕
6
Sun Yang’s eight-year doping ban is overturned①
孙杨禁赛八年裁决被撤销
Sun Yang, a three-time Olympic champion and one of China’s most celebrated athletes, had his eight-year ban from swimming suddenly overturned Wednesday by Switzerland’s federal court, which upheld② a challenge questioning the neutrality of one of the panelists who had issued the penalty. The Swiss federal court’s decision came after lawyers for Sun presented evidence that the chairman of the three-member panel③ that issued Sun’s ban in February had made racist comments about China on social media. Sun, 29, has waged a multiyear battle with the World Anti-Doping Agency to preserve hiseligibility④ for international competition. WADA brought a complaint against Sun to the court last year after swimming’s international governing body declined to penalize him for refusing to cooperate with three antidoping officials who had traveled to his home in China to collect blood and urine samples. The court, after a hearing in November 2019 that was marred⑤ by translation issues, agreed with the antidoping agency’s underlying claim that Sun had violated rules governing efforts to tamper with ⑥ doping procedures. WADA now will have to argue its case against Sun all over again. The global antidoping body said in an emailed statement that it was aware of the Swiss federal court’s decision to set aside Sun’s ban. (The New York Times)
12月23日，瑞士联邦法院突然撤销了对三枚奥运金牌得主、中国著名游泳运动员孙杨长达八年的禁赛令，该法院支持了对发布处罚裁决的一名仲裁庭成员的中立性所提出的质疑。瑞士联邦法院做出该决定是因为孙杨的律师出示了证据，证据表明2月发布禁赛令的三人仲裁庭主席曾在社交媒体上发布针对中国的种族歧视言论。29岁的孙杨为了确保自己能有资格参加国际赛事，已经同世界反兴奋剂机构（WADA）进行了多年斗争。孙杨曾拒绝与前往其家中采集血液和尿液样本的三名反兴奋剂工作人员合作，2019年，国际泳联拒绝为此处罚孙杨后，WADA将孙杨告上国际体育仲裁法庭。2019年11月，该法庭举行了一场听证会，但该听证会受到翻译问题的影响，听证会后，法庭支持WADA的基本主张，即孙杨违反了干预兴奋剂管控的相关程序。WADA现在将不得不就孙杨的案件重新提出申辩。这一全球反兴奋剂机构在一份电子邮件声明中表示，它已知悉瑞士联邦法院撤销孙杨禁赛令的决定。
【注释】
① overturn: [ˌəʊvəˈtɜːn] v. to officially decide that a legal decision, etc. is not correct, and to make it no longer legally recognized 推翻裁决
② uphold: [ʌpˈhəʊld] v. to support something that you think is right and make sure that it continues to exist 支持，维护
③ panel: [ˈpænl] n. a group of specialists who give their advice or opinion about something; a group of people who discuss topics of interest on television or radio （由选定人员组成的）专家资讯组
④ eligibility: [ˌelɪdʒəˈbɪləti] n. the state of being able to have or do something because you have the right qualifications, are the right age, etc. 合格，资格
⑤ mar: [mɑː(r)] v. to damage something or make something less good or successful 毁坏，损坏
⑥ tamper with: 干预
（北京化工大学彭哲、王林霄编译，王润泽朗读，张菊审订）