1
China applies to join the DEPA
中國申請加入《數字經濟夥伴關係協定》
China has applied to join the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA) last Monday. The bid① could put the country at the strategic forefront② of world trade, according to trade experts. But there are questions as to whether China can meet the high standards set forth under the DEPA, which is a dedicated③ digital trade agreement containing some of the most forward-looking④ provisions. Mirroring⑤ the genesis⑥ of the CPTPP and RCEP, the DEPA is attracting widespread interest and could soon become another major trade deal, analysts say. It has already replicated the origin of the CPTPP, which is the current iteration⑦ of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) first formed by a group of Asia-Pacific economies. (South China Morning Post)
11月1日，中國申請加入《數字經濟夥伴關係協定》（DEPA）。據貿易專家介紹，此舉或將令中國處於世界貿易的戰略要地。但是，中國能否達到DEPA設定的高標準仍需討論。DEPA是一項數字貿易方面的專門協定，包含一些最具前瞻性的條款。分析者稱，與《全面與進步跨太平洋夥伴關係協定》（CPTPP）和《區域全面經濟夥伴關係協定》（RCEP）開始時相似，DEPA有著廣泛的吸引力，可能很快就會成為又一重大貿易協議。它已經複製了CPTPP的開端。CPTPP的前身是《跨太平洋夥伴關係協定》（TPP），而TPP最初由一系列亞太經濟體構成。
【註釋】
① bid: [bɪd] n. an effort to do something or to obtain something 企圖；努力
② forefront: [ˈfɔːfrʌnt] n. an important or leading position in a particular group or activity 最前線；最重要的位置
③ dedicated: [ˈdedɪkeɪtɪd] adj. designed to do only one particular type of work; used for one particular purpose only 專門的
④ forward-looking: [ˈfɔːwəd lʊkɪŋ] adj. planning for the future 為未來計劃的
⑤ mirror: [ˈmɪrə(r)] vt. to have features that are similar to (somebody/something) else and that show what it is like 與……相似
⑥ genesis: [ˈdʒenəsɪs] n. the beginning or origin of something（事物的）起源；開始
⑦ iteration: [ˌɪtəˈreɪʃn] n. a particular form or variant of a type or original 版本
DEPA signing ceremony
(Credit: Asian Trade Centre)
2
New research on COVID-19 treatment
新冠治療新研究
Scientists identified a gene that doubles the risk of lung failure and death from COVID-19. Their research suggests that about 60% of people with South Asian ancestry① carry the gene compared with 15% of those with European heritage. The difference may in part explain why COVID-19 has had a more devastating impact on some specific communities and in South Asia. Meanwhile, a late-stage trial found that Paxlovid, a COVID-19 antiviral pill, cut the risk of hospitalisation or death from the virus by 89%. Pfizer, the pharma② company behind the drug, said it stopped the trial because of its “overwhelming efficacy” and planned to submit the findings to America’s regulatory authorities to get emergency authorisation as soon as possible. Paxlovid joins Molnupiravir, another promising non-jab③ candidate. (The Economist Espresso)
科學家發現了一種基因，該基因可令新冠導致肺衰竭和死亡的風險翻倍。這些科學家的研究表明，大約60%南亞血統的人攜帶這種基因，而歐洲血統是15%。這種差異或可部分解釋為何新冠對某些特定群體和南亞的影響更具破壞性。與此同時，一項晚期的試驗發現，一款新冠抗病毒片狀藥物帕克洛維（Paxlovid）將住院或死亡的風險降低了89%。該藥的生產商輝瑞稱，鑑於帕克洛維“明顯的有效性”，公司已暫停試驗，計劃向美國監管部門遞交有關發現，以儘快獲得緊急使用授權。該藥成為繼莫納皮拉韋（Molnupiravir）之後又一有望成功的非疫苗類候選藥物。
【註釋】
① ancestry: [ˈænsestri] n. line of descent 世系，血統
② pharma: [ˈfɑːmə] n. pharmaceutical companies as an industry 製藥行業
③ jab: [dʒæb] n. a vaccine 疫苗
(Credit: NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
3
The US sets Jan. 4 the vaccination deadline for big private employers
美國將1月4日定為大型私有企業接種疫苗的截止日
The Biden administration last Thursday set Jan. 4 as the deadline for large companies to mandate coronavirus vaccinations or start weekly testing of their workers, the government’s biggest effort yet to enlist① private businesses in combating the virus. The president has previously imposed vaccine requirements on federal workers, a group that totals more than four million people, and companies that have federal contracts. But the mandate on large private businesses is the most far-reaching and potentially controversial measure in the government’s efforts to fight the pandemic. The attorneys general② in eleven states filed a lawsuit last Friday to block the mandate. (The New York Times)
11月4日，美國拜登政府將明年1月4日定為大公司強制員工接種疫苗或實行每週檢測的截止日。這是到目前為止這屆美國政府為爭取私有公司一同抗疫所做的最大努力。此前，拜登總統曾對聯邦僱員和與聯邦政府有合同往來的公司提出接種疫苗的要求，其中聯邦僱員總人數超過了400萬。但是，在政府的抗疫努力中，對大型私有企業的命令影響範圍最廣，也可能最具爭議。11月5日，11個州的檢察長提起訴訟，以圖阻止這一命令。
【註釋】
① enlist: [ɪnˈlɪst] vt. to secure (a person or his services) as an aid in any enterprise 謀得……的幫助
② attorney general: [əˌtɜːni ˈdʒenrəl] n. the most senior legal officer in some countries or states, for example the UK or Canada, who advises the government or head of state on legal matters 檢察長
Protesters gather at the Iowa Capitol in Des Moines, Iowa, on Oct. 28, 2021.
(Credit: AP)
4
COP26 week one
第26屆聯合國氣候變化大會第一週
World leaders met in Glasgow, U.K., last Monday for the first day of the highly anticipated COP26 climate summit. Delegates were asked to accelerate action on climate change and commit to more ambitious cuts in their countries’ emissions, all in an effort to limit global temperature rises. More than 100 world leaders have promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26 climate summit’s first major deal. Leading an alliance of 90 countries, US President Joe Biden last Tuesday set out new regulatory measures to limit global methane emissions by 30% from 2020 levels by the end of the decade. Last Thursday, more than 40 countries agreed to phase out① their use of coal-fired power, the dirtiest fuel source, in a boost② to UK hopes of a deal to “keep 1.5C alive③”. (CNBC, BBC, and The Guardian)
11月1日，世界領導人在英國格拉斯哥聚首，這是備受期待的第26屆聯合國氣候變化大會（COP26）的第一天。為限制全球溫度上升，各國代表被要求加快應對氣候變化的行動、就減排做出更大膽的承諾。100多名世界領導人承諾在2030年前停止並扭轉毀林現象，這是COP26氣候峰會上達成的首個重大協議。11月2日，美國總統喬·拜登率領90個國家組成的聯盟，提出了新的監管措施，要在這一個10年（2020—2030）內將全球甲烷排放在2020年的水平上減少30%。煤是汙染最嚴重的燃料來源，11月4日，40多個國家同意逐步停止使用煤電，此舉將有利於實現英國“令1.5攝氏度目標繼續存在”的希望。
【註釋】
① phase out: to stop using (something) gradually in stages over a period of time 分階段停止使用
② boost: [buːst] n. something that helps or encourages somebody/something 推動，促進
③ alive: [əˈlaɪv] adj. continuing to exist 繼續存在的，在起作用的
(Credit: ics-shipping.org)
5
EDG beat DK to win Worlds 2021 title①
EDG擊敗DK贏得2021全球總決賽冠軍
China’s Edward Gaming earned their first-ever League of Legends World Championship title with a 3-2 win over South Korea’s DWG KIA last Saturday. EDG capped off② a historic tournament run③ with their first-ever Summoner’s Cup. Heading into the tournament, EDG were among the tournament favorites, but they didn’t look like it for most of the event④. They struggled in the group stage and took two lesser⑤ teams to Game 5s. But in the finals the EDG people expected to show up, did. (Upcomer)
11月6日，中國Edward Gaming（EDG）戰隊以3比2戰勝對手韓國DWG KIA（DK）戰隊，首次奪得英雄聯盟全球總決賽冠軍。EDG捧得其第一座召喚師杯，圓滿結束了一次具有歷史意義的比賽。本屆比賽剛開始時，EDG是最受歡迎的戰隊之一，但他們大部分時間的表現不盡如人意。小組賽階段，EDG艱難出線；淘汰賽又與兩個相對沒那麼熱門的隊伍鏖戰了5局。然而，決賽中，EDG展現出了人們期望看到的狀態，最終問鼎。
【註釋】
① title: [ˈtaɪtl] n. the position of being the winner of a competition, especially a sports competition 冠軍之位
② cap off: to end (something) in usually an exciting or impressive way 使圓滿結束
③ run: [rʌn] n. an attempt to win or do something 一次努力
④ event: [ɪˈvent] n. one of the races or competitions in a sports programme 賽事
⑤ lesser: [ˈlesə(r)] adj. not as great in size, amount or importance as something/somebody else 較小／少／次要的
(Credit: Edward Gaming)
小麵糰 編譯
王暖流 審訂兼朗讀
