Japanese PM not yet considering COVID-19 state of emergency for Tokyo

Japanese PM not yet considering COVID-19 state of emergency for Tokyo

President Xi extends Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese

Monday marks the Chinese New Year's Eve. Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended his greetings to all Chinese.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or the Spring Festival, falls on Tuesday this year.

China sends 2nd aid supplies to Tonga

China is sending its second aid supplies to Tonga on Monday.

China's Defense¹ Ministry² says its naval³ ships are departing from south China's Guangzhou.

Lives of Tongans have been severely⁴ affected⁵ after massive volcanic⁶ eruptions⁷ in the Pacific Ocean island hit the country earlier in January.

Japanese PM not yet considering COVID-19 state of emergency for Tokyo

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida says a state of emergency for Tokyo has not been considered over a surge in COVID-19 cases at the moment as the Omicron variant⁸ of the virus continued to wreak⁹ havoc¹⁰.

The hospitalization rate in Tokyo of those with COVID-19 is moving towards the 50 percent threshold.

Currently, including Tokyo, 34 out of Japan's 47 prefectures are under a quasi-state of emergency.

It means local governors and authorities can ask bars and restaurants to close early and refrain from serving alcohol.

A full state of emergency could see tougher anti-viral measures introduced, including capping the hours on commercial facilities such as shopping malls, cinemas and entertainment parks, or requesting they close altogether.

DPRK announces test-fire of intermediate- and long-range ballistic missile

North Korea's local media reports the country conducted the evaluation¹¹ test-fire of a ballistic missile on Sunday.

According to the official Korean Central News Agency, it was aimed to evaluate the Hwasong 12-type weapon system under production.

It confirmed the accuracy, security and effectiveness of the operation of the weapon system.

11 killed in gunmen attack in northern Nigeria

At least 11 people were killed by unidentified gunmen in Nigeria's northern state of Kaduna.

A government official said in a statement that the gunmen attacked a village in the Zango Kataf local government area in the early hours of Sunday.

Thirty houses were set ablaze¹² during the attack and some survivors¹³ were sent to a hospital.

The official added that search and rescue operations and pursuit of the attackers are in progress on different fronts.

The northern part of Nigeria has witnessed a series of attacks by armed groups in recent months.

SCO chief: Beijing 2022 builds platform for cultural exchange and mutual¹⁴ understanding

The secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization says the Beijing Olympic Winter Games is not only a stage for athletes from different countries and regions. It will also build a platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding.

12 SCO countries will attend the opening ceremony taking place on February 4 at the National Stadium.

SCO member states have called for the non-politicization of athletes and sporting events and stressed the need to promote the development of the Olympic movement and the Paralympic Movement for people with disabilities.

Chinese ambassador, U.S. business leaders vow¹⁵ to work for sound, stable China-U.S. ties in Year of Tiger

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang and U.S. business leaders say they will work for the stable development of China-U.S. relations in the upcoming Year of the Tiger.

They made the remarks at an online reception for the Chinese New Year held by the Chinese Embassy.

The Chinese ambassador says a sound and stable growth of China-U.S. relations will bring benefits for people of both countries and the whole world.

Craig Allen is president of the U.S.-China Business Council.

He says during last year, an overwhelming majority members of the business council showed profitability and a will to increase their investments in China.

30 mln travel a day before the Spring Festival

China's transport authorities estimate nearly 30 million people traveled on Sunday, the last day ahead of the Spring Festival holiday.

About 260 million trips have been made so far since the beginning of the Spring Festival travel rush.

Nearly 1.2 billion trips are expected to be made this year.

Transport authorities say there will be a significant increase compared with last year.

The 40-day travel rush is expected to end on February 25.

Over 70 pct of China's A-level scenic¹⁶ spots to operate normally during holiday

The Ministry of Culture and Tourism says over 70 percent of China's A-level scenic spots will see a normal run during the weeklong Spring Festival holiday.

An official with the ministry says some tourist sites will be temporarily closed due to COVID-19 or seasonal¹⁷ reasons during the holiday.

The Spring Festival or China's Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 1 this year.

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

3 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

4 severely   

adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地

参考例句：

• He was severely criticized and removed from his post.他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
• He is severely put down for his careless work.他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。

5 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

6 volcanic   

adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year.今年火山爆发了好几次。
• Volcanic activity has created thermal springs and boiling mud pools.火山活动产生了温泉和沸腾的泥浆池。

7 eruptions   

n.喷发，爆发( eruption的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There have been several volcanic eruptions this year. 今年火山爆发了好几次。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Over 200 people have been killed by volcanic eruptions. 火山喷发已导致200多人丧生。 来自辞典例句

8 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

9 wreak   

v.发泄；报复

参考例句：

• She had a burning desire to wreak revenge.她复仇心切。
• Timid people always wreak their peevishness on the gentle.怯懦的人总是把满腹牢骚向温和的人发泄。

10 havoc   

n.大破坏，浩劫，大混乱，大杂乱

参考例句：

• The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.地震对这个城市造成了大破坏。
• This concentration of airborne firepower wrought havoc with the enemy forces.这次机载火力的集中攻击给敌军造成很大破坏。

11 evaluation   

n.估价，评价；赋值

参考例句：

• I attempted an honest evaluation of my own life.我试图如实地评价我自己的一生。
• The new scheme is still under evaluation.新方案还在评估阶段。

12 ablaze   

adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的

参考例句：

• The main street was ablaze with lights in the evening.晚上，那条主要街道灯火辉煌。
• Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.森林有时因雷击而起火。

13 survivors   

幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The survivors were adrift in a lifeboat for six days. 幸存者在救生艇上漂流了六天。
• survivors clinging to a raft 紧紧抓住救生筏的幸存者

14 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

15 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

16 scenic   

adj.自然景色的，景色优美的

参考例句：

• The scenic beauty of the place entranced the visitors.这里的美丽风光把游客们迷住了。
• The scenic spot is on northwestern outskirts of Beijing.这个风景区位于北京的西北远郊。

17 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。