4月3日 英语： 拜登回应'不当行为'指控 Biden faces new scrutiny

Biden faces new scrutiny
拜登回应'不当行为'指控

Former US vice-President Joe Biden on Sunday defended his interactions with women, saying he doesn't believe he's ever acted inappropriately. But a Nevada politician's assertion that Biden's kiss on the back of her head made her feel uncomfortable prompted some Democrats to question whether the 76-year-old is too out of step with his own party to run a successful 2020 presidential campaign.
3月31日，美国前副总统拜登对于他与女性的互动过于亲密的传闻予以回应，称不相信自己曾有过不恰当的举动。此前内华达州一名女政客声称，拜登曾亲吻她的后脑勺，令她觉得不舒服。部分民主党人因此质疑76岁的拜登是否够资格代表其所属党派角逐2020年总统大选。

The 2014 incident, recounted by Democrat Lucy Flores, highlighted an aspect of Biden's persona that has been publicly known for years: The affectionate whispers, hugs and shoulder squeezes he has long doled out to women. In a statement, Biden said it was never his intention to make women feel discomfort.
民主党人露西•弗洛雷斯重提这件发生在2014年的旧事，使得拜登此前在公开场合的一些举动被放大：对女性深情低语，拥抱女性并用肩膀挤压女性。拜登在一份中声明表示，他从未蓄意使女性感到不适。

"In my many years on the campaign trail and in public life, I have offered countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort," he said. "And not once - never - did I believe I acted inappropriately. If it is suggested I did so, I will listen respectfully."
"在我多年的竞选和公众事务生涯中，我有过无数的握手、拥抱、示好、支持及安慰，从来没有一次认为自己举止不当。如果有人认为我确实有过这样的举动，我会虚心听取建议。"

Foreign brands cut prices
增值税率调整洋货降价

World famous consumer brands, including Apple, Louis Vuitton and Gucci, have announced their decisions to cut their suggested retail prices to give the gains from China's value-added tax (VAT) cut to consumers. China on Monday started to slash VAT in multiple industries. 

我国对增值税的减让举措惠及消费者，包括苹果、路易威登和古琦在内的众多世界著名奢侈品牌近日纷纷宣布下调建议零售价。我国自4月1日起降低部分行业增值税。

Apple's online store in China lowered the price of the iPhone XS and iPhone XS MAX by 500 yuan, while that of iPhone XR dropped 300 yuan. Its newly launched iPad Air, iPad mini and AirPods also are on the price-cut list. Luxury brands Louis Vuitton and Gucci also announced a drop of 3% for their whole product lineup. 
苹果在华官网上，iPhone XS和iPhone XS MAX的售价均下调500元，iPhone XR的售价下调了300元。新发布的iPad Air、iPad mini以及AirPod的价格也有所下调。奢侈品牌路易威登和古琦也宣布旗下全线产品降价3%。

Car manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lincoln and Volvo, have already cut the suggested retail prices for cars as much as 80,000 yuan over the past weeks after China announced the VAT rate cut. China has set out a plan for the large-scale tax cut, including lowering the VAT rate in manufacturing and other industries, from 16% to 13% and that in transportation, construction and other industries from 10% to 9%. 
我国宣布降低增值税率后，过去几周，包括梅赛德斯奔驰、宝马、奥迪、林肯和沃尔沃在内的多家汽车制造商纷纷宣布下调旗下产品建议零售价，降价幅度最高达8万元。我国已开始实施大规模减税政策，制造业等行业的适用税率由16%降至13%，交通运输、建筑等行业适用税率由10%降至9%。

'Reiwa' as new era name
日本公布新年号为'令和'

The Japanese government announced Monday that "Reiwa" will be the name of Japan's new era to start on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends the Chrysanthemum throne succeeding his father, Emperor Akihito. The new era name, comprised of two Chinese characters, which roughly translate to "orderly" or "auspicious" and "peace" or "harmony," is derived from Man'yoshu, the oldest anthology of Japanese poetry dating back to the eighth century. 
日本政府4月1日宣布，自5月1日起，"令和"将作为日本的新年号，届时皇太子德仁将从他的父亲明仁天皇那里继承天皇王位。新年号由两个汉字组成，"令"的大意是"有序"或"吉祥"，"和"的大意是"和平"或"和谐"。"令和"出自日本最古老的诗歌总集《万叶集》，该诗集成书于8世纪。

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a press conference after the announcement was made that the new era name was decided upon as it connotes "people's hearts coming together beautifully to nurture a culture." Abe added that he hopes the new era ahead would be one that held great promise for younger generations.
日本首相安倍晋三在新年号公布后召开的记者会上表示，之所以决定使用"令和"，是因为它蕴含着"人们的美丽心灵相互靠近诞生文化"之意。安倍还称，希望改元后能建设对年轻人而言洋溢希望的日本。

Sichuan blaze leaves 30 dead
凉山森林火灾30人牺牲

Thirty people were confirmed killed while fighting a forest fire that broke out on Saturday in the Liangshan Yi autonomous prefecture, Sichuan province, the Ministry of Emergency Management said in a statement on Monday. By 6:30 pm on Monday, the bodies of all victims were recovered, including 27 firefighters and three locals, the ministry said. 
应急管理部4月1日发布消息称，3月30日，四川省凉山彝族自治州境内爆发森林大火，已有30人在扑火行动中丧生。应急管理部称，截至4月1日18时30分，所有遇难者遗体均已找到，包括27名消防队员和3名当地群众。

At about 5 pm on Saturday, a fire broke out in an alpine forest in Muli county. The fire was concentrated at an altitude of about 3,800 meters, in complex terrain with steep valleys, and a lack of road access. The fire, that engulfed around 15 hectares of forest, has been contained as of Tuesday noon, local authorities said.
30日17时许，木里县一处高山森林爆发火灾。火势集中在海拔3800米左右，火点所处位置地势复杂，山谷陡峭且道路不通。据当地有关部门介绍，截至2日中午，火势已基本得到控制，过火面积达15公顷左右。