The most important foreign affairs events of the week

Last Friday, we had technical issues that damaged the text sent to the readers. If you had any problems to read the content of the grammar tips post in your e-mail, please click here.

May 1st, 2023

“On Monday, Joe Biden met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. of the Philippines at the White House, in a visit set to send a powerful message to China. Mr. Marcos’s trip comes days after the US and Philippine militaries held joint exercises aimed at curbing China’s influence in the South China Sea and strengthening the United States’ ability to defend Taiwan if China invades. In February, the Pentagon announced that the US military would expand its presence in the Philippines, and this spring, four new military sites were announced. As tensions with China rise, the Biden administration’s latest push to bolster its relationships with key Asian allies, after South Korea, Japan, and Australia, all of which are also military treaty partners with the United States.”

Click here to read more about the issue.

The transitive verb curb means “to check, restrain, or control (an impulse or activity, for example); rein in; curtail.”

The transitive verb strengthen means “to make strong or increase the strength of.”

May 2, 2023

“Annual inflation in the eurozone rose to 7 percent in April, according to the European Union’s statistics agency, the first increase after five consecutive monthly declines. Consumer prices edged up from 6.9 percent in March, which further encouraged the European Central Bank (ECB) to raise interest rates on Thursday. The ECB has hiked rates repeatedly since July last year to rein in red-hot inflation. Following Russia’s assault on Ukraine last year, energy prices soared and helped push consumer prices higher across the single currency area, hitting a peak of 10.6 percent in October. Inflation later fell thanks to a slowdown in the rate of energy price rises, but it still remains well above the ECB’s 2 percent target.” 

Click here to read more about the issue.

The phrasal verb edge up means “push one's way into (a space); move towards.”

The phrasal verb rein in is a synonym for curb. Note that both words are used in economic texts, especially regarding inflation.

May 3, 2023

“On Wednesday, forecasters from the World Meteorological Organization are reporting increased chances that the global climate pattern known as El Niño, which is associated with warmer-than-normal ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, will arrive by the end of summer. With it comes increased chances for higher temperatures in 2024. While there is not yet a clear picture of how strong the El Niño event will be or how long it might last, even a relatively mild one could affect precipitation and temperature patterns around the world. El Niño can bring increased rainfall to southern South America and the Horn of Africa, and severe drought to Australia, Indonesia, and parts of southern Asia.”

Click here to read more about the issue.

The noun forecaster means “someone who makes predictions of the future (usually on the basis of special knowledge).” Close synonyms are predictor and prognosticator.

The adjective mild means “moderate in type, degree, effect, or force; not extreme.”

May 4, 2023

“On Thursday, Russia blamed the United States for a drone attack on the Kremlin, doubling down on accusing Washington of “direct involvement” in the war in Ukraine. Video footage showed two explosions over the Kremlin early Wednesday, an incident that Russia described as a Ukrainian drone attack on Mr. Putin’s Kremlin residence. Ukraine has denied involvement and The White House quickly rejected Russia’s accusations. Leaked secret Pentagon documents show that while the American military is indeed providing battlefield targeting data to Ukraine, American officials have worked to dissuade Ukraine from potentially provocative strikes on Moscow.”

Click here to read more about the issue.

The phrasal verb double down means “to significantly increase or strengthen effort, investment, or resolve toward some goal, strategy, or action so as to maximize the potential yield as a result.”

The adverb indeed means “without a doubt; certainly; in fact; in reality,” and is used, in this context, as an intensifier.

May 5, 2023

“On Friday, US, Saudi, and Sudanese officials confirmed that the two parties of the civil war in Sudan are expected to meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to discuss terms of a cease-fire and mechanisms for allowing humanitarian aid into the country on Saturday. The two generals have agreed to cease-fires in recent days, but their troops have violated them. Unfortunately, the discussions in Jeddah would not include negotiations over the volatile issues around integration of the armed forces and chain of command that led to the start of fighting on April 15 between Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who controls the Sudanese military, and Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan, who leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.”

Click here to read more about the issue.

The transitive verb violate means “to disregard or act in a manner that does not conform to (a law or promise, for example).”

The noun chain means “a series of closely linked or connected things.”