Dragon Boat Festival travel boom highlights China's economic strength During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, China's domestic cultural and travel consumption demonstrated strong vitality. China projected 657 million cross-regional trips during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday from May 31 to June 2, with an average of 219 million trips per day – a year-on-year increase of 3 percent. Box office revenue during the holiday exceeded 460 million yuan ($63.9 million), significantly surpassing the same period last year. According to data released by China Mobile's Wutong Big Data, the number of domestic travelers during this year's holiday was projected to increase by 6 percent compared to last year. These figures not only reflect the consumption potential of traditional festivals but also highlight the strong resilience and momentum of the Chinese economy. During this traditional folk festival, cultural heritage experiences became the core highlight of travel consumption. Some folk tourism destinations have seized the opportunity of dragon boat races to transform spectator enthusiasm into consumer spending, converting event traffic into consumption growth and turning dragon boat racing into a new engine for consumption increase. Take Foshan in Guangdong Province as an example, since the concept of "Longchao" (super league of dragon boat races) first emerged in Nanhai, Foshan City, in 2023, dragon boat races that blend traditional culture with competitive appeal have captured the attention of tourists nationwide. This year, the Dragon Boat Festival holiday coincided with International Children's Day, making family travel a dominant force in holiday tourism. According to Wutong Big Data forecast, the number of family travel nationwide is expected to grow by 12 percent compared to 2024. In addition to theme parks, zoos, and cultural venues, experiencing intangible cultural heritage related to the Dragon Boat Festival has become a popular choice for families. In many scenic areas, children can try their hands at making traditional festival items such as wormwood hammers, sachets, and colorful five-strand cords, immersing themselves in the charm of traditional crafts. 词汇表 travel boom [buːm] 旅游热潮 vitality [vaɪˈtæləti] 活力，生机，生命力 project [prəˈdʒekt] 预测，预计；规划，计划 cross-regional trip [ˌkrɒs ˈriːdʒənl] 跨区域旅行 box office revenue [ˈbɒks ɒfɪs ˈrevənjuː] 票房收入 surpass [sə(r)ˈpɑːs] 超过，超越；优于，胜过 Wutong Big Data 梧桐大数据（中国移动旗下的数据服务品牌） resilience and momentum [rɪˈzɪliəns][məˈmentəm] 韧性和发展势头（此处描述中国经济） folk festival [fəʊk ˈfestɪvl] 民间节日 seize the opportunity [siːz] 抓住机会，把握时机 dragon boat races [ˈdræɡən bəʊt reɪsɪz] 龙舟赛 spectator [spekˈteɪtə(r)] （尤指体育比赛的）观看者，观众 convert [kənˈvɜː(r)t] 转变，转化；兑换 engine [ˈendʒɪn] 引擎，发动机，推动力 Longchao 龙超（即龙舟超级联赛super league of dragon boat races的简称，佛山等地举办的龙舟赛事品牌） coincide with [ˌkəʊɪnˈsaɪd] 与…一致，与…同时发生 cultural venues [ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈvenjuːz] 文化场所（如博物馆、美术馆、剧院等文化活动地点） intangible cultural heritage [ɪnˈtændʒəbl ˈkʌltʃərəl ˈherɪtɪdʒ] 非物质文化遗产 scenic areas [ˈsiːnɪk ˈeəriəz] 景区，风景区 wormwood hammers [ˈwɜː(r)mwʊd ˈhæməz] 艾草锤（用艾草等制作的锤状手工艺品） sachet [ˈsæʃeɪ] 香囊，香包（佩戴有驱虫等寓意） colorful five-strand cords [ˈkʌləf(ə)l faɪv strænd kɔː(r)dz] 五彩丝线（系在手腕等部位的传统饰物） 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

Food delivery battle escalates between JD and Meituan CHINANEWS｜Ecns.cn April 22, 2025 Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com on Monday accused a rival platform of blocking food delivery riders from working across multiple services, in a public letter widely seen as a swipe at industry heavyweight Meituan — though it did not name the company directly. JD.com, which began onboarding restaurants in February, announced on Monday that the takeout order would be free if the delivery time exceeds 20 minutes. It introduced emergency support measures to allow couriers the freedom to attract orders and safeguard their income. These measures include increasing the hiring quota for full-time riders from 50,000 to 100,000 over the next three months; ensuring sufficient order volume for riders blocked by other platforms due to exclusivity demands, so their income remains unaffected; never enforcing exclusivity on part-time riders, and prioritizing job placements for their partners, such as full-time courier or cleaning positions. It also indirectly criticized Meituan in its announcement, citing practices like "failing to pay social insurance or housing funds for any rider in over a decade" and "forcing millions of grassroots riders into exclusivity to maintain monopoly power and commercial interests." Previously, Meituan said it had never restricted couriers from working with other delivery services, and instead suggested that JD.com alone has curbed its couriers from accessing other channels. China's food delivery market has long been dominated by Meituan and Ele.me, with Meituan alone holding a nearly 70% market share. After JD.com entered the food delivery business this year, it adopted a series of differentiated strategies and has repeatedly clashed with Meituan, marking the beginning of a new round of competition in China's food delivery industry. JD.com's latest measures have drawn widespread praise from netizens, who believe that while they may increase costs in the short term, they would benefit the company's brand image and market share in the long run. However, some argue it is smearing competitors and engaging in moral coercion, calling it "not a normal competitive tactic." Previously, an internal speech from last year by JD.com founder Liu Qiangdong was made public, in which he criticized food delivery platforms for taking excessively high commissions. He stated that JD.com's food delivery business must not exceed a 5% profit margin, bringing the issue of industry profitability into the spotlight. 词汇表 e-commerce giant [ˈiː ˈkɒmɜːs ˈdʒaɪənt] 电子商务巨头 rival [ˈraɪvl] 竞争对手，敌手 delivery rider [dɪˈlɪvəri ˈraɪdə(r)] 外卖骑手 swipe [swaɪp] 抨击，批评，挥击 industry heavyweight [ˈɪndəstri ˈheviweɪt] 行业巨头，业界大碗 onboard [ˈɒnbɔːd] 使入驻，使入职 takeout order [ˈteɪkaʊt ˈɔːdə(r)] 外卖订单 courier [ˈkʊriə(r)] 快递员，外卖骑手 safeguard [ˈseɪfɡɑːd] 保护，保障，维护 hiring quota [ˈhaɪərɪŋ ˈkwəʊtə] 招聘名额 order volume [ˈɔːdə(r) ˈvɒljuːm] 订单量 exclusivity demand [ˌekskluːˈsɪvəti dɪˈmɑːnd] “二选一”要求，排他性要求（指强迫骑手不能跨平台接单，如有违反，会采取封杀措施） unaffected [ˌʌnəˈfektɪd] 不受影响的，未受伤害的 enforce [ɪnˈfɔːs] 强迫，强制，迫使 prioritize [praɪˈɒrətaɪz] 优先考虑，给…优先权 job placement [dʒəʊb ˈpleɪsmənt] 工作安排，就业安置 social insurance or housing funds [ˈsəʊʃl ɪnˈʃʊərəns][ˈhaʊzɪŋ fʌndz] 五险一金（社会保险或住房公积金） grassroots ['gra:sˌru:ts] 基层的，草根的，底层的 monopoly [məˈnɒpəli] 垄断，专卖，独占 commercial interest [kəˈmɜːʃl ˈɪntrəst] 商业利益 curb [kɜːb] 限制，控制 market share [ˈmɑːkɪt ʃeə(r)] 市场份额，市场占有率 differentiated [ˌdɪfəˈrenʃieɪtɪd] 差异化的，分化的，可区分的 clash with [klæʃ] 与…冲突；与…发生争执 netizen [ˈnetɪzn] 网民 smear [smɪə(r)] 抹黑，诽谤，诋毁 moral coercion [ˈmɒrəl kəʊˈɜːʃn] 道德绑架，道德胁迫 competitive tactic [kəmˈpetətɪv ˈtæktɪk] 竞争策略 commission [kəˈmɪʃn] 佣金，提成，手续费 profit margin [ˈprɒfɪt ˈmɑːdʒɪn] 利润率，盈利 profitability [ˌprɒfɪtəˈbɪləti] 盈利能力，收益性 spotlight [ˈspɒtlaɪt] 聚光灯，公众焦点 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

'3.15' consumer rights gala puts the spotlight on sanitary products, food safety, and digital economy Mar 16, 2025 China Media Group's 35th 3.15 Consumer Rights Gala, revealed a host of business misconduct, including substandard disposable products, food safety breaches, excessive repair fees, illegal high-interest online loans, personal data leaks, AI harassment calls, online lotteries, and the sale of wires and cables that fail to meet national standards. Among the first revelations was a scandal in Jining, Shandong Province, involving Liangshan Xixi Paper Products. The firm allegedly purchased scraps and defective sanitary napkins and baby diapers from recognized brands, then repackaged them for sale at prices soaring from as little as 260 yuan per ton to as much as 8,000 yuan per ton. The gala also uncovered questionable practices at several disposable underwear factories in Shangqiu, Henan Province, where producers reportedly used dubious raw materials and bypassed proper sterilization procedures, despite their product labels suggesting otherwise. China's largest home appliance maintenance platform, Zhuomuniao, also came under spotlight. Over 6,000 complaints were filed against its repair technicians for allegedly imposing exorbitant service fees. Food safety was another key focus. In Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, multiple seafood producers were accused of using excessive phosphate-based water-retention agents in shrimp processing, inflating water content by up to 20 percent. The gala also exposed an e-signature service operated by Jiedaibao, an online lending platform, which was found to encourage illegal usury lenders to evade supervision, prompting concerns about the misuse of digital lending tools. Shanghai Zhiyouqing Network Technology was the subject of another major revelation, with its AI phone-call bots allegedly fueling a surge in spam calls. 词汇表 put the spotlight on [ˈspɒtlaɪt] 聚焦于，使成为焦点 sanitary product [ˈsænətri] 卫生用品（如卫生巾、护垫、卫生纸等） China Media Group 中央广播电视总台 Consumer Rights Gala [kənˈsjuːmə(r)][ˈɡɑːlə] 消费者权益晚会 a host of 许多，大量 misconduct [ˌmɪsˈkɒndʌkt] 不端行为，不当行为 substandard [ˌsʌbˈstændəd] 不合格的，不达标的 disposable product [dɪˈspəʊzəbl] 一次性产品 breach [briːtʃ] 违反，违背，不履行 high-interest online loan [ləʊn] 高息网贷 data leak [liːk] 数据泄露 harassment call [ˈhærəsmənt] 骚扰电话 online lottery [ˈlɒtəri] 在线抽奖 wires and cables [ˈwaɪəz][ˈkeɪblz] 电线电缆 revelation [ˌrevəˈleɪʃn] 揭露，曝光 scrap [skræp] 废料，（纸、布等的）碎片 defective [dɪˈfektɪv] 有缺陷的，有毛病的 sanitary napkin [ˈsænɪtri ˈnæpkɪn] 卫生巾 baby diaper [ˈbeɪbi ˈdaɪəpə(r)] 婴儿纸尿裤 recognized brand [ˈrekəɡnaɪzd] 知名品牌 repackage [ˌriːˈpækɪdʒ] 重新包装，使改头换面 dubious [ˈdjuːbiəs] 有问题的，不可靠的，可疑的 raw materials [rɔː] 原材料 bypass [ˈbaɪpɑːs] 绕过，避开 sterilization [ˌsterəlaɪˈzeɪʃn] 消毒，杀菌 home appliance maintenance [əˈplaɪəns ˈmeɪntənəns] 家电维修 impose [ɪmˈpəʊz] 强加，征收（费用等） exorbitant [ɪɡˈzɔːbɪtənt] （价格，要求等）过高的，过分的 phosphate-based water-retention agents [ˈfɒsfeɪt][rɪˈtenʃn ˈeɪdʒənts] 磷酸盐类保水剂 inflate [ɪnˈfleɪt] 使充气，使膨胀，上涨 e-signature [ˈiː sɪɡnətʃə(r)] 电子签名 lending platform [ˈlendɪŋ] 借贷平台 usury lender [ˈjuːʒəri ˈlendə(r)] 高利贷放贷者 evade supervision [ɪˈveɪd ˌsuːpəˈvɪʒn] 逃避监管 fuel [fjuːəl] 刺激，助长 spam call [ˈspæm] 骚扰电话，垃圾电话 📖 翻译、pdf见公众号【琐简英语】，回复"1"可进【打卡交流群】

‘Singer 2024’ show a wakeup call for Chinese music industry May 12, 2024 From Global Times After a four-year absence, "Singer 2024," a competitive music variety show by Mango TV, premiered on Friday night. Sticking to a "live-broadcasting" format devoid of post-production edits, the show has sparked heated debates, triggering reflections on the performances of Chinese singers and exposing the clear disparity between China's music industry and its international counterparts. 时隔四年，芒果TV的竞技音乐综艺节目《歌手2024》于周五晚间首播。该节目坚持“现场直播”的形式，没有后期制作剪辑，引发了激烈的争论，引发了对中国歌手表演的反思，并暴露了中国音乐产业与国际同行之间的明显差距。 The debut lineup ranges from international singers like US singer Chanté Moore and Canadian Z-generation singer Faouzia to renowned Chinese artists such as Na Ying, Wang Sulong and Taiwan-born singer Rainie Yang, reflecting the endeavor by the production team to cater to the varied musical preferences of different demographics. In the first episode, seven singers presented their signature pieces. However, from vocal skills to stage presence and flexibility, there was a noticeable gap in performance quality between domestic and international singers. 首演阵容包括美国歌手 Chanté Moore 和加拿大 Z 世代歌手 Faouzia 等国际歌手，以及中国著名艺术家那英、汪苏泷和台湾歌手杨丞琳等，反映出制作团队为迎合不同人群的不同音乐喜好而作出的努力。在第一期中，七位歌手展示了他们的标志性作品。然而，从声乐技巧到舞台表现力和灵活性，国内外歌手在表演质量上存在明显差距。 While seasoned Chanté Moore claimed the top spot with her rendition of "If I Ain't Got You," and young Faouzia mesmerized the audience with the song "Crazy," the performances of Chinese singers at the show, including the experienced Na Ying, fell short of expectations. As a result, the only two foreign singers, Chanté Moore and Faouzia, took the top two spots, while Na ranked third. The subsequent rankings were also occupied by domestic singers. Na admitted that after receiving the invitation to participate to the competition, she often experienced nightmares featuring "singing mishaps" and later she confessed to being "scared stiff" after the show. Yang also reflected on her nerves, acknowledging that they led to a significant disparity between her performance and her usual standards. 虽然经验丰富的Chanté Moore凭借她演绎的“If I Ain't Got You”夺得了头把交椅，年轻的Faouzia以歌曲“Crazy”迷住了观众，但包括经验丰富的那英在内的中国歌手在演出中的表现却没有达到预期。结果，仅有的两位外国歌手ChantéMoore和Faouzia占据了前两位，而那英排名第三。随后的排名也被国内歌手占据。那英坦言，在接到比赛邀请后，她经常做噩梦，梦见自己 "唱歌出车祸"，后来她也承认自己在演出后 "吓得浑身发抖"。杨丞琳也反思了自己的紧张情绪，承认这导致她的表现与平时的水准有很大差距。 During a press conference for the show, the producer of the program Hong Xiao confirmed that many singers turned down the opportunity due to concerns over the "live format." On the night of its premiere, the show dominated the trending list on Weibo. Speculations ran rampant among netizens regarding which skilled artists might step in to fill the gaps left by the eliminated singers. Some even began speculating about the future of the Chinese music industry, questioning who could potentially rescue its current state. 在节目的新闻发布会上，节目制作人洪啸证实，许多歌手因为担心“现场直播”而拒绝了这个机会。首播当晚，该节目占据了微博的热门话题榜。网民们纷纷猜测哪些有实力的艺人可能会填补被淘汰歌手的空缺。一些人甚至开始猜测中国音乐产业的未来，质疑谁有可能拯救中国音乐产业的现状。 In an entertainment landscape dominated by artificial enhancements like editing, the authenticity of live vocal performances is a refreshing change for audiences. "Singer 2024" has served as a wakeup call for both Chinese artists and audiences, exposing the disparities between the Chinese and international music scenes. To reverse the current decline in the Chinese music industry, a return to the fundamentals of music-making and a focus on genuine vocal talent is imperative. 在剪辑等人工修饰充斥的娱乐圈，现场声乐表演的真实性让观众耳目一新。《歌手 2024》为中国歌手和观众敲响了警钟，揭示了中国与国际乐坛的差距。要想扭转中国音乐产业目前的颓势，回归音乐创作的本质，重视真正的声乐人才势在必行。

The Paramount Shanghai, the birthplace of Chinese Jazz 30-Apr-2024 from CGTN April 30 marks the International Jazz Day, a celebration of a musical genre that blends elements of European and American culture. Jazz arrived in China as early as the 1920s, with Shanghai serving as its cradle. As a landmark venue in Shanghai, The Paramount witnessed the early development of jazz in China, including the emergence of the country’s first Chinese jazz band, the Jimmy King Band. 4月30日是国际爵士乐日，这是一个融合了欧美文化元素的音乐流派的庆典。爵士乐早在20世纪20年代就传入中国，上海是它的发源地。作为上海的地标性建筑，百乐门见证了爵士乐在中国的早期发展，包括中国第一支中国爵士乐队吉米·金乐队的诞生。 Founded by Jin Huaizu, commonly known as Jimmy King, the band was born out of his passion for music, which was nurtured by frequent visits to The Paramount to enjoy performances. His dream was to form a jazz band composed entirely of Chinese musicians. In 1947, the owner of The Paramount hired Jin to form a band. At his invitation, Zheng Deren, who later became known as the master of the double bass in China, joined the band, demonstrating his exceptional musical talent and making a significant contribution to the arrangements. 金怀祖是这支乐队的创始人，他对音乐的热爱孕育了乐队的诞生。他经常去百乐门剧院欣赏演出。他的梦想是组建一支完全由中国音乐家组成的爵士乐队。1947年，百乐门的老板聘请金组建了一支乐队。在他的邀请下，后来成为中国低音提琴大师的郑德仁加入了乐队，展示了他非凡的音乐天赋，并在编曲方面做出了重大贡献。 The Jimmy King Band gained popularity among Shanghai audiences for their polished performances and unique interpretation of Chinese pop songs in a jazz style. Their shows attracted large crowds, with queues for parking stretching several blocks, breaking the monopoly of foreign bands and paving the way for the development of jazz in China. 吉米·金乐队以其精湛的表演和独特的爵士风格诠释中国流行歌曲，在上海观众中广受欢迎。他们的演出吸引了大批观众，排队停车的队伍延伸了几个街区，打破了外国乐队的垄断，为爵士乐在中国的发展铺平了道路。 Zheng Deren excelled not only in performing and arranging for the Jimmy King Band but also continued to contribute to the jazz scene in the years that followed. In the mid-1980s, he was invited to perform at the Peace Hotel, recreating the jazz nights of the 1940s for audiences. 郑德仁不仅在吉米金乐队的表演和编曲方面表现出色，而且在随后的几年里继续为爵士乐做出贡献。在20世纪80年代中期，他应邀在和平饭店演出，为观众重现了20世纪40年代的爵士之夜。 As pioneers of Chinese jazz, the Jimmy King Band represented more than just a musical legacy; they affirmed the diversity of Chinese culture. And their music will continue to inspire future generations to explore and create jazz sounds unique to China. 作为中国爵士乐的先驱，吉米-金乐队代表的不仅仅是音乐遗产，他们还肯定了中国文化的多样性。他们的音乐将继续激励后人探索和创造中国独有的爵士乐。

Stephen Chow to debut comedy variety show in Chinese mainland Apr 25 from Global Times Stephen Chow, the renowned "King of Comedy" in Hong Kong cinema, is poised to launch a comedy variety show in the Chinese mainland, iQiyi revealed on Tuesday. Chow will headline the creation of stand-up comedy The King of Comedy, which will mark his first venture into TV production in the mainland. 爱奇艺周二透露，香港电影界著名的“喜剧之王”周星驰将在中国大陆推出一个喜剧综艺节目。周将发起单口喜剧《喜剧之王》的制作，这将标志着他首次进军大陆电视制作领域。 Over 30 comedians, handpicked from a pool of over 1,000 talents from more than 40 stand-up comedy clubs, are expected to compete onstage. Alongside Chow, heavyweight figures such as Luo Yonghao, Yang Li, and Zhou Qimo will also appear on the show. 预计将有 30 多名喜剧演员登台竞技，他们是从 40 多个单口喜剧俱乐部的 1000 多名人才中精挑细选出来的。除周星驰外，罗永浩、杨笠、周青墨等重量级人物也将出现在节目中。 This variety show is just part of iQiyi's broader strategy to cultivate the "King of Comedy" IP universe, which will explore multifaceted collaboration in drama, film, animation, and variety shows based on more than 10 iconic movies by Chow, including King of Comedy, God of Cookery, The Mermaid and CJ7. 这档综艺是爱奇艺培育“喜剧之王”IP宇宙的更广泛战略的一部分。它将根据周星驰的10多部标志性电影，包括《喜剧之王》、《厨神》、《美人鱼》和《长江七号》等，探索戏剧、电影、动画和综艺节目的多方面合作。 In January, Chow and Douyin announced they were jointly developing the "9527 Theater" specializing in micro-dramas. Jinzhu Yuye serves as the inaugural production for this theater, with Chow producing, Yi Xiaoxing supervising, Ma Shi directing, and Shi Yuanting and Xia Ruoyan starring. On April 12, production commenced in Chengdu on the short video drama Jinzhu Yuye, which will be released exclusively on Douyin in May. 今年1月，周星驰和抖音宣布，他们将共同开发“九五二七剧场”，该剧场将专注于短剧创作。《金珠玉叶》是该剧场的首部作品，周星驰制片，易小星监制，马史导演，史元庭，夏若妍主演。4月12日，短剧《金猪玉叶》在成都开始制作，5月份将在抖音独家发行。 The short drama tells a story about legal intern Ye Xiaolai from the island of Taiwan, who embarks on a quest to unravel the truth behind a scam that ensnared her twin sister. Her investigation leads her to the mainland, where she encounters the suspected culprit, Zhu Hao, only to discover a deeper conspiracy. 这部短剧讲述了一个来自台湾岛的法律实习生叶小莱的故事。她登上了揭开诱骗她双胞胎妹妹背后的真相寻求之旅。她的调查把她带到了大陆，在那里她遇到了嫌疑人朱浩，却发现了一个更深层次的阴谋。

UAE sees its heaviest rains in 75 years APRIL 18, from NPR Schools and businesses have been closed across the United Arab Emirates after the country experienced about year's worth of rain in one day. The flooding also disrupted travel at Dubai International Airport, which is the world's busiest for international travel. 在一天内经历了大约一年的降雨量后，阿拉伯联合酋长国各地的学校和企业都已关闭。洪水还扰乱了迪拜国际机场的航行，迪拜国际机场是世界上最繁忙的国际旅行。 Dubai's high-end stores weren't spared either, as rainwater gushed through the ceilings of shopping malls. At Dubai's main airport, the runway flooded and flagship carrier Emirates suspended all departing flights on Wednesday. The local Gulf News reported more than 1,200 flights were canceled due to Tuesday's storms. The airport is expected to return to fully operational by Friday. 迪拜的高端商店也未能幸免，雨水从购物中心的天花板涌出。在迪拜的主要机场，跑道被洪水淹没，旗舰航空公司阿联酋航空周三暂停了所有离港航班。据当地《海湾新闻》报道，由于周二的暴风雨，有1,200多个航班被取消。该机场预计将于周五恢复全面运营。 The city, known for its year-round sunny weather and beaches, saw sunshine later in the week, but schools remained remote due to road closures. Despite some damage to cars, homes and roads, the UAE's state news agency says the rainfall boosts the country's groundwater reserves. 这座城市以其全年阳光明媚的天气和海滩而闻名，本周晚些时候阳光明媚，但由于道路封闭，抵达学校的路变得偏远。尽管汽车、房屋和道路遭到了一些破坏，但阿联酋国家通讯社表示，降雨增加了该国的地下水储量。 Rainfall in nearby Oman is blamed for more than 20 deaths this week, including 10 children swept away in a car on their way home from school Monday, according to state-owned media there. 据阿曼官方媒体报道，阿曼附近的降雨本周造成20多人死亡，其中包括10名儿童在周一做汽车放学回家的路上被冲走。 今日词汇 the United Arab Emirates（UAE） 阿拉伯联合酋长国，阿联酋 spare 避免，免遭，幸免 gush 喷涌，流出 runway 飞机跑道 departing flights 离港航班，即将启程的航班 operational 工作的，运营的 year-round 一年到头的，全年的 road closure 道路封锁 groundwater reserves 地下水储量 is blamed for 是…罪魁祸首，造成 state-owned 国有的，官方的

The Paris Olympics flame is lit at the Greek cradle of ancient games April 16, 2024 from AP From the ancient stadium in Olympia, a relay of torchbearers will carry the flame along a 5,000-kilometer (3,100-mile) route through Greece, including several islands, until the handover to Paris Games organizers in Athens on April 26. International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said the flame lighting combined "a pilgrimage to our past in ancient Olympia, and an act of faith in our future." 在奥林匹亚古老的体育场，火炬手将传递圣火，途经希腊，包括几个岛屿，全程5000公里(3100英里)，直到4月26日在雅典移交给巴黎奥运会组织者。国际奥委会主席托马斯 · 巴赫说，圣火点燃结合了“对我们在古奥林匹亚的过去的朝圣之旅，以及对我们未来的信念。” Thousands of spectators from all over the world packed Olympia for Tuesday's event amid the ruined temples and sports grounds where the ancient games were held from 776 B.C.-393 A.D. The sprawling site, in a lush valley by the confluence of two rivers, is at its prettiest in the spring, teeming with pink-flowering Judas trees, small blue irises and the occasional red anemone. 周二，来自世界各地的数千名观众挤满了奥林匹亚的废墟神庙和运动场，这里曾在公元前 776 年至 393 年间举办过古代奥运会。该景点位于两河交汇处的一个郁郁葱葱的山谷中，春季是该景点最美丽的时候，粉红色的犹大树、蓝色的小鸢尾和偶尔出现的红色葵花竞相开放。 Greek authorities maintained high security around Olympia on Tuesday. Armed police stopped incoming vehicles and checked for explosives, while sniffer dogs combed the grounds. 希腊当局周二在奥林匹亚附近维持了高度戒备。武装警察拦下进入的车辆并检查爆炸物，同时派嗅探犬在地面上搜查。 The first torchbearer was Greek rower Stefanos Douskos, a gold medalist in 2021 in Tokyo. He ran to a nearby monument that contains the heart of French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, the driving force behind the modern revival of the games. The next runner was Laure Manaudou, a French swimmer who won three medals at Athens in 2004. She handed over to senior European Union official Margaritis Schinas, a Greek. 第一位火炬手是2021年东京奥运会金牌得主、希腊赛艇运动员斯特凡诺斯·杜斯科斯。他跑到附近的一座装有法国顾拜旦男爵的心脏的纪念碑前，顾拜旦是奥运会现代复兴的推动力。下一位火炬手是法国游泳运动员劳雷 · 马纳多，她在2004年雅典奥运会上获得了三枚奖牌。她将圣火传递给了希腊欧盟高级官员玛格丽蒂斯·席纳斯。 今日词汇 Olympia 奥林匹亚（奥林匹克运动会起源地） a relay of torchbearers 接力传递的火炬手 handover 移交 pilgrimage 朝圣 spectator （尤指体育比赛的）观众 pack 聚集，挤进 sprawling/lush郁郁葱葱的，蔓生的，茂盛的 confluence 合流，汇流 teem with 充满，盛产 sniffer dog 搜救犬；嗅探犬 comb 搜寻，梳理 medalist 奖牌

Chinese internet influencer apologizes for fabricating story of Chinese primary school student losing homework in Paris Apr 12 from Global Times A Chinese internet influencer has been administratively punished for fabricating an incident involving a Chinese primary school student traveling in Paris. purportedly leaving his winter vacation homework behind during a February trip to attract viewers on social platforms, the Hangzhou police in Zhejiang Province announced on Friday. 中国东部浙江省杭州市警方周五宣布，一名中国网红因捏造一名中国小学生在巴黎旅行的事件而受到行政处罚，该事件据称是在2月份的一次旅行中留下了寒假作业，以吸引社交平台关注。 According to police statements, they received a complaint from a netizen accusing the 29-year-old female influencer, surnamed Xu, of spreading rumors online. After investigation, they discovered that Xu and her 30-year-old colleague, surnamed Xue, had orchestrated and fabricated a series of videos claiming to have found a winter vacation homework exercise book in Paris belonging to a Chinese primary school student named Qin Lang. 根据警方的声明，他们收到了一名网友的投诉，指控这位29岁的徐姓女网红在网上散布谣言。经过调查，他们发现徐和她30岁的薛同事精心策划并编造了一系列视频，声称在巴黎发现了一本寒假作业练习册，属于一位名叫秦朗的中国小学生。 They then purchased the exercise book online, filmed and produced the series of videos with a cellphone, and distributed them across multiple online platforms, resulting in negative influence. The public security department has since administratively penalized the company where Xu and Xue work. Police warn that they will crackdown on illegal activities such as malicious speculation, fabrication, and dissemination of rumors or false information online, which disrupt public order, in accordance with the law. 随后，他们在网上购买了练习册，用手机拍摄并制作了系列视频，并在多个网络平台上传播，造成了负面影响。此后，公安部门对徐某和薛某所在的公司进行了行政处罚。警方提醒，对于网上恶意炒作、编造、传播谣言或虚假信息等扰乱公共秩序的违法行为，警方将依法予以严厉打击。 Xu also uploaded an apology video on Bilibili on Friday evening, expressing deep regret and remorse for fabricating and uploading the videos due to her lack of legal awareness. She admitted that the situation escalated beyond her expectations, causing widespread reposts and discussions, disrupting online order, and having a significant negative impact, consuming public resources, and polluting the online environment, for which she deeply reflected on and apologized. 周五晚上，徐还在视频分享平台哔哩哔哩上传了一段道歉视频，对自己因缺乏法律意识而编造并上传视频深表遗憾和自责。她承认，事态的升级超出了她的预期，引起了广泛的转发和讨论，扰乱了网络秩序，并产生了重大的负面影响，浪费了公共资源，污染了网络环境，对此她深表反思并道歉。 今日词汇 internet influencer 网红 administratively punish/penalize 行政处罚 fabricate/fabrication编造，制造 purportedly 据称地，谣传地 orchestrate 组织，精心策划 public security department 公安厅 crackdown 打击，制裁 malicious speculation 恶意炒作，恶意揣测 disseminate rumors 散布谣言 repost 转发，转帖 public resources 公众资源

Classical pianist Lang Lang honored with Hollywood Walk of Fame star April 10 from NBC Legendary pianist Lang Lang was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Considered one the finest classical pianists of his generation, Lang has performed for some of the most influential people on the planet. Among those are President Barack Obama, Pope Francis and the late Queen Elizabeth of England. 传奇钢琴家郎朗在好莱坞星光大道上被授予一颗星。郎朗被认为是他那一代最优秀的古典钢琴家之一，曾为地球上一些最有影响力的人演出。其中包括巴拉克·奥巴马总统、教皇弗朗西斯和已故的英国女王伊丽莎白。 Just steps away from his star on the boulevard, Lang gifted everyone in attendance at his ceremony with a short performance on a Steinway Piano. "He has the audience in the palm of his hands, making them feel that they’re listening to his music for the very first time," said Dickon Stainter, President and CEO of Global Classics and Jazz. 就在离他的明星几步之遥的林荫大道上，郎在他的仪式上用斯坦威钢琴表演了一个简短的节目。“他把听众的心牢牢栓住了，让他们觉得自己是第一次聆听他的音乐，”全球古典音乐和爵士乐总裁兼首席执行官迪肯·斯坦特说。 Lang recalled memories of Hollywood, strolling down the boulevard during some downtime, looking at all the names of people who have changed the world. "I was blown away by all those great names and all of those people who have changed the world," said Lang. That honor, now his too. "Music brought me here today. And music brought me to start playing in my home city," said Lang. 郎回忆起好莱坞，在一些休息时间漫步在林荫大道上，看着所有改变世界的人的名字。郎说：“我被那些伟大的名字和那些改变了世界的人所震撼。”这一荣誉现在也是他的。郎说：“今天音乐把我带到了这里。音乐让我开始在家乡演奏。”。 Born in Shenyang, the capital of coastal Liaoning province in Northeast China, Lang's piano journey began when he was just two years old. Lang says he was inspired by cartoons after watching "The Cat Concerto" in a Tom and Jerry episode. By age nine he was considered a piano prodigy and would later move to the U.S. with his father in 1997 to continue his music career. 郎出生于中国东北沿海辽宁省之都沈阳，他的钢琴之旅始于两岁那年。朗说，他是在看了《猫和老鼠》中的一集《猫的协奏曲》后受到卡通片的启发。九岁时，他被认为是钢琴神童，1997年随父亲移居美国，继续他的音乐生涯。 今日词汇 finest 最优秀，最杰出的 have someone in the palm of your hand 把（某人）攥在手心里，完全控制（某人），牢牢栓住 stroll down 漫步 downtime 休息期间，停工期 be blown away 大为惊讶，十分高兴，大受震撼 prodigy 奇才，神童

'Cat abuse' candidate not admitted; virtue supersedes good grades Apr 09 from Global Times On Monday night, Lanzhou University's School of Nuclear Science and Technology officially announced the 2024 list of candidates for master's degree transfer admissions on its official website. After checking the list, Xu, a candidate who had attracted significant social attention for allegedly abusing cats, found out that he had not been included in the list of candidates for admission. 4月8日晚，兰州大学核科学与技术学院在其官网上正式公布了2024年硕士研究生调剂考生拟录取名单。在名单里，因涉嫌虐待猫而备受关注的考生徐某某，没有被列入这份拟录取名单中。 According to media reports, after finishing his undergraduate studies, Xu applied for admission to the School of Physics at Nanjing University for a master's degree, but was not admitted. Despite his professional course results ranking first, he received a message that said: "failed to pass the second examination." Subsequently, he applied for a transfer to Lanzhou University. During this period, some netizens reported that the candidate had allegedly abused and killed cats in the school dormitory and uploaded videos of the acts online. 据媒体报道，徐某某本科毕业后，申请进入南京大学物理学院攻读硕士学位，但未获录取。尽管他的专业课程成绩排名第一，但他还是收到了一条信息：“没通过复试。”随后，他申请调剂到兰州大学。在此期间，有网民举报称该候选人涉嫌在学校宿舍虐杀猫，并将这些行为的视频上传到网上。 Previously, the Nanjing police responded by stating that they had interviewed the parties involved and their families, and instructed them to write a letter of repentance. Given the school's specific provisions and regulations for the admission of master's students in the reexamination, it is reasonable for the school to judge the candidate as morally unfit for admission based on his behavior, but some argue that the school's handling of the situation is too harsh. 此前，南京警方回应称，已约谈涉事当事人及其家属，并责成其写悔过书。鉴于学校在复试中对硕士研究生入学的具体规章制度，学校根据考生的行为判断其在道德上不适合入学是合理的，但有人认为学校对这种情况的处理过于严厉。 In fact, this is not an isolated case. A university in Central China's Henan Province once reported that a student named Li was involved in cat abuse and was expelled; in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, a school punished two students for mistreating stray dogs and placed them under surveillance at school. 事实上，这并非个案。中国河南省中部的一所大学曾报道，一名姓李的学生参与虐猫并被开除；在中国西南部的四川省，一所学校惩罚了两名虐待流浪狗的学生，并在学校对他们进行监视。 今日词汇 supersede 取代，淘汰 transfer 调剂，转入 candidates for admission 拟录取考生 professional course 专业课 rank first 排行第一 second examination 复试 party involved 当事人，参与者 repentance 忏悔 provisions and regulations 规章制度，规定 isolated case 个案，孤立案例 expel 开除，退学 abuse/mistreat 虐待 stray dogs 流浪狗

Highlights of China's Qingming holiday reveal economic vitality 04-07 from Xinhua China saw a boom in the consumer market during the three-day Qingming Festival holiday that concluded on Saturday, marked by bustling tourist attractions and surging consumption. The following are some of the highlights of the country's holiday data, showing the growing momentum of economic recovery in 2024. 在上周六结束的为期三天的清明节假期中，中国的旅游景点热闹非凡，消费激增，消费市场一片繁荣。以下是全国假日数据的一些亮点，显示了 2024 年经济复苏的增长势头。 China saw about 119 million domestic tourist trips made during the holiday, up 11.5 percent from the same period in 2019, data from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism shows. Domestic tourism revenue during the period totaled 53.95 billion yuan (about 7.6 billion U.S. dollars), up 12.7 percent from the same period in 2019. 文化和旅游部的数据显示，假期期间，中国国内游客约1.19亿人次，比2019年同期增长11.5%。同期国内旅游收入总计539.5亿元人民币（约76亿美元），比2019年同期增长12.7%。 China saw 1.04 million inbound tourist trips and 992,000 outbound tourist trips made during the holiday, which was close to the number of trips made during the same period in 2019. Japan, Thailand and the Republic of Korea were popular destinations for outbound travel. 假期期间，中国入境游客104万人次，出境游客99.2万人次，接近2019年同期。日本、泰国和大韩民国是出境旅行的热门目的地。 During the holiday, China witnessed a remarkable surge in consumption, reflecting the country's robust economic resilience and the people's eagerness to engage in various activities after a period of containment measures. 假期期间，中国的消费大幅增长，反映出中国强劲的经济韧性，以及在采取了一段时间的遏制措施后，人们渴望从事各种活动。 今日词汇 bustling 热闹的，熙熙攘攘的 growing momentum 增长势头 total 总计 tourism revenue 旅游收入 inbound/outbound tourist trips 入境/出境游 robust economic resilience 强劲的经济韧性 containment measures 封控措施

Why is Taiwan so exposed to earthquakes and so well prepared to withstand them? April 4, 2024 from AP Emergency services on Wednesday continued rescue operations at the scene of a partially collapsed building at the epicentre of Taiwan’s earthquake zone in Hualien City. The 7.2-magnitude earthquake, the strongest in Taiwan in almost 25 years was centred off the coast of rural, mountainous Hualien County, where some buildings leaned at severe angles, their ground floors crushed. 周三，在台湾震中花莲县一栋部分倒塌的建筑物现场，紧急救援人员继续开展救援行动。这场7.2级的地震是台湾近 25 年来最强烈的地震，震中位于花莲县农村山区的沿海地区，一些建筑物严重倾斜，地面被压垮。 Taiwan lies along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. The area is particularly vulnerable to temblors due to the tension accumulated from the interactions of the Philippine Sea Plate and the Eurasian Plate. The region’s mountainous landscape can also magnify the ground shaking, leading to landslides. 台湾位于环太平洋火山带，这是一条环绕太平洋的地震断层线，世界上大多数地震都发生在这里。由于菲律宾板块和欧亚板块相互作用所累积的张力，该地区特别容易受到地震的影响。该地区的山地景观也可以放大地面震动，导致山体滑坡。 Taiwan is no stranger to powerful earthquakes yet their toll on the high-tech island’s 23 million residents has been relatively contained thanks to its excellent earthquake preparedness, experts say. “Taiwan’s earthquake preparedness is among the most advanced in the world,” said Stephen Gao, a seismologist and professor at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “The island has implemented strict building codes, a world-class seismological network, and widespread public education campaigns on earthquake safety.” 台湾对强震并不陌生，但专家表示，由于出色的防震措施，强震对这个高科技岛屿2300万居民造成的损失相对较小。“台湾的地震防御是世界上最先进的之一,”台湾地震学家、密苏里科技大学教授斯蒂芬•高表示。“台湾实施了严格的建筑规范，建立了世界级的地震网络，并开展了广泛的地震安全公众教育活动。” The government continually revises the level of quake resistance required of new and existing buildings — which may increase construction costs — and offers subsidies to residents willing to check their buildings’ quake resistance. Taiwan also is pushing quake drills at schools and workplaces while public media and cellphones regularly carry notices about earthquakes and safety. 政府不断调整新建和现有建筑的抗震等级，这可能会增加建筑成本，并为愿意检查建筑抗震性能的居民提供补贴。台湾还在学校和工作场所推行地震演习，同时公共媒体和手机定期发布有关地震和安全的通知。 今日词汇 rescue operations 救援行动，搜救工作 epicentre 震中 earthquake zone 地震带 magnitude 震级 at severe angles 严重倾斜地 Pacific "Rim of Fire" 环太平洋火山带 seismic faults 地震断层 encircle 环绕，包围 temblor 地震 Philippine Sea/Eurasian Plate 菲律宾/欧亚板块 no stranger to 对...不陌生，老手 toll 伤亡 seismologist 地震学家 building codes 建筑规范 seismological 地震学上的 quake resistance 抗震，预震 quake drills 地震演习

Google to Destroy Browsing Data to Settle Consumer Privacy Lawsuit April 1 from Reuters Google agreed to destroy billions of data records to settle a lawsuit claiming it secretly tracked the internet use of people who thought they were browsing privately. 谷歌同意销毁数十亿条数据记录，以了结一项诉讼，该诉讼声称，谷歌秘密跟踪了那些认为自己使用无痕浏览的人的互联网使用情况。 Lawyers for the plaintiffs valued the accord at more than $5 billion, and as high as $7.8 billion. Google is paying no damages, but users may sue the company individually for damages. 原告的律师对该协议的估值超过50亿美元，最高可达78亿美元。谷歌不支付任何损害赔偿金，但用户可以单独起诉该公司要求赔偿损失。 The class action began in 2020, covering millions of Google users who used private browsing since June 1, 2016. 该集体诉讼始于 2020 年，涵盖自 2016 年 6 月 1 日以来使用隐私浏览的数百万 Google 用户。 Users alleged that Google's analytics, cookies and apps let the Alphabet unit improperly track people who set Google's Chrome browser to "Incognito" mode and other browsers to "private" browsing mode. 用户声称，谷歌的分析、cookie 和应用程序让 Alphabet 部门不当跟踪将谷歌的 Chrome 浏览器设置为“隐身”Incognito" mode模式并将其他浏览器设置为“隐私”浏览模式的人。 They said this turned Google into an "unaccountable trove of information" by letting it learn about their friends, favorite foods, hobbies, shopping habits, and the "most intimate and potentially embarrassing things" they hunt for online. 他们说，这让谷歌变成了一个“不负责任的信息宝库”，让它了解他们的朋友、最喜欢的食物、爱好、购物习惯，以及他们在网上搜寻的“最私人的、最可能令人尴尬的事情”。 "The result is that Google will collect less data from users' private browsing sessions, and that Google will make less money from the data," the plaintiffs' lawyers wrote. In a statement, he called the settlement "a historic step in requiring honesty and accountability from dominant technology companies." “结果是谷歌将从用户的私人浏览会话中收集更少的数据，谷歌将从数据中赚到更少的钱，”原告的律师写道。在一份声明中，他称和解是“要求占主导地位的科技公司诚实和问责的历史性一步”。 今日词汇 track 跟踪 Private Browsing 无痕浏览 plaintiff 原告，起诉人 sue for damages 起诉索赔 class action 集体诉讼 Incognito mode 隐身模式 unaccountable 不负责任的，难以理解的 trove 宝库，被发现物，无主珍宝 accountability 问责，责任

5 dead and over 100 hospitalized from recalled Japanese health supplements Mar 29 from AP Five people who took a Japanese health supplement have died and more than 114 have been hospitalized as of Friday, a week after a pharmaceutical company issued a recall of the products, officials said. The products includes Benikoji Choleste Help meant to lower cholesterol that contain an ingredient called benikoji, a red species of mold. 官方消息称，截至周五，已有5名服用日本保健品的人死亡，超过114人住院治疗。一周前，一家制药公司发布了产品召回令。这些产品包括用于降低胆固醇的“红麹胆固醇帮助”，其中含红曲成分（一种红色霉菌）。 Osaka-based Kobayashi Pharmaceutical Co. came under fire for not going public quickly with problems known internally as early as January. Some people developed kidney problems after taking the supplements, but the exact cause was still under investigation in cooperation with government laboratories, according to the manufacturer. 总部位于大阪的小林制药公司早在 1 月份就发现了内部问题，但没有迅速公布于众，而遭到了抨击。据生产商称，一些人在服用这种保健品后出现了肾脏问题，但具体原因仍在与政府实验室合作调查中。 President Akihiro Kobayashi apologized deeply at a news conference on Friday. He expressed remorse to those who have died and have been sickened, and to their families. He also apologized for the troubles caused to the entire health food industry and the medical profession, adding that the company was working to prevent further damage and improve crisis management. 总裁小林明弘在周五的新发布会上深表歉意。他对那些死亡和生病的人及其家属表示遗憾。他还对给整个保健食品行业和医学界造成的麻烦表示歉意，并补充说公司正在努力防止进一步的损害，并改进危机管理。 The company’s products have been recalled — as have dozens of other products that contain benikoji, including miso paste, crackers and a vinegar dressing. Japan’s health ministry put up a list on its official site of all the recalled products, including some that use benikoji for food coloring. 该公司的产品已被召回，其它几十种含有红曲的产品也被召回，其中包括味噌酱、饼干和一种油醋汁。日本卫生部在其官方网站上公布了所有召回产品的清单，其中包括一些使用红曲作为食用色素的产品。 The ministry warned the deaths could keep growing. The supplements could be bought at drug stores without a prescription from a doctor, and some may have been purchased or exported before the recall, including by tourists who may not be aware of the health risks. 卫生部警告说，死亡人数可能会继续增加。这些保健品可以在药店购买，无需医生开具处方，有些可能在召回前就已经购买或出口，包括那些可能没有意识到健康风险的游客。 今日词汇 health supplement 保健品，补品 hospitalize 送入医院治疗，送住院 pharmaceutical 制药的，配药的 product recall （缺陷）产品召回 cholesterol 胆固醇 under fire 遭受批评，受到攻击 kidney problem 肾脏问题，肾病 sickened 患病的，得病 medical profession 医学界 miso paste 味增酱 cracker 饼干 vinegar dressing 油醋汁 food coloring 食用色素 prescription 处方，规定