China's Chang'e 6, aimed at retrieving the first samples from the far side of the moon, embarked on its journey this week, carrying payloads from ESA, Italy, France, and Pakistan. What makes the mission so special? Liz from #MegaProject experienced the excitement at the launch site and heard thoughts from international scientists.


英语视频丨International experts: China's Chang'e 6 mission a world first

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The Party secretary, environmental protection chief and a leading official in charge of water resources in Quanjiao county, Anhui province, have been removed from their positions for river pollution that sparked widespread criticism.安徽省全椒县党委书记、环保局长和一名负责水资源的主要官员因引发公众普遍指责的河流污染事件被免。After a recent fire at a petroleum additive company in the county, polluted water flowed into the Chuhe river, a joint investigation team said in a statement issued on Wednesday morning.5月29日上午，联合调查组发布声明称，该县一家石油助剂公司最近发生火灾后，受污染的水流入了滁河。The Chuhe is a tributary of the Yangtze River.滁河是长江的支流。The team was formed by the provincial government and the provincial discipline inspection and supervision authorities, Anhui Daily reported.据《安徽日报》报道，该团队由省委省政府和省纪检监察机关组成。The pollution led to mass fish deaths in the section of the river passing through the city of Chuzhou and in its lower reaches in Nanjing, the capital of neighboring Jiangsu province, media outlets reported.据媒体报道，污染导致流经滁州市的江段及其下游江苏省省会南京市的大量鱼类死亡。Dou Ping, who was director of the county's ecology and environment bureau, told China Central Television the bureau had not checked the toxicity of the water used in fighting the fire that had leaked into the river after the fire was put out "because there was no need to do so".该县生态环境分局局长窦平告诉中国中央电视台，该局没有检查灭火用水的毒性，因为“没有必要做”。灭火用水在灭火后泄漏到河里。"People can be killed after drinking too much Moutai (liquor). If somebody dies from drinking Moutai, should anybody test the toxicity of the alcohol?" Dou said in the interview, which was broadcast on Monday.“喝茅台也能喝死人。喝死人以后，需要对茅台做毒性分析吗？”窦平在5月27日播出的采访中说。Yang Jun, a senior official with the county's water resources bureau, told CCTV he was not too concerned about the incident as he was due to retire in two months.该县水利局党组成员杨俊告诉中国中央电视台，他并不清楚这一事件，他将在两个月后退休。Videos of the comments by Dou and Yang have gone viral online since Tuesday.自5月28日以来，窦平和杨俊的采访视频在网上大量传播。Both Dou and Yang have been removed from their posts, the county government said in a statement issued on Wednesday.县政府在5月29日发布的声明中称，窦平和杨俊已被免职。The investigation team's statement said the county's Party secretary, Yang Guang, had also been removed from the position and probes targeting other personnel were underway.调查组的声明称，该县县委书记杨光也被免职，针对其他人员的调查正在进行中。The provincial authorities organized a conference on handling the incident on Tuesday afternoon, which was attended by top officials including the province's Party secretary and governor.5月28日下午，广东省政府组织了一次处理事故的会议，包括省委书记和省长在内的省领导出席了会议。It called for quick and scientific handling of pollution remediation and the punishment of officials who were at fault according to related regulations and laws.会议要求迅速和科学地处理问题，并根据相关法规和法律对有过错的官员进行处罚。In November, the provincial governments of Anhui and Jiangsu signed an agreement on a cross-region mechanism for the protection of the Yangtze River basin's aquatic environment.11月，安徽省和江苏省政府签署了一项关于长江流域横向生态保护补偿机制的协议。Under the agreement, the water that flows from Anhui to Jiangsu is subject to periodic assessments. If the quality reaches agreed standards, Jiangsu compensates Anhui for expenses incurred to protect the environment. Otherwise, Jiangsu is compensated to subsidize its additional costs in treating polluted water.根据协议，从安徽流入江苏的水要接受定期评估。如果质量达到约定的标准，江苏将补偿安徽为保护环境而支出的费用。否则，江苏将获得补偿，以补贴其处理污水的额外成本。
pollution remediation污染修复periodic assessments定期评估


英语新闻丨County officials sacked for river pollution

Discover the secrets behind China's fragrant roses! Join us on a captivating adventure to Yongdeng, #Gansu province — the heart of rose production. From lush fields to delicate essential oils, witness the magic of Yongdeng Kushui roses against the backdrop of Danxia's breathtaking landscapes. #PotsideChats


英语视频丨A Journey to China's Rose Paradise

The output of litchi in Guangdong province, one of its major production bases, is predicted to hit 876,400 metric tons this year, down 51 percent year-on-year.作为其主要生产基地之一，广东省今年的荔枝产量预计将达到87.64万吨，同比下降51%。
That has led to a price hike in markets in the western part of Guangdong.这导致了广东西部市场的价格上涨。Litchi prices in the city of Maoming have risen by between 30 percent and more than 100 percent compared with last year.与去年相比，茂名市的荔枝价格上涨了30%到100%以上。Litchi from western Guangdong usually ripens earlier than fruit from other places.来自广东西部的荔枝通常比来自其他地方的水果成熟得更早。Chen Houbin, a chief scientist with the National Litchi Longan Industrial Technology System, said the predicted output of litchi across the country this year will be 1.78 million tons, down 42.5 percent from the previous year.国家荔枝龙眼产业技术体系首席科学家陈厚彬表示，今年全国荔枝产量为178万吨，较上年同期下降42.5%。The Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region is projected to harvest about 410,000 tons of litchi this year, a year-on-year reduction of 59 percent, while Hainan province is expected to produce about 200,000 tons, a year-on-year drop of 15 percent.广西壮族自治区今年预计收获荔枝约41万吨，同比减少59%，海南省预计生产约20万吨，同比下降15%。Chen, also a researcher at South China Agricultural University, attributed the reduction to a warm winter, which prevented mid- to late-maturing varieties from flowering properly.陈厚彬也是华南农业大学的研究员，他认为温暖的冬天阻碍了中晚熟品种正常开花，从而造成了荔枝产量的减少。Continuous extreme weather, including storms, hailstones and tornadoes, also affected the harvest, he said.他说，包括风暴、冰雹和龙卷风在内的持续的极端天气也影响了收成。Guangdong enjoyed a bumper litchi harvest last year, causing the litchi trees to become weak, and their vigor has yet to return to its optimal state. And litchi harvests typically occur in alternating years of high and low yields, Chen said.广东去年的荔枝大丰收，导致荔枝树身体虚弱，其活力尚未恢复到最佳状态。陈厚彬说，荔枝的收获存在“大小年”的情况。He urged related departments to rely on technology to promote high-quality development of the litchi industry.他敦促相关部门依靠技术来促进荔枝产业的优质发展。"More litchi varieties with better temperature requirements should be cultivated through seed selection, hybridization and biotechnology methods," he said.他说：“应该通过种子选择、杂交和生物技术方法培育更多温度需求较好达到的荔枝品种。”Targeted measures should be taken to strengthen the trees, and manage nutrition and plant protection, while promoting soil improvement technology, nutrition diagnosis guidance, and modern agricultural equipment in litchi orchards, he added.他补充说，应采取有针对性的措施以加强树木建设、管理树木营养和进行植物保护，同时提升荔枝果园的土壤改良技术、营养诊断指导和现代农业设备。Earlier this month, the Litchi Meteorological Service Center was launched by the Guangdong Meteorological Service and Guangdong Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, providing special meteorological services to local orchards and litchi growers.本月早些时候，广东省气象局和广东省农农部启动了荔枝气象服务中心，为当地果园和荔枝种植者提供特殊气象服务。Zeng Zong, deputy director of the Guangdong Meteorological Service, said the center will accelerate the automation of litchi meteorological observation, the digitization and intelligence of services, and the integration of scientific research and business services, to enhance the scientific and technological capabilities of meteorological support for the high-quality development of the industry.广东气象局副局长曾琮说，该中心将加快荔枝气象观测自动化、服务数字化和智能化，科研与商务服务的整合，增强气象支持科技能力，促进行业优质发展。Huang Yun, a litchi grower in Lingshui, Hainan, said a good harvest would not be achieved without good planting management.海南陵水的荔枝种植者黄云（Huang Yun）说，没有良好的种植管理，就不会有好收成。Litchi trees often bear fruit in the rainy season, and disease and insect prevention, as well as drainage, are particularly important for a good harvest, said Huang, adding that he usually uses organic fertilizers to improve soil quality and builds ditches to ensure good drainage before the rainy season arrives.荔枝树在雨季经常结出果实，病虫害防治以及排水对好收成特别重要，黄云（Huang Yun）说，他通常使用有机肥料来改善土壤质量，修建沟渠，以确保良好的排水。Lin Changzhen, director of the Caixianyuan Fruit and Vegetable Cooperative in Gaozhou, Guangdong, said her cooperative has been using multiple methods, including expanding e-commerce platform channels, training professional talent and enhancing industrial technology to help expand litchi sales, stabilize the market and increase income growth.广东省高州市采鲜园果蔬合作社社长林常珍说，她的合作机构一直采用多种方式，包括扩大电子商务平台渠道、培养专业人才、加强产业技术，以帮助扩大荔枝销售、稳定市场、增加收入增长。Logistics and services are also important, as litchi is a highly seasonal fruit, she added.她补充说，物流和服务也很重要，因为荔枝是一种季节性的水果。
mid- to late-maturing varieties中晚熟品种disease and insect prevention病虫害防治seasonal fruit季节性水果



英语新闻丨今年“打脸最狠”的水果，可能是荔枝？

France’s iconic Eiffel Tower is increasing its ticket prices by 20%, CNN’s affiliate BFMTV has reported, to help cover the costs of renovation work and financial losses during the coronavirus pandemic.
美国有线电视新闻网旗下的BFM电视台报道称，法国的标志性建筑埃菲尔铁塔门票价格将上涨20%，这是为了帮助支付翻修费用以及弥补新冠疫情期间发生的亏损。
An adult ticket including an elevator ride to the summit of the Parisian landmark will cost €35.30 ($38.31) from June 17 onwards, rising from €29.40 ($31.91), BFMTV reported. The same ticket for children aged between 12 and 14 years old will cost €17.70 ($19.21) and the price for children between four and 11 years old to reach the tower’s summit will be €8.90 ($9.66).
据BFM电视台报道，从6月17日起，包含乘坐电梯到达埃菲尔铁塔顶部的成人票将从29.4欧元（约合人民币231元）上涨到35.3欧元（约合人民币277元）。12岁至14岁儿童的门票将为17.7欧元，4岁至11岁儿童的门票（包含乘坐电梯登顶）将为8.9欧元。

The price increase has been brought about, BFMTV reported, in part because of a “significant loss of revenue” caused by the “health crisis between 2020 and 2022.”
据报道，门票上涨在一定程度上是由于 “2020至2022年健康危机”导致的“重大收入损失”。
In 2020, less than 1.6 million people visited the Eiffel Tower, compared to nearly 6.2 million visitors the year before, the monument’s operating company Sociéte d’Exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE) reported. Less than 2.1 million people visited the following year.
埃菲尔铁塔运营公司SETE报告称，2020年埃菲尔铁塔游客人数不足160万，而2019年游客人数达到近620万。2021年埃菲尔铁塔游客人数不到210万。

In both years, operating costs were around triple that of the landmark’s overall turnover, SETE said.
SETE表示，这两年中，埃菲尔铁塔的运营成本大约是总营业额的三倍。
Renovation work is also behind the cost increase, including “lead prevention measures” related to the painting of the tower, BFMTV reported. The painting work is expected to last until 2027 while work is also planned on the elevators, which will lead to occasional closures.
据BFM电视台报道，翻修工程也是票价上涨的原因之一，包括给铁塔重刷油漆相关的“铅污染防护措施”。重刷油漆工程预计将持续到2027年，同时也计划对电梯进行施工，期间铁塔会不定时关闭。

英文来源：美国有线电视新闻网



英语新闻丨巴黎奥运会开幕在即 埃菲尔铁塔门票价格将上涨20%

Premier Li Qiang has urged China, Japan and the Republic of Korea to reject external disruptions and stay committed to harmonious coexistence and mutual support.

Li made the remark on Monday when addressing the 8th China-Japan-ROK Business Summit in Seoul on the sidelines of the ninth Trilateral Summit Meeting among the three Asian neighbors.


"China, Japan and the Republic of Korea are geographically close neighbors, which determines that we should strive to be peaceful and friendly neighbors," he said. "Drawing lessons from history and looking to the future, we should respect the aspirations of the people of the three countries to live and work in peace, make efforts to eliminate external disruptions to coexist harmoniously, and help each other in times of need."

He underlined the need for the three countries to consider one another as partners and important opportunities on the path of development and to achieve a higher level of mutually beneficial cooperation.

It is essential to make good use of the cultural affinity of the three neighbors to promote mutual understanding, build mutual trust and enhance cooperation, Li said.

China is willing to work hand in hand with the Republic of Korea and Japan to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, promote the integration of their interests and bring the people of the three nations closer, driving regional integration and creating new prospects for regional peace, stability, development and prosperity, he said.

He called on entrepreneurs to play a crucial role in promoting economic and trade exchanges and cooperation among China, Japan and the Republic of Korea

It is hoped that entrepreneurs will be the defenders of stable global industrial and supply chains, he said.

the Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also attended the event.

They praised the achievements in trilateral economic and trade cooperation, emphasizing its role in promoting global economic development.

They called for strengthening cooperation with Global South countries through the model of "China-Japan-ROK Plus X", jointly addressing global challenges such as climate change, and making contributions to the economic growth of the three countries as well as the world.

Approximately 240 representatives from the business and government sectors of the three countries attended the summit, which focused on economic revitalization and sustainable development.

The business summit adopted a joint statement in which the business communities of the three nations pledged to cooperate on the facilitation of the digital transition, stimulation of trade and stabilization of supply chains, as well as on the fostering of cutting-edge industries and industrial digitalization as key economic growth engines.

They also pledged to cooperate on the green transition, responses to aging populations, and healthcare. To promote sustainable development, the business communities of China, Japan and the Republic of Korea will work together on the development of carbon reduction technologies and the resolution of regional environmental issues, and jointly respond to climate change.

A working group for trilateral dialogue among the business communities of the three countries will be set up for joint research on private-sector economic cooperation and the discussion of current issues, according to the statement.



英语视频丨International experts: China's Chang'e 6 mission a world first

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