Erinome: Hello dear friends! Welcome to our podcast. Today, we’re going to talk about something many of us love—coconut water! But wait, have you heard the recent news? It’s a bit shocking.  

Enceladus: Oh really? I just drank a bottle yesterday! What happened?  

Erinome: Well, some “100% pure coconut water” products might not be pure at all. Like, you know those cheap ones—9.9 yuan for 1 liter? They might be fake!  

Enceladus: No way! 9.9 yuan for 1 liter? That sounds too good to be true. But why is that a problem?  

Erinome: Let’s think about the cost. A fresh coconut costs about 10 yuan, right? And it only gives around 300ml of water. So 1 liter would need 3-4 coconuts. The raw material cost alone is more than 10 yuan! How can they sell it for 9.9?  

Enceladus: Oh! So they must add something else? Like water or sugar?  

Erinome: Exactly! A news report tested many “100% coconut water” products. Over 30% had extra water and sugar. The label says “coconut water” only, but inside it’s just sugar water with a little coconut flavor.  

Enceladus: That’s so bad! I thought I was drinking something healthy. Why is this happening?  

Erinome: Well, coconut water is super popular now. People want “low-calorie, no additives” drinks. The market is growing fast—2024 sales were 1.1 billion dollars! So many brands are fighting for customers, and some use cheap tricks.  

Enceladus: Are only small brands doing this?  

Erinome: No, even big ones have problems. Like, there’s a famous brand called “if coconut water,” right? Now there’s a fake one called “Tf coconut water.” The packaging looks almost the same—you can’t tell unless you look very close!  

Enceladus: Oh no! That’s tricky. What about “Thai imported” ones? I always buy those.  

Erinome: Some of those are fake too! They say “Thai original import,” but actually use cheap coconuts from other Southeast Asian countries, then bottle them in China. So the price goes up, but the quality is bad.  

Enceladus: Wow… And is there any safety issue?  

Erinome: Yes! In the past two years, some coconut water had too many bacteria or illegal preservatives. People got stomachaches after drinking.  

Enceladus: Why isn’t anyone stopping this?  

Erinome: The rules are too slow. The market grew so fast, but there’s no national standard for “100% coconut water” yet. So brands can say, “The rules don’t say I can’t add water!” Also, testing is hard—you need special EU technology to find extra water, which is expensive and not common.  

Enceladus: So the bad brands make lots of money with low cost, and good brands can’t compete?  

Erinome: Exactly! Making fake coconut water costs only 2-3 yuan per liter, but they sell it for 9.9. Even if they get caught, the punishment is small. So more and more do it.  

Enceladus: Is there any good news?  

Erinome: A little! Now the government is paying attention. They’re building a testing database and working on a group standard. It says “100% coconut water” can’t have extra water, sugar, or flavor. It’s still being discussed, though.  

Enceladus: That’s good. What about big brands?  

Erinome: Some top brands are speaking up. One said, “Our products are real 100% coconut water—no浓缩液, no bad coconuts. If you find a fake, we’ll pay 1 million yuan!”  

Enceladus: That’s a strong promise! But how do we, as customers, choose the real one?  

Erinome: Let me tell you! First, check the ingredients. Real 100% coconut water should only have “coconut water” on the list. If you see “water” or “sugar,” put it back.  

Enceladus: Got it. What else?  

Erinome: Price! If 1 liter is cheaper than 10 yuan, it’s probably fake. Good ones are usually over 20 yuan. Also, look at the color—it should be clear or light white, not yellow. And smell—no strange香精味.  

Enceladus: Oh, and I heard about potassium? Natural coconut water has potassium, right?  

Erinome: Yes! Check the nutrition label. Natural coconut water has 150-250mg potassium per 100ml. If it’s too low, maybe it’s watered down.  

Enceladus: That’s helpful. So, no more cheap 9.9 yuan ones for me!  

Erinome: Exactly! We just want real coconut water for health. It’s sad that some brands lie, but with these tips, we can avoid the traps.  

Enceladus: Yeah. I hope the rules get better soon, so we don’t have to worry anymore.  

Erinome: Me too! Okay, that’s it for today. Remember: check ingredients, price, and color. Stay healthy, everyone! Let’s talk again next time. Bye!  

Enceladus: Bye!

Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to today's news chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's dive into the latest news together, okay?  

Enceladus: Hi everyone! Excited to talk about what's happening. First up, Spring Festival travel, right?  

Erinome: Yes! It's the 30th day of Chunyun (Spring Festival travel season). The total number of people moving across regions is expected to reach 182 million. That's 0.8% more than the same time in 2025. Wow, so many people on the move!  

Enceladus: Oh right, Chunyun is always busy. Families going home to celebrate. That number is really big.  

Erinome: Next, there's a suggestion from a committee member. They want to stop kids under 16 from using social media. And create a special online space just for minors. What do you think?  

Enceladus: Hmm, maybe it's to protect kids from bad things online? But some kids might need social media to talk to friends. Interesting idea, though.  

Erinome: Moving on to family news. In Nanchong, Sichuan, they have new measures to help with new births. If you have a second or third child, you can get up to 150,000 yuan as a housing subsidy. That's a lot of money for a house!  

Enceladus: Oh, that's a good way to encourage more babies, right? 150,000 yuan can help a lot with buying a home.  

Erinome: Even better, a company in Ningbo, Zhejiang, gives a total reward of 1.83 million yuan for having three kids! The HR said some employees already got it. Haha, that's a huge reward!  

Enceladus: 1.83 million? That's amazing! I wonder if more companies will do that.  

Erinome: Now, for students. In Changchun, Jilin, middle school students got a "housework textbook" this new term. The officials said it's a free, regular textbook for labor education. So kids will learn to do chores?  

Enceladus: That's cool! Maybe they'll learn to clean their rooms or cook. My little cousin hates doing dishes—maybe this book can help, you know that?  

Erinome: Sports time! The WTT Singapore Grand Smash just ended. Sun Yingsha and Wang Chuqin both became five-time singles champions. Wow, they're so good!  

Enceladus: I saw their matches! They played so well. And China's women's football team won 2-0 against Bangladesh in the Asian Cup opener. Great start!  

Erinome: Next, a heartwarming story. A uncle from Guizhou is teaching farming in Africa. He even has armed guards—up to 2 guards with him. And the local crop yield went from 200 kg per mu to 700 kg!  

Enceladus: Oh, that's a big change! Sad he needs guards, but happy the harvest is better. He's really helping people there.  

Erinome: About Chinese citizens in Iran: the Iran Chinese Association said most have left, but around 200 choose to stay for now. Hope they stay safe.  

Enceladus: Yeah, hope everything is okay for them.  

Erinome: Economic news now. Because of the Middle East situation, Japan and South Korea's stock markets dropped a lot. South Korea's KOSPI index fell more than 7%. Oh no, that's tough for investors.  

Enceladus: Stock markets can be so unstable. Hope it gets better soon.  

Erinome: Last one! US senators want to tax billionaires—5% of their wealth every year. Elon Musk might have to pay 42 billion dollars in the first year. That's a huge number, um, do you think that's fair?  

Enceladus: 42 billion? That's crazy. Maybe it can help with other things, but billionaires might not like it.  

Erinome: Alright, that's all the news for today. Thanks for joining us!  

Enceladus: Yeah, see you next time, everyone! Bye!

Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to today's news chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's see what interesting news we have today, shall we?  

Enceladus: Hi everyone! I’m Enceladus. Let’s start with the first one. What’s up, Erinome?  

Erinome: Oh, have you heard about the total lunar eclipse on Lantern Festival night? The first loss is expected at 5:49 PM on the 3rd, and most areas in China can see it. Wow, if we miss it, we have to wait until 2072! That’s a long time, right?  

Enceladus: Oh no! 2072? I better not miss it then. I’ll set an alarm for that night.  

Erinome: Next news is a bit sad for restaurant owners. A report says after a year of takeout subsidy wars, about 80% of restaurant businesses have lower net profits. And 35% of them have a drop of more than 30%. That’s tough for small restaurants, you know that?  

Enceladus: Yeah, the subsidy wars might help customers, but bad for the shops. Hope things get better for them.  

Erinome: Moving on to Shanghai! The new policies there are still having an effect. Some homebuyers even took leave to go to sales offices. One luxury housing project sold over 250 million yuan in a day! That’s a huge number, haha.  

Enceladus: 250 million in a day? That’s crazy. The housing market there is really active now.  

Erinome: Right! Then, the Tax Bureau said that after the new tax rules for internet platforms, things like “brushing orders” to fake sales have decreased a lot. Good to see less unfair competition, right?  

Enceladus: Definitely! Fake sales are not good for anyone. It’s better to have real competition.  

Erinome: Oh no! Here’s a funny but messy one. Douban Market had a problem. They sent wrong coupons: “spend 200, get 200 off”, and users rushed to buy. Douban said they can’t take the big loss and will automatically refund. That must have been a chaos!  

Enceladus: Haha, I can imagine people trying to buy as much as possible. But Douban has to refund, so no free stuff this time.  

Erinome: Next, a suggestion from Liu Yonghao, a committee member. He said we should give 500 yuan consumption vouchers to each person. It’s expected to pull consumption by nearly 2 trillion yuan and support about 14 million jobs in the tertiary industry. That sounds helpful, right?  

Enceladus: 500 yuan per person? If that happens, maybe people will spend more. And 14 million jobs? That’s a big help for the economy.  

Erinome: Then, Lei Jun shared the latest about Xiaomi's robot. It's now "interning" in a car factory and can work on its own in some situations. Wow, robots are getting smarter and more useful!  

Enceladus: Cool! Maybe one day robots can help us with many jobs.  

Erinome: Um, here’s some bad news for travelers. Flight prices from China to Europe are skyrocketing. Shanghai to Paris is 5 times more expensive, now 30,248 yuan. That’s so expensive! Who can afford that?  

Enceladus: 30,000 yuan for a flight? That’s way too much. I guess traveling to Europe is not easy these days.  

Erinome: And Elon Musk’s wealth has passed 800 billion US dollars, a new record. He's over 500 billion more than the second place. That’s crazy rich, haha. How does someone even have that much money?  

Enceladus: I have no idea. But 800 billion is a number I can’t even imagine.  

Erinome: Last news is a bit sad. The Foreign Ministry said over 3,000 Chinese citizens have been evacuated from Iran, but one citizen sadly passed away. Our thoughts are with their family.  

Enceladus: Sad to hear that. Hope everyone else is safe now.  

Erinome: Okay, that's all the news for today. Thanks for joining us, everyone. We'll talk again next time. Bye!  

Enceladus: Bye! See you next time!

Erinome:Hello dear listeners! Welcome to our daily chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Today, we have a fun topic—something new in cinemas. Have you heard about the "movie regret right" service, Enceladus?  

Enceladus:Movie regret right? Oh, that sounds interesting! What is it?  

Erinome:Well, a cinema in Hangzhou started a new service. Let me tell you: if you watch a movie and think it’s not good within 20 minutes after it starts, you can get 40% of your ticket money back!  

Enceladus:Wow! Really? So if the movie is bad, you don’t have to sit there and suffer?  

Erinome:Exactly! The service runs from March 1st to April 30th this year. The cinema is called Xitiancheng Shidai Lianhe Cinema.  

Enceladus:Um, how does it work? Do you need to explain a lot why you don’t like the movie?  

Erinome:No, no! The process is super simple. You just take your ticket to the front desk, say you don’t like the experience, and they give you 40% back. No need for long explanations.  

Enceladus:That’s great! But why 40%? Why not full refund?  

Erinome:Good question! The cinema said, in the movie industry, about 60% of the ticket money goes to the movie companies and the cinema chain. That covers costs like making the movie, distributing it, and running the cinema. So the cinema can only control 40%, so they can’t give full refund.  

Enceladus:Oh, I see. So 60% is fixed for others, and 40% is what the cinema can give back. That makes sense.  

Erinome:Right! And there’s a rule: you have to do it in the cinema, not after you leave. So if you walk out, you can’t get the refund later.  

Enceladus:Got it. Where did they get this idea? It feels new.  

Erinome:Ah, they copied another cinema! A famous one in Henan called Pang Donglai Cinema. They’ve had a similar service for over 10 years. Pang Donglai gives back 50% if you’re not happy.  

Enceladus:Wow, Pang Donglai has done this for 10 years? Did many people ask for refunds?  

Erinome:Surprisingly, no! The cinema said the refund rate is very low. Maybe people don’t misuse it.  

Enceladus:That’s good. So before this, could people refund tickets after the movie starts?  

Erinome:Not really. In 2018, there was a rule about changing or refunding tickets, but that was only before the movie starts. After it starts, it was always a problem.  

Enceladus:Why was that a problem?  

Erinome:Some people said movies are like products—you should be able to return them if they’re bad. But others said, “How do you decide if a movie is ‘bad’? It’s too subjective.” Also, the money split is complicated, so it’s hard to do.  

Enceladus:Hmm, that’s true. But this new service in Hangzhou is trying to fix that, right?  

Erinome:Yes! Many people support it. They say, “Finally, I don’t have to pay for a bad movie!” Like, if the movie is really boring, you can leave early and get some money back.  

Enceladus:Sad, but true. I’ve sat through so many bad movies before… haha.  

Erinome:Me too! So this service helps people “stop losing money,” you know? And maybe it makes movie companies work harder. If their movies are bad, people will ask for refunds, so they have to make better movies.  

Enceladus:Oh, that’s a good point! It pushes them to not make “one-time cheat” movies.  

Erinome:Exactly! But some people worry: will people misuse this? Like, watch 20 minutes, get 40% back, and leave?  

Enceladus:But the rule says you have to do it in the cinema, and only within 20 minutes. So maybe it’s hard to cheat.  

Erinome:I think so. The cinema probably thought about that. So, would you use this service if you watch a bad movie?  

Enceladus:Yes! If the movie is really bad—like, the story is silly, or the acting is bad—I’d go get the refund. 40% is better than nothing, right?  

Erinome:Totally! Even 40% feels like “dignity money,” you know? Like, “I don’t want to be stuck with this烂片 (lanpian, bad movie).”  

Enceladus:Haha, exactly! I hope more cinemas do this. It makes going to the movies less risky.  

Erinome:Me too! So, to sum up: Hangzhou cinema tries “20-minute refund” (40% back) for bad movies, copied from Pang Donglai, helps观众 (guangzhong, audience) stop losing money, and maybe pushes better movies.  

Enceladus:That’s a great step! Okay, that’s it for today. What do you think, listeners? Would you use this service? Let us know!  

Erinome:Thanks for listening. See you next time! Bye!  

Enceladus:Bye!

Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to today's daily news chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's see what interesting news we have today, shall we?  

Enceladus: Yeah, let's start! First, I saw a report from Zhongzhi Research. It said new house prices in 100 cities rose 2.37% year-on-year in February. Oh, and Hangzhou had the biggest monthly increase. But second-hand house prices fell 8.78% year-on-year, and only 5 cities saw a monthly rise.  

Erinome: Wow, that's a mix, right? New houses up, but second-hand down a lot. Maybe people are buying new ones more now?  

Enceladus: Maybe! Next news: China's 2026 movie box office has already passed 10 billion yuan. And we're still leading the world's single market box office. Haha, that's cool! Our movies must be getting more popular.  

Erinome: Oh yeah! I love going to the cinema. Speaking of cinemas, a cinema in Hangzhou has a new service. If you don't like the movie in the first 20 minutes, you can get 40% of the ticket price back. Oh, that's interesting! So you can try before you "buy" more, right?  

Enceladus: Exactly! No more wasting money on bad movies. Next, the first half of 2026 will have a very short school term. Many primary and middle school students might go to school for less than 90 days. Um, really? That's super short! Why is that?  

Erinome: Maybe holidays or other plans? Not sure, but the kids might be happy, haha. Now, personal tax news: on the first day of tax settlement, netizens shared their refunds. Some got over 10,000 yuan back, but others need to pay more. Wow, that's a big difference! I hope I get a refund too.  

Enceladus: Me too! Let's talk about the environment. From March 1st, Pearl River, Huaihe River, Qiantang River, Minjiang River and Hainan's inland waters will start their spring fishing ban. Sad, but it's good for the fish, right? They need time to grow.  

Erinome: Yeah, protecting nature is important. But here's a not-so-good news: a woman said she was bitten by bugs on a train hard sleeper, and her left hand swelled like a steamed bun. Oh no! That sounds terrible. 12306 said they sent the case to the responsible unit. Hope they fix the bug problem soon.  

Enceladus: Poor lady. Another pollution news: an underground river in Fengjie, Chongqing is suspected to be polluted by pig manure from a pig farm. Local government said they set up a special team. Sad, hope they clean it up quickly.  

Erinome: Yeah, clean water is so important. Now, a funny one: a ticket platform showed a flight from Damascus, Syria to Shanghai cost 3.82 million yuan! Haha, that's crazy! Who would pay that? The platform said it was a mistake and took it down. Probably a typo, right?  

Enceladus: Definitely a typo! 3.82 million yuan for a flight? No way. Last news: Buffett's "final" report is out. Berkshire has risen 60,000 times in 60 years, and their cash reserve is 373.3 billion US dollars. Wow, that's amazing! He's really good at investing.  

Erinome: Yeah, he's a legend. Okay, that's all the news for today. Thanks for listening, everyone! We'll chat again next time. Bye!  

Enceladus: Bye!

Erinome:Hello dear friends! Welcome to our podcast. Today, Enceladus and I will chat about some recent news. Let's start with a big one—Tencent closed its TiMi Montréal studio. Did you hear that?  

Enceladus:Oh wow, really? When did that happen? I remember TiMi is a big game team under Tencent.  

Erinome:Yeah, the news said it was closed recently. The studio started in 2021, so it’s only five years old. But guess what? They never made their own game in these five years!  

Enceladus:No way! Five years and no game? That’s so strange. What did they do then?  

Erinome:They worked on other projects, like helping with "Pokémon Unite" and "Call of Duty Mobile"—you know, making them work in different countries. But no original games. A senior programmer even wrote on LinkedIn that they saw it coming, but it still made them sad.  

Enceladus:Hmm, why did Tencent close it? Maybe it cost too much?  

Erinome:Probably! Some people online said the team was "not efficient"—like, they took too long and did nothing. And Tencent is now focusing more on AI, not old ways of making games.  

Enceladus:Oh right! AI can help make games faster, right? So maybe this studio was too slow.  

Erinome:Exactly! Also, the studio was in Canada, and foreign teams can be expensive. Tencent might think, "Why spend so much for no result?"  

Enceladus:That makes sense. Any other news today?  

Erinome:Yes! Meizu’s phone team was disbanded. You know Meizu, the phone brand? They were bought by Geely, the car company.  

Enceladus:Oh, I heard Geely. So Meizu stopped making phones?  

Erinome:Not exactly, but their team is解散 (jiesan—disbanded). Maybe Geely wants them to work on car systems instead of phones. Their direction was摇摆不定 (yaobai buding—unstable), like trying to keep "small and beautiful" phones but also focusing on car tech.  

Enceladus:Sad for the Meizu team. What about movies? Any news there?  

Erinome:The 2026 Spring Festival movie season just ended. The total box office was 5.752 billion yuan. But wait—compared to last year, it’s down 39.5%! That’s the lowest in 8 years.  

Enceladus:Oh no! Why so low? Did people not go to movies?  

Erinome:Yes, the number of people was down too—120 million people, 36.4% less than last year. Even on the first day of the holiday, only 1 billion yuan, and daily average was under 1 billion for the first time in 6 years.  

Enceladus:Wow, that’s bad. Which movie was the most popular?  

Erinome:"Flying Life 3" was first with 2.927 billion yuan. Then "Jingzhe Wusheng", "Biaoren: Wind in the Desert"… but even the top one couldn’t save the low box office.  

Enceladus:Maybe the movies weren’t good enough? Or people just prefer watching at home now?  

Erinome:Could be. Some people online said the movies were not exciting. Or maybe the tickets were too expensive?  

Enceladus:Hmm. So today’s news is a bit sad—closed studios, disbanded teams, low box office.  

Erinome:Yeah, but it’s part of business, right? Companies change focus, and sometimes hard choices are needed.  

Enceladus:True. Well, that’s the news for today. Thanks for listening, everyone!  

Erinome:Okay, that's it for today. Let's talk again next time! Bye!

Erinome: Hello dear friends! Welcome to our daily news roundup. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's dive into today's top stories, shall we?  

Enceladus: Sure! Let's start with some economic news first. What do we have?  

Erinome: Well, the first news is about people's income and spending in 2025. China's per capita disposable income was 43,377 yuan last year, up 5.0% from 2024. And per capita consumption expenditure was 29,476 yuan, growing 4.4%. Wow, that means people have a bit more money to spend, right?  

Enceladus: Oh, that's good to hear! More income and more spending—hopefully that helps the economy. What's next?  

Erinome: Next is about foreign visitors and investment. In 2025, the number of foreigners entering China without a visa reached 30.08 million, up nearly 50%! But in January 2026, foreign investment absorbed was 92.01 billion yuan, down 5.7% year-on-year. Oh, so more tourists but a little less investment? That's a mix.  

Enceladus: Hmm, maybe the visa-free policy is working well for tourism. Let's move to the next one.  

Erinome: Okay! China's migrant workers total has broken 300 million, up 0.5% from last year. The average age is over 43, and about 60% of them work away from home. Um, 300 million is a huge number. And the average age is getting older, you know that?  

Enceladus: Yeah, that's a lot of people working hard. I hope their lives are getting better. What about social security?  

Erinome: Good question! Maternity insurance now covers nearly 260 million people, up 6.66 million from last year. That's great! More families will get support when having babies.  

Enceladus: That's really important. Now, any tech news?  

Erinome: Oh yes! China just released its first standard system for humanoid robots and embodied intelligence. So the robot industry is entering a more standardized stage. Wow, robots are getting more regulated—this should help the industry grow better, right?  

Enceladus: For sure! Standards make things safer and more efficient. Let's talk about some social news now.  

Erinome: Okay, there's a story from Shantou Zoo. A little girl was feeding a lion through the fence, and the lion grabbed her leg. Oh no! The zoo said the girl was sent to the hospital and is okay now. They also said a zookeeper let her in against the rules. That's scary—hope the girl is really fine.  

Enceladus: Oh no, poor girl! Parents should be more careful, and zoos need to keep rules strict. What's next?  

Erinome: In Huludao, Liaoning, many primary schools asked head teachers to leave class parent WeChat groups. The local education bureau said it's true. Hmm, why do you think that is? Maybe to reduce teachers' work pressure?  

Enceladus: Maybe! Teachers already have so much to do. Less time on WeChat might help them focus on teaching.  

Erinome: Right! Now, a rumor: some people said new energy vehicles will have a "mileage tax" with 10 provinces testing it. But many places回应 (huiying, responded) they have no notice or documents. Haha, just a rumor then—good to know it's not true yet.  

Enceladus: Yeah, rumors can be scary. Let's talk about gold prices!  

Erinome: Oh, international gold prices have risen for 7 months in a row—that's the longest in ten years! And domestic gold jewelry price per gram has broken 1600 yuan. Wow, gold is getting expensive! Maybe people are buying it as an investment?  

Enceladus: Probably! Gold is always a safe choice for many. Any international news?  

Erinome: Yes! In Geneva, the "Friends of Global Governance" group was officially established. Nearly 60 country representatives attended, including 42 founding members. That sounds important—hope it helps with global issues.  

Enceladus: Let's hope so. Last story: German Chancellor Merz, after visiting China, said he's not happy with Germany's 4-day workweek. He thinks it can't keep Germany prosperous and people need to work harder.  

Erinome: Interesting! Different countries have different ideas about work hours. Well, that's all the news for today.  

Enceladus: Okay, that's it for today. Thanks for listening, everyone! Let's talk again next time. Bye!

Erinome:Hello dear friends! Welcome to today's news talk. I'm Erinome, and with me is Enceladus. Let's see what important news we have today. Did you hear about the birth population in China for 2026? It's really surprising.

Enceladus:Oh wow, what's the number? I haven't checked the news yet.

Erinome:It's 7.92 million. Can you believe that? It's the first time since the founding of New China that the birth population has dropped below 8 million. And here's a more shocking part: the total birth population of developed countries in the US and Europe has surpassed ours for the first time.

Enceladus:Oh no, that's sad. I remember older people talking about the "baby boom" in the 80s and 90s. Hospitals were full, and primary school classes had over 50 students. Now it's like the clock has turned back to the lowest point.

Erinome:Right! And the total population also dropped below 1.4 billion last year, a decrease of over 3 million from the year before. It's been falling for 4 years, like a steep slope—hard to stop. Why do people not want to have babies now?

Enceladus:Um, maybe because it's too expensive to raise a child. I heard in first-tier cities, the cost from milk powder to university is over a million yuan. Housing loans, education, medical care—these three big mountains are pressing on young people. They can barely support themselves, how can they think about "more children, more happiness"?

Erinome:You know that? The fertility rate is even more worrying. In 2020, it was 1.3, but last year it dropped below the warning line. It's lower than the EU's 1.4 and America's 1.6. Experts say if the fertility rate is below 1.5, we enter the "low fertility trap". And we're getting deeper into it.

Enceladus:That's not just a future problem. It's happening now! If people don't have babies now, in 20 years there will be half as many workers. Nursing homes will be full, kindergartens will close, and even square dancing groups won't have enough people. So sad.

Erinome:Let's talk about the impact of the population dividend fading. In the past, we relied on "human wave tactics" to be the world's factory. Young people supported the assembly lines, and new generations supported consumption. But now, with fewer young people, the first to suffer is the demand side.

Enceladus:Right! Half of the baby stores have closed, school district housing prices have dropped, and car sales have fallen for three years in a row. It's not that people don't want to buy, but there are fewer people to buy.

Erinome:The domestic market is our "golden sign". China can be the "supply chain leader" because of the "super market of over a billion people". Huawei phones and BYD cars rose because of hundreds of millions of domestic consumers. Even Tesla and Apple moved factories here for this big customer base.

Enceladus:But if the population keeps falling, domestic demand will shrink. Companies have to find markets abroad. But external sanctions are getting tighter. If foreign markets are blocked, companies without a domestic market to rely on are like kites with broken strings. Iran and Venezuela are examples—small markets, and they get hurt badly by sanctions. If we lose our "super market", our global voice will get weaker.

Erinome:Some people say "AI and robots can replace labor". But even smart AI won't buy milk powder, choose school district housing, or buy health products for parents. Consumers are the "engine" of the economy. Without real demand from new families, factories will just have stockpiles.

Enceladus:Exactly! The past 30 years of industrial upgrading, from home appliances to new energy cars, relied on "generations of consumers willing to try new things". Now the "baby army" is getting smaller. Companies can't even find directions for innovation—no users to "test mistakes", how to upgrade?

Erinome:So, can government subsidies save the fertility rate? Local governments are in a hurry: some give 100,000 yuan for a third child, extend maternity leave to a year, offer housing discounts and tax cuts. The national "15th Five-Year Plan" is testing a four-day workweek and building more affordable housing to help young people. Do these work?

Enceladus:Hmm, maybe they can make the numbers jump a little in the short term, but not solve the root problem. Young people don't dare to have babies not because they lack a few thousand yuan in subsidies. They're afraid "they can't raise the child well, and can't educate them well".

Erinome:Right! Milk powder needs to be imported, kindergartens need to be bilingual, school district housing is天价, and parents need money for old age. These "rigid expenses" are like a big mountain. The subsidies can't even cover the interest. What young people really need is "certainty": affordable childcare when the baby is born, no need to fight for school spots, no need to empty savings when sick, and security in old age.

Erinome: Hello everyone! Welcome to our daily news chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Let's see what interesting news we have today!  

Enceladus: Hi everyone! So excited to share the news with you. First, let's start with some tech updates. Erinome, did you hear about the new progress in solar energy and batteries?  

Erinome: Oh yes! China's new solar cell research made a new step—its efficiency is over 15% now. And the core tech of lithium batteries had a first-time breakthrough, making the battery life double! Wow, that's cool for green energy, right?  

Enceladus: Totally! Solar and batteries are so important. And there's more AI news: China's AI usage passed America for the first time! Four big Chinese AI models are in the world's top five. Domestic computing power needs are growing super fast, like "exponential"—you know that?  

Erinome: Oh, that's amazing! Our AI is getting stronger. But here's some not-so-good news: many top phone brands may raise prices together. The biggest increase could be 25%—first time in the industry.  

Enceladus: Sad! I was saving money for a new phone... Maybe I need to buy it before the price goes up.  

Erinome: Yeah. Let's talk about takeout rules. The Market Regulation Bureau has new rules: takeout shops must have real stores. If they don't have dining-in, they need a special sign. It starts in June.  

Enceladus: Oh, that's good! Now we know the food is from real places, not just random kitchens. Safety first, right?  

Erinome: Exactly! Now, a super rare story: a 24-year-old woman in Xinjiang had 5 babies naturally—1 boy and 4 girls! The lightest baby is only 870 grams. The chance is 1 in 60 million!  

Enceladus: Oh my! That's so uncommon. I hope all the babies and the mom are healthy. What a special family!  

Erinome: Me too! Moving to health news: Peking Union Medical College Hospital released new data on Alzheimer's disease medicine. Early patients may slow down the disease progress. That's hopeful!  

Enceladus: Definitely! So many families need this. Alzheimer's is so hard. Good to hear progress here.  

Erinome: Let's talk about travel. After the holiday, flight prices dropped a lot—over 10% lower than Spring Festival. Some popular routes are even as cheap as 100 yuan!  

Enceladus: Haha! Maybe I can plan a trip now. Cheap flights are the best!  

Erinome: Right! Sports news: Basketball World Cup qualifier—China's men's team beat Japan 87-80 away, first win! So exciting!  

Enceladus: Yes! Go China! They played so well. I watched the game highlights—so cool.  

Erinome: Next, a county leader in Hunan. His Douyin account became a message board for people, with over 100,000 followers. He said, "It's all my duty."  

Enceladus: That's a good way to listen to people. Leaders connecting with everyone directly—nice!  

Erinome: Agreed. Now, some crime news: The Supreme Court said two big cross-border crime groups in northern Myanmar—Ming and Bai families—were completely destroyed.  

Enceladus: Good! They did bad things, so it's good they're stopped.  

Erinome: Sadly, a Chinese citizen was robbed of 5 million yen on the street in Osaka. The suspect is still missing. The consulate in Osaka提醒 (tíxǐng) again: better avoid going to Japan recently.  

Enceladus: Oh no! Hope the person is okay. Stay safe out there, everyone.  

Erinome: Let's end with some global news. Korean media said their stock market rose nearly 50% in 2026, and now it's the 9th largest in the world,超过 (chāoguò) France.  

Enceladus: Wow, that's a big jump! Their stock market is doing really well.  

Erinome: And US media reported: in 2025, more people moved out of the US than moved in. First time in 90 years!  

Enceladus: Um, interesting. Wonder why so many people left? Maybe looking for better places?  

Erinome: Maybe! Okay, that's it for today's news. Thanks for listening, everyone. Let's chat again next time!  

Enceladus: Bye! Stay informed and have a great day!

Erinome:Hello dear friends! Welcome to our daily chat. I'm Erinome, and sitting next to me is Enceladus. Today, let's talk about something that might make drivers a little sad—oil prices. Have you seen the news recently, Enceladus?  

Enceladus:Oh no, what’s wrong? I just filled my car last week. Did the price go up again?  

Erinome:Yes! The National Development and Reform Commission said that from 24:00 on February 24th, China's oil prices will increase. It’s the third rise this year—can you believe it? A "three-in-a-row" increase!  

Enceladus:Wow, three times already? That’s not good. How much will it go up exactly?  

Erinome:Let me check. For gasoline, it’s 175 yuan per ton, and diesel is 170 yuan per ton. Translated to per liter, 92# gasoline goes up 0.14 yuan, 95# 0.15 yuan, and 0# diesel 0.14 yuan.  

Enceladus:Um, 0.14 yuan per liter… So if I have a 50-liter tank, how much more will I pay?  

Erinome:Let me calculate. 50 liters times 0.14 yuan… That’s 7 yuan more. Oh, so filling a full tank will cost 7 yuan extra now.  

Enceladus:Sad! I drive to work every day. That 7 yuan adds up over time, you know?  

Erinome:Totally! Especially for people who drive a lot, like taxi drivers or delivery drivers. Their costs will go up more.  

Enceladus:Why is the price rising again? Is it because of international oil prices?  

Erinome:Yes! The news said international oil prices went up and down but overall higher in this adjustment period (from Feb 3rd to Feb 23rd).  

Enceladus:What caused the international prices to rise?  

Erinome:Hmm, geopolitical issues, maybe? Like tensions in the Middle East got worse, making the market nervous. Also, talks between Russia and Ukraine aren’t going well, which adds uncertainty.  

Enceladus:Oh right, I heard about that. Any other reasons?  

Erinome:Yes! Winter storms in the US made their oil production go down, and their oil storage is lower than expected. That pushed prices up too.  

Enceladus:Wow, so many factors. Did the price reach a high point?  

Erinome:Brent crude oil even hit $72 per barrel, which is the highest since July 2025!  

Enceladus:That’s a big number. Will the price keep rising next time?  

Erinome:Analysts say maybe. One expert, Xu Peng, thinks the next adjustment might also go up. The first day of the new cycle shows a 3.4% change, which could mean 180 yuan per ton more.  

Enceladus:Oh no, not again! But wait, is there any good news? Maybe demand is low, so prices might drop?  

Erinome:Well, after the Spring Festival, gasoline use is lower. People aren’t traveling as much. And diesel demand isn’t up yet because many industries haven’t started fully. So maybe the market will be a bit weak in the short term.  

Enceladus:But the overall trend is up?  

Erinome:It seems like it. The International Energy Agency even lowered the 2026 oil demand growth forecast, but supply is still more than needed. But geopolitics is the main reason now.  

Enceladus:So what should drivers do? Fill up before 24:00 tonight?  

Erinome:Haha, maybe! If you need gas, better go now to save that 7 yuan. But don’t panic too much—it’s a small increase each time, but over time, it adds up.  

Enceladus:True. My friend drives a taxi; he’ll definitely feel this. He told me he fills up twice a week. That’s 14 yuan more per week!  

Erinome:Ouch, that’s 56 yuan more per month. Not a small amount.  

Enceladus:Do you think the government will do something to control it?  

Erinome:The price is linked to international oil prices, so it depends on the global market. But maybe they’ll watch and adjust if needed.  

Enceladus:Well, I guess we just have to accept it. At least we know now, right? Better plan our driving. Maybe take the bus sometimes?  

Erinome:Good idea! Or carpool with friends. Save money and help the environment.  

Enceladus:Yeah. So to sum up: oil prices go up tonight, third time this year, 0.14 yuan per liter for 92#, 7 yuan more for a 50L tank. International issues and US production are the main reasons. Maybe next time will go up too.  

Erinome:Exactly! That’s all the key points. Hope everyone can plan their加油 (jiayou—refueling) wisely.  

Enceladus:Okay, that’s it for today. Thanks for listening, everyone. Let's talk again next time! Bye!  

Erinome:Bye bye! Drive safe and save gas!