1 . In the rich countries of the West, the electric vehicle revolution is well occurring. Climate-conscious consumers drive Teslas or Polestars for reasons of morality (道德) and fashion. Poorer countries are also experiencing a wave of electrified trend. In Bangladesh, electric three-wheeler taxis, known as tuk-tuks, are rapidly replacing gas-powered ones on the streets. Such electric vehicles are climate friendly, cost effective, and help reduce air pollution.

Yet a glance under the hood (引擎盖) of these vehicles shows a poisonous secret: each tuk-tuk runs on five massive lead-acid batteries (铅酸电池), containing almost 300 pounds of lead (铅) in total. Every year and a half or so, when those batteries need to be replaced and recycled, about 60 pounds of lead leaks into the environment. Battery recycling, often at small-scale unregulated factories, is a highly profitable (高利润的) but deadly business.

Lead is dangerous, and any exposure to it is harmful to human health. Lead that has entered the environment hurts people on an unexpected scale. The numerous ways lead enters air, water, soil, and homes across the developing world and the enormous damage it does to human health, wealth, and welfare cause one of the biggest environmental problems in the world yet receives little attention.

The World Bank estimates that lead kills 5.5 million people per year, making it a bigger global killer than AIDS, malaria, diabetes, and road traffic deaths combined. On top of the shocking deaths, the social burden of lead poisoning is heavy, as is its contribution to global inequality — our research on the cognitive (认知的) effects of lead poisoning suggests that it may explain about one-fifth of the educational achievement gap between rich and poor countries.

But unlike many challenges faced by developing countries, lead poisoning is a problem that can be resolved through financial investment (财政投入). Better monitoring, research, and rules can help protect children all over the world from the unpleasant effects of lead poisoning and reduce the massive global costs it brings.

2 . Four Best Beaches in Zanzibar

Zanzibar is home to some of the best beach destinations in the world. Here are our favorites.

Nungwi Beach

This beach is located in the north of the island. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Zanzibar. If you like swimming, you will really enjoy yourself here. But be careful with the tides, because they can rise very fast and catch you. If you stay until sunset, you will be able to see an attractive one.

Paje Beach

It is in the east of the island and is famous for strong tides. You can also practice water sports such as kitesurfing, because this beach is known as one of the best in the world for this activity. Don’t worry about the food, as here you will find a great variety of restaurants with local and international dishes for all tastes.

Jambiani Beach

Jambiani beach, one of the farthest beaches, is located southeast of the island. You can walk for miles to the sea, which is a real wonder, but do it when the tide goes out. It is a very quiet and uncrowded beach.

Matemwe Beach

Located on the east coast of Zanzibar, this beach is one of the longest on the island. During low tide, the water goes down 2 kilometers, and the locals take advantage of it to collect sea animals.

The beach is beautiful but yes, in this particular one, it is essential to enter the water with great care and even appropriate footwear, as there are a lot of sea urchins (海胆).

4 . Last year, I started the journey of being a remote product designer. The thought of a flexible (灵活的) schedule, a comfortable home office, and the escape from the _______ public transport was incredibly _______ . The first few weeks were filled with a long-lost feeling of _______ .

However, the _______ of working from home gradually set in. I had started my day with the best _______ , promising myself quick breaks and regular stretches (伸展) . But deadlines, endless emails, and virtual meetings _______ me to my computer throughout the day, leaving me little time to _______ . Gone were the short walks to a coworker’s desk and the quick lunchtime walks around the office complex. Finally, my world was _______ to the walls of my home, my steps _______ in meters only rather than kilometers.

One day, I tried ________ one of my favorite dresses and it wasn’t passing through my waist (腰) at all. Looking at myself in the mirror, I saw a ________ person carrying extra weight, rather than someone enjoying freedom. The ________ of work and personal life had left me feeling like I was a never-ending motion machine.

This incident (事件) marked the ________ of a journey of self-discovery. I made up my mind that I needed a (n) ________ not just for my waistline but for my overall well-being. It was a promise to prioritize my physical and mental health, and a promise that I could ________ control over my life and my body.

6 . Facial recognition cameras are everywhere, including in your smartphone. Many people rely on this technology to unlock their phones, open doors or make quick payments, but everyone is wearing mask. What a trouble!

Now, tech companies have updated their software. Facial recognition technology can now identify people even if they are wearing a mask.

Beijing-based tech company Hanwang has announced a software which can correctly recognize 95 percent of people wearing masks, Engineering&Technology (E&T) reported. What’s the secret? It’s all about your eyes.

Marios Savvides, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, US, studies facial recognition technology. “As we get older,” he said, “our faces change shape, but not the area around our eyes. It stays the same — even if we put on weight.”

Another company has also been working on this kind of software. Tech5 has Al that measures the shape of your face. It also scans your iris (the colored part of your eyes). Tech5 hopes to ignore all of the face below the nose.

Facial recognition software is about more than just unlocking your phone. It’s about public safety. Touchless verification (验证) has become extremely important due to the COVID-19. More than that, facial recognition can be used to fight crime (犯罪). “It can detect crime suspects,” said Huang Lei, Hanwang’s CEO. Hanwang’s technology is used by police in high-security settings. This means places like government buildings, subway stations and airports, Huang admits one big weakness of this new technology: It fails when people wear both masks and sunglasses. “In this situation, all of the key facial information is lost, but I believe we can overcome the weakness in the future,” said Huang.

7 . Museum of Brands

Do you remember Watney’s Party Seven? Do you hope to enjoy the taste of Spangles? Could you still sing the Fairy Liquid song? Surround yourself with objects of your childhood and find your memories in our Time Tunnel at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising, Notting Hill, near Portobello Road Market.

£7.50; Tue-Sat: 10:00-18:00        Sun: 11:00-17:00 Closed Mon.

Garden Museum

The Garden Museum is the only museum in the UK to celebrate the art, design and history of gardens. It holds three temporary exhibitions each year, and an exciting programme of over 30 events. Visitors can also see an exhibition of paintings and tools all year round and experience the British love for gardens.

£10.00; Sun-Mon: 10:30-17:00       Sat: 10:30-16:00

Foundling Museum

The Founding Museum shows the history of the Foundling Hospital, Britain’s first children's charity and first public art gallery. And through an exciting programme of. exhibitions and events, it celebrates the ways in which lots of artists have helped improve children s lives for over 270 years.

£8.25; Tue-Sat: 10:00-17:00        Sun: 11:00-17:00 Closed Mon.

Cartoon Museum

See great British cartoon art from Steve Bell and Matt, Ronald Searle and Manga to favourite characters like Dennis the Menace and Andy Capp. Something for everyone — including a great shop full of funny books and Cards.

£7.00; Mon-Sat: 10:30-17:30       Sun: 12:00-17:30

9 . The 2024 “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe—Calligraphy and Painting Challenge has been officially announced.

This competition invites painting, calligraphy, and Chinese language enthusiasts from all around the world to take part in this exciting event.

Participants are encouraged to submit their creative themes for the contest, with the theme selection process being determined through public nominations.

If you’re interested, feel free to submit the theme that you believe fits best with the requirements of the competition.

Here are the requirements:

Who Can Apply

The call for creative themes for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge is open to any Chinese language enthusiasts worldwide, with no limit to age or nationality.

Submission Dates

Submissions will be accepted from June 15, 2024, to 12:00 PM on June 30, 2024(Beijing Time.)

Announcement Date

The selected theme for the Calligraphy and Painting Challenge will be announced on July 1, 2024, which also marks the official start date of the submission period for works under the selected theme.

Submission Methods

Participants can send their theme and related information to chinesebridge@chineseplus.net. “Chinese Bridge” also accepts direct messages on its official account on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat, and Weibo.

10 . Lonely Planet’s Top Places to Go in 2024

Are you looking for inspiration for your next travel destination? Lonely Planet has published its yearly list of top places to go. Whether you’re looking for adventure, culture, or value, there’s something for every type of traveler. Let’s explore the top picks for travel destinations in 2024.

Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, was chosen for its unique music and dance culture, and impressive local restaurants. Nairobi National Park, just a short drive out of the city’s central business district, is a must-see, where visitors can see over 400 species of wild animals wandering the open grass plains while skyscrapers twinkle on the horizon.

Mongolia is loved for its wide-open spaces, adventure activities, and unique food. The Mongolian government has announced 2023 through 2025 as the “Years to Visit Mongolia,” easing entry conditions for international travelers and improving public facilities, including a new $650 million airport.

The publisher also recommended Spain for the country’s efforts to expand renewable energy, to develop off-season travel, and to bring tourism to new destinations, such as the port city of Valencia, easing pressures on hot spots such as Barcelona.

The American Midwest, including the cities of Chicago and Detroit, is also on the list, as it offers a high-quality travel experience at a reasonable cost. Visitors can enjoy excellent services and facilities, such as old warehouses transformed into art studios, new eco-design hotels, and Michelin-starred restaurants, without having to spend too much money.

Donegal, Ireland’s most northwestern county, has the country’s longest coastline and over 100 beaches, where visitors can enjoy the highest sea cliffs in Europe and miles of beautiful coastal hiking trails.