Photo taken on May 14, 2021 shows the newly built curling and ice hockey training center for Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympics Games in Beijing. [Photo/Xinhua]

>Beijing 2022 releases second edition of Playbook

北京冬奥会新版防疫手册发布

With less than two months to go before the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, the organizing committee, together with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), published the second edition of the Playbook that outlines COVID-19 countermeasures for the Games on Tuesday.

距离北京2022年冬奥会开幕还有不到两个月的时间，国际奥委会、国际残奥委会和北京冬奥组委12月13日发布第二版《北京2022年冬奥会和冬残奥会防疫手册》，概述了冬奥会期间的新冠防疫措施。

The latest updates include information requested directly by stakeholders and from feedback received during various briefings held since October, with additional information about vaccinations; customs entry requirements; flight bookings; pre-departure testing; and the closed-loop system.

第二版《防疫手册》增加了各利益相关方关心的信息，以及10月以来多场吹风会上反馈的信息，在疫苗接种、海关入境要求、机票预订、出发前检测、闭环管理等方面，提供了更加详实的信息。

The Winter Olympic Games will take place between Feb 4 and 20, 2022, and the Paralympic Winter Games will be held from March 4 to 13.2022年北京冬奥会将于2月4日至20日举行，冬残奥会将于3月4日至13日举行。

[Photo/IC]

>Textbooks for vocational education to be compiled

教育部部署职业教育规划教材建设

Around 10,000 types of textbooks for vocational education programs will be compiled during China's 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the Ministry of Education (MOE) said Monday. An action plan released by the ministry highlighted the task of compiling vocational education textbooks in fields including domestic services, infant care and care for the elderly.

12月13日，教育部印发《"十四五"职业教育规划教材建设实施方案》。根据方案，"十四五"期间，将分批建设一万种左右职业教育国家规划教材，加快开发家政托育养老等职业教育专业教材。

Vocational schools and colleges are encouraged to forge cooperation with universities, research institutes and leading businesses on the compilation work, according to the action plan, noting that the textbooks are expected to contain the latest technology and standards for specific industries.

教材编写要体现产业发展的新技术、新工艺、新规范、新标准，鼓励职业院校与高水平大学、科研机构、龙头企业联合开发教材。

It added that the content of the textbooks should be updated on a yearly basis and revised every three years.

严格落实每三年修订一次、每年动态更新内容的要求。

Workers plant trees by the Heihe River, a river originating from the Qilian Mountains, in Zhangye, Gansu province, last year. [Photo/Xinhua]

>China sees 78.1b trees planted in 40 years

40年来我国累计义务植树781亿株

Volunteers in China have planted 78.1 billion trees since the onset of the country's voluntary tree-planting campaign 40 years ago, data from the National Greening commission showed Monday.

全国绿化委员会办公室12月13日公布的数据显示，今年是全民义务植树开展40周年。40年来我国累计义务植树781亿株。

The resolution on launching a nationwide voluntary tree-planting campaign, adopted in December 1981, made afforestation a responsibility for all eligible Chinese citizens and has helped make the country greener, said a commission official.

全国绿化委员会办公室有关负责人介绍说，1981年12月，我国通过《关于开展全民义务植树运动的决议》，植树造林、绿化祖国成为每一位适龄公民的法定义务。

Currently, China's forest coverage rate almost doubled from 12% in the early 1980s to 23.04%, while its forest stock volume grew from 9.03 billion cubic meters to 17.56 billion cubic meters. The urban green coverage rate expanded to 41.11% during the same period.

目前，我国森林覆盖率已由20世纪80年代初的12%提高到23.04%，接近翻番，森林蓄积量由90.3亿立方米提高到175.6亿立方米，全国城市建成区绿化覆盖率提高到41.11%。

A handout photograph released by the UK Parliament shows Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gesturing as he speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London on Dec 8, 2021. [Photo/Agencies]

>First Omicron death confirmed in UK

英国现首例奥密克戎毒株死亡病例

At least one person has died with the Omicron variant in Britain, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed Monday.

英国首相鲍里斯·约翰逊12月12日表示，目前英国已证实出现首例死于奥密克戎毒株的病例。

"No one should be in any doubt that there is a tidal wave of Omicron coming," Johnson said. "I'm afraid it is now clear that two doses of vaccine are simply not enough to give the level of protection we all need."

他说："英国已经陷入'奥密克戎感染浪潮'，这毋庸置疑。恐怕两剂疫苗不足以提供我们所需的保护水平。"

Johnson said the "best thing" people could do was get their booster jab.

鲍里斯·约翰逊还表示，我们能做的最好的事情就是接种加强针。

Earlier, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid warned the Omicron variant is "spreading at a phenomenal rate" and infections are continuing to double every two to three days. The rate of its spread is "something we've never seen before".

此前，英国卫生大臣赛义德·贾维德警告称，奥密克戎变异株正"以惊人的速度传播"，感染病例每两天至三天就增加一倍，"我们从未见过如此之快的传播速度"。

The UK COVID alert level has been raised from Level 3 to Level 4, the second highest level.

英国已将新冠肺炎疫情警报级别从三级上调到四级，仅次于最高级五级。

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来源：c