Since last weekend, Israel has hammered the Palestinian territory with airstrikes aimed at Hamas, the militant group that launched a historic terrorist attack against Israel.

自上週末以來，以色列對巴勒斯坦領土進行了空襲，目標直指對以色列發動歷史性恐怖襲擊的激進組織哈馬斯。

As that country builds up military forces near its Gaza border, observers say it's all but certain that Israel will launch a ground operation there in the days ahead.

觀察家們說，隨著以色列在加沙邊境附近集結軍事力量，以色列在未來幾天內發動地面行動幾乎是板上釘釘的事。

So finding ways to get civilians out of Gaza first, possibly through its border with Egypt is one of many challenges this troubled region is facing.

是以，想方設法讓平民先離開加沙，可能的話通過加沙與埃及的邊界，是這個動盪地區面臨的眾多挑戰之一。

We'll keep you updated as events unfold in the war in the Middle East.

我們將隨時為您報道中東戰爭的最新進展。

I'm Carl Azuz, and this is the world from A to Z.

我是卡爾-阿祖茲，這是一個從A到Z的世界。

In the U.S. House of Representatives, Republicans who control the chamber have nominated a new

在美國眾議院，控制眾議院的共和黨人提名了一位新的

House speaker.

眾議院議長

His name is Steve Scalise.

他的名字叫史蒂夫-斯卡利斯（Steve Scalise）。

The politician from Louisiana currently serves as House Majority Leader, and it will take a majority vote to confirm him as the replacement for former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who was ousted from the job earlier this month.

這位來自路易斯安那州的政治家目前擔任眾議院多數黨領袖，需要多數票才能確認他接替本月初被趕下臺的前議長凱文-麥卡錫。

It was the first time that ever happened.

這是第一次發生這種情況。

It wasn't clear Wednesday when the House vote would take place, but the chamber's under pressure to confirm a new speaker soon so it can get back to legislative business.

週三尚不清楚眾議院何時進行投票，但眾議院面臨著儘快確認新議長的壓力，以便恢復立法事務。

A word of knowledge.

一語道破天機。

Which of these elements is also known as quicksilver, copper, nickel, platinum, mercury?

其中哪種元素又被稱為流銀、銅、鎳、鉑、汞？

The element whose atomic number is 80, mercury is also called quicksilver.

汞是原子序數為 80 的元素，也被稱為流銀。

It's found in air, soil and water, and health officials say mercury is toxic if you're exposed to too much of it.

它存在於空氣、土壤和水中，衛生官員說，如果接觸過多的汞，就會中毒。

But in the West African nation of Senegal, where almost half the population lives in poverty, mercury has found a role, albeit an illegal one, in helping extract another element from the soil.

但在西非國家塞內加爾，幾乎有一半人口生活在貧困之中，汞在幫助從土壤中提取另一種元素方面發揮了作用，儘管這種作用是非法的。

Senegal is the site of a modern day gold rush.

塞內加爾是現代淘金熱的發源地。

Here in eastern Senegal, deep down this mineshaft, this man is in search of buried treasure and a better future.

在塞內加爾東部的礦井深處，這個男人正在尋找埋藏的寶藏和更美好的未來。

He hopes to find a gold nugget, which could mean the difference between a life of poverty or a chance at prosperity.

他希望能找到一塊金塊，這可能意味著貧窮生活與致富機會之間的差別。

It's by chance.

這是偶然。

You try your luck.

你試試運氣。

Sometimes you dig deep here and you don't find any gold.

有時你在這裡挖得很深，卻找不到任何金子。

You go back up and you go somewhere else to look.

你回到上面，再去別的地方看看。

For the past two decades, gold fever has swept through this part of Senegal, in the region of Cadougou, bordering Mali and Guinea.

過去二十年來，淘金熱席捲了塞內加爾的這一地區，即與馬裡和幾內亞接壤的卡杜古地區。

People come from all over West Africa to try and make their fortune.

人們從西非各地趕來發財。

Near the village of Bantako, so-called artisanal gold pits stretch out as far as the eye can see.

在班塔科村附近，所謂的手工淘金坑一眼望不到邊。

Since 2014, the huge site has been legally hosting gold miners in an attempt by the state to control the industry.

自 2014 年以來，這個巨大的礦場一直在合法地接納金礦開採者，國家試圖以此控制該行業。

But illegal practices persist, even here.

但非法行為依然存在，甚至在這裡也是如此。

One example is the use of mercury, which is mixed with the rock debris to extract gold.

其中一個例子就是使用汞，將汞與岩石碎屑混合提取黃金。

It's an effective method, but also damaging to the environment.

這是一種有效的方法，但也會對環境造成破壞。

For some fortune hunters, like Mamadou, an entire day's effort will be worth only around twenty dollars.

對於一些像馬馬杜這樣的財富獵人來說，一整天的努力只值 20 美元左右。

It's mercury and gold that come out together at the same time.

水銀和黃金同時出現。

And then you can take a handkerchief and remove the gold with it.

然後你可以用手帕把金子擦掉。

So the mercury will sink, the gold will stay in your hand, like this.

這樣，水銀就會沉下去，金子就會留在你手裡，就像這樣。

In the early 2000s, Bantako was home to around 30 huts.

本世紀初，班塔科約有 30 座小屋。

Today a whole economy has developed around gold panning.

如今，圍繞淘金已經形成了一整套經濟。

It's a trade that has brought prosperity, but also criminality, for this once sleepy village.

這種貿易給這個曾經沉睡的村莊帶來了繁榮，但也帶來了犯罪。

So at the moment, people have come to pan for gold, and there are a lot of drugs that have come too.

是以，現在人們都來淘金，也有很多人吸毒。

In this makeshift shack, this Malian man buys gold from the gold panners.

在這個臨時搭建的棚屋裡，這名馬裡男子向淘金者購買黃金。

For a gram of gold, he pays about 40 dollars, a little more than the official Senegalese counters would pay.

他為一克黃金支付約 40 美元，比塞內加爾官方櫃檯支付的價格稍高。

So most of the gold from the Bantako mine is smuggled into Mali for resale.

是以，班達科礦區的大部分黃金都被走私到馬裡轉售。

Well, I'm going to sell in Mali, in Bamako.

我要去馬裡的巴馬科銷售。

If we sell this, we will send it to Bamako to sell to the big office there.

如果能賣掉，我們將把它送到巴馬科，賣給那裡的大辦事處。

Some observers say it's a worrying situation.

一些觀察家認為，這種情況令人擔憂。

The Timbuktu Institute, a Dakar-based think tank, has raised concerns about the potentially dangerous mix of factors at play in the region, namely unemployment, migration flows generated by the gold trade, and proximity to Mali's ongoing security crisis.

總部設在達喀爾的智囊團廷巴克圖研究所（Timbuktu Institute）對該地區潛在的危險因素組合表示擔憂，這些因素包括失業、黃金貿易帶來的移民潮以及鄰近馬裡持續的安全危機。

World Mental Health Day was observed earlier this week, and the U.S. government says there may be a link between our mental health and the time we spend on social media.

本週早些時候慶祝了 "世界心理健康日"，美國政府表示，我們的心理健康與我們花在社交媒體上的時間之間可能存在聯繫。

The U.S. government's top doctor warned earlier this year that social media could harm the well-being of young people.

美國政府的頂級醫生今年早些時候警告說，社交媒體可能會損害青少年的健康。

How?

怎麼做？

Researchers don't really know yet.

研究人員還不太清楚。

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says there's evidence that social media might have benefits for some kids and adolescents.

外科醫生維韋克-穆爾西（Vivek Murthy）說，有證據表明，社交媒體可能對一些兒童和青少年有益。

For instance, many young people say these sites and apps can bring them feelings of support, connection to their friends, and a place to show off their creativity.

例如，許多年輕人說，這些網站和應用程序能給他們帶來支持感、與朋友的聯繫以及展示自己創造力的地方。

But the government report also suggests social media could carry a, quote, profound risk of harm to young people, and that not enough is known about it yet to say whether it's safe for adolescents to be on it.

但政府報告也指出，社交媒體可能會給青少年帶來巨大的傷害風險，而且目前對社交媒體的瞭解還不足以判斷青少年使用社交媒體是否安全。

Either way, they are on it.

無論如何，他們都在行動。

The Pew Research Center released a survey last year that said 95 percent of American teenagers have access to a smartphone, and 95 percent of American teenagers say they've used YouTube.

皮尤研究中心去年發佈的一項調查顯示，95% 的美國青少年擁有智能手機，95% 的美國青少年表示他們使用過 YouTube。

A majority of them have also used TikTok, Instagram or Snapchat, and the U.S. government says eighth and 10th graders use social media for three and a half hours per day on average.

美國政府稱，八年級和十年級學生平均每天使用社交媒體三個半小時。

This could put them at a higher risk for depression.

這可能使他們患抑鬱症的風險更高。

At least, that's what research on college students has found, so experts say that could also apply to teenagers.

至少，對大學生的研究發現了這一點，所以專家說這也可能適用於青少年。

Health officials are concerned that as their brains develop, young people may be emotionally influenced by frequent social media use in a way that could decrease their happiness.

衛生官員擔心，隨著青少年大腦的發育，頻繁使用社交媒體可能會影響他們的情緒，從而降低他們的幸福感。

So, what can be done about this?

那麼，可以做些什麼呢？

Simply put, according to researchers, encourage young people to spend less time looking at screens and more time with in-person interactions.

研究人員認為，簡單地說，就是鼓勵年輕人減少看螢幕的時間，增加人際交往的時間。

Discourage them from sharing private information online.

勸阻他們不要在網上分享私人資訊。

The Surgeon General's report urged parents to set an example by limiting their own social media use, and it suggested that tech companies do more to set and enforce age limits and better help protect kids' privacy.

衛生總監的報告敦促家長以身作則，限制自己使用社交媒體，並建議科技公司在設定和執行年齡限制方面做得更多，更好地幫助保護兒童隱私。

All of this, like our recent report on loneliness, suggests people might benefit by moving away from social media and toward getting out and interacting with others as ways to feel more fulfilled.

所有這些，就像我們最近關於孤獨感的報告一樣，都表明人們可能會從社交媒體中獲益，轉而走出去與他人交流，從而感到更充實。

On this date in world history.

在世界歷史上的這一天

On October 12, 1492, Italian explorer Christopher Columbus reached what was called the New World, arriving at the Bahamas, though he thought he was in Eastern Asia.

1492 年 10 月 12 日，意大利探險家克里斯托弗-哥倫布抵達了被稱為 "新大陸 "的巴哈馬群島，儘管他以為自己是在東亞。

Columbus claimed the land for Spain, whose rulers Ferdinand and Isabella paid for his voyage.

哥倫布為西班牙申請了這塊土地，西班牙統治者費迪南德和伊莎貝拉為哥倫布的航行支付了費用。

Over the centuries, this event gave rise to Columbus Day, Italian American Heritage Day, and also Indigenous Peoples Day in recognition of the European impact on Native Americans.

幾個世紀以來，這一事件衍生出了哥倫布日、意大利裔美國人遺產日以及土著人民日，以表彰歐洲人對美洲原住民的影響。

And in 1928, what was known as the Iron Lung was used for the first time, and it saved the life of a girl in Boston with polio.

1928 年，人們首次使用了被稱為 "鐵肺 "的設備，它挽救了波士頓一名患有小兒麻痺症女孩的生命。

In severe cases, polio can cause muscle paralysis and affect victim's ability to breathe.

嚴重時，小兒麻痺症會導致肌肉癱瘓，影響患者的呼吸能力。

The Iron Lung, a predecessor of modern ventilators, was essentially a metal chamber, a bed and electric bellows, think large vacuum cleaners that forced air in and out of the lungs.

鐵肺是現代呼吸機的前身，主要由一個金屬室、一張床和電動風箱組成。

Versions of this device were used widely until a polio vaccine was developed in the 1950s.

在 20 世紀 50 年代脊髓灰質炎疫苗研製成功之前，這種裝置的各種版本一直被廣泛使用。

It's been a little while, but this isn't the first time I've said, go Chiefs!

雖然時間不長，但我已經不是第一次說 "去吧，酋長 "了！

McIntosh High School is in Peachtree City of the Peach State of Georgia.

麥金託什高中位於佐治亞州桃樹市。

And Coach Beal, thank you for using our show.

比爾教練，感謝您使用我們的節目。

Over to the Buckeye State of Ohio, we've got Mrs. Torbert's class with us today.

今天我們請到了俄亥俄州的託伯特老師的班級

The Cardinals of Brookside Middle School are in Sheffield Village.

布魯克賽德中學的紅雀隊位於謝菲爾德村。

The U.S. is in full-on pumpkin season, y'all.

美國正處於南瓜盛產季節。

And one man just got crowned the Pump King again.

有一個人剛剛再次加冕泵王。

In this year's Great Pumpkin Weigh-Off, the winner came in at a whopping 2,749 pounds.

在今年的 "南瓜大稱重 "比賽中，冠軍南瓜重達 2749 磅。

The pumpkin, not the dude who grew it.

是南瓜，不是種南瓜的人。

It's likely a new world record.

這很可能是一項新的世界紀錄。

And Travis Ginger, who's won twice before, says the gigantic gourd is the goat.

曾兩次奪冠的特拉維斯-金格說，巨大的葫蘆就是山羊。

He named it Michael Jordan.

他將其命名為邁克爾-喬丹。

Ginger got some pumpkin prizes, a championship ring, a winner's jacket, and $30,000, which would buy a lot of pumpkin spice lattes.

金吉兒得到了一些南瓜獎品、一枚冠軍戒指、一件冠軍夾克和 3 萬美元，這些錢可以買很多南瓜拿鐵了。

Of course, it's a tradition to try to squash the competition with a farm-fresh edition of A Fruit of the Vine.

當然，我們的傳統是用農場版的 "葡萄果實 "來壓制競爭對手。

And those who buy the prize of pumpkin pies can recognize a pump-kindred spirit upon which you can dine.

那些購買南瓜餅的人可以認識到一種泵的精神，你可以在上面用餐。

But who could afford or save toward a gourd that breaks the door and leaves you floored at $30,000?

但是，誰又能買得起或攢得起一個破門而入、讓你大跌眼鏡的 3 萬美元的葫蘆呢？

My gourdness, me, it's such a sight to see, and a deed that could feed pie-faces making them holler.

我的天哪，我，這真是一道風景線，也是一件能讓餡餅臉歡呼雀躍的事。

Maybe not my best, but it's baked fresh for you, and it's because you mean the world to us.

也許這不是我最好的作品，但這是為你新鮮出爐的，因為你對我們來說就是整個世界。

Thank you for watching The World from A to Z.

感謝您收看《世界從 A 到 Z》。

I'm Carl Azuz.

我是卡爾-阿祖茲