看新闻，学英语！VOA 双语新闻 - 星期五 (02272008) (ZT)

星期五 (02272008)

US Concerned About Detention of Tibetan Activists in Nepal
(美关注尼泊尔拘留三名藏人活动人士)

The United States has expressed concern about Nepal's detention of three Tibetan activists who were leading anti-China protests. In a statement Thursday, a U.S. State Department spokesman said the three activists (Kelsang Chung, Ngawang Sangmo and Tashi Dolma) were detained without charge. He called for their immediate and unconditional release. The spokesman also said the U.S. is distressed by what he called the "ongoing harsh treatment of peaceful protesters by Nepali police" during arrests. Authorities in Nepal arrested the three activists on June 19th on charges of provoking anti-China demonstrations. Two of the detained Tibetan community leaders have Nepali citizenship and one is a refugee.

美国对尼泊尔拘留3名领导反对中国的抗议活动的西藏活动人士表示关切。美国国务院发言人凯西星期四发表声明说，这3名活动人士没有经过指控就被关押。他呼吁立即无条件释放他们。 凯西还说，美国对和平抗议人士在被捕时不断受到尼泊尔警察粗暴对待感到担忧。尼泊尔当局6月19日逮捕了这3名西藏活动人士，指控他们煽动反中国示威。两名被拘留的藏人社区领导人是尼泊尔公民，另外一人是难民。

Obama, Clinton to Hold 'Unity' Rally in New Hampshire
(奥巴马和克林顿在新罕布什尔州举行“团结”集会)

The small town of Unity, New Hampshire will provide the symbolic theme when Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton make their first joint campaign appearance today (Friday). Both candidates each received 107 votes in Unity during the New Hampshire primary in January. Both Obama and Clinton have been working to unify their supporters since the former first lady suspended her campaign.

新罕布什尔州小镇尤尼蒂镇(直译为团结)为民主党人奥巴马和克林顿星期五首次举行联合竞选活动提供了象征意义。两位候选人在1月新罕布什尔州初选中，在尤尼蒂镇都获得107张选票。 自从克林顿这位前第一夫人结束她的竞选活动以来，奥巴马和克林顿一直在致力于团结他们的支持者。

星期四 (02262008)

China Denies Politicizing Olympics After IOC Rebuke
(中国在国际奥委会批评后否认把奥运政治化)

China denies it is failing to keep the Olympic Games and politics separate after a Communist party official criticized the Dalai Lama at a torch relay ceremony in Tibet. The Chinese foreign ministry today (Thursday) said the official's comments did not contradict China's opposition to politicizing the Olympics.The ministry said the comments were meant to create a stable environment for the Olympics. Earlier today, the International Olympic Committee urged the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic games to make sure such situations do not happen again. The IOC said it regrets that the political statements were made during the closing torch relay ceremony Saturday in Tibet's capital, Lhasa. Anti-Chinese government riots that erupted in Lhasa in March sparked a harsh crackdown by Chinese troops.

一名共产党官员在西藏奥运火炬传递仪式上批评达赖喇嘛后，中国否认未能做到把奥运与政治分开。中国外交部星期四说，那名官员的话与中国反对把奥运政治化的立场并不矛盾。外交部说，那番评论的用意是为奥运创造一个稳定的环境。 星期四早些时候，国际奥委会敦促北京奥组委确保这类情况今后不再发生。国际奥委会表示，对西藏首府拉萨上星期六举行奥运火炬传递结束仪式时出现这种政治言论感到遗憾。 今年3月，拉萨爆发的反对中国政府的骚乱招致中国武警的严厉镇压。

OPEC President Predicts Oil at $150 to $170 A Barrel
(欧佩克主席预计油价将在每桶150至170美元)

The head of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries says the price of a barrel of oil could reach as high as 150 to 170-dollars a barrel in the next few months. OPEC President Chakib Khelil today (Thursday) blamed soaring oil prices on a weak dollar, but said he does not think oil prices will hit 200-dollars a barrel. He also said OPEC was ready to meet additional demand for crude oil in the future. The price of crude oil for August delivery fell more than two-dollars in New York on Wednesday, settling at 134-dollars, 55-cents a barrel. The drop followed a government report (from the U.S. Energy Information Administration) showing U.S. oil inventories rose over the past week. Crude oil prices hit a record-high of nearly 140-dollars a barrel last week.

石油输出国组织主席说，每桶原油的价格在今后几个月可能上涨到最高150到170美元。欧佩克主席哈利勒今天(星期四)把油价飞涨归咎于美元疲软，但表示他不认为油价会达到每桶200美元。他还说，欧佩克(石油输出国组织)做好了满足未来对原油的更多需求的准备。 星期三在纽约市场，原油8月份的交货价格下跌了两美元多，降到每桶134美元55美分。美国政府的发表报告显示美国石油库存在上星期有所增加，此后油价下跌。上星期，原油价格达到创记录的每桶将近140美元。

星期三 (02252008)

Two Chinese Fighter Jets Collide, Crash Outside Inner Mongolian Capital
(两架中国战机在内蒙上空相撞)

China's state media are reporting that two fighter jets have collided and crashed into an inhabited area today (Wednesday) during a regular training mission over the northern region of Inner Mongolia.  The official Xinhua news agency says the two J-8 fighter jets collided near the regional capital of Hohhot. The report says both pilots ejected and parachuted to safety, and suffered only minor injuries. Xinhua gave no information about possible casualties on the ground.

中国官方媒体报导说，两架喷气式战机今天(星期三)在内蒙古北部地区上空做例行飞行训练时相撞，坠落到一个居民区。官方的新华社说，这两架歼-8战机在内蒙古首府呼和浩特附近上空相撞。 报导说，两名飞行员弹出驾驶舱，安全降落，只受了轻伤。新华社没有提供有关地面可能发生伤亡的情况。

China - Paralympic Torth Relay
(中国-残奥火炬传递行程)

Chinese organizers have canceled the international portion of the Beijing Paralympic torch relay, and shortened the domestic legs. Wednesday's announcement comes after international legs of the Olympic torch relay were plagued by violent protests against China's Tibet policy. However, organizers say the Paralympic relay route was changed because the government is focusing on relief work following a deadly earthquake on May 12th. It killed 70-thousand people and left millions displaced in Sichuan province. The first-ever international Paralympic torch relay had been scheduled to visit upcoming Olympic host cities London (England), Vancouver (Canada) and Sochi (Russia) as well as Hong Kong before the September sixth to 17th Paralympics. Four Chinese cities - Chengdu, Chongqing, Urumqi and Tianjin - were also removed from the original 16-stop schedule for the domestic relay.

中国组织者取消了北京残障人奥运会火炬国际接力活动，并缩短了在国内的传递行程。在中国方面星期三做出这项宣布之前，北京奥运火炬在国际间的传递遭到反对中国对西藏政策的暴力抗议的干扰。但组织者表示，对残障人奥运会火炬传递路线做出改变是因为政府目前把精力集中在5月12号大地震的救灾工作。这场地震造成四川省7万人死亡，数百万人无家可归。 残障人奥运会火炬在国际间的首次传递本来计划在9月6号到17号举行残奥会之前经过未来奥运会主办城市伦敦、温哥华、索契以及香港。在中国国内，火炬传递本来有16站，现在取消了成都、重庆、乌鲁木齐和天津四站。

星期二 (02242008)

Tibet to Re-open to Foreign Tourism
(西藏将重新对外国游客开放)

Chinese state media today (Tuesday) quote regional tourism officials as saying the Tibet Autonomous Region will be opened to outsiders on Wednesday. The Xinhua news agency reports that two Swedish tourists will arrive in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on Wednesday and four tourists from Singapore will arrive on Sunday. Tourists have been prevented from traveling to the region since riots against the Chinese government erupted in Lhasa on March 14th, sparking a harsh crackdown by Chinese troops. Tibet's government-in-exile says more than 200 people died in the crackdown on mostly monk-led protests. China blames Tibetan rioters for the deaths of at least 20 people.

中国说，将向外国游客重新开放西藏。西藏今年3月发生暴力抗议事件后，当局关闭了西藏地区。中国官方媒体今天(星期二)援引当地旅游官员的话说，西藏自治区从星期三开始对外开放。新华社报导说，2名瑞典游客星期三将抵达西藏首府拉萨，4名新加坡游客将于星期天抵达。 拉萨3月14号爆发反对中国政府的骚乱后，中国军队进行严厉镇压，此后不准游客进入西藏。西藏流亡政府说，在主要由喇嘛发起的抗议活动中，200多人死于镇压行动。中国当局说，藏族骚乱者造成至少20人死亡。

US Consumer Confidence & Home Prices Fall
(美国消费者信心和房价下降)

Two new economic reports paint a downbeat picture of the U.S. economy today (Tuesday) as top central bank officials gather to discuss U.S. interest rates. The reports show U.S. consumer confidence dropping to the lowest level ever recorded and U.S. home prices falling at the fastest rate on record. A business research group says its survey of thousands of Americans in June shows their view of the health of the economy declined sharply. Experts watch consumer confidence closely. The falling consumer confidence may get worse. A report from Standard & Poor's says home prices in 10 metropolitan areas fell more than 16 percent in April from the same time a year ago. That is the fastest decline in the survey's 20-year history.

星期二新公布的两份经济报告对美国经济前景表示不乐观。美联储官员正在华盛顿开会商讨有关美国利率的问题。两份经济报告显示，美国消费者信心降至有纪录以来的最低点，美国房屋价格正在以创纪录的速度下跌。美国一个商业调研团体说，6月对数千美国人的调查显示，他们认为美国经济急剧恶化。专家密切注视消费者信心。 一路下降的消费者信心可能会进一步下跌。标准普尔公布的经济报告说，美国10个大都市地区的4月份房屋价格比去年同期下跌了16%。这是20年前开始进行这项统计以来的最大跌幅。

星期一 (02232008)

Rescuers Search for 800 Missing in Philippine Ferry Disaster
(救援人员寻找菲律宾船难800失踪者)

The Philippines coast guard says at least 31 of the more than 800 people on a capsized ferry have managed to make it to shore. The Philippine coast guard says many of the survivors from the ship, the Princess of Stars, made it ashore Sunday after drifting more than 24 hours in a rubber boat and in life jackets. Rescuers are continuing their efforts to find the more than 800 other people who were on board the ship when it went down and remain missing.

菲律宾海岸警卫队说，星期六在台风中翻船的渡轮上800多人当中有至少31人已经逃到岸上。 菲律宾海岸警卫队说，“星辰公主号”渡轮上的许多生还人员是靠橡皮救生艇和救生衣在海上漂流了超过24小时之后而在星期天登上岸的。 救援人员继续搜寻那艘翻船渡轮上其余800多名失踪的人。

China to Clean Up Mount Everest
(中国将清理珠穆朗玛峰)

China says it is planning a major cleanup operation for Mount Everest next year, and may limit the number of climbers and other visitors. The official Xinhua news agency today (Monday) quotes Zhang Yongze, the director of Tibet's Bureau of Environment Protection, as saying climbers exert a negative impact on the environment, and should be limited. He said garbage left by climbers and tourists on the world's highest peak, which straddles China and Nepal, will be cleared away. Zhang also said the management of commercial activities involving the mountain need to be strengthened. Zhang said his bureau will work with the Tibet Mountaineering School to complete the cleaning job.

中国说，中国计划明年对埃弗勒斯峰(珠穆朗玛峰)从事大清理，也可能限制登山者与观光客的人数。 中国官方的新华社今天(星期一)引用西藏自治区环保局局长张永泽的话说，登山者给环境带来了负面影响，应该加以限制。 他说登山者与观光客在这座跨越中国与尼泊尔边境的世界最高峰上乱丢的垃圾，将会被清理干净。 张永泽还说，应该加强对利用珠穆朗玛峰从事商业活动的管理。他说，环保局将与西藏登山学校合作来清扫山峰。

星期五 (06202008)

China's President Chats Online in His First Live Webcast
(中国主席首次同网友在线交流)

China's President Hu Jintao has become the nation's first head of state to talk online with Internet users in a live Webcast. During his 20-minute appearance today (Friday) on the Web site for the state-run People's Daily (www.people.com.cn), the mouthpiece of the Communist Party, Mr. Hu answered only three of more than two-hundred questions.  Queried about what he usually does on the Internet, Mr. Hu said he did not have time to go online every day. When he does, Mr. Hu said he reads foreign and domestic news and likes to see the advice of Chinese Internet users on the work of the (communist) party and the country. China has more than 220-million Internet users, but maintains some of the strictest Internet censorship in the world.

中国国家主席胡锦涛同网友进行在线交流，这对于中国国家元首来说还是第一次。 胡锦涛星期五在中共喉舌、中国国营的人民日报网站上和网友进行了20分钟的视频交流，只回答了200多个问题中的三个问题。 有网友问胡锦涛通常在网上干什么，胡锦涛说，他没有时间每天上网，不过他上网时，会看一些国内外的新闻，并喜欢了解中国互联网用户对党和国家工作提出的建议。 中国的互联网用户超过2亿2千万，但是对互联网实行的严密审查，在世界上是名列前茅的。

Mental Health Services Needed in China Quake Zone
(中国震区需要心理健康服务)

The United Nations' health agency says up to 10 percent of the survivors from last month's deadly earthquake in southwest China will require long-term mental health care. Hans Troedsson, the World Health Organization's representative to China, says the region's health care system will need to be able handle the growing demand for psychological services. Troedsson also says rehabilitation facilities will need to be set up to provide care for those who lost limbs in the disaster. Hospitals in the region were overwhelmed after the May 12th earthquake, which killed 70-thousand people. But Troedsson says there have been no major outbreaks of disease in the affected areas.

世界卫生组织说，中国西南部上个月发生的灾难性地震后，幸存者中多达百分之十的人需要长期的心理健康服务。 世界卫生组织驻中国代表韩卓升说，当地卫生保健系统要有能力处理日益增长的心理服务需求。 韩卓升还说，为了帮助那些在地震中失去肢体的人，有必要建立康复设施。 5月12号发生的地震夺去了7万人的生命。地震之后当地医院不堪重负。不过韩卓升说，灾区没有爆发重大疫情。

星期四 (06192008)

China Says gas Deal not a Compromise on Territorial Claims in East China Sea
(中国称油气田协议非在东海主权问题上妥协)

China's Deputy Foreign Minister Wu Dawei is defending a landmark deal with Japan to jointly develop gas reserves in the disputed East China Sea. Speaking with reporters today (Thursday) in Beijing, Wu says the agreement announced Wednesday does not mean Beijing has given up or compromised its legal territorial claims in the area. Wu says that in making the deal both China and Japan have agreed to shelve their differences. China does not recognize Japan's claim that a median line exists between the two countries in the East China Sea. Instead, China insists its exclusive economic zone stretches farther east to the edge of the continental shelf near the Japanese island of Okinawa. The agreement announced Wednesday allows Japanese companies to invest in and claim proportional profits from existing and developing projects in area.

中国外交部副部长伍大伟为在有争议的东海与日本联合开发油气储藏的具有里程碑意义的协议进行辩解。他今天(星期四)在北京对记者说，这项协议并不意味着北京放弃对该海域的合法领土要求或者做出妥协。伍大伟表示，中日双方在达成协议的过程中同意搁置彼此之间的分歧。 中国不同意日本有关两国在东海中间存在一条中界线的说法，并坚持认为中国的专属经济区一直向东延伸到日本冲绳岛附近的大陆架边缘。 星期三宣布的协议允许日本公司可以对该海域现有以及正在研发的项目投资，并可以获取一定比例的利润。

Monitors Say Repression of Human Rights Increasing Worldwide
(观察人士称全球范围压迫人权情况上升)

A leading non-governmental organization says human rights-defenders in large parts of the world are facing increasing efforts by governments to stifle their actions. The Geneva-based Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders calls the situation for human rights and their defenders "scarcely or not at all satisfactory." The report says rights defenders in China, Africa and parts of eastern Europe were subjected in 2007 to arbitrary arrests, unfair trials and violence.  The report also links the increasingly harsh treatment of rights workers in China to the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

一个主要的非政府组织说，世界很多地区的人权捍卫者都面临政府不断加强的阻挠他们行动的努力。总部设在日内瓦的“保护人权捍卫者观察组织”称人权及其捍卫者的处境“几乎不能令人满意或完全不能令人满意”。 报告说，中国、非洲和东欧部分国家的人权捍卫者2007年遭到随意逮捕、不公正审判和暴力侵犯。 报告还把中国人权活动人士受到的严酷对待与即将举行的北京奥运联系起来。

星期三 (06182008)

Japan and China Settle East China Sea Gas Feud
(日本和中国解决东海油气田争端)

Japan and China have overcome a long-standing energy dispute and agreed to jointly develop gas fields and share profits in areas of the East China Sea. Officials in Tokyo and Beijing confirmed the deal today (Wednesday), that allows Japan to invest in gas field projects, including a field already operated by China, and both sides to reap a portion of the profits. Japan's Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura called the agreement a first step toward realizing a consensus to make the East China Sea a sea of peaceful cooperation and friendship. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Jiang Yu, called the agreement mutually beneficial and said it would help promote stability and energy cooperation. The deal sidesteps the more difficult issue of where the maritime border between the two countries lies.

日本与中国解决了一项长期存在的能源争端，双方同意联合开发东海油气田并共享利润。在东京和北京的官员今天(星期三)证实了这项协议。协议允许日本投资一些油气田项目，其中包括一个中国已经在操作的油气田，协议也允许双方获得部分利润。 日本外相高村正彦称这项协议朝实现将东海变成和平合作和友谊之海的共识上迈出了第一步。中国外交部发言人姜瑜称这项协议是互利的，并说这也会帮助促进稳定与能源合作。 这项协议没有涉及确定两国海上边界这个难度更大的问题。

EU Passes Tougher Illegal Immigration Laws
(欧盟批准更强硬非法移民法)

The European Parliament has approved new rules for detaining and expelling illegal immigrants, legislation that human rights groups consider unfair. EU lawmakers voted in Strasbourg today (Wednesday) to let governments detain illegal immigrants for up to 18 months and impose a re-entry ban of up to five years. The rules are to go into effect by 2010. Britain, Ireland and Denmark have not signed on to the agreement. Estimates of immigrants in Europe illegally vary from eight million to 12 million people. The new rules provide them some protections, including the right to apply for residency and to leave voluntarily, as well as access to legal counsel. Amnesty International, among other rights groups voicing concern, says the measures do not ensure that illegal migrants will be returned to their home countries in safety and dignity.

欧洲议会批准了有关拘押和驱逐非法移民的新法规。人权组织认为有关法规是不公正的。欧盟的议员们今天(星期三)在斯特拉斯堡投票，允许政府拘押非法移民长达一年半时间，并可以禁止在最多5年内再次入境。这些法规将在2010年前生效。英国、爱尔兰和丹麦没有在这项协议上签字。 欧洲非法移民的人数估计在8百万到1千2百万人之间。 新法规向非法移民提供了一些保护，包括申请居留、自愿离境和寻求法律咨询的权利等。 大赦国际和其他人权组织表达了关注。大赦国际说，新法律并不能确保非法移民安全地、有尊严地返回各自国家。

星期二 (06172008)

US Treasury Secretary Highlights Energy Needs at US-China Trade Talks
(美国财政部长在美中贸易会谈中强调能源需求)

U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is urging China to work with the United States on energy issues as the two countries face increased demand at home and record high oil prices. Speaking today (Tuesday) at the opening of two days of high-level trade talks with Chinese officials, Paulson said that as the world's two largest importers of oil, China and the United States have a shared interest in avoiding supply disruptions. Paulson says the two countries should also work to help make alternative energy sources more available, and promote energy security and environmental sustainability. The talks, which end on Wednesday, are being held in (the city of) Annapolis, Maryland, not far from Washington and will be co-chaired by Paulson and China's vice premier, Wang Qishan.

美国财政部长保尔森敦促中国在两国面对国内能源需求增长以及石油价格屡创新高之际，与美国共同解决能源问题。保尔森今天(星期二)在与中国官员举行为期两天的高层贸易会谈开始时表示，作为世界上两个最大的石油进口国，中国和美国具有避免石油供应中断的共同利益。 保尔森说，美中两国还应当合作，帮助使替代性能源更容易得到，并促进能源安全和环境可持续性。 双方目前在华盛顿附近的马里兰州安纳波利斯举行会谈，由保尔森和中国副总理王岐山共同主持。会谈将于星期三结束。

Tibetan Exiles Protest Olympic Torch Route
(流亡藏人抗议奥运火炬传递路线)

Tibetan exiles in northern India have demonstrated against China's decision to take the Olympic torch through Tibet. Protesters shouted anti-China slogans and dressed as Chinese police enacting scenes of brutality today (Tuesday) in the hill town of Dharamsala. The Olympic torch is expected to pass through the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on Saturday. Human Rights Watch has condemned the relay, saying it is unconscionable and reckless for China to use the city for such propaganda purposes, while it remains otherwise closed. Also today (Tuesday), Indian police ended a protest march to China by Tibetan exiles, stopping them near the border of Tibet. Close to 50 protesters were arrested.

印度北部的流亡藏人抗议中国决定在西藏举行奥运火炬传递的决定。今天(星期二)，抗议者在山城达兰萨拉呼喊反对中国的口号，穿着中国警察的服装，模拟残酷镇压的场景。 预计，奥运火炬将于星期六经过西藏首府拉萨。人权观察谴责这次奥运火炬传递，认为中国利用否则仍对外关闭的拉萨进行宣传是“不道德和轻率的”。 星期二，印度警方制止流亡藏人试图进入中国的抗议游行，在西藏边界附近阻住了他们。将近50名抗议者被逮捕。

星期一 (06162008)

Report: Japan and China Settle East China Sea Gas Feud
(报导：日本和中国解决东海油气争端)

A Japanese media report says Japan and China have reached a compromise and agreed to jointly develop gas fields and share profits in disputed areas of the East China Sea. A Kyodo news agency report today (Monday) cites sources close to the ongoing talks who say the two sides are expected to announce the deal as early as this week.  A spokesman for the Japanese government confirmed today that a deal was in the works, but says details of the deal are still being finalized. China's Foreign Ministry did not have any immediate comment on the reported deal.

日本一个新闻报导说，日本和中国已经达成妥协，同意联合开发有争议东海海域的油气田并分享利润。共同社的报导今天(星期一)援引一名接近中日会谈的消息人士的话说，预计双方最早本星期将宣布有关协议。 日本政府发言人今天证实，双方目前正在就有关协议进行谈判，有关细节还有待最后敲定。中国外交部没有立即就报导的这项协议发表评论。

 

Britain to Freeze Iranian Bank Assets
(英国将冻结伊朗银行资产)

Britain says it is freezing the assets of Iran's largest bank, in a further move to penalize Tehran for failing to ease Western concerns about its suspected nuclear weapons program. Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced the freeze today (Monday), at a joint news conference in London with U.S. President George Bush.  Mr. Brown said he will also press other European governments to agree later this week on a new round of sanctions against Tehran.

英国说将冻结伊朗最大一家银行的资产，进一步惩罚德黑兰没有消减西方国家对伊朗受到怀疑的核武器项目的忧虑。布朗首相今天(星期一)在伦敦与美国总统布什举行的联合记者会上宣布了冻结决定。 布朗说，他还将要求其他欧洲国家政府本星期晚些时候同意对德黑兰采取新一轮制裁。