双语新闻

chubbycat

02-15-10

布鲁塞尔郊外满载乘客的通勤列车相撞 (Packed Commuter Trains Collide Outside Brussels)

在比利时首都布鲁塞尔郊外，两辆载满乘客的通勤列车迎头相撞，导致至少18人丧生，多人受伤。星期一早上的撞车事故发生在布鲁塞尔西南大约15公里的伯伊津恩火车站外，当时两辆列车上载有250到300名乘客，事发时有降雪。

该省省长洛德韦克.德维克对记者说，撞车事故发生在交通高峰期，当时一辆列车显然闯了红灯，撞上另一列快车。铁路官员星期一早些时候报告说有25人死亡。受伤人数仍在统计，撞车现场的救援工作下午仍在继续。电视画面显示，两辆火车相撞后向上顶起，车厢四散遍野。列车相撞时的运行速度尚不清楚。

Two packed commuter trains have crashed head-on outside Brussels, killing at least 18 people and injuring many others. The trains, carrying between 250 and 300 passengers, collided in snowy conditions Monday morning just outside a train station in Buizingen, about 15 kilometers southwest of the Belgian capital.

Provincial Governor Lodewijk De Witte told reporters the rush-hour crash occurred when one of the trains apparently ran a red light and plowed into an express train. Rail officials earlier Monday reported 25 deaths. The number of injured was still being tallied, as rescue efforts continued at the crash site Monday afternoon. Television footage showed the two smashed locomotives forced up in the air, with passenger cars strewn over a wide area. Train speed at the time of the crash was not immediately known.

伊朗称正在研究核燃料加工新方案 (Iran Says Studying New Nuclear Fuel Deal)

伊朗表示正在研究由美国、俄罗斯和法国提出的核燃料加工新方案，但法国和俄罗斯否认提出了任何新提议。伊朗媒体星期一援引伊朗原子能机构负责人萨利希的话说，伊朗在宣布将铀浓缩到更高纯度之后收到了新的核燃料加工方案。

法国外交部一位发言人否认有萨利希所说的新方案，并表示向伊朗提交的唯一方案就是去年10月由国际原子能机构提出的方案。国际文传电讯社报导，俄罗斯外交部也说，俄罗斯及其他伙伴国没有向伊朗提交任何新提议。伊朗对于是否接受国际原子能机构的提议一直态度含糊。该协议要求伊朗将铀送到国外进一步浓缩，以缓解国际社会对其有能力发展核武器的担心。

Iran says it is studying new proposals for a nuclear fuel deal from the United States, Russia and France, though Paris and Moscow deny that any new offers were made. Iranian media Monday quote the head of Iran's Atomic Energy organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, as saying the proposals were received after Tehran announced it was enriching its own uranium to a higher level.

A French foreign ministry spokesperson dismissed Salehi's claim, saying the only proposition to Iran is the one presented by the International Atomic Energy Agency last October. Interfax news agency reported that the Russian Foreign Ministry also says Moscow and its partners did not make any new proposals to Tehran. Iran has given mixed signals on whether it will accept the IAEA proposal. The deal would have Iran ship uranium abroad for further enrichment, to ease concerns about its ability to develop a nuclear weapon.

chubbycat

02-16-10

美国投资修建更多核电站(US Prepares to Boost Nuclear Power Production )

美国总统奥巴马说，美国30年来首次投资修建核电站仅仅是美国为消除依赖外国能源而努力的开始。奥巴马星期二宣布以80亿美元政府贷款担保在乔治亚州亚特兰大东南部附近建造两个新的核反应堆。

奥巴马在首都华盛顿市区外的一个就业培训中心对工作人员和官员说，美国必须更加努力来创造清洁能源，减少对进口石油的依赖。他警告说，包括中国在内的其他国家已经在核能上投巨资，美国正处于落后的危险当中。这项贷款担保是美国国会2005年批准的185亿美元计划中的一部分。奥巴马已经在他的2011年预算中提议，将该计划的资金增加到540亿美元。

U.S. President Barack Obama says funding for the country's first nuclear reactors in 30 years is just the beginning of efforts to eliminate the nation's dependence on foreign energy sources. The president Tuesday unveiled an $8 billion government loan guarantee for the construction of two new reactors near the southeastern city of Atlanta, Georgia.

Mr. Obama told workers and officials at a jobs training center just outside Washington that the U.S. must do more to create clean energy to reduce its dependence on oil imports. He warned that other countries, including China, are already investing heavily in nuclear energy and that the U.S. is in danger of falling behind. The loan guarantee is part of a $18.5 billion program authorized by the U.S. Congress in 2005. Mr. Obama has proposed increasing funding for the program to $54 billion in his 2011 budget proposal.

克林顿：伊朗或挑起核武器竞赛 (Clinton: Iran May Provoke Nuclear Arms Race)

美国国务卿希拉里.克林顿星期二警告说，如果伊朗获得核武器，那么伊朗也许会在中东地区引发核武器竞赛。克林顿国务卿在沙特阿拉伯的吉达说，证据并不支持伊朗的说法。伊朗称它发展核项目只是为了和平目的。克林顿在一所女校发表讲话时发表上述评论。

星期二早些时候，伊朗外交部长反驳了美国国务卿克林顿星期一做出的伊朗正在成为军事独裁国家的说法。伊朗媒体援引穆塔基的话说，克林顿试图以“不真实和不正确的问题”操纵伊朗民意。穆塔基指责美国在伊拉克和阿富汗的做法如同军事独裁国家。

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Tuesday that Iran may trigger a nuclear arms race in the Middle East if it obtains a nuclear weapon. The secretary told an audience in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia that evidence does not support Iran's claim that its nuclear program is being developed for peaceful purposes only. Clinton made the remarks during a speech at an all women's college called Dar al-Hekma.

Earlier Tuesday, Iran's foreign minister disputed Clinton's Monday remarks that Iran is becoming a military dictatorship. Iranian media quoted Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki saying that Clinton is trying to manipulate public opinion of Iran with "unreal and incorrect issues."Mottaki accused the United States of being like a military dictatorship through its actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

chubbycat

02-17-10

伊朗最高领袖指责美国撒谎(Iran Supreme Leader Accuses US of 'Lies' )

伊朗最高领袖哈梅内伊指责美国国务卿克林顿在她访问波斯湾期间散布反对伊斯兰共和国的“谎言”。哈梅内伊还指责美国将该地区变成所谓的“军火库”，从这一地区的国家攫取金钱。

伊朗国家媒体星期三报导了上述评论。

星期二，克林顿国务卿结束了对波斯湾的访问。此次访问目的是为了获得各国支持，从而让联合国因德黑兰坚持进行铀浓缩项目而对其实施新一轮制裁。

在访问期间，国务卿克林顿警告说，如果伊朗获得核武器，那么伊朗也许会引发核武器竞赛。她还担心，伊朗将成为军事独裁国家，因为权力正转向伊朗革命卫队。

Iran's supreme leader Khamenei has accused U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of spreading "lies" against the Islamic republic during her tour of the Persian Gulf. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also accused the United States of turning the region into a so-called "arms depot" to get money from countries in the region.

Iranian state media reported the remarks Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Secretary Clinton wrapped up a trip to the region aimed at gathering support for a new round of United Nations sanctions against Tehran for pressing ahead with its uranium enrichment program.

During the trip, Secretary Clinton warned that Iran may trigger a nuclear arms race if it obtains a nuclear weapon. She also raised concerns that Iran was turning into a military dictatorship because of a power shift to the country's Revolutionary Guard Corps.

奥巴马政府说巨额刺激计划奏效 (Obama Administration Says Huge Stimulus Program Is Working)

奥巴马政府官员星期三纪念有争议的7870亿美元经济刺激计划实施一周年。

他们说，刺激计划防止经济衰退变糟，并拯救或创造了数百万个工作机会。但是反对派共和党人说，刺激计划没有效果，未能显著减少失业。

作为星期三刺激计划周年纪念的一部分，奥巴马将公布一份15亿美元的计划修葺道路和桥梁。该计划意在创造工作机会，并修护破损的基础设施。到目前为止，政府花掉了不到刺激计划7870亿美元的一半经费。

共和党批评人士说，刺激计划是美国面对巨额财政赤字的一个原因。巨额赤字可能会损害美国经济。

星期四，奥巴马预计将签署行政令，建立一个两党委员会，寻求解决减少赤字这一政治难题。美国明年的赤字可能达到1.6万亿美元。

Obama administration officials on Wednesday mark the one-year anniversary of their controversial $787 billion economic stimulus program.

They say the program has kept the recession from getting worse and has saved or created millions of jobs. But opposition Republicans say the program is ineffective and has failed to significantly reduce unemployment.

As part of the stimulus anniversary on Wednesday Mr. Obama is set to unveil a $1.5 billion program to fix roads and bridges that is intended to create jobs as well as fix crumbling infrastructure. So far the administration has spent less than half of the $787 billion dollars.

Republican critics say the stimulus package is one reason the United States faces a huge budget deficit that could hurt the economy.

Thursday, Mr. Obama is scheduled to sign an executive order creating a bipartisan commission seeking ways to solve the difficult political problem of slashing the deficit, which could hit $1.6 trillion next year.

bubblejenny

肥猫辛苦了！

kittee

谢谢肥猫
每日学习

chubbycat

02-18-10

伊拉克安巴尔省自杀汽车炸弹13人死(Suicide Car Bomber Kills 13 in Iraq's Anbar Province)

伊拉克官员说，伊拉克发生两起自杀式炸弹爆炸，其中一起发生在西部安巴尔省政府建筑物附近，造成至少13人死亡。

政府官员说，一名炸弹杀手星期四在安巴尔省拉马迪地方政府建筑物附近一个检查哨卡引爆汽车.官员说，死者当中包括4名警察，还有26人受伤，一家餐馆被炸损。

在第二次袭击中，一辆汽车炸弹星期四在北部城市摩苏尔一个警察局附近爆炸，炸伤至少22人。

最近几个月，在安巴尔，安全部队和政府官员遭受袭击的暴力事件有上升趋势，这个以逊尼派为主的地区曾经是反叛分子攻击美军领导部队的主要基地。

2006年后，安巴尔省的暴力大幅度下降。当时地方逊尼派部落开始支持美国军队驱赶激进分子。

Iraqi officials say two car bombs have exploded in the country, one of which killed at least 13 people outside a local government office in the western province of Anbar.

Officials say Thursday's Anbar attack involved a suicide bomber detonating a vehicle at a checkpoint near the provincial governor's compound in the city of Ramadi. They say four policemen were among those killed, while the blast also wounded 26 people and damaged a restaurant.

In the second attack, a car bomb went off near a police station in the northern city of Mosul Thursday, wounding at least 22 people.

Anbar has seen a rise in attacks on security forces and government officials in recent months. It is a predominantly Sunni region that once was a key base for insurgents fighting U.S.-led forces.

Violence in Anbar fell significantly after 2006, when local Sunni tribes began siding with the U.S. military to drive out militants.

在海地获释的美国传教士抵达美国 (Missionaries Freed from Haiti Arrive in U.S.)

被控在遭受地震灾难的海地绑架儿童的八名美国传教士已经抵达美国。将近三星期前他们在这个加勒比国家被逮捕。

星期四凌晨，一架载有这八人团体的美国军用飞机在佛罗里达迈阿密的一个机场降落。

这些传教士没有向新闻界发表什么任何谈话，接着，至少有7名传教士进入了附近的一家饭店。

海地一名法官星期三下令从狱中释放这八名传教士。不过这位法官说，这个浸礼会传教士团体领导人劳拉.西尔比以及另一名妇女查理萨.库尔特将继续拘留，就被控试图把33名海地儿童非法带出海地的问题接受进一步讯问。

西尔比和库尔特的律师弗伦兰特说，她们两人是无辜的。

Eight American missionaries who were charged with kidnapping children in earthquake-ravaged Haiti have arrived in the U.S., nearly three weeks after they were arrested in the Caribbean nation.

A U.S. military cargo plane carrying the group landed early Thursday at a Miami, Florida, airport.

The missionaries made few, if any, comments to reporters before at least seven of them entered a nearby hotel.

On Wednesday, a Haitian judge released the eight missionaries from jail. But the judge said the leader of the group of Baptist missionaries, Laura Silsby, and another woman, Charisa Coulter, would remain in custody to face further questioning about their alleged attempt to take 33 children out of the country illegally.

A lawyer for Silsby and Coulter, says his clients are innocent.

chubbycat

02-19-10

联合国特使与昂山素季会面遭拒 (UN Envoy Denied Meeting with Burma's Suu Kyi)

联合国人权特使昆塔纳在缅甸表示，缅甸军事政府拒绝了他与正遭到软禁的反对派领袖昂山素季进行会面,对此他深表遗憾。

特使昆塔纳星期五对记者说，由于预期缅甸今年将举行20年来首次全国大选，缅甸政府拒绝他的会面要求，尤其令他感到失望。他说，缅甸政府没有说明拒绝的理由。

昆塔纳星期五与一些政府官员会晤，讨论大选和其他方面的问题。他说，他没有被告知大选日期，以及何时宣布人们期待的选举法。

他表示，缅甸政府还拒绝释放任何政治囚犯，甚至不承认缅甸存在政治犯。

昆塔纳是在星期五结束为期五天对缅甸访问的时候发表评论的。

The United Nations' special envoy on human rights in Burma says he deeply regrets that Burma's military government denied him a meeting with opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest.

U.N. envoy Tomas Ojea Quintana told reporters Friday he was particularly disappointed to be denied a meeting because this year Burma is expected to hold its first national elections in 20 years. He said no reason was given for the denial.

Quintana met Friday with a number of government officials to discuss the elections and other issues. He said he was not told when elections will be held or when an anticipated election law governing the vote will be announced.

He said the government also refused to release any political prisoners or even acknowledge that such prisoners exist.

The envoy made the comments at the end of his five-day visit to Burma.

北韩：不会放弃核武器 (North Korea: We Will Not Give Up Nuclear Weapons)

北韩说，不会放弃核武器计划以换取经济援助，北韩表示，其核武器计划是为了应对来自美国的核威胁。

北韩官方的中央通讯社星期五发表社论说，北韩寻求发展核武器不是为了换取经济援助，也不是为了威胁别人，而只是出于自卫。

社论说，要是认为北韩会放弃核武器计划以换取经济援助那是错误的想法。文章说，解决核问题的关键是这个通讯社所谓的美国停止对北韩的“敌对政策”。

美国、中国、俄罗斯、日本和韩国一直在敦促北韩结束核武器计划以换取经济援助。

North Korea says it will not give up its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid, saying the program is designed to counter a nuclear threat from the United States.

In an editorial Friday, the official Korean Central New Agency says North Korea did not seek to develop nuclear weapons for economic benefit or to threaten others, but only out of self-defense.

The editorial says it would be a mistake to think North Korea would give up its nuclear program in exchange for economic aid. It said the key to settling the nuclear issue is to bring an end to what the agency calls the U.S. "hostile policy" towards North Korea.

The United States, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea have been pushing for North Korea to end its nuclear arms programs in exchange for aid.

nizi

chubbycat

02-22-10

阿富汗：北约空袭造成27名平民丧生 (Afghanistan: NATO Airstrike Kills 27 Civilians)

阿富汗政府说，北约在阿富汗南部的一次空袭造成27名平民死亡。

阿富汗部长委员会星期一发表声明，谴责这一事件“没有正当性”。稍早的报导说，有33人被炸死，但有关官员把死亡人数修正为27人。

北约说，空袭的目标是据信正在行军途中准备袭击联军部队的反叛分子。北约的声明说，他们空袭后发现了妇女和儿童，并将他们运送到医疗设施治疗。

同时，在阿富汗东部，警方说，一名自杀式炸弹手炸死至少14人，包括一名有影响力的部落领袖。

楠格哈尔省的警方说，这次炸弹袭击的目标是一个部落长老会议。

The Afghan government says a NATO airstrike has killed 27 civilians in southern Afghanistan.

The Council of Ministers released a statement Monday condemning the incident as "unjustifiable." Early reports said 33 died, but officials later lowered the number to 27.

NATO said the airstrike targeted insurgents who were believed to be traveling to attack allied troops. A NATO statement said that after the strike NATO forces found women and children and transported them to medical facilities.

In eastern Afghanistan, meanwhile, police say a suicide bomber killed at least 14 people, including an influential tribal leader.

Police in Nangarhar province said the attacker targeted a meeting of tribal elders.

巴基斯坦斯瓦特山谷自杀式炸弹手炸死八人 (Suicide Bomber Kills 8 in Pakistan's Swat Valley)

巴基斯坦西北部斯瓦特山谷地区的警方说，自杀式炸弹手袭击了一个军车队，炸死至少八人，其中包括一些儿童。

这次袭击发生在斯瓦特山谷主要城市明戈拉镇。自从去年军方清剿了该地区大部分的反叛分子后，明戈拉镇相对比较平静。军方宣称该地区现在基本上没有反叛分子，虽然军队继续在附近的部落地区打击激进分子。

另一方面，巴基斯坦官员说，他们抓获了另外一名藏匿在巴基斯坦的阿富汗塔利班领导人。

警方说，他们在瑙谢拉逮捕了卡比尔。瑙谢拉位于首都伊斯兰堡西北大约90公里的地方。

媒体报导说，卡比尔是阿富汗楠格哈尔省的塔利班首领。

自从阿富汗塔利班行动指挥官巴拉达被抓获以来，卡比尔是被抓获的第三名如此高级别的塔利班头目。

Police in northwest Pakistan's Swat district say a suicide bomber targeting a military convoy has killed at least eight people, including some children.

The attack occurred in Swat's main city Mingora, which has been relatively calm since last year's army offensive largely drove out Taliban militants. The army claims the area is now mostly clear of insurgents, although soldiers continue to battle militants in nearby tribal areas.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials say they have captured another Afghan Taliban leader hiding in Pakistan.

Police say they arrested Mullah Abdul Kabir in Nowshera, a town about 90 kilometers northwest of the capital Islamabad.

Media reports say he was the top Taliban representative in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province.

He is the third such high-ranking Taliban figure to be taken into custody since the capture of Mullah Baradar, the operational commander of the Afghan Taliban.

chubbycat

02-23-10

中国加紧对网站的限制 (China Tightens Restrictions on Web Sites)

中国加紧对互联网使用的控制，要求任何想开办网站的个人直接和政府监管部门会面。

中国工业和信息化部这个星期发布的新规定还要求网站主办者提交他们的身份证和照片。

工信部在一份声明中说，这项措施将有助于政府整治网络淫秽色情内容。但人权保护倡议者说，这项规定只是政府审查制度的一种新形式。

中国拥有全世界最多的网民，有大约3.8亿互联网用户。政府对网站进行严格审查，以屏蔽淫秽色情或暴力内容、以及政府认为挑战共产党统治的信息。

这项新规定解除了去年12月工信部冻结新网站注册的通知。

China has tightened its controls on Internet use, requiring anyone who wants to set up a Web site to meet directly with government regulators.

The new rules, published by the Technology Ministry this week, also require Web site owners to submit their identity cards and personal photos.

A ministry statement says the measures will help the country deal with online pornography. But human rights defenders say the regulations are just a new form of government censorship.

China has about 380 million Internet users, the world's biggest online population. The government carefully censors the Web to filter out sexually explicit or violent content, as well as information it considers to be a challenge to the ruling Communist Party.

The controls announced this week lift a freeze that the Technology Ministry imposed in December on new Web site registrations.

中国敦促通过外交途径解决伊朗核争议 (China Urges Diplomatic Solution to Iran Nuke Dispute)

中国再次呼吁通过外交途径解决伊朗核项目争议。与此同时，其它世界大国敦促对伊朗实施新制裁。

中国外交部发言人秦刚星期二对记者们说，僵局中的有关各方应推动对话和谈判进程。

美国和其它世界大国一直在要求联合国对伊朗的铀浓缩活动实施第四轮制裁。

伊朗说，伊朗已经开始将铀浓缩到一个更高水平。世界大国担心，伊朗的浓缩铀可能使伊朗具备制造核武器的能力。德黑兰声称，其核项目仅仅用作和平用途。

视伊朗为最大敌人的以色列说，将派一个代表团于下星期访问中国，预计双方将集中讨论核争端等问题。

China has repeated its call for a diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, as other international powers urge new sanctions.

Chinese foreign Ministry Spokesman Qin Gang told reporters Tuesday that the parties involved in the standoff should promote a process of dialogue and negotiations.

The United States and other world powers have been calling for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Iran over its uranium enrichment activity.

Iran says it has begun enriching uranium to a higher level, a process that world powers fear could give Iran the capability to build a nuclear weapon. Tehran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

Israel, which considers Iran its greatest enemy, says it is sending a delegation to China next week for discussions that are expected to focus on the nuclear dispute.

chubbycat

02-24-10

雅典防暴警察向抗议群众投放催泪弹(Athens Riot Police Fire Tear Gas at Protesters)

希腊首都雅典星期三发生大规模抗议游行反对政府的紧缩措施，周围示威者与警察爆发冲突,防暴警察向示威者投放催泪弹。

警方说，有几十个年轻人在雅典市中心的议会附近向一座建筑投掷石块的时候爆发了这场冲突。

大约三万名希腊公务员和私营部门员工举行24小时罢工，抗议政府为摆脱希腊金融危机而采取的削减措施。这些措施包括冻结工资、增税和提高退休年龄。

希腊公务员工会说，政府员工成为政府大幅削减支出的目标。

2009年底希腊预算赤字接近国内生产总值的13%，超过欧盟上限的四倍以上。

Greek riot police have fired tear gas at demonstrators in Athens, as clashes erupted Wednesday on the fringes of a large protest march against government austerity measures.

Police say the clashes broke out when scores of rock-throwing youths tried to storm a building near parliament in central Athens.

Some 30,000 Greek civil servants and private sector workers walked off their jobs in a 24-hour protest against government cutbacks designed to pull Greece out of its financial crisis.

The measures include wage freezes, tax hikes and raising the retirement age.The Greek civil servants' union says government workers have become the targets of sharp spending cuts.

Greece's budget deficit was nearly 13 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product at the end of 2009 -- more than four times the European Union ceiling.

美国之音在1942首播现今68周年 (Anniversary of VOA's First Broadcast in 1942)

星期三是美国之音首次海外广播的68周年纪念日。

1942年2月24日，美国之音第一次播出德语节目，作为向德国人民进行反纳粹战争宣传的手段。当时播音员威廉.哈兰.海尔对听众说，“消息可能是好的，也可能是坏的，但我们将告诉您真实的情况。”

那时美国参加第二次世界大战刚刚79天。到二战结束时，美国之音已从纽约的演播室用40种语言播出。

今天，美国之音从华盛顿总部通过广播、电视和互联网、用英语等45种语言向全球大约1亿2千500万听众播出。

Wednesday is the 68th anniversary of the first overseas broadcast by the Voice of America.

On February 24, 1942, VOA broadcast its first program in the German language, as a means of countering Nazi wartime propaganda to the German people. During that broadcast, announcer William Harlan Hale told his audience, "The news may be good. The news may be bad. We shall tell you the truth."

This was just 79 days after the United States entered World War Two. By the end of the war, VOA was broadcasting in 40 languages from its studios in New York.

Today, from its headquarters in Washington, DC, VOA uses radio, television and the Internet to reach an estimated audience of 125 million people. It broadcasts in 45 languages, including English.

chubbycat

02-25-10

奥巴马主持峰会以化解医保改革案分歧 (Obama Hosts Summit to Salvage US Health Care Bill)

美国总统奥巴马在电视转播的特别峰会上敦促民主党和共和党议员化解他们在医疗保险改革上的分歧。这次峰会旨在重振国会陷入停滞的医保改革议案。

奥巴马在星期四的峰会上说，两党在很多医保问题上都有“很多一致意见”。他说，他希望在这次预计长达六小时的会议上，两党领袖可以侧重双方一致的方面，而不要只是关注有分歧的问题。

他说，他希望这次讨论不仅仅是“政治戏院”。

代表共和党发言的参议员拉马尔.亚历山大说，共和党认为议员们应该以降低医疗成本为目标在医改议案上“重新开始”。他说，共和党愿意与民主党一起一步一步地重新起草一份新的医改法案。

U.S. President Barack Obama has urged Democratic and Republican lawmakers to bridge their differences on health care reform, at a special televised summit aimed at reviving legislation that has stalled in Congress.

At the summit Thursday, President Obama said there is "significant agreement" across party lines on many health care issues. He said his hope for the scheduled six-hour meeting is that leaders on both sides can focus on the areas of agreement and not just on issues of disagreement.

He said he hopes the discussion is not just "political theater."

Speaking for the Republicans, Senator Lamar Alexander said his party believes lawmakers should "start over" on health care reform, with a goal of reducing health care costs. He said Republicans would like to work step-by-step with Democrats to write a new health care bill.

俄罗斯呼吁伊朗负起核项目责任 (Russia Calls on Iran to Act Responsibly With Nuclear Program)

俄罗斯总统梅德韦杰夫呼吁伊朗采取负责任的行动，帮助消除有关其核项目的国际争议。

俄罗斯媒体援引梅德韦杰夫的话说，伊朗应该以透明的态度进行核活动。他还警告说，如果“非常严重的事态发生”，可能导致人道主义灾难。他未就此问题作进一步阐述。

作为联合国安理会常任理事国成员之一的俄罗斯尚未排除支持对伊朗实施新制裁。俄罗斯说，任何制裁的目的必须是防止核武器扩散，而不是惩罚伊朗整个国家。

西方国家指责伊朗打着民用能源项目的幌子企图发展核武器，而伊朗否认这一指控。

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has called on Iran to act responsibly to help end an international dispute over its nuclear program.

Russian media quote Mr. Medvedev as saying Iran should conduct its nuclear activities in a transparent manner. He also warned of a humanitarian disaster if, in his words, "something very serious happens." He did not elaborate.

Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, has not ruled out supporting new sanctions against Iran. Moscow says any such sanctions must be aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons rather than punishing Iran as a whole.

Western nations accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian energy program - a charge Tehran denies.

chubbycat

02-26-10

泰国法院下令没收前总理他信资产 (Thai Court Orders Thaksin's Assets Confiscated)

泰国最高法院说，它将没收被赶下台的泰国总理他信14亿美元的资产。泰国最高法院星期五裁定，这笔没收的资金是他信出售家族电信公司获得的收益。他信2006年被控贪污腐败而在一次政变中被推翻。此后他价值23亿美元的资产被冻结。

法院宣读长篇判决时说，这位前电信巨头担任总理期间非法隐瞒他持有公司股票的事实，并左右政府政策为其公司谋利。
法院说，他信担任总理前获得的资产将不会被没收。但是还不清楚这些钱是否会还给他信。这位被罢黜的泰国领导人在迪拜的流亡家中观看了庭审。在一段录像的声明中，他称判决“非常政治化”。

Thailand's highest court says it will confiscate $1.4 billion of ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's assets. The Thai Supreme Court Friday order that amount seized from the gains made by the sale of his family's telecommunications firm (Shin Corp). Mr. Thaksin's $2.3 billion fortune was frozen after he was toppled for alleged corruption in a 2006 coup.

In its reading of a lengthy verdict, the court said the former telecommunications mogul illegally concealed his ownership of shares in the company while in office, and shaped government policies in order to benefit the company. The court said the assets gained before Mr. Thaksin became prime minister will not be confiscated, but it is not clear if they will be released to him. Thailand's ousted leader watched the proceedings from his exile home in Dubai. In a videotaped message, he called the ruling "very political."

伊拉克两万前萨达姆时期军官复职 (Iraq to Rehire 20,000 Saddam-Era Army Officers)

伊拉克政府说，将恢复以前被免职的两万名军官的职位，这些在萨达姆.侯赛因执政期间服役的军官在2003年美国出兵伊拉克之后被免职。伊拉克国防部发言人穆罕默德.阿斯卡里星期五说，这些前军官将马上复职。这个复职措施是在伊拉克将于3月7日举行议会选举之前几天宣布的，一些人称军官复职是政治之举。

反对派成员指责总理马利基试图赢得萨达姆复兴党的支持。自从独裁者萨达姆被推翻之后，复兴党一直受到排挤。政府否认军官复职与此有任何关联。伊拉克宗派关系最近趋于紧张，特别是在政府禁止将近500名候选人参加3月7日选举之后，政府指称这些人与复兴党有关联。这些被禁止参选的候选人其中大部分是占人口少数的逊尼派。

The Iraqi government says it will reinstate 20,000 army officers who served under Saddam Hussein and were fired after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. A Defense Ministry spokesman, Mohammad al-Askari, said Friday the former officers will be rehired right away. This move comes just a few days before parliamentary elections on March 7, prompting some to allege that the rehiring step is political.

Opposition members are accusing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of trying to win support from Saddam's Ba'ath party, which has been marginalized since the dictator's ouster. The government denies any connection. Sectarian tensions have flared recently, especially after the government banned nearly 500 candidates from taking part in the March 7 vote for allegedly having ties to the Ba'ath party. The majority of the disqualified candidates are minority Sunnis.

chubbycat

03-01-10

美国最高法院驳回七名维吾尔人上诉 (US Supreme Court Dismisses Uighur Appeal)

美国最高法院驳回了七名中国维吾尔穆斯林的上诉。这些人目前被关押在古巴的关塔那摩湾美军拘留中心。

最高法院去年表示会审理有关的上诉，但是星期一取消了有关计划。最高法院说，这些维吾尔人已经获得在其它国家重新安置的安排。

大约五年前，五角大楼认定这些维吾尔人不对美国构成威胁，并一直在寻找接收他们的国家。美国拒绝将他们遣返回中国，也拒绝给予他们在美国居住的难民申请。

中国指责这些来自西部新疆的维吾尔人是分离主义分子，要求美国遣返他们。维吾尔人是讲突厥语的中国穆斯林少数民族。

这七个人是联军2001年攻打阿富汗后被美军拘留的更大一批维吾尔人当中的一部分。

The U.S. Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from seven Chinese Muslims being held at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The high court said last year it would hear the appeal, but on Monday scrapped those plans, saying the Uighurs had resettlement offers from other countries.

The Pentagon determined some five years ago that the Uighurs are not a threat to the United States, and had been seeking countries to take them. The United States has refused to send them back to China or grant them U.S. refugee status.

China has accused the men, who are from the western Xinjiang province, of being separatists and has demanded their return. The Uighurs are a Turkic-speaking Chinese Muslim minority.

The men were part of a larger group of Uighurs taken into custody by American forces in Afghanistan following the invasion of that country in 2001.

报告：中国试图在北极问题上发挥作用 (Report: China Trying to Gain Leverage in Arctic)

一个国际和平研究组织星期一说，中国在加紧努力，设法在决定北极未来的问题上发挥作用。与此同时，北极冰层正在融化增加了缩短大西洋海运航线的希望。

斯德哥尔摩国际和平研究所在一份报告中说，北京正在投入更多资源研究北极，并努力确立自己的位置，以便不被排除在参与北极问题之外。

报告说，中国由于不是北极国家，因此处在不利地位。对该区域主权宣称的争执基本上由与北极接壤的五个主要国家决定，这些国家是美国、加拿大、俄罗斯、挪威和丹麦。

EAn international peace research group said Monday China is stepping up efforts to secure a role in deciding the future of Arctic issues, as melting ice raises hopes of a shorter shipping route to the Atlantic.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said in a report that Beijing is putting more resources into researching the far north and is striving to position itself so it will not be excluded from access to the Arctic.

The report says China is at a disadvantage because it is not an Arctic state. Competing sovereignty claims in the region are primarily being discussed by five key nations bordering the Arctic -- the U.S., Canada, Russia, Norway and Denmark.

chubbycat

03-02-10

美国外交官抵达中国举行会谈(US Diplomat In China for Talks)

美国副国务卿斯坦伯格星期二抵达北京，与中国官员为修复最近因外交摩擦而紧张的两国关系举行会谈。

斯坦伯格预计还将与中国官员讨论北韩核问题，中国是北韩最强劲的盟国。

美国国务院发言人克劳利星期一对记者说，美中关系近来处在“有点起伏不平的道路上”。克劳利说，他认为，双方都希望两国关系尽快恢复正常。

中国外交部发言人秦刚星期二对记者说，中美两国关系当前的局面，责任不在中方，完全在美方。

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg arrived in Beijing Tuesday for talks with Chinese officials meant to repair ties strained by recent diplomatic squabbles.

Steinberg is also expected to address the North Korean nuclear program with China, which is Pyongyang's strongest ally.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters Monday that relations between the two nations have been on "a bit of a bumpy path," and said he thinks both sides would like to return to normal as quickly as possible.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told reporters Tuesday that responsibility for the current state of China-U.S. relations does not lie with the Chinese side, but completely with the U.S. side.

造成伤亡的地震过后克林顿访问智利 (Clinton Visits Chile in Wake of Deadly Earthquake)

美国国务卿克林顿抵达遭受地震重创的智利。这是她拉美六国之行的第三站。

智利总统巴切莱特星期二在圣地亚哥机场欢迎克林顿。

在对智利短暂的访问期间，克林顿将向智利方面交送智利急需的卫星电话。这批通讯设备是美国自智利星期六地震以来向这个南美洲国家提供的第一批援助物资。

美国援助的其它细节将在克林顿访问期间协商。访问期间，克林顿还将和当选总统皮涅拉举行会谈。皮涅拉将于下星期就职。

克林顿国务卿星期一在布宜诺斯艾利斯同阿根廷总统费尔南德斯会晤。费尔南德斯请美国帮助调解阿根廷和英国之间在福克兰群岛问题上的争端。

克林顿国务卿说，美国将鼓励阿根廷和英国尽量通过外交途径解决问题，但是不会承诺美方在这个问题上进一步介入。

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has arrived in earthquake-stricken Chile, the third stop on her six-nation tour of Latin America.

Clinton was greeted Tuesday at the airport in Santiago by Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

During her brief visit, Secretary Clinton is delivering much-needed satellite phones. The communications equipment is the first U.S. assistance to the South American nation since Saturday's earthquake.

Other details of U.S. aid are to be discussed during Clinton's visit, which includes talks with Chilean President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who takes office next week.

On Monday, Secretary Clinton held talks in Buenos Aires with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who asked for help mediating Argentina's dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Clinton said the U.S. will encourage both nations to engage in diplomacy, but will not commit to a more involved role.

chubbycat

03-03-10

智利救援人员继续搜寻地震幸存者 (Chilean Crews Continue Search for Quake Survivors)

智利救援人员在大地震发生四天后继续搜寻幸存者。星期六的8.8级大地震造成近800人丧生。

有关官员星期三说，随着救援人员在废墟和瓦砾下挖掘出更多的尸体，2月27日地震死亡人数可能还会上升。

在救援工作继续进行之际，智利军队设法制止哄抢和暴力事件。这些事件导致康塞普西翁等城市陷入一片混乱。很多商店被洗劫，一些店铺被放火焚烧。智利第二大城市康塞普西翁长达18个小时的宵禁仍在进行中，军人在街上巡逻，确保食品和水的分发顺利进行。康塞普西翁是离地震震中最近的城市。

一些居民自发采取行动，确保他们的安全。他们设立路障，并记录每一个进入居民区的人。

Chilean rescue crews are continuing to search for survivors, four days after an 8.8-magnitude earthquake devastated parts of the country and killed nearly 800 people.

Officials said Wednesday the death toll from the February 27 quake is likely to increase as crews recover bodies under piles of rubble.

As the recovery effort continues, Chilean troops are working to stop the looting and violence that brought chaos to cities like Concepcion. Many stores have been ransacked and some have been set ablaze.An 18-hour curfew remains in place in Concepcion, the country's second largest city, and military personnel are on patrol to make sure food and water are distributed properly. Concepcion was the city closest to the epicenter of the earthquake.

Some residents are taking steps to ensure their own security, setting up roadblocks to keep track of everyone entering their neighborhoods.

中国判处三名奶粉厂负责人有期徒刑 (Three Chinese Dairy Executives Convicted in Tainted Milk Case)

中国以销售有毒食品罪判处三名奶粉厂负责人有期徒刑，这些有毒奶粉在2008年使数十万儿童患病。

上海法院星期三判决上海熊猫乳品有限公司的三名负责人有期徒刑三到五年。食品安全检查人员发现该公司生产的八批炼乳和奶粉三聚氢胺超标。该公司已被关闭，并吊销了其营业执照和食品生产许可。

有六名儿童在食用三聚氢胺超标奶制品后死亡，另外30万名儿童患病。三聚氢胺是用于制造塑料、化肥和水泥的化学品，当加入牛奶或动物饲料时，其高氮含量可以使牛奶或饲料的蛋白质含量看起来更高。人体食用含有三聚氢胺的食物会导致肾结石和肾衰竭。

Three Chinese dairy executives have been convicted and sent to prison for reselling tainted milk that sickened hundreds of thousands of children in 2008.

A court in Shanghai sentenced the executives to prison terms of between three to five years during a hearing Wednesday.All three executives worked for Shanghai Panda Dairy Company, where food safety inspectors found eight batches of condensed milk and milk powder contaminated with melamine. The dairy was shut down, and its business and food production licenses revoked.

Six children died and 300,000 became ill after they consumed milk laced with melamine, which is used for making plastics, fertilizers and concrete. Its high nitrogen content allows protein levels to appear higher when it is added to milk or animal feed. When consumed by humans melamine can cause kidney stones and kidney failure.

chubbycat

03-04-10

中国敦促美国修复两国关系 (China Presses U.S. To Fix Relations)

中国星期四敦促美国采取行动，修复两国紧张关系。此前，两名美国外交官结束了在北京的特别使命。中国外交部发言人秦刚说，华盛顿必须拿出诚意，尊重中国的核心利益。他还特别提到了台湾和西藏。

最近几个月，美中关系在华盛顿批准对台军售，奥巴马在白宫接见达赖喇嘛之后严重恶化。美国副国务卿斯坦伯格和白宫亚洲事务高级顾问贝德过去三天在中国和中国官员举行会谈。他们于星期四飞往日本。中国外交部发言人称，对话坦诚而富有深度。美国官员没有就对话结果发表评论。

China urged the United States Thursday to take action to repair the countries' strained relations, after two U.S. diplomats ended a special mission to Beijing. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang says Washington has to sincerely respect China's core interests. He specifically mentioned Taiwan and Tibet.

U.S.-China relations deteriorated significantly in recent months after Washington approved a weapons sale to Taiwan, and U.S. President Barack Obama met the Dalai Lama at the White House.U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Senior White House Asia adviser Jeffrey Bader spent the past three days talking with officials in China. They flew to Japan on Thursday.China's foreign ministry spokesman called the talks candid and in-depth.U.S. officials have said little about the outcome of the talks.

台湾高雄发生百年最大地震 (6.4 Earthquake Hits Southern Taiwan, Largest in Century)

台湾西南部高雄地区发生6.4级地震，远在250公里之外的、接近台湾岛北端的台北也有震感。美国地质勘探局说，地震发生在星期四上午，震源在地下大约23公里处，地震后至少又发生了15次余震。据报导已经有数十人在地震中受伤。

震中位于高雄县甲仙乡，当地去年八月遭受强台风袭击，目前还在恢复过程中。官员们说，为台风幸存者搭建的临时房屋在地震中倒塌。地震学家说，这是该地区100年来遭受的最严重地震。

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake has hit southwestern Taiwan's Kaohsiung area, causing aftershocks that were felt as far north as Taipei, some 250 kilometers away near the island's northern tip.The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake occurred Thursday morning, at a depth of about 23 kilometers. At least 15 aftershocks have occurred.Dozens of people have been reported injured.

The epicenter of the quake was in in Kaohsiung county, which is still recovering from a massive typhoon that struck last August.Officials say temporary housing set up for those typhoon survivors collapsed from the earthquake.Seismologists say it is the biggest quake to hit the area in a century.

chubbycat

03-05-10

美国2月份失业率持稳9.7%* (US Unemployment Rate Steady at 9.7%)

美国2月份失业率稳定在9.7%，失业人数为1490万人。劳工部星期五发布报告说，2月份就业人数减少3万6000人。

报告还说，男性失业率高於女性，黑人高于白人。异常恶劣天气导致美国部分地区商业活动停顿，可能造成一些人失业，但还不清楚具体数量。报告说，建筑和信息行业就业人数下降，但临时服务行业就业人数增加。雇用临时员工的雇主可能最终会增加全职雇员。2月份新增失业人数大大低于2009年初水平，当时就业人数每个月减少70万人。

The U.S. unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent in February, with 14.9 million Americans were out of work. Friday's report from the Labor Department says the economy had a net loss of 36,000 jobs for the month.

The report also says the jobless rate was higher for men than for women, and higher for blacks than for whites. Unusually bad winter weather snarled commerce in some parts of the United States, which probably cost some jobs, but it is not clear how many. The report says employment dropped in the construction and information sectors, but rose for temporary help services. Hiring temporary workers can be a step toward eventually adding full-time employees.  February's job losses are far lower than those of early 2009, when 700,000 jobs were vanishing each month.

智利发生余震 (Aftershocks Shake Chile)

距离智利发生8.8级大地震不远处发生一系列强烈余震。近一星期前的一场大地震给智利造成大范围破坏，并引发了海啸。美国地质调查局说，星期五早晨的余震为6.6级，震中位于康塞普西翁西北处41公里。康塞普西翁是上周六地震中受灾最严重的地区。目前还没有余震造成人员伤亡和破坏的消息。星期四晚间，强度为6.3级的余震袭击智利北部。

早些时候，智利宣布了为期三天的哀悼期，以纪念那些在星期六地震中丧生的人。官方公布的死亡人数为802人，但是有关报导指出，智利正在重新审核这些数字，因为一些地方的失踪人员被列为死者。巴切莱特总统表示， 智利大地震后的重建工作至少需要三到四年。

A series of strong aftershocks has rattled Chile, not far from where the deadly 8.8 magnitude quake caused widespread destruction and triggered a tsunami nearly a week ago. The U.S. Geological Survey says the aftershock early Friday had a magnitude of 6.6 and was centered 41 kilometers northwest of Concepcion, the city hardest hit by last Saturday's quake. There are no immediate reports of damage or injuries. A magnitude 6.3 aftershock rocked northern Chile late Thursday.

Earlier, Chile declared a three-day mourning period to remember those lost in Saturday's quake. The official death toll from the quake stands at 802, but reports say Chile is reviewing that figure because in some places the missing were counted as dead.  President Michelle Bachelet has said it could take at least three or four years to rebuild the country.

chubbycat

03-08-10

盖茨警告说阿富汗面临“艰巨的战斗 (Gates Warns of 'Hard Fighting' in Afghanistan)

美国国防部长盖茨在阿富汗首都喀布尔说，阿富汗和国际部队前面还有“艰巨的战斗”。星期一在对媒体发表讲话时，盖茨称赞北约最近取得的进展，包括重新夺回了塔利班盘踞的南部城市马尔贾镇。但是，在有记者问到马尔贾镇攻势以及巴基斯坦最近逮捕一名塔利班高级指挥官是否对阿富汗战场产生显著影响时，盖茨警告人们不要“过于看重”具体的势态发展，他警告说，未来还有“艰难的日子”。

他说，整体而言，阿富汗的局势仍然相当严峻，但已经不再恶化。驻阿富汗美军最高指挥官麦克里斯特尔将军说，南部的联军将在未来几个月逐渐集结，以便拿下坎大哈。坎大哈是塔利班在南部老巢的一个主要城市。

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is in Kabul, where he says Afghan and international troops have "hard fighting" ahead of them. Speaking to reporters Monday, Gates praised recent NATO gains, including the takeover of the southern Taliban-held town of Marjah. But when asked if the Marjah offensive and the recent capture of senior Taliban commanders in Pakistan are having a noticeable impact on the Afghan battlefield, he warned against "reading too much" into specific developments and warned of "hard days" ahead.

He said that overall, the situation in Afghanistan remains serious, but it has stopped deteriorating. The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, General Stanley McChrystal, says allied forces in the south will gradually mass over the coming months to secure Kandahar, a key city in the Taliban's traditional southern stronghold.

自杀汽车爆炸手在拉合尔袭击巴基斯坦警察 (Suicide Car Bomber Hits Pakistani Police in Lahore)

巴基斯坦警方表示，东部城市拉合尔发生爆炸力很强的自杀汽车爆炸，导致至少13人死亡、70人受伤。医院官员说，死者中有一名妇女和一名儿童。爆炸发生时正值星期一早晨上班高峰时间。爆炸炸塌了巴基斯坦联邦调查局所在的两层大楼，损伤了附近其他几座建筑，并造成一个大坑。当局估计，袭击中最多使用了600 公斤的炸药。巴基斯坦塔利班宣布对袭击联邦调查局大楼负责。塔利班发言人塔利克说，袭击是为了报复美军无人飞机对巴基斯坦的袭击以及巴基斯坦军方在阿富汗边境附近部族地区的军事行动。

该地区的新闻报导说，至少有五人在星期一疑似美军无人飞机的袭击中身亡。报导说，导弹袭击发生在北瓦济里斯坦部族地区的主要城镇米兰.沙阿。美国驻巴基斯坦大使馆强烈谴责拉合尔的自杀汽车爆炸袭击。大使馆声明说，这种“野蛮行径”显示了恐怖分子“威胁和恫吓”的政策。

Pakistani police say a powerful suicide car bomb has rocked the eastern city of Lahore, killing at least 13 people and wounding 70. Hospital officials say a woman and a child were among those killed in the attack. The Monday morning rush-hour explosion collapsed the two-story building housing the Federal Investigation Agency, damaged several nearby buildings and left a large, gaping crater. Authorities estimate as much as 600 kilograms of explosives was used in the attack. Pakistan's Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on the police investigation offices. Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq says it was to avenge U.S. drone attacks and Pakistani military operations in the tribal areas near the Afghan border.

News reports from the region say at least five people were killed in suspected U.S. pilotless aircraft strikes on Monday. The reports say the missile strikes occurred in Miran Shah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal region. The U.S. embassy in Pakistan strongly condemned the attack in Lahore. An embassy statement says such "brutal acts" illustrate a terrorist agenda of "fear and intimidation."

chubbycat

03-10-10

奥巴马会晤海地总统讨论重建 (US, Haitian Presidents Discuss Earthquake Recovery)

美国总统奥巴马说，海地的形势依然严峻，在1月12日的灾难性地震之后，人们迫切需要避难场所、食品和医疗服务。奥巴马说，现在的挑战是防止海地发生第二次灾难。

奥巴马星期三在白宫与海地总统普雷瓦尔举行会晤之后发表上述讲话。他说，双方讨论了海地的恢复和重建工作。奥巴马称这次地震是西半球遭受的最严重灾难之一。

普雷瓦尔还将在国会山会晤一些美国议员。美国国会一些关键议员敦促扩大美国对海地贸易的优惠政策，帮助海地重建其制衣行业。

U.S. President Barack Obama says the situation in Haiti remains dire, with people in desperate need of shelter, food and medicine after the devastating January 12 earthquake.President Obama said the challenge is to prevent a second disaster in the country.

Mr. Obama spoke at the White House Wednesday after a private meeting with President Ren? Preval. He said they discussed recovery and reconstruction efforts. Mr. Obama described the earthquake as one of the most devastating disasters to strike the hemisphere.

Mr. Preval is also meeting with U.S. lawmakers on Capitol Hill, as key members of Congress urge an expansion of U.S. trade benefits to help Haiti rebuild its clothing sector.

伊拉克选举初步结果星期四揭晓 (Iraq Election Results Expected Thursday )

联合国的一名官员说，伊拉克选举委员会计划星期四宣布议会选举的初步结果。

联合国负责伊拉克事务的特别代表梅尔克特说，根据他得到的信息，他相信选举委员会能在星期四公布初步结果。梅尔克特星期三在巴格达的一次记者会上说的这番话。

伊拉克选举官员起初计划本星期早些时候公布巴格达和一些省份星期天选举的初步结果。巴格达将选出325个议会席位的大约五分之一，因此这里是各竞争派系的主要票仓。

另一方面，伊拉克问责和正义委员会已经采取行动，废除55名候选人的选票。该委员会的什叶派领导人说，这些候选人同被取缔的前领导人萨达姆的阿拉伯复兴社会党有关联。

A United Nations official says Iraq's electoral commission plans to announce preliminary results from parliamentary elections on Thursday.

Iraq special representative, Ad Melkert, says he is confident the commission will be able to release the initial findings Thursday based on information he has received. Melkert spoke during a news conference in Baghdad Wednesday.

Election officials initially planned to publish preliminary results from Sunday's vote earlier this week for seats in Baghdad and some provinces. The Iraqi capital is a key electoral prize for competing factions, as it commands about one-fifth of the 325 seats in parliament.

Meanwhile, Iraq's Accountability and Justice Commission has moved to annul the votes for 55 candidates. The Shi'ite leaders of the commission say the candidates have ties to the outlawed Ba'ath Party of former leader Saddam Hussein.

chubbycat

03-11-10

中国当局愤怒抨击达赖喇嘛讲话 (China Slams Dalai Lama's Speech)

中国对达赖喇嘛最近发表的有关宗教和民族权利的讲话做出愤怒反应。中国说，达赖喇嘛的讲话暴露了他企图分裂中国。中国外交部发言人星期四说，达赖喇嘛在讲话中称新疆地区为“东突厥斯坦”，证明了他妄图破坏民族团结。西藏精神领袖达赖喇嘛星期三在纪念藏人反对北京统治的起义51周年的活动中发表演讲，表示支持和同情新疆大部分是穆斯林的维吾尔族人。

达赖喇嘛使用主张独立的维吾尔族流亡人士对新疆的称呼，说东突人民日益受到压迫。他还指责中国蓄意灭绝西藏的佛教。达赖喇嘛说，他谋求西藏享有更多的自治。北京则坚持说他想要完全独立。

China is reacting angrily to the Dalai Lama's latest speech on religious and ethnic rights, saying it exposed his intent to split China. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday the Dalai Lama's reference to the Xinjiang region as "East Turkestan" proves the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader wants to sabotage ethnic unity. The Dalai Lama expressed solidarity with Xinjiang's Turkic-speaking, mostly Muslim Uighurs in a speech Wednesday marking the 51st anniversary of a failed Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.

Using the name given to the region by pro-independence Uighur exiles, the Dalai Lama said the people of East Turkestan have experienced increased oppression. He also accused China of trying to deliberately annihilate Buddhism in Tibet. The Dalai Lama says he is seeking greater Tibetan autonomy. Beijing insists he wants full independence.

美国首次申请失业救济人数减少 (US Jobless Claims Drop)

美国上个星期首次申请失业救济人数减少6000人，至46万2000人。劳工部星期四发布的报告显示，申请失业救济人数大约一年来一直在减少。

一些经济学家说，经济复苏意味着公司很快将停止裁员并开始招人。这对美国数百万失业人口来说是个好消息，因为一个私营研究机构发布的另一份报告说，经济衰退使失业的人找到新工作的时间增长了一倍。经济政策研究所说，现在要花19个星期以上才能找到新工作，而衰退刚开始时只需要八个星期。

The number of Americans signing up for unemployment compensation dropped by 6,000 last week, falling to a total of 462,000.Thursday's report from the Labor Department shows that jobless claims have been falling for about one year.

Some economists say a recovering economy means companies will soon stop cutting jobs and begin hiring. That will be welcome news to the millions of unemployed people in the United States because a separate study by a private research group says the recession has doubled the time it takes for laid-off workers to find new jobs. The Economic Policy Institute says it now takes more than 19 weeks to get new work, a huge increase from the eight weeks it took at the beginning of the recession.

chubbycat

03-12-10

中国动物园饿死11只东北虎 (Rare Tigers Starve to Death in China Zoo)

就在全世界的动物保护组织竭力保护濒危动物老虎的同时，中国一个动物园有11只珍稀的东北虎在过去三个月中相继死亡。这些东北虎是在辽宁省沈阳森林野生动物园死亡的。地方当局说，死亡原因是营养不良。

中国官方的新华社星期四报导，动物园经济效益不好，只给老虎喂食便宜的鸡架。去年11月曾发生饥饿的老虎袭击动物园饲养员事件，在救援过程中两只老虎被射杀。中国有数千只老虎被圈养，野外自由生存的老虎只有大约50只了。估计珍稀的东北虎只有20只左右。

Eleven rare Siberian tigers have died in a Chinese zoo over the past three months, as conservation groups worldwide struggle to protect the endangered cat.The tigers died in the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo in the capital of the northeastern province of Liaoning. Local authorities say the animals died of malnutrition.

Chinese official news agency, Xinhua, reported Thursday that the cash-poor zoo fed the tigers only cheap chicken bones. Hungry tigers attacked a zoo worker in November and two of the tigers were killed during the rescue. China has thousands of tigers living in captivity, but only about 50 are left roaming in the wild. An estimated 20 are the rare Siberian sub-species.

美国零售额上升 (US Retail Sales Rise)

尽管美国部分地区上个月遭受的暴风雪可能使商业放缓，但美国2月份零售额依然上升。商务部星期五公布的报告说，2月份零售额增长0.3%。

经济学家密切关注销售数据是因为美国大约70%的经济活动受消费者需求的推动。2月份汽车销售下降，可能是受到丰田汽车召回和恶劣天气的影响。除波动较大的汽车行业以外，其他行业的销售额增长0.8%。一些分析人士说，零售数据可能意味着消费者支出可能较预期更快地复苏并推动经济增长。

U.S. retail sales rose in February, in spite of record snowfalls in some parts of the country that were expected to slow business.Friday's report from the Commerce Department says retail sales gained three-tenths of a percent.

Economists watch retail sales closely because consumer demand drives about 70 percent of U.S. economic activity.Auto sales declined, perhaps hurt by Toyota recalls and foul weather. Outside that volatile area, sales in the rest of the economy gained eight-tenths of a percent.Some analysts say the figures may mean that consumer spending will recover and contribute to economic growth sooner than they expected.

chubbycat

03-15-10

美国敦促以色列取消定居点计划 (U.S. Urges Israel to Cancel Settlement Plan)

美国敦促以色列放弃在被占领的东耶路撒冷扩建定居点的计划，这项计划引起争议。美联社援引一名未透露姓名的以色列官员的话说，美国希望以色列取消建房项目。以色列驻美大使奥伦警告说，由于对以色列在东耶路撒冷建造住宅的争议，美以关系已经降到35年来的最低点。

以色列报纸说，奥伦大使星期六打电话向以色列外交官员通报了这两个长期盟友正在恶化的关系。一些美国高级官员谴责以色列上星期批准在东耶路撒冷为犹太人建造1600套新公寓住宅的计划。巴勒斯坦宣称东耶路撒冷为未来首都。

The U.S. is pressuring Israel to abandon a controversial plan to expand settlements in occupied East Jerusalem. The Associated Press quotes unnamed Israeli officials who say the U.S. wants the country to cancel the construction project. Israeli media say Israel's ambassador to the United States has warned that U.S.-Israeli relations have hit a 35-year low due to a dispute about Israeli housing plans in East Jerusalem.

Israeli newspapers say Ambassador Michael Oren briefed Israeli diplomats by telephone Saturday about the worsening of relations between the two long-time allies. A series of senior U.S. officials have denounced Israel's approval last week of a plan to build 1,600 apartments for Jews in East Jerusalem. Palestinians claim the area as a future capital.

英国外交大臣：中国同意就核项目问题向伊朗施压 (Britain FM: China Agrees to Press Iran About Nuclear Programs)

英国外交大臣米利班德说，英国和中国一致认为有必要就核项目问题向伊朗施压，但同时要谋求同德黑兰接触。米利班德星期一在上海表示，确保伊朗遵守联合国安理会决议案符合英国和中国的利益。联合国安理会决议寻求遏制伊朗的核活动。中国是联合国安理会常任理事国之一。中国抵制其他常任理事国要对伊朗核项目采取更加严厉制裁的呼吁。

米利班德正在对中国进行短暂访问。他访问的目的是促进英国和中国的双边关系。离开上海后，米利班德将前往北京，同中国外长杨洁篪讨论伊朗的核项目和其它议题。米利班德还将于星期二会见中国总理温家宝。伊朗说，它的核项目是用于和平用途，但是西方国家说，伊朗在试图制造核武器。

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband says Britain and China agree on the need to press Iran about its nuclear programs while also seeking engagement with Tehran. Speaking in Shanghai Monday, Miliband said Britain and China share an interest in making sure Iran abides by the U.N. Security Council resolutions seeking to curb its nuclear activities. China is one of five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. It has resisted calls from other council members for harsher sanctions against Iran's nuclear program.

Foreign Secretary Miliband is on a brief tour of China to boost bilateral relations. After leaving Shanghai, he travels to Beijing to discuss Iran's nuclear program and other issues with his Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi. Miliband also will meet with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabo on Tuesday. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful, but Western nations say Iran is attempting to build nuclear weapons.

chubbycat

03-16-10

获释的越南神父誓言继续民主活动 (Released Vietnamese Priest Vows Continued Activism)

越南一位天主教神父由于健康原因获准暂时从监狱释放，他说，他决心继续他的民主活动。

越南当局星期一释放了阮文黎神父，准许他在狱外接受脑瘤治疗12个月。他在离开哈南省监狱后对美国之音越南语组说，恢复健康是他的首要任务，但他也计划继续他的人权工作。现年63岁的阮文黎神父目前住在他的家乡顺化。他在去年几次中风后半身瘫痪。

越南一家法庭2007年判处阮文黎入狱八年，罪名是传播反政府言论。阮文黎神父是一位长期的民主活动人士，从1970年代开始就因为反共产党的活动不断入狱，总共在监狱里渡过了10多年的时间。

A Catholic priest temporarily released from a Vietnamese prison for medical reasons says he is determined to continue his democratic activism.

Vietnam freed Father Nguyen Van Ly for 12 months Monday to undergo treatment for a brain tumor.After leaving the prison in Ha Nam province, Ly told VOA's Vietnamese service that getting healthy is his top priority, but that he also plans to continue his human rights work.The 63-year-old clergyman is staying in his hometown of Hue. He is partially paralyzed from a series of strokes he suffered last year.

A Vietnamese court sentenced Ly to eight years in prison in 2007 for spreading propaganda against the state.A long-time democratic activist, the priest has spent more than a decade in and out of prison since the 1970s for his anti-communist efforts.

中国：失踪律师未受折磨 (China: Missing Lawyer Not Tortured)

中国外长杨洁篪少有地谈到失踪的中国维权律师高智晟。杨洁篪说，高智晟没有受到折磨。

杨洁篪是星期二在北京与英国外交大臣米利班德会面后举行的记者会上谈到高智晟案件的。杨洁篪说，高智晟的权利受到保护。他还说，高智晟因为颠覆国家政权罪被判处监禁。杨洁篪没有对高智晟目前在何处发表评论。杨洁篪也没有说高智晟的刑期是否就是2006年12月他被判缓刑的刑期。

高智晟2009年2月被警察关押后失踪，从那以后没有人听到他的消息。英国外交大臣米利班德对记者说，他同杨洁篪会谈时提到高智晟案件和其他令人关注的人权问题。

China's foreign minister has made rare comments about missing dissident lawyer Gao Zhisheng, saying the activist is not being tortured.

Yang Jiechi discussed Gao's case Tuesday in Beijing during a press conference with visiting British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.Yang said Gao's rights are being protected, and that he has been sentenced to prison for subverting state power.The minister did not comment on the activist's location, or say whether the prison term was the same suspended sentence handed to Gao in December 2006.

Gao disappeared into police custody in February 2009, and has not been heard from since.The British foreign secretary told reporters that he raised Gao's case and other human rights concerns in his meeting with Yang.

chubbycat

03-17-10

世界银行预测2010年中国经济增长 (World Bank Predicts China's Growing Economy in 2010)

世界银行预测，中国经济2010年将增长9.5%，主要受企业和家庭支出推动。中国央行增加了银行贷款以抵御全球衰退，去年向中国经济注入5000亿美元。世行说，这些措施已有成效，但警告中国今年将面临“显著的”通货膨胀。世行敦促北京允许人民币升值，抑制通货膨胀，并控制房地产价格急剧攀升。

国际货币基金组织星期三也呼吁中国允许人民升值。国际货币基金组织总裁多米尼克.斯特劳斯-卡恩说，人民币“在很大程度上被低估”。外界指责中国保持较低的人民币币值从而获得不公平的贸易优势，中国否认这种指称。

The World Bank is predicting China's economy will grow 9.5 percent this year, driven by business and household spending. China's central bank increased bank lending and poured half a trillion dollars into the economy over the past year to fight off the global recession. The World Bank says the measures were effective, but it warned Wednesday that China will face "significant" inflation this year. It urged Beijing to let the value of its currency rise, to contain inflation and control spiraling real estate prices.

The International Monetary Fund also called on China Wednesday to let its currency, the yuan, rise.  IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said the yuan is "much undervalued." China rejects allegations that it is keeping the value of the yuan low to give it an unfair trade advantage.

中国定下日期审判四名力拓员工 (China Sets Trial Date of Four Rio Tinto Employees )

澳大利亚政府说，英澳矿业巨头力拓公司的四名高管下个星期将在中国受审，他们被控盗窃公司机密以及行贿。有关官员说，对中国出生的澳大利亚人胡士泰和3名中国籍高管的审判下星期一将在上海的一家法院进行。

胡士泰、刘才魁、葛民强和王勇去年7月在力拓公司和中国钢铁工业协会就铁矿石价格进行谈判期间被捕。这四人被怀疑在谈判期间获取有助于力拓的内部信息。澳大利亚政府说，审判大部分时间将闭门进行，因为对四人的指控涉及侵犯商业机密。澳大利亚政府说，澳大利亚官员已要求公开审判。

The Australian government says four executives of the Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto will go on trial next week in China, on charges of corporate espionage and bribery. Officials say the trial for Chinese-born Australian Stern Hu and three Chinese nationals will begin next Monday at a court in the eastern port city of Shanghai.

Hu, Liu Caikui, Ge Mingqiang and Wang Yong were arrested last July during negotiations about iron ore prices between Rio Tinto and China's steel industry association. The four men were suspected of obtaining inside information that helped Rio Tinto during the talks. The Australian government says much of the trial is set to be held behind closed doors because of the charges dealing with infringement of commercial secrets. It says Australian officials have asked for an open trial.

chubbycat

03-18-10

奥巴马为推动医改推迟亚洲之行 (Obama Delays Trip to Asia to Push for Health Care)

白宫说，美国总统奥巴马决定推迟亚洲之行，他将留在华盛顿推动医疗改革进程。白宫发言人罗伯特.吉布斯星期四宣布了上述决定。奥巴马总统原定于三天后前往印度尼西亚和澳大利亚。

发言人说，总统对推迟出访表示遗憾，他将于6月访问印尼。

The White House says President Barack Obama has postponed his trip to Asia to stay in Washington as he pushes for health care reform. Spokesman Robert Gibbs made the announcement Thursday, three days before the president was to leave for Indonesia and Australia.

The spokesman says the president regrets the delay, and will visit Indonesia June.

缅甸释放驱逐缅甸裔美国活动人士 (Burma Frees, Deports Burmese-American Activist)

缅甸释放并驱逐了一位缅甸裔美国民主活动人士。该活动人士之前被缅甸以欺诈和伪造文书罪逮捕入狱。

民主活动人士觉梭伦星期四抵达泰国曼谷。觉梭伦对美国之音的缅甸语部说，他很高兴获得自由。但是他说，他没有尽情庆祝，因为他的朋友和家人仍在狱中。觉梭伦去年九月抵达缅甸探望他患病的母亲后被拘押。他的母亲因政治活动被捕入狱。

缅甸法庭上个月判处觉梭伦三年监禁。他被控犯违反移民法，持有伪造身份证以及携带未申报外国货币。缅甸军政府没有说为什么释放他。

Burma has released and deported a Burmese-American activist jailed on fraud and forgery charges.

Kyaw Zaw Lwin arrived in Bangkok, Thailand Thursday. The pro-democracy activist -- commonly known as Nyi Nyi Aung -- told VOA's Burmese service he is happy to be free. But he said he is not fully celebrating because his friends and family are still in prison.Nyi Nyi Aung was detained last September after he arrived in Burma to visit his ailing mother, who is in prison for political activities.

A Burmese court sentenced Nyi Nyi Aung last month to three years in prison. He was charged with violating immigration laws, possessing a fake national identity card and carrying undeclared foreign currency. Burma's military government has not said why it freed him.

chubbycat

03-19-10

媒体报导：谷歌下月退出中国 (Reports: Google to Leave China Next Month)

中国媒体报导，美国互联网巨头谷歌公司将关闭中国业务，之前谷歌曾抱怨中国的审查制度和网络攻击。

中国官方的《第一财经日报》星期五报导，谷歌下个月将退出中国。报纸说，它是从一名谷歌中国授权代理商获知这个消息的。谷歌拒绝置评，但报导说，谷歌退出中国的消息最早将于下个星期宣布。

谷歌发言人考特尼.霍纳上个星期说，公司仍坚决不对其网站搜索内容进行审查，而中国法律要求公司必须进行审查。

中国外交部发言人这个星期对谷歌事件发表评论时说，在华经营的外国企业必须遵守中国的法律法规。他说，谷歌决定是否退出中国是“一个公司的个别行为”，不会影响中国的投资环境。

Chinese media say U.S. Internet giant Google is closing its business in China after complaining about censorship and cyber attacks.

The official China Business News said Friday that Google will go through with a threatened withdrawal from China next month. The paper said it learned of the plans from an official at an agency affiliated with Google.Google has refused to comment, but the reports say an announcement could come as early as next week.

A Google spokeswoman, Courtney Hohne, said last week that the company remains firm in its resolve not to censor its content, which is required by Chinese law.

Commenting on the issue this week, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said foreign companies operating in China must respect the country's laws. He called Google's decision on whether to stay in China the "individual act of one company," and said it will not affect the country's investment environment.

奥巴马为医改法案投票争取支持 (Obama Looks For Votes on Health Care Reform)

在美国众议院星期天就医疗保险改革法案表决之前，总统奥巴马正在争取最后一刻的支持。奥巴马星期五在华盛顿附近的一个集会上发表讲话，这是奥巴马政府在为确保医改法案通过而加大公众支持努力的一部分。

奥巴马本人也一直在私下游说尚未作决定的众议员投票支持他的医改法案。白宫和众议院的民主党议员说，他们相信可以获得通过法案所需的216票。众议院星期天将对去年参议院通过的这项医改法案表决。众议院和参议院还将就该法案的一些修订进行表决。

U.S. President Barack Obama is seeking last minute votes in Congress ahead of a Sunday vote in the House of Representatives on health care reform legislation. Mr. Obama speaks at a rally outside Washington on Friday as part of an intense public push by his administration to get the legislation approved.

Privately, Mr. Obama has been lobbying undecided members of the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for his sweeping health care reform bill. The vote is expected to take place Sunday. The White House and House Democrats say they believe they will have the 216 votes needed to pass the legislation. The House is to vote Sunday on the health care bill that passed last year in the U.S. Senate. The House and Senate will also vote on a package of changes to the legislation.