02-13-08

斯皮爾伯格辭去北京奧運顧問 (Spielberg Steps Down as Consultant to Beijing Olympics)

美國電影導演斯皮爾伯格因中國對蘇丹政策以及達爾富爾衝突，辭去北京奧運會藝術顧問一職。斯皮爾伯格表示，他的良心不允許他繼續擔任藝術顧問，因為他相信中國在解決達爾富爾衝突上不夠積極。

人權觀察說，斯皮爾伯格的決定應當促使其他有影響力的人物施壓中國進行改革。星期二，一些諾貝爾和平獎得主、政界人士和奧林匹克運動員呼籲中國運用其對蘇丹的影響力，幫助制止仍在達爾富爾發生的暴力。

U.S. film director Stephen Spielberg has stepped down as artistic consultant to the Beijing Olympics due to China's policy on Sudan and the conflict in Darfur. Spielberg said his conscience will not allow him to continue in the position because he believes China has not been active enough in resolving the crisis in Darfur.

Human Rights Watch says Spielberg's decision should prompt other influential people to press China to reform. On Tuesday, a group of Nobel Peace laureates, politicians and Olympic athletes called on China to use its influence on Sudan to help end ongoing violence in Darfur.

中國稱最近的冬季暴風雪使107人喪生 (China Says Recent Winter Storms Killed 107 People)

中國官方媒體報導，中國南部地區最近一波嚴酷的冬季天氣導致107人死亡和150億美元的損失。官方新華社公佈的死亡數將總數提高了40多人。

新華社還報導說，中國的保險公司已經為在1月初開始的暴風雪中喪生和財產損失賠償了10多億美元。目前仍然有數以百萬計的索賠等待受理。

嚴冬天氣癱瘓了供電網並毀壞了房屋、企業設施和農作物。由於暴風雪阻斷了高速公路、鐵路以及航空交通，數以百萬計的民眾在中國最重要的節日農曆新年期間被困在旅途中。

Chinese state media are reporting that the recent wave of brutal winter weather across the southern half of the country left 107 people dead and caused more than 15 billion dollars in damages. The new death toll released by the official Xinhua news agency raises the total by more than 40. 

Xinhua also reported that Chinese insurers have already paid out more than one billion dollars for deaths and damages from the storms, which began early last month. Millions of other claims are still pending.

The freezing winter weather downed power lines, and destroyed homes, businesses and crops. It left millions of Chinese stranded during China's biggest holiday, the Lunar New Year, as it disrupted transportation on highways, railways and in the air.