04-14-08

世行行長促針對糧價採取行動 (World Bank Chief Urges Action on Food Prices)

世界銀行行長佐立克敦促國際社會立即採取行動，處理食品價格上漲的問題。若干國家由於食品價格上漲而出現饑餓和暴力。佐立剋星期天呼籲國際社會履行他們的承諾，幫助饑民。佐立克在華盛頓舉行的世界領導人會議上發表了講話。佐立克說，食品問題不僅僅是一個短期的需求問題，而且也是一個可能會影響未來幾代人的問題。

最近幾個月來，食品價格的上漲在幾個國家引發暴力抗議，其中包括埃及、海地和菲律賓。食品危機是世界銀行和國際貨幣基金組織為期兩天的會議討論的議題之一。國際貨幣基金組織總裁卡恩星期六警告說，食品價格上漲可能會對發展中國家的人民產生慘重的後果。

The President of the World Bank Robert Zoellickhas urged immediate action to deal with rising food prices that have caused hunger and violence in several countries. Robert Zoellick appealed Sunday for the international community to carry out its commitments to help hungry people. Zoellick spoke at a meeting of world lenders in Washington. Zoellick said the food situation is not only a matter of short term need, but one that could also affect future generations.

In recent months, rising food prices have led to violent protests in several countries, including Egypt, Haiti and the Philippines. The food crisis was among the issues discussed at a two-day meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. IMF chief Dominique Strauss Kahn warned Saturday that rising food prices could have dire consequences for people in developing countries. 

奧運火炬抵達阿曼 (Olympic Torch Arrives in Oman)

奧運火炬星期一抵達阿曼，預計這是一次不會出現任何抗議活動的行程，也是奧運火炬在前往北京途中在中東地區唯一停留的一站。在首都馬斯喀特一個低調儀式上，阿曼體育大臣和中國外交使團的代表迎接從坦尚尼亞前來的火炬。火炬接力上星期在倫敦、巴黎和舊金山時引發大規模和混亂的抗議活動。

奧運火炬最近經過布宜諾斯艾利斯和達累斯薩拉姆時都沒有遇到波折。星期一，幾十名阿曼運動員將高舉火炬，穿越馬斯喀特全城，沿著風景如畫的河邊大道進行20公里長的火炬接力活動。奧運火炬的下一站是巴基斯坦首都伊斯蘭堡。國際接力活動在幾個站點都被迫改變線路並縮短行程，以確保安全。

The Olympic torch arrived in Oman Monday where it is expected to have a protest-free visit - the torch's sole Middle East stop on its way to Beijing. At a low-key ceremony in the capital, Muscat, the sports minister and representatives of the Chinese diplomatic mission greeted the torch upon its arrival from Tanzania. Last week, the torch relay drew large and chaotic protests in London, Paris and San Francisco. 

Recent stops of the Olympic torch in Buenos Aires and Tanzania passed without major incident. Dozens of Omani athletes will carry the torch on a 20-kilometer route Monday through Muscat and along its scenic waterfront. The torch's next stop will be the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Several legs of the international torch relay have had to be rerouted and shortened to ensure security.