01-28-08

担心经济衰退亚洲股市大跌 (Asian Markets Down Sharply on Recession Fears)

亚洲股市星期一巨幅下跌，人们担心美国如果出现经济衰退将会减少对亚洲进口的需求。中国上海证卷指数猛跌7%以上，东京日经指数和孟买股市敏感指数都下滑将近4%。香港恒生指数跌幅超过5%。

分析人士说，在全球股市上星期暴跌之后，虽然布什总统推出了以退税来重振增长速度减缓的美国经济的计划，但是投资人依然心有余悸。美国联邦储备委员会本星期也开会考虑是否须要继续降息，来帮助避免发生经济衰退。

Asian markets fell sharply Monday on fears a recession in the United States will weaken the demand for Asian exports. China's Shanghai Composite Index tumbled more than seven percent while the Nikkei in Tokyo and Sensex in Mumbai were both down almost four percent. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index dropped more than five percent.

Analysts say investors are still nervous following last week's worldwide plunge, despite President's Bush's plan to revitalize the slowing U.S. economy with tax rebates. The U.S. Federal Reserve meets this week to consider if another interest rate cut is needed to help stave off a recession.

北京奥林匹克运动会 (BEIJING OLYMPICS)

北京奥运会组织者宣布“水立方”游泳馆竣工交付使用，这是今年8月北京奥运会的两个标志性场馆之一。“水立方”的正式名称是国家游泳中心，其半透明的蓝色调外观让它看起来像是一个水晶立方。经过三年多一点的施工后，“水立方”星期一首次对公众亮相。

“水立方”有固定座位6千个，临时座位1万1千个。“水立方”和临近拥有9万1千个座位的“鸟巢”国家体育馆将构成奥林匹克公园地区的主体。奥运会举办期间，42枚比赛项目的金牌将在“水立方”办法。奥运会8月8号开幕。“水立方”星期五将举办一项游泳比赛，检验场馆的设施。

Olympic organizers in Beijing have unveiled the "Watercube," one of the two iconic venues for the 2008 Games later this year. Known officially as the National Aquatics Center, the building's design and its translucent, blue-toned outside skin make it appear like a cube of bubbles. On Monday, the public got its first look at the building after a little more than three years of construction.

The venue has six-thousand permanent and 11-thousand temporary seats. The Watercube will anchor the Olympic Green area along with the neighboring 91-thousand seat National Stadium called the "Bird's Nest." Forty-two gold medals will be handed out at the Watercube during the Olympics, which begin on August eighth. A swimming meet on Friday will help test the facility.