01-31-08

中国将限制因特网视频 (China to Restrict Internet Video)

中国政府定于星期四开始采取措施，加强对因特网的控制。12月29号宣布的措施给予国营公司提供网上视频或允许用户分享个人视频的独家权力。

这一措施由中国国家广电总局和信息产业部制订。目前还不清楚这一政策将如何落实。

星期四早上，像土豆网、我乐网和网友天下等由私营公司经营的广受欢迎网站还在运行。

中国上个星期还宣布，将采取措施控制针网上音乐内容，以防止盗版行为。

China is scheduled to take steps Thursday to tighten controls on the Internet. The measure, announced December 29th, will give state companies the exclusive right to provide online video content or allow users to share their own videos.

The measure was adopted by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Ministry of Information. It was not immediately clear how the policy will be implemented. 

Popular Web sites run by private companies like Tudou-dot-com, 56-dot-com and Wangyou-dot-com were still operating early Thursday.

China announced last week that it will also take steps to rein in online music content to prevent piracy.

中国官员称暴风雪严重影响农作物 (Chinese Official Says Winter Storms Having Extremely Serious Impact on Crops)

中国一位主要农业官员表示，中国恶劣的暴风雪对越冬农作物带来极为严重影响。陈锡文星期四在北京对媒体表示，对中国南方农作物的影响已经极为严重。他称对水果和新鲜蔬菜造成毁灭性损害。

陈锡文表示，目前还不清楚全部的灾情和损失情况。他补充说，这将主要取决于天气。他说，如果暴风雪向北方移动，威胁到冬季粮食供应，局势将进一步恶化。

天气预报说，新一波严冬天气星期四将为中国中部和南部带来更多降雪和冻雨。数以十万计的中国民众仍然被困在这些地区的火车站和机场。

A top Chinese agricultural official says brutal winter storms in China are having an extremely serious impact on winter crops. Speaking with reporters Thursday in Beijing, Chen Xiwen said the impact on crops in southern China was already extremely serious. He called the damage to fruit and fresh vegetable crops catastrophic.

Chen said it is still unclear what the full impact and losses will be, adding that would largely depend on the weather. He said the situation could worsen if storms move north and threaten winter grain supplies.

Forecasters are predicting a new wave of harsh winter weather will bring more snow and freezing rain to central and southern China Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of Chinese remain stranded at train stations and airports in parts of the country.