02-13-08

斯皮尔伯格辞去北京奥运顾问 (Spielberg Steps Down as Consultant to Beijing Olympics)

美国电影导演斯皮尔伯格因中国对苏丹政策以及达尔富尔冲突，辞去北京奥运会艺术顾问一职。斯皮尔伯格表示，他的良心不允许他继续担任艺术顾问，因为他相信中国在解决达尔富尔冲突上不够积极。

人权观察说，斯皮尔伯格的决定应当促使其他有影响力的人物施压中国进行改革。星期二，一些诺贝尔和平奖得主、政界人士和奥林匹克运动员呼吁中国运用其对苏丹的影响力，帮助制止仍在达尔富尔发生的暴力。

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.

中国称最近的冬季暴风雪使107人丧生 (China Says Recent Winter Storms Killed 107 People)

中国官方媒体报导，中国南部地区最近一波严酷的冬季天气导致107人死亡和150亿美元的损失。官方新华社公布的死亡数将总数提高了40多人。

新华社还报导说，中国的保险公司已经为在1月初开始的暴风雪中丧生和财产损失赔偿了10多亿美元。目前仍然有数以百万计的索赔等待受理。

严冬天气瘫痪了供电网并毁坏了房屋、企业设施和农作物。由于暴风雪阻断了高速公路、铁路以及航空交通，数以百万计的民众在中国最重要的节日农历新年期间被困在旅途中。

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.