10-25-07

联合国报告：空气污染仍为2008年北京奥运忧患 (UN Report: Air Pollution Remains a Concern for 2008 Beijing Olympics)

联合国新公布的有关中国首都环境的一份报告警告说，空气污染依然是2008年北京奥运会令人担心的问题。联合国环境规划署星期四在北京公布的报告提到，中国在改善空气质量以及创建“绿色奥运”方面迈出了“显著步伐”。

但是，报告同时说，污染依然是奥运组织者、运动员以及观众理应关注的问题。报告在指出中国为解决环境担忧所做创新的同时特别提到一些失去的机会。

根据这份报告，北京空气中的微粒平均含量极大超过了世界卫生组织的标准。

国际奥委会成员本星期早些时候进行实地考察、监测北京2008年奥运会准备进展情况时，对空气污染的担忧也列入讨论议题。

A newly released United Nations report on the environment in China's capital warns that air pollution remains a concern for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The report, released Thursday in Beijing by the U.N. Environmental Program, notes China's "significant strides" to improve air quality and create a "Green Olympic Games."

But it also said pollution remains a legitimate concern for Olympic organizers, competitors and observers. The report highlights some missed opportunities, while noting China's innovation in addressing environmental concerns.

According to the report, the average level of particulate matter - tiny particles in the air - in Beijing greatly exceeds World Health Organization levels.

Concerns about air pollution were also on the agenda earlier this week when International Olympic Committee members held an inspection tour to monitor progress for the 2008 Olympics.

美国9月份房屋销售下跌创记录(US Home Sales Drop By Record Amount in September)

美国一个商业协会说，二手房的销售额9月份下降到创记录的低点。专家预测，房屋市场的疲软还会加剧。全美房地产经纪人协会星期三发布的一篇报告显示，房屋销售9月下滑8%，降到相当于大约500万栋房屋的年销售量。

这是1999年开始有记录以来最慢的销售速度，而且下降幅度超过了专家预估。这提高了美联储公开市场委员会下星期开会时降息的可能性。

分析人士预测，由于很多房屋购买者失去偿付能力致使房屋被收回，这会使房屋市场不景气还会持续至少一年。

A U.S. trade association says sales of previously owned homes declined to a record low in September, and experts predict the housing slump will get even worse. The National Association of Realtors Wednesday issued a report showing home sales dropped eight percent in September to an annual rate of about five million homes. 

That is the slowest pace since record-keeping began in 1999, and a steeper decline than experts expected. It raises the probability that the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee will decide to cut interest rates when it meets next week.

Analysts predict the housing slump will continue for at least another year because of the continued effects of home foreclosures.