Ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　Ｗｏｒｌｄ:Around the World

　　Current Affairs时事 　　Abroad国外 　　 　　Suicide pacts continue to bewilder Japanese authorities
　　相约自杀事件继续困扰日本当局
　　Seven suicides resulted after pacts made in internet chatrooms in Japan last month brings the total number of suicide pact deaths this year to twenty. The figure for last year was 55. Although this type of suicide accounts for only 2% of Japan"s total, it has been causing some concern for the authorities. Alienated youngsters who leave school with few qualifications and no long-term job prospects are most vulnerable.
　　上个月，在日本发生了通过网络聊天室相约实施自杀的事件，导致7人死亡，从而使今年死于相约自杀事件的人数达到了20人。而去年的数字是55人。尽管此类自杀在日本自杀总数中只占2％，但却一直使当局感到某些不安。那些离校后学历欠佳、无望找到长期工作的受孤立青年是高发群体。
　　
　　Suit filed against Rumsfeld
　　拉姆斯菲尔德遭到起诉
　　The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on behalf of prisoners detained and abused by the American military in Iraq and Afghanistan. They claim that Rumsfeld is responsible because he changed interrogation policies making it easier for torture and abuse to occur.
　　“美国公民自由联盟”代表受驻伊拉克和驻阿富汗美军扣留与虐待的囚犯，对美国国防部长唐纳德・拉姆斯菲尔德提起了诉讼。他们称，拉姆斯菲尔德要（对此）负责，因为他改变了审讯政策，使刑讯和虐待更易发生。
　　
　　Home 国内
　　
　　China"s internet users increase
　　中国互联网用户增加
　　There were 94 million internet users in China last year. With the internet playing an increasingly important role in the lives of Chinese people this figure is set to enlarge significantly. Some experts believe that by 2006 there will be 120 million Chinese people online.
　　去年，中国的互联网用户有9400万。随着互联网在中国人生活中的作用越发重要，这一数字将会大幅增长。一些专家认为，到2006年中国将会有1.2亿人使用互联网。
　　
　　China will revise foreign expert policies
　　中国将修改外国专家政策
　　In an effort to attract more foreign expertise, the Chinese government will introduce new policies on the recruitment of foreign experts. A distinction will be made between foreign experts and foreign employees. Those deemed to be experts will be offered special benefits.
　　为了把更多的国外专业知识引进进来，中国政府将启用招聘外国专家的新政策。并且会在外国专家和外国雇员之间划出界限。那些被视为专家的人将会受到特殊优待。 New Page 1 　 var _gaq = _gaq || [];_gaq.push(["_setAccount", "UA-22575914-1"]);_gaq.push(["_setDomainName", ".省略"]);_gaq.push(["_trackPageview"]);(function () {var ga = document.createElement("script"); ga.type = "text/javascript"; ga.async = true;ga.src = ("https:" == document.location.protocol ? "https://ssl" : "http://www") + ".省略/ga.js";var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.省略";var _siteid =691;var _istoken = 1;var _model = "Model01"; WebPageSpeed =406; UrchinTrack();
　　
　　Sports 体育
　　
　　American hockey players take to foreign ice
　　美国冰球运动员远赴他国
　　National Hockey League players from the US are moving overseas to play in foreign leagues due to the cancellation of the NHL season at home. The cancellation of the 2004-05 season due to a labor dispute was announced in February this year.
　　由于国内的“国家冰球联盟”赛季被取消，美国的“国家冰球联盟”球员正在移师海外，参加外国的联赛。今年2月，因劳资纠纷，2004-2005赛季宣布被取消。
　　
　　Applications to organize Olympic opening and closing ceremonies begin
　　开幕和闭幕式的筹办申请开始受理
　　Last month the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) began to take applications from would-be designers of the 2008 Olympic Games opening and closing ceremonies. The application is open to anybody, both Chinese and foreigners, and local citizens will be consulted with for their views. Applications will be accepted until July 31st.
　　上个月，“第29届北京奥林匹克运动会组织委员会”（简称BOCOG）开始受理“2008年奥运会”开幕和闭幕仪式设计师职位应征人所提出的申请。申请面向所有人，中外人士均可，而且会征询当地市民的意见。申请日期截止到7月31日。
　　
　　Economy 经济
　　
　　Britain"s economic growth still behind the US
　　英国经济增长仍落后于美国
　　The Organization for Economic Cooperation, the West"s leading economic think-tank, has stated that Britain will need to improve efficiency in the public sector, reduce traffic congestion problems and increase standards in education if it is to close the productivity gap with America. It went on to point out that Britain"s growth performance was impressive in comparison to that of Continental Europe but still lagged far behind the US.
　　西方主要的经济智囊团――经济合作组织宣称，英国要想缩减其与美国在生产力上的差距，就需要提高公共部门的办事效率、减少交通堵塞问题、提高教育水平。该组织还指出，与欧洲大陆相比，英国经济增长的表现是惊人的，但仍远远落后于美国。
　　
　　Prices will be stable for 2005
　　2005年价格将会稳定
　　The Chinese National Bureau of Statistics predicts that economic growth will continue at a rapid rate this year and prices will be stable. They foretell only slight price increases; less than 4% on the consumer index.
　　中国国家统计局预测，今年的经济仍将快速增长，价格会保持稳定。他们预言，价格只会微调；消费指数低于4个百分点。
　　
　　Oscars provoke mixed reactions
　　The new streamlined Oscars, which were held on February 27th, has been deemed a success by its organizers. Not everyone was happy with the format though. In an effort to reduce the running time of the show some awards were presented to recipients in their seats. Furthermore, in a change from previous events nominees were brought onstage in a group. Critics say that these changes depersonalized the whole affair and took away from the glamour of what was once the most popular award ceremony in the US. Further criticism was aimed at Chris Rock whose sharp caustic wit was considered inappropriate by some.
　　In defense of the new format the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences point out the lower rate of decline in viewers this year. In recent years Americans have started to lose interest in award ceremonies and broadcasts of high-profile ceremonies like the Oscars have suffered a sharp decline in viewers. This year there was a 3% decline in viewer numbers which is much less than previous years and also less than other ceremonies such as the Golden Globe Awards. More importantly, the 18 to 34 year-old viewer section saw an increase. This is the most important market section as regards advertising. Advertisers pay the ABC network about $1.6 million for 30 second commercials and ABC are charged $45 million by the Academy each year for the rights to broadcast the event.
　　
　　奥斯卡颁奖仪式引起不同反响
　　
　　经过瘦身的新奥斯卡颁奖仪式于2月27日举行，它被筹办者视为是成功的。但并非每个人都对这一形式感到满意。为了缩短晚会的时间，一些奖项就在领奖人的座位边颁发。而且，与以往不同，被提名者是以小组的形式被请上台的。评论家说，这些改变使整个活动失去了特色，而且削弱了这个曾作为美国最受欢迎的颁奖仪式的光彩。有些批评言论更是指向了克里斯・洛克――在某些人看来，他那挖苦性的机智言辞是不合时宜的。
　　在捍卫这个新形式时，电影艺术与科学学院指出，今年收视率的下降幅度变小了。近些年来，美国人已经对颁奖仪式失去了兴趣，而且，观看奥斯卡颁奖仪式等隆重仪式报导的人大为锐减。今年，收视率下滑的幅度是3％，与前些年相比低了很多，而且也比金球奖之类的颁奖仪式要低。更重要的是，18到34岁的观众群呈现出上升趋势。而这一群体，就广告而言，是最重要的一类市场。广告商播出30秒钟的商业广告就要向美国广播公司电视网支付约160万美元，而美国广播公司每年要向（电影艺术与科学）学院支付4500万美元来获取活动转播权。
　　
　　Keith Urban
　　Be Here
　　Be Here is Keith Urban"s powerful and deeply felt follow-up to 2002"s double-platinum Golden Road. A great deal is expected from country radio"s most played artist of 2003, who is a famously crowd-pleasing live performer with a remarkable track record of four No.1 songs and eight Top Five hits from just two solo albums. With Be Here, Urban delivers more than ever before. While the songs sound as accessible as ever, Be Here is Urban"s most personal and heartfelt work to date.
　　凯斯・厄尔本
　　《在这里》
　　《在这里》是凯斯・厄尔本继双白金唱片《光明前程》之后的又一张感人至深的专辑。这位2003年乡村音乐电台播放率最高的艺人，是深受大众喜爱的著名现场表演者，他的2张个人独唱专辑中，有4首是冠军歌曲，还有8首进入到了排行榜前5名，成绩斐然，为此他被予以了厚望。而厄尔本就以《在这里》专辑带来了比以往更加出色的作品。虽然这些歌曲一如既往地动听，但《在这里》专辑却是厄尔本至今以来最具个性、最为至诚的作品。
　　
　　Tiziano Ferro
　　111
　　Italian sensation, Tiziano Ferro, continues on his rise to international stardom. His debut album, Rosso Relativo, has sold more than 300,000 copies in Italy, generated 3 Top 5 singles plus a Top 10 hit. His single Perdono became one of the most successful European hits in 2002. Although busy with touring, Tiziano also managed to write the material for his second album, 111, which he started recording in May 2003. Within one year of its release it had sold almost a million copies.
　　提杰安若・费洛
　　《111》
　　意大利的轰动性人物――提杰安若・费洛日渐成为一颗国际巨星。他的首张专辑《Rosso Relativo》在意大利已卖出了30多万张的销量，缔造出3首进入到排行榜前5名的歌曲和1首进入排行榜前10名的歌曲。他的单曲《Perdono》成为了2002年欧洲最成功的热门歌曲之一。尽管提杰安若忙于巡回演出，但他还是设法为其已于2003年5月开始录制的第二张专辑――《111》创作了歌曲。该专辑在发行后不到一年就已卖出了近100万张的销量。
　　
　　EMI GOLD SERIESEMI黄金系列
　　
　　Louis Armstrong
　　The Best of Louis Armstrong
　　Louis Armstrong was the first important soloist to emerge in jazz, and he became the most influential musician in the music"s history. As a trumpet virtuoso, his playing charted a future for jazz in highly imaginative, emotionally charged improvisation. But Armstrong also became an enduring figure in popular music, due to his distinctively phrased bass singing and engaging personality. The album The Best Of Louis Armstrong includes 17 wonderful tracks from his performing career, such as We have all the time in the world, It don"t mean a thing(If it ain"t got that swing).
　　
　　路易斯・阿姆斯特朗
　　《路易斯・阿姆斯特朗经典金典》
　　路易斯・阿姆斯特朗是爵士界涌现出来的第一位重量级独奏家，而且他成为了音乐史上最具影响力的音乐人。作为一名小号演奏家，他的表演在爵士界开创出一条极富想象力、充满激情的即兴表演之路。不过，由于阿姆斯特朗低音演唱层次分明，个性迷人，所以他也成为了流行乐界一位经久不衰的人物。《路易斯・阿姆斯特朗经典金典》专辑收录了其演唱生涯中的17首佳作，如《我们有充裕的时间》、《毫无意义》。
　　
　　Diana Ross
　　Love from Diana Ross
　　As a solo artist, Diana Ross is one of the most successful female singers of the rock era. If you take her work as the lead singer of the Supremes in the 1960s into account, she may be the most successful. This album handpicked 17 wonderful tracks during her performing career, such as Endless love, You and I. To enjoy the best of her career, check out Love from Diana Ross.
　　
　　黛安娜・罗斯
　　《黛安娜・罗斯爱情金曲》
　　作为一名独唱歌手，黛安娜・罗斯是“摇滚时代”最成功的女歌手之一。如果你要是考虑到她在20世纪60年代担任“至高无上”乐队主唱时的作品的话，那她也许就是最成功的一位了。该专辑精选了其演唱生涯中的17首佳作，如《无尽的爱》、《你和我》。要享受她生涯中的精华之作，就听听《黛安娜・罗斯爱情金曲》吧。