Unemployment in the countries which use the euro hit a record high last month. Figures showed that 17.8 million people were out of work in the eurozone in June – the highest level since the single currency was formed. Even Germany registered a slight rise in its jobless figures. In Greece, the Deputy Finance Minister, Christos Staikouras, appealed for further financial aid to avoid bankruptcy.
上月欧元使用国的失业率达到历史最高,数据显示,6月份欧元区有1780万人失业,这是欧元这一单一货币成立以来最高的失业率。甚至德国注册的失业数字也有所上升。希腊财政部副部长斯泰克拉斯呼吁提供进一步的财政援助以避免破产。
Venezuela has joined Mercosur six years after applying to join the South American trading bloc. President Hugo Chavez went to Brazil for the ceremony in his first official trip abroad since being diagnosed with cancer more than a year ago. Mr Chavez, who's running for reelection in October, said the bloc would benefit from Venezuela's huge oil and gas reserves.
委内瑞拉6年前申请加入南方共同市场,如今终于成为其成员国。总统雨果·查韦斯前往巴西参加庆典,这是他一年多前被诊断得癌症后的首次正式访问。查韦斯将参加10月份的再任选举,他说该组织将从委内瑞拉丰富的石油和天然气储备中获益。
The Italian government has announced it will go ahead with the $30m plan to revamp one of Rome's most prized landmarks, the Colosseum. Starting in December, the work will take three years to complete. Archeologists have become concerned after large cracks appeared and fragments began to fall off. In recent days, it emerged the building is tilting about 40cm to one side. The Director of the Colosseum, Rossella Rea, said it was not serious.