澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-11-09

Julia Gillard's popularity has taken a dip in the latest Newspoll. The Prime Minister's approval rating is 49 per cent. That's down four points. She still leads Opposition¹ Leader Tony Abbott though he's increased his rating by two points, rising to 34 per cent.

Fighting has extended to several areas along the Thai-Burma border after Burma's controversial elections. About 10,000 refugees have fled the fighting between government troops and Karen rebels. Several people were killed or injured. The flare-up had been predicted after many ethnic² groups were excluded from the election.

Barack Obama is backing India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. The US president was addressing the Indian parliament at the end of his three-day visit there. He now heads to Indonesia as part of his 10-day Asian tour.

Israel's again been accused of trying to sabotage³ the Middle East peace talks as planning to build more than 1,000 apartments in occupied East Jerusalem. Palestinian authorities have condemned⁴ the move as Washington is trying to persuade Israel's prime minister to freeze construction in the occupied territories.

And police still aren't commenting on the mysterious deaths of three people in Kapunda, north of Adelaide. A 16-year-old girl and her parents were found dead in their home yesterday. Police have sealed off the area and Major Crime Squad⁵ detectives are now investigating.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 sabotage   

n.怠工，破坏活动，破坏；v.从事破坏活动，妨害，破坏

参考例句：

• They tried to sabotage my birthday party.他们企图破坏我的生日晚会。
• The fire at the factory was caused by sabotage.那家工厂的火灾是有人蓄意破坏引起的。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。