澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-03-21

 A Libyan military spokesman has this morning announced a new ceasefire as another round of air strikes appeared imminent¹. French jets have begun patrolling Libyan air space this morning to enforce the no-fly zone. The United States has declared the initial air strikes a success. But the Libyan leader is vowing² to fight a long, drawn-out war. The Arab League has criticised the air strikes, worried about civilian³ casualties. 

 

Two people have been pulled alive from the rubble⁴ nine days after Japan’s massive earthquake and tsunami⁵. An 80-year-old woman and her grandson have been trapped in their kitchen and survived by eating yoghurt. Authorities are close to restoring power to crippled Fukushima nuclear plant. They hope to have the cooling systems up and running again within days. 

 

The carbon tax debate has now turned to the issue of compensation. The Federal Government is hinting at tax cuts and pension rises to compensate⁶ for the tax. The Opposition⁷ wants the whole process delayed until the planned tax forum⁸ in October. 

 

Large crowds have turned out in Yemen’s capital Sanaa for the funerals of some of those killed in the recent protests. Tens of thousands of people gathered despite the two-day-old state of emergency. At least 50 people died when government forces opened fire on protesters on Friday. 

 

And Prince William will wrap up his visit to Australia today, visiting the flood-affected areas of Kerang and Benjeroop in northern Victoria. The prince spent yesterday touring flood-stricken areas in south-east Queensland.

1 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

2 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

3 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

4 rubble   

n.（一堆）碎石，瓦砾

参考例句：

• After the earthquake,it took months to clean up the rubble.地震后，花了数月才清理完瓦砾。
• After the war many cities were full of rubble.战后许多城市到处可见颓垣残壁。

5 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

6 compensate   

vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消

参考例句：

• She used her good looks to compensate her lack of intelligence. 她利用她漂亮的外表来弥补智力的不足。
• Nothing can compensate for the loss of one's health. 一个人失去了键康是不可弥补的。

7 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。

8 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。