澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-01-07

 Hundreds of bushfire victims have spent the night stranded¹ in evacuation centres in Tasmania. The Tasman Peninsula is still blocked and authorities say it's not safe for residents to return to their houses. Around 100 people are missing and it's feared that some lives may have been lost.

 

In Victoria, crews have been battling a large bushfire at Kent-Bruck in southwest. A number of fires were brought under control over the weekend, but the CFA is concerned that things will get worse this week as temperatures rise. In New South Wales, more than 80 fires are burning and a number are out of control, but no homes are under threat. A total fire ban is in force for the northern and southern Riverina area.

 

Overseas and Syria's President Bashar al-Assad has been mobbed by supporters in his first public address in more than six months. He's proposed a political solution to the war including a national conference to write a new constitution and fresh elections. But he says none of that will happen while opposition² forces continue to take up arms against him.

 

A smoking ban comes into force today in many outdoor public areas in New South Wales. They include swimming pools, sports grounds, railway platforms and bus stops. Smokers³ are also forbidden to light up within 10 metres of children's playgrounds and within four metres of building entrances.

 

1 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

2 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。

3 smokers   

吸烟者( smoker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Many smokers who are chemically addicted to nicotine cannot cut down easily. 许多有尼古丁瘾的抽烟人不容易把烟戒掉。
• Chain smokers don't care about the dangers of smoking. 烟鬼似乎不在乎吸烟带来的种种危害。