澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-05-07

 The federal government's budget hole appears to be getting deeper, the Australian financial review is reporting the government revenues to this financial year are set to fall by 17 billion dollars, now that shortfall is likely to rise to more than 20 billion dollars next financial year.

 

Most economists¹ believe the Reserve Bank will keep interest rates on hold when it meets today. Recent economic figures mean the decision is likely to a be close call. Inflation remains² low and retail³ sales have rebounded⁴, but unemployment is on the rise.

 

Emergency services will this morning begin searching for two residents who remain unaccounted for after a fire at a Retirement⁵ Village in Melbourne's east. A community center at Lilydale was destroyed in the blaze, which began just after six o'clock last night. Police conducted a doorknock in the village to check on residents, but have been unable to contact two people.

 

A leading U.N. investigator⁶ says there is evidence that Syria's rebels have used chemical weapons. Carla Del Ponte says testimony⁷ from victims and doctors strongly suggest that Opposition⁸ forces have used the nerve gas, Sarin. She says however, there is no concrete prove, the Syrian Opposition has rejected the claim.

 

Malaysia's Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is urging his supporters to protest against what he says was a fraudulent election. Najib Razak has been sworn in as prime minister. His ruling coalition⁹ secured 133 seats in the 222 seat parliament in the closest poll since independence.

1 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

4 rebounded   

弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效

参考例句：

• The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in. 球从门柱弹回，欧文头球将球攻进。
• The ball rebounded from his racket into the net. 球从他的球拍上弹回网中。

5 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

6 investigator   

n.研究者，调查者，审查者

参考例句：

• He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。
• The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

7 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

8 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。

9 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。