澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2015-09-25

 Leading the news. More than 700 worshipers have been killed and almost one thousand others injured in a stampede at the annual Haji pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The crash happened at Mina on the outskirts¹ of the holy city of Mecca when two large groups of people pushed into each other. Saudi Arabia's crown prince has ordered an immediate² investigation³ into the tragedy.

These are the reasons: overcrowding, stampede, marching in opposite directions, high temperature and addition to the fatigue⁴ and exhaustion⁵ of the pilgrims after many days of rituals.

Pope Francis has become the first Pontiff to address the Joint⁶ Session of U.S. Congress, he called for more empathy for immigrants and an end to death penalty. The speech was followed by an appearance before thousands of people on the Washington's National Mall where he gave a public lesson.

In Seattle, at least 4 people are dead and 9 critically injured in a tourist bus crash. An open-top amphibious tourist bus collided with a charter bus on the city's Aurora⁷ Bridge. Emergency services have converged⁸ on the scene.

Back home, the Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt has confirmed he killed off a proposed review of the Bureau of Meteorology over climate change. It's been reviewed by the ABC, the Prime Minister's department considered an investigation into the bureau over its estimates of global warming. Mr.Hunt says he has full confidence in the bureau.

And State Queensland MP Billy Gordon has been cleared of domestic abuse allegations by police. Mr.Gordon was accused of abusing two former partners, police say there is insufficient⁹ evidence to lay charges.

1 outskirts   

n.郊外，郊区

参考例句：

• Our car broke down on the outskirts of the city.我们的汽车在市郊出了故障。
• They mostly live on the outskirts of a town.他们大多住在近郊。

2 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

3 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

4 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

5 exhaustion   

n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述

参考例句：

• She slept the sleep of exhaustion.她因疲劳而酣睡。
• His exhaustion was obvious when he fell asleep standing.他站着睡着了，显然是太累了。

6 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

7 aurora   

n.极光

参考例句：

• The aurora is one of nature's most awesome spectacles.极光是自然界最可畏的奇观之一。
• Over the polar regions we should see aurora.在极地高空,我们会看到极光。

8 converged   

v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集

参考例句：

• Thousands of supporters converged on London for the rally. 成千上万的支持者从四面八方汇聚伦敦举行集会。
• People converged on the political meeting from all parts of the city. 人们从城市的四面八方涌向这次政治集会。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。