澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 阿富汗塔利班释放两名外国人质 交换三名塔利班高级囚犯

The firefighters across South Australia are bracing¹ for catastrophic conditions today. Total fire bans are in force across the state, with potentially record-breaking temperatures expected. More than 100 schools and kindergartens have been closed as a precaution. Meanwhile crews continue to battle dozens of bushfires across New South Wales and Queensland, with strong wings flaring² up blazes and more difficult conditions forecast ahead.

今天，南澳大利亚州的消防员将迎来灾难性天气条件。该州各地均实施了完全禁火令，预计之后可能出现创记录的高温。作为预防措施，目前已有超过100所学校和幼儿园停课。同时，消防员仍在对抗新南威尔士州和昆士兰州的数十起山火，但是强风助长了火势，而且之后可能还将出现更恶劣的天气。

After being held captive for more than three years by the Afghan Taliban, Australian hostage Timothy Weeks has been freed. He was a teacher at the American university of Afghanistan when he was kidnapped at gunpoint with colleague Kevin King back in 2016. Both men have been released overnight as part of a prisoner swap³ for three high ranking Taliban commanders. They are now reportedly in the hands of US officials and will be transferred to Europe.

澳大利亚人质蒂莫西·威克斯在被阿富汗塔利班绑架三年多之后获释。威克斯曾是阿富汗美国大学的教师，他在2016年与同事凯文·金一起被持枪的塔利班武装分子绑架。二人已在晚间被释放，以此换取三名塔利班高级指挥官获释。据报道，两名获释人质目前已交给美国官员，之后将被转移到欧洲。

"Very relieved, all I want to say at this stage is I want to thank all those who have supported us and prayed for us for this eventuality."

“我很安心，现在我只想说，感谢所有支持我们和祈祷我们获释的人。”

The federal government is set to announce the fast-tracking of almost four-billion dollars' worth of infrastructure⁴ projects to help bolster⁵ a flagging economy. State and Territory leaders have put forward projects they'd like to be sped up, within the government's ten-year infrastructure pipeline⁶. In a speech to the business council today, Scott Morrison is expected to announce which works will be brought forward in each region.

澳大利亚联邦政府将宣布快速推进价值近40亿美元的基础建设项目，以提振日渐低迷的经济。各州和各领地领导人已提出他们希望加速的项目，这包括在政府的十年基础设施投资管道中。今天，总理斯科特·莫里森将在商业委员会发表讲话，届时他将公布各地区提出的项目。

1 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

2 flaring   

a.火焰摇曳的，过份艳丽的

参考例句：

• A vulgar flaring paper adorned the walls. 墙壁上装饰着廉价的花纸。
• Goebbels was flaring up at me. 戈塔尔当时已对我面呈愠色。

3 swap   

n.交换；vt.交换，用...作交易

参考例句：

• I will swap you my bicycle for your radio.我想拿我的自行车换你的收音机。
• This comic was a swap that I got from Nick.这本漫画书是我从尼克那里换来的。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

6 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。