美联社新闻一分钟 2006-01-01

1. On the last day of 2005, bombings and shootings in Iraq kill at least 20 people. Final results from parliamentary elections are expected next week.

2. The world greets the arrival of 2006 in a generally jubilant mood despite a New Year's Eve subway strike in London and worries in Asia about terrorism.

3. Kidnappers¹ in Yemen free a former German diplomat² and his four family members, among them, his wife, says "we are safe, thank God!".

4. Relatives of nearly 200 people killed in a Buenos Aires nightclub fire a year ago, Argentina's deadliest, hold vigils and protests, demanding justice.

5. And singer Tom Jones gets a knighthood from Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, joining previous pop-rock knights³ from Paul McCartney, and Mick Jagger, to Elton John.

WORDS IN THE NEWS

1. jubilant
jubilant
If you are jubilant, you feel extremely happy because of a success.
Ferdinand was jubilant after making an impressive comeback from a month on the injured list.
...the jubilant crowds of Paris.
ADJ-GRADED
= ecstatic

2. nightclub
nightclub nightclubs
A nightclub is a place where people go late in the evening to drink and dance.
N-COUNT also night club.

1 kidnappers   

n.拐子，绑匪( kidnapper的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They were freed yesterday by their kidnappers unharmed. 他们昨天被绑架者释放了，没有受到伤害。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The kidnappers had threatened to behead all four unless their jailed comrades were released. 帮匪们曾经威胁说如果印度方面不释放他们的同伙，他们就要将这四名人质全部斩首。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

3 knights   

骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马

参考例句：

• stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
• He wove a fascinating tale of knights in shining armour. 他编了一个穿着明亮盔甲的骑士的迷人故事。