澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2015-01-27

 The Prime Minister Tony Abbott is facing a growing backlash over that decision to award an Australian Day knighthood to Prince Philip. Two Queensland MPs Ewen Jones and Warren Entsch publicly criticized the move. In reaching the decision, Mr. Abbott only consulted Australian other new knights¹ Angus Houston and the Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove.

 

At least, ten people have been killed and more than a dozen injured after a fight jet crashed at a military base in southeastern Spain. Thick black smoke could be seen at the airbase several kilometers southeast of Madrid. The jet is understood to be taking part in NATO training exercises. 

 

Kurdish fighters have claimed victory over Islamic state militants² in the Syrian town of Kobani. Fighters raised Kurdish flag on the hill in the board town near Turkey that once flew the Islamist state’s black banner. The Syrian observatory³ for human rights says the Kurdish military units have now retaken about 90% of that town. 

 

The Foreign Minister Julie Bishop⁴ has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan where she met representatives of the newly formed government. Ms. Bishop reaffirmed Australia’s continuing support as Afghanistan enters a transition phase. She’ll hold talks with leaders in the United Arab Emirates later today.

 

And a state of emergency has been declared in New York and New Jersy ahead of an approaching blizzard⁵. Snowfalls of up to 90 centimeters could fall in parts of America’s northeast. Schools and officers have been closed and thousands of flights have been cancelled.

1 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。

2 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

3 observatory   

n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台

参考例句：

• Guy's house was close to the observatory.盖伊的房子离天文台很近。
• Officials from Greenwich Observatory have the clock checked twice a day.格林威治天文台的职员们每天对大钟检查两次。

4 bishop   

n.主教，（国际象棋）象

参考例句：

• He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
• Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

5 blizzard   

n.暴风雪

参考例句：

• The blizzard struck while we were still on the mountain.我们还在山上的时候暴风雪就袭来了。
• You'll have to stay here until the blizzard blows itself off.你得等暴风雪停了再走。