VOA慢速英语2014 悉尼挟持事件 枪手及两名人质死亡

 

Two Hostages, Gunman Dead in Sydney Hostage Crisis 悉尼挟持事件 枪手及两名人质死亡

Australian police have ended a 16-hour hostage crisis that left two hostages and the gunman dead. Security forces surrounded and then entered the Lindt Chocolate Café in the city’s central business area Tuesday morning.

Six people escaped the restaurant just before the police raided it. The dead include two men and one woman. Four other people were injured.

Australian officials identified the gunman as Man Haron Monis, an Iranian immigrant. He is believed to have taken control of the restaurant Monday morning, local time. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the incident may be politically motivated.

During the incident hostages in the cafe were seen standing¹ with their hands pushed up against the windows.  A black flag with Arabic letters could be seen through the glass.

Man Haron Monis was facing charges related to a a murder and a seprate sex crime. Media reports say he was found guilty in 2012 of sending offensive and threatening letters to the families of Australian soldiers killed overseas.

Activists³ in Hong Kong promise to re-start ‘occupy’ protests

Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying says the protests taking place in the territory are over. However, activists say they will return. Police have cleared the last demonstration⁴ areas. The protests had continued for 10 weeks.

Mr. Leung spoke⁵ to reporters Monday. He called the protests, "illegal occupation activities" and said they had come to an end. He added that the demonstrations⁶ caused "serious" economic losses in the tourism and retail⁷ industries.

He made the comments as police removed the final protester camps from a road in Causeway Bay.  Police arrested more than twelve people who refused to leave the area. There were no reports of violence.

A small group of protest leaders said, "We will be back." The group also called on Mr. Leung to step down.

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist² Kenneth Chan was among those arrested at Causeway Bay Monday. He told VOA before his arrest that the activists should have nothing to fear.

Causeway Bay was the smallest of three main protest sites that formed in late September to demand that Beijing permit fully⁸ democratic elections in Hong Kong in 2017. China has said a committee must approve candidates before they can seek office.

US Secretary of State holds talks with Israeli Prime Minister

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is to hold talk with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Rome, Italy. The meeting is the first stop on Mr. Kerry’s trip to learn about the current situation of Israeli-Palestinian issues.

Palestinian officials are pushing for a U.N. resolution that would call for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory within two years.  A Jordanian version of the resolution could be presented to the U.N. Security Council this week.

Mr. Kerry plans to travel next to Paris for talks with foreign ministers of France, Britain and Germany. On Tuesday, he is expected to hold talks with chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat and Arab League chief Nabil Elaraby in London.

A top State Department official said Mr. Kerry's goal is to hear what the groups involved have to say. The official said the Secretary of State wants to work on a common path forward while keeping open the possibility of a two-state solution. But the official said Mr. Kerry does not believe a resolution calling for a time limit is the right way to settle the difficult negotiations⁹.

1 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

2 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

3 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

5 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

7 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。

8 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。