澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-11-08

Defence ties in Afghanistan will be under discussion on Hillary Clinton's final day of her Australian visit. The US secretary of state and the Defence Secretary Robert Gates will meet their Australian counterparts Kevin Rudd and Steven Smith this morning.

Voters in Burma have responded to an opposition¹ call to boycott² the first elections there in two decades. Turnout in some areas was reportedly as low as 35 per cent. Democracy advocate Aung San Suu Kyi's opposition refused to take part in the poll, calling it a shame.

And there are reports around this morning of problems with three more of the engines on Qantas planes. Two have been removed from the wings for closer inspection³. Qantas won't say what the problems are, but it is bad news for thousands of passengers stranded⁴ as the airline reorganises schedules after problems with the A380.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission will be given the power to prosecute⁵ banks that try to profit from exit fees. This is part of the Government's financial law reforms that will be announced later this week. The banks charge customers up to $900 to switch their home loans. But there are reports this morning that at least some of the Big Four are said to dump the fees.

Barack Obama isn't satisfied with the pace of Pakistan's fight against terrorism inside its borders. Speaking on the second day of his Indian visit, the US president says progress isn't as quick as he would like. Many Indians aren't happy that the US continues to supply weapons to Pakistan. But the president is defending his policy, saying America is working with Pakistan's government to stamp out extremism.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 boycott   

n./v.(联合)抵制，拒绝参与

参考例句：

• We put the production under a boycott.我们联合抵制该商品。
• The boycott lasts a year until the Victoria board permitsreturn.这个抗争持续了一年直到维多利亚教育局妥协为止。

3 inspection   

n.检查，审查，检阅

参考例句：

• On random inspection the meat was found to be bad.经抽查，发现肉变质了。
• The soldiers lined up for their daily inspection by their officers.士兵们列队接受军官的日常检阅。

4 stranded   

a.搁浅的，进退两难的

参考例句：

• He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
• I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。

5 prosecute   

vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官

参考例句：

• I am trying my best to prosecute my duties.我正在尽力履行我的职责。
• Is there enough evidence to prosecute?有没有起诉的足够证据？