澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-02-02

 Severe Tropical Cyclone¹ Yasi has now been upgraded to a category five system. North Queenslanders have been warned to take refuge this morning, as that cyclone bears down on the coast. More than 30,000 people have been told to leave their homes. Yasi is likely to cross the coast somewhere between Cairns and Innisfail late tonight or early tomorrow morning.

 

Cairo’s Tahrir Square has become a mass of humanity, as several hundred thousand Egyptians demand President Hosni Mubarak step down. The so-called “March of Millions” marks a week of anti-government rallies. President Mubarak is reportedly preparing to release a statement to the media and there’s speculation² that he’ll say he will not contest the next election.

 

King Abdullah of Jordan has accepted the resignation of his prime minister as protests continue across the country. The king has asked former army General Marouf Bakhit to form a new cabinet. The appeal follows weeks of demonstrations³, demanding political and economic reform.

 

A human rights watchdog says 2010 was the deadliest year for Afghan since the US-led invasion nearly a decade ago. More than 2,400 civilians⁴ were killed during the year with insurgents⁵ responsible for nearly two thirds of the dead. Afghanistan Rights Monitor blamed Western forces for more than 500 casualties.

 

And an out-of-control bushfire has burnt through 7,000 hectares of land in eastern Victoria. The Country Fire Authority says firefighters are still working to contain that blaze. It’s near Nowa Nowa in East Gippsland.

1 cyclone   

n.旋风，龙卷风

参考例句：

• An exceptionally violent cyclone hit the town last night.昨晚异常猛烈的旋风吹袭了那个小镇。
• The cyclone brought misery to thousands of people.旋风给成千上万的人带来苦难。

2 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

3 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。

4 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

5 insurgents   

n.起义，暴动，造反( insurgent的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The regular troops of Baden joined the insurgents. 巴登的正规军参加到起义军方面来了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Against the Taliban and Iraqi insurgents, these problems are manageable. 要对付塔利班与伊拉克叛乱分子，这些问题还是可以把握住的。 来自互联网