澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-06-27

 Kevin Rudd will be sworn in as prime minister today. He's promising¹ a new approach to make Labor² competitive at the federal election. His return to the top job followed another day of drama in Canberra. In the end, his victory over Julia Gillard was 57 votes to 45. Julia Gillard will quit politics before(口误） at the upcoming election. Her fate was sealed when her key backer Bill Shorten announced he was deserting her. Ms Gillard has congratulated Kevin Rudd on his elevation³ and says she respects her colleagues' decision.

 

The change of leader has come at a big cost. Six ministers have gone to the backbench. Two of them, Peter Garrett and Craig Emerson, have announced they will leave politics. Anthony Aalbanese has replaced Wayne Swan as deputy leader and Chris Bowen is tipped to take over as treasurer⁴.

 

In other news. 

 

It's being reported that former South African President Nelson Mandela is now on life support in hospital. The Archbishop of Cape⁵ Town says he's praying that Mr Mandela will have a peaceful end. A steady stream of family members have been visiting him in hospital.

 

In the US, supporters of gay marriage are celebrating after the Supreme⁶ Court overturned a law denying government benefits to same-sex couples. The court has ruled the Defence of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as being only between a man and a woman, is unconstitutional.

 

1 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

2 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

3 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

4 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

5 cape   

n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风

参考例句：

• I long for a trip to the Cape of Good Hope.我渴望到好望角去旅行。
• She was wearing a cape over her dress.她在外套上披着一件披肩。

6 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。