VOA慢速英语2014 塔利班袭击巴基斯坦学校至少130人遇难

 

Taliban Kills at Least 130 People at Pakistani School 塔利班袭击巴基斯坦学校至少130人遇难

At least 130 people are confirmed dead in Pakistan after Taliban militants² raided an army-operated school. The raid happened Tuesday in the northwestern city of Peshawar. The militants wore military clothing and carried explosive devices.  

Most of the victims were students. A local official said more than 100 people were wounded. An army spokesman says security forces killed at least six militants.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif condemned³ the raid, calling it a “national tragedy.” The Pakistani leader has declared three days of national mourning. He promised to continue military operations against the militants.

The top American diplomat⁴ in Pakistan -- Ambassador Richard Olson -- expressed sympathy with the country. He said “few have suffered more at the hands of terrorists and extremists than the people of Pakistan.”

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack. It said the raid was meant to answer Pakistan’s offensive against Taliban supporters in the country’s northwestern tribal⁵ area. The area is a training ground and shelter for militants.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has joined Australians in mourning the victims of a hostage-taking at a Sydney café. The incident ended when police officers raided the store. Two hostages and the hostage-taker were killed in a shootout with police.

The gunman was identified as 50-year-old Man Haron Monis. Mr. Abbott described the hostage-taking as the “sick fantasy of a disturbed individual.” He said the Iranian-born suspect was well-known to Australian officials, but did not appear to be on a list of terrorists who officials watch closely. He said the suspect had a long history of crime, emotional problems and involvement in extremism.

The self-declared Muslim clergyman had been found guilty of sending threatening letters to the parents of Australian soldiers who died in Afghanistan. He was facing legal action related to the killing⁶ of his former wife in 2013.

During the incident Monday, Man Haron Monis forced hostages to hold up a flag with an Islamic statement of faith. In statements to media, he said he supported the Islamic State militant¹ group.

Australian Muslim groups have condemned the hostage-taking and the use of the Islamic flag.

Korean Air faces possible fines and flight suspensions because of the actions of former top airline official Heather Cho. She delayed a Korean Air flight earlier this month because she was unhappy with how she was served nuts.

South Korea’s Transport Minister said on Tuesday it is studying possible measures to punish the company, which it said violated aviation law. The ministry⁷ said Korean Air could face up to a month of flight suspensions and a two million dollar fine.

Ms. Cho is the daughter of the airline’s chairman.

She was sitting in the area of an airplane known as “first class” when she became angry that a flight attendant served her macadamia nuts in a bag instead of on a plate. She forced the plane to return to the airport and expelled the cabin crew chief.

Ms. Cho has been ousted⁸ of all her positions with Korean Air. Last week she apologized for her actions.         

Words in This Story

militants - n. people active in trying to cause political change, often by the use of force or violence

victims - n. people who are injured, killed or made to suffer

mourning - v. expressing sadness

fines - n. payments ordered by courts to punish people or businesses for crimes

1 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

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 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

4 diplomat   

n.外交官，外交家；能交际的人，圆滑的人

参考例句：

• The diplomat threw in a joke, and the tension was instantly relieved.那位外交官插进一个笑话，紧张的气氛顿时缓和下来。
• He served as a diplomat in Russia before the war.战前他在俄罗斯当外交官。

5 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

6 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。