澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-04-19

The Federal Government has agreed to guarantee future funding in the health system but only at the states signed on to its health plan. The Prime Minister offered the sweetener as state and territory leaders met ahead of formal COAG (Council of Australian Government) talks.

 

European airlines and airports are questioning a blanket ban on air travel which has been enforced because of ash from an Icelandic volcano. Airlines say they are losing 1.7 million dollars an hour and say there may be no need. Test flights from France, Germany and Holland have returned unscathed, so airlines are urging regulators to rethink the restrictions¹.

 

The leaders of Thailand's Yellow Shirt movement have threatened to hold their own demonstrations² if the government fails to end mass protests by their red-shirted rivals. The Yellow Shirts have given the government a week to act before they take to the streets.

 

And the Zimbabwean president has called for an end to politically and racially motivated violence. The country's celebrating 30 years of independence and Robert Mugabe used the occasion to call for greater tolerance³ and respect. Human rights groups claim President Mugabe is responsible for the torture and murder of thousands of Zimbabweans over the past 30 years.

 

And there’ll be more news later.

 

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 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。

3 tolerance   

n.宽容；容忍，忍受；耐药力；公差

参考例句：

• Tolerance is one of his strengths.宽容是他的一个优点。
• Human beings have limited tolerance of noise.人类对噪音的忍耐力有限。