澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-01-31

 Tens of thousands of protesters have again flooded the streets of Egypt’s main cities, demanding an end to Hosni Mubarak’s rule. The death toll¹ has now passed 100. And the Egyptian military is attempting to assert its authority, but the protesters are remaining defiant². Egypt’s main opposition³ leader, Mohamed ElBaradei, has addressed protesters in Cairo, telling them “change is on its way”.

 

Ex-tropical cyclone⁴ Anthony has brought gale-force winds and torrential rain to north Queensland’s coast. It crossed the coast late last night. Power has been cut to about 10,000 properties.

 

The Federal Government will start trying to sell the merits of its flood levy⁵ to the crossbenchers today. Ministers will start talks with independent senator Nick Xenophon later this morning. Meetings with the other independents are also scheduled for later in the week.

 

An Indonesian court has raised the hopes of two members of the Bali Nine drug ring who are trying to escape the death penalty. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran have made their final appeals against their death sentences. Fairfax is reporting this morning the panel of three judges has said the right to life must not be ignored, reduced or taken away.

 

And thousands of people have turned out in Tunisia for the return of a leading Islamic leader. Rached Ghannouchi has arrived in the capital Tunis after two decades in exile. He’d been facing charges of plotting against the state. And Mr Ghannouchi says he is not interested in running for political office. 

1 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

2 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

3 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。

4 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。

5 levy   

n.征收税或其他款项，征收额

参考例句：

• They levy a tax on him.他们向他征税。
• A direct food levy was imposed by the local government.地方政府征收了食品税。