澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-02-09

 Senior Liberals have come out in force to defend Tony Abbott over comments he made about the death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan. Channel Seven has broadcast Mr Abbott saying “shit happens” when discussing the circumstances surrounding the death of Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney last year. Mr Abbott says his comments were taken out of context. He’s spoken to the soldier’s widow, who says she accepts Mr Abbott’s explanation.

 

And the Defence Force reportedly has plans to significantly cut the number of Australian troops in Afghanistan. Fairfax newspapers are reporting unnamed defence sources saying numbers will be cut by a quarter, partly by sending a smaller force to replace the existing one in Oruzgan province.

 

A confidential¹ report has raised serious questions about safety at Sydney’s Lucas Heights nuclear reactor². The Comcare report obtained by the ABC shows accidents at the facility are under-reported and basic safety standards are being breached³. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation⁴, which runs the reactor, says the report is “flawed”.

 

Lawyers for Julian Assange have argued Swedish authorities could use a video link to interview the WikiLeaks founder⁵ about rape⁶ allegations instead of extraditing him. A former Swedish prosecutor⁷ has also told the hearing authorities he’d acted illegally by releasing Mr Assange’s name.

 

And as Egypt’s government struggles to deal with the ongoing⁸ crisis, even more people are turning out to protest. Hundreds of thousands of people have poured into Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

1 confidential   

adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的

参考例句：

• He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。
• We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

2 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

3 breached   

攻破( breach的现在分词 )； 破坏，违反

参考例句：

• These commitments have already been breached. 这些承诺已遭背弃。
• Our tanks have breached the enemy defences. 我方坦克车突破了敌人的防线。

4 organisation   

n.组织，安排，团体，有机休

参考例句：

• The method of his organisation work is worth commending.他的组织工作的方法值得称道。
• His application for membership of the organisation was rejected.他想要加入该组织的申请遭到了拒绝。

5 Founder   

n.创始者，缔造者

参考例句：

• He was extolled as the founder of their Florentine school.他被称颂为佛罗伦萨画派的鼻祖。
• According to the old tradition,Romulus was the founder of Rome.按照古老的传说，罗穆卢斯是古罗马的建国者。

6 rape   

n.抢夺，掠夺，强奸；vt.掠夺，抢夺，强奸

参考例句：

• The rape of the countryside had a profound ravage on them.对乡村的掠夺给他们造成严重创伤。
• He was brought to court and charged with rape.他被带到法庭并被指控犯有强奸罪。

7 prosecutor   

n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人

参考例句：

• The defender argued down the prosecutor at the court.辩护人在法庭上驳倒了起诉人。
• The prosecutor would tear your testimony to pieces.检查官会把你的证言驳得体无完肤。

8 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。