澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-06-11

 The Federal Government has released its draft legislation for the minerals resource rent tax. The tax rate remains¹ at 22.5 per cent and is restricted to coal and iron ore. Mining companies and other parties have about a month to respond before the final draft is released later this year. BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have already released statements. Both say they are committed to working with the Government to bring in the tax.

 

The Greek prime minister has defended a new austerity package despite opposition² from both sides of parliament. A growing number in the ruling Socialist³ Party now oppose the plan, which includes tax hikes and a privatisation programme. Eurozone governments had threatened to cut off aid if Greece failed to implement⁴ promised austerity measures. But despite labour strikes and street protests, the Greek government has vowed⁵ to make it law before the month is out.

 

And to the market numbers, in Europe, stocks pared losses after the German parliament backed more aid for Greece. The local share market finished the week with a quiet day of trade. The All Ordinaries added about a third of a percent. In the US, markets are weaker. The Dow Jones is down 172 points. And the local currency is buying around 105 US cents.

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 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。

3 socialist   

n.社会主义者；adj.社会主义的

参考例句：

• China is a socialist country,and a developing country as well.中国是一个社会主义国家，也是一个发展中国家。
• His father was an ardent socialist.他父亲是一个热情的社会主义者。

4 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

5 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。