澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-11-07

 Treasurer¹ Wayne Swan has been told to abandon his plan for a budget surplus next financial year. Economic forecaster Deloitte Access Economics says the budget is heading for a deficit² of almost $2 billion in 2012-13. Now the forecaster warns that further cuts to government spending could harm the economy, but the Federal Treasurer is flagging more tough decisions in order to get the budget back in the black. 

 

The Prime Minister Julia Gillard has made a surprise visit to Afghanistan. Ms Gillard met Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul. The bodies of the three Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan last week have also now arrived home. The men were awarded service medals at a special ceremony at Amberley air base west of Brisbane yesterday. 

 

The Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is under increasing pressure to resign in order to break the country's political deadlock³. Greek ministers are holding emergency talks to try to resolve the crisis. The country's main opposition⁴ leader is refusing to take part in a coalition⁵ government led by Mr Papandreou. A deal needs to be done in order to ratify⁶ the EU's latest bailout package so the country can get access to that money. 

 

Now four bombs have exploded in a market in Baghdad, killing⁷ at least eight people and injuring 26. The attacks took place as people were buying food for the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. Extra security has been out in place across Iraq for the festival holiday.

1 treasurer   

n.司库，财务主管

参考例句：

• Mr. Smith was succeeded by Mrs.Jones as treasurer.琼斯夫人继史密斯先生任会计。
• The treasurer was arrested for trying to manipulate the company's financial records.财务主管由于试图窜改公司财政帐目而被拘留。

2 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

3 deadlock   

n.僵局，僵持

参考例句：

• The negotiations reached a deadlock after two hours.两小时后，谈判陷入了僵局。
• The employers and strikers are at a deadlock over the wage.雇主和罢工者在工资问题上相持不下。

4 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。

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 ratify   

v.批准，认可，追认

参考例句：

• The heads of two governments met to ratify the peace treaty.两国政府首脑会晤批准和平条约。
• The agreement have to be ratify by the board.该协议必须由董事会批准。

7 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。