澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2011-11-08

 The Senate is expected to pass the Government's carbon tax legislation today. The Government and the Greens will use their numbers to bring on a final vote to the 18 bills. The Opposition¹ is vowing² to scrap³ the tax if it wins Government. The tax will start from July next year. 

 

The jury in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Michael Jackson's doctor has reached a verdict. They are expected to deliver their decision in about two hours' time. Dr Conrad Murray is accused of giving the singer a lethal⁴ dose of the anaesthetic propofol. If convicted, he faces up to four years in jail. 

 

The Federal Opposition says the decision to scrap the $223 million tender process for the offshore⁵ broadcaster Australia Network is yet another example of the Government's incompetence⁶. The tender was abandoned because of leaks of confidential⁷ information to the media. Sky News is competing with the ABC to win the tender. The ABC has been given an extension to run Australia Network until next August. A final decision is due in the first quarter of next year.  

 

Greece's main political party is expected to name a new prime minister and cabinet later today. Prime Minister George Papandreou resigned yesterday as part of a deal to form a unity⁸ government. The deal clears the way for the parliament to ratify⁹ the eurozone's debt package. 

 

And fears are growing that Italy may default on its debts. The Italian government's borrowing costs have risen with 10-year bonds hitting at 6.5 per cent.

1 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。

2 vowing   

起誓，发誓（vow的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild its collapsed bridge. 布什总统承诺将帮助明尼阿波利斯重建坍塌的大桥。
• President Bush is vowing to help Minneapolis rebuild this collapse bridge. 布什总统发誓要帮助明尼阿波利斯重建起这座坍塌的桥梁。

3 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

4 lethal   

adj.致死的；毁灭性的

参考例句：

• A hammer can be a lethal weapon.铁锤可以是致命的武器。
• She took a lethal amount of poison and died.她服了致命剂量的毒药死了。

5 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

6 incompetence   

n.不胜任，不称职

参考例句：

• He was dismissed for incompetence. 他因不称职而被解雇。
• She felt she had been made a scapegoat for her boss's incompetence. 她觉得，本是老板无能，但她却成了替罪羊。

7 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。

8 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

9 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。