澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-01-06

 US President Barack Obama has outlined big cuts to the military and a greater presence in the Asia-Pacific region. Tens of thousands of troops will be axed to find half a trillion dollars in savings¹ over the next decade. President Obama says troop numbers can be reduced because US soldiers now being withdrawn² from overseas complice like Iraq.

 

About 70 people have been killed in a spate³ of bomb attacks in Iraq. Several cars and roadside bombs targeted at Shia Muslims in southern Iraq and Bagdad. Sectarian tensions have been on the rise since the withdrawal⁴ of US troops from that country.

 

Fire authorities in South Australia say the threat posed by bushfire in the Flinders Ranges has reduced. More than 100 firefighters have been battling the blaze near the township of Wilmington. Authorities are warning residents there still are risks and advising to check their properties for fires and embers.

 

A new study shows more people in Australia and New Zealand use marijuana and amphetamine than anywhere else in the world. Medical journal The Lancet has examined global drug use. It found up to 14.8 percent of people in Australia and New Zealand use marijuana last year, almost 3 percent use amphetamine, such as "speed".

 

And the anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd says a Japanese boat has been monitoring its operations in the Southern Ocean. The group's boat the Brigitte Bardot has docked in the West Australian port of Fremantle after been damaged by a large wave. The boat's manager Simon Ager says the Japanese boat followed them as the boat was being told.

1 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

2 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

3 spate   

n.泛滥，洪水，突然的一阵

参考例句：

• Police are investigating a spate of burglaries in the area.警察正在调查这一地区发生的大量盗窃案。
• Refugees crossed the border in full spate.难民大量地越过了边境。

4 withdrawal   

n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销

参考例句：

• The police were forced to make a tactical withdrawal.警方被迫进行战术撤退。
• They insisted upon a withdrawal of the statement and a public apology.他们坚持要收回那些话并公开道歉。