澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2013-04-04

 More than fifty people have been killed and scores injured in a Taliban attack in western Afghanistan. It happened at a court building where the militants¹ tried to free suspected Taliban members who were standing² trial. The attackers were disguised as Afghan soldiers. A truck bomb exploded, followed by a heavy gun battle in nearby public buildings. It's the latest atrocity³ in a campaign of violence to undermine the government as international forces withdraw from the country.

 

The superannuation industry is threatening to follow the mining industry's anti-tax campaign against the federal government. This follows treasurer's confirmation⁴ that he's in fact considering winding⁵ back super tax breaks for the very wealthy. The Financial Services Council is calling for clarification, way before the May budget. Its chief executive John Brogden says constant changes to the scheme are causing uncertainty⁶ and it all has to stop.

 

Australia's kindergarten students have shown improvement to the major survey of childhood development. The second nationwide survey measures indicators⁷ including physical health and general knowledge and communication skills. Despite the improvement, it's found one in five kids are vulnerable and the figure for indigenous⁸ children is twice as high.

 

The United States is moving an advanced missile defence system to Guam in response to threats from North Korea. The Pentagon says it's simply a precaution against North Korea's ballistic missile threat. It comes as foreign minister Bob Carr warned Pyongyang to pull back or risk a full-scale military clash.

1 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

2 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

3 atrocity   

n.残暴，暴行

参考例句：

• These people are guilty of acts of great atrocity.这些人犯有令人发指的暴行。
• I am shocked by the atrocity of this man's crimes.这个人行凶手段残忍狠毒使我震惊。

4 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

5 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

6 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

7 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。

8 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。