A Four Corners investigation has reviewed the two people smugglers are being considered for resettlement in Australia. The program secretly filmed the man discussing the people smuggling operations. Both men claim to have refugee status from United Nations. Four Corners has also filmed high ranking officials asking for bribes to free asylum seekers and provide passage to Australia.
Julia Gillard has challanged Tony Abbott to a debate on the economy. The PM shoot on the * just hours after announcing she showed the electorate who she really is. She is focus today campaigning on the education and annoucning plans to increase the family tax benefit and give parents and teachers more autonomy of running schools. Meanwhile Tony Abbott is promising tow injections 19-million-dollars to turism including special grats for infrastrure.
David Jones says will vigorously defend himself against the 37-million-dollar lawsuit. Junior publicist Kirsty Fraser-Kirk claimed she was sexually harassed by the company's former chief executive Mark McInnes. She says DJ did nothing when she told them about it.
And former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has been discharged from hospital as spokenman said Mr. Rudd is recoverying well from operation to remove his gall bladder.
And those other latest headlines is on the ABC news 24.
【生词】 gauntlet n.
1.(中世纪武士用的)金属手套
2.长手套, 防护手套
3.挑战
grants
名词 n.
1.补助金, 助学金, 津贴
2.(政府、机构的)拨款
3.同意,准许;准予;允许,许可;授予;让渡,让与,赐予
4.授给物(如财产、授地、专有权、补助、拨款等);转让物
5.(来自私人或公共授予机构的)基金
vigorously adv. 精神旺盛地
【正文】
The top stories this hour:
A Four Corners investigation has revealed that two people smugglers are being considered for resettlement in Australia. The program secretly filmed the men discussing their people smuggling operations. Both men claim to have refugee status from the United Nations. Four Corners has also filmed high ranking officials asking for bribes to free asylum seekers and provide passage to Australia.
Julia Gillard has challenged Tony Abbott to a debate on the economy. The PM threw down the gauntlet just hours after announcing she'd showed the electorate who she really is. She has focused today’s campaigning on education, announcing plans to increase the family tax benefit and give parents and teachers more autonomy in running schools. Meanwhile, Tony Abbott is promising to inject 90 million dollars into tourism, including special grants for infrastructure.
David Jones says it will vigorously defend itself against a 37-million-dollar lawsuit. Junior publicist Kristy Fraser-Kirk claims she was sexually harassed by the company’s former chief executive Mark McInnes. She says DJs did nothing when she told them about it.
And the former prime minister Kevin Rudd has been discharged from hospital. A spokesman said Mr Rudd is recovering well from an operation to remove his gall bladder.
And those are the latest headlines on ABC News 24.
At least five people have been killed in clashes on the border between Israel and Lebanon. Three Lebanese soldiers, a senior Israeli officer and a Lebanese journalist were killed in exchange. Lebanese forces say they opened fire after Israeli soldiers crossed the border to remove a tree that was blocking their surveillance. Israel denies making the crossing.
Police suspended a third night doorknocking homes in the western Sydney suburb of Hebersham, where a six-year-old girl went missing. Kiesha Abrahams was reported missing on Sunday morning. Her mother said she last saw her daughter in their Hebersham home on Saturday night. The search will resume at later this morning.
The tobacco industry has begun a fightback against the Government's plan for plain cigarette packets. The Alliance of Australian Retailers says it represents over 19,000 shopkeepers. It will begin an advertising campaign from tomorrow.
Fresh rain is hampering rescue efforts in Pakistan where more than 1,400 people have been killed in floods. Rising waters have washed away roads and entire villages in the country’s northwest. Rescue teams are struggling to reach almost 30,000 people cut off by the floods.
And a worker at a beer distribution firm in the United States has shot dead eight colleagues before turning the gun on himself. At least two people were also injured. There are reports the man, who was a driver of the company, had been due to face a disciplinary hearing for theft.
【生词】
Lebanon n. 黎巴嫩(西南亚国家)
Lebanese n. 黎巴嫩人
adj. 黎巴嫩(人)
surveillance n. 盯梢, 监视
hamper vt. 妨碍, 束缚, 限制
disciplinary hearing 纪律听证会
disciplinary dismissal 开除
disciplinary faculty 学科教师
disciplinary probation 留校察看处分
New South Wales police will today decide just how to continue the search for missing six-year-old Kiesha Abrahams. Last night, nearly 200 people held a candle-lit vigil outside the little girl's home in the Sydney suburb of Hebersham. Detectives interviewed Kiesha's parents and stepfather last night and her mother Kristi has told News Limited that she had nothing to do with her daughter's disappearance.
Former prime minister Paul Keating has called for tougher privacy laws. Speaking at the University of Melbourne last night, Mr Keating backed an Australian Law Reform Commission proposal for tough sanctions on companies that invaded privacy. He said some media organizations were too driven by gossip and they should meet higher ethical standards.
Thousands of people forced into camps by Pakistan's floods are still waiting to receive food and water. The worst floods in 80 years have affected more than three million people, killed 1,500 and have washed away entire villages. The Pakistani army says its aid operations are reaching stranded victims, but some survivors say the government has abandoned them.
Iranian officials are denying reports that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been the target of an assassination attempt. An Iranian website said an explosive device was thrown at the convoy in the western city of Hamedan, but the website later removed that story. Earlier reports have said the president survived the attack and the suspect was arrested at the scene. Officials now say the blast was caused by a firework.
【生词】
candle-lit 烛光
vigil n.
1.保持清醒(尤指夜间);不眠(时刻);守夜;警戒
a silent vigil outside the presidential palace 总统府外无声的守夜抗议
a vigil for the murdered politician 为遭谋杀的从政者通宵静默抗议
For three nights, the shepherd maintained his lonely vigil. 牧羊人孤零零地连续看守了三个晚上。
2.宗教节日前夕的祈祷(式)
The election campaign has stepped briefly back in time with Kevin Rudd and John Howard duelling over who should lead the country. John Howard launched a stinging attack on Julia Gillard at a Liberal Party fundraiser last night, calling her a total failure. And Mr Rudd said Tony Abbott isn't fair dinkum and he can't sit back and watch him slide into office.
The stepfather of missing six-year-old girl Kiesha Abrahams says police have asked him where he dumped her body. Robert Smith has told The Daily Telegraph that police absolutely think that he's killed her. Kiesha was reported missing on Sunday, but hasn't been seen by anyone outside her immediate family for a month.
Model Naomi Campbell has testified at the war crimes trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor. Mr Taylor's accused of using blood diamonds to buy weapons for Sierra Leone's rebels. Ms Campbell said she was given some dirty-looking stones in 1997 and was later told they were from the former leader.
The United Nations says Pakistan's worst floods in living memory have affected more than four million people. Torrential rain has drowned parts of the country, with at least 1,600 people confirmed dead and many more still missing.
And US officials have charged 14 people with providing money, personnel and services to the Somali militant group al-Shabab. Prosecutors say they raised the money by telling people the funds would help the poor and needy in Somalia. But the money is said to have gone to al-Shabab which the US and Britain consider to be a terrorist group.
【生词】
duel
n. 1.两男子的决斗 Feeling were so intense that they fought a duel. 双方情绪异常激烈, 以至进行了一场决斗。
2.竞争, 斗争
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The local share market has closed flat on the back of weakness in financial stocks, with investors cautious ahead of key US jobs data due out tonight. The All Ordinaries edged up just one point and the ASX 200 finished unchanged. The big four banks all closed in the red. But miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton managed to reverse their early losses and close higher. Elsewhere, Japan's Nikkei ended 12 points lower. To commodities now, and gold and oil are both on the rise. And the Australian dollar is buying just over 91.5 US cents.
There are strong signs interest rates will stay on hold for longer with Reserve Bank making virtually no changes to its inflation and economic forecasts. The RBA's issued its quarterly statement on monetary policy, and says underlying inflation set to remain within its 2-3 per cent comfort zone until the end of next year, which suggests an extended period of steady interest rates.
And activity in Australia's construction industry suffered another sharp fall in July with a significant slowdown in engineering and commercial building. According to the Australian Industry Group, all sectors were affected by tough market conditions, subdued client demand and intense competition to secure new work.
【生词】
inflation 通货膨胀
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The latest Newspoll shows that Labor has an election-winning lead of 52 to 48 per cent, that's up from last week's 50-50 result. Today's Galaxy poll also shows the ALP with a narrow lead over the Coalition on a two-party preferred basis.
The Federal Government is promising cash grants for schools that improve their performance. If the Gillard Government's re-elected, high schools will get 100,000 dollars for improvement in school attendance and literacy and numeracy rates. Primary schools will be eligible for 75,000 dollars under that scheme.
The Prime Minister and Opposition leader will take part in a town hall-style debate on Wednesday. Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott will be quizzed by 200 voters at a forum in the western Sydney suburb of Rooty Hill. Mr Abbott has refused the Prime Minister's calls for a second debate on the economy.
Jury notes from the Northern Territory Police files have revealed why Lindy Chamberlain was convicted of murdering her daughter Azaria. News Limited papers say the handwritten notes show that female jurors were tougher on Lindy Chamberlain than the men were. The mother of two was convicted of killing Azaria at Uluru in 1980. She was released six years later when the baby's jacket was found near where Azaria disappeared.
The bodies of 10 aid workers shot dead in Afghanistan have been flown to Kabul. Six Americans, two Afghans, one German and a Briton were among the group. The Taliban says it carried out the attack on the medical convoy. But police believe robbery was the motive.
【要点】
literacy and numeracy rates. 识字率和识数率
robbery 抢劫案, 抢劫, 盗取,盗窃,掠夺
Alice Lynne (Lindy) Chamberlain-Creighton (born 4 March 1948) was at the centre of one of Australia's most publicised murder trials, in which she was convicted of killing her baby daughter, Azaria. The conviction was later overturned.
Lindy Chamberlain是澳洲司法界的一个比较有名的案例。1980年,她和她老公带着两个月大的小孩去Uluru玩,然后小女孩Azaria就失踪了... Lindy说是野狗dingo叼走了,可是后来在她车上发现有小孩血迹,大家就说是Lindy把女孩搞死并埋了的。
陪审团的娘们比较狠,坚持判她有罪,她老公胁从犯。 然后Lindy就杯具性地入狱了。
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The battle over broadband is set to take centre stage today with the Federal Coalition due to outline its alternative to the NBN. The Government says the 43-billion-dollar National Broadband Network will be complete by 2018. But the Opposition plans to scrap the network if elected, arguing there is a much more cost-effective way to deliver faster Internet access.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in China's worst flooding in a decade. In northwest China, almost 340 people were killed in a mudslide. Rescuers are desperately searching for more than 1,000 people still missing in Gansu province.
Two people giving evidence at the war crimes trial of Charles Taylor have contradicted evidence by Naomi Campbell about blood diamonds. Actress Mia Farrow and Campbell's former agent Carole White said the model was given diamonds by the ex-Liberian president. Last week Naomi Campbell told The Hague she didn't know who gave her some dirty-looking stones.
The World Trade Organization has ordered Australia to change restrictions on New Zealand apple imports after it found they were illegal. The Federal Government lifted an 85-year ban on imports in 2006, but at the time imposed strict new conditions due to fears of fire blight disease. The WTO said the use of non-tariff barriers breached trade laws.
And a new report claims Australians rank among the world's worst abusers of alcohol. The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre found almost one in five Australians experienced some period of problematic drinking.
Labor's hit out at Tony Abbott for failing, they say, to understand his own broadband policy. The Coalition yesterday released a six-billion-dollar plan to extend Internet services through a mix of cable and wireless technology. And it confirmed it would scrap the Government's 43-billion-dollar National Broadband Network if elected. But last night, the Federal Opposition leader Tony Abbott couldn't explain some technical aspects of the plan.
The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader will be quizzed by voters at a forum in western Sydney tonight. The Prime Minister is heading into the event with a two-billion-dollar promise to improve the region's rail services between Parramatta and Epping.
Pakistan's president has returned to his flood-stricken country after a foreign tour that prompted widespread criticism. Many people were angry that Asif Ali Zardari was not at home to oversee the government's response to the disaster.
The number of people killed by a mudslide in western China is now more than 700. More than 1,000 people are still missing four days after heavy rain and mud swept away three villages in Gansu province. Rescuers have been trying to get through metres of mud in the hope of finding some survivors.
And relatives of nine Australians killed in a plane crash in Papua New Guinea will today mark the first anniversary of their deaths. The Australians were among 13 people who died in thick jungle when the plane went down last year. The group was in PNG to walk the Kokoda Track.
An audience of undecided voters has declared Tony Abbott the winner over Julia Gillard at a public forum in western Sydney last night. The Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader field questions from about 200 voters at the Rooty Hill RSL Club. Julia Gillard was asked a number of questions about the ousting of Kevin Rudd and the general issue of trust, while Mr Abbott was grilled on his broadband plan.
The United Nations has launched an appeal for half a billion dollars to help victims of Pakistan's flood disaster. More than 14 million people have been affected by the floods and more than 1,100 have died.
The official death toll from mudslides in China has risen above 1,100. In western Gansu province, 700 more are missing, buried in debris caused by the mudslides. Ten thousand rescue workers are now searching for survivors.
The first person to be extradited from Indonesia to Australia to face people smuggling charges, has been found guilty by a Perth court. Thirty-five-year-old Hadi Ahmadi was found guilty of helping two boats travel from Indonesia to Christmas Island in 2001. The boats were carrying 550 asylum seekers.
And the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare says the nation is spending an increasing amount to help people with mental health concerns. A report from the Institute shows national spending on mental health services between 2007 to 2008 was nearly six billion dollars. Governments bear 96 per cent of the cost, with private health funds paying the rest.
【生词】
field(verb): to answer questions, telephone calls etc, especially when there are a lot of them or the questions are difficult:
The Minister fielded questions on the Middle East.
The press office fielded numerous calls from the media.
oust vt.
1.驱逐, 革职, 罢黜
2.剥夺
grill
vt. & vi. 1.烧烤
vt. 1.拷问, 盘问
n.
1.烤架
2.烧烤餐馆
3.(一盘)烤肉
4.格板, 格栅
Pakistan's President has visisted a camp for flood victims during his first trip to area hit by the deluge , Asif Ali Zardari has been criticised for failing to cut short oversea's trip when the flood first hit. Pakistan's government also been under fire for slow response to the country's worst humanitarian crisis. The floods now threat 14 million people.
Four Uganda man who admitted to planning the bomb attack which killed more than 17 soccer fans watching the World Cup. Two blasts strucked a restaurant and rugby club filled with people watching last month Cup final. The four men were arrested say they are motivated by religion.
Bali nine ringleaders that Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will today launch their final appeals which againt death sentence for drug trafficking. The pair's Bali-based lawyer says the team will submit the appeals to Denpasar District court. 26-years-old Chan and 29-years-old Sukumaran are two of nine Australians convicted of 2005 plot to smuggle more than 8 kilograms heroin from Bali to Australia.
8 people will face a Melbourne court today charged with running a multi-million-dollar heroin ring. Polices of Australia Crime Commission raided 14 Melbourne homes yesterday morning. They ceased million of dollars with heroin cash and crown casino gambling chips. 21 people were arrested in * and police exptected to lay more charges today.
And 3 cases of new global super bug could be recoreded in Australian hospitals. The bacteria is most resistant to antibiotic that scientis have ever seen. The bugs has been blamed on increasing number of patients travelling to Asia for so call medical tourim. The World Health Organization describe the super bugs as one of the greatest threats to human health.
【正文】
In other news:
Pakistan's president has visited a camp for flood victims during his first trip to areas hit by the deluge. Asif Ali Zardari has been criticized for failing to cut short an overseas trip when the floods first hit. Pakistan's government has also been under fire for its slow response to the country's worst humanitarian crisis. The floods have now affected 14 million people.
Four Ugandan men have admitted to planning bomb attacks which killed more than 70 soccer fans watching the World Cup. Two blasts struck a restaurant and a rugby club filled with people watching last month's Cup final. The four men arrested say they were motivated by religion.
Bali Nine ringleaders Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran will today launch their final appeals against their death sentences for drug trafficking. The pair's Bali-based lawyer says his team will submit the appeals to the Denpasar District Court. Twenty-six-year-old Chan and 29-year-old Sukumaran are two of nine Australians convicted over a 2005 plot to smuggle more than eight kilograms of heroin from Bali to Australia.
Eight people will face a Melbourne court today charged with running a multi-million-dollar heroin ring. Police in the Australian Crime Commission raided 14 Melbourne homes yesterday morning. They seized millions of dollars worth of heroin, cash and Crown Casino gambling chips. Twenty-one people were arrested in the sting and police expect to lay more charges today.
And three cases of a new global superbug have been recorded in Australian hospitals. The bacteria is the most resistant to antibiotics that scientists have ever seen. The bug has been blamed on an increasing number of patients travelling to Asia for so-called medical tourism. The World Health Organization describes superbugs as one of the greatest threats to human health.
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The local market has snapped a three-day losing streak with both the All Ords and the ASX 200 closing up one and a third per cent. Bargain-hunters stepped into snap up Telstra shares after it slumped to an all-time low of $2.82, helping it recover a little from yesterday's 9.5 per cent decline. Qantas also bounced back and Myer added to yesterday’s gains, it's closed up nearly 2 per cent. The miners also rose on stronger metals prices. Rio Tinto put on 2.5 per cent as did Lihir after gold had its biggest one-day rally in more than two months. Higher-than-expected US jobless claims have prompted a surge in safe-haven assets like gold. Asian stocks were fairly mixed today. Japan's Nikkei recovered from early losses to finish up 0.5 per cent. And the Australian dollar strengthened to 90.1 US cents.
As Telstra share price touched record lows today, the telco announced plans to sell its share in the Chinese Internet business SouFun. Two private equity firms have agreed to buy whatever shares Telstra is not able to sell through an initial public offering. They've also agreed to buy the holding for 900 million if the float process isn't completed. Their offer is less than analysts involved in the float had previously flagged, but well above the 280 million Telstra paid for its 51 per cent stake in 2006.
【生词】
(1)streak [countable]: a period of time during which you continue to be successful or to fail (不断经历成功或失败的)一段时期
*be on a winning/losing streak
(2)step into something [phrasal verb]: to start doing something, or become involved in a situation: 涉足
*Sally stepped into the role of team leader.
(3)snap somebody/something ↔ up [phrasal verb]: to buy something immediately, especially because it is very cheap: 抢购
*People were snapping up bargains.
(4)all-time: used when you compare things to say that one of them is the best, worst etc that there has ever been 空前的,创记录的
(5)rally [countable]: an occasion when something, especially the value of shares, becomes stronger again after a period of weakness or defeat:止跌回升
*a late rally in the Tokyo stock market
(6) telco [noun]: telephone company
Date: 1975 : a telecommunications company
(8)float [countable]: BUSINESS a time when shares in a company are made available for people to buy for the first time [= flotation](公司或企业)发行(股票)上市/(公开发行股票)开办新公司
There will be showers spread across the southeast from cloud which has been driven by strong winds behind a front. That's also causing Alpine snow. It will be mainly clear elsewhere. A fine day for Queensland apart from a few isolated showers over the far north of Cape York Peninsula.
New South Wales can also expect some showers, scattered above the southern and Central Ranges. Mostly sunny in the northwest and along the coast. It will be a cool day in Victoria with rain in the east, scattered showers over southern and mountain districts and in the northwest.
Rain in Tasmania as well, mainly above the north and the west. That rain will ease during the afternoon and contract to the west, south and Bass Strait Islands by evening.
South Australia can expect isolated showers over the southern agricultural area and strong winds above the southern coasts. Isolated showers above the south coast of Western Australia. They will extend throughout the southwest district and into the far south. It will be fine and sunny in the Northern Territory with light winds and coastal sea breezes.
Looking ahead to Monday. Sydney mostly sunny and windy, 18. A possible afternoon shower in Perth at top of 20. Melbourne a few showers, 13. A shower or two for Adelaide as well on 15. A cool day in Hobart at top of 9 degrees.
Labor is maintaining it's lead in the polls as prepare to launch the election campaign in Brisban today. The latest Newspoll shows Labor will narrow lead over coalition 52 to 48 on the two party preferred basis. JG is exptected to use the launch today to outline her economy plan and highligh Labor's policies on health and education. The oppostion leader TA will turn his attention back to Sydeny today. He is due to compaign in five marginal electries. Mr. Abbott is * last night when he told those Labor's plan parameter * is holy promise.
United Nation's Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says the destruction in flood deal with status in Pakistan is heart-wrenching. Mr Ban says the scale of disaster is greater than anything he has seen before and he has called for urgent aid to the region.The Pakistan government says more than 20 million people have been infected by the floods.
In United States, eight spectators were killed when the car plunged into them in a drain desert motorace. 12 others were injured when the car crashed in the crowd and nine race near Los Angeles.
And man will appealing court today charged for double shooting in Melbourne. AC is charged for murdering BC and GW in Melbourne on Friday afternoon. And MC could the head of Melbourne crime family who was shot dead in Melbourne on Friday would be buried today.
【正文】
Leading the news this morning:
Labor is maintaining its lead in the polls as it prepares to launch its election campaign in Brisbane today. The latest Newspoll shows Labor with a narrow lead over the Coalition, 52 to 48 on a two-party-preferred basis. Julia Gillard is expected to use the launch today to outline her economic plan and highlight Labor's policies on health and education.
The Opposition leader Tony Abbott will turn his attention back to Western Sydney today. He is due to campaign in five marginal electorates. Mr Abbott was in Penrith last night where he told voters that Labor's planned Parramatta to Epping rail link is a hollow promise.
The United Nations Secretary-General Bang Ki-moon says the destruction in flood-devastated Pakistan is heart-wrenching. Mr Ban says the scale of the disaster is greater than anything he's seen before. And he's called for urgent aid to the region. The Pakistani government says more than 20 million people have been affected by the floods.
In the United States, eight spectators were killed when a car ploughed into them during a desert motor race. Twelve others were injured when the car crashed into the crowd at the night race near Los Angeles.
And a man will appear in court today charged with a double shooting in Melbourne. Adam Kosian is charged with murdering Boris Kostov and Goran Vasic in Melbourne on Friday afternoon. And Macchour Chaouk, the head of a Melbourne crime family who was also shot dead in Melbourne on Friday will be buried today.