BBC News with Fiona MacDonald
An international military operation isunderwayin Libya toenforcea United Nations resolution to prevent Colonel Gaddafi's forces attacking civilians. The United States said American and British naval forces have fired more than 100 cruise missiles at around 20 military targets in Libya. Paul Adams reports from Washington.
Within the last few minutes, the director of the US military's Joint Staff, Vice Admiral William Gortney, has given more details about what he described as the first phase of a multi-phased operation. He said 110 cruise missiles had been fired against Libya's air defence and missile systems. This phase he said was all about creating conditions for coalition partners to patrol the no-fly zone established by UN Security Council Resolution 1973.
State TV in Libya said civilian targets had been hit. Earlier, French warplanes destroyed a number of pro-Gaddafi tanks and armoured vehicles near the rebel-held city of Benghazi.President Obama says the United States is part of a broad coalition to answer the calls of a threatened people in Libya, but hereiterated that the US would not deploy troops on the ground.
"I want the American people to know that the use of force is not our first choice, and it's not a choice that I makelightly. But we cannotstand idlyby when a tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy, and his forcesstep uptheir assaults on cities like Benghazi and Misrata."
The French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has said that the attacks will continue over the next few days until the Libyan governmentcomplies withthe UN resolution. Russia said it regrets the decision by Western powers to take military action in Libya.
Reports from the rebel-held stronghold of Benghazi say rebels have retaken the whole of the city afterdriving outforces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi. A British journalist in Benghazi told the BBC that the city had been heavily shelled by pro-Gaddafi forces, but that there had not been anyincomingfire since late afternoon. The rebels say roads to the east of Benghazi are clogged with carloads of terrified families. Kevin Connolly is in eastern Libya.
What we can see tonight I think in the rebel-held part of eastern Libya here is that a day that began frankly in shock anddespairwhen Muammar Gaddafi used the window of opportunity created by the gap between the UN's resolution and UN action in the skies here to move into Benghazi. As the skies have darkened behind me in Tobruk, the mood has lightened because this sense that United Nations sanction jets are in the air, taking action against Muammar Gaddafi, targeting his tanks on the ground, there is a huge belief in this part of the country now that that is turning the tide of this civil war against Muammar Gaddafi, and may also represent a turning point in this country's unhappy recent history.
World News from the BBC
Millions of people in Egypt have taken part in a referendum on constitutional reforms a month after a popular uprising swept President Mubarak from power. In the capital Cairo, an angry crowd prevented the opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei from casting his vote.If passed, the vote would allow Egypt to hold fresh elections within six months. Initial results are expected on Sunday.From Cairo, here's Jonathan Head.
It was something most of the voters said they'd never seen before, people queuing in lines that ran around the block to cast their ballots. Under former President Mubarak, elections were stage-managed affairs withpredetermined results, and turnout was very low. Today, though, people waited patiently for hours. For many of them, it was the first time they'd ever voted.
The Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has told President Obama that the United States will have many opportunities to help develop Brazil's newly found oil fields. She was speaking after talks with Mr Obama, who's visiting the country for the first time. For his part, President Obama said the US waslooking forward tosigning several trade and financial agreements with Brazil.
The Japanese authorities say they'vedetected radioactive contamination in food as they try to fix the wrecked nuclear power plant at Fukushima. Officials said they'd found radiation levels above safety limits in milk and vegetables originating from the Fukushima area. Traces of radioactive iodine were also reported in tap water near Tokyo. But the government said the levels present pose no risk to human health.
The governing party in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu has said it will provide all households in the state with free food mixer if it's voted back into power. The DMK party, a key ally of the Congress-led government, is also offering free laptops for college students and free rice for nearly two million very poor families.
BBC News
国际社会正在对利比亚发动联合军事行动,执行联合国防止卡扎菲军队袭击平民的决议。美国表示,美国和英国海军已经向利比亚大约20个军事目标发射了100多枚巡航导弹。Paul Adams在华盛顿报道。
过去几分钟,美军指挥官,副将格特尼(William E. Gortney)讲述了多国联合军事行动第一阶段的细节。他表示,美英向利比亚空防和导弹系统发射了100多枚巡航导弹。他说,本阶段主要集中在为盟军在联合国安理会1973号决议设立的禁飞区巡逻创造条件。
利比亚国家电视台表示,一些民事目标被击中。此前,法国战斗机摧毁了叛军控制的城市班加西附近支持卡扎菲的一些坦克和装甲车。奥巴马总统表示,美国是响应利比亚受威胁民众的呼唤的广大联盟的一部分,但是他强调,美国不会向现场派遣军队。
“我希望美国人民知道,使用武力并不是我们的首要选择,我也不会轻率地做出这个决定。但是,当一个暴君告诉他的民众他们会毫不怜悯地加强对班加西和米苏拉塔等城市的进攻时,我们也不会坐视不理。”
法国外交部长朱佩(Alain Juppe)表示,未来几天,他们将继续发动袭击,直到利比亚政府遵守联合国决议。俄罗斯表示,他们对西方大国对利比亚采取军事行动的决定感到非常遗憾。
来自叛军控制的堡垒班加西的报道称,叛军已经成功地将卡扎菲上校的军队驱逐出去,重新控制了整个城市。班加西一名英国记者告诉BBC,这座城市受到支持卡扎菲的力量的猛烈炮轰,但是自下午晚些时候就没再出现炮火。叛军表示,班加西东部的道路被恐惧不安的家庭堵塞。Kevin Connolly在利比亚东部报道。
今晚我们可以看到,在利比亚东部叛军控制的地区,当卡扎菲利用联合国决议和联合国行动之间的空隙创造的机会向班加西行进的时候,人们非常震惊,非常绝望。托布鲁克现在已经夜幕降临,人们的情绪逐渐高涨起来,因为联合国的飞机已经出现在空中,对卡扎菲采取行动,袭击他们的坦克。现在,该地区的民众感到巨大的安慰,因为抵抗卡扎菲的这场内战形势终于逆转,这是该国惨淡的近代史上的一个转折点。
BBC世界新闻。
大规模的抗议活动迫使埃及总统穆巴拉克下台一个月之后,数百万人参加了对宪法进行改革的全民公投。在首都开罗,愤怒的人群阻止反对派人物Mohamed ElBaradei投票。如果全民公投通过,投票将允许埃及在六个月之内举行选举。最初的结果预期将在周日出炉。开罗,Jonathan Head报道。
大部分投票者说,他们以前从未见过这样的事情,人们排着长队投出自己的选票。在前总统穆巴拉克的统治下,选举是由国家控制的,结果早就已经内定,投票率非常低。然而,今天,人们耐心地等待了几个小时。对于其中的许多人来说,这是他们一生中第一次投票。
巴西总统罗塞夫(Dilma Rousseff)告诉奥巴马总统,美国有许多机会帮助开发巴西新发现的油田。她在与第一次访问巴西的奥巴马总统会谈之后发表讲话。奥巴马总统表示,美国期望与巴西签署几份贸易和金融协议。
日本当局表示,在努力应对福岛核电站的问题之时,他们对食品中的放射性污染进行了检测。官员们表示,他们发现,来自福岛地区的牛奶和蔬菜中的辐射水平超出安全限制。东京附近的自来水中也发现了痕量的放射性碘。但是政府表示,目前的辐射水平不会对人体健康带来危险。
印度南部Tamil Nadu省执政党表示,如果他们在投票中能够重新掌管权利,他们将为该省所有家庭免费提供食物搅拌器。DMK党是议会领导的政府的关键盟友,经常免费为大学生提供电脑,并为接近200万贫困家庭免费提供大米。
1.underway adj.在进行中的
例句:Road and bridge construction is underway.
公路和桥梁正在建设中。
2.enforce vt.实施, 执行
例句:The police enforce the law.
警察执法。
3.reiterate vt.反复地说,重申
例句:to reiterate your point
重述您的观点。
The boy do not move though the teacher reiterate her command.
虽然教师一再命令,但这孩子动都不动。
4.lightly adv.轻率地
例句:The possibility of a last-ditch on the part of the enemy should not be lightly dismissed.
敌人负隅顽抗的可能性是不容轻易忽视的。
5.incoming adj.正到达的;正来临的,进来的;新任的
例句:The officials there closed the airport and waved off all incoming flights to the nearby island.
那里的官员们关闭了机场,把所有进场的班机都打发到附近的岛上去。
6.despair n.绝望
例句:Defeat after defeat filled us with despair.
一次又一次的失败使我们完全绝望了。
7.predetermine vt.预定
例句:We can't read minds and we can't predetermine intent.
我们不能看透别人的心中所想也不能预先断定别人的目的。
8.detect vt.察觉,发觉;侦查,探测
discover,find,detect,ascertain
这些动词均有“发现”之意。
discover普通用词,指发现本来存在,但示被认识的事物、真理或情况。
find普通用词,可指偶然发现,也可指经过寻找后得到或重新获得已失去的东西。强调动作的结果。
detect正式用词,强调经过周密观察或研究而有所获得和发现,尤指发现有意隐藏之物。
ascertain较正式用词,指有意搜寻与发现。
1.But we cannot stand idly by when a tyrant tells his people that there will be no mercy, and his forces step up their assaults on cities like Benghazi and Misrata.
stand idly袖手旁观
例句:To stand idly about; linger aimlessly.
闲逛空闲地呆在某地周围;漫无目的地闲逛
step up(使)增加, (使)加快速度
例句:The girl stepped up to school.
女孩子加快步伐去上学。
He has stepped up into the management of the firm.
他已升入公司的管理部门。
2.The French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe has said that the attacks will continue over the next few days until the Libyan government complies with the UN resolution.
comply with服从, 遵从
例句:The factory was closed for failing to comply with government safety regulations.
工厂由于未能遵守政府的安全条例而被关闭了。
The rule must be complied with.
这条规则必须遵守。
3.Reports from the rebel-held stronghold of Benghazi say rebels have retaken the whole of the city after driving out forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi.
drive out驱逐, 驱散
例句:Let's drive out the enemy!
咱们把敌人赶出去!
I watched him drive the cattle out.
我看着他把牛赶出去。
4.For his part, President Obama said the US was looking forward to signing several trade and financial agreements with Brazil.
look forward to期望, 盼望
例句:I'm looking forward to your visit next week.
我在盼望着你下周光临。
We look forward to seeing you again.
我们期待着与你再次相见。
1.If passed, the vote would allow Egypt to hold fresh elections within six months.
If 过去分词 省略
if 过去分词的省略形式:
其中的过去分词可视为是被省略的被动结构,即在if与形容词之间省略了主语和助动词be。如:
例句:He will come if asked.= He will come if he is asked.
他如被邀就会来。
The medicine is quite effective if taken in time.=The medicine is quite effective if it is taken in time. 这
药要是能按时服用,效果是很好的。
If的几种省略形式:
类型一:if 形容词
这类结构通常可视为在if与形容词之间省略了“主语 动词be的适当形式”。如:
Send the goods now if ready.= Send the goods now if they are ready. 货物如已备好请即送来。
If true, this will cause us a lot of trouble.= If it is true, this will cause us a lot of trouble. 这事若是事实,它将给我们造成许多麻烦。
注:这类省略结构中有的已构成相对固定的搭配,if necessary (如果需要),if possible (如果可能)等。如:
If necessary, ring me at home. 如果必要,可往我家里打电话。
If possible, let me know beforehand. 如果可能,可在事前通知我。
类型二:if 过去分词
其中的过去分词可视为是被省略的被动结构,即在if与形容词之间省略了主语和助动词be。如:
He will come if asked.= He will come if he is asked. 他如被邀就会来。
The medicine is quite effective if taken in time.=The medicine is quite effective if it is taken in time. 这药要是能按时服用,效果是很好的。
类型三:if 不定代词
这类省略通常要根据具体的上下文来理解。如:
If anyone, he knows. 如果有人知道,那就是他了。
There are few people nowadays, if any, who remember him. 当今记得他的人,如有的话,也不多了。
He seems to have little, if anything, to do with this. 若要说他和这事有什么相关的话,那也似乎是很少的。
类型四:if 介词短语
这类结构往往要根据具体的语境来理解,但有些经常搭配的惯用结构也值得注意,如if in doubt, if at all, if by any chance等。如:
If in doubt, ask your doctor. He can give you further information. 你若有疑问,可以问问医生. 他会向你作进一步的说明。
Their policies have changed little, if at all, since the last election. 自上次选举以来,他们的政策就算是有所变化,也变得很少。
If by any chance you can’t manage dinner tonight, perhaps we can at least have a drink together. 就算你今晚不吃晚饭,也许我们至少可以一起喝一杯。
类型五:if ever
if ever 可视为习语,它通常与seldom连用,表示“极少”“难得”。如:
She seldom, if ever, goes to the cinema. 她难得看电影。
He seldom if ever travels abroad. 他到国外旅行,即使有过,也是极少的。
注:有时ever后面还修饰有其他词语。如:
The island is seldom if ever visited by ships. 这个岛难得有船停靠。
另外,它有时还可引出一个句子。如:
If ever you’re in Cambridge, do give me a ring. 万一你来剑桥,一定要给我打电话。
类型六:if not
if not 可视为一个否定的条件状语从句省略。如:
I might see you tomorrow. If not, then it’ll be Saturday. 我可能明天去看你。如果不是明天,那就在周六。
Ask her if it is a convenient time. If not, can she suggest another possible time? 问问她那个时间方便不方便。要是不方便,那她可不可以提出一个可行的时间­?
注:有时not还可修饰另一个词语。如:
If not today, tomorrow I’m sure you’ll get an answer. 如果今天得不到回信,明天准能得到。
This is one of the oldest buildings in town, if not the oldest. 这是城里最古老的房屋之一,如果不是最古老的话。
Usually, if not always, we write “cannot” as one word. 我们即使不总是如此,也通常是把cannot作为一个词来拼写的。
类型七:if so
if so的意思是“如果是那样的话”。如:
I may be free this evening. If so, I’ll come round and see you. 今晚我可能有空。要是有空我会过来看你。
They must decide if such a plan can be implemented and if so, when. 他必须决定这样的计划是否能实施,而且要是能实施的话,又得决定何时实施。
注意以下if so与if not连用的情形:
He may be busy. If so, I’ll call later. If not, can I see him now? 他可能忙,如是这样,我以后再来拜访。他如不忙,我现在可以见他吗?
Will you be staying another night? If so, we can give you a better room. If not, could you be out of your room by 12:00? 您要
再往一晚吗? 如果是这样,我们可以给您提供条件更好一点的房间。如果不是,您能在12点前离开这房间吗?
类型八:if need be 如果需要
if need be为习语,其含义相当于if it is necessary (如果有必要的话)。如:
I will come if need be. 如有必要我会来。
I’ll work at night if need be. 如果有必要我可以晚上工作。
If need be we can always bring another car. 如果有必要的话我们还可以再开一辆车来。