BBC News with Jonathan Izard

President Barack Obama has welcomed the successful completion of voting on the first day of southern Sudan's referendum on independence. He said it was a historic step toward implementing the comprehensive peace deal that ended the war between north and south in 2005, and the United States was fully committed to helping the new African state expected to be approved by the vote. A bigturnoutwas reported at polling stations across southern Sudan. Southerners in the north also voted, but the mood there was moresubdued. A senior official from President Omar al-Bashir's National Congress Party, Ibrahim Ghandour, says separation is aninevitableconsequence of the peace deal known as the CPA.

"The separation of the south if it occurs following the referendum, it was a price for an achievement of peace. When we were signing the CPA, we were between a choice of two - we either remain in one united country where its people are fighting, or accept an idea of self-determination at the price of peace."

An Iranian passenger plane has crashed in the northwest of the country with more than 100 people on board. Reports say the site of the crash has been difficult for emergency workers to reach because of heavy snow. Maddy Savage reports.

According to the semi-official news agency Fars, the Iran Air plane took off from the Iranian capital Tehran and was flying near the city of Urumiyeh in the northwest of the country when it crashed. Reports on Iranian state television suggest that the planedeparted an hour later than it was supposed to and that it came down during bad weather. Aviation experts say much of Iran's civil fleet ismade up ofold planes which are in poor condition partly because of their age but also because they are not frequently repaired.

Violent protests because of unemployment in Tunisia have led to the death of at least 14 protesters over the weekend, the largest number of fatalities in such a short period since the troubles began nearly four weeks ago. Here's our North Africa correspondent Chloe Arnold.

Violent clashes broke out in three towns in western and central Tunisia on Sunday as protesters attacked government buildings and police stations. An interior ministry statement said the deaths took place in the towns of Thala, Kasserine and Regueb. The government says police were forced to open fire in the towns inlegitimateself-defence. They say the riots have been organised by a small group of extremistsintent ondestabilising the country.But protesters say the casualty figures are a lot higher than officials say and that they are demonstrating against lack of freedom and high unemployment.

The Saudi Arabian interior ministry says it's issued international arrest warrants for 47 al-Qaeda suspects living abroad. A statement broadcast on Saudi television said some of the wanted men were very senior and dangerous.It said not all of the suspects were Saudis, but their aim was to establish cells inside Saudi Arabia and send others for training abroad.

World News from the BBC

Israeli bulldozers haveflattened part of a building in occupied East Jerusalem to make way for new homes for Jewish settlers. The partialdemolitionof the Shepherd Hotel complex went aheadin spite ofinternational objections including from the United States. A spokesman for the Palestinian president said the demolition had ended any possibility of the Palestinians returning to peace talks with Israel.

The doctors treating the American congresswoman shot in the head on Saturday while meeting constituents say she's able to respond to simple instructions. Dr Peter Rhee said the bullet passed through only one side of Gabrielle Giffords' brain, but she remained in critical condition. Another member of the medical team, Dr Michael Lemole, said he was happy with progress so far.

"Congresswoman Giffords is able to communicate with us this morning through following simple commands, and we are very encouraged by that. We are still, still in critical condition. Brain swelling at any time can take a turn for the worse, but I am cautiously optimistic."

The others wounded in the shooting are now out of danger. Six people were killed. Federal prosecutors have charged a 22-year-old man, Jared Loughner, with attempted assassination and four other offences.

The Vatican has ordered the Roman Catholic Church in Malta to set up atribunalto deal with allegations of child abuse. Victims have repeatedly urged quicker action, accusing the Church and Maltese authorities of taking too long to deal with the case. Three priests are suspected of abusing boys at an orphanage 20 years ago in the town of Santa Venera.

Motorway toll stations in Greece have been occupied by protesters angered by rising charges. For several hours, barriers were raised and vehicles drove through without drivers paying. Several hundred protesters were reported to have gathered at a toll station near the capital Athens, and many passing drivers sounded their horns in support. Motorway operators say the increases are needed in order tokeep pace withinflation.

BBC World Service News.

奥巴马总统对南苏丹独立公投第一天投票成功结束表示欢迎。他表示，这是实施2005年结束了南北双方内战的综合和平协议的历史性的一步，美国将全力帮助投票可能通过的新的非洲国家。据报道，南苏丹各投票站的投票率都非常高。居住在北方的南苏丹人也进行了投票，但是情绪则更加压抑。总统巴希尔的全国大会党(National Congress Party)高级官员Ibrahim Ghandour表示，南北分裂是综合和平协议不可避免的结果。

“如果公投过后南方分裂出去，这是获取和平付出的代价。我们签署综合和平协议的时候面临两个选择——可以是一个统一的国家，但是人们相互之间发生战争，或者为了换取和平任由南方人自己决定。”

伊朗一架客机在西北部坠毁，机上共有100多人。报道称，暴雪导致急救人员无法到达坠机地点。Maddy Savage报道。

据伊朗半官方的新闻媒体Fars报道，伊朗航空公司(Iran Air)这架飞机在首都德黑兰起飞，飞到西北部的乌尔米耶附近坠机。伊朗国家电视台的报道称，这架飞机比原计划迟一小时起飞，因恶劣的天气状况而坠毁。航空专家表示，伊朗民航大部分由旧飞机组成，由于使用时间长，而且不经常维修而状况不佳。

突尼斯因失业问题引发的暴力抗议造成周末期间至少14名抗议者身亡，这是自大约四周前抗议开始以来短期内出现的最多的伤亡人数。我们的北非记者Chloe Arnold报道。

周日，突尼斯中部和西部三个城镇爆发了暴力冲突，抗议者袭击了政府建筑和警察局。内政部一份声明称，Thala, Kasserine和Regueb发生了死亡事件。政府表示，警方为了合法自卫被迫开枪。他们说，试图制造国家动荡的一小部分极端分子组织了这次暴动。但是抗议者表示，伤亡数字远远超过官方宣布的数字，他们示威是为了抗议高失业率和缺少自由。

沙特阿拉伯内政部表示已经对居住在国外的47名基地组织嫌疑人发布了国际逮捕令。沙特电视台播放的一份声明表示，其中一些通缉犯非常高级，非常危险。声明称，并不是所有嫌疑人都是沙特阿拉伯人，但是他们的目的都是在沙特阿拉伯建立分支机构，送其他人到国外接受训练。

BBC世界新闻。

以色列推土机铲平了被占领的东耶路撒冷的部分建筑，为犹太定居者的新家让路。尽管包括美国在内的国际社会的反对，对牧羊人酒店的部分拆除工作依然正常进行。巴勒斯坦总统一名发言人表示，拆除工作终止了巴勒斯坦人与以色列进行和谈的所有机会。

对周六与选民集会时头部中枪的女议员进行治疗的医生表示，她已经能够对简单的指令做出回应。Peter Rhee医生表示，子弹只穿过了大脑的一边，但是她的情况仍然非常危险。医疗小组另外一名成员Michael Lemole医生表示，他对目前取得的进展表示满意。

“吉福兹(Gabrielle Giffords)女议员今天早上已经能够遵从简单的指令与我们进行沟通，我们对此感到非常受鼓舞。我们现在仍然面临比较危急的状况。脑肿胀随时都可能使情况恶化，但是我仍然保持谨慎的乐观态度。”

在枪击事件中受伤的其他人已经脱离危险。有6人在这次事件中遇难。联邦检控官已经控告22岁的Jared Loughner意图暗杀以及其他四项指控。

梵蒂冈下令马尔他罗马天主教堂成立法庭处理虐童指控。受害者多次敦促加快行动速度，他们指控教堂和马尔他当局处理该案件拖延的时间太长。三名神职人员涉嫌于20年前在Santa Venera镇一家孤儿院虐待男孩。

希腊高速公路收费站被因费用上涨而愤怒的抗议者占领。几个小时之内，抗议者设立了屏障，车辆无需付费即可通行。据报道，几百名抗议者在首都雅典附近一个收费站聚集，许多路过的司机鸣笛表示支持。高速公路运营者表示，提高收费标准是为了应对通胀水平。

1.turnout n.一项活动的到场人数

例句：The concert attracted a large turnout.

音乐会吸引了大批的观众。

2.subdue vt.征服; 克制;制服;征服;控制

例句：The country was subdued by the enemy.

这个国家被敌人征服了。

She tried to subdue her anger.

她尽力压制自己的怒火。

3.inevitable adj.不可避免的, 必然发生的,不能防止的

4.depart vi.离开; 出发; 开出

例句：He departed early in the morning.

他一大早就离开了。

5.legitimate adj.合情合理的; 合法的

例句：Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.

生病是请假的一个正当的理由。

6.flatten vt.vi.变平;使(某物)变平

例句：to flatten a rough surface

把凹凸不平的表面弄平

The storm flattened the flimsy wooden huts that the villagers lived in.

风暴刮平了村民们居住的脆弱的木屋。

7.demolition n.毁坏,破坏;拆毁

例句：They underwent courses in radio communication,demolition,and sabotage.

他们接受了无线电通信、拆毁和破坏的课程。

8.tribunal n.审理委员会, 特别法庭

例句：The rent tribunal reduced my rent.

房租审理委员会减少了我的房租。

1.Aviation experts say much of Iran's civil fleet is made up of old planes which are in poor condition partly because of their age but also because they are not frequently repaired.

made up of由…组成，由…构成

例句：Around 65% of Finland is made up of forests.

其中65%的面积被森林覆盖。

2.They say the riots have been organised by a small group of extremists intent on destabilising the country.

intent on抱定决心要实行

例句：James is intent on making money.

詹姆士一心想赚钱。

3.The partial demolition of the Shepherd Hotel complex went ahead in spite of international objections including from the United States.

in spite of不管

例句：I went out in spite of the rain.

尽管下雨我仍然外出。

4.Motorway operators say the increases are needed in order to keep pace with inflation.

keep pace with保持同步

例句：We should keep pace with the swift tempo of the day.

我们应跟上时代的飞速步伐。

1.But protesters say the casualty figures are a lot higher than officials say and that they are demonstrating against lack of freedom and high unemployment.

a lot higher,a lot修饰比较级

可以修饰比较级的短语：

1)a bit, a little, rather, much, far, by far, many, a lot, lots, a great deal, any, still, even等

2)还可以用表示倍数的词或度量名词作修饰语。

3)以上词(除by far)外，必须置于比较级形容词或副词的前面。

2.It said not all of the suspects were Saudis, but their aim was to establish cells inside Saudi Arabia and send others for training abroad.

not all部分否定

all 的否定式：not all…（或：all…not）表示"并非都……"、"不是所有的都……"例如：

Not all men can be masters. (= All men cannot be masters.) 并非人人都能当头头。

Not all bamboo grows tall. 并非所有的竹子都会长得很高。

both 的否定式：not…both (或：both… not) "并非两个……都……" 例如：

I don't want both the books. 我不是两本书都要。

Both (the) windows are not open. 两扇窗子并不都开着。

三、 every…的否定式："不是每……都……" 例如：

Not every book is educative. (或：Every book is not educative.) 不是每本书都有教育意义的。

Not everyone likes this book. 并非人人都喜欢这本书。

This flower is not seen everywhere. 这花并不是随处可见的。