澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2012-02-16

 Qantas is expected to hundreds of jobs when it releases its hard failure result today.The speculation¹ the airline will close one of its two maintenance in Victoria.Qantas has already flagged a sharp decline in profits.

 

 

Analysts² say a strike by coal miners in Queensland will have a significant impact on the world's supplier on coal.Thousands of workers began a week-long strike at 7BHP bulletin yesterday  .They are demanding much better working condition as parts of the new enterprise agreements.

 

 

A huge fire spreads through in a jail in Honduras,central America,killing at least 300 prisoners.Many of the dead burned or suffocated³ in their cells.The prison holds 800 inmates⁴ and scores of them are still missing.Anxious relatives tried to deforce their way into prison but were driven back by police.

 

 

A Syrian forces continue their assault on the opposition⁵.The president has announced to referendum on a new constitution.Bashar al-Assad says the vote to end one party rule and limit the president's term will be held in less than two weeks.He's also promised elections within 90 days.Opposition groups have rejected any political reforms while the violence there continues.

 

 

And a man is in critical condition after a house fire in Sydney southwest.The blaze breakout in an * of the back of the house in Raby. Firefighters rescued the man who was trapped  in a bedroom.Two women escaped the blaze and were taken to hospital suffering from smoking inhalation.

1 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 suffocated   

（使某人）窒息而死( suffocate的过去式和过去分词 )； （将某人）闷死； 让人感觉闷热； 憋气

参考例句：

• Many dogs have suffocated in hot cars. 许多狗在热烘烘的汽车里给闷死了。
• I nearly suffocated when the pipe of my breathing apparatus came adrift. 呼吸器上的管子脱落时，我差点给憋死。

4 inmates   

n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。