澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-10-20

The Government has played down speculation¹ that Australia could be involved in the war in Afghanistan until 2020. Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition² Leader Tony Abbott have both expressed their support for Australia's commitment beyond 2014. But the Greens want Australia to withdraw from the conflict.

The Federal Government will spend more than $170 million creating two new detention³ centres. Immigration Department officials told an estimates hearing the new centre at Northam in Western Australia will cost over $164 million. South Australia's Inverbrackie facility will use existing buildings and cost just under $10 million.

There are reports that James Packer has launched a $250 million share market raid on Channel Ten. That would give him a 15 per cent stake in the company. Stockbrokers⁴ say after the market closed yesterday, 163 million Network Ten shares were traded. The Ten Network has declined to comment.

The Forest Industries Association says it could take up to 30 years to end logging in Tasmania's native forests despite a historic peace deal. A deal between the logging industry and conservationists was signed in Hobart yesterday. That agreement outlines a commitment to stop logging of high conservation value forests within months. It also pledges to eventually end all native forest logging.

In France, almost half a million people have taken to the streets for a sixth day of protests about pension reforms. The nationwide strikes have cancelled flights and closed schools, but the government says it will push on with…       

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 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。

3 detention   

n.滞留，停留；拘留，扣留；(教育)留下

参考例句：

• He was kept in detention by the police.他被警察扣留了。
• He was in detention in connection with the bribery affair.他因与贿赂事件有牵连而被拘留了。

4 stockbrokers   

n.股票经纪人( stockbroker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Stockbrokers never more than now lack enthusiasm for the small client. 证券经济人在面对那些小客户时从未像现在这样缺乏激情。 来自互联网
• Today, I have expensive attorneys, accountants, real estate brokers and stockbrokers. 今天，我雇有身价昂贵的律师、会计师、房地产经纪人以及股票经纪人。 来自互联网