澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-02-17（在线收听）

A Senate inquiry will begin its public hearings today into the government's multi-billion-dollar home insulation program. The inquiry will hear evidence from a number of stakeholders within the insulation industry. The government's been criticized for rushing the program and not consulting enough industry experts. Four installers have died while working on the program.

US President Barack Obama has announced nine billion dollars of federal loan guarantees to build the first US nuclear power station in nearly 30 years. He says the United States needs to increase its supply of nuclear power to meet the country's energy needs. The plants in Georgia are expected to create thousands of jobs.

Police have charged an 11-year-old boy who allegedly pulled a knife on a classmate in Sydney's west. It comes just days after 12-year-old Elliot Fletcher was fatally stabbed at a Brisbane school. A 13-year-old boy has spent a second night behind bars, accused of murder.

Police are investigating the death of former Socceroo Ian Gray whose body was found in his Sydney apartment on Monday night. They're treating the death as suspicious.

And a clear-up continues in southeast Queensland after heavy rain caused flash flooding. Around 84,000 homes lost power as Brisbane recorded more than half of its monthly rainfall in just two hours.

More news updates later.