澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-05-31（在线收听）

In the US, it's feared it could be more than two months before oil stops leaking from a well in the Gulf of Mexico. BP's latest attempt to plug the leak failed. Twenty million gallons have so far spewed into the Gulf in the worst oil disaster in US history.

The Greens plan to introduce a private members bill which would require all major taxpayer-funded campaigns to be cleared by the auditor-general. Last week, the Government exempted itself from its own guidelines so it can quickly roll out ads to promote the tax.

The Federal Government has scored only “mediocre” grades for its foreign policy performance. A Lowy Institute’s survey gave the Government only four out of 10 for its handling of asylum seekers and whaling and five out of 10 for its efforts to combat climate change.

The New South Wales, in southern New South Wales, 3,000 homes without power after strong winds and heavy rain hit the area over the weekend. State Emergency Services has received more than 350 calls for help. A severe weather warning remains in place for the Illawarra region, south of Sydney.

And China has resisted pressure from South Korea and Japan to censure the North for sinking a South Korean warship. South Korea has accused the North of sinking the ship which killed 46 people in March.