澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-11-04（在线收听）

President Barack Obama says he understands voter discontent with the state of the economy. The Republican Party has had a sweeping victory in the mid-term elections, winning control of the House of Representatives. The Democrats are clinging to a slim majority in the Senate. Many voters turned away from President Obama and the Democrats, disillusioned with the sluggish economic recovery.

Consumer group Choice is launching a campaign against the big banks. The “Better Banking” campaign will target poor service and excessive fees. It plans to hold a series of town hall meetings to allow bank customers to air their grievances.

And firefighters are keeping a close eye on two bushfires in Western Australia. A fire in the Perth hills has been threatening homes, while another blaze continues to burn near farmland in the southwest.

The Defence Force is investigating claims that a civilian was killed during a firefight involving Australian and Afghan soldiers. After the exchange, the ADF says soldiers were approached by locals carrying the body of a male and claiming he’d been killed in the fight. The ADF won’t comment until a review is completed.

Indonesia’s Mount Merapi volcano has erupted again, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate the area. Thirty-eight people died when the volcano first erupted last week. Its latest blast was more powerful, but there have been no reports of casualties.