澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-08-17

The Federal Government will provide an extra $24 million to support emergency aid in Pakistan. It takes Australia's total commitment to $35 million. The United Nations says up to 3.5 million children in Pakistan are now at risk from deadly waterborne diseases caused by the floods.

Police are resuming their search for six-year-old Kiesha Abrahams in bushland in Sydney's west. Crews will search in the Nurragingy Reserve at Doonside, near where the torso of a woman was found last week. The search is expected to last for several days. Kiesha Abrahams was reported missing more than two weeks ago.

The Thai Government is lifting emergency rule in three provinces three months after deadly anti-government protests. The laws ban public gatherings¹ of more than five people, and they allow authorities to detain suspects for 30 days without charge. Emergency rule will remain in six provinces, including the capital Bangkok. The Government says the decision was made to help business and tourism.

A plane carrying 131 people is broken into three pieces, as it was struck by lightning while trying to land on a Colombian island. One person died and more than 100 were injured. The region's governor says it's a miracle that no one else was killed as the plane approached the runway on San Andres Island.

The American Defense² Secretary Robert Gates says the US will definitely begin reducing the number of its soldiers in Afghanistan next July.

1 gatherings   

聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集

参考例句：

• His conduct at social gatherings created a lot of comment. 他在社交聚会上的表现引起许多闲话。
• During one of these gatherings a pupil caught stealing. 有一次，其中一名弟子偷窃被抓住。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。