澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-01-25（在线收听）

The Prime Minister Kevin Rudd says there will be major changes to the health system this year. The announcement came as he revealed the government faces massive hikes in health costs over the coming decades. Mr. Rudd warned health costs will rise rapidly with the ageing of Australia’s population. Treasury figures predict the Commonwealth Health spending will increase by more than 200 billion dollars by 2050.

In Haiti, the government has officially ended the search and rescue operation. The international aid effort is now concentrating on providing aid to earthquake survivors. Critics have claimed aid agencies involved in the relief effort have been competing against each other instead of cooperating. But officials in Haiti say the criticism is unjust.

Afghanistan’s parliamentary elections have been postponed until September. The election was due in May, but the Independent Election Commission says it lacks the 15 million US dollars needed to organize the poll. Meanwhile five American soldiers have been killed in bombings in Afghanistan’s south.

And Queensland sailor Jessica Watson has passed the halfway mark in her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world. The 16-year-old from the Sunshine Coast has been sailing for 100 days. Her manager says she is making good progress and is ahead of schedule.

More news later.