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Afternoon Edition. Thu 05 May 2011
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Top Stories	More Top Stories >
Spectators injured after horse jumps into crowd Several spectators were injured when a horse jumped into the crowd during Warrnambool's Grand Annual Steeplechase in south-west Victoria this afternoon. Relative charged over Lin family murders A male relative has been charged over the high-profile murder of five members of the Lin family in Sydney's north-west almost two years ago. Bin Laden killing boosts Obama's approval rating United States president Barack Obama has seen a huge bounce in his approval ratings amid widespread praise for the killing of the Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Last male WWI veteran dies The man believed to have been the last living male veteran of World War I has died in Perth aged 110. Westpac sorry for electronic banking outage Westpac says its ATM, EFTPOS and online banking services have been fixed after an air-conditioning problem at one of its data centres shut down services.
The Drum	More from The Drum >
Pre-budget banter without the speculation The pretence is gone. The Government doesn't even leak pre-budget scoops anymore. They make selective announcements. No longer do ministers coyly refuse to talk about budget speculation that they put out there in the first place. Now they confirm and discuss. All this is both cynical and clever. When third parties come second While nobody expected it, Canada just had one of its most paradigm-shifting elections in years, with a result which has probably changed the political landscape for good. Osama bin Laden raped our souls All of those touched by the actions of bin Laden do not deserve the warped scorn and derision fashioned towards them by Bob Ellis simply because we wanted the bogeyman dead. A small pox, a big debate In a few weeks time the WHO will meet to consider whether or not to formally recommend that the last remaining stocks of smallpox virus be permanently destroyed. The death of Osama bin Laden Australian self-image has always been built on a sense of misplacement, of being isolated but vulnerable, and one where the world out there is often conceived as a threat. Australia, we feel, is never 'beyond the reach of the nerve-racking world'. But we also engage with the world, as either individuals, as a nation, or as an economic entity. That undeniable reality belies the image sometimes cited of a scared nation of misplaced Europeans on the edge of Asia.
Just in	More Just In Stories >
Brazil court considers same-sex civil union rights Brazil's high court has formally opened deliberations on granting gays and lesbians the right to form civil unions, and on guaranteeing them the same legal rights as other couples. Children killed in Philippines mudslide Two children have been killed as their house in the Philippines' Davao province was buried in a mudslide. Suicide car bomb kills Iraq police A suicide bomber has blown up a vehicle packed with explosives near a police station south of Iraq's capital Baghdad, killing at least 13 policemen.
World	More World Stories >
Brazil court considers same-sex civil union rights Brazil's high court has formally opened deliberations on granting gays and lesbians the right to form civil unions, and on guaranteeing them the same legal rights as other couples. Children killed in Philippines mudslide Two children have been killed as their house in the Philippines' Davao province was buried in a mudslide. Suicide car bomb kills Iraq police A suicide bomber has blown up a vehicle packed with explosives near a police station south of Iraq's capital Baghdad, killing at least 13 policemen.
Business	More Business Stories >
Rio urged to curb uranium mine expansion The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has urged Rio Tinto to stop a planned expansion of the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory. Newscorp profits slide on silver screen slump Newscorp has suffered a significant fall in quarterly profits, mainly due to less revenue from movies. NAB shares outperform rivals on profit rise National Australia Bank shares are gaining, while the other major banks fall, after NAB posted a 16 per cent rise in its half-year statutory profit.
Politics	More Politics Stories >
Cultural institutions fear budget cuts Staff from Australia's major cultural institutions are calling on the Prime Minister to put a stop to budget cuts that are forcing them to reduce the services they provide. Support grows to shed collar on Territory's powers Northern Territory Senator Trish Crossin says the federal ALP caucus has agreed to support a bill to give territories greater powers. Calls to remove grog, porn ban signs The body representing Aboriginal communities in Central Australia is calling for changes to the process of removing signs detailing alcohol and pornography bans.
Sport	More Sport Stories >
Dorsey delays Breakers' title charge Ron Dorsey hit two clutch three-pointers to keep Cairns' hopes of a maiden NBL championship alive with an 85-81 win in double-overtime in game two against New Zealand at the Snakepit on Sunday. Tendulkar gets win as birthday gift Mumbai Indians gifted birthday boy and skipper Sachin Tendulkar a 37-run victory in an Indian Premier League match against Deccan Chargers overnight. Sharks' Smith fined for pub incident Cronulla half-back Tim Smith has been fined by police for remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises after being refused entry.
Science & Technology	More Science & Technology Stories >
Blood pressure help may lie with dragon venom An Australian researcher says he hopes to begin testing the venom of komodo dragons on cardiac patients within five years. Humpbacks get early start on northern migration Pods of humpback whales have made an earlier than usual start to their annual migration up Western Australia's coast. Animal clinic to improve human health Community health will hopefully be improved in Wilcannia, with a free animal health program being run this week.
Environment	More Environment Stories >
Energy targets achievable: Corbell The ACT Government wants the Canberra community to source 15 per cent of its energy from renewable sources by next year. Forest peace talks teeter on collapse Parties to Tasmania's forest peace talks are blaming the State and Federal Governments for the talks stagnating and teetering on collapse. Rio urged to curb uranium mine expansion The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) has urged Rio Tinto to stop a planned expansion of the Ranger uranium mine in the Northern Territory.
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