ABC NewsMail - afternoon edition

Afternoon Edition. Wed 18 May 2011
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Top Stories	More Top Stories >
Moderate wages growth reduces rate hike risk A 0.8 per cent rise in wages during the March quarter has come in below expectations and further reduced the chances of an interest rate rise next month. Philip Roth takes out Booker International American writer Philip Roth has been awarded the Booker International Prize at a ceremony in Sydney. Doomed asylum seekers told boat was safe An inquest into the fatal asylum seeker boat crash off Christmas Island last year has heard those aboard were assured the boat was in good condition. Big four banks have ratings cut by Moody's All four of Australia's major banks have had their credit ratings cut by Moody's, due to their continued reliance on overseas borrowing. Minister tight-lipped on Kyla's abduction alert Queensland's Police Minister has declined to be drawn on the time it took to issue an abduction alert for a five-year-old girl who was found dead on Monday night.
The Drum	More from The Drum >
And they're off, or not... Republican nominees are limbering up for the race to face Obama in 2012, and this time round the field is certainly diverse. As expected, the highest profile name dropped out and gifted everyone a good headline - 'The Donald ducks', and despite being uncharacteristically quiet lately, a certain politician in Alaska has sent out hundreds of thousands of direct mail flyers asking for financial support. Defence budget under attack The defence budget is increasingly becoming a national ponzi scheme: drawing down on our strategic future to meet the political promises of our past. All Hail the middle class The middle class is the glue that holds our society together - now and in the future. It's right that this sector of Australians should receive government support. A riot on Christmas Island: the detainee's version 'Is this called justice here in Australia? Is this the way people get treated in a country that boasts about its humanitarian efforts?' We read and hear a lot about immigration and asylum seekers, but rarely do we hear from the people most intimately involved. This first-hand account gives a window into the locked world of the Christmas Island detention centre ... from inside the wire during the riots that ended in tear gas, flames and controversy in mid-March. Too close for comfort Why has Australia accepted a senior naval officer - intimately involved in the Sri Lankan civil war - as that country's new High Commissioner to Australia?
Just in	More Just In Stories >
Philip Roth takes out Booker International American writer Philip Roth has been awarded the Booker International Prize at a ceremony in Sydney. NT leader against festival condom handouts Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says he does not think it is appropriate for condoms to be handed out at the Bass in the Grass music festival in Darwin. Hinch seeks sentencing delay on medical grounds Lawyers have sought assurances broadcaster Derryn Hinch will be allowed time for medical treatment before being jailed for naming two paedophiles.
World	More World Stories >
World's most valuable tiara fetches $12m A dazzling tiara featuring emeralds believed to have belonged to Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, has sold for a record 11.28 million Swiss francs ($12 million) to an anonymous buyer at Sotheby's. Wiggles bid for Beatrice's pretzel hat The Wiggles have entered the bidding race for the flamboyant hat worn by Princess Beatrice at the British royal wedding. Egyptian named new Al Qaeda leader: reports Al Qaeda has chosen a former Egyptian special forces officer as interim leader of the violent extremist group in the wake of Osama bin Laden's death earlier this month, CNN reported.
Business	More Business Stories >
Henderson stands by Inpex plant push Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says his Government has not given Inpex a "blank cheque" by giving its proposed gas plant the green light. Regional communities to miss out on NBN: mayor A mayor in remote Queensland says large parts of the inland will miss out on fibre-to-the-home connection under the National Broadband Network (NBN). $1.2b coal export plan 'an Australian first' A central Queensland industry group says a new coal export project planned south of Rockhampton is an Australian first.
Politics	More Politics Stories >
Alice residents want more say over planning More people in Alice Springs believe they are not being consulted about planning matters compared with other parts of Australia, according to the Productivity Commission. Bush patients can wait a day for medivac Northern Territory Health groups say bush patients are forced to wait up to 25 hours for air evacuations and lives will be lost if changes are not made. Henderson stands by Inpex plant push Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says his Government has not given Inpex a "blank cheque" by giving its proposed gas plant the green light.
Sport	More Sport Stories >
Mate inspires new Maroon Yow Yeh Racism in footy not dead: Port's Pearce Blues to hit the ground running Brumbies preparing for life without Elsom Carney loses licence on police appeal
Science & Technology	More Science & Technology Stories >
No date yet for NBN rollout to Coffs Coast The Prime Minister is today switching on mainland Australia's first National Broadband Network service. Doubts surface over desal plant's marine impact South Australia's fishing and aquaculture industries say they will do their own research into the details of the supplementary environmental impact statement for the proposed Olympic Dam mine expansion. Desert skinks dig underground empires Families of reptilian master builders are working together to construct elaborate systems of tunnels in the central Australian desert, the first example of cooperative behaviour in reptiles, according to Australian researchers.
Environment	More Environment Stories >
Council rejects South Australia pipeline Shoalhaven Council has voted unanimously to reject a proposal for a pipeline from the Shoalhaven River to South Australia. Henderson stands by Inpex plant push Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson says his Government has not given Inpex a "blank cheque" by giving its proposed gas plant the green light. Rugby office to take wind farm concerns A company proposing a wind farm at Rugby, north of Canberra, has set up an office in the New South Wales town in a bid to stem negative public opinion about the project.
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