ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 02 Jul, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Labor MP says Koran backlash 'extreme' but democratic By Susan McDonald Federal Labor frontbencher Ed Husic has described some of the anti-Islamic criticism directed towards him as "extreme" but says people have the right to raise concerns about him taking the oath of office on the Koran. Mr Husic yesterday became Australia's first Muslim frontbencher, and Governor-General Quentin Bryce said it was a "great day for multiculturalism and everything it stands for". But on Mr Husic's Facebook page there have been comments saying it was "disgusting" and "un-Australian" for him to use the Koran. Mr Husic says that he understands people have concerns, which are a "natural part of democracy." More » Reserve Bank of Australia leaves interest rate unchanged at 2.75 per cent. Teenager on trial charged with murdering Callington woman Pirjo Kemppainen Opposition accuses Carr of higher education 'hand grenade' Fight for interview material in Hey Dad! case 2013 Lions Tour: Wallabies captain James Horwill cleared of stamping for a second time More Analysis » Democracy in Egypt has been given a deadline The Egyptian military has warned that it will retake power if its ultimatum isn't adhered to within 48 hours. This is a coup. It doesn't get much more blatant than this. The stage now seems set for a full-on confrontation. Islamists are flocking to the streets. Large-scale street battles threaten to ensue. What do they have to lose? The Muslim Brotherhood renounced violence decades ago and won consistently at the ballot box. Now it is all being taken away from them. More » Climate change policy at the mercy of popular politics The GFC debate we never had Is the local government referendum as good as lost? Rudd faces uphill battle to win seats Men stand up for the feminist cause Solving the BDS image problem Kevin Rudd has distinction - now he needs merit Albanese should give the NBN a PR makeover Why men need to work more like women Just In More Just In » BHP opens automated city centre for Pilbara mines Mining giant BHP Billiton has officially opened a centre allowing employees to control and operate its Pilbara mines from the Perth CBD. More » Fight for interview material in Hey Dad! case Ex-Victorian education chief to do post-Debelle probe Shell tip FLNG project to boost economy by $45 billion Government ends AusAID reforestation program in Indonesia Perth university buildings evacuated over suspicious bottles Looming federal poll stalls Holden assistance plan Abbott backs away from support for local government recognition Ahmed delighted with successful citizenship application RBA leaves interest rate unchanged World More World » Government ends AusAID reforestation program in Indonesia By Katie Hamann Federal Government's aid agency, AusAID, has quietly ended an ambitious project in Indonesia to reforest and rehabilitate peatlands, with the aim of helping reduce carbon emissions. More » Two Vatican Bank managers resign following cleric's arrest Arizona mourns loss of 'hotshot' fire crew Egyptian presidency rejects army ultimatum to share power Edward Snowden applies for asylum in Russia Egypt protesters storm Muslim Brotherhood office Business More Business » RBA leaves interest rate unchanged The Reserve Bank of Australia has left the official interest rate on hold at an historic low of 2.75 per cent. The decision was in line with the expectations of a number of analysts, who argue the RBA is looking for less volatility in the Australian share market before adjusting monetary policy. The Australian dollar fell after the announcement and just after 2:30pm AEST was trading to 91.8 US cents. More » Brambles to spin off its information storage business Global markets lift after release of positive manufacturing data in US and Japan Rights chief defends call for Myer disabled worker quota Henbury Station financial trouble forces rethink of Australia's largest carbon farming project Politics More Politics » Ex-Victorian education chief to do post-Debelle probe Former Victorian Education Department chief Peter Allen is to head a review of the South Australian Education Department in the wake of the Debelle royal commission into a sexual abuse case at an Adelaide school. The report by former justice Bruce Debelle found the Department's incorrect legal advice kept parents in the dark for almost two years about the arrest and later conviction of an after-school carer for the sexual assault of a student. It was also found the Department pressured the school's governing council when it had wanted to inform parents. Education Minister Jennifer Rankine said the investigation would be thorough in checking all departmental practices and processes. More » Looming federal poll stalls Holden assistance plan Abbott backs away from support for local government recognition RBA leaves interest rate unchanged Gonski graffiti targets Chris Pyne's office Sport More Sport » IRB clears Horwill a second time Wallabies skipper James Horwill has again been cleared of stamping and will take on the Lions in Saturday's third Test. More » Berdych ends brave Tomic's Wimbledon tilt Ahmed delighted with successful citizenship application Aussie Gerrans takes out Tour's third stage NRL needs to hang on to SBW, Robinson says Rogers gets nod to open first Test Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Artificial light leading to increase in sleep disorders By Deborah Rice The exploding popularity of hand-held digital devices could lead to a big jump in sleep disorders, with experts warning the light emitted from digital screens can have a disturbing effect on the body clock. More » Voyager 1 finds new zone at doorstep to interstellar space New flame-headed bird species discovered in Cambodia Lasers might tackle leaking gas mains 'Super Earth' planets found orbiting nearby star Environment More Environment » Phillip Island's little penguins enjoy baby boom By Emily Bourke In some good news for wildlife conservation the little penguins of Phillip Island are experiencing a baby boom. More » Gas 'can deliver cleaner energy sector': Monash Chancellor N Korea to discuss nuclear program with Russia: report Expert tells Hague court Japan's whaling not science SA signs up to Murray-Darling Basin plan About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. This message was sent to you at starnewsposting@gmail.com Please add newslists@your.abc.net.au to your email address book to see images by default and stop the email being treated as spam. This email address is not monitored - Please don't reply to this email. Manage your preferences | Unsubscribe | Contact Us   This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 © 2013 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters