ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Mon 02 Sep, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Abbott defends 'baddies' remark on Syrian civil war By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has sought to explain his use of the term "baddies" in relation to the civil war in Syria, saying he was "trying to explain to the public exactly what the situation is". The Labor party has seized on the comments, with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd slamming it as "simplistic". Mr Rudd says it shows the Opposition Leader does not have the "judgment" to lead Australia and has likened the characterisation to children's games. But Mr Abbott says the criticism is just "a little more hyperventilating from a desperate and shrill government". More » Election live: Kevin Rudd defiant as campaign enters final week Obama in Syria lobbying push as Arab League urges deterrent action Triple murderer Max Sica loses appeal bid Giant croc stalks New Zealand tourist Hewitt beats Donskoy to reach last 16 More Analysis » Kevin Rudd saves his best until it's too late Kevin Rudd's campaign launch speech was good and gutsy stuff; it had Paul Keating applauding and Bob Hawke murmuring wistfully that if only every voter in Australia could have been inside that room, they would have been caught up in it. But of course they weren't; very few were even watching it or listening to it. As just about everyone now agrees, it was too late. Labor has lost the momentum and there are just not enough days left to get it back. The result is all but locked in. More » Abbott shouldn't be looking back on defence Weeping for Broadchurch ALP launch: Rudd's keeping it simple Where are the women in this election? Labor launch too late to hit home Senate ticket complex but not broken What are our options in Syria? Homeowner dreams an aged underclass nightmare The victory speech you will never hear Just In More Just In » Watchdog finds hospitals not taking relatives' concerns seriously A report from Queensland's health watchdog is calling for medical workers in hospitals to take the concerns of patients' relatives more seriously. More » Kim Dotcom plans to launch political party in NZ Early voters turning out in record numbers Abbott says election will be referendum on carbon tax Triple murderer Max Sica loses appeal bid Mine expansion 'puts water supply at risk' Asylum seeker population falling on Christmas Island: Burke Abbott defends 'baddies' remark on Syrian civil war Giant croc stalks New Zealand tourist Self-confessed sexual deviant jailed World More World » Kim Dotcom plans to launch political party in NZ Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom has announced he will launch a political party in New Zealand to contest next year's elections, drawing a scornful response from prime minister John Key. More » Obama in Syria lobbying push as Arab League urges deterrent action Average height for European men rose 11cm in 110 years David Frost remembered for Nixon interviews Hewitt beats Donskoy to reach last 16 Mandela spends first night at home after hospital stay Business More Business » House price growth slows to 0.5 per cent in August By business reporter Pat McGrath Brisbane has posted the biggest increase in house prices of any Australian capital city, with a rise of 1.5 per cent in August. But the overall pace of growth in Australia's eight capital cities has slowed to 0.5 per cent, down from 1.6 per cent in July and 1.9 per cent in June. More » Chinese manufacturing activity stable in August The week ahead Tony Abbott tells National Press Club that election will be referendum on carbon tax Kim Dotcom plans to launch New Zealand political party Politics More Politics » Abbott says election will be referendum on carbon tax By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has sought to hammer home his core election promise to scrap the carbon tax, characterising this election as a "referendum" on the issue in a major speech at the National Press Club. More » Coalition backs away from $1.5b drone policy David Frost remembered for Nixon interviews Election live: Kevin Rudd defiant as campaign enters final week Defiant Assad braced for 'aggression' as US details sarin evidence Sport More Sport » Hewitt beats Donskoy to reach last 16 Lleyton Hewitt has beaten Russia's Evgeny Donskoy in four sets to reach the last 16 of the US Open. More » Wallabies boss McKenzie hints at changes Bale signs with Real Madrid for record fee Gallen to miss a week for crusher tackle Serena downs Stephens to reach US Open quarters Liverpool and Arsenal beat bitter rivals Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Several new species found around remote WA coast By science and technology correspondent Jake Sturmer Scientists believe they have discovered several new species of creatures around Western Australia's remote Kimberley coast. More » Businesses tracking customers via mobile phone signals Photographer's Near Miss proves the perfect snap Labor flags cosmetics animal testing ban Meteor that hit Russia may have had close shave with Sun Environment More Environment » Greg Hunt not giving the full story on climate research Opposition Climate spokesman Greg Hunt has cited CSIRO research to defend the Coalition's "direct action" policy on climate change. Mr Hunt says the research shows emissions can be reduced by 20 per cent over 40 years using nature, soils and trees. ABC Fact Check takes a look at what the research is saying. More » Photographer's Near Miss proves the perfect snap Japanese brave notorious temper of Sakurajima volcano Abbott using outdated figure on carbon tax cost to households Your say: Foreign ownership and CSG 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. 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