ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Wed 11 Sep, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Obama delays Syria strikes amid talks on Russia plan US president Barack Obama has postponed this threat to strike Syria, after Bashar al-Assad's regime welcomed a Russian plan to gather and destroy its chemical arsenal. In a nationally televised address from the White House, Mr Obama said he had asked Congress to delay a vote on whether to authorise military action while Washington studies the Russian initiative. He said he would stay in personal contact with Russian president Vladimir Putin and would dispatch secretary of state John Kerry to Geneva for talks with his Russian counterpart on Thursday. However, Mr Obama made it clear the US military was ready to respond if diplomacy failed, saying inaction was not an option. More » 1,000 misplaced votes hurt Mirabella's chances in Indi Bill Shorten says he will stand for Labor leadership Australians injured in deadly attack on PNG trekking party Israel may compensate family of Prisoner X Rampaging kangaroo crashes into Echuca home More Analysis » Hand the power of preferences back to the people The debate over micro-parties and their impact on the 2013 Senate election result has a terrible sense of déjà vu for me. For two decades I have been warning about how the loose rules on the registration of political parties, as well as the use of 'above the line' group preference ticket voting, would lead to giant ballot papers and distorted election outcomes. The answer to the Senate's electoral malaise doesn't lie in punishing minor parties, but rather in handing the power over preferences back to the voters. More » US credibility is MIA in battle to solve Syrian crisis Murdoch might have no code of ethics but journos do Manifest reasons for manifestos In (qualified) praise of the press gallery The undecideds: do swinging voters know enough? Electoral reform for all the wrong reasons The power of quality childcare Teaching the public service to obey its new masters Is philosophical enquiry a waste of taxpayers' money? Just In More Just In » De Blasio wins NY mayoral primary, Weiner runs last New York's Bill De Blasio wins the city's Democratic mayoral primary as scandal plagued former congressman Anthony Weiner trails in last place. More » Boots fit perfectly for Wallaby White 1,000 misplaced votes hurt Mirabella's chances in Indi Weatherill and Xenophon prepare for FBT battle Naked man accosts teen in beach toilet block Mal Brough claims victory in Fisher Sikh in pitch to ditch helmets for turbans Port Pirie Nyrstar smelter manager quits Astronauts return to Earth after 166-day mission Major cycle lane to be ripped up in Sydney World More World » De Blasio wins NY mayoral primary, Weiner runs last New York's Bill De Blasio wins the city's Democratic mayoral primary as scandal plagued former congressman Anthony Weiner trails in last place. More » Astronauts return to Earth after 166-day mission Your say: Barack Obama's case for strikes against Syria NSA documents show spy agency violated privacy rules Obama delays Syria strikes amid talks on Russia plan How would Syria hand over its chemical weapons? Business More Business » Regulator warns banks on risky lending By business reporter Pat McGrath The banking regulator has warned of an increase in risky lending, as low interest rates and rising house prices leads to more low-deposit loans. The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority says there has been an increase in lenders issuing mortgages worth more than 90 per cent of a home's value. More » Consumer confidence jumps to highest level in almost three years Health groups take on Coca-Cola ad campaign Global markets rally on more positive China data CFMEU president Tony Maher slams Labor MP Nick Champion's call to support repealing carbon tax Politics More Politics » De Blasio wins NY mayoral primary, Weiner runs last New York's Bill De Blasio wins the city's Democratic mayoral primary as scandal plagued former congressman Anthony Weiner trails in last place. More » 1,000 misplaced votes hurt Mirabella's chances in Indi Weatherill and Xenophon prepare for FBT battle Mal Brough claims victory in Fisher Hanson-Young sues Zoo magazine over bikini illustration Sport More Sport » Boots fit perfectly for Wallaby White New Wallabies scrum half Nic White says he is ready to fill the boots of deposed half-back Will Genia. More » Carlton hopeful Kreuzer fit for Sydney final Coates warns about preparations for Rio Olympics Holger has to go, bring back Hiddink: Culina Cowboys targeting Gallen in knock-out final Italy, Netherlands, Argentina qualify for 2014 World Cup Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Uni student petitions Coalition to scrap NBN plan By national science and technology reporter Jake Sturmer A 20-year-old Queensland university student is hoping to use the power of the internet to change the new Coalition Government's mind about the National Broadband Network. An internet petition calling for the Coalition to scrap its plans to create a fibre-to-the-node network has had more than 110,000 signatures in just five days. Twenty-year-old Liberal-voting student Nick Paine created the online petition in protest at the Liberal party's plans to switch to a $29.5 billion fibre-to-the-node model. He wants the new government to continue rolling out a $44.1 billion fibre-to-the-premises network. More » Watchdog takes aim at 'free' apps charging children Don't let change of government slow rollout of NBN: telcos 'Artificial nose' sniffs out blood-poisoning threat Robotic NASA spacecraft lifts off to probe lunar dust Environment More Environment » Wave energy bid to generate SA power Authorities have received the first application in South Australia for a licence to generate electricity using the energy of ocean waves. More » Harrison Ford's heated interview shocks Indonesian minister Jet ski rider fined for getting too close to whales Abbott starts process to repeal carbon tax Coalition to water down Murray buybacks 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