ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 19 Nov, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Abbott rejects Indonesia's call for spying apology By chief political correspondent Emma Griffiths Prime Minister Tony Abbott has rejected Indonesia's calls to apologise for Australia's spying activities, and has called for "cool heads" to prevail in the current diplomatic row. Documents revealed yesterday by the ABC and Guardian Australia show that Australia attempted to intercept president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's phone on at least one occasion and monitored his calls for 15 days in 2009. Jakarta has withdrawn its ambassador and demanded Canberra come clean on the electronic surveillance program. In Parliament this afternoon, Mr Abbott repeated his assertion that "every government gathers information", and said Australia should not be expected to apologise for the "steps we take to protect our country". While he did not apologise, Mr Abbott expressed "regret" over the attempt to listen in to the Indonesian president's phone conversations. More » Morrison defies Senate order to release Operation Sovereign Borders details Australian in coma after 'being king hit' in Bali Louise Bell murder: Cold case arrest made Drug raids crack ring with Descendants outlaw bikie gang links ABC Online's 'selfie' beats 'twerk' as word of the year Mum comes out in defence of Ashley-Cooper More Analysis » Queensland party crackdown out of control By Chris Berg For all the absurdities of Queensland's anti-bikies legislation, the bill currently being considered by the Queensland parliament is probably worse. The bogey-man this time is "out-of-control" parties. The provisions are so broad that there's no way Queensland police could enforce them, as written, on all of the innumerable parties across the state in any given weekend. There are bad eggs in law enforcement, as there are in the general public. Queensland's anti-party legislation empowers good eggs and bad eggs alike. More » Australia is the place of vanishing languages No winning moves in spy game Fighting false claims in the gas debate Stigma still an issue for people living with AIDS The Coalition's Big Lie The balance between mining and conservation A return to reforms of the money-making kind We need to talk about hepatitis C It's time to defend intersex rights Just In More Just In » The story behind the world's first known 'selfie' photo This photo of a busted lip is the world's first known 'selfie', posted to an ABC Online forum more than a decade ago. More » Warren Truss inflates the impact of GrainCorp's sale on ports Australian women still lag behind men in pay: report Former magistrate avoids jail over abuse of boys Woman on arson charge tells court dog started house fire Baby shaken before death, father admits Angry rally in Sydney over sentence given to Thomas Kelly's killer Abbott rejects Indonesia's call for spying apology Buzzing Pietersen enjoying the limelight ahead of Ashes opener Morrison defies Senate order to release Operation Sovereign Borders details World More World » Toronto strips crack-smoking mayor of powers Toronto's city council has voted to strip mayor Rob Ford of most of his remaining powers in further sanctions against him following admissions of smoking crack and binge drinking. More » Armstrong accuses former UCI boss of cover-up George Zimmerman arrested over domestic violence incident Residents blocked from returning to tornado-stricken towns Female serial killer admits dumping three bodies Google, Microsoft tighten online searches to combat child abuse Business More Business » US farmers warn about ADM's GrainCorp takeover bid By North America correspondent Lisa Millar As the Treasurer Joe Hockey weighs the arguments over the takeover bid of GrainCorp, one of the oldest farm organisations in the US has warned that increased concentration in the industry will be bad news for Australian farmers. The National Farmers Union says it has watched the negative impact of foreign takeovers in its own country and says Australia should reject the deal offered by Archer Daniels Midland. More » RBA meeting minutes show pre-Christmas rate cu unlikely COAG equity report finds Australian women still lag behind men in pay, care more for disabled Indonesian spying to cast shadow over Australia's G20 chairmanship Tasmanian NBN areas in communication limbo as copper network ends early Politics More Politics » Warren Truss inflates the impact of GrainCorp's sale on ports Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss is worried about who might control Australia's wheat ports if a takeover bid for GrainCorp is successful. "If this sale proceeds international companies will control our ports and our handling facilities therefore if we want to export grain to other parts of the world, grow the industry, that decision will ultimately be made in a foreign boardroom rather than in Australia", Mr Truss said. More » Abbott rejects Indonesia's call for spying apology Morrison defies Senate order to release Operation Sovereign Borders details Massive job losses predicted as Customs cut 'through the bone' Indonesian president tweets displeasure at spying revelations Sport More Sport » Buzzing Pietersen enjoying the limelight ahead of Ashes opener England batsman Kevin Pietersen toys with Brisbane media ahead of the Ashes Test opener at the Gabba. More » Mum comes out in defence of Ashley-Cooper Armstrong accuses former UCI boss of cover-up Experimental Socceroos put win first First Ashes Test throws up plenty of 'what-ifs' The most memorable Gabba Ashes moments Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Common plastics chemical linked to pre-term births By Tom Nightingale Pregnant women are being advised to avoid plastics used in cling wrap, shampoo and computer cables, after a new US study found a link between premature birth and chemicals known as phthalates. More » Cry Of The Tiger: Endangered animals dying in Indonesian zoo NASA launches MAVEN mission to Mars CSIRO job cuts: Greens MP Adam Bandt turns to spin After much searching, no sighting of elusive Tasmanian tiger Environment More Environment » Foreign Minister's stance on detained Greenpeace activist disappoints family The family of a Tasmanian man detained in Russia over a Greenpeace protest says Australia has not made a direct representation on his behalf since early October. More » Australian Greenpeace activist to remain in prison for further three months Ecologist fears fresh water harming Coorong Recycling company under investigation over tyre dumping Tens of thousands rally nationwide for action on climate change About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. 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