ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Mon 11 Aug, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » 'Terrorist army': Australia ready to help in fight against Islamic State Defence Minister David Johnston is not ruling out offering military assistance to US forces fighting what Tony Abbott says is an Islamic State (IS) "terrorist army" in Iraq. Thousands of members of the Yazidi minority remain stranded on Mount Sinjar, facing slaughter at the hands of IS militants who are pressing their assault across northern Iraq in the face of continuing US air strikes. "We're not ruling out providing some backup assistance to the Americans as they go in and deal kinetically with this terrorist organisation," Senator Johnston said. Mr Abbott said IS was carrying out "hideous atrocities" - a reference to a photo purporting to show the Sydney-born seven-year-old son of an Australian jihadist brandishing the severed head of a Syrian soldier. More » Hockey pushes ahead with Medicare GP co-payment plan Australian boy 'posed with severed head' on Twitter Palmer United Party Queensland leader Alex Douglas quits amid claims of 'jobs for the boys' No ruling on Putin G20 ban: Abbott ASADA: James Hird 'told' to take responsibility for Essendon supplement regime Pilot takes endangered wallaby joeys under his wing Rory McIlroy wins PGA Championship by one shot Lennox Lewis promoter quits boxing, has sex change Bad Chinese drivers forced to look into headlights More Analysis » Islamic State gives Obama a reason to join fray It may well be that the Islamic State's decision to attack minorities and the Kurds is a strategic error that has given the US a reason to become more involved in Iraq. Iraq clearly needed military assistance but the US needed to offer it in such a way that it wouldn't be seen to profit prime minister Nouri al-Maliki politically. What better way to introduce US firepower than in support of a humanitarian cause and in defence of Kurdish-controlled areas? More » Warrants aren't a cure-all to privacy fears Sanctions prove mightier than the gun Abbott's survival relies on knowing when to fold 'em The Islamic State challenge to world order When it comes to metadata, numbers can mislead Some advice for Turnbull on the NBN: move on Maybe we should give up a bit of liberty Why must my friend be afraid to be Jewish? Shock, horror - a female sports coach! Just In More Just In » Hird 'told' to take responsibility in Essendon probe Suspended coach James Hird says he was told to take full responsibility for Essendon Football Club's controversial supplements program because it would be good for the club and his reputation. Essendon and Hird have begun their Federal Court challenge to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) investigation into the club's 2012 supplements program. The challenge comes 18 months after the anti-doping authority launched its investigation. He told the court he disagreed with Essendon doing a press conference in February 2013 in which it announced it would hold a joint investigation into the program with ASADA, but he was told to toe the line. More » Poll reveals waning interest in politics Pilot takes endangered wallaby joeys under his wing Palmer United Party Qld leader Alex Douglas quits BC Iron launches friendly takeover for Stokes miner No ruling on Putin G20 ban: Abbott Alleged syringe robber denied bail in ACT Navy boat catches fire in Brisbane boatyard Bank to chase Great Southern victims' loans Mining, finance drives share market gains World More World » McIlroy swoops to take out PGA Championship Rory McIlroy confirmed his status as this generation's best golfer by winning the PGA Championship by one shot. More » Lennox Lewis promoter quits boxing, has sex change Bad Chinese drivers forced to look into headlights 'Terrorist army': Australia ready to help in fight against Islamic State Ebola vaccine trials flagged as health crisis deepens PGA Championship final round: as it happened Business More Business » Penfolds parent company receives second offer By business editor Ian Verrender The bid for Penfolds has suddenly turned into an auction after a second private equity group expressed interest in the company. Treasury Wine Estates, the company behind the nation's most recognised winemaker, announced this morning another private equity group - believed to be American group TPG - had expressed interest in pitching a $5.20-a-share offer. The new bid matches last week's $3.4 billion preliminary offer from Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) and Rhone Capital. Treasury has granted both consortia access to its books, increasing the chance at least one will make a firm offer at the nominated price. More » BC Iron launches friendly takeover for Stokes miner Mining, finance drives share market gains Bank to chase Great Southern victims' loans RBA signals jobless rate could remain high Government seeks to privatise Medicare processing Malaysia Airlines to be privatised ahead of revamp Politics More Politics » Poll reveals waning interest in politics By Margot O'Neill Most Australians no longer think it matters which major party is in government according to new research, which also reveals a significant decline in support for democracy over the past seven years. More » No ruling on Putin G20 ban: Abbott Hockey pushes ahead with Medicare GP co-payment plan Website struggles with rush for SA teaching jobs Abbott arrives in Europe, flags tougher Russia sanctions Sport More Sport » Hird 'told' to take responsibility in Essendon probe Suspended coach James Hird says he was told to take full responsibility for Essendon Football Club's controversial supplements program because it would be good for the club and his reputation. Essendon and Hird have begun their Federal Court challenge to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) investigation into the club's 2012 supplements program. The challenge comes 18 months after the anti-doping authority launched its investigation. He told the court he disagreed with Essendon doing a press conference in February 2013 in which it announced it would hold a joint investigation into the program with ASADA, but he was told to toe the line. More » McIlroy swoops to take out PGA Championship Knights appoint Rick Stone as head coach Saia Faingaa called into Wallabies Marquez makes it 10 out of 10 at Indianapolis Tsonga caps week of upsets with win over Federer and Toronto title Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Fact or fiction: We only use 10 per cent of our brain It has been a popular belief for over a century now that humans aren't fulfilling their intellectual potential. The idea has proved popular in Hollywood too, with Luc Besson's latest film, Lucy, using it as a major plot device. But is the claim we are only using 10 per cent of our brains fact or fiction? More » Your pics: Supermoon lights up winter sky Pets sent off in style with memorial spaceflights Australia faces unprecedented energy oversupply: report Spectacular science photos nominated for 2014 Eureka Prize Environment More Environment » Rotting fish on WA beach 'like having a dump near Uluru' By Gian De Poloni Hundreds of rotting dead fish and crabs washing up on a beach in Western Australia's Mid West are sending tourists away in droves and causing local businesses to suffer. More » Australia faces unprecedented energy oversupply: report 'Stupid' crocodile cowboy poses inside baited trap World's busiest croc-catching crew on patrol in Darwin Palm oil-free ice cream loses out in Zoos SA deal 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. 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