ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Mon 18 Aug, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Tough question blamed for fall in NAPLAN figures A NAPLAN test question that was too hard is being blamed for a national drop in students' writing skills. While there were no significant changes across reading, spelling, grammar and numeracy marks, the fall in writing standards is being blamed on a difficult essay question set to children as young as Year Three. Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority chief executive Robert Randall says there is a chance the question was too sophisticated for younger students, who were not properly prepared. "There is a bit of conversation going, was that too demanding for Year Three students?" he said. More » Australia strikes deal to send uranium to India PM meets with Muslim leaders to sell counter-terrorism laws Gunfire, explosions heard as Ferguson protests escalate Abolishing renewable target will increase electricity costs: report PM challenges senators for budget alternatives Container ship crashes into bridge as storm lashes WA Inquiry hears child abuse claims cost church $34m Disabled woman sues carers over bath water burns Newcastle Mayor resigns over banned donations inquiry More Analysis » Budget diplomacy no foreign affair Joe Hockey might feel some justified resentment at the praise being heaped on Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, who is now involved in the budget sales pitch. Because while she has been revelling in praise in the rarefied air of international diplomacy, he has been slogging it out in the harder performance space of domestic politics. In terms of Australian politics, foreign affairs are much simpler than the economy. More » Hard to see Scotland through English eyes Trashing energy targets in pursuit of profits An unlikely leader emerges from the ICAC mess Tax overhaul could be ticket to success It's not you, Mr Hockey, it's the budget Cornered in a drug raid - Beijing style When militarised police meet institutional racism Secrecy becomes dangerous in a war zone A plea to the left: push back harder Just In More Just In » Nominations close ahead of Fiji poll Fiji's elections office is checking the eligibility of potential candidates wanting to stand in next month's election. More » Stephen Standage found guilty of double murder Truck rolls over in Adelaide, trapping people in cars PM meets with Muslim leaders to sell counter-terrorism laws Truck driver in fatal crash faces jail for bond breach Abolishing renewable target will increase electricity costs: report Gunfire, explosions heard as Ferguson protests escalate St Kilda art gallery staff feared child porn charges Rise in antibiotic resistance could hit GP treatments, researchers warn Sacred Yirrkala drawings returned from WA for Darwin show World More World » Nominations close ahead of Fiji poll Fiji's elections office is checking the eligibility of potential candidates wanting to stand in next month's election. More » Gunfire, explosions heard as Ferguson protests escalate Afghan Sikhs found in shipping container at English dock Jihadists targeted by Syrian warplanes Hamas faces harsh strikes if rockets resume: Netanyahu World's most pierced man denied entry to UAE Business More Business » Australia strikes deal to send uranium to India By political correspondent Mark Simkin Australia and India are believed to have struck a deal on uranium exports. More » Carnarvon Petroleum and Apache Energy strike oil off North West Shelf Planning crackdown Market disappointed with NAB's 'satisfactory' $1.7b quarterly profit Newcrest cuts losses but gold miner still deep in the red Shares flat on split market, NAB update drags finance sector lower Politics More Politics » Rise in antibiotic resistance could hit GP treatments, researchers warn The latest jump in antibiotic resistance across Australia could leave doctors with fewer treatment options, researchers have warned. More » Australia strikes deal to send uranium to India PM challenges senators for budget alternatives Bishop outlines new economic diplomacy agenda Brazil mourns presidential candidate killed in plane crash Sport More Sport » Te'o accepts four-week NRL ban South Sydney back rower Ben Te'o will not play again until the second round of the finals after accepting a four-week ban from the NRL judiciary. More » Wallabies forwards need to lift, says Carter Blues re-sign Daley as State of Origin coach City, Liverpool start new campaign with victories Federer, Williams win Cincinnati Masters titles Swans get good news on Kennedy hamstring Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Abolishing renewable target will increase electricity costs: report By David Mark and staff A report commissioned by green groups has found that abolishing the Renewable Energy Target (RET) will increase profits to electricity companies by more than $10 billion. More » Hackers access Russian PM's Twitter account Scientists use Wikibomb in recognition fight Zebrafish study leads to surprising stem cell discovery First woman wins prestigious 'Nobel Prize of maths' Environment More Environment » Abolishing renewable target will increase electricity costs: report By David Mark and staff A report commissioned by green groups has found that abolishing the Renewable Energy Target (RET) will increase profits to electricity companies by more than $10 billion. More » Loggers back environmentalists for forest group inclusion Fact check: Murdoch misleading on North and South Poles Rotting fish on WA beach 'like having a dump near Uluru' Australia faces unprecedented energy oversupply: report About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. 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