ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Mon 29 Sep, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Barack Obama admits US underestimated IS threat By North America correspondent Lisa Millar, wires United States president Barack Obama has acknowledged his intelligence officials underestimated the threat from Islamic State militants inside Syria. In an interview with CBS's 60 Minutes program, Mr Obama said Syria had now become "ground zero" for jihadists, including fighters from Australia. He said IS propagandists had become "very savvy" with social media and lured new recruits "who believed in their jihadist nonsense". "[They] travelled everywhere from Europe to the United States, to Australia, to other parts of the Muslim world, converging on Syria, and so this became ground zero for jihadists around the world," he said. More » Australian man tortured, killed by Taliban in Afghanistan Dozens feared dead in Japanese volcano eruption Coles banned from advertising frozen bread as 'Freshly Baked' Schools, banks close as Hong Kong protests continue Life prisoners should have euthanasia option: Nitschke Mother's plea to save son's foot prompts SA Govt review Corporate tax minimisations costing Australia $8b a year Search teams find body of mountain biker UK government minister resigns after sexting sting More Analysis » The cheek of Abbott channelling Chifley The minor earth tremor you detected around Bathurst cemetery last week was Ben Chifley turning in his grave as Tony Abbott invoked his memory at the United Nations. It was there the pattern started to develop: we'll take part in the wars, at least when they're America's, but that's it. The spirit of Chifley, the humble visionary whose optimistic belief in both domestic and international peace and goodwill was a beacon of hope, is to be cynically stolen by the present reality of a man who thrives on conflict and aggression. More » Countering terrorism requires alms as well as arms Unfettered ASIO warrants should concern us all Ignore the banks, the housing bubble is real How we're exploiting the terrorism threat China's hotbed: who created the violence? Cambodia deal: another stain on our reputation Holiday leave enters Virgin territory Abbott faces the reality of multicultural Australia There's still life in the Rudd-Gillard stoush Just In More Just In » Shots fired during stand-off with gunman in Brisbane By Courtney Wilson and Eric Tlozek Shots have been fired at the scene of a police siege in Brisbane's south-west where a man was holed up in his car armed with a gun. More » Adelaide teen shot neighbours with handgun: police Coles banned from advertising frozen bread as 'Freshly Baked' Japan volcano hikers caught in searing hot ash cloud Tasmanian Government seeks advice on MONA casino plan Fundraiser complies with political donation laws, LNP says Child abuse allegations in NT jump 30pc, inquiry told NSW Police take DNA from hundreds of ex-offenders MCG turf to be completely ripped up Chloe inquest told 'mother not regularly drug-tested' World More World » Japan volcano hikers caught in searing hot ash cloud By Daniel Smith, wires Hikers caught out by the eruption of a volcano in Japan would have been faced with "an asphyxiating atmosphere" filled with ash at temperatures in the hundreds of degrees Celsius, an Australian geoscientist says. More » Schools, banks close as Hong Kong protests continue Photos: Surfing dogs catch waves in California Barack Obama admits US underestimated IS threat UK government minister resigns after sexting sting Three dead, 18 injured in Dutch monster truck accident Business More Business » Corporate tax minimisations costing Australia $8b a year By finance reporter Elysse Morgan A third of Australia's largest companies are paying a fraction of the full 30 per cent corporate tax rate. A report by the Tax Justice Network and the United Voice union says almost a third of companies listed on the ASX 200 pay 10 per cent or less in corporate tax. This is substantially less than the statutory 30 per cent corporate tax rate. The report says the government is losing out on at least $8.4 billion in tax each year. More » Share market dollar fall on Hong Kong unrest Schools, banks close as Hong Kong protests continue Coles banned from advertising frozen bread as 'Freshly Baked' Treasury Wine rejects private equity bidders Reserve Bank to front Senate over tougher lending rules Politics More Politics » Schools, banks close as Hong Kong protests continue Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong are continuing their protests, forcing the closure of banks and schools, and causing transport chaos. Government schools in central Hong Kong have been closed, while some companies have told employees to stay home as demonstrations enter their second week in the city's financial district. Police have asked protestors to retreat and leave the streets, but demonstrators are showing no signs of leaving. More » MP welcomes AEC probe into alleged electoral fraud Mother's plea to save son's foot prompts SA Govt review UK government minister resigns after sexting sting Cameron considered quitting if Scotland split from UK Sport More Sport » Injured Bulldog Ennis 'praying for a miracle' Michael Ennis is praying for a miracle to be fit for the NRL grand final, but the Bulldogs reckon he is unlikely to play. More » Thurston favourite to win third Dally M Schipper announces retirement from swimming Gerrans close to tears after narrowly missing world title The Finals Countdown: September 29 Waite could head North as AFL free agent Science and Technology More Science and Technology » CSIRO's $120m Investigator can't plug into shore power By Linda Hunt The CSIRO's new research vessel Investigator is unable to access shore power in Hobart and is running off the ship's engines. The ship has been moved from its berth alongside the CSIRO to Macquarie Wharf following complaints by neighbours about the noise. It is the latest in a string of issues with the $120-million flagship vessel, which was besieged by delays before eventually arriving at its home port of Hobart earlier this month, a year later than expected. More » New York scientists unveil 'invisibility cloak' Shellshock bug leaves up to 500 million computers at risk Smartphone users with stumpy digits turn to 'stretched finger' India's spacecraft beams back first Mars photos Environment More Environment » Project aims to save Port Phillip Bay's shellfish reefs Scientists, conservationists and anglers have come together in a national first in an attempt to improve marine habitats in Port Phillip Bay. More » Plan to tackle dugong, turtle poachers 'muddle-headed' Reintroduced western quolls give birth to 60 babies Obama to announce world's largest marine sanctuary Fact check: Abbott exaggerating India's record on nuclear non-proliferation 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 © 2014 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters