ABC NewsMail - Morning Edition

NewsMail Morning Edition Wed 21 Jan, 2015 Top Stories More Top Stories » IS militants demand $200m ransom for Japanese captives By North Asia correspondent Matthew Carney, AFP Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe says a threat by Islamic State militants to kill two hostages unless a $200 million ransom is paid is "unforgivable". More » Police raid properties in search for William Tyrell Obama to focus on middle class in State of the Union address Cosmic radio bursts witnessed live by Australian scientists for first time Malian man hailed as hero in Paris supermarket terror attack made French citizen AirAsia plane 'climbed at beyond normal speed then stalled' China wants to exploit Antarctic mineral resources, researcher says Abbott denies 'captain's call' on proposed cut to Medicare rebate Rare and terrifying frilled shark caught in Victorian waters Journalist's T-shirt deemed 'offensive' by Parliament security More Analysis » Abbott damned if he does, damned if he doesn't After much Labor and social media taunting, and having been conspicuous in his absence from Campbell Newman's campaign launch last Sunday, Tony Abbott confirmed he'll steer clear of the Queensland election. But far from ducking a fight, it's likely the decision came at the behest of the state LNP. Which is a shame, because instead of harming Newman's re-election prospects, the odds are Abbott's presence could have made them that much better. More » Death row: a tragic lesson for Australian travellers Unelectable Shorten vs unre-electable Abbott? Page 3's cookie cutter women no longer titillate When is tax 'reform' actually just a tax grab? Cobalt from the blue: time to register racing's vets Hockey walks a fine line on Medicare changes Battling terrorism at home, abroad - and online Chequebook journalism and the Sydney siege Open Drum: no vacancies ... for black people Just In More Just In » Dope test may cost Brazil swim team three world title golds A failed dope test by Brazilian swimmer Joao Gomes could cost his country's short-course team three world title gold medals. More » Uproar over Argentine prosecutor's death as president pledges investigation Three Russian Olympic walking champions receive doping bans Roo knocks cyclist off bike on major Canberra road Malian man hailed as hero in Paris supermarket terror attack made French citizen Net Rush at the Australian Open Campbell Newman distinguishes between likeability and electability Obama to focus on middle class in State of the Union address Royal District Nursing Service cuts jobs, reduces centres Five Russians in France suspected of planning terror attack World More World » Uproar over Argentine prosecutor's death as president pledges investigation Argentina's president Cristina Kirchner vows to support a full investigation into the sudden death of controversial prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who accused her of obstructing a probe into the 1994 bombing of a Jewish charity centre. More » Malian man hailed as hero in Paris supermarket terror attack made French citizen Obama to focus on middle class in State of the Union address Five Russians in France suspected of planning terror attack UN chief calls for immediate stop to Yemen fighting Polish prosecutors request to extradite Polanski to US Business More Business » Chinese economic growth near expectations, but at 24-year low By business reporter Michael Janda China's 7.4 per cent economic growth for 2014 was its worst calendar year performance since 1990, but broadly matched economist forecasts. More » IMF downgrades global economic growth forecasts 1 per cent of the world will own half its wealth by 2016: Oxfam China GDP data dominates local market Rio Tinto keeps ramping up iron ore production even as prices slump GUD posts 261pc profit surge; Sunbeam still struggling Politics More Politics » Obama to focus on middle class in State of the Union address Barack Obama will use today's State of the Union speech to challenge Republicans to back his tax-raising ideas for helping middle-class Americans. More » Queensland voters uneasy about bikie sentencing laws UN chief calls for immediate stop to Yemen fighting Charities, social services face closure after losing federal funding Abbott denies 'captain's call' on proposed cut to Medicare rebate Sport More Sport » Australian Open: Hewitt wins tough first-round clash Lleyton Hewitt beats Ze Zhang to progress, joining Samantha Stosur and Casey Dellacqua in the second round. More » Net Rush at the Australian Open Robert Allenby withdraws from PGA Tour event after Hawaii attack Australian Open: Williams scores straight-sets win in opener Japan eases past Jordan 2-0 to secure top spot in Group D Smith to captain Aussies in Hobart ODI Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Cosmic radio bursts witnessed live by Australian scientists for first time By Sarah Sedghi Australian scientists see the "exciting" bright flashes of radio waves caused by a cosmic radio burst "billions of light years away". More » Australian hacker live streams attack on US education sites Rare and terrifying frilled shark caught in Victorian waters Google halts sales of internet-linked eyewear Google Glass CSIRO trials home sensor technology to assist elderly, people with disabilities Environment More Environment » China wants to exploit Antarctic mineral resources, researcher says By Michael Atkin New evidence emerges of China's interest in exploiting Antarctica's minerals despite an international agreement preventing it. More » Abbott urged to act on climate as 2014 named hottest on record 2014 was hottest year in modern history: NASA Tonga volcanic eruption creates new island Clean energy sector 'uninvestable' due to RET uncertainty: analyst 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 © 2015 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters