ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

Top Stories Officer feared he would be beheaded by knife-wielding teen A federal police officer tells an inquest he believed Numan Haider would have "cut my throat and cut my head off" if his colleague had not shot the 18-year-old dead in a confrontation outside a Melbourne police station. Businessman with alleged mafia links 'behind' $200,000 bounty on slain lawyer A businessman with alleged mafia links, Antonio 'Tony' Madafferi, was suspected by police of putting a $200,000 bounty on the head of Joseph Acquaro after he formed the apparent belief the slain lawyer was leaking information about him to a journalist, the ABC confirm. Live: Divisions deepen as Abbott signs anti-Safe Schools petition The internal debate within the Government over the Safe Schools gender diversity program is escalating, with Tony Abbott signing a petition against it despite launching it as prime minister. Follow the latest political developments live. Evocca College sacks 220 staff, set to close 17 campuses Training giant Evocca College sacks more than 200 staff and says it will close more than a third of its campuses around the country. Jamie Oliver urges Australia to follow UK with sugar tax The celebrity chef says Australia needs to "pull its finger out" on tackling obesity after Britain announces a sugar tax on soft drinks. Fairfax staff to strike over plan to cut 120 jobs Fairfax staff vote to strike until Monday after the media firm announces plans to cut jobs from newsrooms in Sydney and Melbourne. 29 refugees resettled as part of 12,000 intake, Dutton says Immigration Minister Peter Dutton confirms fewer than 30 refugees have been resettled in Australia as part of the Government's 12,000 intake from Iraq and Syria. Bunbury baby death warning signs not heeded: MPs' report The WA Department for Child Protection (DCP) should have ensured a teenager who killed his newborn baby was only allowed supervised visits, a parliamentary committee finds. Scientists solve mystery of the Tully Monster Researchers solve the mystery of a bizarre creature dubbed the Tully Monster, which flourished about 307 million years ago in a coastal estuary in what is now north-eastern Illinois. Unemployment falls to 5.8pc as job seekers give up Australia's unemployment rate falls from 6 to 5.8 per cent in February because many people are giving up looking for work. Howard offers to campaign for former antagonist Joyce John Howard and Barnaby Joyce appear to have put any past differences aside, with the former prime minister offering to campaign for the new Deputy Prime Minister in his seat of New England. Madonna fans furious as diva appears on stage two hours late Fans vent their fury at the Madonna concert in Brisbane after the pop queen appears on stage more than two hours late. A decade on from Close the Gap, strong policy re-focus needed, Calma says Aboriginal leader Professor Tom Calma says political instability has held back progress on Close the Gap over the last decade. 'I'm in prison because of Uber': Murder accused driver files lawsuit A US Uber driver charged with murdering six people in between driving customers files a $13 million lawsuit against the ride-sharing company, saying it is Uber's fault he is in prison, court records show. Analysis and Opinion: The Drum Senate reform: A heady mix of sabotage and self-interest By Annabel Crabb Casinos, lock-out laws, and the unravelling of Mike Baird By Michael Bradley MPs must stop referring each other to police - this isn't a game By Greg Barns The AFL should ditch the behind and stick with goals By Jack Kerr Just In Australia consumes more sugary drinks than the UK March 17, 2016 - 4:09 pm SA fights looming federal cut for heart health program March 17, 2016 - 3:38 pm Primary school lockdown lifted, police cannot confirm gunman sighting March 17, 2016 - 3:38 pm World • Japan photo competition cancelled after dead whale image chosen as winner • US Federal Reserve scales back its rate rise forecasts • White House calls for release of student jailed in North Korea Business • Unemployment falls to 5.8pc as job seekers give up • Fairfax staff to strike over plan to cut 120 jobs • Evocca College sacks 220 staff, set to close 17 campuses Politics • Indigenous leaders call for continued support for health equality • CSIRO staff using private email to discuss cuts branded 'dubious administration' • Howard offers to campaign for former antagonist Joyce Sport • Aussie tennis bad boys Kyrgios and Tomic told to behave at Rio Olympics • Six of the best AFL matchups for 2016 • AFL captains tip Cats to rise, Dangerfield for Brownlow Science and Tech • CSIRO staff using private email to discuss cuts branded 'dubious administration' • NASA to light large fire in space • 500yo Portuguese ship, rare 'ghost coin' discovered off coast of Oman Environment • Japan photo competition cancelled after dead whale image chosen as winner • CSIRO staff using private email to discuss cuts branded 'dubious administration' • Global energy emissions plateau despite economic growth: IEA Follow ABC News 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. 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. Add or remove topics | Unsubscribe | Contact Us   Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 © 2016 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters