Kevin Rudd has five weeks to turn around an election that many believe favors Tony Abbott – China puts Oz on the dairy ban list with New Zealand – The world’s incubator for Progressive Policy will start accepting applications for gay marriages today.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is challenging Tony Abbott to a series of debates, leading up to the election on 7 September.  Rudd is turning it into a referendum on which candidate Aussies trust to manage the economy, and the transition from the end of the China-fuelled boom, reminding folks that he was at the helm when Oz withstood the 2008 worldwide economic downturn better than much of the world. 

China stopped the import of all milk products from Australia and New Zealand over fears they may be contaminated. Bacterium that can cause botulism was found in some dairy products from the Fonterra Company in New Zealand.  Australia got on China’s list after some contaminated whey protein concentrate was imported here before being sent on to China and elsewhere.  The New Zealand Dollar fell in Asian markets.

The Roman Catholic Bishop of Aberdeen Hugh Gilbert is apologizing for decades of clergy physical and sexual abuse of pupils at a boarding school.  At least one survivor says words aren’t going to cut it.  This comes a week after the BBC documentary exposing the abuse aired in Scotland.  Two of the Benedictine Monks who abused the boys were from Australia and returned here after working at the Fort Augustus Abbey School in the Highlands and its preparatory school in East Lothian.

Iran's new President Hassan Rouhani took the oath of office Sunday, replacing controversial loudmouth President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, best known for Israel-baiting and bombastic threats.  By contrast, the 65-year old Rouhani is a moderate and former nuclear negotiator who promised to improve the economy and reduce unemployment, while reducing tensions over Iran’s nuclear power program.

Israel’s cabinet expanded a program to fund Jewish settlements in the West Bank, drawing condemnation from the Palestinians.  A member of the Palestinian negotiating team Hanan Ashwari says it proves that Israel seeks the diplomatic shield of negotiations but has no real interest in reaching a deal.  The two sides were just dragged back to the negotiating table by US Secretary of State John Kerry last week.

Uruguay will commence taking applications for same-sex marriages from Monday, four months after the country’s congress legalized marriage equality.  Uruguay is the second South American nation to legalize same-sex marriage legislation, following Argentina.  Uruguay is fast becoming the world’s test lab for Progressive legislation, widely expected to legalize marijuana this year as well.

Los Angeles Police say a man who drove his Dodge through the famous Venice Beach Boardwalk was “bent on doing evil”.  38-year old Nathan Campbell is charged with murder among other offenses.  They’re not talking about his motive.  One woman was killed, a 32-year old from Italy in L.A. on her honeymoon.  A dozen people were hurt, at least once critically.

At least 80 people are dead in flooding in and around Pakistan’s largest city Karachi.  30 people are missing, and forecasters say more rain is heading for the region today.  The Army has been drafted to help drain floodwater from residential areas.