Kevin Rudd is denying he's gearing up for another tilt to the Labor leadership. The ABC understands some of Julia Gillard's key backers are preparing to urge her to step aside in favor of her predecessor. A spokesman for Mr Rudd says the backbencher made it very clear last week he wouldn't be contesting the leadership.

 

Almost 600 Australians have been recognized in this year Queen's birthday honor's list. Among those to receive an award are the Sunshine Coast couple Bruce and Denise Morcombe whose son Daniel was abducted and killed in 2003. Champion cyclist Cadel Evans and Iva Davis, the frontman of Australian band Icehouse have also been honored.

 

Hundreds of people from an apartment building that caught fire in Brisbane have spent the night in an emergency accommodation. The blaze started on the top floor of the complex in Fortitude Valley late yesterday. It's destroyed eight apartments and several others have been extensively damaged.

 

And Turkey's defiant prime minister has told thousands of his cheering supporters his patience with the anti-government protesters has its limits. Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his followers should show their support at the ballot box, but he's ruled out callilng an early election. The ten days of protest show no sign of ending up. Tens of thousands of demonstrators have been gathering for a rally in central Istanbul.