Saturday, August 16, 2014

News of Australia- ABC

Topics
View all topics

US confirms air strikes used in battle for dam

The United States has confirmed it has carried out air strikes to aid Kurdish troops in their bid to retake Iraq's largest dam from violent extremists.
US Central Command says fighter jets and drones have destroyed or damaged four armoured personnel carriers, seven armed vehicles, two Humvees and another armoured vehicle in the action.
A senior Kurdish military official, Major General Abdelrahman Korini, said the Peshmerga have seized control of the eastern side of the dam.
The dam provides electricity to northern parts of the country and is key to efforts by Islamic State militants to provide electricity to areas under their control.

Islamic State massacres 80 Yazidis: Kurdish officials

NSW Libs to 'atone' for scandal
Liberal Party will not contest seats held by MPs who resigned in disgrace amid a donations scandal.
One-punch killers to get 10 years
Perpetrators of one-punch deaths in Victoria will soon face a decade in jail, the country's toughest penalty.
PM's 'bewildering' remarks
Tony Abbott tells a British newspaper supporters of Scottish independence are not friends of freedom or justice.
'Grubs' douse couple in petrol
Four men wearing balaclavas attacked a Brisbane couple aged in their 60s during a home invasion.
Rebels get tanks for offensive
Ukrainian rebels are getting armoured vehicles for a major counteroffensive, a separatist leader says.
State of emergency declared
Missouri's governor declares a state of emergency as protests over the fatal shooting of a black teenager continue.
Hamas warns of 'long war' if demands not accepted
NT cattle stations sold as live export fallout lingers
Germany recorded John Kerry's phone: reports

World War One Centenary

Padres: Our military chaplains
The untold story of one of Australia’s first WWI padres, Major The Reverend Pitt-Owen.
'Dirty 500' honoured
As Australians pay tribute to those who served in WWI, the story of the "Dirty 500" remains untold.
Gallery: remembering WWI
Images from around the world as the centenary of the start of World War I is remembered.

Hard political decisions behind WWI explained in new exhibition at Old Parliament House

Business

Mining giant BHP to split
BHP Billiton confirms it will split the company and spin off its second tier assets into a new corporation.
Advice scandal compensation
Macquarie Group will compensate potentially thousands of customers who lost money through flawed advice.
ANZ announces record earnings
ANZ Bank shrugs aside critics of its Asian expansion strategy with a record rise in third-quarter earnings.
Hardie earnings go backwards
James Hardie blames a poor manufacturing performance for a downturn in first quarter earnings.
Corporate Australia 'in denial'
Corporate Australia is in denial about climate change, former fossil fuels executive Ian Dunlop says.

Analysis & Opinion from The Drum

Overkill in Ferguson
In a Missouri suburb, Americans are witnessing the dangers of militarised policing, writes David Smith.
A plea to the left
The undying budget backlash reveals the power of the people, writes Tim Dunlop.
Addressing the threat
The US-Australia UN proposal needs to produce guidelines for dealing with jihadi fighters, writes Anthony Bergin.
Tackling trolls
Zelda Williams is the latest victim in the imperfect battle against internet trolls, writes Peter Black.
Dangerous secrecy
Secrecy from AFP and DFAT near the MH17 site put journalists' safety at risk, writes Stephen McDonell.
No more Mr Nice Joe
Not all of the criticisms of Joe Hockey are entirely fair, but then neither is his budget, writes Barrie Cassidy.
Inequality in the spotlight
Inequality is an old concern given new prominence by the Federal Government, writes Frank Stilwell.
Political tongue twisters
Until Hockey and Shorten can master political language, they're going to struggle, writes Paula Matthewson.

World

Asia Pacific

Children forced to donate blood
Police arrest seven people in China allegedly involved in a scheme forcing children to donate blood, Xinhua says.
FBI investigates Bali murder
An FBI agent arrives in Bali to assist in an investigation into the killing of a US woman found stuffed in a suitcase.
Arms ban
A senior US military officer says the US could help build Vietnam's naval capacity if a ban on selling lethal weapons is lifted.
Pakistan protesters vow not to let-up
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters in Islamabad vow to stay in the streets until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns.
Indonesians reject extremism
Indonesians share Australian concerns over threats to domestic security with most Muslims condemning Islamic State.

Sport

Wallabies and All Blacks locked in 12-12 draw
The Wallabies and the All Blacks fought out a 12-12 draw in Sydney in a tense, tight Bledisloe Cup opener.
Van Gaal's United lose opener, Arsenal and Spurs win
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal found no instant fix as they suffered a 2-1 opening day loss to Swansea United at Old Trafford.

Final showdown
Serena Williams and Ana Ivanovic have survived three-set semi-finals to book a place in the Cincinnati Open final.
Finals dreaming
Richmond has held on to win a thrilling AFL clash against Adelaide by 10 points at the Adelaide Oval.
Flying up
Essendon has kept its finals hopes alive with an incredible three-point win over West Coast.
Tigers tamed
The Sydney Roosters moved up to third place on the NRL ladder with a convincing 48-4 win over the Wests Tigers.

TV & Video

Video

Ebola: The facts
The latest ebola virus outbreak in Africa has killed hundreds despite being easy to contain.
Video

Solar marathon
Engineer Naveen Rabelli is hoping to drive from India to the UK in a tuk-tuk powered solely by the sun.
Bureaucracy gone mad
Rob Sitch and his Working Dog crew are back with Utopia - a new satirical comedy on ABC TV.

Video

NSW corruption scandal nears federal Liberals
Nine conservative politicians have been tainted by revelations unveiled by New South Wales' Independent Commission Against Corruption, as the scandal moves closer to the federal Liberal Party.
Video

Intelligence analyst blasts Pine Gap
Australia's leading intelligence expert has described the joint US-Australian defence base at Pine Gap as 'ethically unacceptable' over American drone strikes.

Health

Fresh vs frozen
Frozen vegetables can be cheaper and more convenient than fresh, so how do they stack up in terms of
nutrition?
A history of kissing
Kissing is referred to in Homer and the Old Testament, but it's by no means universal - some cultures find kissing on the lips quite disgusting.
Influenza facts
Flu season is well and truly upon us. But what is true influenza and how can you avoid getting it?

Can raising your arms above your head be bad for your heart?

ABC Fact Check

For richer or poorer?
The Treasurer says 'poor people' don't have cars and don't drive far so won't pay as much fuel tax. Is he right?
Fact Check flashback
On its first birthday, ABC Fact Check reveals its 10 most popular stories since launch.
Murdoch on climate change
Is the South Pole getting bigger and the North Pole melting "a bit", as Rupert Murdoch claims?
Fact or fiction: Brain power
The new Hollywood film, Lucy, claims we only use 10 per cent of our brain. Is that true?

Rural

Wool exporter ceases trade
Agricultural giant Olam International will cease exporting Australian wool, citing falling demand from China and poor margins.
Vietnam import boom
The northern beef industry has been overwhelmed by a 9,000 per cent increase in live cattle exported to Vietnam.
Farm R&D under scrutiny
Never before has there been as much scrutiny of Australia's agricultural research and marketing funding.

Prison inmates working for South Australian oyster industry

Did You Miss?

Welfare in your area
How many people claim Centrelink payments near you? Find out using our social security interactive.
Australian transitions 1914-2014
Digital montages show Australians of 1914 mingling on streets with their 21st-century counterparts.
What makes a winner?
Fiona Lowry bucked the trend with her winning Archibald portrait. See how it compares to previous winners.
100 years of temperatures
Use our interactive map to explore 100 years of annual average temperatures across Australia.