Monday, September 1, 2014

Australia- ABC

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Australia to deliver arms to Kurds within days

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has rejected suggestions Australia is bypassing the Iraqi government in supplying weapons to Kurdish troops in the country's north.
As US air strikes against Islamic State fighters continue, Prime Minister Tony Abbott has confirmed armed shipments to aid Peshmerga fighters against the "death cult" will begin in the coming days.
Australia's supply plan will see C-130 aircraft fly to Baghdad for customs clearance, and then onto Kurdish-controlled Erbil, where planes will hand over weaponry including mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.
Mr Abbott meanwhile praised Barack Obama, saying the US president "hasn't been trigger happy" in his approach to the conflict.

No intention to send combat troops to Iraq: PM

Father facing abuse charges
An Australian who fathered surrogate twins with a Thai woman is charged with abusing the children.
Online security laid bare
The leaking of nude photos of Jennifer Lawrence and other celebrities casts doubt over online storage facilities.
North Korean detainees speak
Three Americans held in North Korea use a television interview to plead for US intervention.
Retirement funds 'at risk'
Bill Shorten says millions will be worse off if the Treasurer gets control of super rises for Australian workers.
Tractor ploughs into bedroom
A sleeping couple are injured when a tractor ploughs into the front bedroom of their house.
Bikie law challenge begins
Bikies challenging Queensland's anti-bikie legislation in the High Court are not overly confident of success.
Indonesian student could be jailed for calling city 'stupid'
Ukraine forces pull back from Luhansk airport
Britain to strip suspected Islamic fighters of passports

World War One Centenary

WWI history contested
An officer who fought with a Scottish regiment may be recognised as the first Australian-born casualty of WWI.
Hope for timber boat builders
Restorers hope to revive Tasmania's shipwrighting craft with an historic steamship makeover.
WWI decisions on show
A new exhibition at Old Parliament House in Canberra traces Australia's political route to join WWI.

Read about the military officers who commanded Australian troops during WWI

Business

Super savings 'at risk'
Bill Shorten says millions will be worse off if the Treasurer gets control of super rises for Australian workers.
Rates to stay steady
The Reserve Bank board is expected to leave the official interest rate unchanged when it meets today.
Commercialisation lagging
Australia is trailing rival nations in taking research from the laboratory to factories and retail shelves.
Obama's minimum wage push
Barack Obama denies inciting "class resentment" as he renews his push for Congress to raise the minimum wage.
Wall St closed
Global markets had subdued sessions overnight, lacking direction with US markets on holiday.

Analysis & Opinion from The Drum

Don't rush to Act
Addressing the foreign fighter threat justifies some legislative change, but not just any laws, writes Chris Berg.
Believe it or not
A new book argues atheists owe a lot more to religion than some would like to admit, writes Simon Smart.
The entitlement of age
Our retirement income system is now out of whack, and equality may be sidelined, writes Emily Millane.
Don't be fooled
The global financial crisis required a strong response and Labor delivered, writes Wayne Swan.
Contradictory interests
To defeat the Islamic State, the US needs to overcome its split strategic thinking, writes Stuart Rollo.
Another click in the wall
With a world of information now online, the classroom is not a place, it's an attitude, writes Mark Pesce.
Seeking the cake
As I found, anorexia can take many things from you: your dignity, health and money, writes Jen Bowles.
Is Qantas too big to fail?
The question for Qantas is now: can it survive without taxpayer assistance? Ian Verrender writes.

World

Asia Pacific

Four days, 50 innings later ...
Two high school teams in Japan slog it out over 50 innings before breaking a record baseball stalemate.
Tuna on the brink
The Australian who heads Pacific fishery management warns tuna populations are facing disaster.
North Korean detainees speak
Three Americans held in North Korea use a television interview to plead for US intervention.
Student faces jail over 'insult'
An Indonesian student could be jailed after calling Yogyakarta city "stupid" on social media.
Fukushima waste storage
Fukushima's governor agrees to accept the "temporary" storage of radioactive waste from the 2011 nuclear disaster.

Sport

Pennetta ends Dellacqua's US Open campaign
Australia's last singles representative is out of the US Open after Casey Dellacqua lost to Flavia Pennetta.
Cowboys sneak past Sharks in golden point
North Queensland climbed from seventh to fifth with a thrilling golden-point victory over Cronulla in Townsville.

Falcao signs
Manchester United has sealed the signings of Radamel Falcao and Daley Blind on a frenetic transfer deadline day.
Full-time coach
Neil Henry has been appointed full-time NRL coach of the Gold Coast Titans according to media reports.
Aussies on edge
Australia must beat South Africa to secure a tri-series final place or risk leaving the door open for giant-killer Zimbabwe.
Novak through
Novak Djokovic advanced to the US Open quarter-finals, while Andy Murray proved too good for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

TV & Video

Video

Laser war
Elite athletes from around the world have gathered in Queensland for the world championships of laser tag.
Video

Dream Your Life Away
Vance Joy is releasing his debut album Dream Your Life Away after taking the top spot in Triple J's Hottest 100 with Riptide.
Video

Brain training
Video games could hold the key to delaying the onset of cognitive decline in old age.

Video

'Anyone can be Pussy Riot'
Russian punk rocker Pussy Riot have visited Australia to share insights into their brand of art and activism, saying their priorities are anti-authoritarianism, feminism, and support of LGBT rights.
Video

Clever country fails on innovation
Australia is ranked 17th in the latest global survey on innovation, with critics saying we have a poor record of turning research into products and are punching well below our weight.

Health

Golden rice
Some scientists argue bio-fortifying food through GM technology is the only way to save millions of lives, but is GM technology safe and should it be embraced by all humanity?
Speak your mind
Tara Rymer shares her story of living with an anxiety disorder that emerged after her cousin’s unexpected death.
Quiz: wholegrains
We're often told we need to include healthy wholegrain foods in our diet, but many of us are making the wrong choices. Test your knowledge of grains.

Are you ready for the Exercise Challenge?

ABC Fact Check

Food bowl of Asia?
Coalition policy documents say Australia could become the 'food bowl of Asia', but Barnaby Joyce says the notion is ridiculous.
Abolishing the mining tax
Keep track of the Coalition's pre-election promise to repeal the mining tax.
Labor blocking own plans
Labor is opposing measures which would save the budget more than $5b and which it initiated when in government.
Lambie incorrect on defence
PUP Senator Jacqui Lambie says Australia's defence spending is the lowest it's been since pre-World War II.

Rural

Forest fire threat
The latest bushfire outlook indicates a greater potential for forest fires this summer in southern Australia. (photos)
Palmer's insults delay exports
The WA Premier says Clive Palmer's insulting remarks to the Chinese have slowed live export momentum
Rural levy review 'overdue'
A governance expert says a review of Australia's agriculture levies for research and marketing is overdue. (audio) (photos)

Aussie farmers click start funds from the net

Did You Miss?

Untangling the web
From bottles of Grange to brown bags of cash, see how the New South Wales ICAC scandal unfolded.
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.