Monday, September 15, 2014

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Coming up
- Q&A: Read Lisa Millar's story on Northern Ireland's 'Disappeared'

World leaders pledge to fight Islamic State 'by any means necessary'

Representatives of 30 countries have pledged "appropriate military assistance" to fight the Islamic State (IS) jihadist insurgency in Iraq.
Leaders attending a conference in Paris said there was an "urgent need" to remove IS from the region, and committed to supporting the new Iraqi government "by any means necessary".
But there were no concrete details on what form the military assistance would take, and there have been questions about the legality of action in Syria.
The US is already carrying out airstrikes against IS fighters, and Australian warplanes and hundreds of military personnel will arrive to join the campaign within days.

Iraq conflict: US strikes IS militants near Baghdad

Tourists found dead on beach
The naked bodies of two 24-year-old British tourists are found on a Thai beach, sparking a murder probe. (photos)
Palmer's voting record
Clive Palmer has only voted in 19 out of 202 House of Representatives divisions - the lowest of any MP.
Teacher's payout hits $1.29m
A former teacher at Werribee College wins a further $550,000 compensation for teaching "feral" children.
Police widen search for 3yo
Police refuse to give up hope as the search expands for three-year-old William Tyrell.
PM to snub climate summit
The EU's climate chief says it is a pity Tony Abbott won't attend a UN climate meeting in New York next week.
Scots warned of 'painful divorce'
British prime minister David Cameron makes a final plea to Scots to avoid a "painful divorce".
Driver charged over crash that killed teen at bus stop
500 feared dead in Mediterranean migrant shipwreck
Former Auschwitz Nazi guard faces 300,000 charges
Ukraine offers rebels three years of limited self-rule

World War One Centenary

Gallantry at Bita Paka
Relatives remember the gallantry of those killed in Australia's first significant military engagement of WWI.
From behind the lines
A German photographer took his camera with him when he was called into service in WWI.
Feisty WWI stowaway
A teenage girl was so desperate to be part of Australia's war efforts that she cut her hair and stowed away on a ship.

Able Seaman Robert Moffatt's first act of war in Rabaul was also his last

Business

Iron ore pulls dollar up
A big jump in the global iron ore price has helped to drag the Australian dollar back above 90 US cents overnight.
OECD sees weaker outlook
The OECD cuts its growth forecasts for some of the world's biggest economies, and warns of rising risks.
Union loses appeal
The MUA loses appeal against federal changes making it easier for foreign workers to be employed on oil rigs.
Hardie asbestos shortfall
Building materials firm James Hardie has confirmed that its asbestos fund is facing a shortfall within three years.
Pyramid scheme allegations
Australian customers of shopping network Lyoness hope ACCC action will help them get their money back.

Analysis & Opinion from The Drum

Hopelessly confused
In the mission against Islamic State, it seems our goals are hopelessly confused, writes Chris Berg.
The 'birther' barrier
The campaign asking Tony Abbott to prove if he's a dual citizen shows how outdated we are, writes Grant Wyeth.
Victim blaming at its worst
When we hear a murdered wife had a disability, we find ourselves a little less horrified, writes Stella Young.
Pragmatist intervention
This is about targeting Islamic State, not making a better Iraqi nation, writes Rodger Shanahan.
Mission impossible
Team Australia is being geed up for war in the manner of a desperate coach, writes Mungo MacCallum.
Marrying for tickets
Men marrying each other for footy tickets is of no more concern than Elvis weddings, writes Paul Karp.
The missing Ebola response
The Ebola epidemic response must take into account local cultural views or risk failure, writes Peter Curson.
Scotland's amnesia
The "Yes" campaign holds the union up as a failure, but that's not quite true, writes Matthew Dal Santo.

World

Asia Pacific

Beijing smoking ban push
China's capital, Beijing, considers strengthening its ban on indoor smoking.
'You are being watched'
Fugitive whistleblower Edward Snowden says New Zealand's PM is lying about mass spying on citizens.
Amnesty plea for detainee
The US asks Pyongyang to pardon an American citizen sentenced to six years hard labour in North Korea.
Media blackout in Fiji
A media blackout on political campaigning has come into effect in Fiji ahead of this Wednesday's election.
Rescue boat capsizes
At least 17 people have drowned after a rescue boat carrying a wedding party capsized in central Pakistan.

Sport

Ballin firming for Bulldogs clash
Matt Ballin's hopes of playing in Manly's semi-final against Canterbury are rising, as his rehabilitation from a leg injury continues.
AFL All Australian team predictions
As the AFL prepares to announce its official All Australian team for 2014, Grandstand attempts to predict the best 22 of 2014.

New coach
Australian swimming star James Magnussen has split with long-time coach Brant Best.
Bomber in talks
Mark Thompson says he is deep in discussions with Essendon about what his potential AFL role in 2015 will look like.
Dockers interest
Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has confirmed he is interested in signing free agent James Frawley.
Honours shared
A Curtis Davies own goal gifted West Ham United a point after Hull City had twice taken the lead in a 2-2 draw in the English Premier League.

TV & Video

Uni or Trades
Vocational training is getting a major makeover and has students asking which is better - uni or trades?
Dating websites targeted
The ACCC is targeting dating websites, tracking those suspected of praying on vulnerable customers.
Clarendon House restoration
The managers of Clarendon House have used the annual winter closure of the historic property to renovate.

Australia's terrorism alert level raised to high
Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced that Australia's terrorism alert has been increased to 'high' due to increased risks, not information about one specific threat.
Australia's first sub and its disappearance
Jeremy Fernandez explains the significance of the AE1, which disappeared while on patrol with the destroyer HMAS Parramatta during World War I.

Health

Developmental delay
Charting parts of the genome likely to contain faulty genes is enabling researchers to home in on genes involved in developmental delay and possibly ones behind psychiatric disorders too.
What is good mental health?
When it comes to mental health, much of the focus is on mental illness. But what does it mean to be in good mental health and how can you foster this sense of wellbeing?
Apparently normal
I look normal on the outside, nothing obvious to anyone. No one could see what was underneath, even when I felt my worst.

Breaking down your barriers to exercise

ABC Fact Check

Dementia facts flawed
The Health Minister says that, in a number of years, 7,500 people will be diagnosed with dementia each week.
No-one going backwards?
The Prime Minister is incorrect on the impact of his Government's superannuation changes on workers.
Women 'making more money'
Childless women in their twenties in the US are earning more than men, American academic Kay Hymowitz says.
Palmer wrong on super
Clive Palmer says it's a "statistical fact" that over 50pc of Australians will be dead before they can access their super.

Rural

Farm export earnings to fall
Agricultural exports, hit by lower grain prices, are forecast to fall this financial year.
'Better the devil you know'
Scottish farmers are concerned about how a 'yes' vote in Thursday's referendum could affect their ability to sell produce.
New durum wheat variety
Scientists say a new durum wheat variety will help Australian growers in the global pasta industry.

Heywire providing a voice for rural youth

Did You Miss?

A year in power
Explore 15 of the key moments during Tony Abbott's first 12 months in office.
Road to radicalisation
How did a former Gold Coast private schoolgirl come to die in a hail of bullets in Syria?
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.