ABC NewsMail - Morning Edition

NewsMail Morning Edition Wed 08 Jan, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Government considers buying lifeboats for asylum seekers: report The Federal Government is reportedly set to buy lifeboats which will be used to return asylum seekers to Indonesia if they are intercepted on unseaworthy boats. Fairfax media is reporting the Government is purchasing 16 large, engine-powered lifeboats to ferry asylum seekers back to Indonesia. The report says the high-visibility lifeboats could carry dozens of passengers along with food and water for at least a week. The news follows revelations the Australian Navy has recently turned back two asylum seeker boats. The Opposition and the Greens have hit out at the plan, with Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young saying the Coalition's border protection policy is in tatters. More » Rebekah Brooks's assistant 'offered Australia move for hiding evidence' 200 million shivering as record chill spreads across US Passer-by finds stolen Rennmax racing car worth $320k in Belgrave South Mark 'Marco' Bresciano free to play for Socceroos in World Cup as ban appeal continues First batch of Syria's chemical weapons leaves port on Danish ship Spain's Princess Cristina summoned over alleged financial crimes More Analysis » A lot more is at stake than just whaling It is not widely appreciated that Australia's longstanding claim to the Australian Antarctic Territory - and thus the Australian Whale Sanctuary - is not widely recognised. As such, active enforcement of Australian law against Japanese whalers could unleash a diplomatic and legal maelstrom with very serious consequences for Australia's Antarctic claim and for the Antarctic Treaty. Greg Hunt's decision to undertake aerial monitoring of the Japanese whalers is a more prudent course of action, keeping the Australian government at arms' length from any Southern Ocean confrontations that may develop between Sea Shepherd and the whalers. More » The real danger in Cory Bernardi's comments There is no such thing as reform without risks The end of Medicare as we know it The triumph of Michael Clarke's Improbables The legacy of war: Iraq tears itself apart Confessions of a Facebook addict A surfer's defence of the great white shark A Bailey blast would be the perfect Ashes full stop What Australia needs is a genuine house of review Just In More Just In » Ships stuck in Antarctica freed by thawing ice A Russian research vessel stuck in thick Antarctic ice for a fortnight has finally managed to break free. More » Fraser Coast council mistakenly euthanises family dog in Hervey Bay Man charged after armed standoff in Murray River Rebekah Brooks's assistant 'offered Australia move for hiding evidence' 200 million shivering as record chill spreads across US North Stradbroke firefighters battle on amid wind threat Lindsey Vonn to miss Sochi Winter Olympics Passer-by finds stolen race car worth $320k First batch of Syria's chemical weapons leaves port on Danish ship Government considers buying lifeboats for asylum seekers: report World More World » Ships stuck in Antarctica freed by thawing ice A Russian research vessel stuck in thick Antarctic ice for a fortnight has finally managed to break free. More » Rebekah Brooks's assistant 'offered Australia move for hiding evidence' 200 million shivering as record chill spreads across US Lindsey Vonn to miss Sochi Winter Olympics First batch of Syria's chemical weapons leaves port on Danish ship Militants killed in Ramadi, troops head for Fallujah Business More Business » Tablets prove popular, but Christmas a bitter pill for fashion By business reporters Michael Janda and Alicia Barry With Christmas trees and lights barely down, retail analysts have already come up with their first estimates of pre-Christmas sales. Retailers are likely to have lifted sales by 3-4 per cent overall this Christmas, but not all stores fared so well. Citi analysts say electronics stores did well out of tablet sales, but fashion retailers had to discount heavily to make sales. More » Petrol price soars, more pain at the pump ahead Australia posts smaller trade deficit as imports slip Senate confirms Yellen as US Federal Reserve chairwoman Bitcoin value strengthens after being accepted by Zynga Politics More Politics » Government considers buying lifeboats for asylum seekers: report The Federal Government is reportedly set to buy lifeboats which will be used to return asylum seekers to Indonesia if they are intercepted on unseaworthy boats. Fairfax media is reporting the Government is purchasing 16 large, engine-powered lifeboats to ferry asylum seekers back to Indonesia. The report says the high-visibility lifeboats could carry dozens of passengers along with food and water for at least a week. The news follows revelations the Australian Navy has recently turned back two asylum seeker boats. The Opposition and the Greens have hit out at the plan, with Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young saying the Coalition's border protection policy is in tatters. More » Indonesia says second asylum boat forced back Gay Brisbane man given temporary halt on deportation Snowden files contain more Israel secrets: Greenwald Rodman in N Korea for Kim Jong-un's basketball birthday bash Sport More Sport » Mark Bresciano free to play in World Cup Veteran Socceroo Mark Bresciano is free to represent Australia at the Brazil World Cup in June. More » Lindsey Vonn to miss Sochi Winter Olympics Steyn recovering from fractured rib Scorchers too good for Hurricanes in BBL clash Harris to have knee surgery after South African tour Idris quits Titans to join Panthers Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Ships stuck in Antarctica freed by thawing ice A Russian research vessel stuck in thick Antarctic ice for a fortnight has finally managed to break free. More » Research delayed after Aurora Australis helps ice-bound ship Australian space flight winner prepares for lift-off Bitcoin value strengthens after being accepted by Zynga US Air Force works with Vic scientists to bend light for camouflage Environment More Environment » Australian on a mission to stamp out 'barbaric' bear bile trade By Tracy Bowden An Australian man is on a mission to put an end to the practice of extracting bile from captive live bears.  More » Sea Shepherd drives Japanese whalers from hunting grounds Australia urged to act as Japan begins Southern Ocean whale hunt WA Government standing by shark cull despite protest Your say: BoM says 2013 was Australia's hottest year on record About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. This message was sent to you at starnewsposting@gmail.com Please add newslists@your.abc.net.au to your email address book to see images by default and stop the email being treated as spam. This email address is not monitored - Please don't reply to this email. Manage your preferences | Unsubscribe | Contact Us   This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 © 2014 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters