ABC NewsMail - Morning Edition

NewsMail Morning Edition Mon 10 Feb, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Live: Fire authorities battle dozens of blazes across Victoria Cooler conditions have helped firefighters battle dozens of bushfires across Victoria overnight, but emergency warnings remain for several blazes. At least 20 properties are thought to have been destroyed by the fires, which have burnt across large swathes of the state. Emergency warnings are in place for the Mickleham Road fire on Melbourne's northern fringe. It has now spread across 40 kilometres, taking in areas including Kilmore and Wallan. Authorities are also concerned about a fire burning in the Hazelwood open cut coal mine at Morwell in the Latrobe Valley. Meanwhile, the fire threat remains in South Australia's Flinders Ranges, where more than 150 firefighters spend the night tackling a blaze burning out of control in scrubland. More » Union officials accused of taking bribes from labour hire firm Accusations Israel uses Palestinian children in intelligence gathering Australian scientists find explanation for pause in global warming Corby parole release hangs on Jakarta paperwork In-breeding fear forces Danish zoo to shoot dead young giraffe Sochi 2014: Torah Bright finishes seventh in snowboard slopestyle final at Winter Olympics More Analysis » No photo ops, no industry subsidies The key to starting a national debate about government subsidies of industry, it appears, is to be in an industry which does something tangible. Chocolate, tinned goods, cars - all viable options. Even better if you have an iconic brand which goes back to the days of Dad and Dave. If you don't have this kind of product, then not only will your proposal not be seriously considered by the politicians in your sector - because there's no photo opportunity - but worse, it won't even be covered by the mainstream media. More » The alleged communist Ian Macdonald betrayed Getting the message straight on industry policy Gender diversity job data isn't just red tape Sea Shepherd should be banned from our ports Political debate obscures Australia Network values The $51 billion question: what is in it for Putin? Our Schapelle: a smuggler for all seasons Beyond the straitjacket of unions vs business It's not my fault I’m obsessed with toilets Just In More Just In » UN convoy saves 600 people from war-torn Syrian city By Middle East correspondent Hayden Cooper, wires A UN-led aid convoy has evacuated more than 600 people from the besieged Syrian city of Homs, despite coming under attack. More » Daniel Morcombe's murder: Trial to begin in Brisbane Australian scientists find explanation for pause in global warming Live: Fire authorities battle dozens of blazes across Victoria Corby parole release hangs on Jakarta paperwork Jacob Zuma's son investigated over fatal car crash: reports Homes gutted as fires burn across Victoria, SA Accusations Israel uses Palestinian children in intelligence gathering Union officials accused of taking bribes from labour hire firm Police investigate group sexual assault of 14yo girl World More World » UN convoy saves 600 people from war-torn Syrian city By Middle East correspondent Hayden Cooper, wires A UN-led aid convoy has evacuated more than 600 people from the besieged Syrian city of Homs, despite coming under attack. More » Jacob Zuma's son investigated over fatal car crash: reports Accusations Israel uses Palestinian children in intelligence gathering In-breeding fear forces Danish zoo to shoot dead young giraffe Bangladesh clothing factory owners surrender over deadly fire Bright misses medals in Sochi slopestyle final Business More Business » Coalition set to announce royal commission into union finances By political reporter Latika Bourke Prime Minister Tony Abbott is expected to announce a royal commission into unions and their finances as Federal Parliament prepares to return this week. The judicial inquiry was promised by the Coalition in opposition, as part of the fallout from the political brawl over the AWU slush fund the former prime minister Julia Gillard says she unknowingly helped establish for her boyfriend during her pre-political career as a lawyer at Slater and Gordon. Mr Abbott has been urged to widen the scope of any inquiry to look more broadly at union corruption following new allegations uncovered by the ABC and Fairfax of systemic corruption within the construction industry. However the royal commission, to be announced this week, is expected to narrow the focus on how unions use their member's fees. More » WA Water Department has no veto over fracking Inflation fears trigger the Reserve Bank’s move away from further rate cuts UBS warns Australian banks are lowering lending standards News Corp profits down 4 per cent Joyce asks banks to help drought-stricken farmers Politics More Politics » Jacob Zuma's son investigated over fatal car crash: reports South African president Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane, is being investigated for culpable homicide after one person was killed and two were injured when his Porsche 911 sports car ploughed into a minivan in Johannesburg, local media are reporting. More » Accusations Israel uses Palestinian children in intelligence gathering Union officials accused of taking bribes from labour hire firm Glasson refuses to concede defeat in Griffith Struggling grandparents call for more flexible childcare system Sport More Sport » Bright misses medals in Sochi slopestyle final Torah Bright missed out on a podium finish in the women's snowboard slopestyle, placing seventh in the final. More » Cheyenne Woods wins Australian Ladies Masters Stosur sends Australia into Fed Cup semi-finals Heart take points from Perth in Albury Phoenix continue Jets winless run Melissa Breen breaks national 100m sprint record Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Australian scientists find explanation for pause in global warming By environment and science reporter Jake Sturmer Scientists have come up with an explanation for the pause in global warming, which has long been a point of contention raised by climate change sceptics. More » 800,000-year-old footprints found in Britain From the sea to the stars: explore the best science visualisations Bionic hand can now sense shape, texture Britain's $336m supersonic drone launched over the outback Environment More Environment » Australian scientists find explanation for pause in global warming By environment and science reporter Jake Sturmer Scientists have come up with an explanation for the pause in global warming, which has long been a point of contention raised by climate change sceptics. More » WA Water Department has no veto over fracking Former reef authority chair raises concern about dredge spill dumping plan Abbott wants Australia to be world leader in affordable energy NSW environment office shift 'not a downgrade' About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. 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