ABC NewsMail - Morning Edition

NewsMail Morning Edition Thu 27 Mar, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » 122 objects spotted in search for MH370 debris New satellite images have revealed 122 objects in the southern Indian Ocean that could be debris from Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, Malaysia's acting transport minister has announced. "It must be emphasised that we cannot tell whether the potential objects are from MH370," Hishammuddin Hussein told a media conference, adding that the images had been passed on to Australian authorities. The objects varied in size from 1 metre to 23 metres in length, he said. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority says positions in the satellite information are within the search zone, about 2,500km south-west of Perth. AMSA said this morning that three objects were yesterday spotted in the ocean by two aircraft, but they were not able to be relocated despite several passes. Two of the objects were reported to have looked like rope, while the third appeared blue in colour. More » Government confirms sale of Medibank Private Indonesia to challenge plain-packaging laws at WTO Kristina Keneally to give evidence at ICAC inquiry into AWH Lachlan Murdoch resigns as Ten chairman to join father at News Corp, Fox National Gallery to return 'looted Shiva' to India Record price for 10-shilling note More Analysis » Culture wars distract from the Abbott non-agenda Why is the Federal Government bringing back knighthoods? Why is it defending the right of people to be bigots? For a government scratching to define its personality and purpose, these culture war fights and flourishes offer low-hanging fruit that might be eaten without adding to the bulk of government. Because, if they stand for anything, Tony Abbott and team stand for the idea that in government, less is more. More » Don't tweak the FOFA amendments, trash them Why feminists should support childcare deregulation The priority should be keeping bigotry at bay Our long-term unemployment headache When talking tax, it pays to have the facts Knights of the Abbottlands sally forth Politics stands in the way of a full 18C repeal Andrew Bolt isn't a racist, but ... The dunghill origins of morality Just In More Just In » Torrential rain fuels flash flooding fears in central Queensland Authorities are warning high tides could pose a new flooding threat to the Capricorn Coast in central Queensland. More than 500 millimetres of rain has fallen in Yeppoon, north of Rockhampton, over the past two days, cutting roads across the region. The State Emergency Service says flash flooding has swamped properties in Yeppoon. The downpours are expected to intensify across much of the Queensland today and into tomorrow. More » Kristina Keneally to give evidence at ICAC inquiry into AWH Re-elected Labor gets down to business in SA Indonesia to challenge plain-packaging laws at WTO Pakistan opens direct talks with Taliban Bin Laden's son-in-law guilty of US terrorism charges China loses rare earths dispute Record price for 10-shilling note 122 objects spotted in search for MH370 debris Anger over handling of MH370 could fuel legal action: lawyer World More World » Pakistan opens direct talks with Taliban Pakistani officials have held their first direct talks with senior Taliban members as part of peace efforts to end their seven-year insurgency. More » Bin Laden's son-in-law guilty of US terrorism charges China loses rare earths dispute Fiji to set up media monitor ahead of election Manus Island inquiry on hold as solicitor unable to legally practice law Health workers say PNG on the brink of TB epidemic Business More Business » Government confirms sale of Medibank Private By political correspondent Emma Griffiths The Federal Government and Opposition are at odds over the merits of the proposed sale of Medibank Private, including whether it will lead to a rise in insurance premiums. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has announced the government-owned company will be sold through an initial public offering in the next financial year, 2014-15. He says the details are yet to be finalised but that an independent scoping study has found no evidence that premiums will increase as a result of the privatisation. Senator Cormann says no one investor will be able to buy more than a 15 per cent share in the insurer, which was valued at more than $4 billion in 2006 but recently estimated at being worth around half that. But the Opposition believes Medibank Private should stay in public hands and has raised concerns about premium rises and the future of the insurer's employees. More » Lachlan Murdoch resigns as Ten chairman to join father at News Corp, Fox RBA boss Glenn Stevens expecting Australian growth to pick up Virgin boss has top level meetings with Government RBA comments boost Australian dollar, mining stocks rise Facebook plugs into virtual reality with $2.2b takeover Politics More Politics » Re-elected Labor gets down to business in SA The Labor Party in South Australia is getting down to the business of its fourth consecutive term in government from today. Premier Jay Weatherill has expressed confidence in his new team. "I know that they have the energy and drive necessary to meet the needs of South Australians," he said. Mr Weatherill has given up the Treasury portfolio to Tom Koutsantonis, but the new minister says he will not be answering budgetary questions until he has been briefed by Treasury. More » Industry against proposals to regulate social media networks Manus Island inquiry on hold as solicitor unable to legally practice law Shorten backs mother-in-law's new dame title Abbott didn't ask Cabinet before reinstating knights and dames Sport More Sport » McKinnon told there is hope for recovery After recovering from a broken neck Ben Ross knows the road to recovery that faces Alex McKinnon. More » Socceroos given tough draw for Asian Cup Hird to return as Bombers coach Kewell to retire at season's end Reds highlight discipline as their 'key focus' Faulkner ready to shake up Windies Science and Technology More Science and Technology » MH370 search: 8 things you might not know about black boxes MH370's black box isn't black, and time is running out to find it. Find out why. More » Researchers claim breakthrough in tackling HIV How a British satellite plotted MH370's route NASA camera used on Apollo Moon missions sells for $835k Malaysia Airlines disappearance highlights doubts over air traffic radar Environment More Environment » Tony Abbott's Tasmanian wilderness claim doesn't check out The Federal Government has applied to have 74,000 hectares of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area delisted by the United Nations. Prime Minister Tony Abbott says those areas should be removed because they are not "pristine forest". Fact Check examines his claim. More » UN climate change report card predicts Australia will get hotter Senate blocks carbon tax repeal legislation Scientists resign 'zombie' species to extinction Electric car devotees push for supercharged highway in WA 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