ABC NewsMail - Morning Edition

NewsMail Morning Edition Sun 18 May, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » State, territory leaders rebel against budget cuts State and territory leaders will meet in Sydney today to discuss their concerns over planned cuts to health and education funding. Most states have reacted angrily to the Federal Government's plan to rip $80 billion out of school and hospital funding over 10 years. Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has said the cuts are an attempt to "wedge" the states into pushing for an increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST). "We believe it's time to re-invent the federation and ensure [a] long-term funding stream, if the states and territories are to take that [extra] responsibility," he said. More » Australian tourist killed in Fiji boating accident West Africa leaders vow to wage 'total war' on Boko Haram Laos defence minister, officials killed in plane crash Student protesters 'assaulted' Julie Bishop, says Christopher Pyne Final death toll from Turkish coalmine accident is 301 Arsenal comes from behind to claim FA Cup Neighbour tries in vain to save man after shooting G4S says it warned PNG police were unpredictable Police out in force to prevent fresh riots in Solomons More Analysis » The fungible world of federal budgets When you pay your taxes, they are not tied to a particular purpose - they just go into a big pot and that pot is then drawn on for government purposes. So how can the Federal Government ensure that any extra money raised from higher fuel taxes will only be spent on roads? It can't. Don't be blinded by polysyllabic policy wonks or political shonks; it's a fungible world out there and no attempt at hypothecation can make it otherwise. More » Selling tough budgets: from London to Canberra Shorten's war cry over Medicare is misguided Squealing may mask a hidden GST agenda Limp language masks a tough budget Keep our enemies close, but our allies closer Slashing welfare is a recipe for crime Hockey exposes us as fair weather friends A fib too far: the death rattle of political trust Budget hacks away at our core principles Just In More Just In » 30 dead as thousands flee floods in Serbia and Bosnia More than 30 people have died in the worst floods to hit Serbia and Bosnia in more than a century, with thousands evacuated from towns still under threat from rising rivers. More » Woman hospitalised after falling 12m at The Rocks Body found as fire destroys house in Victoria Neighbour tries in vain to save man after shooting One dead, three hurt after car crash south of Perth Modi addresses Varanasi after election victory Arsenal comes from behind to claim FA Cup State, territory leaders rebel against budget cuts New Zealand forecasts 2014-15 surplus in budget Police out in force to prevent fresh riots in Solomons capital World More World » 30 dead as thousands flee floods in Serbia and Bosnia More than 30 people have died in the worst floods to hit Serbia and Bosnia in more than a century, with thousands evacuated from towns still under threat from rising rivers. More » Modi addresses Varanasi after election victory Arsenal comes from behind to claim FA Cup Police out in force to prevent fresh riots in Solomons capital West Africa leaders vow to wage 'total war' on Boko Haram Hero cat invited to throw first pitch at baseball game Business More Business » GM to pay record $35m fine over recall scandal By North America correspondent Michael Vincent, wires General Motors has been fined $US35 million ($38 million) because it failed to disclose defects in car ignitions which have been linked to driver deaths. The fine is the maximum available penalty under US law after GM failed to tell the department of transport for more than four years that ignition switches were failing and air bags were not deploying. US secretary of transportation Anthony Foxx said people's lives could have been saved if GM had acted differently. "What we will never accept is a person or a company that knows danger exists and says nothing. Literally silence can kill," Mr Foxx said. "What GM did was break the law ... They failed to meet their public safety obligations." The faulty ignition switches on Chevrolet Cobalts, Saturn Ions and other GM vehicles can cause their engines to stall, which in turn prevents air bags from deploying during crashes. More » Rio Tinto cool on asset sales but will consider attractive offers Leighton reaches $69m shareholder class action settlement Small shareholders join Westfield restructure revolt Economist says budget deserves more balanced media coverage Integra lays off 500 coal miners near Singleton in NSW Hunter Valley Wilmar, First Pacific lift Goodman Fielder offer Politics More Politics » Modi addresses Varanasi after election victory India's prime minister-elect Narendra Modi has vowed to clean up the holy river Ganges after making a visit to the sacred city of Varanasi, where he was greeted by thousands of supporters. "When I see the pitiable condition of the Ganges I feel pained," Mr Modi told his supporters on the banks of the river. "Today Mother Ganges is calling us ... to make the river clean once again." The Hindu nationalist leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party also urged his supporters to work towards making the city clean. "You must think that I have gone mad, that I am not good enough to be the PM because I am only talking about garbage," Mr Modi said. "But I tell you cleanliness is what is going to salvage this great city and the great river." More » State, territory leaders rebel against budget cuts New Zealand forecasts 2014-15 surplus in budget Student protesters 'assaulted' Julie Bishop, says Christopher Pyne World Heritage advised to reject delisting of Tasmanian forest Sport More Sport » Arsenal comes from behind to claim FA Cup Arsenal recovered from going two goals down in the opening eight minutes to beat Hull City 3-2 after extra time in the FA Cup final and end a nine-year trophy drought at Wembley on Sunday (AEST). More » Atletico Madrid win La Liga title with away draw Force, Brumbies upset by lowly African teams Cooper injured as Reds season continues to sink Dockers mark Pavlich's 300th with win over Cats Cowboys ride roughshod over premiers Science and Technology More Science and Technology » 13,000-year-old skeleton sheds light on Native American ancestry One of the oldest genetically intact skeletons yet found is helping scientists understand the western hemisphere's earliest humans. More » Clean energy bodies criticise 'depressing' budget cuts Scientists say budget cuts will be crippling Seaweed extracts used to help reproduce human bone, repair tissue 'Star Wars' robotic arm for amputees approved for sale Environment More Environment » Plant death is latest threat facing Macquarie Island By Fiona Breen Scientists are in a race against time to solve the mystery surrounding the dieback of a plant which grows in high-altitude areas of Macquarie Island. More » World Heritage advised to reject delisting of Tasmanian forest Coalition stands firm on World Heritage forest reduction Scientists say budget cuts will be crippling Fire truck freed from 'sink hole' after 10-hour drama 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. 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