ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Fri 17 Oct, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Deadly Australian air strikes dent IS morale in Iraq: ADF By defence correspondent Michael Brissenden Australian Super Hornets have increased their sorties over Iraq in the past week to allow the US and other coalition forces to concentrate their air strikes around the Syrian city of Kobane. Chief of Joint Operations Rear Admiral David Johnston told a briefing in Canberra the Australian jets had now flown 43 sorties since combat operations began. Bombs have been dropped on at least two occasions, the latest of which resulting in the deaths of an unspecified number of Islamic State fighters. Rear Admiral Johnston said the Australian strikes had had a significant impact on Islamic State morale, undermining the group's notion of invulnerability. More » Professor in racist email controversy suspended Australian miner found dead in Uganda hotel Teen surfer blames herself for NSW shark attack Ebola: Screenings, alert systems to protect Australia Clive Palmer's wife to run for election in Queensland Man charged over terror plot preparations in Australia Committee recommends changes to Foreign Fighters Bill Labor urges police to investigate bestiality allegations Nepal avalanche survivors speak out as search resumes More Analysis » Is the cost of our symbolism worth it? Australia faces the same question over Islamic State as it does with climate change: is our symbolic contribution to the global effort worth the cost? Whether Islamic State is degraded, destroyed or continues to expand the territory under its control will not be significantly influenced by Australia's current contribution. So, if we want to be pragmatic, like in regards to climate change, we need to ask whether this symbolic gesture is worth it. More » Security laws: have we learned anything in 10 years? Offensive emails aren't a window into the soul Good luck keeping G20 focussed on economics After reporting in Syria, I felt something go wrong I'll eat a page from my Bible if Jesus didn't exist Three things must change for a healthier democracy Cheer up, it's not all doom and gloom Proof they don't understand their own security laws Unis aren't biased, but maybe The Australian is Just In More Just In » Nepal avalanche survivors speak out as search resumes By Bill Birtles, staff Survivors' stories are starting to emerge, as the search and rescue effort in Nepal's Himalayas resumes following snowstorms and an avalanche that have claimed at least 29 lives. More » Police officer denies obligation to report Church abuse Resume Middle East talks to combat extremism: Kerry Rapid test for shellfish toxins developed by scientists Family wants answers from inquest into soldiers' deaths Labor urges police to investigate bestiality allegations Ishikawa blast sends Giants to World Series A-League derby won't turn nasty: Popovic Costco's liquor licence request knocked back by court Bombers deserve better, parliamentary inquiry told World More World » Nepal avalanche survivors speak out as search resumes By Bill Birtles, staff Survivors' stories are starting to emerge, as the search and rescue effort in Nepal's Himalayas resumes following snowstorms and an avalanche that have claimed at least 29 lives. More » US sending reservists to join fight against Ebola in West Africa Hong Kong police remove barricades at Mong Kok site Ramped-up air strikes stall IS advance on Kobane Joan Rivers died of oxygen deprivation to brain, autopsy reveals Underworld queen Persephone uncovered in Greek myth mosaic Business More Business » Shareholder activists target long-serving and over-committed directors By business reporter Stephen Letts Big proxy advisory firms are campaigning to ensure the majority of directors in a boardroom should be truly independent, leading to significant implications for corporate Australia and the structure of its boardrooms. So when does an independent director cease to be independent and how many directorships are too many? Regulators ASX and ASIC do not have definitive rulings but the trend will particularly target businesses where families or founders have large share holdings in the business. Shareholder activist Stephen Mayne says big companies will increasingly get strong protest votes against entrenched directors. More » Virgin agrees to pay $1 for remainder of Tiger Australia Grocery lobby welcomes ACCC action against Coles Promising Europe data leads to mixed session on Wall Street Ten Network posts $168 million loss IEA slashes oil forecasts amid staggering surge in supply Rio, BHP iron ore strategy crushes Barnett's budget Prospect of 'violent sell-off' rests on US interest rate mistake: Future Fund boss Politics More Politics » Committee recommends changes to Foreign Fighters Bill A federal parliamentary committee has recommended the second stage of the Government's counter-terrorism legislation be passed by the Parliament. More » Hong Kong police remove barricades at Mong Kok site Clive Palmer's wife to run for election in Queensland Australian medical chiefs discuss Ebola preparedness Bishop misses out on Inter-Parliamentary Union president Sport More Sport » Lehmann rewarded with contract extension Ashes-winning coach Darren Lehmann has been handed a contract extension by Cricket Australia until June 30, 2017. More » Bande, Dear Demi scratched from Caulfield Cup Aussie riders tumble during Australian Grand Prix practice NFL franchises showing big interest in Hayne: manager A-League derby won't turn nasty: Popovic Ishikawa blast sends Giants to World Series Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Saturn's moon may host another 'life-friendly' habitat Saturn's battered moon Mimas may have a thin global ocean buried kilometres beneath its icy surface, raising the prospect of another "life-friendly" habitat in the solar system, scientists have said. More » Astronauts take spacewalk in race to fix ISS Greens, Labor critical of Government's growth centres plan Don't let moral panic about 3D printing stifle benefits, inquiry told Sea levels steady for millennia before rapid rise: study Environment More Environment » Record-breaking students drive solar innovation Fed up with soaring petrol prices and mounting fuel bills? More » Growth in CO2 levels 17pc lower than predicted: study Sea levels steady for millennia before rapid rise: study More funding, icebreaker flagged in Antarctica strategy Feral cats tear through last wild bilby population 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. 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