ABC NewsMail - Morning Edition

Good morning. Here's what's happening now: The PM says Australia will increase the number of military personnel in Afghanistan by 20. He made the announcement after a weekend visit to the Middle East. He heads to Washington now for his first White House meeting James Hird is a talking point this morning. The former Essendon coach gave his first interview since the club was gutted by doping bans. He said he "had no intention to cheat the system". Here are his best lines from the chat Australian markets are set to take a hit when trading opens. Eyes will be on the oil price which fell to its lowest level since 2004 in the US on Friday. Last week was dire for Wall St; it closed down 2.16 per cent If you want the full story on James Hird, here's a full wrap of his exclusive interview with the ABC. He says he had no overseeing role in the supplements program Here's what's coming up: 8:00am AEDT: On the AM program, former Army chief Peter Leahy will talk about the PM expanding Australia's military presence in Afghanistan 11:00am AEDT: The Australian Open begins in Melbourne 1:00pm AEDT: Democratic candidates will take part in their final debate before key caucuses begin 3:30pm AEDT: UK's parliament will debate a petition to ban Donald Trump from entering Britain Top Stories James Hird denies Bombers intended to cheat the system Former Essendon coach James Hird insists he had no intention to cheat the system after 34 past and present Bombers players were banned amid the doping scandal that engulfed the AFL club. US, Iran hail 'new chapter' as sanctions lifted, captives released The US and Iran hail the implementation of Tehran's nuclear deal as historic, as sanctions are lifted and US-Iranian prisoners are released. Kidnapped Australians 'devoted lives to helping Burkina Faso' An Australian couple kidnapped by extremists in Burkina Faso run a medical clinic and have dedicated their lives to helping people in the West African country, a family spokesperson says. Sensational Maxwell guides Australia to series win over India Australia clinches the ODI series against India with a thrilling three-wicket win at the MCG, thanks to a sensational innings from Glenn Maxwell. Man left brain-dead in French drug trial dies A man who was left brain-dead after suffering serious side effects during a drugs trial in France dies. PUP donations made before Queensland Nickel financial woes: Palmer Clive Palmer says Queensland Nickel donations to the Palmer United Party were made before falling nickel prices led the struggling company to sack 237 workers. Global security top of the agenda for Turnbull's Afghanistan visit Malcolm Turnbull completes his global security homework ahead of his first White House meeting, visiting Australian troops in Afghanistan a day after touring Iraq. Search continues for Karen Chetcuti as police question neighbour A search for missing Victorian woman Karen Chetcuti will resume in the state's north-east this morning, as police continue to question her neighbour over her disappearance. IS abducts more than 400 civilians in Syria's east: monitor The Islamic State militant group abducts at least 400 civilians, including women and children ,after capturing new territory in the city of Deir Ezzor in Syria's east, a monitoring group says. Man allegedly steals $120k Mercedes during test drive Police hunt for a man known as "Billy" who allegedly drove off in a $120,000 Mercedes after asking to sit in the driver's seat during a test drive in Melbourne's east. SpaceX fails to re-land launch rocket, climate change satellite heads into space SpaceX again fails to land its Falcon 9 rocket on a floating platform in the Pacific Ocean after launching its latest climate change satellite, the fourth time it has missed the mark. Alan Rickman lent voice to charity video of tortoise eating strawberry One of Alan Rickman's final projects, a video of a tortoise eating a strawberry created by university students to raise money for refugees, reaches nearly 1 million views. Dog bless you: Paws take to the pews for pet blessings in Spain Dogs, cats, rabbits and even iguanas, many decked out in colourful sweaters to keep warm, troop into Spanish churches for a blessing on the Day of Saint Anthony, patron saint of animals. Analysis and Opinion: The Drum Our embarrassed silence about Cologne only adds to the harm By Michael Bradley The horrors of Madaya are far from over By Damien Kingsbury How I started to bring meaning to my life By Sophie Scott With a growing number of people yelling 'fire', market exits could soon be blocked By Michael Janda Just In Homebush crash causes 12km traffic jam January 18, 2016 - 7:55 am Dog bless you: Paws take to the pews for pet blessings in Spain January 18, 2016 - 7:49 am Police search for tourist who jumped off Brisbane bridge in 'drunken stunt' January 18, 2016 - 7:49 am World • Missing Hong Kong bookseller paraded on China state television • Corbyn invites Donald Trump to visit London mosque • Security forces in Burkina Faso hunt possible surviving hotel attackers, 14 foreigners dead Business • Clive Palmer defends Queensland Nickel donations to PUP • Benefits of falling oil prices not fully passed on to motorists • Former Gold Coast city architect questions high-rise approval process Politics • Missing Hong Kong bookseller paraded on China state television • Trump flags ex-senator Scott Brown as potential running mate • Washington Post reporter freed by Iran as sanctions lifted Sport • James Hird says Essendon had no intention to cheat the system • Sensational Maxwell guides Australia to series win over India • Tomic defends controversial Sydney pull-out Science and Tech • SpaceX fails to re-land launch rocket, climate change satellite heads into space • The delicate art of milking tarantulas • 'Holy well' lies beneath Australia House in London Environment • Foul-smelling contaminated water prompts emergency declaration by Obama • PNG activists protecting wildlife from costume fate • Calls for herpes release to fight Murray-Darling carp plague Follow ABC News About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. 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