ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

Good afternoon. Here's what's happening now: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange says he will leave the Ecuadorian embassy and accept arrest if he loses a United Nations appeal tomorrow. The UN has been investigating whether the Australian has been illegally detained after being holed up in the London embassy for the past three years The Senate has delayed the Government's plans to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Labor, the Greens and crossbench senators teamed up to send the controversial bill to a committee, limiting the time available to use it as a double dissolution trigger A Perth mother who crashed her car while drink driving, killing her teenage daughter who was travelling in the boot, has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail. Janet Kirby, 48, had been playing drinking games with her 15-year-old daughter before the fatal crash Adelaide Zoo staff are preparing for female panda Fu Ni to give birth within the next couple of weeks. The only problem is, they're not sure if she really is pregnant because she will not participate in an ultrasound Here's what's coming up: 8:00pm AEDT: Delegates arrive at a humanitarian conference in London about the Syrian refugee crisis 7:30pm AEDT: Illawarra v Melbourne in the National Basketball League 12:00am AEDT: The world premiere of the Hollywood biblical drama Risen will be held in the Vatican City Top Stories Climate science on chopping block in CSIRO shake-up The CSIRO's climate science divisions are expected to be pared back as part of a massive shake-up of the organisation. Live: Tax trouble hangs over Parliament Government ministers play down the level of concern among Coalition MPs over a potential GST increase. Follow the latest developments live. Assange to 'accept arrest' if appeal unsuccessful Wikileaks founder Julian Assange says he will accept arrest by British police if he loses his appeal against the United Kingdom and Sweden tomorrow. Bernardi against 'megalomaniac' Rudd securing UN top job Liberal senator Cory Bernardi urges Julie Bishop not to endorse a "dysfunctional", "vengeful", "unstable", "megalomaniac" like former prime minister Kevin Rudd for the United Nations top job. 'No revolt' among Coalition backbenchers over GST increase Senior Federal Government ministers are playing down backbench disquiet about the possibility of a GST increase, as several Liberal MPs publicly voice their concerns. Drunk mum who tried to scare moped rider jailed over fatal crash A drunk driver who crashed her car after trying to scare a moped rider, killing her teenage daughter who was unrestrained in the boot, and injuring three others, is sentenced to more than four years in jail. Churches offer sanctuary to asylum seekers Immigration Minister Peter Dutton tells churches proposing to invoke the historical concept of sanctuary and opening their doors to asylum seekers facing removal to offshore detention centres that they are not above the law. Australian women's cricketer banned for betting on match Cricket Australia bans women's cricketer Piepa Cleary for six months, with another 18 months suspended, for placing bets on the men's Test match between Australia and New Zealand in November. Adelaide's giant panda Fu Ni could give birth in weeks if pregnant Adelaide Zoo's female panda Fu Ni is showing nesting behaviors that hint she could give birth to a cub in the next few weeks, or just be coming to the end of a phantom pregnancy, keepers say. Lee Lin Chin scolds hipsters to save old hospital SBS newsreader Lee Lin Chin fronts an online community campaign to save a historic hospital from redevelopment, asking what citizens and hipsters are doing to help. AGL pulls out of CSG project in NSW, selling Queensland assets Gas giant AGL abandons natural gas projects in Queensland and NSW, sparking celebrations in rural NSW where opponents had feared a billion-dollar coal seam gas plan could devastate a community. South32 flags 'substantial' job cuts, reveals $2.4b in write-downs BHP Billiton spin-off South32 flags "substantial" job losses and warns of a $US1.7 billion ($2.4 billion) asset value write-down. Childcare changes could boost economy, modelling shows Proposed childcare changes could provide a $3 billion boost to the economy and get nearly 20,000 back in the workforce, research shows. Hazelwood mine operator could face millions in fines over 2014 blaze The operator of the Hazelwood coal mine, in Victoria's east, could face fines of more than $10 million after it is charged for safety breaches relating to a major fire two years ago. Analysis and Opinion: The Drum Here's a security law change we can cheer for By Michael Bradley Fear at worst, submission at best: A story of family violence and the Pentecostal church By Lauren McGrow We can't afford to ignore the teacher exodus By Tania Aspland Why would we want to inflict Rudd on the UN? By Daryl McCann Just In Fearnley and Di Toro to captain Paralympic team in Rio February 4, 2016 - 3:54 pm Image released of man wanted in connection to alleged murder of Evatt man February 4, 2016 - 3:53 pm Brisbane Archbishop denies actions led to youth being abused by priest February 4, 2016 - 3:44 pm World • North Korea may be preparing missile launch: reports • Only wild jaguar in US captured on video • Panda caretakers in fancy dress trick cub for wild training Business • South32 flags 'substantial' job cuts, reveals $2.4b in write-downs • Report sheds light on NSW mine gloom • AGL pulls out of CSG project in NSW, selling Queensland assets Politics • Hundreds rally in Sydney against 'life-destroying' Nauru High Court ruling • Climate science on chopping block in CSIRO shake-up • Bernardi against 'megalomaniac' Rudd securing UN top job Sport • Warner non-referral not my fault: Bailey • Changes likely after ODI debacle: Smith • Cooper omitted from Australian squad for Sydney Sevens Science and Tech • Only wild jaguar in US captured on video • Climate science on chopping block in CSIRO shake-up • Luxembourg, running out of Earth to mine, looks further afield Environment • Panda caretakers in fancy dress trick cub for wild training • AGL pulls out of CSG project in NSW, selling Queensland assets • Takeaway coffee cups piling up in landfill Follow ABC News About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. 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