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Top Stories 'Mother Of All Bombs' dropped for purely tactical reasons: US commander The top US military commander in Afghanistan says the decision to deploy the "Mother Of All Bombs" was made based on tactical, not political, considerations, as footage of the strike against Islamic State militants is released. 'I thought it was outside my home': Nearby residents describe impact of 'Mother Of All Bombs' Residents of the villages nearby the remote, mountainous region targeted by the "Mother Of All Bombs" describe the ground shaking while the sky lit up "like a thunder storm". Government confident of 'cutting steel' on Future Frigates Fleet by 2020 There are growing doubts over the ambitious goal to start "cutting steel" on Australia's Future Frigates Fleet within three years, but Minister Pyne says he is confident the contract will be awarded in enough time to let the winning bidder prepare for a 2020 start. North Korea says it 'will go to war' if US provokes it North Korea "will go to war" if the US chooses to provoke it, the country's Vice Foreign Minister says, blaming President Donald Trump for building up a "vicious cycle" of tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Terminally ill woman fears NDIS 'writing off' people with neurological conditions A Sydney woman with motor neurone disease, who has been denied by the NDIS technology to help her communicate and do other regular activities, says she fears the scheme is not providing adequate assistance to people like her. AFL live: Giants host Power after Freo scrapes past Melbourne Port Adelaide travels to Canberra to meet GWS after Fremantle's comeback win over Melbourne. Follow all the scores, stats and streams in our Score Centre. NRL live: Raiders and Warriors do battle after Storm sneak by Manly Canberra plays host to the Warriors after Melbourne's tight four-point win over rival Manly. Follow all the live scores, stats and commentary in our Score Centre. Metal sponges pull water out of thin air, even in a desert Scientists at MIT discover a way to harvest fresh water from thin air almost anywhere on Earth by drawing it directly from moisture in the air even in the driest conditions. 'I still can't believe she's gone': Calls to address visiting student drownings There are calls for a national approach to training overseas students about water safety after a disproportionately high number of drownings in New South Wales this summer, as one young woman shares the heartbreak of losing her two Nepalese friends. Rare 170-year-old bunya pine chopped down after 6kg cones damaged cars Horticulturalists and historians are outraged a 170-year-old tree rarely seen in Tasmania has been chopped down because of its dangerously large and heavy pine cones. Artist's work destroyed 'without warning' due to asbestos fears Darwin artist Aly de Groot says she was given no warning before more than 80 of her artworks were destroyed by a government contractor because asbestos was found in the building where they were housed. Starving horses seized from Mornington Peninsula property Officials from the RSPCA seize 17 starving horses on a property on the Mornington Peninsula, after a member of the public raised concerns about their welfare. PNG Defence personnel accused of shooting at Manus Island detention centre Personnel from a PNG Defence Force base near the Manus Island detention centre used high-powered weapons to fire bullets into accommodation buildings after a fight with asylum seekers, detainees say. What do fans make of the latest Star Wars trailer? The first trailer for The Last Jedi is released, and while it seems like the tone is going to be less than optimistic, Star Wars fans are hyped. Bangkok has the world's best street food — but authorities want it gone Thailand's Government is evicting thousands of much-loved street-food vendors from their usual spots in a bid to clear walkways and bring order to the capital. Remote Cape York town finally gets its own ambulance station The Cape York Peninsula town of Coen is about as remote as you can get, but it is a hub for visitors heading to Australia's northern tip and until now it has survived without an ambulance station of its own, even though emergency calls come in from across a vast area. Vaccines worth $400k destroyed in SA's 2016 blackout Freedom of Information documents obtained by Family First reveal more than 14,000 vaccines were lost as a result of September's South Australia-wide blackout. Oh deer: Shooters offer help as ACT farmers deal with growing pest problem As the problem of feral deer in the ACT and surrounding NSW continues to grow, a little-known program involving qualified shooters could be the answer farmers are looking for. Bryan Dawe pays tribute to 'genius' collaborator John Clarke Bryan Dawe speaks about the life of his long-time collaborator, political satirist John Clarke, and the special relationship the pair had with their audience. How transgender Indonesians are 'enjoying' life in face of threats Indonesian officials, clerics and even government ministers regularly launch verbal assaults on the nation's transgender community. While they are under pressure to change, some are living their lives undeterred by critics. Analysis and Opinion: The Drum This Easter, think of the Egyptians By Julia Baird Nothing 'unpredictable' about dangerous North Korea By Stan Grant Trump's Syria strike a warning to North Korea's provocations By chief foreign correspondent Philip Williams Bomb by bomb, UN weapons convention undermined in Syria By Middle East correspondent Matt Brown Just In Rare 170-year-old bunya pine chopped down after 6kg cones damaged cars April 15, 2017 - 4:46 pm Government confident of 'cutting steel' on Future Frigates Fleet by 2020 April 15, 2017 - 4:16 pm Tasmanian driver blows four times legal alcohol limit: police April 15, 2017 - 3:26 pm World • China says no winners in US-North Korea war • British exchange student fatally stabbed on tram in Jerusalem • Deal allows thousands to evacuate from besieged Syrian towns Business • A third of borrowers have little to no mortgage buffer: RBA • One-in-three chance of Australian recession next year: Minack • Fortescue powers on despite iron ore crash Politics • Government confident of 'cutting steel' on Future Frigates Fleet by 2020 • Artist's work destroyed 'without warning' due to asbestos fears • How transgender Indonesians are 'enjoying' life in face of threats Sport • AFL live: Giants host Power after Freo scrapes past Melbourne • NRL live: Raiders and Warriors do battle after Storm sneak by Manly • AFL's 'third man up' rule causes more umpiring confusion Science and Tech • Metal sponges pull water out of thin air, even in a desert • What will it take to break the two-hour marathon? • Hunter's fossil find reveals new species of prehistoric sea creature Environment • 'The whole house started to rattle': Earthquake hits NSW • Australian solar-panel installations surge • Making native animals toxic to feral cats Follow ABC News About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. 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