Morning Mail: Obama vows to destroy Isis, asylum seeker 'brain dead', Earth on edge of 'immeasurable heaven'
|
Version 0 of 1. Good morning folks, and welcome to the Morning Mail – sign up here to get it straight to your inbox before 8am every weekday. Isis Islamic state militants have threatened to murder another hostage if US air strikes continue, as US president Barack Obama vows to “degrade and destroy” Isis, saying his “objective is clear”. As the US and allies consider military options for confronting Isis – follow our live blog with the latest updates and news as European leaders gather for Nato summit meetings. Tony Abbott says Australia has received a “general request” on military action in Iraq and is “considering what we may be able to make available”, and he doesn’t rule out putting troops on the ground. Ukraine Vladimir Putin has drafted peace plan for eastern Ukraine, hours after his Ukrainian counterpart said there was an agreement for a “permanent ceasefire”, but it was a day of confusing mixed messages. On the eve of the Nato alliance summit, Barack Obama has called for them to strengthen Ukraine’s military, while Tony Abbott rules out the sale of Australian uranium to Russia. EU sanctions aimed at Russian energy and defence sectors would hit the heart of their economy, and France has halted the delivery of warships to Russia. Australia enters the Twitter ‘war’: “Borders, genders - all a bit confusing right now!” the Australian ambassador to Russia tweeted after official Russian account calls Julie Bishop a ‘he’. This explainer video answers the question: What does Russia’s Vladimir Putin want? Australian news and politics • The immigration department says it has contacted Hamid Kehazaei’s family after the 24-year-old Iranian asylum seeker was declared brain dead following his emergency medical evacuation from the Manus Island detention centre last week. • The Australian government must explain why Hamid Kehazaei received inadequate care, writes Nick Talley. While Richard Ackland says the Pacific Solution is reaching its endgame, and Scott Morrison will soon run out of options. • Paul Keating has lashed out at the Abbott government, saying the decision to delay increases to compulsory superannuation is an act of “wilful sabotage” based on “cheap ideology”. • Joe Hockey blamed Labor for the super freeze, saying they forced the Coalition to negotiate with the Palmer United party. • 400,000 hectares of protected native forest in Tasmania will be opened up to logging after the Liberal government ripped up the “job-destroying” forestry peace deal. • Coles is set to axe more than 400 jobs, to allow “for a more efficient and productive organisation” Around the world • Microsoft could be held in contempt of court in the US as it refuses to hand over data stored overseas. • More than 3.5 million lives a year could be saved if the G20 cracked down on corruption and tax evasion that costs the world’s poorest countries at least a trillion dollars a year, according to a new report. • How easy is it to hack into an Apple iCloud account? Two Guardian journalists tried hacking each other to find out. • The mayor of the French town of Calais has threatened to shut down their port if Britain doesn’t do more to stop illegal immigrants. • A Qantas flight bound for Perth struggled to take off because 87 primary school children unbalanced the plane. • George Clooney is set to direct a new movie adaptation of Guardian journalist Nick Davies’s book Hack Attack, about the UK phone-hacking scandal that rocked Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. More from around the internet • Among the most viewed on the Guardian this morning, British Ebola patient Will Pooley says he feels ‘wonderfully lucky’ to be alive. • The Abbott government is set to send military trainers and advisers to help Ukraine counter Russia’s recent aggression, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. • An overhaul of Australia’s terrorism public alert system is being considered to better warn of possible attacks, the Daily Telegraph reports. • Taxpayer funds would be used to buy struggling companies under a ‘revolutionary’ industry plan being pursued by Clive Palmer, The Australian reports. • The national income generated by each Australian has fallen for a second straight year, the first such slump since the early 1990s recession, the Australian Financial Review reports. One last thing Astronomers have discovered that our galaxy, the Milky Way, is a suburb on the outskirts of an “immeasurable heaven” supercluster of 100,000 large galaxies. Have an excellent day – and if you spot something I’ve missed or any errors, let me know on Twitter @earleyedition. Sign up Get the Morning Mail direct to your inbox before 8am every day by signing up here. |