Morning Mail: Aleppo, Brandis appoints new solicitor general, Democrats hacked after typo, ABC not anti-business

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Thursday 15 December 2016 g ABC not anti-business, research finds Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Sign up here for our Guardian Today email, sent every day at noon, and you can sign up to our new Guardian Australia sport email here. Among the stories on our website this morning, research has found that, despite perceptions to the contrary, the ABC is not biased against business, but it does focus too much on the big end of town to the detriment of smaller enterprises. The research by the Australia Institute was based on one week of ABC content across television, radio and online, and found that big business received three to five times more attention than small to medium businesses despite the smaller companies making up a third of the Australian economy.  Michelle Guthrie, the ABC and the turning of a once-shining jewel into mainstream sludge, by Richard Ackland 'She doesn't get what we do': has ABC boss Michelle Guthrie got the insiders on her side? Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines Coalition accused of 'shuffling the deckchairs' as states demand full Gonski funding States on collision course with Malcolm Turnbull's government before education ministers' meeting Top Democrat's emails hacked by Russia after aide made typo, investigation finds In the run-up to the US election, aide to John Podesta spotted phishing email but flagged it as 'legitimate' instead of 'illegitimate' Iran hails victory in Aleppo as Shia militias boost Syria's Bashar al-Assad Iranian military chief boasts of Tehran's role in retaking Syrian city saying, 'The new American president should take heed of the powers of Iran' Michael Moore: Trump's ignorance will 'get a lot of innocent people killed' Documentary film-maker writes in Facebook post that 'tweeting about how unfair CNN is' rather than attending security briefings will lead to tragedy US Federal Reserve raises interest rates for second time since 2008 crisis Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen announced a 0.25% increase in the benchmark rate to 0.50-0.75%, and predicted three further rates increase in 2017 Australian news and politics If there's a magic bullet to fix education outcomes, it starts with equity Kids are disengaged, results are declining, school only works for a third of students. And in fortuitous timing, education ministers are meeting this week George Brandis appoints Stephen Donaghue as new solicitor general Dr Stephen Donaghue will serve a five-year term from 16 January following the resignation of Justin Gleeson Tax Office warns of days more online disruption after systems crash Tax authority encounters problem restoring online services and says some data has been corrupted but not lost Australian chickpea farmers on the pulse as prices peak after 'best crop ever' Prices for Australian chickpeas reached $1,250 a tonne after farmers plant record-breaking million hectares across Queensland and NSW SA government aims to sign treaty with Indigenous Australians within 12 months Jay Weatherill's government sets aside $4.4m for negotiations with separate Indigenous groups across state Payless Shoes to close all 132 stores with loss of 730 jobs February closure announced after administrators unable to find a buyer for the retail chain Adrian Piccoli's call to cap student teacher intake dismissed as 'rampant elitism' NSW education minister has called on federal government to stop universities letting admissions standards slip Around the world Only swift action can avert South Sudan genocide, says UN human rights chief Targeted sanctions and peacekeeping force among measures urged at special session of UN human rights council as violence compared with Rwanda Greece on collision course with lenders as ESM freezes debt relief European financing body says it will not honour accord after Greek PM announced pre-Christmas bonus for pensioners Splits form among Colombia's Farc rebels after commanders expelled Five mid-level commanders pushed out of group for failure to join peace deal as statement calls on their apparent followers 'to distance themselves' UK criticised for failure to tell Afghan warlord's victims of his release Faryadi Sarwar Zardad deported after 11 years in prison and could now seek revenge against trial witnesses Chile judge questions Pinochet's widow over embezzlement allegations Lucia Hiriart accused of using public funds for not-for-profit women's group to fund dictator's battle against extradition from Britain

One last thing Brigid Delaney's Diary: a Christmas hymn to Sydney's sparkle and sheer gorgeousness In December the energy of the city ratchets up and in the parties, pubs and parks the sense of belonging and community is raised for all to see. Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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