Morning Mail: Exclusive - new Barrier Reef coral bleaching, Coalition says CEFC could fund coal plants, Trump invents Sweden terror attack

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Monday 20 February 2017 g Coalition may use Clean Energy Finance Corporation to fund coal plants Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Among the stories on our website this morning: One week after the Clean Energy Finance Corporation CEO told a Senate committee that investment in new coal plants were a very risky proposition for taxpayers, energy and environment minister Josh Frydenberg said changing the CEFC rules to fund new coal-powered plants was an option because "it's called the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, not the renewable energy corporation". Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines Images of new bleaching on Great Barrier Reef heighten fears of coral death Exclusive: Coral bleaching found near Palm Island as unusually warm waters are expected off eastern Australia, with areas hit in last year's event in mortal danger What does the future hold for students starting university today? New Australian undergraduates will contend with an uncertain world of climate change, job insecurity and unaffordable homes. So what are their chances? 'Sweden, who would believe this?': Trump cites non-existent terror attack At Florida rally president refers to attack in Sweden that did not happen, possibly confusing it with Sehwan in Pakistan UN says civilians at extreme risk as west Mosul offensive begins Early advances by Iraqi forces meet limited resistance but Isis thought to have prepared ambush points in urban centre Police cast doubt over future of Melbourne music festival after drug overdoses Police to meet with organisers of Electric Parade festival after more than 20 people treated at event and 40 arrested for drug possession Australian news and politics Prominent Australians write open letter opposing Benjamin Netanyahu's visit Israel's prime minister will be its first serving PM to visit Australia but he is expected to face protests Catherine Burn confirms she will apply to be next NSW police commissioner Deputy police commissioner says she has been 'vindicated' by report into police bugging scandal and will pursue top job Labor sets up Indigenous caucus in push to improve representation across all parties Party's federal and state leaders, Indigenous MPs and Indigenous affairs ministers and shadow ministers meet in Brisbane Asylum seekers detained in Australia can keep phones for now, court rules Lawyers for asylum seekers in Melbourne, Sydney and regional Western Australia launch federal court challenge to new policy Coalition cites ANZ credit card rate cut as proof no royal commission is needed Malcolm Turnbull welcomes the interest rate cut as evidence the house economics committee is holding banks to account Gladys Berejiklian says tax changes should be examined to improve housing affordability Malcolm Turnbull says affordability 'a supply and demand problem' rather than due to housing tax concessions Eaten Fish: Iranian asylum seeker and cartoonist ends Manus Island hunger strike Cartoonist was on 19-day hunger strike over his detention and handling of complaints of sexual assault and abuse Around the world Kim Jong-nam killing: police seek four North Korean suspects Investigation looking for four men who flew out of Malaysia on day Kim Jong-un's half-brother was poisoned at an airport Home Office agrees to review asylum claims of child refugees in France Cases of children with direct family links to UK will be reconsidered, as refugees return to Calais to try to cross Channel Northern California residents face new evacuation warning after Oroville threat San Joaquin river approaches flood stage as water level decreases at Lake Oroville dam after evacuations of more than 150,000 people Healthier teeth, stronger fighters: meet Ukraine's frontline dentists Volunteers of Ukrop Dental are helping soldiers and civilians in region where aid is woefully lacking Geert Wilders: Dutch far-right leader criticised for calling Moroccans 'scum' Muslim organisations in the Netherlands call Freedom party leader's comments at campaign rally 'reprehensible'

One last thing Palm Beach confidential: inside Trump's super-rich south Florida social setHow the 1% lives in the town now dominated by Trump's lair Mar-a-Lago, where glitzy parties and rounds of golf can lead to business deals and ambassadorships. Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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