Morning Mail: Trump 'maniacally focused', Abbott takes aim at Turnbull, penalty rate cuts, Iraqi forces seize Mosul airport

View in browser

Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Thursday 23 February 2017 g Carp herpes plan dubbed 'serious risk to global food security' Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Among the stories leading our website this morning: Scientists in Britain have raised concerns about Australia's $15m plan to release a herpes virus in the nation's largest river system to eradicate carp, saying it poses a serious risk to global food security, could cause "catastrophic ecosystem crashes" in Australia, and is unlikely to control carp numbers long term. Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines CPAC 2017 live: Steve Bannon taunts media and vows 'every day will be a fight' Conservative gathering will be forced to reckon with the nationalist populism that has become the dominant force in rightwing politics in the US Outcry after Sydney doctor faced with deportation over autistic child Medical fraternity calls immigration department decision 'reprehensible' after western Sydney GP Nasrin Haque is told she must leave or be deported Ceduna's bid to keep its Indigenous youth out of jail In remote regions across Australia many Indigenous young people face an uphill battle to stay out of detention, but an outback town is trying to change the odds Tony Abbott takes aim at Turnbull and lays out conservative manifesto Former prime minister delivers provocative speech that takes pot shots at Malcolm Turnbull and unveils a sweeping election battle plan Iraqi forces seize Mosul airport from Isis as Syrian rebels take al-Bab Isis's hold weakens as Iraqi troops plan last big push to retake Mosul while loss of al-Bab is big blow to terror group in Syria Australian news and politics Manufacturing union calls for land and tax deals for industry to help transition from coal Union tells Senate inquiry there must be plans in place to attract jobs before mines or power stations close Penalty rate cuts: exempting current workers could reduce hardship, expert says Law school professor Andrew Stewart says Fair Work Commission could use 'take home pay orders' to ease the pain Sunday penalty rates cut by up to 25%, hitting retail and hospitality workers Fair Work Commission's decision to slash penalty rates will mean falls in take-home pay of up to $6,000 a year for some employees, say unions 'Criminally negligent': Catholic archbishops criticise church's handling of abuse scandal Australia's most senior Catholic leaders including Sydney archbishop Anthony Fisher deliver damning criticism of church's response to sex claims Gayle Woodford murder: man admits raping and killing South Australia nurse Dudley Davey carried out murder six months after finishing parole for a sexual assault in Adelaide's CBD Politics of fear and anger has buried tradition of reform, says NAB chair Ken Henry Former Treasury secretary urges Australian businesses to fill leadership vacuum left empty by politicians Cut to penalty rates will galvanise the left and send a shiver through Coalition Fair Work Commission's cut at a time when workers' wages are barely growing will give unions and progressive political parties something to rail against Around the world Geert Wilders suspends election campaign over alleged security leak Dutch far-right leader stops campaigning in public for March polls after a member of his security team is arrested New claims over scale of ex-Gambian leader's theft from state coffers Ministers say scale of looting by autocratic former leader Yahya Jammeh was much higher than originally thought and that he left country $1bn in debt Irish leader calls for united Ireland provision in Brexit deal Enda Kenny says deal should allow for Northern Ireland to rejoin EU should it be united with Irish Republic Former IMF chief gets four years in jail for embezzlement in Spain Rodrigo Rato found guilty of misuse of corporate credit cards issued by banks whose near collapse sparked EU bailout Teenagers blockade Paris schools in protest over alleged police rape More than a dozen high schools targeted and vehicles set ablaze amid anger at police after alleged assault on young black man

One last thing 'Golden trio' of moves boosts chances of female orgasm, say researchers Study sheds light on approaches, revealing 'orgasm gaps' both between the sexes and those with different sexual orientations Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396