Morning Mail: President Trump and "alternative facts", 2m women march worldwide, new bail laws after five die in Melbourne car attack

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Guardian Australia's Morning Mail Monday 23 January 2017 g President Donald Trump – inauguration crowds and protests Good morning, and welcome to the Morning Mail. Among the stories leading our website this morning, Donald Trump has started his presidency with an assault on truth. After huge anti-Trump protests filled major US and world cities – with two million people across the globe joining a Women's March – the president and his key advisers pushed falsehoods about the inauguration attendance. Trump's press secretary, Sean Spicer, used his first White House press conference to accuse the media of faking low attendance numbers, and angrily insisting that Trump drew "the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe". The evidence suggests otherwise.  Watch the press conference. Kellyanne Conway, a senior White House aide, said Spicer had merely been offering "alternative facts", a phrase that was received with widespread astonishment. Meanwhile, Trump himself was speaking at the CIA, telling them he was at "war with the media". He later praised his own speech as a 'win': "long standing ovations, amazing people. WIN!" But recently retired CIA director John Brennan communicated through a former aide that he was "deeply saddened and angered at Trump's despicable display of self-aggrandisement" in front of the memorial wall. Keep reading for the rest of the top stories this morning, with more news from around Australia and the world.

Headlines Melbourne mall deaths: Daniel Andrews announces change in bail laws The Victorian premier says bail changes need to go much further after Dimitrious Gargasoulas allegedly killed five people on Friday Trump presidency begins with defense of false 'alternative facts' After huge anti-Trump protests fill major US and world cities, president and key advisers push falsehoods about inauguration attendance Andy Murray's Australian Open demise opens door to Roger Federer fairytale Roger Federer was due to meet the world No1, Andy Murray, in the quarter-finals at the Australian Open but now Sunday's final beckons for the 35-year-old US in talks to move Israel embassy to Jerusalem White House in 'beginning stages' of plan to fulfil Donald Trump's pledge to move consulate from Tel Aviv Benoît Hamon tops poll in first round of French Socialist primary race Leftwing outsider to face pro-business rightwinger Manuel Valls in final vote to pick party's presidential candidate Australian news and politics Charges expected over Melbourne car attack as more victims named Police waiting to interview Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, who faces multiple murder charges after allegedly deliberately driving into crowds in the CBD Malcolm Turnbull lays floral tribute for victims of Melbourne car attack – video Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull lays a floral tribute on Sunday at a makeshift memorial for people killed by a man who drove a car into a crowd of pedestrians on a busy street in Melbourne Trans-Pacific Partnership: trade officials don't know how it would work without US Turnbull government aims to press ahead despite Donald Trump's rejection – but freedom of information requests show foreign affairs has not made plans James Ashby lays out One Nation's agenda for Queensland: 'We're not mucking around here' Pauline Hanson's right-hand man, who once quit politics amid controversy, is now hoping the party can seize power in the state Melbourne car attack: Turnbull mourns victims as death toll rises to five Four people remain in critical condition after accused killer, Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, allegedly ploughed into pedestrians on Bourke Street mall Facial recognition to replace passports in security overhaul at Australian airports Paper passenger cards to be abolished in 'world-first' system the government hopes will see 90% of arrivals processed automatically Man arrested over series of sexual assaults across Queensland Police believe 50-year-old responsible for four offences between 2008 and 2016 and possibly a further eight dating back to 2005 in Brisbane, Logan and Gold Coast Around the world Russia takes power-broking role as Syria peace talks to begin in Astana Two days of discussions in Kazakhstan bring Syria's rebels face to face with representatives of Bashar al-Assad's government Israel reveals plans for nearly 600 settlement homes in east Jerusalem Announcement comes just two days after inauguration of Donald Trump, who has promised more pro-Israel policies French Socialists in hunt for the candidate with a populist touch to challenge Le Pen Leftists in today's presidential primaries hope to end far right's appeal Rex Tillerson receives backing to be secretary of state from key senators Previously critical John McCain and Lindsey Graham support former ExxonMobil boss despite 'concerns about his past dealings' with Russia and Vladimir Putin Suspected US drone strikes kill three al-Qaida suspects in Yemen, officials say First strikes under President Trump – after use of unmanned aircraft for strikes increased dramatically under Obama – reported by Yemeni officials

One last thing Why the secret to productivity isn't longer hours Alex Soojung-Kim Pang noticed that he got more done on sabbatical than at work. His latest book is about the benefits of rest and shorter working days. Have an excellent day and if you spot something I've missed, let me know on Twitter at @earleyedition.

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BREAKING: Kansas City Royals pitcher Yordano Ventura dies in car crash

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser   Ventura, 25, was killed in his native Dominican Republic on Sunday. Ventura, who won a World Series title, pitched for the Royals for four seasons. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, GO TO:   USATODAY.COM     Help | Advertise | Home Delivery | Privacy Policy - Your California Privacy Rights     © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22108

BREAKING: At least 11 confirmed killed as storms roar through Georgia

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser   Eleven people were killed and more than 20 injured as violent storms rolled through parts of Georgia, authorities said Sunday. The reports came a day after at least four people were killed in southern Mississippi early Saturday when a tornado roared through the Hattiesburg area, leveling homes, ripping off roofs and tossing trees into roadways across the region. Catherine Howden, spokeswoman for the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, told USA TODAY that seven people were killed in Cook County and two each in Brooks and Berrien counties. The National Weather Service forecast a possible "major severe weather outbreak" into Sunday night. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, GO TO:   USATODAY.COM     Help | Advertise | Home Delivery | Privacy Policy - Your California Privacy Rights     © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22108

BREAKING: 2 confirmed dead, likely more in Georgia storms

Having trouble viewing this email? | View it in your browser   Emergency dispatch in Brooks County told USA TODAY that at least two people were killed there in storms Saturday and early Sunday. Earlier, officials in the Berrien County Sheriff's Office confirmed to WXIA-TV in Atlanta that at least two people died there. Catherine Howden of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency told the Associated Press that 11 deaths occurred in Cook, Brooks and Berrien counties, with more than 20 injured. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, GO TO:   USATODAY.COM     Help | Advertise | Home Delivery | Privacy Policy - Your California Privacy Rights     © 2017 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA 22108

EarthSky News - Jan 22 - Top Stories This Week

January 22 Top Stories This Week by:

Hubble spies exocomets' plunge into star Interstellar forecast for a nearby star: Raining comets! Watch soap bubbles freeze Looks like time-lapse but it's actually in real time. EarthSky's meteor shower guide for 2017 All you need to know about 2017's major meteor showers. Why stars seem brighter this time of year No matter where you are on Earth, you're looking toward bright stars in our local spiral arm. Dates of lunar and solar eclipses in 2017 Plus a preview of the great American total solar eclipse of 2017. 2016 hottest year on record … and the 3rd year in a row of record warming, continuing a decades-long warming trend. Tomorrow before dawn … Moon, Antares, Saturn Given clear skies, it should be easy to use the waning crescent moon to locate the star Antares and planet Saturn before dawn's first light on Monday morning.

EarthSky 2017 moon calendar almost sold out! Best New Year's gift ever! Purchase one before it's too late. Your support means the world to us.

Tomorrow before dawn … Moon, Antares, Saturn For us in North America, they'll make a triangle on the sky's dome Monday morning. From around the world, these objects will be easy to spot, assuming your sky is clear.

Waning moon in sunrise colors Jüri Voit captured this photo Saturday morning - January 21, 2017 - in Kuusalu, Estonia. Submit your photo to EarthSky here!

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