NEWS: 9 stories to talk about today

1. Departing US Secretary of State Hilllary Clinton has refused to speculate about a future bid for the White House. Ms Clinton took part in a live and online town hall style event yesterday, which was hosted by Australia’s own Leigh Sales (host of the 7.30 Report). This is serious news so we will leave our “Go Leigh” pom-poms in the cupboard…. for now.

2. A movie about an indigenous women’s singing group in the 1960s has won eleven awards at Australia’s version of the Oscars – the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) awards – last night. The Sapphires won best film, best director (Wayne Blair), best actress (Deborah Mailman) and best supporting actress (Jessica Mauboy).

Among the stars to attend the awards – Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Russell Crowe.

3. In a surprise move, Prime Minister Gillard announced the date of the federal election (14 September) almost 8 months in advance. Political commentators are today saying this will increase pressure on the Coalition to reveal its policy costings earlier but that the move also increases the pressure on Labor to say how they will fund education reform promises and the NDIS.

4. Channel 7 has axed its long-running current affairs show, Today Tonight. It will be replaced by a one-hour news bulletin which will air from 6pm on weekdays from February 10.

5. A TV channel owned by the Syrian Government is claiming that Israeli jets have entered the country’s airspace illegally and killed two people. According to unnamed US sources the fighter planes were said to be carrying ‘game changing’ strategic weapons.

6. Meanwhile, the Australian Government has announced it will increase its aid to people affected by the conflict in Syria by $10 million. Foreign Minister Bob Carr said: “Nearly one in five Syrians, or around 4 million people, are now in desperate need of shelter, food and health care as the fighting continues.

7. A Chinese entrepreneur has developed a new method to combat the country’s pollution problem… And that’s clean air in a can. Chen Guangbiao is selling the cans of clean air in soft drink cans for around 80 cents each. The cans come in a range of flavours, the profits go to charity and Guangbiao says the effort is to raise environmental awareness in China.

8. RU486, the so-called ‘abortion drug‘ was finally given permission by the TGA to be imported into Australia last year. Marie Stopes International’s Australian branch is now seeking for the drug to be on the PBA – which would see a significant public subsidy, making the drug more accessible for women trying to access it, particularly women from lower income brackets.

9. Doctors looking after Malala Yousufzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot by members of the Taliban last year because of her efforts to promote education rights for women, say the teenager will return to hospital in the next 10 days to undergo a skull reconstruction. Malala was left deaf in one ear after the attack, so doctors will also insert an electronic hearing device.