PM

Negotiations over the government's attempts to win over the senate cross bench on its industrial relations legislation have taken a bad turn after the prime minister hardened the government's stance on the ban on importing the Adler shotgun. Liberal Democrat senator David Leyonhjelm's revealed the prime minister was open to discussing relaxing the ban in private discussions as part of a deal to get his support for the ABCC legislation. But amid opposition attacks on public safety, Mr Turnbull says the ban is permanent.

Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce is still holding out against demands for the cost of one of his pet projects; the removal of the national chemical regulator to the regional centre of Armidale, in his own New South Wales electorate. Mr Joyce has refused to release a cost-benefit analysis of the plan, and Labor senators wanted to use today's estimates hearing to get their hands on it.

Universities are continuing to spruik a career in teaching to prospective students despite a glut of graduates on the market. An ABC investigation has found many universities around the country continue to suggest in their marketing material that teachers are in high demand. Its despite long waiting lists for jobs in many areas, with only pockets of need in specific areas.

Humankind's search for extra-terrestrial life takes another small step forward tomorrow when a small landing device is expected to become the latest probe to reach the surface of Mars. Along with its mothership now in orbit around the Red Planet, the two space craft are searching for signs of alien life on the seemingly desolate world. Their mission is to try to sniff out what is releasing methane gas into the atmosphere.

A turf war over maternity care is escalating, with midwives describing the stance taken by obstetricians as unethical and driven by money. There's been an increasing trend towards midwife led care - particularly in Queensland - in part supported by changes to Medicare arrangements. But the doctors' body, the Australian Medical Association, says studies show midwife only care compromises the safety of mothers and babies.

A showdown is looming between the rival factions vying for control of the Liberal party in New South Wales this coming Saturday. The party Annual General Meeting pits the former prime minister Tony Abbott against the commercial lobbyists who are also factional warlords in the party. He's announced his intention to challenge their domination of pre-selections and ministerial appointments in both the New South Wales and Federal Parliament. Abbott's Warringah branch wants to undo their power by having the AGM pass a motion to radically reshape the way the state branch is run. But in a clear snub, the motion has been listed as the last order of business.

The detainment of the Crown staff in China comes amid an apparent crackdown on corruption within the gambling industry. Chinese authorities have also shown no hesitation in slowing down the flow of business people and bureaucrats into Macau to reduce the amount of illicit gambling money going into casinos there.

There's a new round in the space race with China and Europe rushing to make up ground on their international rivals. The European Space Agency has its hopes pinned on a new probe now on its way to the surface of Mars. The Chinese are taking a different tack, sending two astronauts to an orbiting space laboratory in an effort to establish their own beach-head in space.

Indigenous elders who were part of a prison visitors program have expressed deep frustration with the Northern Territory Department of Correctional Services. At a community meeting on the Tiwi Islands, the Royal Commission into the protection and detention of children in the Northern Territory has heard about concerns that the Department of Correctional Services covered up the treatment of children in detention.

The union at the heart of the Victorian fire-fighting dispute has indicated it will launch a legal challenge in the High Court. The union wants to overturn legislation enabling a federal intervention in the dispute. The legislation passed the Senate, with crossbench support, last week.