The Editorial Team

Debra loves being the first to know information which makes it easy for her to respond to breaking news quickly for news.com.au. Debra has 17 years’ experience in the national and international press and online media, with almost half of that spent working overseas. Debra spent six years in the UK working for the Mirror Group, including the Mail Online.

@DebKillalea

Debra Killalea

Latest

North America

‘How dare she’: Brutal slapdown

THE face of America’s guns lobby has been blasted over her response when she was grilled by survivors of the school massacre.

Middle East

Smoke rises from buildings in Kafr Batna following Syrian government bombardments on the besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascus on February 21, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Amer ALMOHIBANY

Civilians ‘slaughtered in droves’

AS MILITARY bombardment continues to hit besieged Eastern Ghouta, UN chief slams Syria and Russia for military action which has left hundreds dead.

Environment

Parts of Queensland have been battered by storms and rainfall. Picture: BOM

‘Insane power’: Storms lash Australia

WINDS, rain and storms have battered Australian homes, leaving many of them without power amid warnings more punishment is on the way.

Reality TV

Canberra mum Mina believes wearing the face covering goes against the teachings of the Qaran. Picture: SBS

‘No place for headscarf’ in Australia

A YOUNG Muslim woman has hit out at advocates of the freedom to wear religious face coverings, saying the headscarves her friends and family wear have no place in Australia.

Middle East

This is the heartbreaking statement UNICEF put out regarding the situation in Syria. Picture: UnicefMena/Twitter

Heartbreaking truth behind these words

FOR some horrors there are no words. This blank statement sums up the latest mass atrocity to rock this devastated nation.

World

CORRECTION - This photo taken on February 8, 2018 and released on February 9, 2018 by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows North Korean soldiers marching during the military parade to mark the 70th anniversary of the Korean People's Army at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang. North Korea staged a military parade in Pyongyang on February 8 to mark the 70th anniversary of its armed forces, putting its intercontinental ballistic missiles on show just a day before the Winter Olympics open in the South. / AFP PHOTO / KCNA via KNS / KCNA VIA KNS / South Korea OUT / REPUBLIC OF KOREA OUT ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO/KCNA VIA KNS" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS THIS PICTURE WAS MADE AVAILABLE BY A THIRD PARTY. AFP CAN NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE AUTHENTICITY, LOCATION, DATE AND CONTENT OF THIS IMAGE. THIS PHOTO IS DISTRIBUTED EXACTLY AS RECEIVED BY AFP. / “The erroneous mention[s] appearing in the metadata of this photo from North Korea has been modified in AFP systems in the following manner: [BYLINE to KCNA via KNS] instead of [JIJI PRESS]. Please immediately remove the erroneous mention[s] from all your online services and delete it (them) from your servers. If you have been authorized by AFP to distribute it (them) to third parties, please ensure that the same actions are carried out by them. Failure to promptly comply with these instructions will entail liability on your part for any continued or post notification usage. Therefore we thank you very much for all your attention and prompt action. We are sorry for the inconvenience this notification may cause and remain at your disposal for any further information you may require.”

The conflict hot spots for 2018

REVEALING report looks at what conflicts are the ones to worry about this year with one “unpredictable actor” causing even more concern.

Leaders

Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce in Question Time in the House of Representatives Chamber at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture Kym Smith

‘Not only one sleeping with staff’

CORY Bernardi says Barnaby Joyce isn’t the only minister sleeping with his or her staff. The controversial senator claims it’s happening more than we think.

Politics