Investigators search through the wreckage of Germanwings Flight 9525 in the French Alps, which crashed at high-speed on Tuesday morning.
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The 28-year-old German co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 4U9525 appears to have deliberately crashed the plane, French prosecutors have said.
The co-pilot, identified as Andreas Lubitz, repeatedly turned a dial to override the plane's autopilot, sending it in a steep descent into the Alps, after the plane's captain had left the cockpit to go to the toilet.
The last eight minutes of the recovered cockpit flight recorder revealed the man's steady, measured breathing as he ignored queries from flight control, an altitude alarm from the plane's dashboard, and finally the desperate shouts of the captain outside.
- Australians will have two years of their metadata stored by phone and internet providers after the Abbott government's controversial data retention laws passed parliament.
- There are new concerns over a "terribly" slow consumer response to a recall of dangerous Infinity electrical cables.
- The federal government is backing away from key aspects of its hardline stance on public service wages and conditions in a bid avert the looming industrial battle with its 160,000 public servants.
- In the wake of weeks of controversy over poker machine law, the ACT Assembly has launched an inquiry into the future of the clubs industry in Canberra.
- One of Victoria's most notorious criminals - the man who brutally raped and murdered Jill Meagher in 2012 - has been found guilty of raping three other women, with some of the offences committed while he was on parole.
- Court: Murder victim Terrence Freebody bled to death from multiple knife wounds on the dining room floor of his neighbour, Luigi Costa's, Mugga Way home.
- The owners and staff of Little Oink cafe in Cook have been overwhelmed with support after the shop was broken into twice in last week, with thieves stealing their tip jar, cash register and iPad.
- The federal government's decision not to inflict savage cuts on legal aid services has been widely welcomed as a win for vulnerable Canberrans, including victims of domestic violence.
- Katy Gallagher will use her new role as a senator to campaign against Canberra receiving second-rate treatment from the Abbott government.
Influential: Mitchell Johnson is mobbed. Photo: Getty Images
Australia's World Cup dream is alive and well, and with it a mouthwatering trans-Tasman final is in store for Sunday.
Australia's passage to the final was secured with a 95-run win over India in Thursday night's second semi-final at the SCG, set up by a wonderful 105 from Steve Smith and finished off when Mitchell Johnson rose on the big stage to lead the Australian defence.
Michael Clarke's team fly to Melbourne on Friday one match away from lifting Australia's fifth title and fourth in the last five tournaments, the only object standing in their way their closest geographical rivals and co-hosts, New Zealand.
- It's the battle of two of the NRL's most promising fullbacks: Canberra Raiders custodian Jack Wighton and his Sydney Roosters counterpart Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were born four months apart, have a combined 109 NRL games and already have tasted representative football Both have also thrived in switching to the No 1 jersey full time this season, setting up an enthralling duel in Sunday's clash at the Sydney Football Stadium.
- Brumbies centre Tevita Kuridrani has vowed to come back from injury bigger and stronger to ensure his World Cup dream remains intact as he braces for an eight-week stint on the sidelines.
- Rae Dower has taken on the head coaching role at Canberra United on a two-year contract after spending the past two seasons as assistant to former Dutch international Elisabeth Migchelsen. Uncovering drug busts, prostitution, organised crime and murder cases were part of Dower's past life as a police officer, so she's taking the pressure of leading a championship-winning W-League team in her stride.
- Narrabundah Ballpark will resemble the set of Family Feud with three brothers from the Mills and Beard families squaring up in the ACT Baseball first-grade grand final series, which starts on Friday. In the Ainslie-Gungahlin Bears' corner there's Lee, Trent and Reece Mills, while Hayden, Simon and Tim Beard will suit up for the Belconnen Bandits in the best-of-three decider.
Fairbairn Avenue will be closed between Northcott Drive and Majura Road, and Morshead Drive will be closed to northbound traffic between Fairbairn Avenue and Pialligo Avenue from 6.30pm to 5am each night this week as work on the Majura Parkway continues.
If you are stuck in traffic or have any info, let us know: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes
Federal Parliament is sitting this week.
Darren Hanlon returns to the Street Theatre with a brand new album, Where Did You Come From? at 8pm.
Frock up for a night of fairy floss, cocktails, swing, samba and graffiti at the National Musuem of Australia's 18+ event Night at the Musuem: Joy from 6pm.
Brides and grooms-to-be can get inspired by One Fine Day, a night of wedding exhibitors, entertainment, a three-course meal and a fashion parade at the National Gallery of Australia from 5.30pm.
Scullin's Party at the Shops includes performances by Canberra Harmony Chorus, the Shooting Stars, Alison's ukulele orchestra, Moon, and 2014 LiftOff Youth Band Competition finalists, plus activities for the whole family at the Scullin shops from 3pm.
Hummer the giraffe enjoys a carrot. Photo: Jamila Toderas
Since the Jamala Wildlife Lodge opened at the National Zoo and Aquarium in December guests have enjoyed sleeping with sharks, eating with lions and bathing with bears.
But one of the stars 16-year-old giraffe Hummer, short for Humbekhali, has been reluctant to get up close and personal until now.
He was meant to be the star of the treehouse rooms when they opened in December, but it took zoo staff 100 days of careful coaxing to convince Hummer to let guests feed him from their balcony.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
A patient arrives at Canberra Hospital by ambulance from Calvary as part of an Ebola training exercise. Photo: Rohan Thomson
Health specialists in Canberra's hospitals donned protective gear on Thursday morning to prepare for the unlikely outbreak of Ebola in the ACT.
ACT acting chief health officer Dr Andrew Pengilley said the training exercise was organised to test the preparedness of Canberra hospitals for the outbreak of any infectious disease.
Today: A mostly sunny day in Canberra on Friday with a forecast minimum of 4 degrees and a top of 21 degrees.
The rest of the week: Saturday, light early frost and sunny - min 2, max 23. Sunday, mostly sunny - min 5, max 25. Monday, sunny - min 5, max 27. Tuesday, mostly sunny - min 9, max 27.
