7:11am: It was dirty laundry aplenty during a Federal Court battle over bullying, intimidation and harassment at regional television company WIN Corporation.
Company executive Rodney Hockey was told his billionaire boss, media mogul Bruce Gordon, considered him to be a manager of ''the toilet rolls and the weeds'' and he was often called a ''prick'', a ''lump of wood'', and an ''idiot''.
7:10am: Tony Abbott was asked yesterday whether rich retirees should contribute more to funding schools and the disabled following debate over the government raiding super accounts.
His response: "What we should never do is engage in the politics of envy. What we should never do is play the class war card."
7:05am: You can bet your bottom dollar the comments from Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon regarding taxing superannuation will be lighting up talkback switchboards today.
"In Sydney's west you can be on a quarter of a million dollars family income a year and you're still struggling," he said.
7:03am: The superannuation debate is still on the agenda in federal politics today.
Should the government tax the superannuation of high income earners to fund major projects like the Gonski reforms and National Disability Insurance Scheme?
The government won't rule it out but Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon says you can earn $250,000 in Sydney and still be struggling. Do you agree?
7:01am: The weather for the long weekend is looking mixed.
Friday - clearing showers, top of 23 degrees.
Saturday - mostly sunny, top of 25 degrees.
Sunday - possible shower, top of 27 degrees.
Monday - possible shower, top of 25 degrees.
7:00am: To recap the weather, it will be cloudy and humid today. Top temp is 30 degrees in the city (32 in the west) and rain will develop this afternoon.
It's 22 degrees in the city now.
6:58am: And remember double demerits start at midnight tonight.
The Buladelah bypass will be open for those heading north on the Pacific Highway.
6:57am: A very busy start on the roads:
In the Airport Tunnel at Mascot, sprinklers are going off on General Holmes Drive. Traffic is banked up on the M5 to Revesby and through the Harbour Tunnel. Avoid if possible.
There is also a breakdown on the M5 at Bexley North at the tunnel.
On the M2 at North Rocks, delays are stretching 2 kms due to a vehicle fire. One citybound lane is blocked.
At Emu Plains, a vehicle fire has blocked lanes both ways on Russell Street at the Western Motorway. Traffic is trickling through and semi trailers are being diverted.
6:52am: A bomb has exploded outside a ship owner's house near the Acropolis in central Athens, causing damage but no injuries.
The explosion near the country's most famous monument followed a warning call to a Greek newspaper.
More to come.
6:49am: It looks like Victorian fire authorities batting terrible bushfires west of Melbourne have brought blazes under control this morning.
Four firefighters were injured yesterday when their truck caught fire after hitting a tree.
An aerial view of the fire at Dereel. Photo: Adam Trafford/The Ballarat Couri
6:45am: Been schvitzing through this unseasonably hot week? Summer's last blast has sent temperature records tumbling from Queensland all the way south to Tasmania.
6:41am: A man has been charged with assault after a stand-off with police in Surry Hills yesterday afternoon.
Heavily-armed police responded to reports of a man threatening another man with a firearm in a Housing Commission apartment block.
Man arrested in Surry Hills siege
A siege is Surry Hills is over after a man was escorted from a block of units by police.
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6:40am: Sprinklers are going off in the Harbour Tunnel northbound into the city but cars are still going through, according to radio reports.
6:39am: Moving back to news closer to home, three men aged between 19 and 26 are assisting police after two men were assaulted outside McDonald's on Bondi Beach at 1am this morning.
One of the victims is awaiting scans to reveal the extent of his injuries while the other man has neck pain.
British fashion designer Stella McCartney arrives with husband Alasdhair Willis for an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Photo: AFP/JOHN STILLWELL
6:39am: In Britain, fashion designer and famous daughter Stella McCartney has been awarded an Order of the British Empire and donned a bespoke navy suit of her own design to accept the medal from Queen Elizabeth II.
6:31am: In important easter-themed news, Belgian chocolate makers are trying to get protection of their product name similar to that enjoyed by French champagne or Italy's Parma ham.
And Megan Levy in the Herald newsroom has made Cadbury Creme Egg brownies this morning. Amazing.
6:28am: In news from the underground, North Korea says it is cutting a military "hotline" (1800 RODMAN?) with South Korea, meaning that all direct inter-government and military contact has been suspended after it previously cut a Red Cross link.
Abu Qatada ... will appeal against deportation to Jordan. Photo: AP
6:24am: One of the world's most unwanted house guests has won the right to stay in Britain again.
The British government has lost the latest round in its long-running legal battle to deport radical Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, but has vowed it will not give up the fight.
6:24am: There are reports coming in that a bomb has exploded near Acropolis in central Athens.
Morning Express will bring you news as it comes to hand.
6:18am: Despite a so-called solution, things in Cyprus are still looking pretty dire.
Nick Miller has this easy-to-digest take on why the crisis is such a big deal and what it means for Cyprus, where the economy has always rested on three sturdy legs: a thriving banking and financial services sector, a fat public service and tourism.
6:17am: Moving to major world news from overnight, the US Supreme court umm-ed and ahh-ed over gay marriage yesterday despite public opinion turning in favour of same sex unions in the US.
James Tolver (left) and his friend Sean Rorsko Photo: Nick O'Malley
6:12am: On the train network, there are no major disruptions.
Buses replace trains between Richmond and Schofields on the Western Line.
6:11am: Extra public transport is operating for the Royal Easter Show. Check details here and use a ShowLink ticket for entry to the event and return transport.
6:11am: On the bus network, there are no major disruptions.
Bus stops on Dawn Fraser Avenue near Edwin Flack Road and Showground Road in Homebush are temporarily closed until 4 April due to the Royal Easter Show.
6:09am: On the roads:
Delays are stretching 2 kms on the M2 Motorway near Barclay Road in North Roads following a truck fire earlier. The truck as now been moved into the breakdown lane but one citybound lane in closed for the salvage operation.
There are roadworks around Pyrmont Bridge Road between Harris Street and Bellevue Street.
At Emu Plains, there is a vehicle fire on the M4 Motorway at Russell Street.
6:06am: On the front page of the major papers:
The Age in Melbourne reports that tolls could be charged on ''new'' lanes on the state's major freeway, the Eastern Freeway, with a section of the rail reservation down its centre sacrificed for the lanes.
The Australian Financial Review reports on exclusive pollng showing that Labor faces annihilation in marginal seats in Queensland and Western Australia with support at levels similar to NSW.
The Daily Telegraph reports that asylum seekers are being offered free domestic help and childcare, along with receiving free operations and medical treatment for non-urgent conditions including drooping eyelids.
The Australian reports that aboriginal leader Noel Pearson has called for a federal takeover of indigenous affairs if the Queensland government fails to fund his radical Cape York Welfare Reform trial, amid evidence the program has cut crime rates, improved infrastructure and services and helped school attendance levels.
SMH front page, March 28
6:03am: On the front page of today's Sydney Morning Herald, asylum seeker families could be released into the community on bridging visas to relieve pressure on an overwhelmed budget and on a border protection system struggling against an unprecedented surge in new arrivals.
6:00am: The weather for the long weekend is looking mixed.
Friday - clearing showers, top of 23 degrees.
Saturday - mostly sunny, top of 25 degrees.
Sunday - possible shower, top of 27 degrees.
Monday - possible shower, top of 25 degrees.
6:00am: Good morning all, what does everyone have planned for the long weekend?
It will be cloudy and humid today. Top temp is 30 degrees in the city (32 in the west) and rain will develop this afternoon.
It's 22 degrees in the city now.
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