ABC NewsMail - afternoon edition

Afternoon Edition. Fri 06 May 2011
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Top Stories	More Top Stories >
Inquiry urges rethink on mortgage exit fee ban A Senate inquiry into competition in the banking sector is recommending the Government reconsider its ban on mortgage exit fees. Black magic 'holy man' jailed for rape A Sydney "holy man" who repeatedly raped two women during religious prayer sessions has been sentenced to 15 years in jail. Protesters call for jumps racing ban About 50 people protested against jumps racing in Melbourne's Bourke Street Mall today. Pokie changes deadline 'unrealistic and unachievable' Clubs Australia has mocked a new parliamentary report which could see poker machine gamblers forced to set a limit on how much they can lose, or use low-betting machines. Police deny plans to charge flood dad Queensland's Acting Police Commissioner says he has no idea why a Lockyer Valley man thinks he will be charged over the deaths of his wife and children in the January flood.
The Drum	More from The Drum >
Detained on Manus Island: Labor's competence and honesty Reopening the Manus Island detention centre - or a similar one anywhere else in Papua New Guinea - would be an admission of massive policy failure by the Gillard Government. The very fact that it is a live option shows a Government verging on the desperate. There is no hiding the fact that Manus Island was part of the Howard government's Pacific Solution and that Labor has now effectively conceded it has no better policy than the one it ridiculed for years. Conversations: do we need a budget surplus? Does it really make good economic sense to pursue a fiscal surplus? Four leading academics give their views on the economic question of the moment. The world seen through Google goggles Google is so universal now that I make the mistake of assuming it to be neutral too. But it isn't, of course. Giving people what they want is so much a part of the internet experience that whole businesses are devoted now to anticipating demand for certain topics, and gaming the Google algorithms to get your content to land near the top of the list. And in the race to surivive, what happens when journalism stops serving me the stuff I don't know I need? That's not a horse race, that's a debacle This was no spectacle. It was a debacle. To pretend otherwise is beyond spin. ItÂ's a blatant lie. Bin Laden, Twitter and gaudy media baubles Twitter heaved with chatter on the night of Osama bin Laden's assassination. Yet unless it's an event in which ordinary citizens can contribute original eye-witness material, the cacophony of social media chatter is often just as meaningless and diversionary as the more glittering babble offered up by the mainstream media. Much of the knowledge and understanding I have of what happened in Pakistan on Sunday came to me via traditional media outlets, even if Twitter was used to direct me there.
Just in	More Just In Stories >
PNG confirms Australia's processing centre request Papua New Guinea's foreign minister has confirmed Australia asked his country to house a regional processing centre for asylum seekers. Shares bounce back from steep early falls The Australian share market has bounced back from some steeper early falls, but still ended the day about 0.3 per cent lower. Australian researchers a step closer to HIV vaccine Australian researchers say they are a step closer to a vaccine for HIV and hope to be able to offer a preventative jab within the decade.
World	More World Stories >
PNG confirms Australia's processing centre request Papua New Guinea's foreign minister has confirmed Australia asked his country to house a regional processing centre for asylum seekers. Some black holes may be older than time An intriguing new hypothesis suggests some black holes could have formed before the formation of our universe. Study links autism risk to season of conception Researchers have found a clear correlation between the month a child was conceived and their risk of being diagnosed with autism.
Business	More Business Stories >
Shares bounce back from steep early falls The Australian share market has bounced back from some steeper early falls, but still ended the day about 0.3 per cent lower. Miners object to shrinking exploration licences A mining industry group is lobbying against proposed changes to Northern Territory mining regulations. APN to close Mackay, Bundaberg print sites About 40 jobs are expected to be lost in Mackay and Bundaberg following a decision to close two newspaper printing sites.
Politics	More Politics Stories >
Police defend decision on flood supplies chopper Queensland's Assistant Police Commissioner Peter Martin has defended a decision not to allow a helicopter to deliver supplies to Brisbane suburbs isolated by floodwaters. NSW Opposition pursues Flowers over pension The New South Wales Government has agreed to an Opposition motion calling for the release of more documents related to Liberal MP John Flowers. Miners object to shrinking exploration licences A mining industry group is lobbying against proposed changes to Northern Territory mining regulations.
Sport	More Sport Stories >
Dorsey delays Breakers' title charge Ron Dorsey hit two clutch three-pointers to keep Cairns' hopes of a maiden NBL championship alive with an 85-81 win in double-overtime in game two against New Zealand at the Snakepit on Sunday. Tendulkar gets win as birthday gift Mumbai Indians gifted birthday boy and skipper Sachin Tendulkar a 37-run victory in an Indian Premier League match against Deccan Chargers overnight. Sharks' Smith fined for pub incident Cronulla half-back Tim Smith has been fined by police for remaining in the vicinity of a licensed premises after being refused entry.
Science & Technology	More Science & Technology Stories >
Whale watch plea Environmental authorities in Tasmania are hoping to unlock more secrets of the annual whale migration with the help of whale watchers. Some black holes may be older than time An intriguing new hypothesis suggests some black holes could have formed before the formation of our universe. Study links autism risk to season of conception Researchers have found a clear correlation between the month a child was conceived and their risk of being diagnosed with autism.
Environment	More Environment Stories >
Concerns over policing of marine reserves The State Government has reservations about how authorities will be able to police a series of new marine reserves proposed by the Federal Government. Scientists thrash out ideas at population summit Some of Australia's leading scientists are gathering in Canberra today to discuss if Australia has the resources to cope with a doubling of its population in the next 39 years. Stoush brewing over mid-west water reserves Western Australia's National Party may rely on mining profits for its royalties for region's fund, but one of its parliamentarians says agriculture should be favoured ahead of mining in any dispute over water rights.
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