ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 24 Dec, 2013 Top Stories More Top Stories » Drugs, cars, exotic animals seized in NSW Six men have been arrested after police seized drugs and exotic animals during raids on the New South Wales Central Coast. Police say the operation targeted a major drug supply syndicate that was making methylamphetamine. A rare parrot and a diamond python were seized, as well as a luxury vintage car. Four men are in custody and are due to appear in court today. More » Man dies in hospital following violent assault in Brisbane Cyclone warning for north-west of WA, Territory border AFL player Smedts under investigation for driving antics Grandmother blames 'nasty' Aussies for Swann exit More Analysis » A time to be thankful for the market economy (really) At first glance, the Australian Christmas in 1865 doesn't look too different from ours. Food, family, the outdoors; it looks lovely. But the celebration would have been an enormous, expensive, time-consuming, and overwhelming logistical task. Now, thanks to the technology and wealth generated by a market economy and consumer society, it has never been easier to share Christmas with friends and family. More » Revisiting the Jesus meme Tony Abbott's blame game can't last forever The sticky residues of Christian faith Ben Pobjie's tips for maintaining Christmas harmony The Coalition is a victim of its own rhetoric The age of internet empires The Hobbit as you've never experienced it before These falls may be just the beginning for the AUD The opportunistic embrace of free speech Just In More Just In » Queensland MP cleared of travel misuse amid sexting scandal Queensland MP Peter Dowling has been cleared of any wrongdoing involving his Parliamentary entitlements, including travel entitlement misuse, amid a sexting scandal. More » Man dies in hospital following violent assault in Brisbane Cyclone warning: Blue alert issued for WA north-west to NT border Retailers get Christmas cheer from spendthrift consumers Federal Court halts asylum seeker's deportation Car bomb kills at least 14 in Egypt Blow for Brisbane as Berisha out for three weeks Drugs, cars, exotic animals seized in NSW Britain pardons 'father of computing' of homosexuality conviction NAB and UBS pay up for alleged market misdemeanours World More World » Car bomb kills at least 14 in Egypt At least 14 people have been killed by a powerful car bomb near police headquarters in the Egyptian city of Mansoura, officials say. More » Britain pardons 'father of computing' of homosexuality conviction Two found dead in rivers as storms hit Britain Obama symbolically signs up for Obamacare Foreigners flee towns in South Sudan as violence continues Inventor of the iconic AK-47 rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, dies aged 94 Business More Business » Retailers get Christmas cheer from spendthrift consumers By business reporter Pat McGrath Retailers are expecting Christmas sales to better last year's, with city stores full of customers. The Australian Retailers Association is expecting sales of more than $42 billion in the six weeks leading up to Christmas - around 3 per cent more than last year. Other retailer organisations are even more optimistic, expecting more than 5 per cent sales growth. More » NAB and UBS pay up for alleged market misdemeanours Share market edges higher on US gains Health Minister approves 6.2 per cent increase to health insurance Bank regulator imposes new risk hurdles for 'too-big-to-fail' lenders Politics More Politics » Britain pardons 'father of computing' of homosexuality conviction Britain has granted a posthumous pardon to Alan Turing, the World War II code-breaking hero who committed suicide after he was convicted of the then crime of homosexuality. More » Medical tests for older drivers to be abolished in SA Nyrstar given five years to upgrade smelter Obama symbolically signs up for Obamacare CMC dismisses allegations of LNP electoral bribery Sport More Sport » Swann blasts 'low life' journalists By Cameron Leslie England captain Graeme Swann has blasted the journalists responsible for attributing quotes to his grandmother. More » AFL player Smedts under investigation for driving antics No Christmas cheer for England as Test approaches Blow for Brisbane as Berisha out for three weeks Sydney to Hobart could be most exciting in history Ashes role reversal, England floundering and Australia firing Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Terminally ill daughter inspires new hospital technology By consumer affairs reporter Amy Bainbridge A father inspired by time spent in hospital with his terminally ill daughter has invented a computer system to help hospital staff cut down on paperwork. Smart Ward uses touch screens and smartchips in lanyards and wristbands to update patient information in real time, and has yielded impressive results at two hospitals in Melbourne. The system is the brainchild of Canberra tech guru Matt Darling, who developed it in the wake of his daughter Jem's death. He says there were a number of times when his daughter needed acute care and he believed he could pinpoint where the existing system was failing staff. "When you go through that sort of experience you need to cling onto the idea that something positive can come from it, and that's really important," Mr Darling told the ABC. More » 15 animal stories from 2013 you may have missed World's first life-sized Lego car hits streets of Melbourne Snorkel-clad spacewalkers leave ISS for crucial repairs Scientists reverse ageing process in mice Environment More Environment » Nyrstar given five years to upgrade smelter Nyrstar's $385 million proposal to upgrade its lead and zinc smelter at Port Pirie has been given major project status by the South Australian Government. It has imposed 12 conditions on Nyrstar to help safeguard air and water quality and the backing triggers a five-year time frame for an upgraded plant to be operational. A final decision from the company itself on whether to proceed is expected early in the new year. More » Fact File: Protecting people from shark attacks Can governments protect people from killer sharks? Government accused of breaking election promise over whaling Waratah talks up jobs potential of massive mine About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. This message was sent to you at starnewsposting@gmail.com Please add newslists@your.abc.net.au to your email address book to see images by default and stop the email being treated as spam. This email address is not monitored - Please don't reply to this email. Manage your preferences | Unsubscribe | Contact Us   This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced. 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