ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Fri 11 Apr, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Live: Cyclone Ita set to smash far north Qld Residents in far north Queensland are making last-minute preparations as Cyclone Ita, a destructive category-five storm, moves closer to the coast. The weather bureau says Ita has slowed down and should make landfall between Cape Flattery and Cooktown around midnight. Brett Harrison from the bureau says there is a chance the system may be downgraded before it crosses the coast, but "either way we're still looking at a significant event". Ita will generate storm surges, high tides and very destructive winds of up to 300 kilometres per hour. Parts of the coast could receive up to 300 millimetres of rain every six hours for several days after Ita hits. Authorities say the cyclone is likely to rival the intensity of Cyclone Yasi, which devastated regions in far north Queensland in 2011. Follow all the developments on our live blog. More » Abbott 'confident' searchers have picked up black box signals Search fails to find any sign of 3yo girl Chloe Campbell Customs and Border Protection to axe another 100 jobs by July Remote beaches among Australia's most polluted: study Sydney council moves in to clean up Bondi hoarders' home Pistorius accuses police of tampering with crime scene More Analysis » Revenue lobbyists should leave the GST alone Australia should get its excessive spending under control without resorting to the tempting but unwarranted consumption tax grabs we have recently seen in other countries. Politicians generally do not respect fiscal rules for too long, and a rise in the GST would disproportionately hurt the poor. That's why the current institutional arrangements for managing the GST should be preserved in the face of recent pressure from revenue lobbyists like Martin Parkinson and Ken Henry. More » Ten should adopt these ratings winners - seriously Coal is no cure for energy poverty Bullock: the straw that breaks the camel's back? We still don't know how to talk about China Who's afraid of anti-discrimination laws? Cultural patronage offers a tilt at immortality Fair trials at risk in age of social media Bob Carr's diary reveals a true satirist Democracy is about the people, not the parties Just In More Just In » Bushfire victims to take legal action over fallen power lines By Liv Casben and Greg Miskelly A group of property owners have promised to launch a class action against NSW company Endeavour Energy, in response to damaging fires which swept through the Blue Mountains last year. More » Father admits 4yo son not fed for 13 days Customs and Border Protection to axe another 100 jobs by July Obeids did not invest in AWH, Eddie Junior tells ICAC Abbott 'confident' searchers have picked up black box signals Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend dies aged 68 ABC series Kakadu wins gold at New York Festival Coca-Cola slump leads share market slide Cyclone Ita compared to Tracy, Larry and Yasi Tamil asylum seeker sets himself on fire after visa application rejected World More World » Adrian Mole author Sue Townsend dies aged 68 Sue Townsend, the British author responsible for the popular Adrian Mole series, documenting the hum-drum life of an awkward teenager, has died aged 68. More » UN to send peacekeepers to Africa amid genocide fears Analysts say US tech stock slump is a correction, not a crash Colbert to replace Letterman as Late Show host Russia warns European gas supplies could be disrupted Pistorius accuses police of tampering with crime scene Business More Business » Coca-Cola slump leads share market slide By business reporter Michael Janda A double digit slump in Coca-Cola Amatil shares has been the major fall in a declining market. The food and beverage maker has slumped after warning that its first-half profits are likely to fall 15 per cent, with tough trading conditions expected for the rest of the year. The wider market is down on steep falls in the US driven by worries about the Fed, China and over-valued technology stocks. Local tech stocks have been caught in the selloff, with Carsales, Wotif and REA Group all falling heavily. More » Analysts say US tech stock slump is a correction, not a crash Bank of Queensland announces profit jump and acquisition Abbott arrives in Shanghai for talks with Chinese president Holden's former workers finding job search tough Oakajee Port: Padbury Mining secures finance but in new trading halt Politics More Politics » Obeids did not invest in AWH, Eddie Junior tells ICAC Eddie Obeid Junior, the youngest son of disgraced former NSW MP Eddie Obeid, has denied his family invested money in the company at the centre of an Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) inquiry. Eddie Junior told ICAC today that around 2009 or 2010, he was the only family member who wanted to invest in Australian Water Holdings (AWH) but that he could not "get his brothers over the line". Instead, he said, they agreed to lend AWH director Nick Di Girolamo, a "dear family friend", $3 million. The loan was meant to be repaid by 2016, but Mr Di Girolamo had not repaid the money, or any interest on it. More » Macklin accuses Government of preparing to cut age pension SA leads national push for sexting laws Government may withhold family tax benefits if children aren't immunised Russia warns European gas supplies could be disrupted Sport More Sport » Scott second after opening Masters round Adam Scott started his US Masters defence nicely, carding a 3-under 69 to sit tied for second after the first round. More » Powell blasts 'unfair, unjust' doping ban Catherine Cox announces retirement from netball Eels learned from Roosters loss: Hayne Carlton swings the axe as round four teams named Moore confident Brumbies' defence will pass Reds test Science and Technology More Science and Technology » US to test futuristic high-speed electromagnetic railgun The US Navy is planning sea trials for a weapon that can fire a low-cost, 10-kilogram projectile at 8,575 kilometres per hour, seven times the speed of sound using electromagnetic energy. More » Second study from UQ research pair retracted after misconduct probe Novartis removes top Japanese executives over drug trial scandal MH370 search: 8 things you might not know about black boxes Researchers claim breakthrough in tackling HIV Environment More Environment » Whaling around the world: How Japan's catch compares Defending Japan's whaling program after a recent ruling by the International Court of Justice, a spokesman for the Japanese delegation said many other countries continue to hunt and kill whales. "It's not only Japan that is engaged in whaling. It's almost nearly 10 countries in the world..." Nori Shikata said. ABC Fact Check investigates. More » Court wants Alpha Coal project rejected or new conditions imposed WA Govt seeks to extend shark baiting program Shark attack victim's husband swims again at Tathra beach Macquarie Island declared pest free About this email You received this email because you are subscribed to ABC News email alerts. 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