ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Mon 28 Jul, 2014 Top Stories More Top Stories » Former members lift lid on Christian cult of horrors By Caro Meldrum-Hanna A four-year investigation by the ABC has uncovered shocking claims of abuse and torment in relation to registered charity and religious group Christian Assemblies International (CAI). Tonight's Four Corners reveals that self-styled religious guru Pastor Scott Williams was using his warped brand of evangelical Pentecostalism to run a clandestine homosexual sex ring while allegedly misusing vast amounts of member donations for personal use. Courageous former members have broken their silence and tell of their torment living inside the NSW-based group, which they say is a horrendous cult run by one man. The revelations have prompted Australia's charity regulator to promise an immediate investigation into the assembly, which enjoys tax-free status. More » AFP will attempt to reach MH17 crash site today Tamil asylum seekers are 'economic migrants': Morrison Families SA official resigns after misleading superiors AFP officers in hot water for Lily Allen fake arrest photo Carmichael coal mine project gets federal approval Unemployed to be forced to apply for 40 jobs a month Vic Labor admits staff destroyed reporter's dictaphone Hodson son may have 'inadvertently' shared security info Ceasefire stalls as fighting continues in Gaza More Analysis » Afghanistan takes the first step in avoiding a crisis Despite Hamid Karzai's efforts to derail the Afghan presidential process, there is now an opportunity for a government of national unity to bring about real change. The US secretary of state has brokered a deal between the two leading presidential contenders, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani. John Kerry's mediation has averted a looming crisis, but as he has stated, a hard road still lies ahead. More » Expats have already voted with their jandalled feet The resources war could cost us dearly The vexed issue called 'leadership' Widodo's world wide web Putting athletes in charge: a radical new proposal It's about time Australia put pressure on Israel Hamas makes civilian casualties a tragic certainty The child care challenge we must all face Context pops Hockey right in the kisser - again Just In More Just In » Vickery referred straight to the tribunal Richmond forward Ty Vickery has been referred straight to the tribunal for his punch on West Coast's Dean Cox. More » Darwin inmates break out of prison, then return after getting drunk Hodson son may have 'inadvertently' shared security info AFP will attempt to reach MH17 crash site today Families SA official resigns after misleading superiors One dead, eight injured by Venice Beach lightning strike Seal seen swimming in Yarra with ropes around neck France rejects Orica bid to ship toxic waste to Alps Father not guilty of murdering daughter with cake knife Trio jailed for murder of Wollongong lawyer in house fire World More World » One dead, eight injured by Venice Beach lightning strike One man is dead and at least eight people have been injured in a lightning strike during a rare thunderstorm at Venice Beach, California. More » Pacific summit to urge action on climate change Japanese schoolgirl admits to dismembering classmate More than 150 killed in Benghazi, Tripoli clashes Ceasefire stalls as fighting continues in Gaza Labor MPs at odds over call to condemn Gaza assault Business More Business » ASX profit reporting season clouded by prospect of downgrades By business reporter Stephen Letts The share market's profit reporting season looks likely to disappoint as much of corporate Australia searches for earnings growth. Nervousness has been heightened by a rise in share prices despite little evidence that firms will post a corresponding increase in earnings. It has been six months since Australia's $1.5 trillion stock market last bared its financial soul to the world and in that time its value has risen by 7 per cent, even while the big broking houses have been busily downgrading its earning potential. More » Unemployed to be forced to apply for 40 jobs a month NAB mortgage customers ahead on loans, first home buyers less so Carmichael coal mine project gets federal approval Mining survey shows productivity now biggest industry challenge Leighton dividend rises despite profit fall Politics More Politics » Vic Labor admits staff destroyed reporter's dictaphone Victoria's Opposition has admitted that ALP staff listened to and then destroyed a journalist's dictaphone that had been lost earlier this year. The Age newspaper reported the journalist dropped the dictaphone at the Labor state conference in May and alleged that senior ALP staff members stole it from a lost property box. Mr Samaras issued a statement apologising for not returning the dictaphone, which belonged to journalist Farrah Tomazin. Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews has described the matter "a dirty mess" in which he had "no involvement". More » Ceasefire stalls as fighting continues in Gaza Labor MPs at odds over call to condemn Gaza assault Tamil asylum seekers are 'economic migrants': Morrison Unemployed to be forced to apply for 40 jobs a month Sport More Sport » Vickery referred straight to the tribunal Richmond forward Ty Vickery has been referred straight to the tribunal for his punch on West Coast's Dean Cox. More » Australians fill podium in blue-riband race in Glasgow Roos extends Demons deal Morton beats Meares to sprint gold in Glasgow Foley to clash with idol Carter in Super Rugby decider Jennings set for Roosters return Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Drones and robots 'helping farmers secure their future' by Sam Ikin Tasmanian farmers are future-proofing their industry by embracing drones, robots and other high-tech devices to help boost production. Agricultural scientists say drones could soon become regular farming equipment along with tractors and combine harvesters. Drone pilot and agricultural scientist Will Bignell, who has created a business using drones, said the sky was the limit for the device. "We can map out digital elevation [for drainage planning]... or map out a creek that might run through a paddock and show the highest points and lowest points to about a 2 cm accuracy," Mr Bignell said. More » Are we alone? Alien pollution might reveal the answer 3D-printed body parts don't cost an arm and a leg Dredging can double coral disease in reefs: study NASA predicts evidence of aliens only 20 years away Environment More Environment » Mine's burning rock pile sparks health concerns Deep in the Gulf of Carpentaria, a waste rock pile has been smouldering for seven months, causing large smoke plumes and angering Aboriginal groups. Traditional owners also fear corrosive acids from the McArthur River mine, one of the world's largest producers of zinc, lead and silver, could spread into the water catchment during the wet season. The groups are demanding its owner, Swiss company Glencore, stop the smoke plume immediately. Glencore said it was trying to extinguish the fire but could not say when it would be out. More » Sydney, Melbourne going green despite RET uncertainty Moylan sorry for 'unintended consequences' of ANZ hoax Jonathan Moylan avoids jail over fake press release Rare daisy find leads to wetlands rescue effort 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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