ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

Good afternoon. Here's what's happening now: British pop singer George Michael has died aged 53. The former Wham! front man died peacefully at his home in Oxfordshire At least one person has died after Typhoon Nina made landfall in the Philippines, forcing more than 200,000 people to flee to emergency shelters. The typhoon reached maximum sustained wind speeds of 185 kilometres per hour The Sydney to Hobart yacht race has begun, with experts tipping a race record thanks to a favourable weather forecast. Wild Oats XI is the favourite to win the Tattersall's Cup for a ninth time A 200 kilogram fur seal that wandered into a Tasmanian suburban street squashed a car and trapped people inside a house for several hours this morning. Parks and Wildlife officers were able to sedate the seal, which will be released back onto the beach soon. Here's what's coming up tonight: 7:10pm AEDT: The Hobart Hurricanes will face the Melbourne Stars in the BBL 7:30pm AEDT: Melbourne United will take on the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL 7:50pm AEDT: Adelaide United will go up against Sydney FC in the A-League Top Stories George Michael dies aged 53 British pop singer George Michael, who shot to fame in the 1980s with Wham! and continued as a solo artist, dies at the age of 53. Music world 'in deep shock' over George Michael's death The music industry is stunned by George Michael's sudden death, with celebrities using social media to share tributes to the late singer. Live: Australia takes four wickets before rain hits at tea Australia strikes twice in each of the first two sessions at the MCG as Pakistan bats after winning the toss in the Boxing Day Test. Follow our live blog. Sydney to Hobart underway as race record tipped The fleet is on its way to Constitution Dock as the 72nd Sydney to Hobart yacht race gets under way on Sydney Harbour. Australia needs to build a proper hospital on Manus Island: PNG MP Australia must build and staff a hospital on Manus Island to prevent refugees from dying in the future, the Papua New Guinea politician who represents the island says. Flash flooding in Central Australia forces mass evacuation Heavy rain that has sparked damaging flash floods and widespread evacuations in Central Australia is being described as a once-in-a-half-century weather event by the Bureau of Meteorology. Carrie Fisher 'stable' after cardiac incident: mother Hollywood actress Carrie Fisher is in a stable condition, her mother Debbie Reynolds says, after the Star Wars star suffered a cardiac episode two days earlier on a flight from London to Los Angeles. Super Typhoon Nina hits central Philippines A powerful typhoon has slammed into central Philippines, killing at least one person and bringing strong winds, heavy rains and cutting off power. Muslim group letterboxes Hobart to counter One Nation, Reclaim Australia A Muslim group delivers messages to homes in Hobart saying they stand for peace and loyalty to Australia, in a move sparked by the rise of One Nation and Reclaim Australia. Virtual reality breathes new life into David Attenborough works Virtual reality technology gives visitors at the National Museum of Australia the chance to dive deeper into the works of nature filmmaker Sir David Attenborough, with some urged to take sick bags on their tour. Man dies in freak boating accident off Rottnest Island A 37-year-old man dies after falling off off a boat and then being struck by it, west of Rottnest Island off Perth, despite desperate efforts to save him. Russia searches for victims of Black Sea plane crash Russian rescue teams backed by ships, helicopters and drones search for victims after a Russian plane carrying 92 people to Syria crashes into the Black Sea shortly after take-off. Australians predicted to spend $2.8b at Boxing Day sales The National Retail Association predicts Australians will spend up to $2.8 billion at Boxing Day sales today — nearly 5 per cent up from last year. Massive fur seal wanders down Tasmanian street, squashes car An adult male Australian fur seal weighing upwards of 200 kilograms makes its way into the suburbs of Launceston, about 50 kilometres from the sea, and climbs onto a vehicle parked in a driveway, causing thousands of dollars in damage. Police release allegedly drunk driver who hit boy, 9, south of Brisbane An allegedly drunk driver who hit and seriously injured a nine-year-old boy south of Brisbane is questioned by police and released without being charged. Sharks spotted off Victoria's surf coast, beach closed The sightings of dozens sharks at popular spots along Victoria's surf coast sees swimmers ordered out of the water at Fairhaven beach along the Great Ocean Road. Analysis and Opinion: The Drum Julia Baird: How to reclaim the true meaning of Christmas By Julia Baird Eight-year itch: Couples need nearly a decade to save for Sydney house By business reporter Michael Janda Scorsese's Silence a fitting test of faith at Christmas By Simon Smart Leigh Sales' top 10 interviews of 2016 By Leigh Sales Just In China lodges protest over Taiwan content in US defence bill December 26, 2016 - 3:47 pm Hobart shoppers expected to part with $53m at Boxing Day sales December 26, 2016 - 3:41 pm Man dies in freak boating accident off Rottnest Island December 26, 2016 - 3:17 pm World • China lodges protest over Taiwan content in US defence bill • Traffickers get life in prison in India for chopping off labourers' hands • Libyan men face court in Malta over flight hijacking Business • Australians predicted to spend $2.8b at Boxing Day sales • Boxing Day sales restrictions in SA 'make no sense' • After 30-year bull run, global bond markets routed on Trump worries Politics • Time can't heal wounds of 95yo Japanese war veteran • Meet the man walking across Australia to protest Indigenous community closures • Nigerian army captures key Boko Haram stronghold Sport • Live: Australia takes four wickets before rain hits at tea • Sydney to Hobart underway as race record tipped • Christmas with the Captain: Steve Smith opens up on leadership Science and Tech • Eight ways technology impacted your life in 2016 • Uber halts self-driving cars test in San Francisco • Mark Zuckerberg demonstrates Morgan Freeman-voiced AI Environment • VW reaches deal with 80,000 US 3L vehicle owners • Australia's greenhouse gas emissions rising • Who's paying the most for power? 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