ABC NewsMail - afternoon edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Sat 24 Dec, 2011 Top Stories More Top Stories » Nervous wait as NT cyclone picks its path Residents in Top End communities are battening down as a cyclone threatens to develop off the coast on Christmas Day . More » Prince Philip undergoes heart surgery Merry Christmas Marsh, Hilfenhaus picked for Boxing Day Australians warned after Bali HIV tattoo Aftershocks rattle stricken Christchurch Woman wins $100k after pokies fight Lacey brothers' appeals dismissed Interpol chasing breast implant boss Trump opens way to independent White House run More Analysis » And lo, a spirit of noble sacrifice moved in the land The hardest thing in politics is convincing the people who elected you to endure a certain amount of pain now, in order to avoid more of it in future. All over the world, politicians ask hard things of constituents, demanding that they should be their best selves. And that's perfectly fair enough. What should never be surprising, however, is that constituents baulk at such exhortations from a bunch of people who do not seem prepared to make the same sacrifices themselves. More » Science is about explanation. Religion is about meaning All things to all people, but Christmas is ... people It was that kind of year sport Syria's political dead end Santa's dark side Why does Christmas endure? Get your goat on Hitchens and infuriating faith Asylum seeker solution: focus on the policy not political games Just In More Just In » Russian satellite crashes into Siberia after launch A Russian satellite crashed into Siberia minutes after its launch on Friday (local time) due to rocket failure, the defence ministry said, in the latest humiliating setback for Russia's embattled space program. More » Cuba to free nearly 3,000 prisoners Man dies in South Australian mine Trump opens way to independent White House run Drunk driver crashes into police station Marsh, Hilfenhaus picked for Boxing Day Interpol chasing breast implant boss Lacey brothers' appeals dismissed Belgian attack death toll rises to seven Man charged after Cowan family siege World More World » Aftershocks rattle stricken Christchurch Powerful aftershocks rock Christchurch as the city recovers from twin earthquakes which injured 19 people. More » Prince Philip undergoes heart surgery Regime blamed for deadly Syrian blasts Interpol chasing breast implant boss Belgian attack death toll rises to seven Business More Business » Gloucester Coal to merge with Yancoal Chinese-owned company Yancoal Australia has announced plans to merge with Australian miner Gloucester Coal in a deal that will see it own 77 per cent of the new company. More » Swan approves Foxtel's Austar takeover Boehner caves in on tax cut deal Qantas takes off on Jetstar boost Harvey Norman bites bullet on online sales Politics More Politics » Asylum talks fail to reach agreement A bipartisan meeting to end the stalemate over Australia's border protection policies has ended without agreement. More » Boehner caves in on tax cut deal Voters want Weatherill, but Libs hold SA lead Bowen puts Nauru on table to break asylum deadlock Watchdog quizzed over handling of implant scare Sport More Sport » Marsh, Hilfenhaus picked for Boxing Day Shaun Marsh and Ben Hilfenhaus have been recalled to the side with Australia naming just four genuine bowlers to take on India. More » Tactical battle looms in Sydney to Hobart Victorious Heart signal true arrival Sharapova out of Brisbane International Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Calls to censor details of potential killer flu US officials, scared of the potential for a biological attack, ask journals Science and Nature to not publish details of a man-made mutant flu virus with the potential to kill millions. More » New telescope captures 'starburst' galaxy NASA unveils plans to harpoon comets Devil breeding efforts meeting with success Scientists close in on possible 'God particle' Environment More Environment » Highs and lows of 2011 in South Australia By Gary Rivett A year of change, water worries, big mining hopes and an arts highlight More » Another leak, another warning: Orica acid spill Parker moves to amend NSW logging laws EPA wants report on latest Orica leak Fukushima plant reaches cold shutdown 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. 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