ABC NewsMail - afternoon edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Sun 25 Dec, 2011 Top Stories More Top Stories » Top End communities feeling Grant's fury Residents in remote parts of the Northern Territory are being thrashed by gale-force winds as Tropical Cyclone Grant gathers in intensity and is expected to develop into a category two cyclone within three hours. The Coburg Peninsula and Croker Island, north-east of Darwin, are experiencing heavy rain and winds of 110 kilometres an hour, with gusts expected to increase to 130kph as the cyclone moves closer. For the latest cyclone warnings and essential information visit ABC Darwin. More » Bushfire threatening lives, homes in WA Surprise gift as baby born under Christmas tree Father Bob gives final Christmas message Paramedic dies trying to rescue hurt canyoner Eight killed in holiday road accidents Man stabbed to death after Christmas drinks Huge swells close Queensland beaches 'Death to America': Syrians bury bombing victims Church leaders reflect on rocky year 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 » Surprise gift as baby born under Christmas tree A Tasmanian woman received an early present this morning when she gave birth to a baby girl underneath her Christmas tree. More » Top End communities feeling Grant's fury 38 Haitians found dead in asylum shipwreck Man stabbed to death after Christmas drinks Church leaders reflect on rocky year Bushfire threatening lives, homes in WA Eight killed in holiday road accidents Clarke puts emphasis on strong start Huge swells close Queensland beaches Leaders thank troops in Christmas messages World More World » Thousands challenge Putin in new Russia protests By Moscow correspondent Norman Hermant, wires Thousands of protesters take to the streets of Russia, demanding new elections and the resignation of Vladimir Putin. More » 'Death to America': Syrians bury bombing victims Queen visits Prince Philip in hospital Aftershocks rattle stricken Christchurch Iraq vice president says bombs were inside job 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 » US extends middle class tax breaks Swan approves Foxtel's Austar takeover 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 » Clarke puts emphasis on strong start The ghosts from day one of last year's Boxing Day Test are irrelevant to Australian captain Michael Clarke More » Marsh, Hilfenhaus picked for Boxing Day Tactical battle looms in Sydney to Hobart Victorious Heart signal true arrival 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. 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. Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 700 Harris Street, Ultimo NSW 2007 © 2011 ABC | Conditions of Use | Privacy Policy | Discover other ABC Email newsletters