ABC NewsMail - Afternoon Edition

NewsMail Afternoon Edition Tue 25 Dec, 2012 Top Stories More Top Stories » Thousands flock to free festive lunches More than 120 hams and turkeys have helped feed thousands of people at free Christmas lunches for the poor, the lonely and the needy in Sydney. More » Lawyer on home soil after Mongolian detention Two US firefighters shot dead in arson trap Grandmother turns trash into Christmas treasure Clarke 'pretty positive' about Melbourne Test Odd Couple star Jack Klugman dies Man charged over chair leg attack Indian policeman dies of rape protest injuries Regime accused of using gas on Syrian rebels Mandela to spend Christmas in hospital More Analysis » Open your presence: a message for the non-religious There can be nothing good ahead for a country that determines to be mean. This Christmas, we should think more about our presence than our presents. The riches that come from belonging to each other far outstrip anything that can be wrapped in paper. I hope you get lots of presence this year. I know you will if you open your eyes and look at those around you as if for the first time. More » Why Christmas still matters Sharing the Christmas spirit is a true celebration of diversity The surrogacy trap: why our laws need new life Is Labor's surplus backdown really so dire? Why the customs arrests warrant a closer look 2012 in review: Public life A time for joy, reflection, and free tech advice The riddle and the gift: The Hobbit at Christmas The garden in the library: Cicero and the stuff of life Just In More Just In » Indian policeman dies of rape protest injuries An Indian policeman who was injured in clashes during a protest over the gang-rape of a woman in New Delhi has died in hospital. More » Lawyer on home soil after Mongolian detention Thousands flock to free festive lunches Skipper confident Oats has bases covered Off-duty cop charged with assault Man charged over chair leg attack Palmer puts on charity lunch for Christmas Clarke 'pretty positive' about Melbourne Test Thousands petition to deport Piers Morgan Odd Couple star Jack Klugman dies World More World » Indian policeman dies of rape protest injuries An Indian policeman who was injured in clashes during a protest over the gang-rape of a woman in New Delhi has died in hospital. More » Thousands petition to deport Piers Morgan Odd Couple star Jack Klugman dies Find room for God in fast-paced world: Pope Indonesia rejects call to ban 'Merry Christmas' Mandela to spend Christmas in hospital Business More Business » Christmas sales up ahead of last-minute rush Thousands of people across the country are getting in some last-minute gift buying as retailers say spending over the Christmas season is up on last year. More » Qld airline to remain grounded for months Falling rates to offset Christmas splurge Billabong allows bidder to look at books Share market gains in very light trade Traders concerned about fiscal cliff stalemate Politics More Politics » Lawyer on home soil after Mongolian detention By Danuta Kozaki and staff Australian lawyer Sarah Armstrong has touched down in Sydney after being held in Mongolia for two months. More » New penalty rates squeeze SA restaurants Indians call for reform in wake of brutal rape Labor MP asks AFP to investigate Brough Vice president resigns as Egyptians vote Sport More Sport » Clarke 'pretty positive' about Melbourne Test Australia captain Michael Clarke put himself through a fitness test on Tuesday but is yet to decide if he will lead the side in the Boxing Day clash with Sri Lanka. More » Skipper confident Oats has bases covered Coach Arthur dismisses Lyon critics Roar looking for striker to challenge Berisha Bird makes Boxing Day XI at Starc's expense Everything ready for the great race Science and Technology More Science and Technology » Ice sheet warming faster than thought: study A study of temperature records over more than half a century shows the west Antarctic ice sheet is warming nearly twice as quickly as previously thought. More » Great Firewall upgrade hits China's web users Toddler incubates nest of deadly snakes University students and staff being given free iPads Astronomers detect nearest Earth-like neighbour Environment More Environment » Activist spends second Christmas up tree Tasmanian anti-logging activist Miranda Gibson is spending her second Christmas Day in her tree-top home. More » Soaring coal demand stokes emissions concerns Bug-eyed Aussie scientists join global study Indigenous survey sounds alarm for NT mammals Microscopic pollution killing thousands in China 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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