The Indonesian Government is attempting to sweep aside excessive red tape in order to deliver much needed aid to the thousands of people devestated by Sunday's earthquake.

Rabbi Michael Lerner says that Christmas has been stolen but not by the Jews and secularists. It's been stolen by the Christian right.

Carols evoke the extraordinary Christmas story of the baby born in a stable. They also help us understand through their familiar words the tenets of our faith, writes Australian theologian, Gerald O'Collins.

It seems Australians now want and expect more. A recent survey found that nearly half of the richest 20% of households claimed they did not have enough money to buy everything they really needed.