Messages of hope and peace have rung out at Christmas celebrations around the globe. But as wars rage, the Pope has made a special appeal.

For more, Patrick Burns reports.

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It's become a very ugly Boxing Day tradition. Council workers and volunteers spent the morning at Bronte Beach picking up mountains of rubbish left behind by backpackers. The local Mayor fears the Christmas celebration and the mess are now too much for his council to manage.

For more, Bill Hogan reports.

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A toddler whose leg was amputated due to a one-in-a-million medical condition has received a prosthetic through a new service. And doctors are amazed, at how he's adjusting.

For more, Ashlea Kunowski reports.

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Queensland firefighters are on the ground in Victoria battling a monster bushfire that's getting more dangerous by the day. A wind change is forcing residents in the Grampians to seek shelter or flee their homes.

For more, Cassie Zervos reports.

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A young girl from Melbourne's south-east has defied the odds reaching a milestone in her cancer journey. The five-year-old is now in remission and has celebrated proudly at Monash Children's Hospital.

For more, Sara Jones reports.

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Christmas Day will never be the same for the loved ones of a 15-year-old boy feared dead after being swept off rocks on the Central Coast. Luca Bennett was swimming with friends when a freak wave dragged them into the water at North Avoca Beach. Rescuers saved his mates but have been unable to find him.

For more, Bill Hogan reports.

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Australia's first luxury pet hotel has opened offering room service and personal televisions for cats and dogs. It marks a growing trend in upmarket accommodation for owners who want to spoil their animals, like humans.

For more, Bethan Yeoman reports.

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Australians are expected to splurge more than a billion dollars at this year's Boxing Day sales. Bargain hunters will be up early to pack Sydney's shopping centres as stores slash prices, by up to 75 per cent.

For more, Melina Sarris reports.

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