International Comm & Culture 2009

Duncan Johnson, says many find life is easier inside prison.

Duncan Johnson, says many find life is easier inside prison.

Duncan Johnson, says many find life is easier inside prison.

Nigeria's government is asking cinemas to stop showing a science fiction film, District Nine, that it says denigrates the country's image.

she had asked the makers of the film, Sony, for an apology.

the film portrays Nigerians as cannibals, criminals and prostitutes.

The child stars of the hit film Slumdog Millionaire are set to star in another film, possibly sharing a screen with British actor Anthony Hopkins.

"Lord Owen's Lady".

The children and their families recently moved to new housing. The accommodation was arranged by the government and a trust formed by Slumdog's British director Danny Boyle.

The 15 most toxic places to live

Standing 348 metres above its surrounds, this 400-million-year-old loaf-shaped object is easily one of the most recognisable on Earth.The question is whether I should climb it.

The traditional owners have asked us not to because of its spiritual significance.’’

‘Human footsteps are eroding the surface and idiots peeing on the top are polluting the waterholes.’’

President Barack Obama's candid thoughts about Kanye West are provoking a debate over standards of journalism in the Twitter age.

But he said it is broadcast tradition that such pre-interview chatter is considered off the record until the formal interview begins.

The incident is reminiscent of past "open-mic" incidents involving politicians

coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee, coffee. Can't we celebrate something else? Canberra is the political capital and Sydney is the economic capital and Brisbane is the lifestyle capital and Melbourne, we're the capital of brown boiled bean-juice that gives you morning-breath and loosens your stools with colonic laxativity

And I'd chosen the coffee machine because, as a resident of this city, I felt it was my municipal duty.

( CNN) -- Japan's parliament elected Yukio Hatoyama as the country's new prime minister on Wednesday in an historic shift of power.

Classes are expected to be cancelled at the University of Melbourne on Wednesday as staff walk off the job in protest of continued job cuts. Staff will hold a rally at 1pm (AEST) during a "24 hour strike" action planned by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU). Union members at 16 universities across Australia will join them by launching similar actions at their schools.

The University of Melbourne is in the midst of a massive restructuring as part of its Melbourne Model campaign to align the school with the teaching practices of other institutions. Unions and some students have criticised the plan as it brings with it continued job cuts.

Victorian Premier John Brumby, a Masterchef and dogs catching Frisbees will all be at the Royal Melbourne Show on Thursday as the big event is officially opened.

A TRIP to India next week to promote Melbourne as a safe city has turned into a monumental challenge for John Brumby after another racist attack that has attracted fresh headlines and anti-Australian fury across India.

Two Indian men and another two of Indian origin say they were racially taunted and told to ''go back to your country'' before being kicked and punched by attackers who were part of a large birthday celebration at Legends Entertainment Centre. The Indian Government increased pressure on Australia last night over the ''recurring attacks'' on its citizens. It called on authorities to ''take all necessary steps towards the safety and security of Indians''. Indian consular officials in Melbourne were also ordered to investigate.

One of the victims, Sukhdip Singh, 26, had been in Australia just one month. A relative said he had suffered head and facial injuries and wanted to return to India immediately. His uncle, Mukhtiar Singh, 45, also a victim, said Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard's recent assurance to India's Foreign Minister that Australia was safe for Indian students rang hollow. ''I used to say the same thing … now I would say Melbourne is worse than a Third-World country, violence-wise,'' Mr Singh told The Age. Recalling Saturday's incident, he said his nephew was taunted with verbal abuse and racial slurs in the bar before they were later set upon in the car park by about 20 people. ''I have lived here for 22 years,'' Mr Singh said. ''I've got my own business here, my own house, my kids have grown up here. Why should I go back? We all come from somewhere.''