Stage set for rare show of Shakespeare's classic plays

The public is getting a rare peak at first and early editions of some of William Shakespeare's most beloved plays.

IN BRIEF (Page 8)

Police boss claims Melbourne crime wave is worst in 40 years

One of Australia's most experienced crime fighters has warned that Victoria is in the grip of the worst crime wave in 40 years. Ron Iddles, a former homicide squad detective and outgoing secretary of the Police Association of Victoria, said a shortage of police officers and "weak" judges have paved the way for the rise in aggressive crime.

University attack tears dream apart

Breshna Mosazai remembers the day of the deadly attack two months ago on the American University in Kabul. She remembers lying still on the corridor floor and playing dead, pushing the agony of the gunshot wounds out of her mind as heavily armed gunmen stalked around the campus, looking for people to kill.

Bear with him: Man catches attention for hugging big bears

Bear hugs are nothing. Jim Kowalczik hugs bears. Kowalczik lies on the ground as his 680-kilogram bear buddy, Jimbo, rests a heavy paw on his waist. He feeds Jimbo a marshmallow from his mouth and laughs as a big bear tongue slobbers on his ear.

Doctor saves hearts of refugee babies

Nine-month-old Amena al-Helou's skin sizzles as the surgeon cauterises an incision in her chest, beginning a heart operation at a south Lebanon hospital to save the Syrian refugee's life.

Scottish leader unveils new independence plan

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Thursday unveiled plans for a new independence referendum in case her demands for more autonomy and for Scotland to stay in Europe's single market are not met.

Cricket flourishes with influx of asylum seekers

A boom of interest in cricket in Germany, fuelled by the influx of asylum seekers from Pakistan and Afghanistan, is a tale poised to hit the silver screen.

King Bhumibol: Farewell to a humble father figure

King Bhumibol Adulyadej, revered in Thailand as a demigod, a humble father figure and an anchor of stability through decades of upheaval at home and abroad, died on Thursday. He was 88 and had been the world's longest reigning monarch.

Jackson confirms she's pregnant at 50

Pop superstar Janet Jackson has confirmed that she is pregnant with her first child at age 50 - and has the baby bump to prove it.

Soda giants fund health groups but fight them too

Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the two major US soda giants, have given millions of dollars to health organizations while quietly fighting anti-obesity measures such as taxes on soft drinks, a new study shows.

Buddhist nun strikes a chord as unconventional music star

There is one Buddhist nun everyone in Nepal knows by name - not because she's a religious icon and a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, nor for her work running a girl's school and a hospital for kidney patients.