The Vatican issued a stinging reprimand of American nuns this month, accusing an order of concentrating too much on helping the poor and identified “serious doctrinal problems” and "radical feminist themes" that questioned official positions on homosexuality and the ordination of women.

For many years there has been ongoing debate regarding the celebration of Australia’s national Day. While many Australians enjoy the fun of celebrating our heritage and our nation, it also divides those who see it as a ‘slap in the face’ to Aboriginal Australians who have endured more than 200 years of oppression by a dominant culture.

Chip Henriss spoke with Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress director Rev Ken Sumner on his views regarding Australia Day and the clash this year between First Peoples protestors and the Prime Minister. Mr Sumner is also the director of the Victorian Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress.

The festive season is nearly upon us again. I find myself writing to do lists that are quickly lost, striding purposefully into rooms only to forget what I was supposed to be doing and spending lunchtimes thinking about the comparative virtues of gift vouchers, home made gifts or running away.

If you’re of a literary bent, the release of Haruki Murakami’s IQ84 was kind of a big deal.

The superstar Japanese author had spent 5 years writing this, his latest masterpiece and his audience was excited. Japanese youth, who have elevated being excited into an art form, were feeling particularly festive and the book's publisher, Shinchosha, said it was forced to increase its first print run by 100,000 to 480,000 copies amid a flood of advance orders.