An Australian radio show whose hosts were behind a prank call that led to the death of Indian-origin nurse Jacintha Saldanha has been axed by the parent company but the RJs were not fired.

Australia faces a possible fourth straight year of political instability after opposition leader Tony Abbott, on track to win power in a September election, threatened a second poll if a hostile upper house rejects his plan to scrap a tax on carbon.

Michael Christian, one of the two Australian radio presenters who made a prank call to the hospital where Indian-origin nurse Jacintha Saldanha committed suicide, has got a threatening message that said: "There are bullets with your name on".

Indian business icon Ratan Tata has urged stronger trade ties with Australia, particularly in technology, saying there are major growth opportunities for both countries.

Australian researchers have found that generation X in that country is fatter than its baby boomer predecessors, who until now had the highest level of obesity of any age group.

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard's attack on opposition leader Tony Abbott as "sexist and misogynist" in parliament has gone viral.

There is an Australian twist to "Dhoom 3" with model-turned-actress Tabrett Bethell joining the likes of Aamir Kahn and Katrina Kaif in the action thriller, which marks her debut in the Hindi film industry.

Australia's Roman Catholic Church has confirmed 620 children have been sexually abused by its priests since the 1930s in the state of Victoria.

Top scientists in India and Australia will receive funding for cutting-edge research in fields of environment science, materials science, stem cells and vaccines as part of a joint multi-million programme, the Australian envoy to India said.

In a classic reversal of a situation a few years ago, Australian universities now stand to benefit from the recent tightening of student visa rules and a drastic fall in enrolments in Britain from India.