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He'll require 9000 security personnel and will bring almost 500 tons of luggage. Perhaps it's not surprising that the Saudi Arabian King is an infrequent visitor to Indonesia. This week he's making his first visit to the country in almost half a century.
Topics: world-politics, history, government-and-politics, event, saudi-arabia, australia, indonesia
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| UpdatedRussia and China have voted down a UN motion to punish Syria over the use of chemical weapons. It's the seventh time Russia has used its veto to protect the Syrian government, since the war began six years ago this month. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said sanctions would only undermine efforts to reach a peace agreement. But the vote also exposes the rift that exists between Moscow and Washington, weeks after Donald Trump vowed to improve relations.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, unrest-conflict-and-war, australia, china, russian-federation, syrian-arab-republic
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Victorian secondary students are still putting themselves at risk of skin cancer despite sun safety messages. New data reveals a contradictory attitude where more than half like to get a tan, but many know the benefits don't outweigh the dangers. The State Government outlawed commercial solariums in 2014 but one expert says teenager tanning trends are still a big concern.
Topics: skin-cancer, health, diseases-and-disorders, australia, vic
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| UpdatedWhile traditional media companies have been struggling to make money in recent years, there's been soaring growth in a new media role that's attracting a lot of money, the social media influencer. Increasingly, celebrities, bloggers and social media personalities are promoting everything from moisturiser to dining experiences. And it's blurring the line between paid and unpaid promotion. But there'll be greater transparency and disclosure from today.
Topics: advertising, business-economics-and-finance, industry, advertising-and-marketing, information-and-communication, australia
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Australian entrepreneurs are a diverse bunch but a report today has found they tend to have one significant thing in common. Universities Australia says more than 80 per cent of local start-up founders have university degrees. And the university lobbying group is pushing for more on-campus programs to support students who want to start businesses.
Topics: university-and-further-education, business-economics-and-finance, small-business, education, australia
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President Donald Trump is preparing to give his first address to a joint sitting of congress. He'll begin his nationally televised speech in around an hours time. But already there have been a number leaks indicating some of what he will say. And one of them indicates that Mr Trump may be about to significantly soften his stand on immigration.
Topics: united-states
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| UpdatedAs the Government considers a request from the Fair Work Commission about how to compensate losers from last week's penalty rates decision, it's accusing Labor of trashing the commission's independence.
Topics: industrial-relations, business-economics-and-finance, work, australia
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| UpdatedThe chief of the Australian Defence Force says Islamic state militants are using 'Mad Max'-style vehicles to launch suicide attacks, and small commercial drones armed with grenades as the battle for the Iraqi city of Mosul enters its next stage. But Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin says the threat to Australian forces has not escalated any further. He's given evidence at a Senate estimates hearing in Canberra.
Topics: defence-forces, defence-and-national-security, unrest-conflict-and-war, australia, syrian-arab-republic
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New research published today shows Australia's growth is being mainly fuelled by economic activity within just a few small areas within the central districts of Sydney and Melbourne. It's leaving regional Australia and the smaller states to languish in their wake, while sky-rocketing house prices means those moving to the so-called 'super cities' in search of jobs will increasingly struggle to find a toe-hold in the local housing market.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, australia
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| UpdatedToday's figures show that the Australian economy grew by just over 1 per cent in the December quarter that's growth of 2.4 per cent over the year. It's a bounce back from the previous quarter when Australia's economy went backwards.
Topics: economic-trends, business-economics-and-finance, markets, money-and-monetary-policy, australia
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While Australia has enjoyed a record run of economic growth, without experiencing a recession, business conditions don't necessarily reflect that. The World Today went out and about to speak to businesses that have an acute sense of how the economy is performing.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, government-and-politics, australia
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Australia is not in recession. The official GDP figures out today show that the economy retains its record of almost 26 years of unbroken annual growth. Today's figures show that the Australian economy grew by just over one per cent in the December quarter. That's growth of 2.4 per cent over the year.
Topics: economic-trends, business-economics-and-finance, markets, money-and-monetary-policy, australia
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| UpdatedThe ABC's Managing Director Michelle Guthrie has faced strong criticism for the corporation's decision to turn off its shortwave radio service in northern Australia. The ABC shut down shortwave radio last month, which previously re-broadcast content to the Northern Territory and the Pacific, saying it'll save nearly three million dollars. But Senators have grilled Ms Guthrie, demanding the ABC reveal the research it used to come to its decision to stop broadcasting the service.
Topics: abc, business-economics-and-finance, company-news, information-and-communication, broadcasting, australia
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| UpdatedAn independent report into claims of unethical behaviour at the Commonwealth Bank's insurance arm CommInsure has cleared the life insurer of 'systemic problems'. The review from the accountancy firm Deloitte comes about an investigation by the ABC's Four Corners and Fairfax Media revealed claims that claims were delayed or denied. But the review has already been criticised because it does not directly interview customers who had their claims knocked back.
Topics: banking, business-economics-and-finance, industry, australia
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In the post-Truth, Fake news era, the peak body representing Australia's universities is today launching a strident defence of evidence and experts. Universities Australia chairman Professor Barney Glover will deliver a key speech to the National Press Club. He warns the need for evidence based research has never been greater, during an era of 'creeping cynicism'.
Topics: journalism, ethics, education, information-and-communication, research, australia
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| UpdatedThe US general in charge of the controversial joint strike fighter program has given an upbeat assessment of the multi-billion dollar project during a visit to Australia. Lieutenant General Chis Bogdan is here to witness the first public display of the F-35 in Australia.
Topics: defence-and-national-security, defence-industry, air-transport, australia
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Liberal backbenchers are battling over whether the Party should move to change the Racial Discrimination Act. A report looking at whether the Act restricts freedom of speech failed to make a consensus recommendation. Now the Prime Minister faces a tricky decision over whether he moves in favour of those who want more free speech or those who think the Act give greater protections to those who may face racial abuse.
Topics: parliament, community-and-society, discrimination, government-and-politics, federal-government, australia
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| UpdatedA big surge in commodity prices and exports as well as steady Government and household spending are expected to be enough to keep Australia from sliding into a recession. Later this morning the Bureau of Statistics will release the nation's growth figures for the final quarter of 2016. Economists are expecting the figure will be a positive one, unlike the last set of quarterly figures which showed a surprise contraction. Two quarters of negative growth qualify as a recession.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, consumer-finance, consumer-protection, government-and-politics, tax, australia
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| UpdatedAustralian universities are today unveiling ambitious targets to boost the numbers of Indigenous graduates by 2020.In the past 15 years, more than 20,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students have graduated with a wide range of degrees. Universities Australia wants to continue to accelerate that growth, to attract and retain more Indigenous students, professors, and researchers.
Topics: university-and-further-education, community-and-society, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, education, access-to-education, adult-education, australia
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| UpdatedDonald Trump has given a rare glimpse of self-deprecation in the countdown to the most significant speech of his Presidency. The usually brash leader is not known for humility, but has admitted his Administration has not communicated its message well to the American people during its first month in office.
Topics: government-and-politics, world-politics, united-states, australia
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On Tuesday's program: A man arrested after an anti-terror raid in country NSW to be charged with trying to give the so-called Islamic State high-tech electronic weapons advice; more instability in the Coalition Government as the outspoken backbencher George Christensen quits as National party whip - he wants more freedom to criticise his government and cross the floor on sensitive issues; and, can it last? Official data shows a massive largely unpredicted rebound in demand for Australia's resources should see the nation avoid a recession once again.
Topics: australia
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South Australia has appointed a senior Aboriginal leader to guide the state's treaty negotiations. Dr Roger Thomas will lead the consultation between Indigenous communities and the state government, and draft a proposed treaty framework. He's held positions on national and international advisory committees, and is an inaugural professor of Indigenous engagement at Adelaide University.
Topics: indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, sa
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Aboriginal people are warning police around Australia could face more lawsuits over alleged racism, after a landmark compensation decision was allowed to stand. Today, the Queensland Government announced it's scrapping its appeal against compensation for Palm Islanders. The Federal Court last year found police were racist in their response to the 2004 death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee and the riots which followed. The Government says it withdrew its appeal after considering advice on the prospects of success
Topics: courts-and-trials, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, police, palm-island-4815
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The rapid expansion of pokies-maker Aristocrat Leisure in the digital space has been met with alarm in parts of the community. In an announcement that flew under the radar, Aristocrat told its shareholders that it was now the fourth biggest digital social gaming company in the world. Experts say it's part of an aggressive move by the company to position itself in the event lawmakers change the punting regulations around digital slot games.
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| UpdatedUS President Donald Trump has been doing everything he said he would during his campaign, while Republicans have so-far resisted publicly opposing him in his first 40 days of office. James Fallows discusses the themes Donald Trump's presidency so far.
Topics: world-politics, united-states