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Exercise could save big bucks, not just your life Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Even if your child is playing regular sport, they may not be getting enough exercise. Deakin University research shows most Australians - including 3 million-children - are not exercising enough to meet health guidelines. Now a group including the Confederation of Australian Sport, researchers and schools are calling for a National Physical Activity Strategy.
Kenyan anti-FGM campaigner for girls rights inspires others in fight for change Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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A little over a year ago, Kenyan education entrepreneur and campaigner for the rights of Massai girls, Dr Kakenya Ntaiya, spoke to The World Today about the price she'd paid as a determined young girl to finish school; trading a part of her body. She also shared her joy about founding a ground-breaking school for girls in Kenya, where none of them will have to endure the Massai tradition of genital cutting. One listener was so moved by Dr Ntaiya's story that he immediately acted to draw together a group of Australians to help the students from her school. That listener was Australian businessman and chairman of the LBW Trust charity, David Vaux.
Topics: access-to-education, education, schools, women, kenya, australia
Civilians fleeing Mosul say Islamic State using chemical weapons Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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In northern Iraq now, the bloody fight to clear the Islamic State group from its last stronghold continues. The tempo of battle has stepped up and so it appears has the use of banned weapons. Fleeing civilians are are reporting that IS forces have been using chemical weapons.
Topics: unrest-conflict-and-war, iraq
Fees charged by airports 'significantly outstripping inflation' ACCC report finds Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Airfares might be falling but it's no thanks to the ballooning costs charged by Australian airports, according to a report by the ACCC in its annual Airport Monitoring Report. It says the fees airports charge airlines to use their space and services are significantly outstripping inflation, and that the cost is finding its way into the ticket prices you pay.
Topics: air-transport, consumer-protection, australia
Retail sales still sluggish as online stores ramp up dominance Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Retail turnover rose by 0.4 per cent in January, according to the Bureau of Statistics. The result is a bounce-back from December where turnover fell by 0.1 per cent. US based entrepreneur Adam Hudson warns the planned opening of Amazon in Australia later this year is a fresh threat for department stores.
Child abuse inquiry hearing from senior government representatives Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Senior government representatives are being held to account at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse this week as the final stretch of public hearings continues. The inquiry is hearing evidence relating to abuse in immigration detention.
Topics: child-abuse, defence-and-national-security, royal-commissions, australia
Hanson slammed over anti-vaxx comments Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Health groups have slammed Pauline Hanson for comments where she appears to criticise Australia's vaccination program. The One Nation leader described the Government's no jab, no pay policy as a 'dictatorship' and parents should do their own research into vaccinations. Malcolm Turnbull has rejected the calls, saying any parent who doesn't vaccinate their kids is risking their health. The head of the Australian Medical Association says it's time Senator Hanson started behaving responsibly.
Topics: vaccines-and-immunity, pauline-hanson, australia
Housing supply still the big issue Fed Govt tells Victoria Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Prime Minister and Federal Treasurer are adamant supply is the big issue to tackle to improve housing affordability. The Victorian Government has announced plans to abolish stamp duty on homes under $600 000 for first home buyers and the establishment of a shared equity scheme. It says it's also working to improve supply.
Topics: housing, housing-industry, tax, vic
Australian man dies during Mount Everest descent Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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An Australian man has died after reportedly falling ill while descending from the Mount Everest base camp in Nepal. His death has renewed concerns about the dangerous trek which last year lead to the death of another Australian, Maria Strydom. The cause of the man's death is unclear, but veteran mountaineers say it's vital anyone attempting Mount Everest is properly acclimatised to avoid altitude sickness.
Topics: travel-health-and-safety, lifestyle-and-leisure, travel-and-tourism, nepal
Rates set to stay on hold but could next move by up? Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Official interest rates appear almost certain to remain on hold when the Reserve Bank board meets tomorrow. The 'shadow' RBA board at the Australian National University sees a 68 per cent chance of a rate hike in the next six moths. But Matt Sherwood, head of investment strategy at Perpetual believes the RBA will move cautiously given concerns about leveraged households.
Topics: money-and-monetary-policy, banking, australia
New report finds Australians paying too much for necessary medications Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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A new report has found Australians are paying too much for prescription drugs - to the tune of a half a billion dollars each year. The Grattan Institute Study shows prices in Australia are more than twice as high as in the UK and more than three times higher than in New Zealand. The high costs are forcing many people to put off buying necessary medications.
Topics: pharmaceuticals, chemicals-and-pharmaceuticals, health, australia
Chinese Premier announces lowest annual growth rate in 26 years Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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In China the annual National People's Congress has begun. Premier Li Keqiang has announced the world's second biggest economy will aim to have an annual growth rate this year of 6.5 per cent, the lowest rate in 26 years. He has targeted the hugely inefficient state owned enterprises for major reform, but many question whether the government is really serious about fixing the problems.
Topics: economic-trends, international-aid-and-trade, china
Trade Minister hopes to finalise trade deal with Indonesia by the end of this year Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Trade Minister Steven Ciobo will depart today for a trip covering Indonesia, the UK and Chile, where he hopes to make significant progress on three trade deals. Australia and Indonesia are hoping to finally sign off on a Trade and Investment agreement by the end of this year. Mr Ciobo said he's sympathetic with Indonesian aims to increase palm oil and forestry products, and lower the bar for students to study here.
Topics: international-aid-and-trade, environment, rain-forests-and-forest, australia, chile, indonesia, united-kingdom
Grassroots non-profits hone their pitches to win a slice of the charity dollar Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Some charities have come along way from the days of rattling tins on Street corners to rustle up donations. Many have copied the film and TV world by crafting slick pitches to catch the attention and money of investors. They can quickly pick up hundreds of thousands of dollars at events like the ones hosted by the non-profit group The Funding Network.
Grassroots non-profits hone their pitches to win a slice of the charity dollar Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Non-profit organisations are ramping up their efforts to tap into what's been dubbed 'collective giving' - where individuals pool their resources towards a good cause. The trend has prompted a British-based fundraising organisation called The Funding Network to come to Australia with its model for helping small grassroots charities compete for help from cashed-up donors.
Grassroots non-profits hone their pitches to win a slice of the charity dollar Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Analysis of how Australians donate to charitable causes has revealed that fewer people are reaching into their pockets to those less fortunate. However there is good news from the QUT research commissioned by the Australian Government. While smaller numbers of people are giving to charity, those who do donate are actually donating more
Senate negotiations enter final deadline as budget details emerge Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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The Federal Government says the Senate has just two more weeks to pass $13.2 billion in unlegislated savings measures. The Treasurer Scott Morrison says the budget will be finalised after the next sitting period, and he says it will need to have a reasonable prospect of passing the parliament. Nick Xenophon's team is still negotiating over the package of childcare, paid parental leave and welfare changes. Senator Xenophon says he's like the Government to know where it stands within the next fortnight.
Trump fails to find support for claims Obama tapped his phones Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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US President Donald Trump is failing to find any public support to validate his allegation that Barack Obama had ordered 'wire tapping' surveillance on his home and business base last year. he made the claim on Twitter over the weekend, complete with comparisons to the Watergate scandal and its illegal phone tapping activities in the 1970s.
Topics: world-politics, obama-barack, united-states
Fake news: Trump's war against the media Audio
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US President Donald Trump continues to escalate his war with the press, now calling those purveying 'fake news' the 'enemy of the people'. He's specifically attacked major media organisations like the New York Times and CNN, accusing them of being dishonest. And his White House has opened its doors to a new cohort of reporters from once fringe organisations.
Topics: internet-culture, arts-and-entertainment, information-and-communication, social-media, united-states, australia
Political theatre: selling the image of Beijing's legitimacy Audio
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China's political leaders are gathering in the capital Beijing today for their once-a-year major meeting. It's political theatre at its best, powerful politicians, ethnic minority delegates in traditional outfits and plenty of military generals. China's propaganda agencies work overtime to convince both a domestic and foreign audience of the parliament's legitimacy which is a tough sell.
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, foreign-affairs, political-parties, forms-of-government, china, australia
Honour and sacrifice: how Japan's leader was linked to a kindergarten scandal Audio
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Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has become embroiled in a political scandal over a kindergarten in Osaka, which teaches ultra-right-wing principles and aims to return Japan to a pre-war ethos of honour and sacrifice. The operator of the kindergarten has links to Shinzo Abe and his party and there's mounting evidence that the kindergarten has received a parcel of government land at 'mate's rates'.
Topics: law-crime-and-justice, education, preschool, government-and-politics, world-politics, corruption, japan, australia
Uncovering abuse: behind the scenes of the UK's long-awaited inquiry Audio
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The UK inquiry into child sexual abuse had its first public hearings in London this week, two and half years after it was first announced. The inquiry has not run as smoothly as the royal commission in Australia. It has been dogged by controversy, with three heads of the inquiry resigning before the public hearings even begun. This week the inquiry started by looking at historical child migration to countries like Australia.
Topics: sexual-offences, community-and-society, child-abuse, law-crime-and-justice, royal-commissions, england, australia, united-kingdom
Push for change for victims of domestic violence in East Timor Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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There's a renewed push, by one of Australia's closest neighbours, to cut its high rates of domestic violence and child malnutrition. It takes just over an hour to fly to East Timor from Darwin, but life there is very different, especially for women. Now a group of Australian volunteer doctors wants to use its clinic and local practitioners to bring about real change.
Topics: domestic-violence, community-and-society, health, east-timor, australia, nt, darwin-0800
New program brings tech savvy young people and tech hungry seniors together Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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A new program is bringing together young people with tech skills and seniors who are keen to learn how to use devices like iPads and smart phones. A pilot version is underway at a Jewish Care nursing home in Melbourne. And residents have the chance to unlock modern technology.
Topics: personal-computers-tablets, science-and-technology, computers-and-technology, consumer-electronics, australia
Russia's economy growing again after years of recession but recovery is slow Audio Transcript and Verbatim
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Russia's economy is starting to grow again after years of recession but the recovery is frustratingly slow for many. There'd been some hope that a Trump administration would lift sanctions but for now, they're continuing to bite and the recovery in the oil price and currency value is yet to make an impact. In this final story in her series from Russia, our Europe correspondent Lisa Millar headed out of Moscow to see how ordinary Russians are coping.
Topics: business-economics-and-finance, world-politics, russian-federation, australia
