PM

As US President Donald Trump lives up to his promise to restrict skilled migration, Indians say they're bearing the brunt of his anti-immigration rhetoric. India's politicians have condemned a recent fatal shooting in Kansas, with one even blaming the President's tone for inciting what appears to be a hate crime. And in New Delhi, its prompting some to reconsider the American dream.

Papua New Guineans are preparing for three months of fevered campaigning and possible violence as the country goes to the polls. The PNG Governor-General today issued writs for national elections that will be held in late June. That means it's open season for campaigning around the country, with rousing rallies, huge giveaways of cash, soft drinks and beer and occasional unrest. But the frenzied activity masks real problems with PNG's political system.

The day after Jakarta's Christian Governor suffered a comprehensive election defeat, Indonesian prosecutors have softened the blow by recommending he not be jailed for blasphemy. They've demanded two years' probation for Governor Ahok should he be convicted of blasphemy next month.

In statements to the Northern Territory's royal commission, former youth detainee Dylan Voller made serious allegations against guards and managers about his treatment in the youth justice system. Lawyers for the Crown have presented counter-evidence that Dylan Voller's behaviour took guards to breaking point.

The sacking of US cable TV hot-shot Bill O'Reilly is more than a regular departure. Rather, it signals an internal shift the international Murdoch media empire. It's widely believed that Rupert Murdoch's two sons flexed their muscles to ensure Fox News' Bill O'Reilly was given the boot, after numerous allegations of sexual harassment were made against him. It comes at a time when the Murdoch empire is being examined by regulators in the UK, who are to decide if the company is fit to take full control of the satellite broadcaster 'Sky'.

West Australian authorities have today reopened the south coast beach where 17-year-old Laeticia Brouwer was killed by a shark on Monday. Her death has renewed the fierce debate on whether sharks should be killed to protect beachgoers. The Federal Government says a cull should be considered but WA's new state Labor Government strongly disagrees.

The organisers of an event celebrating the dark arts in Tasmania have come under fire for a planned animal slaughter. The Lord Mayor of Hobart says the planned event lead by a controversial Austrian born artist sounds brutal. Animal activists and art supporters have spoken out about the confronting stunt with a petition to cancel it gaining momentum.

The Federal Opposition says the Government's changes to the temporary skilled worker visa system are a con. The Prime Minister defends the new approach saying it will make sure vacancies are filled by Australians first while bolstering the domestic workforce when skills are needed. But Labor argues there will still be plenty of workers coming from overseas to fill positions in Australia - including as cooks and chefs. And the Greens are also highly critical of new visa system arguing that it does not properly ensure that Australian companies are really trying to find local workers before importing staff.

The response from Australian based businesses to the 457 Visa overhaul has been mixed, with some fearful it could slow down growth in the nation's emerging tech start-up sector. But not everybody shares those fears, with other companies hopeful that the changes could help to promote domestic employment. One thing everyone agrees on is that more detail is needed. Until then, businesses that rely on 457 Visa workers say they're in limbo.

Work has begun on the Government's latest hit list of Commonwealth agencies who'll be moved to the bush. Regional Development Minister Fiona Nash says the process will be rigorous, but there's continuing embarrassment for the Government over its last decentralisation move, care of cringe-worthy leaked internal emails advising staff how to deal with awkward questions about their future at family BBQs.