The World Today

Saudi Arabia's King Salman has announced a reshuffle at the top of the country's hierarchy, replacing his nephew as Crown Prince and heir to the throne. The King has handed his son almost unprecedented powers instead, while the removing the country's face of counter-terrorism from the line of succession.

Australia's film industry has announced a push into Asia, with a new Asian film award and a program aimed at starting more collaborations. The initiative launched by the Australian Academy for Film and Television Arts was announced last night at the Shanghai International Film Festival. China's box office this year is on track to eclipse the US for the first time, and Australia wants a slice.

Voting begins next week in PNG's national election. The first polling will be held in some Highlands provinces and it'll then roll out across the country over the next fortnight. There are 111 seats in the Parliament up for grabs. For more on the election The World Today speaks to Jonathan Pryke, a research fellow in the Melanesia Program at the Lowy Institute.

As Australia hunts for solutions to its energy problems, biomass has not featured highly in the conversation so far. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is hoping to change that. It wants political leaders to actively consider biomass, such as wood waste, as an option to bolster Australia's baseload energy supply. Environmentalists warn that poses a risk to native forests.

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Paul McCartney, Executive, Clean Energy Finance Corporation

Janet Rice, Greens forestry spokeswoman

Residents in Kimba in South Australia's north-west remain divided over plans for a radioactive waste dump near their town. The postal ballot by the electoral commission has found 57 per cent of people voted in favour of moving ahead with the process. But opponents insist there isn't enough community support for the facility.

Each year volunteers travel to Farina, a small ghost town in South Australia's outback, to help restore its ruins. And this week, after being rained out for the past two years, it welcomed the return of its annual cricket match, where volunteers, travellers and 'locals' enjoyed a few laughs and a decent dose of camaraderie.

The Government is edging closer to securing a deal on its school funding package. Education Minister Simon Birmingham says he is hopeful he will reach an agreement with enough minor party Senators to pass the bill. But, he's remaining tight lipped on what changes he will have to make to his school plan to secure a win.

The chief of the Defence Force says the decision to temporarily halt Australian bombing missions over Syria hasn't made a practical difference to the RAAF's work in the region. He says their recent efforts have been focused on supporting Iraqi forces in the battle to re-take the northern city of Mosul. The Defence Minister, Marise Payne says the Government made the decision to protect Australian forces after Russia reacted angrily to the US shooting down a Syrian government jet on Sunday.

Soldiers in Belgium have shot dead a suspected terrorist who exploded a small bomb at the Central railway station in Brussels. Witnesses reported seeing a man shouting Islamist statements before detonating what appeared to be a suitcase bomb. This bombing comes just over a year after the attacks at Brussels airport, that killed more than 30 people.

US President Donald Trump has publicly cast doubt on China's ability to mediate with North Korea. His message comes ahead of a strategic meeting between the US and China, and a day after the death of student Otto Warmbier.