The World Today

Chinese authorities are proceeding with its prosecution of 14 Crown Casino employees - including three Australians. In a brief statement to the Australian Securities Exchange, the casino group has announced its staff and executives who've been caught up in the investigation have now been officially charged with an offence known as 'promotion of gambling'.

International law expert Don Rothwell regards the charging of 14 Crown employees in China as a potentially positive move, as their legal status is now clearer after eight months of detention without charge. Speaking with The World Today's Nick Grimm, he says the lesser charge of promotion of gambling would likely be a relief to the employees; and that Australia's consular services agreement with China will now kick in, offering the company's Australian employees legal support potentially unavailable to its other employees.

Two key shareholders of the television network have told the board they will not be extending crucial funding beyond December. Ten, like many other commercial broadcasters, has struggled to survive as digital media takes a greater slice of the overall advertising revenue pie. One media analyst has told The World Today more industry experts suspect there simply may not be enough space in the Australian broadcasting landscape for three major commercial television stations.

Australia's energy market will be a key issue discussed by politicians as they return to Canberra. It follows the release of the Finkel report, which recommends a Clean Energy Target. A small but growing number of MPs have raised concerns about the future of coal. However, Cabinet Ministers are brushing aside any tensions within the party.

A request to build wind turbines on Lord Howe Island off the New South Wales north coast has been rejected by the Federal Government. The controversial plan was to build two turbines on the World Heritage-listed island to replace energy from a diesel generator. A plan for a solar farm and battery will go ahead. Those who backed the concept argue it would have led to greater energy security for the community. They are also keen to tackle the impacts of climate change on the low-lying island.

India's Energy Minister does not want Australian coal, but grudgingly admits he'll buy our exports if it's cheap enough. Piyush Goyal says India has enough of the fossil fuel to meet its power needs locally, but admits that many of India's coal-fired plants were built to require better-quality imported coal - such as that planned for production by the proposed Adani Carmichael mine in Queensland. He also says the world's third largest carbon pollution emitter will exceed its planned renewable targets and is firmly committed to the Paris climate agreement.

The Trump administration has suffered another setback in its efforts to place a temporary ban on travellers from six majority-Muslim countries, after an appeal court in California found the administration violated immigration law. The decision comes as Maryland and the District of Colombia accuse President Trump of violating the constitution by taking payments from foreign entities.

The last time Australia tried to get the FIFA World Cup down under, we were left red-faced and $45 million out of pocket. Since then, serious allegations of corruption and influence peddling have been levelled at FIFA, with several officials arrested. But organisers have today announced they're ready to try again, this time in the women's division.

New security measures are being ramped up at Victorian hospitals to tackle violence against staff. Last month a surgeon was attacked and left in a critical condition in hospital. The new safety measures include rooms to keep aggressive patients in a safe space. The Australian Medical Association has welcomed the safety improvements but wants more staff on the ground.

Women make up a small percentage of Australia's prison population. But their rate of imprisonment is soaring. Latest figures show it has increased by 42 per cent in the last ten years. And for Indigenous women, the statistics are even higher.