The World Today

Australia's economy just notched up a world record: the longest period of time without experiencing a recession. The Netherlands runs a close second with 102 quarters without a contraction, until the country's economy was clobbered by the global financial crisis. One hundred and three quarters of uninterrupted economic growth should be worth celebrating, but it may not be time to break out the champagne just yet.

The Victorian Premier wants federal agencies to be more involved in parole decisions after this week's terrorist killing in Melbourne. Twenty-nine-year-old Yacqub Khayre was on parole when he held a woman hostage and killed a worker at a Brighton serviced apartment. But the Prime Minister has put the heat back on the Victorian Government to take a leadership role and make the community safe.

A former Victorian counter-terrorism police officer, now a Federal Liberal MP, is calling for police to have more powers to detain and question terrorism suspects. Under current laws, police can hold suspects without charge for 14 days, but can't interview them until they've been charged. But a terrorism law expert warns that toughening these police powers could backfire because any evidence they obtain may be inadmissible in court.

The Prime Minister of Great Britain says she won't allow human rights laws to impede her Government's efforts to stop terrorism. Theresa May says Saturday's attack in south London shows that terrorism is evolving and she says she wants to make it easier for authorities to deport terrorist suspects.

In a final attempt to stop cuts to Sunday penalty rates, the ACTU is launching a major campaign in 15 federal electorates. It's calling on Government and Independent MPs to support Labor's bill which will overturn the decision by the Fair Work Commission to reduce weekend pay for some workers. But a Coalition MP says he won't give into Union demands.

The six-year-long Syrian civil war has killed nearly 250,000 people and made refugees of millions more. European leaders have called for the creation of 'safe zones' to protect civilians inside Syria and save them from having to make the dangerous journey out of the country. Last month Turkey, Russia and Iran signed a deal to create four 'de-escalation' zones in Syria. The World Today's Eleanor Hall speaks with the authors of a report into the legal and practical limits of safe zones. They say there is no accepted definition of a safe zone - and unless all parties of an armed conflict believe it's in their own interests to have them, they usually don't work.

The economy of South Africa has entered recession and the nation's controversial President, Jacob Zuma, has come under increasing pressure to resign. Concerns over political infighting and economic management have prompted two ratings agencies to downgrade South Africa's credit rating to 'junk' status. Youth unemployment in the nation stands at 50 per cent. Demonstrations over lack of jobs and government services have been held in towns and cities around the country.

The Indian Government has imposed a snap ban on the sale of cattle for slaughter. The move has angered the nation's farmers and leather workers, who fear it will destroy their livelihood and promote violent vigilantism. Other groups accuse the ruling party's religious arm of trying to turn the secular nation into a Hindu state.

There is shock and dismay in Queensland today, over revelations that a popular Mayor was allegedly found carrying $50,000 cash. A senior police officer has told the ABC the money was found on Paul Pisasale as he was returning from Mayoral business in Melbourne. Paul Pisasale resigned yesterday, saying his multiple sclerosis had worsened.

Some customers of the National Broadband Network are waiting weeks after installation for their service to become active. One customer told The World Today that he has been waiting for a month with no indication from the NBN when it will fix the problem. More than 100 people attended a community forum in the south-west of Sydney last night to voice their concerns. Opposition communications spokesperson Michelle Rowland was at the forum and says there seems to be an issue with NBN taking over the HFC cables Telstra laid. The Government says NBN is getting things right 90 per cent of the time.