The World Today

The producers of a new documentary are hoping to shine a light on a little-known part of Australia's history. The film, 'Servant or Slave' follows the lives of five Aboriginal women who were taken away from their families as children and trained to be domestic servants in New South Wales. The filmmakers say the women are just some of the thousands of Aboriginal people who made up a huge, unpaid workforce.

While Year 12 students across Queensland are celebrating their last day of school today, three young graduates of Brisbane Boys College are busy raising money to combat domestic violence. Twins Spencer and Zach Hayward and Dhruv Goel started their social enterprise, One Quarter, to raise funds for the Women's Legal Service which supports domestic violence victims. They've raised more than $5,000 so far, but see this as just the beginning of the project. They make T-shirts with the One Quarter logo to try and change the culture and abuse suffered by more than one in four Australian women.

There has been more confirmation this lunchtime of the ongoing switch in Australia's labour market from full-time to part-time jobs. Official figures from the Bureau of Statistics show that, while the number of new jobs surged last month, employers and workers are looking for more flexibility. At the same time, the closely watched unemployment rate remained steady at 5.6 per cent. In other business news, mining giant Rio Tinto has sacked two top executives over payments to a consultant who provided 'advisory services' in the African nation of Guinea.

The number of students who will be able to study in private colleges faces a huge cut next year if changes announced today by the Government get the support in the Senate. Education Minister Simon Birmingham has announced that at least 50 per cent of students studying at a private training provider will have to pass their course, or their college won't be able to offer students Government-backed loans. The private education sector thinks it will affect up to 90,000 students and says it's a 'cynical budget initiative'.

Warren Mundine, the chairman of the Prime Minister's Indigenous Advisory Council, says it's time that all programs intended to reduce Indigenous disadvantage are properly and independently evaluated. The Productivity Commission has found that only a small fraction of programs and policies aimed at improving the wellbeing of Indigenous Australians are being independently assessed. The commission's latest report on Indigenous disadvantage has found that, while some wellbeing indicators such as infant mortality are improving, imprisonment rates and hospital admissions for Indigenous people who self-harm have dramatically increased over the last decade.

The World Health Organisation has decried the constant bombing of hospitals in Syria's biggest city Aleppo. It says the number of hospitals and medical clinics hit is on the rise. After a three-week lull, the bombing of rebel held eastern Aleppo has resumed at a ferocious pace. A medic working in Aleppo says that bombing runs are deliberately targeting ambulances and first aid workers. Although both Syria and Russia insist they're only targeting militant groups.

The world is trying to figure out exactly how Donald Trump will lead the United States, but so far the signs are hard to read. He has delivered a gracious acceptance speech, held a cordial meeting with the current President, toned down some of his policy announcements and promised to unify the country. He has also made some controversial appointments, sacked several leaders of his transition team and he's still tweeting. The World Today has spoken again to his biographer, Michael D'Antonio, who's conducted hours of interviews with Mr Trump, and says it's possible he may not see out the full four-year term.

First, there was Brexit. Then there was Donald Trump. Australia's even had a glimpse of the anti-establishment phenomenon in the form of One Nation's Senate victories and the Orange by-election. Will France be next? That's certainly the hope of Marine Le Pen, leader of the country's far-right Front Nationale party, who will be running for president early next year. Few analysts think she'll be able win - but, then again, it's been a year of upsets.

Russia has announced that it will formally withdraw itself from the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The symbolic move comes after three African nations turned their backs on the ICC this year, leading to concerns about the road ahead for the tribunal.

A former ICAC commissioner says the anti-corruption watchdog will emerge weakened and less effective from new laws which overhaul its structure. The New South Wales Parliament has passed legislation which will see ICAC now run by three commissioners, instead of one. Two of these commissioners will need to agree to investigations before they proceed. It could mean the end of current Commissioner Megan Latham's tenure, as she will have to reapply for her job. Critics say the move is a blatant attempt to sack Ms Latham because of an investigation into the Liberal Party donations scandal.