The World Today

The latest private sector figures show total construction work around the country actually contracted last month. The Australian Industry Group Performance of Construction Index fell 5.5 points to 45.9. That's a 20 months low. According to the head of policy at the Australian Industry Group, developers now appear les confident of selling their next batch of apartments, and as such are putting their plans on hold.

The Prime Minister has given his approval to an idea for a parliamentary inquiry into Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, following Friday's decision the Federal Circuit Court to throw out a case against three university students accused of insulting and offending an Indigenous woman on Facebook. But Labor's accusing the Prime Minister of caving into conservatives in the Coalition who've long agitated for changes to the section.

Those outside politics are also divided over the controversial section 18C. The Islamic Council wants it strengthened and is concerned a parliamentary inquiry into the Act could do more harm than good for minorities, while some different parts of the legal sector are concerned the debate around section 18C is missing the point on resolving the issue of freedom of speech.

Australia's scientists say the 'innovation nation' is crumbling with a new study revealing more scientists are considering leaving the profession because of limited career prospects. New research by the Australian Society for Medical Research revealed almost one in four scientists were 'uncertain' about whether they would be employed in the coming year because it was so difficult to get research funding.

Questions have been raised and criticisms levelled over the process undertaken in South Australia, as the community considers the future of storing nuclear waste there. Last night a majority of the 350-strong Jury, rejected the government's proposal to build a nuclear dump in the state. Among reasons for knocking back the plan, the group cited a lack of trust in the government to deliver a waste dump safely within a budget, and the process it followed.

Indonesia's President was due to give an address to our national parliament this week, but he abruptly cancelled his first state visit to Australia on the weekend as Muslim protests in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, turned violent.

The US Government has issued a warning that terrorists could conduct kidnappings on Cebu Island, a tourism hub of the Philippines. Analysts say it comes as a shock, given the prominent terrorist organisation Abu Sayyaf is most prominent the region around 500 kilometres further south. They say it could suggest foreign fighters returning from the so-called Islamic State are having an influence in building the capacity of terror groups in the Philippines. But there are concerns President Rodrigo Duterte's heavy-handed approach to drugs and his anti-US stance could complicate efforts to deal with terrorism in the country.

Somalia has been named the most dangerous country in the world for journalists for the second year in a row, although the Philippines is climbing in the rankings under Duterte. Somalia is leading even Syria and Iraq, where Islamic State militants murdered at least six journalists over the last year.

US authorities say a South Carolina man accused of keeping a woman in chains may be linked to seven deaths. 45 year old Todd Kohlhepp is a registered sex offender. Police have confirmed that a body found on his vast rural property was the boyfriend of a woman rescued from a metal shipping container last week.

Documentaries, feature and short films from all corners of the globe, will be screened in Sydney this week as part of a new Indigenous film festival. Films from Hawaii to Central Australia, New Zealand and Norway are part of the very first Winda Film Festival. The organisers say it offers Indigenous film makers from around the world a new platform to showcase their work