The World Today

Political fireworks have erupted at the senate inquiry into the deteriorating relationship between the nation's two most senior law officers. The inquiry is examining a new rule Senator Brandis introduced in May, requiring that his written permission be given before Justin Gleeson provides legal advice to anyone else in the Government. Mr Gleeson says he was not consulted, while Senator Brandis says he was. Today Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson has clashed with government members of the inquiry, and revealed in detail how his advice was ignored and misconstrued by the Attorney-General George Brandis.

The corporate regulator has reluctantly agreed to provide a parliamentary committee with the names of life insurers who have the highest rates of rejecting insurance claims, but only in private. After being pressed on why it would not reveal the names of the insurers, ASIC chairman Greg Medcraft conceded he was prepared to identify the companies 'in camera' to the House of Representatives' economics committee. Mr Medcraft has also supported the use of so-called 'tracker mortgages' in Australia but says they're not offered because of a lack of competition between banks.

The designated successor to the Thai throne has asked for more time before taking up the role. It had been anticipated that Crown Prince Maha Viralongkorn would be immediately named king after the death of his father, Bhumipol Adulyadej, last night. The delay has taken Palace courtiers, and the army-run government by surprise.

He didn't receive an official reception from the Government upon his arrival in Australia, but Fiji's prime minister says his country's relationship with Australia is the strongest it's been in five years. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who took power in a coup in 2006, is today meeting with investors in Sydney, in an effort to boost trade between the two nations. And he says he holds out hope that the Australian Government will show its willingness to negotiate the terms of the proposed free trade agreement.

News of the latest twist in the greyhound racing ban saga in New South Wales has spread as far as Argentina, where their congress is considering a nationwide ban. In Argentina, there are reports of widespread mistreatment of dogs in the industry, including some owners giving their dogs concoctions of viagra, amphetamines and cocaine to make them run faster.

Current and former test cricketers Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin and David Warner have given evidence this week to the coronial inquest into the death of Phillip Hughes. They stated that Phillip Hughes was neither sledged nor targeted by short-pitched bowling during the cricket match on the day of his death. In his final submission to the inquest, Hughes family lawyer Greg Melick SC has told the inquest that these claims 'beggar belief', stating that the cricketers were forgetful and unable to give accurate accounts of the day.

The Reserve Bank has released its latest financial stability review, a snapshot of current threats to Australia's financial system. It identifies a residential apartment glut and China's debt binge as two major points of concern. While Chinese authorities are tightening their grip on lenders, there are some obvious weak points in the system.

The WHO says countries need to move much faster to tackle tuberculosis if they are going to meet UN targets to reduce the rate of deaths by 90 per cent by 2030. New data shows that 1.8 million people died of the disease worldwide last year. Advocates say there needs to be stronger political will to eradicate the disease.

A Queensland parliamentary select committee is examining how the coal miners' disease, black lung, has suddenly re-emerged in Queensland coal miners over the past year. The inquiry is asking if the disease was in fact never properly eradicated and was simply under-reported by the Department of Mines. The committee has heard today that a 1984 report which identified 75 confirmed or suspected cases of the disease was never followed up by the department.

The Scottish leader, Nicola Sturgeon, has announced that a draft bill on a second independence vote will be published next week. Scottish voters rejected Brexit in the June poll, and Ms Sturgeon says if the UK Government severs all links with the European Union, that could trigger another independence referendum. The question of Scottish secession from the UK was supposed to have been settled for at least a generation, after voters rejected the proposal in 2014.